Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:30:04 +0000 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:30:04 +0000 Libsyn RSSgen 1.0 http://markleslie.libsyn.com/website en Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Public License http://markleslie.libsyn.com/website Perspectives and reflections on the writing and publishing life. Mark Leslie Lefebvre, a writer, bookseller, digital publishing advocate and professional speaker and publishing consultant, explores inclusive and collaborate opportunities for writers and book publishing professionals via interviews, discussions and reflections about the industry. (Mark's personal website is www.markleslie.ca) https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/7/9/1/4/7914859584261affe5bbc093207a2619/StarkReflectionsonWritingandPublishing_NEWLOGO.png Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Mark Leslie Lefebvre no episodic writing,writer,write,publish,publishing,publishers,digital,eBooks,audio,agent,agent,editor,editors,author,authors no Perspectives and reflections on the writing and publishing life. Mark Leslie Lefebvre, a writer, bookseller, digital publishing advocate and professional speaker and publishing consultant, explores inclusive and collaborate opportunities for writers and bmark@markleslie.caMark Leslie Lefebvre EP 470 - Building Your Author Brand with Isabelle Knight Building Your Author Brand with Isabelle Knight Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:17:00 +0000 Mark interviews former publicist to the stars Isabelle Knight who is the founder of Build Your Author Brand, an online consultancy helping fiction and non-fiction authors to grow your readership, raise your profile and give your books the best chance of success.

Prior to the interview Mark shares that he is on the road at the Writers and Illustrators of the Future annual workshops and gala as one of the writer judges and is using his digital voice clone from ElevenLabs to record the introduction and closing reflection. He also shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

During the interview Mark and Isabelle talk about:

  • Isabelle's background as a publicist for film, TV, and books
  • Recognizing how there's a real knack of knowledge for creating an effective brand/profile
  • Teaching authors the basics of that branding without using the terms PR or publicity
  • The idea of creating foundations of how an author can be able to pitch their books to an audience
  • How talking about marketing can quickly fill authors with a sense of terror
  • The importance of wanting to know, before helping an author, what makes them tick
  • How the author's story is what tells us who they author is and ultimately "why do we care?" about your book(s)
  • Finding the themes that can tie books together rather than what makes them different when an author has written more than one book
  • The challenge of wanting, too much, to share the details from a book, the plot, the tropes, etc versus sharing higher level themes and patterns
  • The misconception that PR and Publicity is only for celebrities or people who are comfortable being in the spotlight
  • A misperception that authors have about how to provide content for social media
  • How Isabelle doesn't work like a traditional publicist
  • The course that Isabelle runs with a cohort about three times a year
  • And more...

After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about the conversation.

Links of Interest:

 

Former publicist to the stars, including titans of industry JK Rowling and the BBC, Isabelle Knight is the founder of Build Your Author Brand, an online consultancy helping fiction and non-fiction authors to grow your readership, raise your profile and give your books the best chance of success.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews former publicist to the stars Isabelle Knight who is the founder of Build Your Author Brand, an online consultancy helping fiction and non-fiction authors to grow your readership, raise your profile and give your books the best chance of success.

Prior to the interview Mark shares that he is on the road at the Writers and Illustrators of the Future annual workshops and gala as one of the writer judges and is using his digital voice clone from ElevenLabs to record the introduction and closing reflection. He also shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

During the interview Mark and Isabelle talk about:

  • Isabelle's background as a publicist for film, TV, and books
  • Recognizing how there's a real knack of knowledge for creating an effective brand/profile
  • Teaching authors the basics of that branding without using the terms PR or publicity
  • The idea of creating foundations of how an author can be able to pitch their books to an audience
  • How talking about marketing can quickly fill authors with a sense of terror
  • The importance of wanting to know, before helping an author, what makes them tick
  • How the author's story is what tells us who they author is and ultimately "why do we care?" about your book(s)
  • Finding the themes that can tie books together rather than what makes them different when an author has written more than one book
  • The challenge of wanting, too much, to share the details from a book, the plot, the tropes, etc versus sharing higher level themes and patterns
  • The misconception that PR and Publicity is only for celebrities or people who are comfortable being in the spotlight
  • A misperception that authors have about how to provide content for social media
  • How Isabelle doesn't work like a traditional publicist
  • The course that Isabelle runs with a cohort about three times a year
  • And more...

After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about the conversation.

Links of Interest:

Former publicist to the stars, including titans of industry JK Rowling and the BBC, Isabelle Knight is the founder of Build Your Author Brand, an online consultancy helping fiction and non-fiction authors to grow your readership, raise your profile and give your books the best chance of success.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 39:38 false 9 470 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews former publicist to the stars Isabelle Knight who is the founder of Build Your Author Brand, an online consultancy helping fiction and non-fiction authors to grow your readership, raise your profile and give your books the best chance of success. Prior to the interview Mark shares that he is on the road at the Writers and Illustrators of the Future annual workshops and gala as one of the writer judges and is using his digital voice clone from ElevenLabs to record the introduction and closing reflection. He also shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. During the interview Mark and Isabelle talk about: Isabelle's background as a publicist for film, TV, and books Recognizing how there's a real knack of knowledge for creating an effective brand/profile Teaching authors the basics of that branding without using the terms PR or publicity The idea of creating foundations of how an author can be able to pitch their books to an audience How talking about marketing can quickly fill authors with a sense of terror The importance of wanting to know, before helping an author, what makes them tick How the author's story is what tells us who they author is and ultimately "why do we care?" about your book(s) Finding the themes that can tie books together rather than what makes them different when an author has written more than one book The challenge of wanting, too much, to share the details from a book, the plot, the tropes, etc versus sharing higher level themes and patterns The misconception that PR and Publicity is only for celebrities or people who are comfortable being in the spotlight A misperception that authors have about how to provide content for social media How Isabelle doesn't work like a traditional publicist The course that Isabelle runs with a cohort about three times a year And more... After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about the conversation. Links of Interest: Build Your Author Brand Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Former publicist to the stars, including titans of industry JK Rowling and the BBC, Isabelle Knight is the founder of Build Your Author Brand, an online consultancy helping fiction and non-fiction authors to grow your readership, raise your profile and give your books the best chance of success.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews former publicist to the stars Isabelle Knight who is the founder of Build Your Author Brand, an online consultancy helping fiction and non-fiction authors to grow your readership, raise your profile and give your books the best chance of success. Prior to the interview Mark shares that he is on the road at the Writers and Illustrators of the Future annual workshops and gala as one of the writer judges and is using his digital voice clone from ElevenLabs to record the introduction and closing reflection. He also shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. During the interview Mark and Isabelle talk about: Isabelle's background as a publicist for film, TV, and books Recognizing how there's a real knack of knowledge for creating an effective brand/profile Teaching authors the basics of that branding without using the terms PR or publicity The idea of creating foundations of how an author can be able to pitch their books to an audience How talking about marketing can quickly fill authors with a sense of terror The importance of wanting to know, before helping an author, what makes them tick How the author's story is what tells us who they author is and ultimately "why do we care?" about your book(s) Finding the themes that can tie books together rather than what makes them different when an author has written more than one book The challenge of wanting, too much, to share the details from a book, the plot, the tropes, etc versus sharing higher level themes and patterns The misconception that PR and Publicity is only for celebrities or people who are comfortable being in the spotlight A misperception that authors have about how to provide content for social media How Isabelle doesn't work like a traditional publicist The course that Isabelle runs with a cohort about three times a year And more... After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about the conversation. Links of Interest: Build Your Author Brand Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Former publicist to the stars, including titans of industry JK Rowling and the BBC, Isabelle Knight is the founder of Build Your Author Brand, an online consultancy helping fiction and non-fiction authors to grow your readership, raise your profile and give your books the best chance of success.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 469 - Small-Town Canadian Superheroes with Matthew del Papa and Andy Taylor Small-Town Canadian Superheroes with Matthew del Papa and Andy Taylor Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:00:00 +0000 Mark interviews Matthew del Papa and Andy Taylor, editors of SUPERCANUCKS: An Anthology of Small Town Canadian Superheroes.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

During the interview Mark, Matthew, and Andy talk about:

  • Andy and Mat's writing background and how they got into editing an anthology like Super Canucks
  • How editing is a new experience for Andy
  • The consist "what if?" that has been a part of Andy's writing for most of his life
  • Matthew's background and the various genres he has written
  • What the appeal of writing fantasy and non-science-filled fiction is for Mat
  • The origin story of the Supercanucks anthology and how it relates to the "brain drain" to larger cities
  • How far the call-out for stories for this anthology went
  • The submissions and the whittling-down process
  • Having six stories set in Northern Ontario, but needing to ensure the stories were from across the country
  • The locales across Canada that made the cut for this anthology
  • The process of reading and selecting and editing the stories
  • Deciding who was going to edit which story and work with which authors
  • The uniqueness for some of the contributors with being able to use Canadian pop culture references and spelling
  • The sudden need for an aspect of the "Elbows Up!" motif into the anthology
  • Mat's learnings when it came to working with a traditional publisher rather than the previous self-publishing experience he'd had before
  • Some of the things they experienced editing this anthology that they hadn't expected
  • Advice Matthew and Andy would offer to writers who are interested in submitting to an anthology

After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about the value of understanding the process that editors use when selecting stories for an anthology, an admission of a goof-up he made in a recent submission, and his own experience with "brain drain" and "Elbows Up!"

Links of Interest:

 

Matthew D. Del Papa spent every Tuesday of his youth crisscrossing his hometown of Capreol in search of newly arrived comic books. He wore superhero-themed Underoos to a truly worrying age and still has his Batman (and Robin) lunchbox, backpack, and wrist-watch.

A graduate of Laurentian University, Matthew is a writer, editor, and self-publisher, and has released ten titles to some modest local acclaim.

He joined the Sudbury Writers' Guild in 2009 and his writing has appeared in Spooky Sudbury, Nothing Without Us Too, Mighty, and Sudbury Superstack: A Changing Skyline. His collection of humorous essays titled Jerry Lewis Told Me I Was Going to Die, was released in 2023 through Latitude 46 Publishing.

 

Andy W. Taylor has been a reader and writer of speculative fiction from an early age thanks in no small part to his mother's frequent trips to the public library with her kids.

Andy is a member of The Writers' Union of Canada, past president and member of the Sudbury Writers' Guild, a graduate of the Viable Paradise writing workshop and Playwright's Junction workshop, and a member of CODEX.
 
Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Andy currently resides in Sudbury, Ontario with his family. His fiction has appeared in Nature: Futures, Polar Borealis, On Spec, FictionVale and on the streets of Sudbury. Visit him at www.SooGuy.com or on BlueSky at @sooguy68.bsky.social

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Matthew del Papa and Andy Taylor, editors of SUPERCANUCKS: An Anthology of Small Town Canadian Superheroes.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

During the interview Mark, Matthew, and Andy talk about:

  • Andy and Mat's writing background and how they got into editing an anthology like Super Canucks
  • How editing is a new experience for Andy
  • The consist "what if?" that has been a part of Andy's writing for most of his life
  • Matthew's background and the various genres he has written
  • What the appeal of writing fantasy and non-science-filled fiction is for Mat
  • The origin story of the Supercanucks anthology and how it relates to the "brain drain" to larger cities
  • How far the call-out for stories for this anthology went
  • The submissions and the whittling-down process
  • Having six stories set in Northern Ontario, but needing to ensure the stories were from across the country
  • The locales across Canada that made the cut for this anthology
  • The process of reading and selecting and editing the stories
  • Deciding who was going to edit which story and work with which authors
  • The uniqueness for some of the contributors with being able to use Canadian pop culture references and spelling
  • The sudden need for an aspect of the "Elbows Up!" motif into the anthology
  • Mat's learnings when it came to working with a traditional publisher rather than the previous self-publishing experience he'd had before
  • Some of the things they experienced editing this anthology that they hadn't expected
  • Advice Matthew and Andy would offer to writers who are interested in submitting to an anthology

After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about the value of understanding the process that editors use when selecting stories for an anthology, an admission of a goof-up he made in a recent submission, and his own experience with "brain drain" and "Elbows Up!"

Links of Interest:

Matthew D. Del Papa spent every Tuesday of his youth crisscrossing his hometown of Capreol in search of newly arrived comic books. He wore superhero-themed Underoos to a truly worrying age and still has his Batman (and Robin) lunchbox, backpack, and wrist-watch.

A graduate of Laurentian University, Matthew is a writer, editor, and self-publisher, and has released ten titles to some modest local acclaim.

He joined the Sudbury Writers' Guild in 2009 and his writing has appeared in Spooky Sudbury, Nothing Without Us Too, Mighty, and Sudbury Superstack: A Changing Skyline. His collection of humorous essays titled Jerry Lewis Told Me I Was Going to Die, was released in 2023 through Latitude 46 Publishing.

Andy W. Taylor has been a reader and writer of speculative fiction from an early age thanks in no small part to his mother's frequent trips to the public library with her kids.

Andy is a member of The Writers' Union of Canada, past president and member of the Sudbury Writers' Guild, a graduate of the Viable Paradise writing workshop and Playwright's Junction workshop, and a member of CODEX. Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Andy currently resides in Sudbury, Ontario with his family. His fiction has appeared in Nature: Futures, Polar Borealis, On Spec, FictionVale and on the streets of Sudbury. Visit him at www.SooGuy.com or on BlueSky at @sooguy68.bsky.social

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:05:03 false 9 469 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Matthew del Papa and Andy Taylor, editors of SUPERCANUCKS: An Anthology of Small Town Canadian Superheroes. Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. During the interview Mark, Matthew, and Andy talk about: Andy and Mat's writing background and how they got into editing an anthology like Super Canucks How editing is a new experience for Andy The consist "what if?" that has been a part of Andy's writing for most of his life Matthew's background and the various genres he has written What the appeal of writing fantasy and non-science-filled fiction is for Mat The origin story of the Supercanucks anthology and how it relates to the "brain drain" to larger cities How far the call-out for stories for this anthology went The submissions and the whittling-down process Having six stories set in Northern Ontario, but needing to ensure the stories were from across the country The locales across Canada that made the cut for this anthology The process of reading and selecting and editing the stories Deciding who was going to edit which story and work with which authors The uniqueness for some of the contributors with being able to use Canadian pop culture references and spelling The sudden need for an aspect of the "Elbows Up!" motif into the anthology Mat's learnings when it came to working with a traditional publisher rather than the previous self-publishing experience he'd had before Some of the things they experienced editing this anthology that they hadn't expected Advice Matthew and Andy would offer to writers who are interested in submitting to an anthology After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about the value of understanding the process that editors use when selecting stories for an anthology, an admission of a goof-up he made in a recent submission, and his own experience with "brain drain" and "Elbows Up!" Links of Interest: Matthew del Papa's Website Andy Taylor's Website Latitude 46 Publishing EP 298 - Honesty, Humor, Poetry, Essays, and Disability with Matthew del Papa and Vera Constantineau EP 224 - Being An Independent Publisher and Bookseller with Heather Campbell EP 439 - Rambling Reflections From The Road to CanCon Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Matthew D. Del Papa spent every Tuesday of his youth crisscrossing his hometown of Capreol in search of newly arrived comic books. He wore superhero-themed Underoos to a truly worrying age and still has his Batman (and Robin) lunchbox, backpack, and wrist-watch. A graduate of Laurentian University, Matthew is a writer, editor, and self-publisher, and has released ten titles to some modest local acclaim. He joined the Sudbury Writers' Guild in 2009 and his writing has appeared in Spooky Sudbury, Nothing Without Us Too, Mighty, and Sudbury Superstack: A Changing Skyline. His collection of humorous essays titled Jerry Lewis Told Me I Was Going to Die, was released in 2023 through Latitude 46 Publishing.   Andy W. Taylor has been a reader and writer of speculative fiction from an early age thanks in no small part to his mother's frequent trips to the public library with her kids. Andy is a member of The Writers' Union of Canada, past president and member of the Sudbury Writers' Guild, a graduate of the Viable Paradise writing workshop and Playwright's Junction workshop, and a member of CODEX.   Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Andy currently resides in Sudbury, Ontario with his family. His fiction has appeared in Nature: Futures, Polar Borealis, On Spec, FictionVale and on the streets of Sudbury. Visit him at www.SooGuy.com or on BlueSky at @sooguy68.bsky.social   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Matthew del Papa and Andy Taylor, editors of SUPERCANUCKS: An Anthology of Small Town Canadian Superheroes. Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. During the interview Mark, Matthew, and Andy talk about: Andy and Mat's writing background and how they got into editing an anthology like Super Canucks How editing is a new experience for Andy The consist "what if?" that has been a part of Andy's writing for most of his life Matthew's background and the various genres he has written What the appeal of writing fantasy and non-science-filled fiction is for Mat The origin story of the Supercanucks anthology and how it relates to the "brain drain" to larger cities How far the call-out for stories for this anthology went The submissions and the whittling-down process Having six stories set in Northern Ontario, but needing to ensure the stories were from across the country The locales across Canada that made the cut for this anthology The process of reading and selecting and editing the stories Deciding who was going to edit which story and work with which authors The uniqueness for some of the contributors with being able to use Canadian pop culture references and spelling The sudden need for an aspect of the "Elbows Up!" motif into the anthology Mat's learnings when it came to working with a traditional publisher rather than the previous self-publishing experience he'd had before Some of the things they experienced editing this anthology that they hadn't expected Advice Matthew and Andy would offer to writers who are interested in submitting to an anthology After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about the value of understanding the process that editors use when selecting stories for an anthology, an admission of a goof-up he made in a recent submission, and his own experience with "brain drain" and "Elbows Up!" Links of Interest: Matthew del Papa's Website Andy Taylor's Website Latitude 46 Publishing EP 298 - Honesty, Humor, Poetry, Essays, and Disability with Matthew del Papa and Vera Constantineau EP 224 - Being An Independent Publisher and Bookseller with Heather Campbell EP 439 - Rambling Reflections From The Road to CanCon Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Matthew D. Del Papa spent every Tuesday of his youth crisscrossing his hometown of Capreol in search of newly arrived comic books. He wore superhero-themed Underoos to a truly worrying age and still has his Batman (and Robin) lunchbox, backpack, and wrist-watch. A graduate of Laurentian University, Matthew is a writer, editor, and self-publisher, and has released ten titles to some modest local acclaim. He joined the Sudbury Writers' Guild in 2009 and his writing has appeared in Spooky Sudbury, Nothing Without Us Too, Mighty, and Sudbury Superstack: A Changing Skyline. His collection of humorous essays titled Jerry Lewis Told Me I Was Going to Die, was released in 2023 through Latitude 46 Publishing.   Andy W. Taylor has been a reader and writer of speculative fiction from an early age thanks in no small part to his mother's frequent trips to the public library with her kids. Andy is a member of The Writers' Union of Canada, past president and member of the Sudbury Writers' Guild, a graduate of the Viable Paradise writing workshop and Playwright's Junction workshop, and a member of CODEX.   Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Andy currently resides in Sudbury, Ontario with his family. His fiction has appeared in Nature: Futures, Polar Borealis, On Spec, FictionVale and on the streets of Sudbury. Visit him at www.SooGuy.com or on BlueSky at @sooguy68.bsky.social   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 468 - Identity and Not Being Who You Thought You Were with Marie Lynne Desrochers Identity and Not Being Who You Thought You Were with Marie Lynne Desrochers Thu, 02 Apr 2026 23:00:00 +0000 Mark interviews Marie Lynne Desrochers about her new memoir SHAKEN AWAKE: A Memoir on Identity and Connection.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026.

In the interview, Mark and Marie Lynne talk about:

  • Marie's background in the corporate world marketing and how that ties in to storytelling
  • The startling event of receiving a message via Facebook from a man who introduced himself as Marie's father and how that lead to this memoir
  • The moment when you start wondering who you thought you've been your whole life
  • Marie's book SHAKEN AWAKE: A MEMOIR ON IDENTITY AND CONNECTION which is being released in English first in March 2026, and then will be released in French in June (both written by Marie who is bilingual)
  • How the table of contents for the book seemed to emerge dynamically near the beginning of the project
  • The exploration of identity and the various different identities that each individual wears
  • The value of sitting in different seats during the experience of writing a memoir like this
  • How the cover and the title for this book came to be
  • The way when you first become aware of something you see it everywhere
  • The ritual and importance of the kintsugi bowl from Japanese culture
  • The fear that still sits with Marie in the process of releasing this story to the world
  • When editors have conflicting views/perspectives on a book and how that can mean it's going to be a really good book - and the importance that not everyone is going to like it, or even believe it
  • Supernatural guidance that Marie received that helped answer the question of why she was writing this book
  • Deciding not to try to go to a publisher, but going to Author Nation instead to connect with people and learn how to get the book out there herself
  • The triple crown of being a successful author that includes needing to have mentors, to know what you're doing, and to have an accountability buddy
  • Advice Marie would offer to a writer beginning on their journey
  • The confidence about trusting emergence
  • Doing a book launch at a local gallery and the power of that collaboration
  • The distinctly different title for the French version of the book
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a number of things that came up during the interview.

Links of Interest:

 

Marie Lynne Desrochers is a Montreal-based author, speaker, director and former banking executive whose 30-year career spanned marketing, entrepreneurship, and advising global leaders. She now explores truth, identity, and connection through narrative nonfiction.
Her memoir, Shaken Awake: A Memoir on Identity and Connection (March 19, 2026), weaves a powerful family discovery with a deeper reflection on how unexpected truths reshape who we are—and how we love.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Marie Lynne Desrochers about her new memoir SHAKEN AWAKE: A Memoir on Identity and Connection.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026.

In the interview, Mark and Marie Lynne talk about:

  • Marie's background in the corporate world marketing and how that ties in to storytelling
  • The startling event of receiving a message via Facebook from a man who introduced himself as Marie's father and how that lead to this memoir
  • The moment when you start wondering who you thought you've been your whole life
  • Marie's book SHAKEN AWAKE: A MEMOIR ON IDENTITY AND CONNECTION which is being released in English first in March 2026, and then will be released in French in June (both written by Marie who is bilingual)
  • How the table of contents for the book seemed to emerge dynamically near the beginning of the project
  • The exploration of identity and the various different identities that each individual wears
  • The value of sitting in different seats during the experience of writing a memoir like this
  • How the cover and the title for this book came to be
  • The way when you first become aware of something you see it everywhere
  • The ritual and importance of the kintsugi bowl from Japanese culture
  • The fear that still sits with Marie in the process of releasing this story to the world
  • When editors have conflicting views/perspectives on a book and how that can mean it's going to be a really good book - and the importance that not everyone is going to like it, or even believe it
  • Supernatural guidance that Marie received that helped answer the question of why she was writing this book
  • Deciding not to try to go to a publisher, but going to Author Nation instead to connect with people and learn how to get the book out there herself
  • The triple crown of being a successful author that includes needing to have mentors, to know what you're doing, and to have an accountability buddy
  • Advice Marie would offer to a writer beginning on their journey
  • The confidence about trusting emergence
  • Doing a book launch at a local gallery and the power of that collaboration
  • The distinctly different title for the French version of the book
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a number of things that came up during the interview.

Links of Interest:

Marie Lynne Desrochers is a Montreal-based author, speaker, director and former banking executive whose 30-year career spanned marketing, entrepreneurship, and advising global leaders. She now explores truth, identity, and connection through narrative nonfiction. Her memoir, Shaken Awake: A Memoir on Identity and Connection (March 19, 2026), weaves a powerful family discovery with a deeper reflection on how unexpected truths reshape who we are—and how we love.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:07:04 false 9 468 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Marie Lynne Desrochers about her new memoir SHAKEN AWAKE: A Memoir on Identity and Connection. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026. In the interview, Mark and Marie Lynne talk about: Marie's background in the corporate world marketing and how that ties in to storytelling The startling event of receiving a message via Facebook from a man who introduced himself as Marie's father and how that lead to this memoir The moment when you start wondering who you thought you've been your whole life Marie's book SHAKEN AWAKE: A MEMOIR ON IDENTITY AND CONNECTION which is being released in English first in March 2026, and then will be released in French in June (both written by Marie who is bilingual) How the table of contents for the book seemed to emerge dynamically near the beginning of the project The exploration of identity and the various different identities that each individual wears The value of sitting in different seats during the experience of writing a memoir like this How the cover and the title for this book came to be The way when you first become aware of something you see it everywhere The ritual and importance of the kintsugi bowl from Japanese culture The fear that still sits with Marie in the process of releasing this story to the world When editors have conflicting views/perspectives on a book and how that can mean it's going to be a really good book - and the importance that not everyone is going to like it, or even believe it Supernatural guidance that Marie received that helped answer the question of why she was writing this book Deciding not to try to go to a publisher, but going to Author Nation instead to connect with people and learn how to get the book out there herself The triple crown of being a successful author that includes needing to have mentors, to know what you're doing, and to have an accountability buddy Advice Marie would offer to a writer beginning on their journey The confidence about trusting emergence Doing a book launch at a local gallery and the power of that collaboration The distinctly different title for the French version of the book And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a number of things that came up during the interview. Links of Interest: Marie Lynne Desrocher's Website Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Marie Lynne Desrochers is a Montreal-based author, speaker, director and former banking executive whose 30-year career spanned marketing, entrepreneurship, and advising global leaders. She now explores truth, identity, and connection through narrative nonfiction. Her memoir, Shaken Awake: A Memoir on Identity and Connection (March 19, 2026), weaves a powerful family discovery with a deeper reflection on how unexpected truths reshape who we are—and how we love.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Marie Lynne Desrochers about her new memoir SHAKEN AWAKE: A Memoir on Identity and Connection. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026. In the interview, Mark and Marie Lynne talk about: Marie's background in the corporate world marketing and how that ties in to storytelling The startling event of receiving a message via Facebook from a man who introduced himself as Marie's father and how that lead to this memoir The moment when you start wondering who you thought you've been your whole life Marie's book SHAKEN AWAKE: A MEMOIR ON IDENTITY AND CONNECTION which is being released in English first in March 2026, and then will be released in French in June (both written by Marie who is bilingual) How the table of contents for the book seemed to emerge dynamically near the beginning of the project The exploration of identity and the various different identities that each individual wears The value of sitting in different seats during the experience of writing a memoir like this How the cover and the title for this book came to be The way when you first become aware of something you see it everywhere The ritual and importance of the kintsugi bowl from Japanese culture The fear that still sits with Marie in the process of releasing this story to the world When editors have conflicting views/perspectives on a book and how that can mean it's going to be a really good book - and the importance that not everyone is going to like it, or even believe it Supernatural guidance that Marie received that helped answer the question of why she was writing this book Deciding not to try to go to a publisher, but going to Author Nation instead to connect with people and learn how to get the book out there herself The triple crown of being a successful author that includes needing to have mentors, to know what you're doing, and to have an accountability buddy Advice Marie would offer to a writer beginning on their journey The confidence about trusting emergence Doing a book launch at a local gallery and the power of that collaboration The distinctly different title for the French version of the book And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a number of things that came up during the interview. Links of Interest: Marie Lynne Desrocher's Website Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Marie Lynne Desrochers is a Montreal-based author, speaker, director and former banking executive whose 30-year career spanned marketing, entrepreneurship, and advising global leaders. She now explores truth, identity, and connection through narrative nonfiction. Her memoir, Shaken Awake: A Memoir on Identity and Connection (March 19, 2026), weaves a powerful family discovery with a deeper reflection on how unexpected truths reshape who we are—and how we love.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 467 - Strategies for ADHD Writers with Nicole Bross Strategies for ADHD Writers with Nicole Bross Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:43:00 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews author, editor, and certified book coach Nicole Bross about her co-authored book A NOVEL APPROACH: STRATEGIES FOR ADHD WRITERS.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026.

In the interview, Mark and Nicole talk about:

  • Nicole's background always being interested in writing, along with a love of mysteries such as Nancy Drew and others
  • Taking journalism in high school and also at Mount Royal
  • Her first novel being published in 2019 and how it was near the same time she was first diagnosed with ADHD
  • Published a few articles that lead to her co-author reaching out and suggesting the idea of collaborating on that book
  • The collaboration being done mostly online (Nicole in Alberta, and Kirsten in Vienna) and how they divided the work up while writing into the same Google Doc simultaneously
  • The "every Friday" accountability connections they did along the way
  • The three year period between coming up with the idea to the book being released (in the fall of 2025)
  • The most important message of the book to writers
  • How the combination of being a bright kid with undiagnosed ADHD meant it mostly went un-noticed
  • The book A NOVEL APPROACH: STRATEGIES FOR ADHD WRITERS by Nicole Bross and Kristen Donaghey
  • The manual typewriter collection that Nicole has (which includes about 20 of them)
  • Advice Nicole would offer to writers with ADHD
  • Where an outline can actually prove to be helpful by offering a goal they're reaching toward as well as manageable chunks of achievement
  • Nicole's novel PAST PRESENCE which is a supernatural mystery novel
  • The different timelines Nicole has experienced with traditional publishing and self-publishing
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of asking and the commitment to move forward however slowly.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> In this episode Mark interviews author, editor, and certified book coach Nicole Bross about her co-authored book A NOVEL APPROACH: STRATEGIES FOR ADHD WRITERS.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026.

In the interview, Mark and Nicole talk about:

  • Nicole's background always being interested in writing, along with a love of mysteries such as Nancy Drew and others
  • Taking journalism in high school and also at Mount Royal
  • Her first novel being published in 2019 and how it was near the same time she was first diagnosed with ADHD
  • Published a few articles that lead to her co-author reaching out and suggesting the idea of collaborating on that book
  • The collaboration being done mostly online (Nicole in Alberta, and Kirsten in Vienna) and how they divided the work up while writing into the same Google Doc simultaneously
  • The "every Friday" accountability connections they did along the way
  • The three year period between coming up with the idea to the book being released (in the fall of 2025)
  • The most important message of the book to writers
  • How the combination of being a bright kid with undiagnosed ADHD meant it mostly went un-noticed
  • The book A NOVEL APPROACH: STRATEGIES FOR ADHD WRITERS by Nicole Bross and Kristen Donaghey
  • The manual typewriter collection that Nicole has (which includes about 20 of them)
  • Advice Nicole would offer to writers with ADHD
  • Where an outline can actually prove to be helpful by offering a goal they're reaching toward as well as manageable chunks of achievement
  • Nicole's novel PAST PRESENCE which is a supernatural mystery novel
  • The different timelines Nicole has experienced with traditional publishing and self-publishing
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of asking and the commitment to move forward however slowly.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:00:41 false 9 467 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews author, editor, and certified book coach Nicole Bross about her co-authored book A NOVEL APPROACH: STRATEGIES FOR ADHD WRITERS. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026. In the interview, Mark and Nicole talk about: Nicole's background always being interested in writing, along with a love of mysteries such as Nancy Drew and others Taking journalism in high school and also at Mount Royal Her first novel being published in 2019 and how it was near the same time she was first diagnosed with ADHD Published a few articles that lead to her co-author reaching out and suggesting the idea of collaborating on that book The collaboration being done mostly online (Nicole in Alberta, and Kirsten in Vienna) and how they divided the work up while writing into the same Google Doc simultaneously The "every Friday" accountability connections they did along the way The three year period between coming up with the idea to the book being released (in the fall of 2025) The most important message of the book to writers How the combination of being a bright kid with undiagnosed ADHD meant it mostly went un-noticed The book A NOVEL APPROACH: STRATEGIES FOR ADHD WRITERS by Nicole Bross and Kristen Donaghey The manual typewriter collection that Nicole has (which includes about 20 of them) Advice Nicole would offer to writers with ADHD Where an outline can actually prove to be helpful by offering a goal they're reaching toward as well as manageable chunks of achievement Nicole's novel PAST PRESENCE which is a supernatural mystery novel The different timelines Nicole has experienced with traditional publishing and self-publishing And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of asking and the commitment to move forward however slowly.   Links of Interest: Nicole Bross's Website Nicole's Website for Authors: Manuscript Alchemy Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this episode Mark interviews author, editor, and certified book coach Nicole Bross about her co-authored book A NOVEL APPROACH: STRATEGIES FOR ADHD WRITERS. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026. In the interview, Mark and Nicole talk about: Nicole's background always being interested in writing, along with a love of mysteries such as Nancy Drew and others Taking journalism in high school and also at Mount Royal Her first novel being published in 2019 and how it was near the same time she was first diagnosed with ADHD Published a few articles that lead to her co-author reaching out and suggesting the idea of collaborating on that book The collaboration being done mostly online (Nicole in Alberta, and Kirsten in Vienna) and how they divided the work up while writing into the same Google Doc simultaneously The "every Friday" accountability connections they did along the way The three year period between coming up with the idea to the book being released (in the fall of 2025) The most important message of the book to writers How the combination of being a bright kid with undiagnosed ADHD meant it mostly went un-noticed The book A NOVEL APPROACH: STRATEGIES FOR ADHD WRITERS by Nicole Bross and Kristen Donaghey The manual typewriter collection that Nicole has (which includes about 20 of them) Advice Nicole would offer to writers with ADHD Where an outline can actually prove to be helpful by offering a goal they're reaching toward as well as manageable chunks of achievement Nicole's novel PAST PRESENCE which is a supernatural mystery novel The different timelines Nicole has experienced with traditional publishing and self-publishing And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of asking and the commitment to move forward however slowly.   Links of Interest: Nicole Bross's Website Nicole's Website for Authors: Manuscript Alchemy Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 466 - Publishing Wide But Shallow EP 466 - Publishing Wide But Shallow Thu, 19 Mar 2026 23:12:00 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark shares an article he posted on Substack earlier in March called "Publishing Wide But Shallow."

Prior to the main content (the article), Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode, Mark shares an article he posted on Substack earlier in March called "Publishing Wide But Shallow."

Prior to the main content (the article), Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 31:37 false 9 466 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark shares an article he posted on Substack earlier in March called "Publishing Wide But Shallow." Prior to the main content (the article), Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026.   Links of Interest: Article: Nobody Has Read Your Books or Even Heard of You Article: Publishing Wide But Shallow Article: Stretching Before The Writing Run Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode, Mark shares an article he posted on Substack earlier in March called "Publishing Wide But Shallow." Prior to the main content (the article), Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026.   Links of Interest: Article: Nobody Has Read Your Books or Even Heard of You Article: Publishing Wide But Shallow Article: Stretching Before The Writing Run Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 465 - Rambling Reflections From Before The Road Rambling Reflections From Before The Road Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:51:00 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark reflects on Ireland, the importance/value of repeating information and sharing, and the Public Lending Rights program.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsors.

This episode is partially sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026.

This episode is partially sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode, Mark reflects on Ireland, the importance/value of repeating information and sharing, and the Public Lending Rights program.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsors.

This episode is partially sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026.

This episode is partially sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 39:47 false 9 465 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark reflects on Ireland, the importance/value of repeating information and sharing, and the Public Lending Rights program. Prior to the interview Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsors. This episode is partially sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026. This episode is partially sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. Links of Interest: Public Lending Right Canada PLR International Article: Nobody Has Read Your Books or Even Heard of You Article: Publishing Wide But Shallow Article: Stretching Before The Writing Run Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode, Mark reflects on Ireland, the importance/value of repeating information and sharing, and the Public Lending Rights program. Prior to the interview Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsors. This episode is partially sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026. This episode is partially sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. Links of Interest: Public Lending Right Canada PLR International Article: Nobody Has Read Your Books or Even Heard of You Article: Publishing Wide But Shallow Article: Stretching Before The Writing Run Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 464 - The Big Stories of a Memorable Memoir with Roz Morris The Big Stories of a Memorable Memoir with Roz Morris Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:27:00 +0000 Mark interviews novelist, memoirist, and professional story whisperer Roz Morris about her writing life and her pivot into writing memoirs alongside her fiction.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In the interview Mark and Roz talk about:

  • How Roz and Mark first met at the London Book Fair in 2012
  • What Roz writes and the types of stories that she loves and is fascinated with
  • Roz's journey which includes experience working in a publishing company and meeting and marrying another writer
  • The red leather-bound VISITORS book that Roz was given and she used for notes when she went on holiday, and how her husband convinced her to put those into a book
  • Roz's new book TURN RIGHT AT THE RAINBOW: A Diary of Househunting, Happenstance, Home
  • The concept of a house that holds within its structure and walls all the people and stories that took place within it and how that ties in to the story of Roz and her husband's search for a new home
  • How it's very hard to remember how you saw something for the first time
  • The way Roz decides what stories are going to make it into a particular memoir
  • How museums out of season can be great because of the passion that you can witness in the employees
  • The next memoir that Roz is currently "collecting" in the background
  • How in a novel Roz can inhabit a lot of people in different ways
  • Advice Roz would have moving from memoir to fiction and vice versa

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things Roz mentioned as well as something her advice reminded him of. He also rambles a bit longer than normal.

 

 

Links of Interest:

 

Roz Morris is a novelist, memoirist, and professional story whisperer. She's the author of acclaimed literary novels with BIG emotional canvases, and memoirs that find meaning in unadventures. She's also a developmental editor and writing coach and has helped shape books that have sold more than four million copies—some of those from behind the scenes as a ghostwriter. She's also the creator of the Nail Your Novel series for writers and the blog of the same name. She's judged literary prizes including the Amazon Kindle Storyteller Award and Vine Leaves Press New Voices competition, and has taught masterclasses for The Guardian in London and Jane Friedman's online academy.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews novelist, memoirist, and professional story whisperer Roz Morris about her writing life and her pivot into writing memoirs alongside her fiction.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In the interview Mark and Roz talk about:

  • How Roz and Mark first met at the London Book Fair in 2012
  • What Roz writes and the types of stories that she loves and is fascinated with
  • Roz's journey which includes experience working in a publishing company and meeting and marrying another writer
  • The red leather-bound VISITORS book that Roz was given and she used for notes when she went on holiday, and how her husband convinced her to put those into a book
  • Roz's new book TURN RIGHT AT THE RAINBOW: A Diary of Househunting, Happenstance, Home
  • The concept of a house that holds within its structure and walls all the people and stories that took place within it and how that ties in to the story of Roz and her husband's search for a new home
  • How it's very hard to remember how you saw something for the first time
  • The way Roz decides what stories are going to make it into a particular memoir
  • How museums out of season can be great because of the passion that you can witness in the employees
  • The next memoir that Roz is currently "collecting" in the background
  • How in a novel Roz can inhabit a lot of people in different ways
  • Advice Roz would have moving from memoir to fiction and vice versa

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things Roz mentioned as well as something her advice reminded him of. He also rambles a bit longer than normal.

Links of Interest:

Roz Morris is a novelist, memoirist, and professional story whisperer. She's the author of acclaimed literary novels with BIG emotional canvases, and memoirs that find meaning in unadventures. She's also a developmental editor and writing coach and has helped shape books that have sold more than four million copies—some of those from behind the scenes as a ghostwriter. She's also the creator of the Nail Your Novel series for writers and the blog of the same name. She's judged literary prizes including the Amazon Kindle Storyteller Award and Vine Leaves Press New Voices competition, and has taught masterclasses for The Guardian in London and Jane Friedman's online academy.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:10:36 false 9 464 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews novelist, memoirist, and professional story whisperer Roz Morris about her writing life and her pivot into writing memoirs alongside her fiction. Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview Mark and Roz talk about: How Roz and Mark first met at the London Book Fair in 2012 What Roz writes and the types of stories that she loves and is fascinated with Roz's journey which includes experience working in a publishing company and meeting and marrying another writer The red leather-bound VISITORS book that Roz was given and she used for notes when she went on holiday, and how her husband convinced her to put those into a book Roz's new book TURN RIGHT AT THE RAINBOW: A Diary of Househunting, Happenstance, Home The concept of a house that holds within its structure and walls all the people and stories that took place within it and how that ties in to the story of Roz and her husband's search for a new home How it's very hard to remember how you saw something for the first time The way Roz decides what stories are going to make it into a particular memoir How museums out of season can be great because of the passion that you can witness in the employees The next memoir that Roz is currently "collecting" in the background How in a novel Roz can inhabit a lot of people in different ways Advice Roz would have moving from memoir to fiction and vice versa After the interview Mark reflects on a few things Roz mentioned as well as something her advice reminded him of. He also rambles a bit longer than normal.     Links of Interest: Roz Morris Website Roz's latest book: TURN RIGHT AT THE RAINBOW Mark's Books in the Smashwords READ AN EBOOK WEEK sale Article: Publishing Wide But Shallow Article: Stretching Before The Writing Run Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Roz Morris is a novelist, memoirist, and professional story whisperer. She's the author of acclaimed literary novels with BIG emotional canvases, and memoirs that find meaning in unadventures. She's also a developmental editor and writing coach and has helped shape books that have sold more than four million copies—some of those from behind the scenes as a ghostwriter. She's also the creator of the Nail Your Novel series for writers and the blog of the same name. She's judged literary prizes including the Amazon Kindle Storyteller Award and Vine Leaves Press New Voices competition, and has taught masterclasses for The Guardian in London and Jane Friedman's online academy.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews novelist, memoirist, and professional story whisperer Roz Morris about her writing life and her pivot into writing memoirs alongside her fiction. Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview Mark and Roz talk about: How Roz and Mark first met at the London Book Fair in 2012 What Roz writes and the types of stories that she loves and is fascinated with Roz's journey which includes experience working in a publishing company and meeting and marrying another writer The red leather-bound VISITORS book that Roz was given and she used for notes when she went on holiday, and how her husband convinced her to put those into a book Roz's new book TURN RIGHT AT THE RAINBOW: A Diary of Househunting, Happenstance, Home The concept of a house that holds within its structure and walls all the people and stories that took place within it and how that ties in to the story of Roz and her husband's search for a new home How it's very hard to remember how you saw something for the first time The way Roz decides what stories are going to make it into a particular memoir How museums out of season can be great because of the passion that you can witness in the employees The next memoir that Roz is currently "collecting" in the background How in a novel Roz can inhabit a lot of people in different ways Advice Roz would have moving from memoir to fiction and vice versa After the interview Mark reflects on a few things Roz mentioned as well as something her advice reminded him of. He also rambles a bit longer than normal.     Links of Interest: Roz Morris Website Roz's latest book: TURN RIGHT AT THE RAINBOW Mark's Books in the Smashwords READ AN EBOOK WEEK sale Article: Publishing Wide But Shallow Article: Stretching Before The Writing Run Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Roz Morris is a novelist, memoirist, and professional story whisperer. She's the author of acclaimed literary novels with BIG emotional canvases, and memoirs that find meaning in unadventures. She's also a developmental editor and writing coach and has helped shape books that have sold more than four million copies—some of those from behind the scenes as a ghostwriter. She's also the creator of the Nail Your Novel series for writers and the blog of the same name. She's judged literary prizes including the Amazon Kindle Storyteller Award and Vine Leaves Press New Voices competition, and has taught masterclasses for The Guardian in London and Jane Friedman's online academy.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 463 - How to Bring Your Book Alive at an Author Event with Julie Hiner How to Bring Your Book Alive at an Author Event with Julie Hiner Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:59:00 +0000 Mark interviews author Julie Hiner about creating an unforgettable book event for a book launch.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In the interview Mark and Julie talk about:

  • Julie's branding as being strongly tied to the 80s and music even though she fought it at first
  • The first book Julie published about road biking (JUST A GIRL ON A BIKE) which was the story of how she overcame a lot of fears and anxiety and the donations she makes with sales of that book
  • The 21 switch-backs on the road biking in France that became the 21 steps in Julie's book
  • The value of learning so much about self-publishing when Julie attender her first When Words Collide conference
  • Julie's ongoing obsession with true crime, serial killers, and 80s metal
  • Interacting with and interviewing Homicide Detective Dave Sweet
  • Julie's books in the Detective Mahoney series that started with the book FINAL TRACK
  • The original venue Julie used for her first book and the newer one she has partnered with
  • The special VIP pre-order packages Julie makes available
  • The way the collaboration with the musicians work, including Julie creating lyrics for the bands to adapt into songs
  • How horror is a really safe place to explore extremely dark things
  • Studies that show that aggressive music can help calm the brain
  • The creepiest serial killer that came up in the research Julie did
  • Some of the things authors should consider when looking at their branding

 

After the interview Mark shares about an event Julie has coming up in April 2026, and then talks about the importance of pulling out atmospheric elements from the book/story/characters/setting as well as the idea of writing with authenticity and passion.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Julie Hiner spent her childhood lost in the pages of books. The only thing that took precedence was her Walkman. She is still an 80s rocker.

On a break from her career as a computer scientist, she published an inspirational book about facing fears by cycling up mountains.

Julie now writes horror/suspense infused with heavy metal. She has published a serial killer series, three horror novellas, co-curated an anthology, and had short stories published. She recently had a deep-sea horror novella published by Torrid Waters of Crystal Lake Publishing.

You can find her at KillersAndDemons.com serving up metal and murder.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

 

]]> Mark interviews author Julie Hiner about creating an unforgettable book event for a book launch.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In the interview Mark and Julie talk about:

  • Julie's branding as being strongly tied to the 80s and music even though she fought it at first
  • The first book Julie published about road biking (JUST A GIRL ON A BIKE) which was the story of how she overcame a lot of fears and anxiety and the donations she makes with sales of that book
  • The 21 switch-backs on the road biking in France that became the 21 steps in Julie's book
  • The value of learning so much about self-publishing when Julie attender her first When Words Collide conference
  • Julie's ongoing obsession with true crime, serial killers, and 80s metal
  • Interacting with and interviewing Homicide Detective Dave Sweet
  • Julie's books in the Detective Mahoney series that started with the book FINAL TRACK
  • The original venue Julie used for her first book and the newer one she has partnered with
  • The special VIP pre-order packages Julie makes available
  • The way the collaboration with the musicians work, including Julie creating lyrics for the bands to adapt into songs
  • How horror is a really safe place to explore extremely dark things
  • Studies that show that aggressive music can help calm the brain
  • The creepiest serial killer that came up in the research Julie did
  • Some of the things authors should consider when looking at their branding

After the interview Mark shares about an event Julie has coming up in April 2026, and then talks about the importance of pulling out atmospheric elements from the book/story/characters/setting as well as the idea of writing with authenticity and passion.

Links of Interest:

Julie Hiner spent her childhood lost in the pages of books. The only thing that took precedence was her Walkman. She is still an 80s rocker.

On a break from her career as a computer scientist, she published an inspirational book about facing fears by cycling up mountains.

Julie now writes horror/suspense infused with heavy metal. She has published a serial killer series, three horror novellas, co-curated an anthology, and had short stories published. She recently had a deep-sea horror novella published by Torrid Waters of Crystal Lake Publishing.

You can find her at KillersAndDemons.com serving up metal and murder.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 43:13 false 9 463 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author Julie Hiner about creating an unforgettable book event for a book launch. Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview Mark and Julie talk about: Julie's branding as being strongly tied to the 80s and music even though she fought it at first The first book Julie published about road biking (JUST A GIRL ON A BIKE) which was the story of how she overcame a lot of fears and anxiety and the donations she makes with sales of that book The 21 switch-backs on the road biking in France that became the 21 steps in Julie's book The value of learning so much about self-publishing when Julie attender her first When Words Collide conference Julie's ongoing obsession with true crime, serial killers, and 80s metal Interacting with and interviewing Homicide Detective Dave Sweet Julie's books in the Detective Mahoney series that started with the book FINAL TRACK The original venue Julie used for her first book and the newer one she has partnered with The special VIP pre-order packages Julie makes available The way the collaboration with the musicians work, including Julie creating lyrics for the bands to adapt into songs How horror is a really safe place to explore extremely dark things Studies that show that aggressive music can help calm the brain The creepiest serial killer that came up in the research Julie did Some of the things authors should consider when looking at their branding   After the interview Mark shares about an event Julie has coming up in April 2026, and then talks about the importance of pulling out atmospheric elements from the book/story/characters/setting as well as the idea of writing with authenticity and passion.   Links of Interest: Julie Hiner's Website Stella's Scream Book Launch Just a Girl and a Bike Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Julie Hiner spent her childhood lost in the pages of books. The only thing that took precedence was her Walkman. She is still an 80s rocker. On a break from her career as a computer scientist, she published an inspirational book about facing fears by cycling up mountains. Julie now writes horror/suspense infused with heavy metal. She has published a serial killer series, three horror novellas, co-curated an anthology, and had short stories published. She recently had a deep-sea horror novella published by Torrid Waters of Crystal Lake Publishing. You can find her at KillersAndDemons.com serving up metal and murder.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    Mark interviews author Julie Hiner about creating an unforgettable book event for a book launch. Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview Mark and Julie talk about: Julie's branding as being strongly tied to the 80s and music even though she fought it at first The first book Julie published about road biking (JUST A GIRL ON A BIKE) which was the story of how she overcame a lot of fears and anxiety and the donations she makes with sales of that book The 21 switch-backs on the road biking in France that became the 21 steps in Julie's book The value of learning so much about self-publishing when Julie attender her first When Words Collide conference Julie's ongoing obsession with true crime, serial killers, and 80s metal Interacting with and interviewing Homicide Detective Dave Sweet Julie's books in the Detective Mahoney series that started with the book FINAL TRACK The original venue Julie used for her first book and the newer one she has partnered with The special VIP pre-order packages Julie makes available The way the collaboration with the musicians work, including Julie creating lyrics for the bands to adapt into songs How horror is a really safe place to explore extremely dark things Studies that show that aggressive music can help calm the brain The creepiest serial killer that came up in the research Julie did Some of the things authors should consider when looking at their branding   After the interview Mark shares about an event Julie has coming up in April 2026, and then talks about the importance of pulling out atmospheric elements from the book/story/characters/setting as well as the idea of writing with authenticity and passion.   Links of Interest: Julie Hiner's Website Stella's Scream Book Launch Just a Girl and a Bike Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Julie Hiner spent her childhood lost in the pages of books. The only thing that took precedence was her Walkman. She is still an 80s rocker. On a break from her career as a computer scientist, she published an inspirational book about facing fears by cycling up mountains. Julie now writes horror/suspense infused with heavy metal. She has published a serial killer series, three horror novellas, co-curated an anthology, and had short stories published. She recently had a deep-sea horror novella published by Torrid Waters of Crystal Lake Publishing. You can find her at KillersAndDemons.com serving up metal and murder.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     EP 462 - Daryn Brito on Showing Up With Love, Compassion, and Empathy Daryn Brito on Showing Up With Love, Compassion, and Empathy Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:42:00 +0000 Mark interviews Daryn Brito, an advocate, writer, and researcher dedicated to supporting those who have faced trauma and adversity about her work and her new book THE BECOMING: UNREPEATABLE MIRACLE, WHO ARE YOU?

Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update a word from this episode's sponsor, and a trigger warning for listeners.

This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026.

In the interview, Mark and Daryn about:

  • Mark first meeting Daryn in a class at the Waterloo Regional Police Citizen's Academy
  • How Daryn's main goal when doing speaking engagements is to start in a way to humilify herself first to help demonstrate her humanity and put the audience at ease
  • The importance of taking her academic study and leveraging it in a way that the average person can understand it
  • How Daryn is currently doing two simultaneous Masters programs in preparation for her Phd
  • The specific therapy models that Daryn is focusing on in her study
  • The undergrad study Daryn did showing that only 3% of people who were in foster care attempt post-secondary education - this is usually due to lack of support
  • How, growing up, school was the one area where Daryn had a sense of control, and how she focused hard in that realm
  • Regularly being told that her heart is too big for her own good
  • Daryn's early childhood experiences, starting with her mother's experience while pregnant with Daryn
  • The first time of having to go to court and testify as a victim of sexual assault at the age of twelve
  • Being a primary caregiver to younger siblings and struggling with a strong/high empathy
  • Deciding she had finally had enough of living in a situation filled with IPV (Intimate Partner Violence)
  • Getting involved in helping to train police officers in better understanding trauma related to IPV
  • Initially mistrusting the police, particularly due to the environment she grew up in
  • How the investigating detective in Daryn's case was one of the most compassionate human being Daryn had ever met in her life
  • The deciding factor in making the police report not being about Daryn getting hurt again, but her feeling responsible for the possibility of other people getting hurt
  • How if it weren't for Daryn's heart for others, she wouldn't be here today
  • Doing a lot of speaking for police at the academy for those being trained in IPV (Intimate Partner Violence)
  • The journals Daryn had always kept which helped provide the fruit for the creation of her book THE BECOMING
  • The importance of breaking down the walls we put up, knowing that it's safe to open your heart to the world again
  • The various groups who have purchased Daryn's group in order to help other people
  • Choosing a release date for her book as her ex-abuser's parole hearing day as a way to make that day brighter
  • What Daryn would say to someone who is or has faced adversity or trauma
  • The incredible "basic needs" special housing program/project that Daryn is looking at
  • The value of showing up with love and compassion

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the concepts of compassion and empathy and the importance of recognizing multiple viewpoints and environments unique to different people.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Daryn Brito is an advocate, writer, and researcher dedicated to supporting those who have faced trauma and adversity. Through her work, she empowers individuals and strives for systemic change.

What makes Daryn's journey so remarkable, is how she turns her lived experiences into transformative wisdom. So through her compelling public talks, her insightful research and her book The Becoming: unrepeatable miracle, who are you? Daryn challenges us to question who we are beneath all the labels, and invites us to step into our most authentic, fullest selves

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Daryn Brito, an advocate, writer, and researcher dedicated to supporting those who have faced trauma and adversity about her work and her new book THE BECOMING: UNREPEATABLE MIRACLE, WHO ARE YOU?

Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update a word from this episode's sponsor, and a trigger warning for listeners.

This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026.

In the interview, Mark and Daryn about:

  • Mark first meeting Daryn in a class at the Waterloo Regional Police Citizen's Academy
  • How Daryn's main goal when doing speaking engagements is to start in a way to humilify herself first to help demonstrate her humanity and put the audience at ease
  • The importance of taking her academic study and leveraging it in a way that the average person can understand it
  • How Daryn is currently doing two simultaneous Masters programs in preparation for her Phd
  • The specific therapy models that Daryn is focusing on in her study
  • The undergrad study Daryn did showing that only 3% of people who were in foster care attempt post-secondary education - this is usually due to lack of support
  • How, growing up, school was the one area where Daryn had a sense of control, and how she focused hard in that realm
  • Regularly being told that her heart is too big for her own good
  • Daryn's early childhood experiences, starting with her mother's experience while pregnant with Daryn
  • The first time of having to go to court and testify as a victim of sexual assault at the age of twelve
  • Being a primary caregiver to younger siblings and struggling with a strong/high empathy
  • Deciding she had finally had enough of living in a situation filled with IPV (Intimate Partner Violence)
  • Getting involved in helping to train police officers in better understanding trauma related to IPV
  • Initially mistrusting the police, particularly due to the environment she grew up in
  • How the investigating detective in Daryn's case was one of the most compassionate human being Daryn had ever met in her life
  • The deciding factor in making the police report not being about Daryn getting hurt again, but her feeling responsible for the possibility of other people getting hurt
  • How if it weren't for Daryn's heart for others, she wouldn't be here today
  • Doing a lot of speaking for police at the academy for those being trained in IPV (Intimate Partner Violence)
  • The journals Daryn had always kept which helped provide the fruit for the creation of her book THE BECOMING
  • The importance of breaking down the walls we put up, knowing that it's safe to open your heart to the world again
  • The various groups who have purchased Daryn's group in order to help other people
  • Choosing a release date for her book as her ex-abuser's parole hearing day as a way to make that day brighter
  • What Daryn would say to someone who is or has faced adversity or trauma
  • The incredible "basic needs" special housing program/project that Daryn is looking at
  • The value of showing up with love and compassion

After the interview Mark reflects on the concepts of compassion and empathy and the importance of recognizing multiple viewpoints and environments unique to different people.

Links of Interest:

Daryn Brito is an advocate, writer, and researcher dedicated to supporting those who have faced trauma and adversity. Through her work, she empowers individuals and strives for systemic change.

What makes Daryn's journey so remarkable, is how she turns her lived experiences into transformative wisdom. So through her compelling public talks, her insightful research and her book The Becoming: unrepeatable miracle, who are you? Daryn challenges us to question who we are beneath all the labels, and invites us to step into our most authentic, fullest selves

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 52:15 false 9 462 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Daryn Brito, an advocate, writer, and researcher dedicated to supporting those who have faced trauma and adversity about her work and her new book THE BECOMING: UNREPEATABLE MIRACLE, WHO ARE YOU? Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update a word from this episode's sponsor, and a trigger warning for listeners. This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026. In the interview, Mark and Daryn about: Mark first meeting Daryn in a class at the Waterloo Regional Police Citizen's Academy How Daryn's main goal when doing speaking engagements is to start in a way to humilify herself first to help demonstrate her humanity and put the audience at ease The importance of taking her academic study and leveraging it in a way that the average person can understand it How Daryn is currently doing two simultaneous Masters programs in preparation for her Phd The specific therapy models that Daryn is focusing on in her study The undergrad study Daryn did showing that only 3% of people who were in foster care attempt post-secondary education - this is usually due to lack of support How, growing up, school was the one area where Daryn had a sense of control, and how she focused hard in that realm Regularly being told that her heart is too big for her own good Daryn's early childhood experiences, starting with her mother's experience while pregnant with Daryn The first time of having to go to court and testify as a victim of sexual assault at the age of twelve Being a primary caregiver to younger siblings and struggling with a strong/high empathy Deciding she had finally had enough of living in a situation filled with IPV (Intimate Partner Violence) Getting involved in helping to train police officers in better understanding trauma related to IPV Initially mistrusting the police, particularly due to the environment she grew up in How the investigating detective in Daryn's case was one of the most compassionate human being Daryn had ever met in her life The deciding factor in making the police report not being about Daryn getting hurt again, but her feeling responsible for the possibility of other people getting hurt How if it weren't for Daryn's heart for others, she wouldn't be here today Doing a lot of speaking for police at the academy for those being trained in IPV (Intimate Partner Violence) The journals Daryn had always kept which helped provide the fruit for the creation of her book THE BECOMING The importance of breaking down the walls we put up, knowing that it's safe to open your heart to the world again The various groups who have purchased Daryn's group in order to help other people Choosing a release date for her book as her ex-abuser's parole hearing day as a way to make that day brighter What Daryn would say to someone who is or has faced adversity or trauma The incredible "basic needs" special housing program/project that Daryn is looking at The value of showing up with love and compassion   After the interview Mark reflects on the concepts of compassion and empathy and the importance of recognizing multiple viewpoints and environments unique to different people.   Links of Interest: Daryn Brito Website Waterloo Regional Police Flashpoint TV Series Superstars Writing Seminars Stark Reflections on Pushing for Better (Team Landing Page) CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association) Mental Health Meter What's Your Stress Index? Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Daryn Brito is an advocate, writer, and researcher dedicated to supporting those who have faced trauma and adversity. Through her work, she empowers individuals and strives for systemic change. What makes Daryn's journey so remarkable, is how she turns her lived experiences into transformative wisdom. So through her compelling public talks, her insightful research and her book The Becoming: unrepeatable miracle, who are you? Daryn challenges us to question who we are beneath all the labels, and invites us to step into our most authentic, fullest selves     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Daryn Brito, an advocate, writer, and researcher dedicated to supporting those who have faced trauma and adversity about her work and her new book THE BECOMING: UNREPEATABLE MIRACLE, WHO ARE YOU? Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update a word from this episode's sponsor, and a trigger warning for listeners. This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026. In the interview, Mark and Daryn about: Mark first meeting Daryn in a class at the Waterloo Regional Police Citizen's Academy How Daryn's main goal when doing speaking engagements is to start in a way to humilify herself first to help demonstrate her humanity and put the audience at ease The importance of taking her academic study and leveraging it in a way that the average person can understand it How Daryn is currently doing two simultaneous Masters programs in preparation for her Phd The specific therapy models that Daryn is focusing on in her study The undergrad study Daryn did showing that only 3% of people who were in foster care attempt post-secondary education - this is usually due to lack of support How, growing up, school was the one area where Daryn had a sense of control, and how she focused hard in that realm Regularly being told that her heart is too big for her own good Daryn's early childhood experiences, starting with her mother's experience while pregnant with Daryn The first time of having to go to court and testify as a victim of sexual assault at the age of twelve Being a primary caregiver to younger siblings and struggling with a strong/high empathy Deciding she had finally had enough of living in a situation filled with IPV (Intimate Partner Violence) Getting involved in helping to train police officers in better understanding trauma related to IPV Initially mistrusting the police, particularly due to the environment she grew up in How the investigating detective in Daryn's case was one of the most compassionate human being Daryn had ever met in her life The deciding factor in making the police report not being about Daryn getting hurt again, but her feeling responsible for the possibility of other people getting hurt How if it weren't for Daryn's heart for others, she wouldn't be here today Doing a lot of speaking for police at the academy for those being trained in IPV (Intimate Partner Violence) The journals Daryn had always kept which helped provide the fruit for the creation of her book THE BECOMING The importance of breaking down the walls we put up, knowing that it's safe to open your heart to the world again The various groups who have purchased Daryn's group in order to help other people Choosing a release date for her book as her ex-abuser's parole hearing day as a way to make that day brighter What Daryn would say to someone who is or has faced adversity or trauma The incredible "basic needs" special housing program/project that Daryn is looking at The value of showing up with love and compassion   After the interview Mark reflects on the concepts of compassion and empathy and the importance of recognizing multiple viewpoints and environments unique to different people.   Links of Interest: Daryn Brito Website Waterloo Regional Police Flashpoint TV Series Superstars Writing Seminars Stark Reflections on Pushing for Better (Team Landing Page) CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association) Mental Health Meter What's Your Stress Index? Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Daryn Brito is an advocate, writer, and researcher dedicated to supporting those who have faced trauma and adversity. Through her work, she empowers individuals and strives for systemic change. What makes Daryn's journey so remarkable, is how she turns her lived experiences into transformative wisdom. So through her compelling public talks, her insightful research and her book The Becoming: unrepeatable miracle, who are you? Daryn challenges us to question who we are beneath all the labels, and invites us to step into our most authentic, fullest selves     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 461 - The Power of Stories to Instill Empathy, Resilience, Joy, and Hope with Ka-Yee Essoe EP 461 - The Power of Stories to Instill Empathy, Resilience, Joy, and Hope with Ka-Yee Essoe Fri, 13 Feb 2026 15:34:00 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Ka-Yee Essoe about the power of stories to instil empathy, resilience, joy, and hope, based on her experiences in the academic world, in research, in teaching, and in writing an epic fantasy novel.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update and word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026.

In the interview, Mark and Ka-Yee talk about:

  • Mark and Ka-Yee's connection to Joshua EssoeKa-Yee's background with two different careers in academia
  • Studying how to help people learn therapeutic techniques better
  • Starting her creative writing journey in 2021
  • How this story (that became the first of a trilogy she is writing) started to unfold in her head as dialogue
  • 128,000 words of the first draft coming out in about 2 months of writing
  • Ka-Yee's move into an academic teaching role, which is something she's always wanted to do
  • One of the classes that Ka-Yee co-teaches for writers
  • HEXACO - the six-dimension personality test
  • Some of the opposite-character writing exercises that derive from this test
  • Debunking Myers-Briggs because it's not as science-based
  • Ka-Yee's desire to help writers to write who has some sort of disability
  • Helping students understand what therapy looks like and how to depict that relationship
  • Techniques on how to learn memory enhancement
  • How to evaluate routines and your process as a writer
  • The problem with getting into a habit of doing things a certain way and missing out on how to make it better
  • Ka-Yee not realizing she had ADHD until she was an adult
  • The side-effect of suffering from long Covid
  • The concept of deliberate rest
  • Applying the scientific principle to writing an epic fantasy novel
  • How people tend to have two different careers in their life
  • The Kickstarter that Ka-Yee is running for her new book SHAZZWICK OF LAND VOL1: Time Becomes Relevant
  • Aaron Fors as the talented narrator for the audiobook version
  • What Ka-Yee's book is about
  • How she sees the world differently now that she has written this novel

 

After the interview Mark shares a few reflections inspired by the interview.

Notes from Ka-Yee as mentioned in the interview:

Guidance I provided students to create their own weekly evaluation on their writing process
  • Before you begin, I encourage you to take stalk of your current process. What's your goal, what's your why, what works/doesn't, how often do you write, what resources do you need -- not what you WANT it to be, but what it is now.
  • Then create a survey using the guideline below. Answer the questions now as your baseline, then check in every week (ideally on the same day), revise the questions as you go. 
  • There is no wrong way to do this. These can be any format as you see fit, or a combination of. You can make the questions open-ended, some form of rating scales (e.g., rate from 0 to 10, or 1 = Completely Disagree to 5 = Complete Agree), multiple choice, or fill in the blanks. 
  • Just don't get too attached, you should be adjusting these as your process evolves or as life encroaches. 
Ask yourself 6-10 (ish) questions
  • 1-3 questions on what you did in the past week: e.g., did you change/stick with your process? did try something new? how did it go? were you able to stick to it?
  • 2-3 questions on how "productive" or "successful" you are--but remember, every one's measure of success is different. E.g., how much did you write? how good were the writing? how brave were you in sharing your work with others? how zen you were about taking feedback.
  • 2-3 questions on how you are flourishing vs languishing: e.g., do I have mental space to do OTHER things I love? Did I spend time with people who matter to me? Did I feel my life has purpose, joy, satisfaction, and meaning?
  • Last question: ask yourself something that gets to the "why" of your creative endeavour. WHY did you write this week? Did you remember to keep your eyes on that which drives you and keeps you up at night when you forget it. That which makes your writing something that you must do.
  • (okay, then the last last question: do I need to revise these questions for next week?) 
The most important thing is: again, update these questions as you go. This needs to be a living document, otherwise you aren't giving yourself room to grow and learn. 

 

Links of Interest:

 

Ka-Yee Essoe, Ph.D. (Psychology, UCLA; Psychiatry Postdoc, Johns Hopkins Medicine) is an assistant professor at a small, public university at rural Maine. As a cognitive neuroscientist specialising in learning enhancement, she understands the power of stories to instil empathy, resilience, joy, and hope. She began writing novels to do just that.

As an East Asian immigrant who enjoys many intercultural friendships, rich cultural diversity permeates the worlds and conflicts she crafts in her epic fantasy novels with integral love-story threads. Drawing on her personal experience and 10+ years mentoring others to navigate anxiety, disabilities, abuse, discrimination, trauma, and grief, her stories follow characters facing these struggles to encourage readers through their journeys and growth.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Ka-Yee Essoe about the power of stories to instil empathy, resilience, joy, and hope, based on her experiences in the academic world, in research, in teaching, and in writing an epic fantasy novel.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update and word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026.

In the interview, Mark and Ka-Yee talk about:

  • Mark and Ka-Yee's connection to Joshua EssoeKa-Yee's background with two different careers in academia
  • Studying how to help people learn therapeutic techniques better
  • Starting her creative writing journey in 2021
  • How this story (that became the first of a trilogy she is writing) started to unfold in her head as dialogue
  • 128,000 words of the first draft coming out in about 2 months of writing
  • Ka-Yee's move into an academic teaching role, which is something she's always wanted to do
  • One of the classes that Ka-Yee co-teaches for writers
  • HEXACO - the six-dimension personality test
  • Some of the opposite-character writing exercises that derive from this test
  • Debunking Myers-Briggs because it's not as science-based
  • Ka-Yee's desire to help writers to write who has some sort of disability
  • Helping students understand what therapy looks like and how to depict that relationship
  • Techniques on how to learn memory enhancement
  • How to evaluate routines and your process as a writer
  • The problem with getting into a habit of doing things a certain way and missing out on how to make it better
  • Ka-Yee not realizing she had ADHD until she was an adult
  • The side-effect of suffering from long Covid
  • The concept of deliberate rest
  • Applying the scientific principle to writing an epic fantasy novel
  • How people tend to have two different careers in their life
  • The Kickstarter that Ka-Yee is running for her new book SHAZZWICK OF LAND VOL1: Time Becomes Relevant
  • Aaron Fors as the talented narrator for the audiobook version
  • What Ka-Yee's book is about
  • How she sees the world differently now that she has written this novel

After the interview Mark shares a few reflections inspired by the interview.

Notes from Ka-Yee as mentioned in the interview:

Guidance I provided students to create their own weekly evaluation on their writing process
  • Before you begin, I encourage you to take stalk of your current process. What's your goal, what's your why, what works/doesn't, how often do you write, what resources do you need -- not what you WANT it to be, but what it is now.
  • Then create a survey using the guideline below. Answer the questions now as your baseline, then check in every week (ideally on the same day), revise the questions as you go.
  • There is no wrong way to do this. These can be any format as you see fit, or a combination of. You can make the questions open-ended, some form of rating scales (e.g., rate from 0 to 10, or 1 = Completely Disagree to 5 = Complete Agree), multiple choice, or fill in the blanks.
  • Just don't get too attached, you should be adjusting these as your process evolves or as life encroaches.
Ask yourself 6-10 (ish) questions
  • 1-3 questions on what you did in the past week: e.g., did you change/stick with your process? did try something new? how did it go? were you able to stick to it?
  • 2-3 questions on how "productive" or "successful" you are--but remember, every one's measure of success is different. E.g., how much did you write? how good were the writing? how brave were you in sharing your work with others? how zen you were about taking feedback.
  • 2-3 questions on how you are flourishing vs languishing: e.g., do I have mental space to do OTHER things I love? Did I spend time with people who matter to me? Did I feel my life has purpose, joy, satisfaction, and meaning?
  • Last question: ask yourself something that gets to the "why" of your creative endeavour. WHY did you write this week? Did you remember to keep your eyes on that which drives you and keeps you up at night when you forget it. That which makes your writing something that you must do.
  • (okay, then the last last question: do I need to revise these questions for next week?)
The most important thing is: again, update these questions as you go. This needs to be a living document, otherwise you aren't giving yourself room to grow and learn.

Links of Interest:

Ka-Yee Essoe, Ph.D. (Psychology, UCLA; Psychiatry Postdoc, Johns Hopkins Medicine) is an assistant professor at a small, public university at rural Maine. As a cognitive neuroscientist specialising in learning enhancement, she understands the power of stories to instil empathy, resilience, joy, and hope. She began writing novels to do just that.

As an East Asian immigrant who enjoys many intercultural friendships, rich cultural diversity permeates the worlds and conflicts she crafts in her epic fantasy novels with integral love-story threads. Drawing on her personal experience and 10+ years mentoring others to navigate anxiety, disabilities, abuse, discrimination, trauma, and grief, her stories follow characters facing these struggles to encourage readers through their journeys and growth.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 46:46 false 9 461 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Ka-Yee Essoe about the power of stories to instil empathy, resilience, joy, and hope, based on her experiences in the academic world, in research, in teaching, and in writing an epic fantasy novel. Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update and word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026. In the interview, Mark and Ka-Yee talk about: Mark and Ka-Yee's connection to Joshua EssoeKa-Yee's background with two different careers in academia Studying how to help people learn therapeutic techniques better Starting her creative writing journey in 2021 How this story (that became the first of a trilogy she is writing) started to unfold in her head as dialogue 128,000 words of the first draft coming out in about 2 months of writing Ka-Yee's move into an academic teaching role, which is something she's always wanted to do One of the classes that Ka-Yee co-teaches for writers HEXACO - the six-dimension personality test Some of the opposite-character writing exercises that derive from this test Debunking Myers-Briggs because it's not as science-based Ka-Yee's desire to help writers to write who has some sort of disability Helping students understand what therapy looks like and how to depict that relationship Techniques on how to learn memory enhancement How to evaluate routines and your process as a writer The problem with getting into a habit of doing things a certain way and missing out on how to make it better Ka-Yee not realizing she had ADHD until she was an adult The side-effect of suffering from long Covid The concept of deliberate rest Applying the scientific principle to writing an epic fantasy novel How people tend to have two different careers in their life The Kickstarter that Ka-Yee is running for her new book SHAZZWICK OF LAND VOL1: Time Becomes Relevant Aaron Fors as the talented narrator for the audiobook version What Ka-Yee's book is about How she sees the world differently now that she has written this novel   After the interview Mark shares a few reflections inspired by the interview. Notes from Ka-Yee as mentioned in the interview: Guidance I provided students to create their own weekly evaluation on their writing process Before you begin, I encourage you to take stalk of your current process. What's your goal, what's your why, what works/doesn't, how often do you write, what resources do you need -- not what you WANT it to be, but what it is now. Then create a survey using the guideline below. Answer the questions now as your baseline, then check in every week (ideally on the same day), revise the questions as you go.  There is no wrong way to do this. These can be any format as you see fit, or a combination of. You can make the questions open-ended, some form of rating scales (e.g., rate from 0 to 10, or 1 = Completely Disagree to 5 = Complete Agree), multiple choice, or fill in the blanks.  Just don't get too attached, you should be adjusting these as your process evolves or as life encroaches.  Ask yourself 6-10 (ish) questions 1-3 questions on what you did in the past week: e.g., did you change/stick with your process? did try something new? how did it go? were you able to stick to it? 2-3 questions on how "productive" or "successful" you are--but remember, every one's measure of success is different. E.g., how much did you write? how good were the writing? how brave were you in sharing your work with others? how zen you were about taking feedback. 2-3 questions on how you are flourishing vs languishing: e.g., do I have mental space to do OTHER things I love? Did I spend time with people who matter to me? Did I feel my life has purpose, joy, satisfaction, and meaning? Last question: ask yourself something that gets to the "why" of your creative endeavour. WHY did you write this week? Did you remember to keep your eyes on that which drives you and keeps you up at night when you forget it. That which makes your writing something that you must do. (okay, then the last last question: do I need to revise these questions for next week?)  The most important thing is: again, update these questions as you go. This needs to be a living document, otherwise you aren't giving yourself room to grow and learn.    Links of Interest: Snow Quill Press The Novel: Shazzwick of Land, Vol. 1: Time Becomes Relevant Kickstarter for Shazzwick of Land Vol 1 HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised (by Drs. Lee and Ashton (2009, 2018)) HEXACO is a 6-factor personality test that measures personality across six dimensions: Honesty-humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness. There's also a bonus trait, Altruism, that pools from subscales within the 6 larger traits.  The Big Five Personality Inventory (by Goldberg (1992)) The Big Five is probably the most widely used personality test in psychology. It measures personality across five dimensions, often forming the acronym of OCEAN or CANEO: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. Episode 137 - Action Sequences and Sex Scenes with Joshua Essoe Episode 260 - Mood, Atmosphere, and Worldbuilding with Joshua Essoe Superstars Writing Seminars Stark Reflections on Pushing for Better (Team Landing Page) CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association) Mental Health Meter What's Your Stress Index? Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Ka-Yee Essoe, Ph.D. (Psychology, UCLA; Psychiatry Postdoc, Johns Hopkins Medicine) is an assistant professor at a small, public university at rural Maine. As a cognitive neuroscientist specialising in learning enhancement, she understands the power of stories to instil empathy, resilience, joy, and hope. She began writing novels to do just that. As an East Asian immigrant who enjoys many intercultural friendships, rich cultural diversity permeates the worlds and conflicts she crafts in her epic fantasy novels with integral love-story threads. Drawing on her personal experience and 10+ years mentoring others to navigate anxiety, disabilities, abuse, discrimination, trauma, and grief, her stories follow characters facing these struggles to encourage readers through their journeys and growth.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Ka-Yee Essoe about the power of stories to instil empathy, resilience, joy, and hope, based on her experiences in the academic world, in research, in teaching, and in writing an epic fantasy novel. Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update and word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026. In the interview, Mark and Ka-Yee talk about: Mark and Ka-Yee's connection to Joshua EssoeKa-Yee's background with two different careers in academia Studying how to help people learn therapeutic techniques better Starting her creative writing journey in 2021 How this story (that became the first of a trilogy she is writing) started to unfold in her head as dialogue 128,000 words of the first draft coming out in about 2 months of writing Ka-Yee's move into an academic teaching role, which is something she's always wanted to do One of the classes that Ka-Yee co-teaches for writers HEXACO - the six-dimension personality test Some of the opposite-character writing exercises that derive from this test Debunking Myers-Briggs because it's not as science-based Ka-Yee's desire to help writers to write who has some sort of disability Helping students understand what therapy looks like and how to depict that relationship Techniques on how to learn memory enhancement How to evaluate routines and your process as a writer The problem with getting into a habit of doing things a certain way and missing out on how to make it better Ka-Yee not realizing she had ADHD until she was an adult The side-effect of suffering from long Covid The concept of deliberate rest Applying the scientific principle to writing an epic fantasy novel How people tend to have two different careers in their life The Kickstarter that Ka-Yee is running for her new book SHAZZWICK OF LAND VOL1: Time Becomes Relevant Aaron Fors as the talented narrator for the audiobook version What Ka-Yee's book is about How she sees the world differently now that she has written this novel   After the interview Mark shares a few reflections inspired by the interview. Notes from Ka-Yee as mentioned in the interview: Guidance I provided students to create their own weekly evaluation on their writing process Before you begin, I encourage you to take stalk of your current process. What's your goal, what's your why, what works/doesn't, how often do you write, what resources do you need -- not what you WANT it to be, but what it is now. Then create a survey using the guideline below. Answer the questions now as your baseline, then check in every week (ideally on the same day), revise the questions as you go.  There is no wrong way to do this. These can be any format as you see fit, or a combination of. You can make the questions open-ended, some form of rating scales (e.g., rate from 0 to 10, or 1 = Completely Disagree to 5 = Complete Agree), multiple choice, or fill in the blanks.  Just don't get too attached, you should be adjusting these as your process evolves or as life encroaches.  Ask yourself 6-10 (ish) questions 1-3 questions on what you did in the past week: e.g., did you change/stick with your process? did try something new? how did it go? were you able to stick to it? 2-3 questions on how "productive" or "successful" you are--but remember, every one's measure of success is different. E.g., how much did you write? how good were the writing? how brave were you in sharing your work with others? how zen you were about taking feedback. 2-3 questions on how you are flourishing vs languishing: e.g., do I have mental space to do OTHER things I love? Did I spend time with people who matter to me? Did I feel my life has purpose, joy, satisfaction, and meaning? Last question: ask yourself something that gets to the "why" of your creative endeavour. WHY did you write this week? Did you remember to keep your eyes on that which drives you and keeps you up at night when you forget it. That which makes your writing something that you must do. (okay, then the last last question: do I need to revise these questions for next week?)  The most important thing is: again, update these questions as you go. This needs to be a living document, otherwise you aren't giving yourself room to grow and learn.    Links of Interest: Snow Quill Press The Novel: Shazzwick of Land, Vol. 1: Time Becomes Relevant Kickstarter for Shazzwick of Land Vol 1 HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised (by Drs. Lee and Ashton (2009, 2018)) HEXACO is a 6-factor personality test that measures personality across six dimensions: Honesty-humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness. There's also a bonus trait, Altruism, that pools from subscales within the 6 larger traits.  The Big Five Personality Inventory (by Goldberg (1992)) The Big Five is probably the most widely used personality test in psychology. It measures personality across five dimensions, often forming the acronym of OCEAN or CANEO: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. Episode 137 - Action Sequences and Sex Scenes with Joshua Essoe Episode 260 - Mood, Atmosphere, and Worldbuilding with Joshua Essoe Superstars Writing Seminars Stark Reflections on Pushing for Better (Team Landing Page) CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association) Mental Health Meter What's Your Stress Index? Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Ka-Yee Essoe, Ph.D. (Psychology, UCLA; Psychiatry Postdoc, Johns Hopkins Medicine) is an assistant professor at a small, public university at rural Maine. As a cognitive neuroscientist specialising in learning enhancement, she understands the power of stories to instil empathy, resilience, joy, and hope. She began writing novels to do just that. As an East Asian immigrant who enjoys many intercultural friendships, rich cultural diversity permeates the worlds and conflicts she crafts in her epic fantasy novels with integral love-story threads. Drawing on her personal experience and 10+ years mentoring others to navigate anxiety, disabilities, abuse, discrimination, trauma, and grief, her stories follow characters facing these struggles to encourage readers through their journeys and growth.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 460 - Rambling Reflections From The Road: You Are Loved Rambling Reflections From The Road: You Are Loved Sat, 07 Feb 2026 13:47:00 +0000 In this short solo episode Mark shares a "Rambling Reflection From The Road" while at Superstars Writing Seminars talking about the important signals that seemed to come at the right time:

  • Your feelings are valid
  • Your opinions matter
  • You are irreplaceable
  • Your best is enough
  • It's okay to take a break
  • You are loved

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> In this short solo episode Mark shares a "Rambling Reflection From The Road" while at Superstars Writing Seminars talking about the important signals that seemed to come at the right time:

  • Your feelings are valid
  • Your opinions matter
  • You are irreplaceable
  • Your best is enough
  • It's okay to take a break
  • You are loved

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 14:48 false 9 460 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this short solo episode Mark shares a "Rambling Reflection From The Road" while at Superstars Writing Seminars talking about the important signals that seemed to come at the right time: Your feelings are valid Your opinions matter You are irreplaceable Your best is enough It's okay to take a break You are loved   Links of Interest: EP 459 - Creating Experiences in Art and Story with Tanya Hales Superstars Writing Seminars James A. - Everything is Signal Stark Reflections on Pushing for Better (Team Landing Page) CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association) Mental Health Meter What's Your Stress Index? Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this short solo episode Mark shares a "Rambling Reflection From The Road" while at Superstars Writing Seminars talking about the important signals that seemed to come at the right time: Your feelings are valid Your opinions matter You are irreplaceable Your best is enough It's okay to take a break You are loved   Links of Interest: EP 459 - Creating Experiences in Art and Story with Tanya Hales Superstars Writing Seminars James A. - Everything is Signal Stark Reflections on Pushing for Better (Team Landing Page) CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association) Mental Health Meter What's Your Stress Index? Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 459 - Creating Experiences in Art and Story with Tanya Hales Creating Experiences in Art and Story with Tanya Hales Fri, 30 Jan 2026 21:10:00 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews author and artist Tanya Hales.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In the interview Mark and Tanya talk about:

  • When Tanya and Mark first met: at Superstars Writing Seminars
  • The sketch that Tanya made of Mark at SSWS when he was speaking there
  • Identifying herself as equal parts author and illustrator
  • The value of CREATING EXPERIENCES with people
  • How long Tanya has been creating art and how her mother was instrumental in getting her into art
  • The "nature-based" element and love of animals that are recurring in Tanya's art
  • Writing novels in spiral-ring notebooks by the time of Fifth Grade
  • The first time Tanya put her art out into the world at the age of sixteen
  • Handy and helpful resources available to Tanya in her high school
  • The "Doodle Dudes" that Tanya had created back then
  • Doing a lot more digital art lately for logistical parental reasons
  • How one of Tanya's skills is being able to adapt to new things relatively easily
  • Being in different modes, such as writing, editing, art
  • Various Kickstarter projects Tanya has done and is currently doing
  • The Animal Magica Coloring Books Tanya has created
  • Why Tanya thinks that it's evitable that she creates the way she does
  • The first full-length novel in the Animal Magica universe
  • The first cozy fantasy novel that Tanya recently released

After the interview Mark reflections on passion and creating experiences.

 

Links of Interest:

 

When Tanya Hales was a baby, she enjoyed books by chewing them to pieces before eventually moving on to the higher art of reading. Tanya splits her time between her work as a writer, an illustrator, and a mother, all of which she loves intensely. She now lives in Utah with her husband and four children, illustrating coloring books, writing YA fantasy, making cute stickers, and daydreaming constantly about imaginary worlds.

Tanya is the creator of YA epic fantasy as well as the Animal Magica fantasy coloring book series, books made in collaboration with dozens of other authors who contributed beautiful short stores to pair with the art.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews author and artist Tanya Hales.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In the interview Mark and Tanya talk about:

  • When Tanya and Mark first met: at Superstars Writing Seminars
  • The sketch that Tanya made of Mark at SSWS when he was speaking there
  • Identifying herself as equal parts author and illustrator
  • The value of CREATING EXPERIENCES with people
  • How long Tanya has been creating art and how her mother was instrumental in getting her into art
  • The "nature-based" element and love of animals that are recurring in Tanya's art
  • Writing novels in spiral-ring notebooks by the time of Fifth Grade
  • The first time Tanya put her art out into the world at the age of sixteen
  • Handy and helpful resources available to Tanya in her high school
  • The "Doodle Dudes" that Tanya had created back then
  • Doing a lot more digital art lately for logistical parental reasons
  • How one of Tanya's skills is being able to adapt to new things relatively easily
  • Being in different modes, such as writing, editing, art
  • Various Kickstarter projects Tanya has done and is currently doing
  • The Animal Magica Coloring Books Tanya has created
  • Why Tanya thinks that it's evitable that she creates the way she does
  • The first full-length novel in the Animal Magica universe
  • The first cozy fantasy novel that Tanya recently released

After the interview Mark reflections on passion and creating experiences.

Links of Interest:

When Tanya Hales was a baby, she enjoyed books by chewing them to pieces before eventually moving on to the higher art of reading. Tanya splits her time between her work as a writer, an illustrator, and a mother, all of which she loves intensely. She now lives in Utah with her husband and four children, illustrating coloring books, writing YA fantasy, making cute stickers, and daydreaming constantly about imaginary worlds.

Tanya is the creator of YA epic fantasy as well as the Animal Magica fantasy coloring book series, books made in collaboration with dozens of other authors who contributed beautiful short stores to pair with the art.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:03:28 false 9 459 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews author and artist Tanya Hales. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview Mark and Tanya talk about: When Tanya and Mark first met: at Superstars Writing Seminars The sketch that Tanya made of Mark at SSWS when he was speaking there Identifying herself as equal parts author and illustrator The value of CREATING EXPERIENCES with people How long Tanya has been creating art and how her mother was instrumental in getting her into art The "nature-based" element and love of animals that are recurring in Tanya's art Writing novels in spiral-ring notebooks by the time of Fifth Grade The first time Tanya put her art out into the world at the age of sixteen Handy and helpful resources available to Tanya in her high school The "Doodle Dudes" that Tanya had created back then Doing a lot more digital art lately for logistical parental reasons How one of Tanya's skills is being able to adapt to new things relatively easily Being in different modes, such as writing, editing, art Various Kickstarter projects Tanya has done and is currently doing The Animal Magica Coloring Books Tanya has created Why Tanya thinks that it's evitable that she creates the way she does The first full-length novel in the Animal Magica universe The first cozy fantasy novel that Tanya recently released After the interview Mark reflections on passion and creating experiences.   Links of Interest: Tanya Hales Website Tanya's Substack Article: "It Was Inevitable" Tanya's "Go, Writer, Go" - Humorous Parody Book for Writers Kickstarter Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   When Tanya Hales was a baby, she enjoyed books by chewing them to pieces before eventually moving on to the higher art of reading. Tanya splits her time between her work as a writer, an illustrator, and a mother, all of which she loves intensely. She now lives in Utah with her husband and four children, illustrating coloring books, writing YA fantasy, making cute stickers, and daydreaming constantly about imaginary worlds. Tanya is the creator of YA epic fantasy as well as the Animal Magica fantasy coloring book series, books made in collaboration with dozens of other authors who contributed beautiful short stores to pair with the art.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews author and artist Tanya Hales. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview Mark and Tanya talk about: When Tanya and Mark first met: at Superstars Writing Seminars The sketch that Tanya made of Mark at SSWS when he was speaking there Identifying herself as equal parts author and illustrator The value of CREATING EXPERIENCES with people How long Tanya has been creating art and how her mother was instrumental in getting her into art The "nature-based" element and love of animals that are recurring in Tanya's art Writing novels in spiral-ring notebooks by the time of Fifth Grade The first time Tanya put her art out into the world at the age of sixteen Handy and helpful resources available to Tanya in her high school The "Doodle Dudes" that Tanya had created back then Doing a lot more digital art lately for logistical parental reasons How one of Tanya's skills is being able to adapt to new things relatively easily Being in different modes, such as writing, editing, art Various Kickstarter projects Tanya has done and is currently doing The Animal Magica Coloring Books Tanya has created Why Tanya thinks that it's evitable that she creates the way she does The first full-length novel in the Animal Magica universe The first cozy fantasy novel that Tanya recently released After the interview Mark reflections on passion and creating experiences.   Links of Interest: Tanya Hales Website Tanya's Substack Article: "It Was Inevitable" Tanya's "Go, Writer, Go" - Humorous Parody Book for Writers Kickstarter Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   When Tanya Hales was a baby, she enjoyed books by chewing them to pieces before eventually moving on to the higher art of reading. Tanya splits her time between her work as a writer, an illustrator, and a mother, all of which she loves intensely. She now lives in Utah with her husband and four children, illustrating coloring books, writing YA fantasy, making cute stickers, and daydreaming constantly about imaginary worlds. Tanya is the creator of YA epic fantasy as well as the Animal Magica fantasy coloring book series, books made in collaboration with dozens of other authors who contributed beautiful short stores to pair with the art.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 458 - Push For Better Push For Better Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:53:00 +0000 In this brief bonus episode Mark shares an annual "Push for Better" Push-Up challenge he has joined for the third Feb in a row and the fact he has created a team that others can join.

The Push-Up Challenge is one that combines fun physical activity (2000 pushups between Feb 5 and Feb 27, 2026) with support for Mental Health Awareness and fundraising.

Team Landing Page: Stark Reflections on Pushing for Better

The Canadian version of this program raises funds for CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association).

Links of Interest:

 

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> In this brief bonus episode Mark shares an annual "Push for Better" Push-Up challenge he has joined for the third Feb in a row and the fact he has created a team that others can join.

The Push-Up Challenge is one that combines fun physical activity (2000 pushups between Feb 5 and Feb 27, 2026) with support for Mental Health Awareness and fundraising.

Team Landing Page: Stark Reflections on Pushing for Better

The Canadian version of this program raises funds for CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association).

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 09:56 false 9 458 bonus Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this brief bonus episode Mark shares an annual "Push for Better" Push-Up challenge he has joined for the third Feb in a row and the fact he has created a team that others can join. The Push-Up Challenge is one that combines fun physical activity (2000 pushups between Feb 5 and Feb 27, 2026) with support for Mental Health Awareness and fundraising. Team Landing Page: Stark Reflections on Pushing for Better The Canadian version of this program raises funds for CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association). Links of Interest: Stark Reflections on Pushing for Better (Team Landing Page) CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association) Mental Health Meter What's Your Stress Index? Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises       The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this brief bonus episode Mark shares an annual "Push for Better" Push-Up challenge he has joined for the third Feb in a row and the fact he has created a team that others can join. The Push-Up Challenge is one that combines fun physical activity (2000 pushups between Feb 5 and Feb 27, 2026) with support for Mental Health Awareness and fundraising. Team Landing Page: Stark Reflections on Pushing for Better The Canadian version of this program raises funds for CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association). Links of Interest: Stark Reflections on Pushing for Better (Team Landing Page) CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association) Mental Health Meter What's Your Stress Index? Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises       The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 457 - A Show That Makes You Smile with The Patrick Scott Patterson Project A Show That Makes You Smile with The Patrick Scott Patterson Project Sun, 25 Jan 2026 21:56:00 +0000 Mark interviews Scott from The Patrick Scott Patterson Project Podcast.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In the interview Mark and Scott talk about:

  • How Scott got into the current numerous roles that he is participating in today, including podcasting
  • Being inspired by the dreams that his parents had but which they pushed off to the side
  • The pro wrestling experience that he did for 10 years
  • The importance of deciding to try
  • Scott's reasoning behind the Patrick Scott Patterson Project
  • How at the end of the day we're all human beings - some folks have just reached for their dreams
  • Interviewing notable celebrities on Scott's podcast
  • Doing the interviews well in advance and having a good 10 episodes in the can already
  • The two year plan that Scott has created for the podcast
  • The positivity in Scott's podcast and what he is doing
  • All the stressful things Scott was going through around the time of the pandemic
  • How Drew Barrymore's new talk show was exactly what Sco
  • needed to get through those hard days
  • The way that Drew Barrymore makes Scott smile - period!
  • How something Barrymore said in one of those episodes really struck with Scott
  • The incredible power of doing/saying even the smallest nice thing such as "have a nice day" which can make a huge difference in someone else's life
  • How Scott feels better himself when he's being kind to someone
  • Meeting Drew Barrymore on her 50th Birthday episode taping after more than 42 years of first seeing her with his mom when he was 7 and they went to see E.T.
  • Some of the favorite moments on Scott's podcast
  • Advice Scott would offer to writers who haven't yet put their work out into the world
  • How Scott first got on Collector's Call because of a fluffy news story from 5 years earlier
  • Gary K Wolf's story about how many times his book "Who Wacked Roger Rabbit" was repeatedly rejected over the years. He never gave up, and it's, incidentally his most well-known book. The movie adaptation would never have happened

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that Scott said about positivity, creating "comfort food" moments, and the importance of having things out there and how it can lead to opportunities.

Links of Interest:

 

Patrick Scott Patterson is a Texas-based pop culture personality, video game historian, and podcaster. Over the decades, he's moved from professional wrestling rings to television cameras, working with G4tv to produce the first-ever live arcade world record broadcast. He has appeared in documentaries like Nintendo Quest and on MeTV's Collector's Call. He's spoken at San Diego Comic-Con and SXSW, and runs Hyperspace Arcade Repair out of Denton, Texas, where he keeps vintage arcade machines alive for collectors.

In 2025, Scott launched The Patrick Scott Patterson Project, a podcast about chasing goals and following unexpected paths—inspired by finally meeting his lifelong celebrity crush, Drew Barrymore, which taught him that the dreams we pursue have a way of opening doors we never anticipated.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Scott from The Patrick Scott Patterson Project Podcast.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In the interview Mark and Scott talk about:

  • How Scott got into the current numerous roles that he is participating in today, including podcasting
  • Being inspired by the dreams that his parents had but which they pushed off to the side
  • The pro wrestling experience that he did for 10 years
  • The importance of deciding to try
  • Scott's reasoning behind the Patrick Scott Patterson Project
  • How at the end of the day we're all human beings - some folks have just reached for their dreams
  • Interviewing notable celebrities on Scott's podcast
  • Doing the interviews well in advance and having a good 10 episodes in the can already
  • The two year plan that Scott has created for the podcast
  • The positivity in Scott's podcast and what he is doing
  • All the stressful things Scott was going through around the time of the pandemic
  • How Drew Barrymore's new talk show was exactly what Sco
  • needed to get through those hard days
  • The way that Drew Barrymore makes Scott smile - period!
  • How something Barrymore said in one of those episodes really struck with Scott
  • The incredible power of doing/saying even the smallest nice thing such as "have a nice day" which can make a huge difference in someone else's life
  • How Scott feels better himself when he's being kind to someone
  • Meeting Drew Barrymore on her 50th Birthday episode taping after more than 42 years of first seeing her with his mom when he was 7 and they went to see E.T.
  • Some of the favorite moments on Scott's podcast
  • Advice Scott would offer to writers who haven't yet put their work out into the world
  • How Scott first got on Collector's Call because of a fluffy news story from 5 years earlier
  • Gary K Wolf's story about how many times his book "Who Wacked Roger Rabbit" was repeatedly rejected over the years. He never gave up, and it's, incidentally his most well-known book. The movie adaptation would never have happened

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that Scott said about positivity, creating "comfort food" moments, and the importance of having things out there and how it can lead to opportunities.

Links of Interest:

Patrick Scott Patterson is a Texas-based pop culture personality, video game historian, and podcaster. Over the decades, he's moved from professional wrestling rings to television cameras, working with G4tv to produce the first-ever live arcade world record broadcast. He has appeared in documentaries like Nintendo Quest and on MeTV's Collector's Call. He's spoken at San Diego Comic-Con and SXSW, and runs Hyperspace Arcade Repair out of Denton, Texas, where he keeps vintage arcade machines alive for collectors.

In 2025, Scott launched The Patrick Scott Patterson Project, a podcast about chasing goals and following unexpected paths—inspired by finally meeting his lifelong celebrity crush, Drew Barrymore, which taught him that the dreams we pursue have a way of opening doors we never anticipated.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:21:57 false 9 457 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Scott from The Patrick Scott Patterson Project Podcast. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview Mark and Scott talk about: How Scott got into the current numerous roles that he is participating in today, including podcasting Being inspired by the dreams that his parents had but which they pushed off to the side The pro wrestling experience that he did for 10 years The importance of deciding to try Scott's reasoning behind the Patrick Scott Patterson Project How at the end of the day we're all human beings - some folks have just reached for their dreams Interviewing notable celebrities on Scott's podcast Doing the interviews well in advance and having a good 10 episodes in the can already The two year plan that Scott has created for the podcast The positivity in Scott's podcast and what he is doing All the stressful things Scott was going through around the time of the pandemic How Drew Barrymore's new talk show was exactly what Sco needed to get through those hard days The way that Drew Barrymore makes Scott smile - period! How something Barrymore said in one of those episodes really struck with Scott The incredible power of doing/saying even the smallest nice thing such as "have a nice day" which can make a huge difference in someone else's life How Scott feels better himself when he's being kind to someone Meeting Drew Barrymore on her 50th Birthday episode taping after more than 42 years of first seeing her with his mom when he was 7 and they went to see E.T. Some of the favorite moments on Scott's podcast Advice Scott would offer to writers who haven't yet put their work out into the world How Scott first got on Collector's Call because of a fluffy news story from 5 years earlier Gary K Wolf's story about how many times his book "Who Wacked Roger Rabbit" was repeatedly rejected over the years. He never gave up, and it's, incidentally his most well-known book. The movie adaptation would never have happened After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that Scott said about positivity, creating "comfort food" moments, and the importance of having things out there and how it can lead to opportunities. Links of Interest: Patrick Scott Patterson's Website YouTube Channel CBC - Cost of Living - How Scholastic Book Fairs Became Tight With Canadian Schools Mini Trailer for LOVER'S MOON (Romantic Comedy) Full Audio of LOVER'S MOON Read by the Authors (YouTube) Patreon Post (Free for anyone to read): I Get Knocked Down, But I Get Up Again! Substack article: Eight Years, 452 Episodes, And One Important Lesson Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Patrick Scott Patterson is a Texas-based pop culture personality, video game historian, and podcaster. Over the decades, he's moved from professional wrestling rings to television cameras, working with G4tv to produce the first-ever live arcade world record broadcast. He has appeared in documentaries like Nintendo Quest and on MeTV's Collector's Call. He's spoken at San Diego Comic-Con and SXSW, and runs Hyperspace Arcade Repair out of Denton, Texas, where he keeps vintage arcade machines alive for collectors. In 2025, Scott launched The Patrick Scott Patterson Project, a podcast about chasing goals and following unexpected paths—inspired by finally meeting his lifelong celebrity crush, Drew Barrymore, which taught him that the dreams we pursue have a way of opening doors we never anticipated.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Scott from The Patrick Scott Patterson Project Podcast. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview Mark and Scott talk about: How Scott got into the current numerous roles that he is participating in today, including podcasting Being inspired by the dreams that his parents had but which they pushed off to the side The pro wrestling experience that he did for 10 years The importance of deciding to try Scott's reasoning behind the Patrick Scott Patterson Project How at the end of the day we're all human beings - some folks have just reached for their dreams Interviewing notable celebrities on Scott's podcast Doing the interviews well in advance and having a good 10 episodes in the can already The two year plan that Scott has created for the podcast The positivity in Scott's podcast and what he is doing All the stressful things Scott was going through around the time of the pandemic How Drew Barrymore's new talk show was exactly what Sco needed to get through those hard days The way that Drew Barrymore makes Scott smile - period! How something Barrymore said in one of those episodes really struck with Scott The incredible power of doing/saying even the smallest nice thing such as "have a nice day" which can make a huge difference in someone else's life How Scott feels better himself when he's being kind to someone Meeting Drew Barrymore on her 50th Birthday episode taping after more than 42 years of first seeing her with his mom when he was 7 and they went to see E.T. Some of the favorite moments on Scott's podcast Advice Scott would offer to writers who haven't yet put their work out into the world How Scott first got on Collector's Call because of a fluffy news story from 5 years earlier Gary K Wolf's story about how many times his book "Who Wacked Roger Rabbit" was repeatedly rejected over the years. He never gave up, and it's, incidentally his most well-known book. The movie adaptation would never have happened After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that Scott said about positivity, creating "comfort food" moments, and the importance of having things out there and how it can lead to opportunities. Links of Interest: Patrick Scott Patterson's Website YouTube Channel CBC - Cost of Living - How Scholastic Book Fairs Became Tight With Canadian Schools Mini Trailer for LOVER'S MOON (Romantic Comedy) Full Audio of LOVER'S MOON Read by the Authors (YouTube) Patreon Post (Free for anyone to read): I Get Knocked Down, But I Get Up Again! Substack article: Eight Years, 452 Episodes, And One Important Lesson Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Patrick Scott Patterson is a Texas-based pop culture personality, video game historian, and podcaster. Over the decades, he's moved from professional wrestling rings to television cameras, working with G4tv to produce the first-ever live arcade world record broadcast. He has appeared in documentaries like Nintendo Quest and on MeTV's Collector's Call. He's spoken at San Diego Comic-Con and SXSW, and runs Hyperspace Arcade Repair out of Denton, Texas, where he keeps vintage arcade machines alive for collectors. In 2025, Scott launched The Patrick Scott Patterson Project, a podcast about chasing goals and following unexpected paths—inspired by finally meeting his lifelong celebrity crush, Drew Barrymore, which taught him that the dreams we pursue have a way of opening doors we never anticipated.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 456 - The Published Novelist Saves Schrödinger's Cat! The Published Novelist Saves Schrödinger's Cat! Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:46:00 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark reads a new article entitled:

The Published Novelist Saves Schrödinger's Cat! How to Improve the Odds Before You Open the Box—OR—What Writers Can Control While Their Book's Fate Remains Uncertain

Links of Interest:

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode, Mark reads a new article entitled:

The Published Novelist Saves Schrödinger's Cat! How to Improve the Odds Before You Open the Box—OR—What Writers Can Control While Their Book's Fate Remains Uncertain

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 24:01 false 9 456 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark reads a new article entitled: The Published Novelist Saves Schrödinger's Cat! How to Improve the Odds Before You Open the Box—OR—What Writers Can Control While Their Book's Fate Remains Uncertain Links of Interest: Substack Article Link The Dialogue Doctor Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode, Mark reads a new article entitled: The Published Novelist Saves Schrödinger's Cat! How to Improve the Odds Before You Open the Box—OR—What Writers Can Control While Their Book's Fate Remains Uncertain Links of Interest: Substack Article Link The Dialogue Doctor Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 455 - Kobo Insights with Tara Cremin, Director of Kobo Writing Life Kobo Insights with Tara Cremin, Director of Kobo Writing Life Fri, 16 Jan 2026 17:52:00 +0000 Mark interviews Tara Cremin, Director of Kobo Writing Life about Kobo, Kobo Plus, and the self-publishing platform Kobo Writing Life (KWL).

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and Tara talk about:

  • Tara's background and how she got into the reading/writing world and Kobo
  • Kobo's distinct identity as a platform that is exclusively dedicated to READING
  • How Kobo is the 2nd largest seller of eReading devices in the world
  • Kobo releasing 1 to 2 devices a year and the importance of a distraction-free reading experience
  • The Kobo Clara Colour and the Kobo Libra Colour devices
  • The option of connecting your Google Drive and OverDrive (AKA Libby) library account to a Kobo device for seamless reading of your personal content and library books
  • Being able to add different colours to your highlights when making notes on your Kobo
  • Tara's advice for readers who've not yet attempted a "digital reading diet"
  • The "forever reading" option that now exists within the Kobo reading experience
  • The self-publishing platform Kobo Writing Life and how it's designed to making the publishing process as painless as possible
  • What listeners can expect to hear on the Kobo Writing Life Podcast
  • Kobo Writing Life's "worst-kept secret" of the marketing tab/tool
  • A little bit about how Kobo Plus works for authors
  • The growth in revenue of Kobo Plus around the world in the past few years (it's now available in 28 countries)
  • Partnering with a publisher in Portugal to create a subscription service
  • The importance for authors of always thinking about Kobo in a global sense
  • The value that comes with being in front of the most engaged readers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on numerous things about Kobo that authors should consider when thinking about marketing their books (as well as the amazing people who work there)

 

Links of Interest:

 

Tara Cremin is the Director of Kobo Writing Life (KWL), Kobo's self-publishing platform. Combining her love for books with a decade of indie publishing expertise, she champions independent authors. Tara is focused on making KWL the most intuitive, author-friendly platform, helping authors reach readers globally. Leading a team of book enthusiasts, she also hosts live events featuring authors and industry experts, sparking engaging conversations and is a regular voice on the Kobo Writing Life Podcast.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Tara Cremin, Director of Kobo Writing Life about Kobo, Kobo Plus, and the self-publishing platform Kobo Writing Life (KWL).

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and Tara talk about:

  • Tara's background and how she got into the reading/writing world and Kobo
  • Kobo's distinct identity as a platform that is exclusively dedicated to READING
  • How Kobo is the 2nd largest seller of eReading devices in the world
  • Kobo releasing 1 to 2 devices a year and the importance of a distraction-free reading experience
  • The Kobo Clara Colour and the Kobo Libra Colour devices
  • The option of connecting your Google Drive and OverDrive (AKA Libby) library account to a Kobo device for seamless reading of your personal content and library books
  • Being able to add different colours to your highlights when making notes on your Kobo
  • Tara's advice for readers who've not yet attempted a "digital reading diet"
  • The "forever reading" option that now exists within the Kobo reading experience
  • The self-publishing platform Kobo Writing Life and how it's designed to making the publishing process as painless as possible
  • What listeners can expect to hear on the Kobo Writing Life Podcast
  • Kobo Writing Life's "worst-kept secret" of the marketing tab/tool
  • A little bit about how Kobo Plus works for authors
  • The growth in revenue of Kobo Plus around the world in the past few years (it's now available in 28 countries)
  • Partnering with a publisher in Portugal to create a subscription service
  • The importance for authors of always thinking about Kobo in a global sense
  • The value that comes with being in front of the most engaged readers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on numerous things about Kobo that authors should consider when thinking about marketing their books (as well as the amazing people who work there)

Links of Interest:

Tara Cremin is the Director of Kobo Writing Life (KWL), Kobo's self-publishing platform. Combining her love for books with a decade of indie publishing expertise, she champions independent authors. Tara is focused on making KWL the most intuitive, author-friendly platform, helping authors reach readers globally. Leading a team of book enthusiasts, she also hosts live events featuring authors and industry experts, sparking engaging conversations and is a regular voice on the Kobo Writing Life Podcast.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 55:45 false 9 455 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Tara Cremin, Director of Kobo Writing Life about Kobo, Kobo Plus, and the self-publishing platform Kobo Writing Life (KWL). Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Tara talk about: Tara's background and how she got into the reading/writing world and Kobo Kobo's distinct identity as a platform that is exclusively dedicated to READING How Kobo is the 2nd largest seller of eReading devices in the world Kobo releasing 1 to 2 devices a year and the importance of a distraction-free reading experience The Kobo Clara Colour and the Kobo Libra Colour devices The option of connecting your Google Drive and OverDrive (AKA Libby) library account to a Kobo device for seamless reading of your personal content and library books Being able to add different colours to your highlights when making notes on your Kobo Tara's advice for readers who've not yet attempted a "digital reading diet" The "forever reading" option that now exists within the Kobo reading experience The self-publishing platform Kobo Writing Life and how it's designed to making the publishing process as painless as possible What listeners can expect to hear on the Kobo Writing Life Podcast Kobo Writing Life's "worst-kept secret" of the marketing tab/tool A little bit about how Kobo Plus works for authors The growth in revenue of Kobo Plus around the world in the past few years (it's now available in 28 countries) Partnering with a publisher in Portugal to create a subscription service The importance for authors of always thinking about Kobo in a global sense The value that comes with being in front of the most engaged readers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on numerous things about Kobo that authors should consider when thinking about marketing their books (as well as the amazing people who work there)   Links of Interest: Kobo Kobo Writing Life KWL Blog KWL Podcast Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Tara Cremin is the Director of Kobo Writing Life (KWL), Kobo's self-publishing platform. Combining her love for books with a decade of indie publishing expertise, she champions independent authors. Tara is focused on making KWL the most intuitive, author-friendly platform, helping authors reach readers globally. Leading a team of book enthusiasts, she also hosts live events featuring authors and industry experts, sparking engaging conversations and is a regular voice on the Kobo Writing Life Podcast.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Tara Cremin, Director of Kobo Writing Life about Kobo, Kobo Plus, and the self-publishing platform Kobo Writing Life (KWL). Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Tara talk about: Tara's background and how she got into the reading/writing world and Kobo Kobo's distinct identity as a platform that is exclusively dedicated to READING How Kobo is the 2nd largest seller of eReading devices in the world Kobo releasing 1 to 2 devices a year and the importance of a distraction-free reading experience The Kobo Clara Colour and the Kobo Libra Colour devices The option of connecting your Google Drive and OverDrive (AKA Libby) library account to a Kobo device for seamless reading of your personal content and library books Being able to add different colours to your highlights when making notes on your Kobo Tara's advice for readers who've not yet attempted a "digital reading diet" The "forever reading" option that now exists within the Kobo reading experience The self-publishing platform Kobo Writing Life and how it's designed to making the publishing process as painless as possible What listeners can expect to hear on the Kobo Writing Life Podcast Kobo Writing Life's "worst-kept secret" of the marketing tab/tool A little bit about how Kobo Plus works for authors The growth in revenue of Kobo Plus around the world in the past few years (it's now available in 28 countries) Partnering with a publisher in Portugal to create a subscription service The importance for authors of always thinking about Kobo in a global sense The value that comes with being in front of the most engaged readers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on numerous things about Kobo that authors should consider when thinking about marketing their books (as well as the amazing people who work there)   Links of Interest: Kobo Kobo Writing Life KWL Blog KWL Podcast Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Tara Cremin is the Director of Kobo Writing Life (KWL), Kobo's self-publishing platform. Combining her love for books with a decade of indie publishing expertise, she champions independent authors. Tara is focused on making KWL the most intuitive, author-friendly platform, helping authors reach readers globally. Leading a team of book enthusiasts, she also hosts live events featuring authors and industry experts, sparking engaging conversations and is a regular voice on the Kobo Writing Life Podcast.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 454 - Finding Surprising Success Publishing Kids' Books with Darcy Pattison Finding Surprising Success Publishing Kids' Books with Darcy Pattison Fri, 09 Jan 2026 01:37:00 +0000 Mark interviews award-winning author Darcy Pattison about publishing childrens' books.

In their conversation, Mark and Darcy talk about:

  • Darcy's background on getting into being an author of children's book
  • The 70 books Darcy has written in the past 13 years
  • The number of different illustrators Darcy has worked with over the years
  • The Moments in Science picture books Darcy has written with along with the specific illustrator who has worked on a dozen of those titles with her
  • The books for authors Darcy is releasing in January 2026 that collect details about the current state of publishing for children's books
  • The challenge of doing layout for a children's picture book
  • The importance of an author being clear on their own definition of success
  • How children's book authors can find the right illustrator and/or designer
  • How Darcy fulfills orders online for her books
  • Getting her books into education distributors (Follett, etc - Follett can order their books through Ingram)
  • The EPIC app and how Darcy earns money from it
  • The various reviews Darcy gets, including paid Kirkus reviews (which are important)
  • Who you are writing for versus who you are selling to when it comes to kids books
  • Fiction VS Non-Fiction
  • The importance/difference of being good at illustration versus being good at text (or even layout)
  • The challenge of scaling up things like school visits
  • The benefit of finding places that will sell a kids' book in bulk
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the unique element of the two audiences for childrens' books, as well as the efficient business mind-set Darcy adopted in her approach to how to grow a more scaleable author business.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews award-winning author Darcy Pattison about publishing childrens' books.

In their conversation, Mark and Darcy talk about:

  • Darcy's background on getting into being an author of children's book
  • The 70 books Darcy has written in the past 13 years
  • The number of different illustrators Darcy has worked with over the years
  • The Moments in Science picture books Darcy has written with along with the specific illustrator who has worked on a dozen of those titles with her
  • The books for authors Darcy is releasing in January 2026 that collect details about the current state of publishing for children's books
  • The challenge of doing layout for a children's picture book
  • The importance of an author being clear on their own definition of success
  • How children's book authors can find the right illustrator and/or designer
  • How Darcy fulfills orders online for her books
  • Getting her books into education distributors (Follett, etc - Follett can order their books through Ingram)
  • The EPIC app and how Darcy earns money from it
  • The various reviews Darcy gets, including paid Kirkus reviews (which are important)
  • Who you are writing for versus who you are selling to when it comes to kids books
  • Fiction VS Non-Fiction
  • The importance/difference of being good at illustration versus being good at text (or even layout)
  • The challenge of scaling up things like school visits
  • The benefit of finding places that will sell a kids' book in bulk
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the unique element of the two audiences for childrens' books, as well as the efficient business mind-set Darcy adopted in her approach to how to grow a more scaleable author business.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 49:24 false 9 454 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews award-winning author Darcy Pattison about publishing childrens' books. In their conversation, Mark and Darcy talk about: Darcy's background on getting into being an author of children's book The 70 books Darcy has written in the past 13 years The number of different illustrators Darcy has worked with over the years The Moments in Science picture books Darcy has written with along with the specific illustrator who has worked on a dozen of those titles with her The books for authors Darcy is releasing in January 2026 that collect details about the current state of publishing for children's books The challenge of doing layout for a children's picture book The importance of an author being clear on their own definition of success How children's book authors can find the right illustrator and/or designer How Darcy fulfills orders online for her books Getting her books into education distributors (Follett, etc - Follett can order their books through Ingram) The EPIC app and how Darcy earns money from it The various reviews Darcy gets, including paid Kirkus reviews (which are important) Who you are writing for versus who you are selling to when it comes to kids books Fiction VS Non-Fiction The importance/difference of being good at illustration versus being good at text (or even layout) The challenge of scaling up things like school visits The benefit of finding places that will sell a kids' book in bulk And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the unique element of the two audiences for childrens' books, as well as the efficient business mind-set Darcy adopted in her approach to how to grow a more scaleable author business. Links of Interest: Indie Kids Books  Mims House Books  Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews award-winning author Darcy Pattison about publishing childrens' books. In their conversation, Mark and Darcy talk about: Darcy's background on getting into being an author of children's book The 70 books Darcy has written in the past 13 years The number of different illustrators Darcy has worked with over the years The Moments in Science picture books Darcy has written with along with the specific illustrator who has worked on a dozen of those titles with her The books for authors Darcy is releasing in January 2026 that collect details about the current state of publishing for children's books The challenge of doing layout for a children's picture book The importance of an author being clear on their own definition of success How children's book authors can find the right illustrator and/or designer How Darcy fulfills orders online for her books Getting her books into education distributors (Follett, etc - Follett can order their books through Ingram) The EPIC app and how Darcy earns money from it The various reviews Darcy gets, including paid Kirkus reviews (which are important) Who you are writing for versus who you are selling to when it comes to kids books Fiction VS Non-Fiction The importance/difference of being good at illustration versus being good at text (or even layout) The challenge of scaling up things like school visits The benefit of finding places that will sell a kids' book in bulk And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the unique element of the two audiences for childrens' books, as well as the efficient business mind-set Darcy adopted in her approach to how to grow a more scaleable author business. Links of Interest: Indie Kids Books  Mims House Books  Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 453 - Celebrating Eight Years, 452 Episodes and One Simple Truth Celebrating Eight Years, 452 Episodes and One Simple Truth Mon, 05 Jan 2026 19:49:00 +0000 Mark reflects on the anniversary of the first episode of this podcast, which took place on Jan 5, 2018.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark reflects on the anniversary of the first episode of this podcast, which took place on Jan 5, 2018.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 20:41 false 9 453 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark reflects on the anniversary of the first episode of this podcast, which took place on Jan 5, 2018. Links of Interest: EP 001 - New Year, New Reflections Substack Article: Eight Years, 452 Episodes, and One Simple Truth Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark reflects on the anniversary of the first episode of this podcast, which took place on Jan 5, 2018. Links of Interest: EP 001 - New Year, New Reflections Substack Article: Eight Years, 452 Episodes, and One Simple Truth Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 452 - Accounting for Murphy's Law when Setting Realistic Goals Accounting for Murphy's Law when Setting Realistic Goals Fri, 02 Jan 2026 20:04:00 +0000 In this solo episode Mark outlines a dozen tips to consider when setting realistic goals.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode Mark outlines a dozen tips to consider when setting realistic goals.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 44:34 false 9 452 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark outlines a dozen tips to consider when setting realistic goals. Links of Interest: EP 451 - Tales from the Backburnder: A Pair of Messages to Readers Draft2Digital Self Publishing Insiders - Jan 1, 2026 Episode (YouTube) Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode Mark outlines a dozen tips to consider when setting realistic goals. Links of Interest: EP 451 - Tales from the Backburnder: A Pair of Messages to Readers Draft2Digital Self Publishing Insiders - Jan 1, 2026 Episode (YouTube) Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 451 - Messages to Readers EP 451 - Messages to Readers Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 In this solo episode Mark shares a couple of recent messages to readers in the hopes that it inspired other authors with ideas of the types of things that their readers might find interesting.

The two examples are:

1) Mark's introduction to his recent collection of stupid dad jokes (and how that can tie to the use of making the local community the "hero" or "focus"

2) Mark's recent author newsletter with a gift for readers and the story that updates recent changes to an ongoing series he's writing

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode Mark shares a couple of recent messages to readers in the hopes that it inspired other authors with ideas of the types of things that their readers might find interesting.

The two examples are:

1) Mark's introduction to his recent collection of stupid dad jokes (and how that can tie to the use of making the local community the "hero" or "focus"

2) Mark's recent author newsletter with a gift for readers and the story that updates recent changes to an ongoing series he's writing

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 33:32 false full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark shares a couple of recent messages to readers in the hopes that it inspired other authors with ideas of the types of things that their readers might find interesting. The two examples are: 1) Mark's introduction to his recent collection of stupid dad jokes (and how that can tie to the use of making the local community the "hero" or "focus" 2) Mark's recent author newsletter with a gift for readers and the story that updates recent changes to an ongoing series he's writing Links of Interest: Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode Mark shares a couple of recent messages to readers in the hopes that it inspired other authors with ideas of the types of things that their readers might find interesting. The two examples are: 1) Mark's introduction to his recent collection of stupid dad jokes (and how that can tie to the use of making the local community the "hero" or "focus" 2) Mark's recent author newsletter with a gift for readers and the story that updates recent changes to an ongoing series he's writing Links of Interest: Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 450 - The Life of a Mercenary Writer with Jarrett Mazza The Life of a Mercenary Writer with Jarrett Mazza Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:42:32 +0000 Mark interviews Jarrett Mazza about his action/thriller novels and his mercenary-style approach to writing.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and Jarrett talk about:

  • Jarrett's origins and how he got into writing
  • Starting off writing comic books and short stories
  • How Jarrett considers himself a "mercenary" writer
  • Jarrett's love of fiction within the action genre
  • Getting in contact with action/thriller writers that Jarrett enjoyed
  • Being published by Rough Edges Press and the changes Jarrett rode when they got bought by another publisher
  • Writing every day even if there's nothing to write about
  • Jarrett's early AM morning writing routine before the work day begins
  • The Doormen series and what it's about (Roadhouse meets John Wick)
  • Jarrett's interest in tackling and creating elevated action narratives
  • Roadhouse 1989 VS Roadhouse 2024
  • Advice Jarrett would give writers
  • What Jarrett is working on now
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on Jarrett's dedication and commitment to writing, and also some of the advice that he shared.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Jarrett Mazza about his action/thriller novels and his mercenary-style approach to writing.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and Jarrett talk about:

  • Jarrett's origins and how he got into writing
  • Starting off writing comic books and short stories
  • How Jarrett considers himself a "mercenary" writer
  • Jarrett's love of fiction within the action genre
  • Getting in contact with action/thriller writers that Jarrett enjoyed
  • Being published by Rough Edges Press and the changes Jarrett rode when they got bought by another publisher
  • Writing every day even if there's nothing to write about
  • Jarrett's early AM morning writing routine before the work day begins
  • The Doormen series and what it's about (Roadhouse meets John Wick)
  • Jarrett's interest in tackling and creating elevated action narratives
  • Roadhouse 1989 VS Roadhouse 2024
  • Advice Jarrett would give writers
  • What Jarrett is working on now
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on Jarrett's dedication and commitment to writing, and also some of the advice that he shared.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 55:15 false 8 450 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Jarrett Mazza about his action/thriller novels and his mercenary-style approach to writing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Jarrett talk about: Jarrett's origins and how he got into writing Starting off writing comic books and short stories How Jarrett considers himself a "mercenary" writer Jarrett's love of fiction within the action genre Getting in contact with action/thriller writers that Jarrett enjoyed Being published by Rough Edges Press and the changes Jarrett rode when they got bought by another publisher Writing every day even if there's nothing to write about Jarrett's early AM morning writing routine before the work day begins The Doormen series and what it's about (Roadhouse meets John Wick) Jarrett's interest in tackling and creating elevated action narratives Roadhouse 1989 VS Roadhouse 2024 Advice Jarrett would give writers What Jarrett is working on now And more... After the interview Mark reflects on Jarrett's dedication and commitment to writing, and also some of the advice that he shared.   Links of Interest: Jarrett Mazza's Website EP 449 - The Myth of "Upload Your Book And They Will Come" EP 448 - When Your Writing Gets Rejected "A Gazillion" Times Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Jarrett Mazza about his action/thriller novels and his mercenary-style approach to writing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Jarrett talk about: Jarrett's origins and how he got into writing Starting off writing comic books and short stories How Jarrett considers himself a "mercenary" writer Jarrett's love of fiction within the action genre Getting in contact with action/thriller writers that Jarrett enjoyed Being published by Rough Edges Press and the changes Jarrett rode when they got bought by another publisher Writing every day even if there's nothing to write about Jarrett's early AM morning writing routine before the work day begins The Doormen series and what it's about (Roadhouse meets John Wick) Jarrett's interest in tackling and creating elevated action narratives Roadhouse 1989 VS Roadhouse 2024 Advice Jarrett would give writers What Jarrett is working on now And more... After the interview Mark reflects on Jarrett's dedication and commitment to writing, and also some of the advice that he shared.   Links of Interest: Jarrett Mazza's Website EP 449 - The Myth of "Upload Your Book And They Will Come" EP 448 - When Your Writing Gets Rejected "A Gazillion" Times Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 449 - The Myth of "Upload Your Book And They Will Come" The Myth of "Upload Your Book And They Will Come" Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:04:00 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark reads from an article that he recently shared on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Substack page.

This is be Part 2 of a two-part series of episodes. (See Part 1)

Prior to the main content of this episode, Mark shares a personal update, comments from  recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by The 7 P's of Publishing Success by Mark Leslie Lefebvre, which you can download in eBook and/or Audiobook format for free at this link.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode, Mark reads from an article that he recently shared on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Substack page.

This is be Part 2 of a two-part series of episodes. (See Part 1)

Prior to the main content of this episode, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by The 7 P's of Publishing Success by Mark Leslie Lefebvre, which you can download in eBook and/or Audiobook format for free at this link.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 46:47 false 8 449 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark reads from an article that he recently shared on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Substack page. This is be Part 2 of a two-part series of episodes. (See Part 1) Prior to the main content of this episode, Mark shares a personal update, comments from  recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by The 7 P's of Publishing Success by Mark Leslie Lefebvre, which you can download in eBook and/or Audiobook format for free at this link. Links of Interest: Article: The Myth of "Upload Your Book And They Will Come": Why PATIENCE AND PRACTICE matter just as much for self-published authors Article: When Your Writing Gets Rejected "A Gazillion" Times: Why PATIENCE and PRACTICE are two of the hallmarks of publishing success EP 446 - The Future of Hybrid Publishing with J.D. Barker EP 445 - Overcoming The Self Sabotage From Buried Trauma with Andrea Torrey Balsara Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode, Mark reads from an article that he recently shared on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Substack page. This is be Part 2 of a two-part series of episodes. (See Part 1) Prior to the main content of this episode, Mark shares a personal update, comments from  recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by The 7 P's of Publishing Success by Mark Leslie Lefebvre, which you can download in eBook and/or Audiobook format for free at this link. Links of Interest: Article: The Myth of "Upload Your Book And They Will Come": Why PATIENCE AND PRACTICE matter just as much for self-published authors Article: When Your Writing Gets Rejected "A Gazillion" Times: Why PATIENCE and PRACTICE are two of the hallmarks of publishing success EP 446 - The Future of Hybrid Publishing with J.D. Barker EP 445 - Overcoming The Self Sabotage From Buried Trauma with Andrea Torrey Balsara Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 448 - When Your Writing Gets Rejected A Gazillion Times When Your Writing Gets Rejected A Gazillion Times Fri, 12 Dec 2025 13:05:00 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark reads from an article that he recently shared on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Substack page.

This will be Part 1 of a two-part series of episodes.

Prior to the main content of this episode, Mark shares a personal update, a comment from a recent episode, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by The 7 P's of Publishing Success by Mark Leslie Lefebvre, which you can download in eBook and/or Audiobook format for free at this link.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> In this solo episode, Mark reads from an article that he recently shared on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Substack page.

This will be Part 1 of a two-part series of episodes.

Prior to the main content of this episode, Mark shares a personal update, a comment from a recent episode, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by The 7 P's of Publishing Success by Mark Leslie Lefebvre, which you can download in eBook and/or Audiobook format for free at this link.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 28:49 false 8 448 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark reads from an article that he recently shared on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Substack page. This will be Part 1 of a two-part series of episodes. Prior to the main content of this episode, Mark shares a personal update, a comment from a recent episode, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by The 7 P's of Publishing Success by Mark Leslie Lefebvre, which you can download in eBook and/or Audiobook format for free at this link. Links of Interest: Article: When Your Writing Gets Rejected "A Gazillion" Times: Why PATIENCE and PRACTICE are two of the hallmarks of publishing success EP 445 - Overcoming The Self Sabotage From Buried Trauma with Andrea Torrey Balsara Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this solo episode, Mark reads from an article that he recently shared on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Substack page. This will be Part 1 of a two-part series of episodes. Prior to the main content of this episode, Mark shares a personal update, a comment from a recent episode, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by The 7 P's of Publishing Success by Mark Leslie Lefebvre, which you can download in eBook and/or Audiobook format for free at this link. Links of Interest: Article: When Your Writing Gets Rejected "A Gazillion" Times: Why PATIENCE and PRACTICE are two of the hallmarks of publishing success EP 445 - Overcoming The Self Sabotage From Buried Trauma with Andrea Torrey Balsara Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 447 - The Future of Hybrid Publishing with J.D. Barker The Future of Hybrid Publishing with J.D. Barker Fri, 05 Dec 2025 21:58:00 +0000 Mark interviews J.D. Barker about his writing and publishing journey and his many collaborations over the years, including with James Patterson, and the unique publishing and distribution collaboration with Simon & Schuster that combines the best of the self-publishing and the traditional publishing worlds.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and J.D. talk about:

  • How JD was always interested in writing including a little business endeavor he had when he was youngBeing told by his mother that writing is a fantastic hobby, but you have to get a "real job" - and following her advice
  • The main day job he had, which he hated, and coming home at night to write
  • How the first two decades he'd been writing he did ghost writing and did book-doctor sort of work
  • Having written six different books that hit the New York Times bestseller list but had other people's names on the cover
  • JD's wife coming up with a plan to get him to writing for himself
  • How putting his feet to the coals was what JD really needed
  • What it was like writing on his own
  • The value that JD recognizes in the 20 years of writing other peoples' books
  • Having Asperger's which often involves mimicking other people (which JD could do on paper, continuing to write in another person's voice)
  • How ghostwriting for celebrities/NYT Bestselling authors can be very lucrative
  • What it was like co-authoring with James Patterson
  • Being the only guy who has ever gotten James Patterson to "pants" a novel, but how Patterson convinced him to outline, which he now does for certain projects
  • What a typical work-day looks like for JD
  • Making a change in terms of what time of day JD does interviews
  • Working with a virtual assistant and the various PR agencies JD works with
  • Switching over to paying for PR a la carte rather than a monthly retainer
  • Selling more than half a million copies of his first self-published book, which caught the attention of agents
  • That "taste" of being an indie author which mean a loss of freedom
  • Creating his own unique path within publishing that's a blend of self-publishing and traditional publishing models
  • The imprint JD has with Simon & Schuster - Hampton Creek Press
  • How JD has done a number of recent co-authored titles under his imprint by paying the co-authors up front in a work-for-hire manner, which removes the complexity of paying royalties
  • The way JD can pay it forward by helping the mentor the co-authors that he is working on
  • Why JD gave away a skid of hardcover books at Reader Nation in Vegas
  • Advice JD has about authors who are constantly "chasing each other"
  • The unique marketing JD created for his book SOMETHING I KEEP UPSTAIRS that involved an overnight stay in a real haunted house
  • What James Patterson did to get his book ALONG CAME A SPIDER onto the New York Times bestseller list
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things from the conversation that have inspired him in different ways.

 

Links of Interest:

 

J.D. Barker (Jonathan Dylan Barker) is an international bestselling American author whose work has been broadly described as suspense thrillers, often incorporating elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark interviews J.D. Barker about his writing and publishing journey and his many collaborations over the years, including with James Patterson, and the unique publishing and distribution collaboration with Simon & Schuster that combines the best of the self-publishing and the traditional publishing worlds.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and J.D. talk about:

  • How JD was always interested in writing including a little business endeavor he had when he was youngBeing told by his mother that writing is a fantastic hobby, but you have to get a "real job" - and following her advice
  • The main day job he had, which he hated, and coming home at night to write
  • How the first two decades he'd been writing he did ghost writing and did book-doctor sort of work
  • Having written six different books that hit the New York Times bestseller list but had other people's names on the cover
  • JD's wife coming up with a plan to get him to writing for himself
  • How putting his feet to the coals was what JD really needed
  • What it was like writing on his own
  • The value that JD recognizes in the 20 years of writing other peoples' books
  • Having Asperger's which often involves mimicking other people (which JD could do on paper, continuing to write in another person's voice)
  • How ghostwriting for celebrities/NYT Bestselling authors can be very lucrative
  • What it was like co-authoring with James Patterson
  • Being the only guy who has ever gotten James Patterson to "pants" a novel, but how Patterson convinced him to outline, which he now does for certain projects
  • What a typical work-day looks like for JD
  • Making a change in terms of what time of day JD does interviews
  • Working with a virtual assistant and the various PR agencies JD works with
  • Switching over to paying for PR a la carte rather than a monthly retainer
  • Selling more than half a million copies of his first self-published book, which caught the attention of agents
  • That "taste" of being an indie author which mean a loss of freedom
  • Creating his own unique path within publishing that's a blend of self-publishing and traditional publishing models
  • The imprint JD has with Simon & Schuster - Hampton Creek Press
  • How JD has done a number of recent co-authored titles under his imprint by paying the co-authors up front in a work-for-hire manner, which removes the complexity of paying royalties
  • The way JD can pay it forward by helping the mentor the co-authors that he is working on
  • Why JD gave away a skid of hardcover books at Reader Nation in Vegas
  • Advice JD has about authors who are constantly "chasing each other"
  • The unique marketing JD created for his book SOMETHING I KEEP UPSTAIRS that involved an overnight stay in a real haunted house
  • What James Patterson did to get his book ALONG CAME A SPIDER onto the New York Times bestseller list
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things from the conversation that have inspired him in different ways.

Links of Interest:

J.D. Barker (Jonathan Dylan Barker) is an international bestselling American author whose work has been broadly described as suspense thrillers, often incorporating elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 56:46 false 8 447 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews J.D. Barker about his writing and publishing journey and his many collaborations over the years, including with James Patterson, and the unique publishing and distribution collaboration with Simon & Schuster that combines the best of the self-publishing and the traditional publishing worlds. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and J.D. talk about: How JD was always interested in writing including a little business endeavor he had when he was youngBeing told by his mother that writing is a fantastic hobby, but you have to get a "real job" - and following her advice The main day job he had, which he hated, and coming home at night to write How the first two decades he'd been writing he did ghost writing and did book-doctor sort of work Having written six different books that hit the New York Times bestseller list but had other people's names on the cover JD's wife coming up with a plan to get him to writing for himself How putting his feet to the coals was what JD really needed What it was like writing on his own The value that JD recognizes in the 20 years of writing other peoples' books Having Asperger's which often involves mimicking other people (which JD could do on paper, continuing to write in another person's voice) How ghostwriting for celebrities/NYT Bestselling authors can be very lucrative What it was like co-authoring with James Patterson Being the only guy who has ever gotten James Patterson to "pants" a novel, but how Patterson convinced him to outline, which he now does for certain projects What a typical work-day looks like for JD Making a change in terms of what time of day JD does interviews Working with a virtual assistant and the various PR agencies JD works with Switching over to paying for PR a la carte rather than a monthly retainer Selling more than half a million copies of his first self-published book, which caught the attention of agents That "taste" of being an indie author which mean a loss of freedom Creating his own unique path within publishing that's a blend of self-publishing and traditional publishing models The imprint JD has with Simon & Schuster - Hampton Creek Press How JD has done a number of recent co-authored titles under his imprint by paying the co-authors up front in a work-for-hire manner, which removes the complexity of paying royalties The way JD can pay it forward by helping the mentor the co-authors that he is working on Why JD gave away a skid of hardcover books at Reader Nation in Vegas Advice JD has about authors who are constantly "chasing each other" The unique marketing JD created for his book SOMETHING I KEEP UPSTAIRS that involved an overnight stay in a real haunted house What James Patterson did to get his book ALONG CAME A SPIDER onto the New York Times bestseller list And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things from the conversation that have inspired him in different ways.   Links of Interest: J.D. Barker's Website EP 445 - Overcoming The Self Sabotage From Buried Trauma with Andrea Torrey Balsara Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   J.D. Barker (Jonathan Dylan Barker) is an international bestselling American author whose work has been broadly described as suspense thrillers, often incorporating elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark interviews J.D. Barker about his writing and publishing journey and his many collaborations over the years, including with James Patterson, and the unique publishing and distribution collaboration with Simon & Schuster that combines the best of the self-publishing and the traditional publishing worlds. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and J.D. talk about: How JD was always interested in writing including a little business endeavor he had when he was youngBeing told by his mother that writing is a fantastic hobby, but you have to get a "real job" - and following her advice The main day job he had, which he hated, and coming home at night to write How the first two decades he'd been writing he did ghost writing and did book-doctor sort of work Having written six different books that hit the New York Times bestseller list but had other people's names on the cover JD's wife coming up with a plan to get him to writing for himself How putting his feet to the coals was what JD really needed What it was like writing on his own The value that JD recognizes in the 20 years of writing other peoples' books Having Asperger's which often involves mimicking other people (which JD could do on paper, continuing to write in another person's voice) How ghostwriting for celebrities/NYT Bestselling authors can be very lucrative What it was like co-authoring with James Patterson Being the only guy who has ever gotten James Patterson to "pants" a novel, but how Patterson convinced him to outline, which he now does for certain projects What a typical work-day looks like for JD Making a change in terms of what time of day JD does interviews Working with a virtual assistant and the various PR agencies JD works with Switching over to paying for PR a la carte rather than a monthly retainer Selling more than half a million copies of his first self-published book, which caught the attention of agents That "taste" of being an indie author which mean a loss of freedom Creating his own unique path within publishing that's a blend of self-publishing and traditional publishing models The imprint JD has with Simon & Schuster - Hampton Creek Press How JD has done a number of recent co-authored titles under his imprint by paying the co-authors up front in a work-for-hire manner, which removes the complexity of paying royalties The way JD can pay it forward by helping the mentor the co-authors that he is working on Why JD gave away a skid of hardcover books at Reader Nation in Vegas Advice JD has about authors who are constantly "chasing each other" The unique marketing JD created for his book SOMETHING I KEEP UPSTAIRS that involved an overnight stay in a real haunted house What James Patterson did to get his book ALONG CAME A SPIDER onto the New York Times bestseller list And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things from the conversation that have inspired him in different ways.   Links of Interest: J.D. Barker's Website EP 445 - Overcoming The Self Sabotage From Buried Trauma with Andrea Torrey Balsara Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   J.D. Barker (Jonathan Dylan Barker) is an international bestselling American author whose work has been broadly described as suspense thrillers, often incorporating elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 446 - Exercising Multiple Creative Outlets with Artist, Author, and Musician Meaghan Smith Exercising Multiple Creative Outlets with Artist, Author, and Musician Meaghan Smith Fri, 28 Nov 2025 13:07:00 +0000 Mark interviews Meaghan Smith about the new children's book IT SNOWED that she wrote and illustrated, which was inspired by her popular holiday song of the same name. This Juno-Award winning singer-songwriter shares her many creative passions for music, writing, and art.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and Meaghan talk about:

  • The origin of Meaghan's song "It Snowed" and how quickly it came together once the inspiration struck her on wanting a seasonal holiday song for people who might not celebrate Christmas
  • One of Meaghan's favorite things about the snow
  • How this song has gone on to become one of her most popular songs and now it's a picture book
  • Studying animation at Sheridan College and the ongoing art that Meaghan has been creating all of her life
  • The voice recording for an animation project in a studio in college that led to others recognizing her singing voice and an eventual career as a musician
  • Meghan's experience in "if you just show up" and try something, things can have a way of working out
  • Painting in the hotel rooms and green rooms while traveling as a musician as a way to alleviate her anxiety
  • The additional stationery line that Meghan has which includes greeting cards
  • How the manager of Woozles bookstore in Halifax asked Meaghan if she ever considered writing a book
  • Getting better at accepting things without needing them to be perfect
  • The "grumpy little cat" who is present throughout Meaghan's IT SNOWED book
  • How snow can be such an interesting substance and the way Meaghan wanted to capture all the magic of it in her book
  • How the book follows the lyrics of Meaghan's song, but also goes through the entire day for the kids in the story
  • The way snow can make us all feel like kids again
  • Meghan's current bread-and-butter writing custom songs for people 
  • The Christmas concert Meaghan is doing Dec 19th and 20th in Halifax
  • The second book Meaghan is working on for Nimbus based on a song she wrote for her baby when he was still inside her body
  • How Meaghan divides up her work day and the various creative forms of expression that she exercises
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on Meaghan's multiple creative outlets and the various ways that authors, artists, poets, musicians can give a gift to the world born from their inspiration and passion.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Meaghan Smith is a JUNO Award-winning musician, visual artist, and storyteller whose creative life bridges the worlds of music and fine art.

Born in London, Ontario—known as The Forest City—Meaghan grew up drawing and exploring the woods and fields near her home. Her love of art led her to study classical animation at Sheridan College, later working as a storyboard artist before shifting her focus to music. That leap brought her to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she now lives with her husBand, producer and songwriter Jason Mingo, and their two sons.

Over the past 20 years, Meaghan has built a multifaceted creative career. As a musician signed to Warner Brothers Records, she toured internationally, sharing stages with artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Tracy Chapman, Ron Sexsmith, and k.d. lang. Her debut album The Cricket's Orchestra earned her the 2011 JUNO Award for Best New Artist, multiple East Coast Music Awards, and a Polaris Prize nomination. Her song Mirror, from her sophomore album Have a Heart, was a semifinalist in the International Songwriting Competition.

Today, Meaghan continues to release collections of music characterized by her sweetly smoky vocals and vintage pop sensibility. Her songs have appeared widely across film and television—on platforms ranging from Netflix to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Through her company Our Song, she and Jason write and produce custom songs for individuals and special occasions, helping others tell their stories through music.

While her music career flourished, Meaghan also found her way back to visual art. On tour, she began painting tiny oil portraits of the forest animals she missed from home—foxes in fedoras, bears in flower crowns, fish in monocles—each one nestled in a miniature vintage frame she found in antique shops along the way. What began as a creative escape in hotel rooms and green rooms evolved into her acclaimed Miniature Art Show, with over 500 original paintings sold worldwide and exhibits in galleries such as Galerie d'Art Charlevoix in Quebec.

Using oils on heavyweight paper, Meaghan's paintings capture the personality and soul of her subjects with vivid detail and a playful sense of nostalgia. Her art celebrates the small wonders of the natural world and invites viewers to see beauty in the quiet, whimsical corners of life.

In addition to her paintings, Meaghan owns and operates M. Kind Papersmith, a small stationery studio based out of her home in Halifax. The line focuses on locally printed, hand-folded greeting cards designed to help people stay in touch and spread a little kindness through the mail. Each card reflects her signature warmth and attention to detail, combining her love of illustration with her belief that connection matters.

Meaghan recently signed a publishing deal with Nimbus Publishing, the renowned East Coast publisher, for her holiday hit It Snowed. Having created the illustrations herself in coloured pencil, she now proudly adds published author and illustrator to her creative credits. Though she has illustrated works for other authors, It Snowed marks the first book she has both written and illustrated from her own material.

Alongside her art and music, Meaghan leads Creativity Through Songwriting Workshops, coaching others to unlock their creative potential through the songwriting process.

Now based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Meaghan continues to paint, write, and make music—working to incorporate creativity, family, and an ever-evolving artistic life that celebrates imagination in all its forms.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark interviews Meaghan Smith about the new children's book IT SNOWED that she wrote and illustrated, which was inspired by her popular holiday song of the same name. This Juno-Award winning singer-songwriter shares her many creative passions for music, writing, and art.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and Meaghan talk about:

  • The origin of Meaghan's song "It Snowed" and how quickly it came together once the inspiration struck her on wanting a seasonal holiday song for people who might not celebrate Christmas
  • One of Meaghan's favorite things about the snow
  • How this song has gone on to become one of her most popular songs and now it's a picture book
  • Studying animation at Sheridan College and the ongoing art that Meaghan has been creating all of her life
  • The voice recording for an animation project in a studio in college that led to others recognizing her singing voice and an eventual career as a musician
  • Meghan's experience in "if you just show up" and try something, things can have a way of working out
  • Painting in the hotel rooms and green rooms while traveling as a musician as a way to alleviate her anxiety
  • The additional stationery line that Meghan has which includes greeting cards
  • How the manager of Woozles bookstore in Halifax asked Meaghan if she ever considered writing a book
  • Getting better at accepting things without needing them to be perfect
  • The "grumpy little cat" who is present throughout Meaghan's IT SNOWED book
  • How snow can be such an interesting substance and the way Meaghan wanted to capture all the magic of it in her book
  • How the book follows the lyrics of Meaghan's song, but also goes through the entire day for the kids in the story
  • The way snow can make us all feel like kids again
  • Meghan's current bread-and-butter writing custom songs for people
  • The Christmas concert Meaghan is doing Dec 19th and 20th in Halifax
  • The second book Meaghan is working on for Nimbus based on a song she wrote for her baby when he was still inside her body
  • How Meaghan divides up her work day and the various creative forms of expression that she exercises
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on Meaghan's multiple creative outlets and the various ways that authors, artists, poets, musicians can give a gift to the world born from their inspiration and passion.

Links of Interest:

Meaghan Smith is a JUNO Award-winning musician, visual artist, and storyteller whose creative life bridges the worlds of music and fine art.

Born in London, Ontario—known as The Forest City—Meaghan grew up drawing and exploring the woods and fields near her home. Her love of art led her to study classical animation at Sheridan College, later working as a storyboard artist before shifting her focus to music. That leap brought her to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she now lives with her husBand, producer and songwriter Jason Mingo, and their two sons.

Over the past 20 years, Meaghan has built a multifaceted creative career. As a musician signed to Warner Brothers Records, she toured internationally, sharing stages with artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Tracy Chapman, Ron Sexsmith, and k.d. lang. Her debut album The Cricket's Orchestra earned her the 2011 JUNO Award for Best New Artist, multiple East Coast Music Awards, and a Polaris Prize nomination. Her song Mirror, from her sophomore album Have a Heart, was a semifinalist in the International Songwriting Competition.

Today, Meaghan continues to release collections of music characterized by her sweetly smoky vocals and vintage pop sensibility. Her songs have appeared widely across film and television—on platforms ranging from Netflix to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Through her company Our Song, she and Jason write and produce custom songs for individuals and special occasions, helping others tell their stories through music.

While her music career flourished, Meaghan also found her way back to visual art. On tour, she began painting tiny oil portraits of the forest animals she missed from home—foxes in fedoras, bears in flower crowns, fish in monocles—each one nestled in a miniature vintage frame she found in antique shops along the way. What began as a creative escape in hotel rooms and green rooms evolved into her acclaimed Miniature Art Show, with over 500 original paintings sold worldwide and exhibits in galleries such as Galerie d'Art Charlevoix in Quebec.

Using oils on heavyweight paper, Meaghan's paintings capture the personality and soul of her subjects with vivid detail and a playful sense of nostalgia. Her art celebrates the small wonders of the natural world and invites viewers to see beauty in the quiet, whimsical corners of life.

In addition to her paintings, Meaghan owns and operates M. Kind Papersmith, a small stationery studio based out of her home in Halifax. The line focuses on locally printed, hand-folded greeting cards designed to help people stay in touch and spread a little kindness through the mail. Each card reflects her signature warmth and attention to detail, combining her love of illustration with her belief that connection matters.

Meaghan recently signed a publishing deal with Nimbus Publishing, the renowned East Coast publisher, for her holiday hit It Snowed. Having created the illustrations herself in coloured pencil, she now proudly adds published author and illustrator to her creative credits. Though she has illustrated works for other authors, It Snowed marks the first book she has both written and illustrated from her own material.

Alongside her art and music, Meaghan leads Creativity Through Songwriting Workshops, coaching others to unlock their creative potential through the songwriting process.

Now based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Meaghan continues to paint, write, and make music—working to incorporate creativity, family, and an ever-evolving artistic life that celebrates imagination in all its forms.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 56:47 false 8 446 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Meaghan Smith about the new children's book IT SNOWED that she wrote and illustrated, which was inspired by her popular holiday song of the same name. This Juno-Award winning singer-songwriter shares her many creative passions for music, writing, and art. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Meaghan talk about: The origin of Meaghan's song "It Snowed" and how quickly it came together once the inspiration struck her on wanting a seasonal holiday song for people who might not celebrate Christmas One of Meaghan's favorite things about the snow How this song has gone on to become one of her most popular songs and now it's a picture book Studying animation at Sheridan College and the ongoing art that Meaghan has been creating all of her life The voice recording for an animation project in a studio in college that led to others recognizing her singing voice and an eventual career as a musician Meghan's experience in "if you just show up" and try something, things can have a way of working out Painting in the hotel rooms and green rooms while traveling as a musician as a way to alleviate her anxiety The additional stationery line that Meghan has which includes greeting cards How the manager of Woozles bookstore in Halifax asked Meaghan if she ever considered writing a book Getting better at accepting things without needing them to be perfect The "grumpy little cat" who is present throughout Meaghan's IT SNOWED book How snow can be such an interesting substance and the way Meaghan wanted to capture all the magic of it in her book How the book follows the lyrics of Meaghan's song, but also goes through the entire day for the kids in the story The way snow can make us all feel like kids again Meghan's current bread-and-butter writing custom songs for people  The Christmas concert Meaghan is doing Dec 19th and 20th in Halifax The second book Meaghan is working on for Nimbus based on a song she wrote for her baby when he was still inside her body How Meaghan divides up her work day and the various creative forms of expression that she exercises And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on Meaghan's multiple creative outlets and the various ways that authors, artists, poets, musicians can give a gift to the world born from their inspiration and passion.   Links of Interest: Meaghan Smith (Website) It Snowed (Picture Book) Meaghan Smith: The Holiday Show (2025 - Halifax, NS) Friday Night Tickets (Fri Dec 19, 2025) Saturday Matinee Tickets (Sat Dec 20, 2025) Meaghan's OUR SONG "Wonder Woman" - An example of an OUR SONG written and performed by Meaghan Smith and Jason Mingo inspired by Liz Anderson Woozles Bookstore (Halifax, NS) EP 146 - Finding Yourself in Our Song by Meaghan Smith Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Meaghan Smith is a JUNO Award-winning musician, visual artist, and storyteller whose creative life bridges the worlds of music and fine art. Born in London, Ontario—known as The Forest City—Meaghan grew up drawing and exploring the woods and fields near her home. Her love of art led her to study classical animation at Sheridan College, later working as a storyboard artist before shifting her focus to music. That leap brought her to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she now lives with her husBand, producer and songwriter Jason Mingo, and their two sons. Over the past 20 years, Meaghan has built a multifaceted creative career. As a musician signed to Warner Brothers Records, she toured internationally, sharing stages with artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Tracy Chapman, Ron Sexsmith, and k.d. lang. Her debut album The Cricket's Orchestra earned her the 2011 JUNO Award for Best New Artist, multiple East Coast Music Awards, and a Polaris Prize nomination. Her song Mirror, from her sophomore album Have a Heart, was a semifinalist in the International Songwriting Competition. Today, Meaghan continues to release collections of music characterized by her sweetly smoky vocals and vintage pop sensibility. Her songs have appeared widely across film and television—on platforms ranging from Netflix to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Through her company Our Song, she and Jason write and produce custom songs for individuals and special occasions, helping others tell their stories through music. While her music career flourished, Meaghan also found her way back to visual art. On tour, she began painting tiny oil portraits of the forest animals she missed from home—foxes in fedoras, bears in flower crowns, fish in monocles—each one nestled in a miniature vintage frame she found in antique shops along the way. What began as a creative escape in hotel rooms and green rooms evolved into her acclaimed Miniature Art Show, with over 500 original paintings sold worldwide and exhibits in galleries such as Galerie d'Art Charlevoix in Quebec. Using oils on heavyweight paper, Meaghan's paintings capture the personality and soul of her subjects with vivid detail and a playful sense of nostalgia. Her art celebrates the small wonders of the natural world and invites viewers to see beauty in the quiet, whimsical corners of life. In addition to her paintings, Meaghan owns and operates M. Kind Papersmith, a small stationery studio based out of her home in Halifax. The line focuses on locally printed, hand-folded greeting cards designed to help people stay in touch and spread a little kindness through the mail. Each card reflects her signature warmth and attention to detail, combining her love of illustration with her belief that connection matters. Meaghan recently signed a publishing deal with Nimbus Publishing, the renowned East Coast publisher, for her holiday hit It Snowed. Having created the illustrations herself in coloured pencil, she now proudly adds published author and illustrator to her creative credits. Though she has illustrated works for other authors, It Snowed marks the first book she has both written and illustrated from her own material. Alongside her art and music, Meaghan leads Creativity Through Songwriting Workshops, coaching others to unlock their creative potential through the songwriting process. Now based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Meaghan continues to paint, write, and make music—working to incorporate creativity, family, and an ever-evolving artistic life that celebrates imagination in all its forms.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark interviews Meaghan Smith about the new children's book IT SNOWED that she wrote and illustrated, which was inspired by her popular holiday song of the same name. This Juno-Award winning singer-songwriter shares her many creative passions for music, writing, and art. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Meaghan talk about: The origin of Meaghan's song "It Snowed" and how quickly it came together once the inspiration struck her on wanting a seasonal holiday song for people who might not celebrate Christmas One of Meaghan's favorite things about the snow How this song has gone on to become one of her most popular songs and now it's a picture book Studying animation at Sheridan College and the ongoing art that Meaghan has been creating all of her life The voice recording for an animation project in a studio in college that led to others recognizing her singing voice and an eventual career as a musician Meghan's experience in "if you just show up" and try something, things can have a way of working out Painting in the hotel rooms and green rooms while traveling as a musician as a way to alleviate her anxiety The additional stationery line that Meghan has which includes greeting cards How the manager of Woozles bookstore in Halifax asked Meaghan if she ever considered writing a book Getting better at accepting things without needing them to be perfect The "grumpy little cat" who is present throughout Meaghan's IT SNOWED book How snow can be such an interesting substance and the way Meaghan wanted to capture all the magic of it in her book How the book follows the lyrics of Meaghan's song, but also goes through the entire day for the kids in the story The way snow can make us all feel like kids again Meghan's current bread-and-butter writing custom songs for people  The Christmas concert Meaghan is doing Dec 19th and 20th in Halifax The second book Meaghan is working on for Nimbus based on a song she wrote for her baby when he was still inside her body How Meaghan divides up her work day and the various creative forms of expression that she exercises And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on Meaghan's multiple creative outlets and the various ways that authors, artists, poets, musicians can give a gift to the world born from their inspiration and passion.   Links of Interest: Meaghan Smith (Website) It Snowed (Picture Book) Meaghan Smith: The Holiday Show (2025 - Halifax, NS) Friday Night Tickets (Fri Dec 19, 2025) Saturday Matinee Tickets (Sat Dec 20, 2025) Meaghan's OUR SONG "Wonder Woman" - An example of an OUR SONG written and performed by Meaghan Smith and Jason Mingo inspired by Liz Anderson Woozles Bookstore (Halifax, NS) EP 146 - Finding Yourself in Our Song by Meaghan Smith Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Meaghan Smith is a JUNO Award-winning musician, visual artist, and storyteller whose creative life bridges the worlds of music and fine art. Born in London, Ontario—known as The Forest City—Meaghan grew up drawing and exploring the woods and fields near her home. Her love of art led her to study classical animation at Sheridan College, later working as a storyboard artist before shifting her focus to music. That leap brought her to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she now lives with her husBand, producer and songwriter Jason Mingo, and their two sons. Over the past 20 years, Meaghan has built a multifaceted creative career. As a musician signed to Warner Brothers Records, she toured internationally, sharing stages with artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Tracy Chapman, Ron Sexsmith, and k.d. lang. Her debut album The Cricket's Orchestra earned her the 2011 JUNO Award for Best New Artist, multiple East Coast Music Awards, and a Polaris Prize nomination. Her song Mirror, from her sophomore album Have a Heart, was a semifinalist in the International Songwriting Competition. Today, Meaghan continues to release collections of music characterized by her sweetly smoky vocals and vintage pop sensibility. Her songs have appeared widely across film and television—on platforms ranging from Netflix to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Through her company Our Song, she and Jason write and produce custom songs for individuals and special occasions, helping others tell their stories through music. While her music career flourished, Meaghan also found her way back to visual art. On tour, she began painting tiny oil portraits of the forest animals she missed from home—foxes in fedoras, bears in flower crowns, fish in monocles—each one nestled in a miniature vintage frame she found in antique shops along the way. What began as a creative escape in hotel rooms and green rooms evolved into her acclaimed Miniature Art Show, with over 500 original paintings sold worldwide and exhibits in galleries such as Galerie d'Art Charlevoix in Quebec. Using oils on heavyweight paper, Meaghan's paintings capture the personality and soul of her subjects with vivid detail and a playful sense of nostalgia. Her art celebrates the small wonders of the natural world and invites viewers to see beauty in the quiet, whimsical corners of life. In addition to her paintings, Meaghan owns and operates M. Kind Papersmith, a small stationery studio based out of her home in Halifax. The line focuses on locally printed, hand-folded greeting cards designed to help people stay in touch and spread a little kindness through the mail. Each card reflects her signature warmth and attention to detail, combining her love of illustration with her belief that connection matters. Meaghan recently signed a publishing deal with Nimbus Publishing, the renowned East Coast publisher, for her holiday hit It Snowed. Having created the illustrations herself in coloured pencil, she now proudly adds published author and illustrator to her creative credits. Though she has illustrated works for other authors, It Snowed marks the first book she has both written and illustrated from her own material. Alongside her art and music, Meaghan leads Creativity Through Songwriting Workshops, coaching others to unlock their creative potential through the songwriting process. Now based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Meaghan continues to paint, write, and make music—working to incorporate creativity, family, and an ever-evolving artistic life that celebrates imagination in all its forms.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 445 - Overcoming The Self-Sabotage from Buried Trauma with Andrea Torrey Balsara Overcoming The Self-Sabotage from Buried Trauma with Andrea Torrey Balsara Fri, 21 Nov 2025 22:49:00 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Andrea Torrey Balsara about her writing, her passion in inspiring joy through storytelling and energy healing, trauma, creativity and much more.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

I THINK IT'S A SIGN THAT THE PUN ALSO RISES is available now in hardcover, mass market sized paperback, and audiobook.

In the interview Mark and Andrea talk about:

  • The very serious and troubling trauma Andrea had been living with for most of her life without realizing it and how it prevented her from trying to focus and work on
  • The sabotage that kept creeping up from her subconscious
  • Being told the importance of writing her own stories, which led to taking some writing classes
  • How writing became a way for Andrea to express things that she was not otherwise able to express and the way it led her into a space where she could become fully creative
  • When the memory of the terrible trauma came back to Andrea and struggling with wondering if it really truly happened
  • How it's almost easiest to allow yourself to go crazy than to think that you "were evil" or just making this all up
  • Not avoiding the darkness in her Young Adult books
  • The love that Andrea has for the teenage girl that she was
  • How hard it is for a person hurting and going through such trauma just taking that next step
  • Finding herself within the character of a story of hope and finding the light in the darkness
  • Recognizing that yes, horrible things happen in this world, but many gifts are also given to help get through it
  • The "heroes journey" of making one's life satisfying saying "this is not where my story ends"
  • Andrea's novel THE GREAT AND THE SMALL and how it explores what it takes to enable the rise of dictatorship via very small personal compromises that a person can make along the way
  • The value in looking for the light, looking for the hope, and the importance of people being the change in Andrea's novel
  • Believing in the capacity and the necessity to unite, and that the search for truth is a human right and responsibility that lies within each of us
  • The "10 Steps to Inner Peace" that helped Andrea through the darkness (and which is available for anyone to read via a download on her website
  • How evil itself isn't a thing, it's the absence of love
  • The way that we can be that "leaven" in the bread
  • The studies that have shown that sending love to a plant can help it thrive (and vice-versa when sending negative energy)
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a few elements of the Andrea's message that resonated with him.

 

 

Links of Interest:

 

Andrea Torrey Balsara is an award-winning children's and young adult author/illustrator, as well as an energy medicine practitioner and mental wellness and creativity coach. Her passion is to inspire joy through storytelling and energy healing, helping people-of-all-ages to walk "the Hero's Journey" in real life. She writes and illustrates for young children under her full name, Andrea Torrey Balsara, and for young adults under A.T. Balsara.

Andrea is also a painter, an avid amateur explorer of quantum physics, and a keen environmentalist. She advocates for the humane treatment of animals and regularly volunteers at a donkey sanctuary where she uses energy medicine to help previously neglected and abused animals regain their health and vitality.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

 

 

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Andrea Torrey Balsara about her writing, her passion in inspiring joy through storytelling and energy healing, trauma, creativity and much more.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

I THINK IT'S A SIGN THAT THE PUN ALSO RISES is available now in hardcover, mass market sized paperback, and audiobook.

In the interview Mark and Andrea talk about:

  • The very serious and troubling trauma Andrea had been living with for most of her life without realizing it and how it prevented her from trying to focus and work on
  • The sabotage that kept creeping up from her subconscious
  • Being told the importance of writing her own stories, which led to taking some writing classes
  • How writing became a way for Andrea to express things that she was not otherwise able to express and the way it led her into a space where she could become fully creative
  • When the memory of the terrible trauma came back to Andrea and struggling with wondering if it really truly happened
  • How it's almost easiest to allow yourself to go crazy than to think that you "were evil" or just making this all up
  • Not avoiding the darkness in her Young Adult books
  • The love that Andrea has for the teenage girl that she was
  • How hard it is for a person hurting and going through such trauma just taking that next step
  • Finding herself within the character of a story of hope and finding the light in the darkness
  • Recognizing that yes, horrible things happen in this world, but many gifts are also given to help get through it
  • The "heroes journey" of making one's life satisfying saying "this is not where my story ends"
  • Andrea's novel THE GREAT AND THE SMALL and how it explores what it takes to enable the rise of dictatorship via very small personal compromises that a person can make along the way
  • The value in looking for the light, looking for the hope, and the importance of people being the change in Andrea's novel
  • Believing in the capacity and the necessity to unite, and that the search for truth is a human right and responsibility that lies within each of us
  • The "10 Steps to Inner Peace" that helped Andrea through the darkness (and which is available for anyone to read via a download on her website
  • How evil itself isn't a thing, it's the absence of love
  • The way that we can be that "leaven" in the bread
  • The studies that have shown that sending love to a plant can help it thrive (and vice-versa when sending negative energy)
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a few elements of the Andrea's message that resonated with him.

Links of Interest:

Andrea Torrey Balsara is an award-winning children's and young adult author/illustrator, as well as an energy medicine practitioner and mental wellness and creativity coach. Her passion is to inspire joy through storytelling and energy healing, helping people-of-all-ages to walk "the Hero's Journey" in real life. She writes and illustrates for young children under her full name, Andrea Torrey Balsara, and for young adults under A.T. Balsara.

Andrea is also a painter, an avid amateur explorer of quantum physics, and a keen environmentalist. She advocates for the humane treatment of animals and regularly volunteers at a donkey sanctuary where she uses energy medicine to help previously neglected and abused animals regain their health and vitality.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:01:16 false 8 445 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Andrea Torrey Balsara about her writing, her passion in inspiring joy through storytelling and energy healing, trauma, creativity and much more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. I THINK IT'S A SIGN THAT THE PUN ALSO RISES is available now in hardcover, mass market sized paperback, and audiobook. In the interview Mark and Andrea talk about: The very serious and troubling trauma Andrea had been living with for most of her life without realizing it and how it prevented her from trying to focus and work on The sabotage that kept creeping up from her subconscious Being told the importance of writing her own stories, which led to taking some writing classes How writing became a way for Andrea to express things that she was not otherwise able to express and the way it led her into a space where she could become fully creative When the memory of the terrible trauma came back to Andrea and struggling with wondering if it really truly happened How it's almost easiest to allow yourself to go crazy than to think that you "were evil" or just making this all up Not avoiding the darkness in her Young Adult books The love that Andrea has for the teenage girl that she was How hard it is for a person hurting and going through such trauma just taking that next step Finding herself within the character of a story of hope and finding the light in the darkness Recognizing that yes, horrible things happen in this world, but many gifts are also given to help get through it The "heroes journey" of making one's life satisfying saying "this is not where my story ends" Andrea's novel THE GREAT AND THE SMALL and how it explores what it takes to enable the rise of dictatorship via very small personal compromises that a person can make along the way The value in looking for the light, looking for the hope, and the importance of people being the change in Andrea's novel Believing in the capacity and the necessity to unite, and that the search for truth is a human right and responsibility that lies within each of us The "10 Steps to Inner Peace" that helped Andrea through the darkness (and which is available for anyone to read via a download on her website How evil itself isn't a thing, it's the absence of love The way that we can be that "leaven" in the bread The studies that have shown that sending love to a plant can help it thrive (and vice-versa when sending negative energy) And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a few elements of the Andrea's message that resonated with him.     Links of Interest: Andrea Torrey Balsara's Website Instagram Link to Andrea's TEN STEPS TO INNER PEACE PDF download   Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Andrea Torrey Balsara is an award-winning children's and young adult author/illustrator, as well as an energy medicine practitioner and mental wellness and creativity coach. Her passion is to inspire joy through storytelling and energy healing, helping people-of-all-ages to walk "the Hero's Journey" in real life. She writes and illustrates for young children under her full name, Andrea Torrey Balsara, and for young adults under A.T. Balsara. Andrea is also a painter, an avid amateur explorer of quantum physics, and a keen environmentalist. She advocates for the humane treatment of animals and regularly volunteers at a donkey sanctuary where she uses energy medicine to help previously neglected and abused animals regain their health and vitality.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0      In this episode Mark interviews Andrea Torrey Balsara about her writing, her passion in inspiring joy through storytelling and energy healing, trauma, creativity and much more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. I THINK IT'S A SIGN THAT THE PUN ALSO RISES is available now in hardcover, mass market sized paperback, and audiobook. In the interview Mark and Andrea talk about: The very serious and troubling trauma Andrea had been living with for most of her life without realizing it and how it prevented her from trying to focus and work on The sabotage that kept creeping up from her subconscious Being told the importance of writing her own stories, which led to taking some writing classes How writing became a way for Andrea to express things that she was not otherwise able to express and the way it led her into a space where she could become fully creative When the memory of the terrible trauma came back to Andrea and struggling with wondering if it really truly happened How it's almost easiest to allow yourself to go crazy than to think that you "were evil" or just making this all up Not avoiding the darkness in her Young Adult books The love that Andrea has for the teenage girl that she was How hard it is for a person hurting and going through such trauma just taking that next step Finding herself within the character of a story of hope and finding the light in the darkness Recognizing that yes, horrible things happen in this world, but many gifts are also given to help get through it The "heroes journey" of making one's life satisfying saying "this is not where my story ends" Andrea's novel THE GREAT AND THE SMALL and how it explores what it takes to enable the rise of dictatorship via very small personal compromises that a person can make along the way The value in looking for the light, looking for the hope, and the importance of people being the change in Andrea's novel Believing in the capacity and the necessity to unite, and that the search for truth is a human right and responsibility that lies within each of us The "10 Steps to Inner Peace" that helped Andrea through the darkness (and which is available for anyone to read via a download on her website How evil itself isn't a thing, it's the absence of love The way that we can be that "leaven" in the bread The studies that have shown that sending love to a plant can help it thrive (and vice-versa when sending negative energy) And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a few elements of the Andrea's message that resonated with him.     Links of Interest: Andrea Torrey Balsara's Website Instagram Link to Andrea's TEN STEPS TO INNER PEACE PDF download   Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Andrea Torrey Balsara is an award-winning children's and young adult author/illustrator, as well as an energy medicine practitioner and mental wellness and creativity coach. Her passion is to inspire joy through storytelling and energy healing, helping people-of-all-ages to walk "the Hero's Journey" in real life. She writes and illustrates for young children under her full name, Andrea Torrey Balsara, and for young adults under A.T. Balsara. Andrea is also a painter, an avid amateur explorer of quantum physics, and a keen environmentalist. She advocates for the humane treatment of animals and regularly volunteers at a donkey sanctuary where she uses energy medicine to help previously neglected and abused animals regain their health and vitality.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       EP 444 - Book Marketing Made Easy with Manuscript Report Book Marketing Made Easy with Manuscript Report Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:55:00 +0000 Mark interviews Florin Bulgarov, co-founder of Manuscript Report. 

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and Florin talk about:

  • Florin's background with a PhD in A.I. and how he ended up evolving into creating the toolset of Manuscript Report
  • How Manuscript Report was initially created as an assessment tool for publishers when going through their slush piles
  • What assets Manuscript Report offers for authors to use in their marketing strategy approaches
  • The additional assets from the reports including the visual pie-chart of the genre split/breakdown as well as the themes and the tropes associated from the manuscript
  • The social media posts, blog posts, and book bible assets that authors can request in a higher level report
  • The fact that Manuscript Report does not store the manuscript and does not train any AI on their manuscript. Within 30 days all traces of the author's manuscript is deleted from their servers
  • How the system is optimized to run for one book at a time and the 1 million word limit on manuscripts run into Manuscript Report
  • The "Narrative Crossroads" suggestions that an author might be able to use in a quick pitch/log line for the book
  • An author who did A/B testing with her own written ads and the Manuscript Report ads and was able to reduce her cost by half and increase her sales by 60%
  • An example of a report using Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray
  • How Manuscript Report is a Swiss Army Knife for marketing
  • And more...

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Florin Bulgarov, co-founder of Manuscript Report.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and Florin talk about:

  • Florin's background with a PhD in A.I. and how he ended up evolving into creating the toolset of Manuscript Report
  • How Manuscript Report was initially created as an assessment tool for publishers when going through their slush piles
  • What assets Manuscript Report offers for authors to use in their marketing strategy approaches
  • The additional assets from the reports including the visual pie-chart of the genre split/breakdown as well as the themes and the tropes associated from the manuscript
  • The social media posts, blog posts, and book bible assets that authors can request in a higher level report
  • The fact that Manuscript Report does not store the manuscript and does not train any AI on their manuscript. Within 30 days all traces of the author's manuscript is deleted from their servers
  • How the system is optimized to run for one book at a time and the 1 million word limit on manuscripts run into Manuscript Report
  • The "Narrative Crossroads" suggestions that an author might be able to use in a quick pitch/log line for the book
  • An author who did A/B testing with her own written ads and the Manuscript Report ads and was able to reduce her cost by half and increase her sales by 60%
  • An example of a report using Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray
  • How Manuscript Report is a Swiss Army Knife for marketing
  • And more...

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:09:17 false 8 444 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Florin Bulgarov, co-founder of Manuscript Report.  Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Florin talk about: Florin's background with a PhD in A.I. and how he ended up evolving into creating the toolset of Manuscript Report How Manuscript Report was initially created as an assessment tool for publishers when going through their slush piles What assets Manuscript Report offers for authors to use in their marketing strategy approaches The additional assets from the reports including the visual pie-chart of the genre split/breakdown as well as the themes and the tropes associated from the manuscript The social media posts, blog posts, and book bible assets that authors can request in a higher level report The fact that Manuscript Report does not store the manuscript and does not train any AI on their manuscript. Within 30 days all traces of the author's manuscript is deleted from their servers How the system is optimized to run for one book at a time and the 1 million word limit on manuscripts run into Manuscript Report The "Narrative Crossroads" suggestions that an author might be able to use in a quick pitch/log line for the book An author who did A/B testing with her own written ads and the Manuscript Report ads and was able to reduce her cost by half and increase her sales by 60% An example of a report using Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray How Manuscript Report is a Swiss Army Knife for marketing And more... Links of Interest: YouTube Video of Interview (with visual walk-thru) EP 443 - Strategies for Short Fiction EP 442 - Writer You Still Need to Quit with Becca Syme EP 441 - A Bookstore for Indie Authors with Donovan Scherer EP 438 - A Personal Conversation with Malorie Cooper EP 437 - Nerding Out Over History, Science, and Maps with Malorie Cooper EP 429 - A Post-Mortem on Co-Hosting the 2025 Aurora Awards with Liz May Anderson Draft2Digital Self-Publishing Insiders: What to Quit, What to Keep, and What to Question with Becca Syme (YouTube) Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Florin Bulgarov, co-founder of Manuscript Report.  Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Florin talk about: Florin's background with a PhD in A.I. and how he ended up evolving into creating the toolset of Manuscript Report How Manuscript Report was initially created as an assessment tool for publishers when going through their slush piles What assets Manuscript Report offers for authors to use in their marketing strategy approaches The additional assets from the reports including the visual pie-chart of the genre split/breakdown as well as the themes and the tropes associated from the manuscript The social media posts, blog posts, and book bible assets that authors can request in a higher level report The fact that Manuscript Report does not store the manuscript and does not train any AI on their manuscript. Within 30 days all traces of the author's manuscript is deleted from their servers How the system is optimized to run for one book at a time and the 1 million word limit on manuscripts run into Manuscript Report The "Narrative Crossroads" suggestions that an author might be able to use in a quick pitch/log line for the book An author who did A/B testing with her own written ads and the Manuscript Report ads and was able to reduce her cost by half and increase her sales by 60% An example of a report using Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray How Manuscript Report is a Swiss Army Knife for marketing And more... Links of Interest: YouTube Video of Interview (with visual walk-thru) EP 443 - Strategies for Short Fiction EP 442 - Writer You Still Need to Quit with Becca Syme EP 441 - A Bookstore for Indie Authors with Donovan Scherer EP 438 - A Personal Conversation with Malorie Cooper EP 437 - Nerding Out Over History, Science, and Maps with Malorie Cooper EP 429 - A Post-Mortem on Co-Hosting the 2025 Aurora Awards with Liz May Anderson Draft2Digital Self-Publishing Insiders: What to Quit, What to Keep, and What to Question with Becca Syme (YouTube) Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 443 - Strategies for Short Fiction Strategies for Short Fiction Tue, 11 Nov 2025 13:33:00 +0000 This bonus episode of the Stark Reflections Podcast is a recording of a Nov 10, 2025 live chat that Mark did with Matty Dalrymple and Angelique Fawns talking about strategies for short fiction.

The conversation was based on content from Mark and Matty's 2nd Edition release of Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income & Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction and Angelique's Writing and Selling Short Stories with Angelique Fawns Substack.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> This bonus episode of the Stark Reflections Podcast is a recording of a Nov 10, 2025 live chat that Mark did with Matty Dalrymple and Angelique Fawns talking about strategies for short fiction.

The conversation was based on content from Mark and Matty's 2nd Edition release of Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income & Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction and Angelique's Writing and Selling Short Stories with Angelique Fawns Substack.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:04:36 false 8 443 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This bonus episode of the Stark Reflections Podcast is a recording of a Nov 10, 2025 live chat that Mark did with Matty Dalrymple and Angelique Fawns talking about strategies for short fiction. The conversation was based on content from Mark and Matty's 2nd Edition release of Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income & Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction and Angelique's Writing and Selling Short Stories with Angelique Fawns Substack.   Links of Interest: Strategies for Short Fiction (YouTube) Author Level Up - Michael La Ronn's YouTube Channel EP 440 - Behind the Scenes of the Podcast Guest Playbook with Matty Dalrymple EP 382 - From Page to Platform with Matty Dalrymple and M.L. Ronn EP 306 - Finding Short Fiction Markets with Angelique Fawns Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0This bonus episode of the Stark Reflections Podcast is a recording of a Nov 10, 2025 live chat that Mark did with Matty Dalrymple and Angelique Fawns talking about strategies for short fiction. The conversation was based on content from Mark and Matty's 2nd Edition release of Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income & Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction and Angelique's Writing and Selling Short Stories with Angelique Fawns Substack.   Links of Interest: Strategies for Short Fiction (YouTube) Author Level Up - Michael La Ronn's YouTube Channel EP 440 - Behind the Scenes of the Podcast Guest Playbook with Matty Dalrymple EP 382 - From Page to Platform with Matty Dalrymple and M.L. Ronn EP 306 - Finding Short Fiction Markets with Angelique Fawns Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 442 - Dear Writer You Still Need To Quit with Becca Syme Dear Writer You Still Need To Quit with Becca Syme Fri, 07 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Mark interviews Becca Syme about her latest project, about the journey she has been on since she launched her first Dear Writer, You Need to Quit book, and the various fiction titles she has written.

Prior to the interview, Mark explains that he is at Author Nation in Vegas and that his introduction and post interview reflection were generated by ElevenLabs. Then his digital voice clone from ElevenLabs shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and Becca talk about:

  • How it has been an extremely long year since Becca was last on the Stark Reflections Podcast
  • Becca's long-time aversion to marketing and how she has decided to approach it
  • The Kickstarter that Becca has launched and the various prizes she is offering for each of the tour stops
  • The prize that Stark Reflections listeners can win just by listening and entering their name
  • How Becca is trying to make each stop on the podcast guest tour different by focusing on different tips and ideas with every episode
  • Mark's idea on how he deals with Kickstarters where international shipping isn't an option
  • The limited number of vinyl albums that will be available through Becca's Kickstarter
  • How the publishing industry has changed dramatically since 2017 when Becca's first "Dear Writer, You Need to Quit" book came out
  • The cheeky thought that Becca was considering for her latest book with using the popular F-word expletive
  • How long Becca's Kickstarter will be running
  • Trying to spend more time on her fiction writing, but struggling with how much she loves collaborating with and helping other writers
  • The positive impact of dating another writer where they can motivate one another to get more writing done
  • How Becca had never intended to build a business as a coach and a non-fiction writer
  • The two other pen names that Becca writes under for different series and genres. Mystery written as R.L. Syme. Paranormal Romance (written with a co-author) written as Cameron Reece. Urban fantasy under the name: Macy Dixon
  • The recent "work vacation" that Becca took which helped enable some solid research for her writing
  • Becca's reminder that under different pen names and genres, a writer will usually have a uniquely different voice
  • The specific playlists that Becca has for each one of her pen names and genres and the very separate personas she embraces when writing each
  • The comment Mark made that led Becca over to checking out his Clifton Strengths to confirm her suspicion
  • How Becca is a real "sense of place" writer who connects emotionally with the physical space and the connection to the earth, the mountains, etc

After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of wanting to help writers, and how that often leads to one's own writing taking a back seat.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Becca Syme (MATL) is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has individually coached more than 6000 authors at all levels. She is the author of the Quitbooks for Writers series and the popular Write Better-Faster course, and the host of the Quitcast for Writers podcast and YouTube channel. She also writes mystery novels and lives on one of the thousand lakes in Minnesota.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

 

]]> Mark interviews Becca Syme about her latest project, about the journey she has been on since she launched her first Dear Writer, You Need to Quit book, and the various fiction titles she has written.

Prior to the interview, Mark explains that he is at Author Nation in Vegas and that his introduction and post interview reflection were generated by ElevenLabs. Then his digital voice clone from ElevenLabs shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and Becca talk about:

  • How it has been an extremely long year since Becca was last on the Stark Reflections Podcast
  • Becca's long-time aversion to marketing and how she has decided to approach it
  • The Kickstarter that Becca has launched and the various prizes she is offering for each of the tour stops
  • The prize that Stark Reflections listeners can win just by listening and entering their name
  • How Becca is trying to make each stop on the podcast guest tour different by focusing on different tips and ideas with every episode
  • Mark's idea on how he deals with Kickstarters where international shipping isn't an option
  • The limited number of vinyl albums that will be available through Becca's Kickstarter
  • How the publishing industry has changed dramatically since 2017 when Becca's first "Dear Writer, You Need to Quit" book came out
  • The cheeky thought that Becca was considering for her latest book with using the popular F-word expletive
  • How long Becca's Kickstarter will be running
  • Trying to spend more time on her fiction writing, but struggling with how much she loves collaborating with and helping other writers
  • The positive impact of dating another writer where they can motivate one another to get more writing done
  • How Becca had never intended to build a business as a coach and a non-fiction writer
  • The two other pen names that Becca writes under for different series and genres. Mystery written as R.L. Syme. Paranormal Romance (written with a co-author) written as Cameron Reece. Urban fantasy under the name: Macy Dixon
  • The recent "work vacation" that Becca took which helped enable some solid research for her writing
  • Becca's reminder that under different pen names and genres, a writer will usually have a uniquely different voice
  • The specific playlists that Becca has for each one of her pen names and genres and the very separate personas she embraces when writing each
  • The comment Mark made that led Becca over to checking out his Clifton Strengths to confirm her suspicion
  • How Becca is a real "sense of place" writer who connects emotionally with the physical space and the connection to the earth, the mountains, etc

After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of wanting to help writers, and how that often leads to one's own writing taking a back seat.

Links of Interest:

Becca Syme (MATL) is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has individually coached more than 6000 authors at all levels. She is the author of the Quitbooks for Writers series and the popular Write Better-Faster course, and the host of the Quitcast for Writers podcast and YouTube channel. She also writes mystery novels and lives on one of the thousand lakes in Minnesota.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 58:24 false 8 442 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Becca Syme about her latest project, about the journey she has been on since she launched her first Dear Writer, You Need to Quit book, and the various fiction titles she has written. Prior to the interview, Mark explains that he is at Author Nation in Vegas and that his introduction and post interview reflection were generated by ElevenLabs. Then his digital voice clone from ElevenLabs shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Becca talk about: How it has been an extremely long year since Becca was last on the Stark Reflections Podcast Becca's long-time aversion to marketing and how she has decided to approach it The Kickstarter that Becca has launched and the various prizes she is offering for each of the tour stops The prize that Stark Reflections listeners can win just by listening and entering their name How Becca is trying to make each stop on the podcast guest tour different by focusing on different tips and ideas with every episode Mark's idea on how he deals with Kickstarters where international shipping isn't an option The limited number of vinyl albums that will be available through Becca's Kickstarter How the publishing industry has changed dramatically since 2017 when Becca's first "Dear Writer, You Need to Quit" book came out The cheeky thought that Becca was considering for her latest book with using the popular F-word expletive How long Becca's Kickstarter will be running Trying to spend more time on her fiction writing, but struggling with how much she loves collaborating with and helping other writers The positive impact of dating another writer where they can motivate one another to get more writing done How Becca had never intended to build a business as a coach and a non-fiction writer The two other pen names that Becca writes under for different series and genres. Mystery written as R.L. Syme. Paranormal Romance (written with a co-author) written as Cameron Reece. Urban fantasy under the name: Macy Dixon The recent "work vacation" that Becca took which helped enable some solid research for her writing Becca's reminder that under different pen names and genres, a writer will usually have a uniquely different voice The specific playlists that Becca has for each one of her pen names and genres and the very separate personas she embraces when writing each The comment Mark made that led Becca over to checking out his Clifton Strengths to confirm her suspicion How Becca is a real "sense of place" writer who connects emotionally with the physical space and the connection to the earth, the mountains, etc After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of wanting to help writers, and how that often leads to one's own writing taking a back seat.   Links of Interest: Becca Syme's Better-Faster Academy Better-Faster Academcy LINKS Better Faster Academy TOUR STOP GAME - Enter that you listened to Becca's interview on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Becca Syme (MATL) is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has individually coached more than 6000 authors at all levels. She is the author of the Quitbooks for Writers series and the popular Write Better-Faster course, and the host of the Quitcast for Writers podcast and YouTube channel. She also writes mystery novels and lives on one of the thousand lakes in Minnesota. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    Mark interviews Becca Syme about her latest project, about the journey she has been on since she launched her first Dear Writer, You Need to Quit book, and the various fiction titles she has written. Prior to the interview, Mark explains that he is at Author Nation in Vegas and that his introduction and post interview reflection were generated by ElevenLabs. Then his digital voice clone from ElevenLabs shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Becca talk about: How it has been an extremely long year since Becca was last on the Stark Reflections Podcast Becca's long-time aversion to marketing and how she has decided to approach it The Kickstarter that Becca has launched and the various prizes she is offering for each of the tour stops The prize that Stark Reflections listeners can win just by listening and entering their name How Becca is trying to make each stop on the podcast guest tour different by focusing on different tips and ideas with every episode Mark's idea on how he deals with Kickstarters where international shipping isn't an option The limited number of vinyl albums that will be available through Becca's Kickstarter How the publishing industry has changed dramatically since 2017 when Becca's first "Dear Writer, You Need to Quit" book came out The cheeky thought that Becca was considering for her latest book with using the popular F-word expletive How long Becca's Kickstarter will be running Trying to spend more time on her fiction writing, but struggling with how much she loves collaborating with and helping other writers The positive impact of dating another writer where they can motivate one another to get more writing done How Becca had never intended to build a business as a coach and a non-fiction writer The two other pen names that Becca writes under for different series and genres. Mystery written as R.L. Syme. Paranormal Romance (written with a co-author) written as Cameron Reece. Urban fantasy under the name: Macy Dixon The recent "work vacation" that Becca took which helped enable some solid research for her writing Becca's reminder that under different pen names and genres, a writer will usually have a uniquely different voice The specific playlists that Becca has for each one of her pen names and genres and the very separate personas she embraces when writing each The comment Mark made that led Becca over to checking out his Clifton Strengths to confirm her suspicion How Becca is a real "sense of place" writer who connects emotionally with the physical space and the connection to the earth, the mountains, etc After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of wanting to help writers, and how that often leads to one's own writing taking a back seat.   Links of Interest: Becca Syme's Better-Faster Academy Better-Faster Academcy LINKS Better Faster Academy TOUR STOP GAME - Enter that you listened to Becca's interview on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Becca Syme (MATL) is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has individually coached more than 6000 authors at all levels. She is the author of the Quitbooks for Writers series and the popular Write Better-Faster course, and the host of the Quitcast for Writers podcast and YouTube channel. She also writes mystery novels and lives on one of the thousand lakes in Minnesota. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     EP 441 - A Bookstore for Indie Authors with Donovan Scherer A Bookstore for Indie Authors with Donovan Scherer Fri, 31 Oct 2025 10:29:00 +0000 Mark interviews artist, author, and indie bookstore owner Donovan Scherer about his writing, his art, and his store in downtown Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patrons, shares recent comments, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and Donovan talk about:

  • Donovan background as an illustrator creating various characters, and then eventually moving on to writing middle grade chapter books
  • Never really learning about how to sell books online, but rather through in person events like comic book conventions
  • The popularity of the ZomBeans (zombies) Donovan has drawn, including unique caricatures of his patrons
  • The idea of working on a "talking flowchart" to help understand what people gravitate towards
  • How Donovan has been doing local markets for 15 years -- since 2010
  • The regular festivals Donovan has started running in the parking lot across the street from his store
  • Acquiring the Studio Moonfall 400 square foot store in 2019
  • What Donovan carries in his store
  • How Donovan acquired ten pallets of books from a library that was wanting to move them
  • Half of what Donovan sells in his own store being his own work -- meaning that his average margin is much higher than most other bookstores
  • The CUT THE LINE promo where authors can get their books featured in the store and via the store's socials by providing 8 copies of their book to Studio Moonfall
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the incredible effort and unique approach to creating his own store in order to ensure his work was available in a brick and mortar space. He also talks about the various margins that are typical for bookstores and how Donovan has navigated that with some ingenius moves.

Mark also shares a special offer for patrons related to the CUT THE LINE promotion Donovan has in place.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Donovan Scherer is an author and illustrator creating worlds of adventure with a sense of humor and a little bit of dread that everything will go terribly, terribly wrong.

In 2009, he started the Fear & Sunshine series of middle-grade illustrated novels and began his work in book publishing. Along with developing more of his own series across novels, comics, video games, and animation, he also works with independent authors to help bring their stories to life.

In 2019, he opened the Studio Moonfall in downtown Kenosha, Wisconsin - an art studio and bookstore featuring his endlessly increasing body of work and highlighting other local and independent authors and artists.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews artist, author, and indie bookstore owner Donovan Scherer about his writing, his art, and his store in downtown Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patrons, shares recent comments, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and Donovan talk about:

  • Donovan background as an illustrator creating various characters, and then eventually moving on to writing middle grade chapter books
  • Never really learning about how to sell books online, but rather through in person events like comic book conventions
  • The popularity of the ZomBeans (zombies) Donovan has drawn, including unique caricatures of his patrons
  • The idea of working on a "talking flowchart" to help understand what people gravitate towards
  • How Donovan has been doing local markets for 15 years -- since 2010
  • The regular festivals Donovan has started running in the parking lot across the street from his store
  • Acquiring the Studio Moonfall 400 square foot store in 2019
  • What Donovan carries in his store
  • How Donovan acquired ten pallets of books from a library that was wanting to move them
  • Half of what Donovan sells in his own store being his own work -- meaning that his average margin is much higher than most other bookstores
  • The CUT THE LINE promo where authors can get their books featured in the store and via the store's socials by providing 8 copies of their book to Studio Moonfall
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the incredible effort and unique approach to creating his own store in order to ensure his work was available in a brick and mortar space. He also talks about the various margins that are typical for bookstores and how Donovan has navigated that with some ingenius moves.

Mark also shares a special offer for patrons related to the CUT THE LINE promotion Donovan has in place.

Links of Interest:

Donovan Scherer is an author and illustrator creating worlds of adventure with a sense of humor and a little bit of dread that everything will go terribly, terribly wrong.

In 2009, he started the Fear & Sunshine series of middle-grade illustrated novels and began his work in book publishing. Along with developing more of his own series across novels, comics, video games, and animation, he also works with independent authors to help bring their stories to life.

In 2019, he opened the Studio Moonfall in downtown Kenosha, Wisconsin - an art studio and bookstore featuring his endlessly increasing body of work and highlighting other local and independent authors and artists.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:00:38 false 8 441 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews artist, author, and indie bookstore owner Donovan Scherer about his writing, his art, and his store in downtown Kenosha, Wisconsin. Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patrons, shares recent comments, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Donovan talk about: Donovan background as an illustrator creating various characters, and then eventually moving on to writing middle grade chapter books Never really learning about how to sell books online, but rather through in person events like comic book conventions The popularity of the ZomBeans (zombies) Donovan has drawn, including unique caricatures of his patrons The idea of working on a "talking flowchart" to help understand what people gravitate towards How Donovan has been doing local markets for 15 years -- since 2010 The regular festivals Donovan has started running in the parking lot across the street from his store Acquiring the Studio Moonfall 400 square foot store in 2019 What Donovan carries in his store How Donovan acquired ten pallets of books from a library that was wanting to move them Half of what Donovan sells in his own store being his own work -- meaning that his average margin is much higher than most other bookstores The CUT THE LINE promo where authors can get their books featured in the store and via the store's socials by providing 8 copies of their book to Studio Moonfall And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the incredible effort and unique approach to creating his own store in order to ensure his work was available in a brick and mortar space. He also talks about the various margins that are typical for bookstores and how Donovan has navigated that with some ingenius moves. Mark also shares a special offer for patrons related to the CUT THE LINE promotion Donovan has in place.   Links of Interest: Donovan Scherer: Adventures in Art & Madness Studio Moonfall Author Submissions Page EP 440 - Behind the Scenes of the Podcast Guest Playbook with Matty Dalrymple Mark's Substack Article: When the Math for an Author Event Doesn't Add Up Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Donovan Scherer is an author and illustrator creating worlds of adventure with a sense of humor and a little bit of dread that everything will go terribly, terribly wrong. In 2009, he started the Fear & Sunshine series of middle-grade illustrated novels and began his work in book publishing. Along with developing more of his own series across novels, comics, video games, and animation, he also works with independent authors to help bring their stories to life. In 2019, he opened the Studio Moonfall in downtown Kenosha, Wisconsin - an art studio and bookstore featuring his endlessly increasing body of work and highlighting other local and independent authors and artists. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews artist, author, and indie bookstore owner Donovan Scherer about his writing, his art, and his store in downtown Kenosha, Wisconsin. Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patrons, shares recent comments, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Donovan talk about: Donovan background as an illustrator creating various characters, and then eventually moving on to writing middle grade chapter books Never really learning about how to sell books online, but rather through in person events like comic book conventions The popularity of the ZomBeans (zombies) Donovan has drawn, including unique caricatures of his patrons The idea of working on a "talking flowchart" to help understand what people gravitate towards How Donovan has been doing local markets for 15 years -- since 2010 The regular festivals Donovan has started running in the parking lot across the street from his store Acquiring the Studio Moonfall 400 square foot store in 2019 What Donovan carries in his store How Donovan acquired ten pallets of books from a library that was wanting to move them Half of what Donovan sells in his own store being his own work -- meaning that his average margin is much higher than most other bookstores The CUT THE LINE promo where authors can get their books featured in the store and via the store's socials by providing 8 copies of their book to Studio Moonfall And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the incredible effort and unique approach to creating his own store in order to ensure his work was available in a brick and mortar space. He also talks about the various margins that are typical for bookstores and how Donovan has navigated that with some ingenius moves. Mark also shares a special offer for patrons related to the CUT THE LINE promotion Donovan has in place.   Links of Interest: Donovan Scherer: Adventures in Art & Madness Studio Moonfall Author Submissions Page EP 440 - Behind the Scenes of the Podcast Guest Playbook with Matty Dalrymple Mark's Substack Article: When the Math for an Author Event Doesn't Add Up Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Donovan Scherer is an author and illustrator creating worlds of adventure with a sense of humor and a little bit of dread that everything will go terribly, terribly wrong. In 2009, he started the Fear & Sunshine series of middle-grade illustrated novels and began his work in book publishing. Along with developing more of his own series across novels, comics, video games, and animation, he also works with independent authors to help bring their stories to life. In 2019, he opened the Studio Moonfall in downtown Kenosha, Wisconsin - an art studio and bookstore featuring his endlessly increasing body of work and highlighting other local and independent authors and artists. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 440 - Behind the Scenes of The Podcast Guest Playbook with Matty Dalrymple Behind the Scenes of The Podcast Guest Playbook with Matty Dalrymple Fri, 24 Oct 2025 10:51:00 +0000 In this episode Mark talks with Matty Dalrymple, co-author of the book The Podcast Guest Playbook which was released earlier in 2025.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares recent comments, a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and Matty talk about:

  • Something that Stark Reflections listeners might not know about Matty related to getting her private pilot license
  • Having worked aviation into at least two of her novels
  • The phrase that goes along with the very intentional passing of the manuscript from one co-author to another
  • How long Matty has been running The Indy Author Podcast
  • The genesis of the book PODCASTING GUEST PLAYBOOK that Matty and Mark co-authored
  • The underlying importance of connections that can happen through direct conversation between two people, but also among people who listen to that conversation (such as in a podcast)
  • An anecdote from meeting an author at ALA (American Library Association) who thought they'd met Mark in person before because they'd heard him as a guest on someone else's podcast
  • Wanting it to be a mutually beneficial relationship when making those connections
  • A reminder about the old Storygraph tool that showed a visual representation of how books were linked (Back in 2007 this was a visual search tool where book covers appeared as thumbnails and "connections" between books (via "customers who bought this also bought this") were drawn as lines.
  • Some of the unique connections that happened when both Mark and Matty were at ALA in Philadelphia in the summer of 2025
  • An example of how Damon Courtney of Bookfunnel is a great podcast guest who is more interested in providing value to all listeners rather than someone who is solely trying to sell his product
  • How indirect opportunities can be better than a sudden spike in book sales
  • The offer that Matty has for authors to help do a short interview for them to demonstrate their skills as a interview guest
  • A special offer for patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast to get a free coaching session from Matty with her pod-pro coaching
  • An example of a guest who was very reluctant to provide valuable information in an interview (ie, being far more interested in selling something)
  • The value of having a service mindset over a selling mindset
  • Making sure that you're pitching to the right podcast in the right way at the right time
  • Advice Matty would offer to authors
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on a few different things, including the rise of the sophistication of the spammy author connection and service requests that arrive in his email a half dozen times a day.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

 

]]> In this episode Mark talks with Matty Dalrymple, co-author of the book The Podcast Guest Playbook which was released earlier in 2025.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares recent comments, a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and Matty talk about:

  • Something that Stark Reflections listeners might not know about Matty related to getting her private pilot license
  • Having worked aviation into at least two of her novels
  • The phrase that goes along with the very intentional passing of the manuscript from one co-author to another
  • How long Matty has been running The Indy Author Podcast
  • The genesis of the book PODCASTING GUEST PLAYBOOK that Matty and Mark co-authored
  • The underlying importance of connections that can happen through direct conversation between two people, but also among people who listen to that conversation (such as in a podcast)
  • An anecdote from meeting an author at ALA (American Library Association) who thought they'd met Mark in person before because they'd heard him as a guest on someone else's podcast
  • Wanting it to be a mutually beneficial relationship when making those connections
  • A reminder about the old Storygraph tool that showed a visual representation of how books were linked (Back in 2007 this was a visual search tool where book covers appeared as thumbnails and "connections" between books (via "customers who bought this also bought this") were drawn as lines.
  • Some of the unique connections that happened when both Mark and Matty were at ALA in Philadelphia in the summer of 2025
  • An example of how Damon Courtney of Bookfunnel is a great podcast guest who is more interested in providing value to all listeners rather than someone who is solely trying to sell his product
  • How indirect opportunities can be better than a sudden spike in book sales
  • The offer that Matty has for authors to help do a short interview for them to demonstrate their skills as a interview guest
  • A special offer for patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast to get a free coaching session from Matty with her pod-pro coaching
  • An example of a guest who was very reluctant to provide valuable information in an interview (ie, being far more interested in selling something)
  • The value of having a service mindset over a selling mindset
  • Making sure that you're pitching to the right podcast in the right way at the right time
  • Advice Matty would offer to authors
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a few different things, including the rise of the sophistication of the spammy author connection and service requests that arrive in his email a half dozen times a day.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:07:36 false 8 440 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark talks with Matty Dalrymple, co-author of the book The Podcast Guest Playbook which was released earlier in 2025. Prior to the interview, Mark shares recent comments, a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Matty talk about: Something that Stark Reflections listeners might not know about Matty related to getting her private pilot license Having worked aviation into at least two of her novels The phrase that goes along with the very intentional passing of the manuscript from one co-author to another How long Matty has been running The Indy Author Podcast The genesis of the book PODCASTING GUEST PLAYBOOK that Matty and Mark co-authored The underlying importance of connections that can happen through direct conversation between two people, but also among people who listen to that conversation (such as in a podcast) An anecdote from meeting an author at ALA (American Library Association) who thought they'd met Mark in person before because they'd heard him as a guest on someone else's podcast Wanting it to be a mutually beneficial relationship when making those connections A reminder about the old Storygraph tool that showed a visual representation of how books were linked (Back in 2007 this was a visual search tool where book covers appeared as thumbnails and "connections" between books (via "customers who bought this also bought this") were drawn as lines. Some of the unique connections that happened when both Mark and Matty were at ALA in Philadelphia in the summer of 2025 An example of how Damon Courtney of Bookfunnel is a great podcast guest who is more interested in providing value to all listeners rather than someone who is solely trying to sell his product How indirect opportunities can be better than a sudden spike in book sales The offer that Matty has for authors to help do a short interview for them to demonstrate their skills as a interview guest A special offer for patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast to get a free coaching session from Matty with her pod-pro coaching An example of a guest who was very reluctant to provide valuable information in an interview (ie, being far more interested in selling something) The value of having a service mindset over a selling mindset Making sure that you're pitching to the right podcast in the right way at the right time Advice Matty would offer to authors And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on a few different things, including the rise of the sophistication of the spammy author connection and service requests that arrive in his email a half dozen times a day.   Links of Interest: The Indy Author The Podcast Guest Playbook Matty's POD PRO Consulting (Patron link to access offer) EP 439 - Rambling Reflections from the Road to Can-Con Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    In this episode Mark talks with Matty Dalrymple, co-author of the book The Podcast Guest Playbook which was released earlier in 2025. Prior to the interview, Mark shares recent comments, a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Matty talk about: Something that Stark Reflections listeners might not know about Matty related to getting her private pilot license Having worked aviation into at least two of her novels The phrase that goes along with the very intentional passing of the manuscript from one co-author to another How long Matty has been running The Indy Author Podcast The genesis of the book PODCASTING GUEST PLAYBOOK that Matty and Mark co-authored The underlying importance of connections that can happen through direct conversation between two people, but also among people who listen to that conversation (such as in a podcast) An anecdote from meeting an author at ALA (American Library Association) who thought they'd met Mark in person before because they'd heard him as a guest on someone else's podcast Wanting it to be a mutually beneficial relationship when making those connections A reminder about the old Storygraph tool that showed a visual representation of how books were linked (Back in 2007 this was a visual search tool where book covers appeared as thumbnails and "connections" between books (via "customers who bought this also bought this") were drawn as lines. Some of the unique connections that happened when both Mark and Matty were at ALA in Philadelphia in the summer of 2025 An example of how Damon Courtney of Bookfunnel is a great podcast guest who is more interested in providing value to all listeners rather than someone who is solely trying to sell his product How indirect opportunities can be better than a sudden spike in book sales The offer that Matty has for authors to help do a short interview for them to demonstrate their skills as a interview guest A special offer for patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast to get a free coaching session from Matty with her pod-pro coaching An example of a guest who was very reluctant to provide valuable information in an interview (ie, being far more interested in selling something) The value of having a service mindset over a selling mindset Making sure that you're pitching to the right podcast in the right way at the right time Advice Matty would offer to authors And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on a few different things, including the rise of the sophistication of the spammy author connection and service requests that arrive in his email a half dozen times a day.   Links of Interest: The Indy Author The Podcast Guest Playbook Matty's POD PRO Consulting (Patron link to access offer) EP 439 - Rambling Reflections from the Road to Can-Con Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     EP 439 - Rambling Reflections From The Road to Can-Con Rambling Reflections From The Road to Can-Con Fri, 17 Oct 2025 17:46:00 +0000 On his drive to Ottawa, Ontario for the annual Can-Con (Ottawa's Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Literature Convention), Mark reflects on his experience with that conference from it's initial inception in the early 1990s along with its evolution.

He also reflects on the importance of CanCon in general (Canadian Content regulations) and how it has played and continues to play an important role for Canadian musicians, artists, performers, and writers.

This episode is sponsored by the 2nd Edition of the book TAKING THE SHORT TACK: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction which is co-authored by Mark and Matty Dalrymple and was released this week in October 2025

Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction: Dalrymple, Matty, Lefebvre, Mark Leslie: 9781734479911: Books ...

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> On his drive to Ottawa, Ontario for the annual Can-Con (Ottawa's Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Literature Convention), Mark reflects on his experience with that conference from it's initial inception in the early 1990s along with its evolution.

He also reflects on the importance of CanCon in general (Canadian Content regulations) and how it has played and continues to play an important role for Canadian musicians, artists, performers, and writers.

This episode is sponsored by the 2nd Edition of the book TAKING THE SHORT TACK: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction which is co-authored by Mark and Matty Dalrymple and was released this week in October 2025

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 53:45 false 8 439 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)On his drive to Ottawa, Ontario for the annual Can-Con (Ottawa's Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Literature Convention), Mark reflects on his experience with that conference from it's initial inception in the early 1990s along with its evolution. He also reflects on the importance of CanCon in general (Canadian Content regulations) and how it has played and continues to play an important role for Canadian musicians, artists, performers, and writers. This episode is sponsored by the 2nd Edition of the book TAKING THE SHORT TACK: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction which is co-authored by Mark and Matty Dalrymple and was released this week in October 2025 Links of Interest: Can-Con (Ottawa Conference) Terry Fallis Website EP 328 - Reflections on A New Season with Terry Fallis EP 029 - Terry Fallis on Writing With Authenticity, Humor, and Passion The Littlest Hobo Mr. Dressup The Polka Dot Door Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0On his drive to Ottawa, Ontario for the annual Can-Con (Ottawa's Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Literature Convention), Mark reflects on his experience with that conference from it's initial inception in the early 1990s along with its evolution. He also reflects on the importance of CanCon in general (Canadian Content regulations) and how it has played and continues to play an important role for Canadian musicians, artists, performers, and writers. This episode is sponsored by the 2nd Edition of the book TAKING THE SHORT TACK: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction which is co-authored by Mark and Matty Dalrymple and was released this week in October 2025 Links of Interest: Can-Con (Ottawa Conference) Terry Fallis Website EP 328 - Reflections on A New Season with Terry Fallis EP 029 - Terry Fallis on Writing With Authenticity, Humor, and Passion The Littlest Hobo Mr. Dressup The Polka Dot Door Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 438 - A Personal Conversation with Malorie Cooper A Personal Conversation with Malorie Cooper Tue, 14 Oct 2025 20:14:00 +0000 Mark has a personal conversation with Malorie Cooper. In this episode they talk about:

  • The reason she and her family moved from Boston, MA and back to Canada
  • The uniqueness of New England compared to the rest of the United States
  • How Canada is one of the hardest countries to emigrate into
  • Not having ever gotten American citizenship
  • The oppression and fear of being a queer transgender person, particularly in the US
  • How it's virtually impossible for people who aren't oppressed to understand what it's like
  • Losing half her fan base and friends when she transitioned into the person she was always born to be
  • How when you life authentically and vulnerably, people will actually be attracted to you
  • Living in a judgement-free zone/bubble
  • Feeling unsafe for the first time after she came out as Malorie
  • How coming out as trans is likely the hardest thing a person will ever do -- but, in addition to having a child, one of the most rewarding things Mal ever did
  • The recurring theme of "found family" in Mal's novels
  • And more...

 

After the conversation Mark reflects on the idea of priviledge he has in not having to be fearful when walking alone outside after dark (for example) about "found family" and the importance of connecting with others who understand you where you are.

Links of Interest:

 

Malorie Cooper is a science fiction author and creator of the Aeon 14 universe. She has written over one hundred books and plans to write another hundred more (at least).

Having built her career using advertising to spread awareness of her books, she's shifted focus to helping other authors get a leg up through paid ads on a variety of platforms, as well as optimizing their product page with a focus on increasing conversions.

She and her wife now run The Writing Wives, which helps dozens of authors a month reach their marketing goals.

In addition to storytelling and writing, Malorie loves playing games of any sort, gardening, and woodworking. She shares her home with a wife who also writes, an entrepreneurial teenaged daughter, and far more cats than are strictly necessary.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark has a personal conversation with Malorie Cooper. In this episode they talk about:

  • The reason she and her family moved from Boston, MA and back to Canada
  • The uniqueness of New England compared to the rest of the United States
  • How Canada is one of the hardest countries to emigrate into
  • Not having ever gotten American citizenship
  • The oppression and fear of being a queer transgender person, particularly in the US
  • How it's virtually impossible for people who aren't oppressed to understand what it's like
  • Losing half her fan base and friends when she transitioned into the person she was always born to be
  • How when you life authentically and vulnerably, people will actually be attracted to you
  • Living in a judgement-free zone/bubble
  • Feeling unsafe for the first time after she came out as Malorie
  • How coming out as trans is likely the hardest thing a person will ever do -- but, in addition to having a child, one of the most rewarding things Mal ever did
  • The recurring theme of "found family" in Mal's novels
  • And more...

After the conversation Mark reflects on the idea of priviledge he has in not having to be fearful when walking alone outside after dark (for example) about "found family" and the importance of connecting with others who understand you where you are.

Links of Interest:

Malorie Cooper is a science fiction author and creator of the Aeon 14 universe. She has written over one hundred books and plans to write another hundred more (at least).

Having built her career using advertising to spread awareness of her books, she's shifted focus to helping other authors get a leg up through paid ads on a variety of platforms, as well as optimizing their product page with a focus on increasing conversions.

She and her wife now run The Writing Wives, which helps dozens of authors a month reach their marketing goals.

In addition to storytelling and writing, Malorie loves playing games of any sort, gardening, and woodworking. She shares her home with a wife who also writes, an entrepreneurial teenaged daughter, and far more cats than are strictly necessary.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 39:30 false 8 438 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark has a personal conversation with Malorie Cooper. In this episode they talk about: The reason she and her family moved from Boston, MA and back to Canada The uniqueness of New England compared to the rest of the United States How Canada is one of the hardest countries to emigrate into Not having ever gotten American citizenship The oppression and fear of being a queer transgender person, particularly in the US How it's virtually impossible for people who aren't oppressed to understand what it's like Losing half her fan base and friends when she transitioned into the person she was always born to be How when you life authentically and vulnerably, people will actually be attracted to you Living in a judgement-free zone/bubble Feeling unsafe for the first time after she came out as Malorie How coming out as trans is likely the hardest thing a person will ever do -- but, in addition to having a child, one of the most rewarding things Mal ever did The recurring theme of "found family" in Mal's novels And more...   After the conversation Mark reflects on the idea of priviledge he has in not having to be fearful when walking alone outside after dark (for example) about "found family" and the importance of connecting with others who understand you where you are. Links of Interest: Malorie Cooper / M.D. Cooper Website The Writing Wives Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Malorie Cooper is a science fiction author and creator of the Aeon 14 universe. She has written over one hundred books and plans to write another hundred more (at least). Having built her career using advertising to spread awareness of her books, she's shifted focus to helping other authors get a leg up through paid ads on a variety of platforms, as well as optimizing their product page with a focus on increasing conversions. She and her wife now run The Writing Wives, which helps dozens of authors a month reach their marketing goals. In addition to storytelling and writing, Malorie loves playing games of any sort, gardening, and woodworking. She shares her home with a wife who also writes, an entrepreneurial teenaged daughter, and far more cats than are strictly necessary.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark has a personal conversation with Malorie Cooper. In this episode they talk about: The reason she and her family moved from Boston, MA and back to Canada The uniqueness of New England compared to the rest of the United States How Canada is one of the hardest countries to emigrate into Not having ever gotten American citizenship The oppression and fear of being a queer transgender person, particularly in the US How it's virtually impossible for people who aren't oppressed to understand what it's like Losing half her fan base and friends when she transitioned into the person she was always born to be How when you life authentically and vulnerably, people will actually be attracted to you Living in a judgement-free zone/bubble Feeling unsafe for the first time after she came out as Malorie How coming out as trans is likely the hardest thing a person will ever do -- but, in addition to having a child, one of the most rewarding things Mal ever did The recurring theme of "found family" in Mal's novels And more...   After the conversation Mark reflects on the idea of priviledge he has in not having to be fearful when walking alone outside after dark (for example) about "found family" and the importance of connecting with others who understand you where you are. Links of Interest: Malorie Cooper / M.D. Cooper Website The Writing Wives Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Malorie Cooper is a science fiction author and creator of the Aeon 14 universe. She has written over one hundred books and plans to write another hundred more (at least). Having built her career using advertising to spread awareness of her books, she's shifted focus to helping other authors get a leg up through paid ads on a variety of platforms, as well as optimizing their product page with a focus on increasing conversions. She and her wife now run The Writing Wives, which helps dozens of authors a month reach their marketing goals. In addition to storytelling and writing, Malorie loves playing games of any sort, gardening, and woodworking. She shares her home with a wife who also writes, an entrepreneurial teenaged daughter, and far more cats than are strictly necessary.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 437 - Nerding Out Over History, Science, and Maps with Malorie Cooper Nerding Out Over History, Science, and Maps with Malorie Cooper Fri, 10 Oct 2025 19:45:00 +0000 Mark interviews Malorie Cooper, who writes under the name M.D. Cooper, about the various things that fascinate and inspire her writing.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and Malorie talk about:

  • Meeting up in New Brunswick in the spring at a writer's conference
  • Mal's passion about writing science-fiction and nerding out about science and history concepts
  • Mal working with her wife Jill on The Writing Wives - designed to help authors better market their books
  • Some misperceptions that authors have, such as "I'm not good at Facebook Ads"
  • Mal always being curious about everything, and getting story inspiration from looking at maps
  • How her fascination with maps led to mapping software for space maps, and an evolution into a sci-fi writer
  • Malorie's introduction to science fiction through the books of Anne McCaffrey
  • How maps can inform and inspire science fiction stories
  • The various struggles that Mal likes to tackle in stories she writes
  • Passion for history and looking at the US Naval build immediately after Pearl Harbor
  • The frustration Mal often has in much of science-fiction and fantasy where the world's aren't "big" enough
  • How Mal writes without having a story bible about the universes she has created and writes in
  • The way Malorie divides her time up between writing and working with authors for The Writing Wives
  • The long pause in writing new science fiction stories that happened shortly after 2020
  • Thinking back to 2016 when Mal's writing really started to take off (how the money being earned from that was better than the full-time employment work as a software developer)
  • The time when Mal was writing for about 14 to 16 hours a day, with her wife Jill creating a "protective bubble" around her so she could focus on writing
  • The experience of having two people on Patreon who have, for eight years, given Mal $50 a month
  • The power (and sense of accomplishment) that comes when you get to "the end"
  • Advice Mal would give to other writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the challenge of moving from part-time to full-time writer, as well as the heart-warming fact that there are those out there who resonate with a creator's works and step up to support them in heart-warming ways.

Links of Interest:

 

Malorie Cooper is a science fiction author and creator of the Aeon 14 universe. She has written over one hundred books and plans to write another hundred more (at least).

Having built her career using advertising to spread awareness of her books, she's shifted focus to helping other authors get a leg up through paid ads on a variety of platforms, as well as optimizing their product page with a focus on increasing conversions.

She and her wife now run The Writing Wives, which helps dozens of authors a month reach their marketing goals.

In addition to storytelling and writing, Malorie loves playing games of any sort, gardening, and woodworking. She shares her home with a wife who also writes, an entrepreneurial teenaged daughter, and far more cats than are strictly necessary.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

 

]]> Mark interviews Malorie Cooper, who writes under the name M.D. Cooper, about the various things that fascinate and inspire her writing.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and Malorie talk about:

  • Meeting up in New Brunswick in the spring at a writer's conference
  • Mal's passion about writing science-fiction and nerding out about science and history concepts
  • Mal working with her wife Jill on The Writing Wives - designed to help authors better market their books
  • Some misperceptions that authors have, such as "I'm not good at Facebook Ads"
  • Mal always being curious about everything, and getting story inspiration from looking at maps
  • How her fascination with maps led to mapping software for space maps, and an evolution into a sci-fi writer
  • Malorie's introduction to science fiction through the books of Anne McCaffrey
  • How maps can inform and inspire science fiction stories
  • The various struggles that Mal likes to tackle in stories she writes
  • Passion for history and looking at the US Naval build immediately after Pearl Harbor
  • The frustration Mal often has in much of science-fiction and fantasy where the world's aren't "big" enough
  • How Mal writes without having a story bible about the universes she has created and writes in
  • The way Malorie divides her time up between writing and working with authors for The Writing Wives
  • The long pause in writing new science fiction stories that happened shortly after 2020
  • Thinking back to 2016 when Mal's writing really started to take off (how the money being earned from that was better than the full-time employment work as a software developer)
  • The time when Mal was writing for about 14 to 16 hours a day, with her wife Jill creating a "protective bubble" around her so she could focus on writing
  • The experience of having two people on Patreon who have, for eight years, given Mal $50 a month
  • The power (and sense of accomplishment) that comes when you get to "the end"
  • Advice Mal would give to other writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the challenge of moving from part-time to full-time writer, as well as the heart-warming fact that there are those out there who resonate with a creator's works and step up to support them in heart-warming ways.

Links of Interest:

Malorie Cooper is a science fiction author and creator of the Aeon 14 universe. She has written over one hundred books and plans to write another hundred more (at least).

Having built her career using advertising to spread awareness of her books, she's shifted focus to helping other authors get a leg up through paid ads on a variety of platforms, as well as optimizing their product page with a focus on increasing conversions.

She and her wife now run The Writing Wives, which helps dozens of authors a month reach their marketing goals.

In addition to storytelling and writing, Malorie loves playing games of any sort, gardening, and woodworking. She shares her home with a wife who also writes, an entrepreneurial teenaged daughter, and far more cats than are strictly necessary.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:00:04 false 8 437 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Malorie Cooper, who writes under the name M.D. Cooper, about the various things that fascinate and inspire her writing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Malorie talk about: Meeting up in New Brunswick in the spring at a writer's conference Mal's passion about writing science-fiction and nerding out about science and history concepts Mal working with her wife Jill on The Writing Wives - designed to help authors better market their books Some misperceptions that authors have, such as "I'm not good at Facebook Ads" Mal always being curious about everything, and getting story inspiration from looking at maps How her fascination with maps led to mapping software for space maps, and an evolution into a sci-fi writer Malorie's introduction to science fiction through the books of Anne McCaffrey How maps can inform and inspire science fiction stories The various struggles that Mal likes to tackle in stories she writes Passion for history and looking at the US Naval build immediately after Pearl Harbor The frustration Mal often has in much of science-fiction and fantasy where the world's aren't "big" enough How Mal writes without having a story bible about the universes she has created and writes in The way Malorie divides her time up between writing and working with authors for The Writing Wives The long pause in writing new science fiction stories that happened shortly after 2020 Thinking back to 2016 when Mal's writing really started to take off (how the money being earned from that was better than the full-time employment work as a software developer) The time when Mal was writing for about 14 to 16 hours a day, with her wife Jill creating a "protective bubble" around her so she could focus on writing The experience of having two people on Patreon who have, for eight years, given Mal $50 a month The power (and sense of accomplishment) that comes when you get to "the end" Advice Mal would give to other writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the challenge of moving from part-time to full-time writer, as well as the heart-warming fact that there are those out there who resonate with a creator's works and step up to support them in heart-warming ways. Links of Interest: Malorie Cooper / M.D. Cooper Website The Writing Wives Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Malorie Cooper is a science fiction author and creator of the Aeon 14 universe. She has written over one hundred books and plans to write another hundred more (at least). Having built her career using advertising to spread awareness of her books, she's shifted focus to helping other authors get a leg up through paid ads on a variety of platforms, as well as optimizing their product page with a focus on increasing conversions. She and her wife now run The Writing Wives, which helps dozens of authors a month reach their marketing goals. In addition to storytelling and writing, Malorie loves playing games of any sort, gardening, and woodworking. She shares her home with a wife who also writes, an entrepreneurial teenaged daughter, and far more cats than are strictly necessary.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    Mark interviews Malorie Cooper, who writes under the name M.D. Cooper, about the various things that fascinate and inspire her writing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Malorie talk about: Meeting up in New Brunswick in the spring at a writer's conference Mal's passion about writing science-fiction and nerding out about science and history concepts Mal working with her wife Jill on The Writing Wives - designed to help authors better market their books Some misperceptions that authors have, such as "I'm not good at Facebook Ads" Mal always being curious about everything, and getting story inspiration from looking at maps How her fascination with maps led to mapping software for space maps, and an evolution into a sci-fi writer Malorie's introduction to science fiction through the books of Anne McCaffrey How maps can inform and inspire science fiction stories The various struggles that Mal likes to tackle in stories she writes Passion for history and looking at the US Naval build immediately after Pearl Harbor The frustration Mal often has in much of science-fiction and fantasy where the world's aren't "big" enough How Mal writes without having a story bible about the universes she has created and writes in The way Malorie divides her time up between writing and working with authors for The Writing Wives The long pause in writing new science fiction stories that happened shortly after 2020 Thinking back to 2016 when Mal's writing really started to take off (how the money being earned from that was better than the full-time employment work as a software developer) The time when Mal was writing for about 14 to 16 hours a day, with her wife Jill creating a "protective bubble" around her so she could focus on writing The experience of having two people on Patreon who have, for eight years, given Mal $50 a month The power (and sense of accomplishment) that comes when you get to "the end" Advice Mal would give to other writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the challenge of moving from part-time to full-time writer, as well as the heart-warming fact that there are those out there who resonate with a creator's works and step up to support them in heart-warming ways. Links of Interest: Malorie Cooper / M.D. Cooper Website The Writing Wives Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Malorie Cooper is a science fiction author and creator of the Aeon 14 universe. She has written over one hundred books and plans to write another hundred more (at least). Having built her career using advertising to spread awareness of her books, she's shifted focus to helping other authors get a leg up through paid ads on a variety of platforms, as well as optimizing their product page with a focus on increasing conversions. She and her wife now run The Writing Wives, which helps dozens of authors a month reach their marketing goals. In addition to storytelling and writing, Malorie loves playing games of any sort, gardening, and woodworking. She shares her home with a wife who also writes, an entrepreneurial teenaged daughter, and far more cats than are strictly necessary.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     EP 436 - Artisan Publishing with Blue Feathered Quill Artisan Publishing with Blue Feathered Quill Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:17:00 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Joshua Smyser and Alex Hale of Blue Feathered Quill Publishing.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcome a new patron (S.K. Randolph), offers a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark, Alex, and Joshua talk about:

  • Alex's background growing up an avid reader and someone who wrote music and stories, and then going back to school for linguistics in 2020, then later, the Masters of Publishing program at Western Colorado University
  • Being a fan of writing poetry as well as poetry put to music
  • Coming to the realization that he enjoyed helping other writers with getting their work ready for publication more than he enjoyed writing
  • The first book that Blue Feathered Quill published (a sweet-romance with a darker twist): Eth: A Novel
  • Joshua also having a background in music (taking mandolin lessons) as well as being an avid reader as a young person as well as pursuing the writing/publishing route when he was a youth
  • Getting a degree in education and starting a teaching career, and then returning to thinking about the world of books and publishing
  • Joining up with Alex on BFQ as a way to move into publishing and learning more about editing and cover design
  • The story Josh sold to the "Cupids" anthology that was published by Western Colorado University
  • The origin of the publishing name Blue Feathered Quill
  • The cross-country trip with a life-long friend that Alex made several years back
  • The idea of building a publishing company with a cohort of writers, editors, and other creative people who could help one another out in different ways
  • A look at the process they take when an author approaches them
  • The second book that they released on April 29, 2025: THE TALE OF JIRAIYA THE GALLANT (a classic Japanese story from the 1800's which is a bit of a precursor to Manga) and Joshua's passion for bringing this book into existance
  • How well their first book was already selling when it was first released in the spring of 2025
  • How authors who are interested in working with BFQ can reach out to them
  • Advice that Alex and Josh would like to relay to authors as well as those thinking of starting a publishing company
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on how they are running this company with passion and integrity, with a goal to work collaboratively with authors.

 

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Joshua Smyser and Alex Hale of Blue Feathered Quill Publishing.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcome a new patron (S.K. Randolph), offers a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark, Alex, and Joshua talk about:

  • Alex's background growing up an avid reader and someone who wrote music and stories, and then going back to school for linguistics in 2020, then later, the Masters of Publishing program at Western Colorado University
  • Being a fan of writing poetry as well as poetry put to music
  • Coming to the realization that he enjoyed helping other writers with getting their work ready for publication more than he enjoyed writing
  • The first book that Blue Feathered Quill published (a sweet-romance with a darker twist): Eth: A Novel
  • Joshua also having a background in music (taking mandolin lessons) as well as being an avid reader as a young person as well as pursuing the writing/publishing route when he was a youth
  • Getting a degree in education and starting a teaching career, and then returning to thinking about the world of books and publishing
  • Joining up with Alex on BFQ as a way to move into publishing and learning more about editing and cover design
  • The story Josh sold to the "Cupids" anthology that was published by Western Colorado University
  • The origin of the publishing name Blue Feathered Quill
  • The cross-country trip with a life-long friend that Alex made several years back
  • The idea of building a publishing company with a cohort of writers, editors, and other creative people who could help one another out in different ways
  • A look at the process they take when an author approaches them
  • The second book that they released on April 29, 2025: THE TALE OF JIRAIYA THE GALLANT (a classic Japanese story from the 1800's which is a bit of a precursor to Manga) and Joshua's passion for bringing this book into existance
  • How well their first book was already selling when it was first released in the spring of 2025
  • How authors who are interested in working with BFQ can reach out to them
  • Advice that Alex and Josh would like to relay to authors as well as those thinking of starting a publishing company
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on how they are running this company with passion and integrity, with a goal to work collaboratively with authors.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 54:19 false 8 436 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Joshua Smyser and Alex Hale of Blue Feathered Quill Publishing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcome a new patron (S.K. Randolph), offers a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark, Alex, and Joshua talk about: Alex's background growing up an avid reader and someone who wrote music and stories, and then going back to school for linguistics in 2020, then later, the Masters of Publishing program at Western Colorado University Being a fan of writing poetry as well as poetry put to music Coming to the realization that he enjoyed helping other writers with getting their work ready for publication more than he enjoyed writing The first book that Blue Feathered Quill published (a sweet-romance with a darker twist): Eth: A Novel Joshua also having a background in music (taking mandolin lessons) as well as being an avid reader as a young person as well as pursuing the writing/publishing route when he was a youth Getting a degree in education and starting a teaching career, and then returning to thinking about the world of books and publishing Joining up with Alex on BFQ as a way to move into publishing and learning more about editing and cover design The story Josh sold to the "Cupids" anthology that was published by Western Colorado University The origin of the publishing name Blue Feathered Quill The cross-country trip with a life-long friend that Alex made several years back The idea of building a publishing company with a cohort of writers, editors, and other creative people who could help one another out in different ways A look at the process they take when an author approaches them The second book that they released on April 29, 2025: THE TALE OF JIRAIYA THE GALLANT (a classic Japanese story from the 1800's which is a bit of a precursor to Manga) and Joshua's passion for bringing this book into existance How well their first book was already selling when it was first released in the spring of 2025 How authors who are interested in working with BFQ can reach out to them Advice that Alex and Josh would like to relay to authors as well as those thinking of starting a publishing company And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on how they are running this company with passion and integrity, with a goal to work collaboratively with authors.   Links of Interest: Blue Feathered Quill Publishing Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this episode Mark interviews Joshua Smyser and Alex Hale of Blue Feathered Quill Publishing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcome a new patron (S.K. Randolph), offers a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark, Alex, and Joshua talk about: Alex's background growing up an avid reader and someone who wrote music and stories, and then going back to school for linguistics in 2020, then later, the Masters of Publishing program at Western Colorado University Being a fan of writing poetry as well as poetry put to music Coming to the realization that he enjoyed helping other writers with getting their work ready for publication more than he enjoyed writing The first book that Blue Feathered Quill published (a sweet-romance with a darker twist): Eth: A Novel Joshua also having a background in music (taking mandolin lessons) as well as being an avid reader as a young person as well as pursuing the writing/publishing route when he was a youth Getting a degree in education and starting a teaching career, and then returning to thinking about the world of books and publishing Joining up with Alex on BFQ as a way to move into publishing and learning more about editing and cover design The story Josh sold to the "Cupids" anthology that was published by Western Colorado University The origin of the publishing name Blue Feathered Quill The cross-country trip with a life-long friend that Alex made several years back The idea of building a publishing company with a cohort of writers, editors, and other creative people who could help one another out in different ways A look at the process they take when an author approaches them The second book that they released on April 29, 2025: THE TALE OF JIRAIYA THE GALLANT (a classic Japanese story from the 1800's which is a bit of a precursor to Manga) and Joshua's passion for bringing this book into existance How well their first book was already selling when it was first released in the spring of 2025 How authors who are interested in working with BFQ can reach out to them Advice that Alex and Josh would like to relay to authors as well as those thinking of starting a publishing company And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on how they are running this company with passion and integrity, with a goal to work collaboratively with authors.   Links of Interest: Blue Feathered Quill Publishing Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 435 - The Power of Writers in a Divided World The Power of Writers in a Divided World Thu, 25 Sep 2025 23:00:00 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark reflects on the power that writers bring to a divided world.

Prior to the reflection, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

 

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode, Mark reflects on the power that writers bring to a divided world.

Prior to the reflection, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 23:20 false 8 435 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark reflects on the power that writers bring to a divided world. Prior to the reflection, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.   Links of Interest: Mark's Listing for FanX Salt Lake City Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode, Mark reflects on the power that writers bring to a divided world. Prior to the reflection, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.   Links of Interest: Mark's Listing for FanX Salt Lake City Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 434 - Held Over Passion Projects with John Gaspard Held Over Passion Projects with John Gaspard Thu, 18 Sep 2025 23:00:00 +0000 Mark interviews John Gaspard about his book HELD OVER: HAROLD AND MAUDE AT THE WESTGATE THEATER.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and John talk about:

  • John's appreciation for the honesty of the podcast and one of his favorite episodes, and why he liked it
  • John's background and the two different cozy mystery series that he has written and published
  • The Eli Mark's "Behind the Page" podcast that John uses to share behind-the-scenes and brilliantly market the books in audio and other formats
  • A person with a PhD in "shuffling cards" who was a guest on John's podcast
  • How John approached his deep love and affection for the 1971 movie HAROLD AND MAUDE
  • The Minneapolis theatre (Westgate) that helped make this movie a cult classic
  • How John couldn't have written this book 20 years ago
  • John's Popcorn Principals books
  • The book HELD OVER: HAROLD AND MAUDE AT THE WESTGATE THEATER
  • John's philosophy of "I'm writing for me."
  • A bit of the history of the Westgate Theater
  • The approach to his writing and recognizing that most of the books are likely not to earn much more than making back the initial money invested into them
  • Deciding which researched bits made it into the book
  • How Scrivener was a helpful tool in the writing of the book and various research elements
  • The design company that John worked with on this book
  • The Kickstarter that John ran related to this book and what it did for him (beyond earning a bit of up front money to help with funding the expensive project
  • Working with Bookvault on the production of this book
  • Advice John would offer to writers who haven't yet pursued that passion project
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on passion projects, networking and connecting with other writers, and the advice to pause/hesitate

 

Links of Interest:

 

John Gaspard is author of the Eli Marks mystery series and the Como Lake Players mystery series. He also has several other stand-alone novels, including "The Greyhound of the Baskervilles," "A Christmas Carl," "The Sword & Mr. Stone" and "The Ripperologists."

He hosts: "Behind the Page: The Eli Marks Podcast."

In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less - that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, those books made more than the films.

John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several greyhounds, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews John Gaspard about his book HELD OVER: HAROLD AND MAUDE AT THE WESTGATE THEATER.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and John talk about:

  • John's appreciation for the honesty of the podcast and one of his favorite episodes, and why he liked it
  • John's background and the two different cozy mystery series that he has written and published
  • The Eli Mark's "Behind the Page" podcast that John uses to share behind-the-scenes and brilliantly market the books in audio and other formats
  • A person with a PhD in "shuffling cards" who was a guest on John's podcast
  • How John approached his deep love and affection for the 1971 movie HAROLD AND MAUDE
  • The Minneapolis theatre (Westgate) that helped make this movie a cult classic
  • How John couldn't have written this book 20 years ago
  • John's Popcorn Principals books
  • The book HELD OVER: HAROLD AND MAUDE AT THE WESTGATE THEATER
  • John's philosophy of "I'm writing for me."
  • A bit of the history of the Westgate Theater
  • The approach to his writing and recognizing that most of the books are likely not to earn much more than making back the initial money invested into them
  • Deciding which researched bits made it into the book
  • How Scrivener was a helpful tool in the writing of the book and various research elements
  • The design company that John worked with on this book
  • The Kickstarter that John ran related to this book and what it did for him (beyond earning a bit of up front money to help with funding the expensive project
  • Working with Bookvault on the production of this book
  • Advice John would offer to writers who haven't yet pursued that passion project
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on passion projects, networking and connecting with other writers, and the advice to pause/hesitate

Links of Interest:

John Gaspard is author of the Eli Marks mystery series and the Como Lake Players mystery series. He also has several other stand-alone novels, including "The Greyhound of the Baskervilles," "A Christmas Carl," "The Sword & Mr. Stone" and "The Ripperologists."

He hosts: "Behind the Page: The Eli Marks Podcast."

In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less - that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, those books made more than the films.

John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several greyhounds, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:07:06 false 8 434 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews John Gaspard about his book HELD OVER: HAROLD AND MAUDE AT THE WESTGATE THEATER. Prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and John talk about: John's appreciation for the honesty of the podcast and one of his favorite episodes, and why he liked it John's background and the two different cozy mystery series that he has written and published The Eli Mark's "Behind the Page" podcast that John uses to share behind-the-scenes and brilliantly market the books in audio and other formats A person with a PhD in "shuffling cards" who was a guest on John's podcast How John approached his deep love and affection for the 1971 movie HAROLD AND MAUDE The Minneapolis theatre (Westgate) that helped make this movie a cult classic How John couldn't have written this book 20 years ago John's Popcorn Principals books The book HELD OVER: HAROLD AND MAUDE AT THE WESTGATE THEATER John's philosophy of "I'm writing for me." A bit of the history of the Westgate Theater The approach to his writing and recognizing that most of the books are likely not to earn much more than making back the initial money invested into them Deciding which researched bits made it into the book How Scrivener was a helpful tool in the writing of the book and various research elements The design company that John worked with on this book The Kickstarter that John ran related to this book and what it did for him (beyond earning a bit of up front money to help with funding the expensive project Working with Bookvault on the production of this book Advice John would offer to writers who haven't yet pursued that passion project And more... After the interview Mark reflects on passion projects, networking and connecting with other writers, and the advice to pause/hesitate   Links of Interest: John Gaspard's Website EP 218 - John Gaspard on Business, Writing, and Magic Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   John Gaspard is author of the Eli Marks mystery series and the Como Lake Players mystery series. He also has several other stand-alone novels, including "The Greyhound of the Baskervilles," "A Christmas Carl," "The Sword & Mr. Stone" and "The Ripperologists." He hosts: "Behind the Page: The Eli Marks Podcast." In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less - that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, those books made more than the films. John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several greyhounds, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews John Gaspard about his book HELD OVER: HAROLD AND MAUDE AT THE WESTGATE THEATER. Prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and John talk about: John's appreciation for the honesty of the podcast and one of his favorite episodes, and why he liked it John's background and the two different cozy mystery series that he has written and published The Eli Mark's "Behind the Page" podcast that John uses to share behind-the-scenes and brilliantly market the books in audio and other formats A person with a PhD in "shuffling cards" who was a guest on John's podcast How John approached his deep love and affection for the 1971 movie HAROLD AND MAUDE The Minneapolis theatre (Westgate) that helped make this movie a cult classic How John couldn't have written this book 20 years ago John's Popcorn Principals books The book HELD OVER: HAROLD AND MAUDE AT THE WESTGATE THEATER John's philosophy of "I'm writing for me." A bit of the history of the Westgate Theater The approach to his writing and recognizing that most of the books are likely not to earn much more than making back the initial money invested into them Deciding which researched bits made it into the book How Scrivener was a helpful tool in the writing of the book and various research elements The design company that John worked with on this book The Kickstarter that John ran related to this book and what it did for him (beyond earning a bit of up front money to help with funding the expensive project Working with Bookvault on the production of this book Advice John would offer to writers who haven't yet pursued that passion project And more... After the interview Mark reflects on passion projects, networking and connecting with other writers, and the advice to pause/hesitate   Links of Interest: John Gaspard's Website EP 218 - John Gaspard on Business, Writing, and Magic Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   John Gaspard is author of the Eli Marks mystery series and the Como Lake Players mystery series. He also has several other stand-alone novels, including "The Greyhound of the Baskervilles," "A Christmas Carl," "The Sword & Mr. Stone" and "The Ripperologists." He hosts: "Behind the Page: The Eli Marks Podcast." In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less - that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, those books made more than the films. John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several greyhounds, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 433 - Affordable Multi-Voice Audiobook Narration from Spoken with Phil Marshall Affordable Multi-Voice Audiobook Narration from Spoken with Phil Marshall Fri, 12 Sep 2025 16:48:00 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Phil Marshall, the author of the recently released science fiction novel Taming the Perilous Skies and the founder of Spoken, a platform that removes numerous audiobook production barriers for indie authors and small publishers.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface.

In the interview, Mark and Phil talk about:

  • Phil's background with Conversa
  • Being trained as a surgeon and then switching to product development and technology
  • The novel (TAMING THE PERILOUS SKIES) that was baking in his head since 2021
  • Distributing 130 copies of his novel to early readers at a recent WorldCon
  • The market info of "Dan Brown meets Andy Weir"
  • How the novel and Spoken itself were both inspired by the same thing
  • An explanation of what Spoken is and how it addresses Phil's desire for multi-cast narration
  • Multi-voice narration being a speciality of Spoken
  • Why Phil is releasing the novel in multi-cast narration via Spoken for free in chapter by chapter installments
  • Spoken having just completed a full year of beta release and is now available as a fully available product
  • A bit of a walk-thru of how Spoken breaks out different character voices in an automated manner
  • How ElevenLabs and Hume are the two partners Spoken uses for their character and narrator voices
  • The costs involved in producing these audio books
  • How there is no cost for listeners who want to check out how things sound on Spoken
  • Phil's message to authors who are nervous/anxious about A.I.
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things related to the conversation.

Links of Interest:

 

Phil Marshall Bio:

I build technologies, organizations, and stories that imagine a fantastic future. From my theory of persistence, which sits at the heart of my sci-fi writing, to pioneering conversational AI that transformed the relationships between doctors and patients, to creating groundbreaking tools that are transforming the relationship between authors and their readers, I thrive at the intersection of imagination and execution.

My current project is Spoken, bringing authors and readers together around great audio stories that are made possible by technology. Before Spoken, I co-founded Conversa, a platform that connected patients and care teams using conversational AI.  Along the way, I've built technologies that span personalization (WebMD), collaborative movie-making (JumperCut), ontology-driven knowledge graphs (OntoLogic.ai), and concept-based health record threading (WellMed).

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

 

 

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Phil Marshall, the author of the recently released science fiction novel Taming the Perilous Skies and the founder of Spoken, a platform that removes numerous audiobook production barriers for indie authors and small publishers.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface.

In the interview, Mark and Phil talk about:

  • Phil's background with Conversa
  • Being trained as a surgeon and then switching to product development and technology
  • The novel (TAMING THE PERILOUS SKIES) that was baking in his head since 2021
  • Distributing 130 copies of his novel to early readers at a recent WorldCon
  • The market info of "Dan Brown meets Andy Weir"
  • How the novel and Spoken itself were both inspired by the same thing
  • An explanation of what Spoken is and how it addresses Phil's desire for multi-cast narration
  • Multi-voice narration being a speciality of Spoken
  • Why Phil is releasing the novel in multi-cast narration via Spoken for free in chapter by chapter installments
  • Spoken having just completed a full year of beta release and is now available as a fully available product
  • A bit of a walk-thru of how Spoken breaks out different character voices in an automated manner
  • How ElevenLabs and Hume are the two partners Spoken uses for their character and narrator voices
  • The costs involved in producing these audio books
  • How there is no cost for listeners who want to check out how things sound on Spoken
  • Phil's message to authors who are nervous/anxious about A.I.
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things related to the conversation.

Links of Interest:

Phil Marshall Bio:

I build technologies, organizations, and stories that imagine a fantastic future. From my theory of persistence, which sits at the heart of my sci-fi writing, to pioneering conversational AI that transformed the relationships between doctors and patients, to creating groundbreaking tools that are transforming the relationship between authors and their readers, I thrive at the intersection of imagination and execution.

My current project is Spoken, bringing authors and readers together around great audio stories that are made possible by technology. Before Spoken, I co-founded Conversa, a platform that connected patients and care teams using conversational AI. Along the way, I've built technologies that span personalization (WebMD), collaborative movie-making (JumperCut), ontology-driven knowledge graphs (OntoLogic.ai), and concept-based health record threading (WellMed).

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:08:59 false 8 433 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Phil Marshall, the author of the recently released science fiction novel Taming the Perilous Skies and the founder of Spoken, a platform that removes numerous audiobook production barriers for indie authors and small publishers. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface. In the interview, Mark and Phil talk about: Phil's background with Conversa Being trained as a surgeon and then switching to product development and technology The novel (TAMING THE PERILOUS SKIES) that was baking in his head since 2021 Distributing 130 copies of his novel to early readers at a recent WorldCon The market info of "Dan Brown meets Andy Weir" How the novel and Spoken itself were both inspired by the same thing An explanation of what Spoken is and how it addresses Phil's desire for multi-cast narration Multi-voice narration being a speciality of Spoken Why Phil is releasing the novel in multi-cast narration via Spoken for free in chapter by chapter installments Spoken having just completed a full year of beta release and is now available as a fully available product A bit of a walk-thru of how Spoken breaks out different character voices in an automated manner How ElevenLabs and Hume are the two partners Spoken uses for their character and narrator voices The costs involved in producing these audio books How there is no cost for listeners who want to check out how things sound on Spoken Phil's message to authors who are nervous/anxious about A.I. And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things related to the conversation. Links of Interest: Spoken Phil Marshall's Website Phil's Book: Taming the Perilous Skies EP 432 - Creativity, Connection, and Community with Police Officer and Author A.L. Wahdel EP 056 - Balance and Counterbalance with Katie Cross Kobo Writing Life Podcast EP 78 (March 2017) - Katie Cross: From Full-Time Author to Full-Time Mom SPA Girls Podcast Episode 517 (with Mark) YouTube Main Podcast Link Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Phil Marshall Bio: I build technologies, organizations, and stories that imagine a fantastic future. From my theory of persistence, which sits at the heart of my sci-fi writing, to pioneering conversational AI that transformed the relationships between doctors and patients, to creating groundbreaking tools that are transforming the relationship between authors and their readers, I thrive at the intersection of imagination and execution. My current project is Spoken, bringing authors and readers together around great audio stories that are made possible by technology. Before Spoken, I co-founded Conversa, a platform that connected patients and care teams using conversational AI.  Along the way, I've built technologies that span personalization (WebMD), collaborative movie-making (JumperCut), ontology-driven knowledge graphs (OntoLogic.ai), and concept-based health record threading (WellMed).   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0      In this episode Mark interviews Phil Marshall, the author of the recently released science fiction novel Taming the Perilous Skies and the founder of Spoken, a platform that removes numerous audiobook production barriers for indie authors and small publishers. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface. In the interview, Mark and Phil talk about: Phil's background with Conversa Being trained as a surgeon and then switching to product development and technology The novel (TAMING THE PERILOUS SKIES) that was baking in his head since 2021 Distributing 130 copies of his novel to early readers at a recent WorldCon The market info of "Dan Brown meets Andy Weir" How the novel and Spoken itself were both inspired by the same thing An explanation of what Spoken is and how it addresses Phil's desire for multi-cast narration Multi-voice narration being a speciality of Spoken Why Phil is releasing the novel in multi-cast narration via Spoken for free in chapter by chapter installments Spoken having just completed a full year of beta release and is now available as a fully available product A bit of a walk-thru of how Spoken breaks out different character voices in an automated manner How ElevenLabs and Hume are the two partners Spoken uses for their character and narrator voices The costs involved in producing these audio books How there is no cost for listeners who want to check out how things sound on Spoken Phil's message to authors who are nervous/anxious about A.I. And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things related to the conversation. Links of Interest: Spoken Phil Marshall's Website Phil's Book: Taming the Perilous Skies EP 432 - Creativity, Connection, and Community with Police Officer and Author A.L. Wahdel EP 056 - Balance and Counterbalance with Katie Cross Kobo Writing Life Podcast EP 78 (March 2017) - Katie Cross: From Full-Time Author to Full-Time Mom SPA Girls Podcast Episode 517 (with Mark) YouTube Main Podcast Link Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Phil Marshall Bio: I build technologies, organizations, and stories that imagine a fantastic future. From my theory of persistence, which sits at the heart of my sci-fi writing, to pioneering conversational AI that transformed the relationships between doctors and patients, to creating groundbreaking tools that are transforming the relationship between authors and their readers, I thrive at the intersection of imagination and execution. My current project is Spoken, bringing authors and readers together around great audio stories that are made possible by technology. Before Spoken, I co-founded Conversa, a platform that connected patients and care teams using conversational AI.  Along the way, I've built technologies that span personalization (WebMD), collaborative movie-making (JumperCut), ontology-driven knowledge graphs (OntoLogic.ai), and concept-based health record threading (WellMed).   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       EP 432 - Creativity, Connection, and Community with Police Officer and Author A.L. Wahdel Creativity, Connection, and Community with Police Officer and Author A.L. Wahdel Fri, 05 Sep 2025 16:51:00 +0000 Mark interviews A.L. Wahdel, a crime thriller writer brings Toronto's soul to life in his fiction. They talk about his new book TOO DARK FOR THE LIGHT, about his writing, about police work, and about the importance of community, connection, and creativity.\

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and Lance talk about:

  • Lance's 20 years of experience in the police force and how he had planned on a completely different career path by studying media arts and graphic design
  • How people usually ask police officers if they're seen any crazy stuff, but rarely ask if they've seen amazing things
  • The power of community and connecting and communicating with people
  • "Always be in a constant state of create." A philosophy that drives Lance in his life and writing
  • How any time a person creates something it's a gift to the world and the universe
  • Lance's earliest experience writing lyrics and music
  • Being a huge comic fan, Batman in particular
  • The revelation of "write what you know" in creating his first novel TO DARK FOR THE LIGHT
  • Finding his writing community via numerous podcasts, YouTube, and other online resources
  • Establishing a virtual "mastermind" from the shared writing resources
  • Deciding to set his novel in Toronto, Ontario, Canada instead of choosing a "more popular" major US city
  • Using Toronto's iconic skyline on the cover to ensure the setting for the book was clear
  • Debating over whether or not to begin with Water Kascade's origin story
  • The tricky balance of writing an authentic police procedural novel (ie, ignoring those tedious long boring periods of time in the day to day life of law enforcement)
  • The training of always being alert and aware as a police officer and how that benefits Lance as a writer
  • Some of the things that authors get wrong related to police work
  • The integrity involved in releasing the book under the pseudonym A.L. Wahdel so as not to take advantage of his role and employer
  • Advice Lance would offer to other authors
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about the desire to help others and the value of creativity in giving to the world.

Links of Interest:

 

A.L. Wahdel is an exciting new storyteller in the crime thriller genre, blending gripping suspense with a powerful narrative.

A.L. Wahdel writes with energy about the city that shaped his identity. With an unwavering love for its style and complexity, he brings Toronto's soul to life in every story. Choosing his birthplace as the canvas for his crime series was an intentional act—to honour its essence, celebrate its dynamism, and share the stories that only a true Torontonian writer could tell

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

 

 

]]> Mark interviews A.L. Wahdel, a crime thriller writer brings Toronto's soul to life in his fiction. They talk about his new book TOO DARK FOR THE LIGHT, about his writing, about police work, and about the importance of community, connection, and creativity.\

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and Lance talk about:

  • Lance's 20 years of experience in the police force and how he had planned on a completely different career path by studying media arts and graphic design
  • How people usually ask police officers if they're seen any crazy stuff, but rarely ask if they've seen amazing things
  • The power of community and connecting and communicating with people
  • "Always be in a constant state of create." A philosophy that drives Lance in his life and writing
  • How any time a person creates something it's a gift to the world and the universe
  • Lance's earliest experience writing lyrics and music
  • Being a huge comic fan, Batman in particular
  • The revelation of "write what you know" in creating his first novel TO DARK FOR THE LIGHT
  • Finding his writing community via numerous podcasts, YouTube, and other online resources
  • Establishing a virtual "mastermind" from the shared writing resources
  • Deciding to set his novel in Toronto, Ontario, Canada instead of choosing a "more popular" major US city
  • Using Toronto's iconic skyline on the cover to ensure the setting for the book was clear
  • Debating over whether or not to begin with Water Kascade's origin story
  • The tricky balance of writing an authentic police procedural novel (ie, ignoring those tedious long boring periods of time in the day to day life of law enforcement)
  • The training of always being alert and aware as a police officer and how that benefits Lance as a writer
  • Some of the things that authors get wrong related to police work
  • The integrity involved in releasing the book under the pseudonym A.L. Wahdel so as not to take advantage of his role and employer
  • Advice Lance would offer to other authors
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about the desire to help others and the value of creativity in giving to the world.

Links of Interest:

A.L. Wahdel is an exciting new storyteller in the crime thriller genre, blending gripping suspense with a powerful narrative.

A.L. Wahdel writes with energy about the city that shaped his identity. With an unwavering love for its style and complexity, he brings Toronto's soul to life in every story. Choosing his birthplace as the canvas for his crime series was an intentional act—to honour its essence, celebrate its dynamism, and share the stories that only a true Torontonian writer could tell

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:08:27 false 8 432 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews A.L. Wahdel, a crime thriller writer brings Toronto's soul to life in his fiction. They talk about his new book TOO DARK FOR THE LIGHT, about his writing, about police work, and about the importance of community, connection, and creativity.\ Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Lance talk about: Lance's 20 years of experience in the police force and how he had planned on a completely different career path by studying media arts and graphic design How people usually ask police officers if they're seen any crazy stuff, but rarely ask if they've seen amazing things The power of community and connecting and communicating with people "Always be in a constant state of create." A philosophy that drives Lance in his life and writing How any time a person creates something it's a gift to the world and the universe Lance's earliest experience writing lyrics and music Being a huge comic fan, Batman in particular The revelation of "write what you know" in creating his first novel TO DARK FOR THE LIGHT Finding his writing community via numerous podcasts, YouTube, and other online resources Establishing a virtual "mastermind" from the shared writing resources Deciding to set his novel in Toronto, Ontario, Canada instead of choosing a "more popular" major US city Using Toronto's iconic skyline on the cover to ensure the setting for the book was clear Debating over whether or not to begin with Water Kascade's origin story The tricky balance of writing an authentic police procedural novel (ie, ignoring those tedious long boring periods of time in the day to day life of law enforcement) The training of always being alert and aware as a police officer and how that benefits Lance as a writer Some of the things that authors get wrong related to police work The integrity involved in releasing the book under the pseudonym A.L. Wahdel so as not to take advantage of his role and employer Advice Lance would offer to other authors And more . . . After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about the desire to help others and the value of creativity in giving to the world. Links of Interest: A.L. Wahdel's Website A.L. Wahdel on Substack: A Constant State of Create Catching up with Dale L. Roberts (Draft2Digital Self-Publishing Insiders) Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections EP 430 - Rambling Reflections from a Lemons to Lemonade Road Trip Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   A.L. Wahdel is an exciting new storyteller in the crime thriller genre, blending gripping suspense with a powerful narrative. A.L. Wahdel writes with energy about the city that shaped his identity. With an unwavering love for its style and complexity, he brings Toronto's soul to life in every story. Choosing his birthplace as the canvas for his crime series was an intentional act—to honour its essence, celebrate its dynamism, and share the stories that only a true Torontonian writer could tell   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0      Mark interviews A.L. Wahdel, a crime thriller writer brings Toronto's soul to life in his fiction. They talk about his new book TOO DARK FOR THE LIGHT, about his writing, about police work, and about the importance of community, connection, and creativity.\ Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Lance talk about: Lance's 20 years of experience in the police force and how he had planned on a completely different career path by studying media arts and graphic design How people usually ask police officers if they're seen any crazy stuff, but rarely ask if they've seen amazing things The power of community and connecting and communicating with people "Always be in a constant state of create." A philosophy that drives Lance in his life and writing How any time a person creates something it's a gift to the world and the universe Lance's earliest experience writing lyrics and music Being a huge comic fan, Batman in particular The revelation of "write what you know" in creating his first novel TO DARK FOR THE LIGHT Finding his writing community via numerous podcasts, YouTube, and other online resources Establishing a virtual "mastermind" from the shared writing resources Deciding to set his novel in Toronto, Ontario, Canada instead of choosing a "more popular" major US city Using Toronto's iconic skyline on the cover to ensure the setting for the book was clear Debating over whether or not to begin with Water Kascade's origin story The tricky balance of writing an authentic police procedural novel (ie, ignoring those tedious long boring periods of time in the day to day life of law enforcement) The training of always being alert and aware as a police officer and how that benefits Lance as a writer Some of the things that authors get wrong related to police work The integrity involved in releasing the book under the pseudonym A.L. Wahdel so as not to take advantage of his role and employer Advice Lance would offer to other authors And more . . . After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about the desire to help others and the value of creativity in giving to the world. Links of Interest: A.L. Wahdel's Website A.L. Wahdel on Substack: A Constant State of Create Catching up with Dale L. Roberts (Draft2Digital Self-Publishing Insiders) Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections EP 430 - Rambling Reflections from a Lemons to Lemonade Road Trip Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   A.L. Wahdel is an exciting new storyteller in the crime thriller genre, blending gripping suspense with a powerful narrative. A.L. Wahdel writes with energy about the city that shaped his identity. With an unwavering love for its style and complexity, he brings Toronto's soul to life in every story. Choosing his birthplace as the canvas for his crime series was an intentional act—to honour its essence, celebrate its dynamism, and share the stories that only a true Torontonian writer could tell   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       EP 431 - An Interview with Writer, Producer, and Celebrity Publicist William J Bruce III EP 431 - An Interview with Writer, Producer, and Celebrity Publicist William J Bruce III Thu, 28 Aug 2025 23:00:00 +0000 Mark interviews writer, producer, and celebrity publicist William J Bruce III.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and William talk about:

  • The weird series of events that led William into his current career
  • Meeting a film producer on the day of a school evacuation
  • How a lot of William's work is done online and behind the scenes
  • The importance of doing due diligence as a publicist to make sure the interviewee doesn't get "trapped" by the host/interviewer
  • The memoir that William wrote and why he wrote it because of a really low point in his life
  • Looking at your life and your faith when in a dark place after having made a grave mistake
  • The novel that William is currently working on
  • How people can be heartless when it comes to talking about celebrities
  • The story behind how William is publishing his novel
  • That negative voice whenever you're trying something new
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on that feeling of self-doubt as well as the perspective of heroes and villians and good and evil.

 

Links of Interest:

 

William J Bruce III is a writer, producer and celebrity publicist.

As a publicist he has worked with Shawn Harper of the NFL and the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase of the WWE during Ted's peak in Google Trends.

As executive producer to the compilation album Bridge Wars, he brought together artists such as F.E.R.N (Capitol Records artist produced by DukeDaGod of The Diplomats), and Mahogany Jones (four-time Champion of BET's "Freestyle Friday's"). Later in 2016 William became the executive producer and host of the Aussie Osbourne Show. The show featured in-depth interviews with celebrities such as Mike Mullane (former NASA astronaut), Alveda King (niece of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the daughter of civil rights activist A.D. King), and Charlene Li (Harvard magna cum laude graduate and NY Times bestselling author).

His writing has landed him cover stories with former Victoria Secret model Kylie Bisutti, P.O.D front man Sonny Sandoval and the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase of WWE. William's work in film and his ability to hone the craft of writing assisted him in his role of script revisionist for the Eric Roberts film In the Blink of an Eye. The author of the memoir Penholder, William has also written the introduction to the 150th Anniversary Edition of Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Currently William is completing a novel called "Hate"(working title).

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews writer, producer, and celebrity publicist William J Bruce III.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and William talk about:

  • The weird series of events that led William into his current career
  • Meeting a film producer on the day of a school evacuation
  • How a lot of William's work is done online and behind the scenes
  • The importance of doing due diligence as a publicist to make sure the interviewee doesn't get "trapped" by the host/interviewer
  • The memoir that William wrote and why he wrote it because of a really low point in his life
  • Looking at your life and your faith when in a dark place after having made a grave mistake
  • The novel that William is currently working on
  • How people can be heartless when it comes to talking about celebrities
  • The story behind how William is publishing his novel
  • That negative voice whenever you're trying something new
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on that feeling of self-doubt as well as the perspective of heroes and villians and good and evil.

Links of Interest:

William J Bruce III is a writer, producer and celebrity publicist.

As a publicist he has worked with Shawn Harper of the NFL and the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase of the WWE during Ted's peak in Google Trends.

As executive producer to the compilation album Bridge Wars, he brought together artists such as F.E.R.N (Capitol Records artist produced by DukeDaGod of The Diplomats), and Mahogany Jones (four-time Champion of BET's "Freestyle Friday's"). Later in 2016 William became the executive producer and host of the Aussie Osbourne Show. The show featured in-depth interviews with celebrities such as Mike Mullane (former NASA astronaut), Alveda King (niece of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the daughter of civil rights activist A.D. King), and Charlene Li (Harvard magna cum laude graduate and NY Times bestselling author).

His writing has landed him cover stories with former Victoria Secret model Kylie Bisutti, P.O.D front man Sonny Sandoval and the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase of WWE. William's work in film and his ability to hone the craft of writing assisted him in his role of script revisionist for the Eric Roberts film In the Blink of an Eye. The author of the memoir Penholder, William has also written the introduction to the 150th Anniversary Edition of Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Currently William is completing a novel called "Hate"(working title).

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:00:50 false 8 431 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews writer, producer, and celebrity publicist William J Bruce III. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and William talk about: The weird series of events that led William into his current career Meeting a film producer on the day of a school evacuation How a lot of William's work is done online and behind the scenes The importance of doing due diligence as a publicist to make sure the interviewee doesn't get "trapped" by the host/interviewer The memoir that William wrote and why he wrote it because of a really low point in his life Looking at your life and your faith when in a dark place after having made a grave mistake The novel that William is currently working on How people can be heartless when it comes to talking about celebrities The story behind how William is publishing his novel That negative voice whenever you're trying something new And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on that feeling of self-doubt as well as the perspective of heroes and villians and good and evil.   Links of Interest: William J Bruce Self-Publish Like a Pro (Sunday August 31, 2025) - Reedsy Virtual Event Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections EP 430 - Rambling Reflections from a Lemons to Lemonade Road Trip Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   William J Bruce III is a writer, producer and celebrity publicist. As a publicist he has worked with Shawn Harper of the NFL and the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase of the WWE during Ted's peak in Google Trends. As executive producer to the compilation album Bridge Wars, he brought together artists such as F.E.R.N (Capitol Records artist produced by DukeDaGod of The Diplomats), and Mahogany Jones (four-time Champion of BET's "Freestyle Friday's"). Later in 2016 William became the executive producer and host of the Aussie Osbourne Show. The show featured in-depth interviews with celebrities such as Mike Mullane (former NASA astronaut), Alveda King (niece of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the daughter of civil rights activist A.D. King), and Charlene Li (Harvard magna cum laude graduate and NY Times bestselling author). His writing has landed him cover stories with former Victoria Secret model Kylie Bisutti, P.O.D front man Sonny Sandoval and the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase of WWE. William's work in film and his ability to hone the craft of writing assisted him in his role of script revisionist for the Eric Roberts film In the Blink of an Eye. The author of the memoir Penholder, William has also written the introduction to the 150th Anniversary Edition of Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Currently William is completing a novel called "Hate"(working title).   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews writer, producer, and celebrity publicist William J Bruce III. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and William talk about: The weird series of events that led William into his current career Meeting a film producer on the day of a school evacuation How a lot of William's work is done online and behind the scenes The importance of doing due diligence as a publicist to make sure the interviewee doesn't get "trapped" by the host/interviewer The memoir that William wrote and why he wrote it because of a really low point in his life Looking at your life and your faith when in a dark place after having made a grave mistake The novel that William is currently working on How people can be heartless when it comes to talking about celebrities The story behind how William is publishing his novel That negative voice whenever you're trying something new And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on that feeling of self-doubt as well as the perspective of heroes and villians and good and evil.   Links of Interest: William J Bruce Self-Publish Like a Pro (Sunday August 31, 2025) - Reedsy Virtual Event Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections EP 430 - Rambling Reflections from a Lemons to Lemonade Road Trip Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   William J Bruce III is a writer, producer and celebrity publicist. As a publicist he has worked with Shawn Harper of the NFL and the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase of the WWE during Ted's peak in Google Trends. As executive producer to the compilation album Bridge Wars, he brought together artists such as F.E.R.N (Capitol Records artist produced by DukeDaGod of The Diplomats), and Mahogany Jones (four-time Champion of BET's "Freestyle Friday's"). Later in 2016 William became the executive producer and host of the Aussie Osbourne Show. The show featured in-depth interviews with celebrities such as Mike Mullane (former NASA astronaut), Alveda King (niece of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the daughter of civil rights activist A.D. King), and Charlene Li (Harvard magna cum laude graduate and NY Times bestselling author). His writing has landed him cover stories with former Victoria Secret model Kylie Bisutti, P.O.D front man Sonny Sandoval and the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase of WWE. William's work in film and his ability to hone the craft of writing assisted him in his role of script revisionist for the Eric Roberts film In the Blink of an Eye. The author of the memoir Penholder, William has also written the introduction to the 150th Anniversary Edition of Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Currently William is completing a novel called "Hate"(working title).   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 430 - Rambling Reflections From A Lemons To Lemonade Road Trip EP 430 - Rambling Reflections From A Lemons To Lemonade Road Trip Fri, 22 Aug 2025 01:00:00 +0000 This episode features a rambling reflection that Mark recorded on part of an unexpected and unplanned four-day road trip from Calgary, Alberta to Waterloo, Ontario.

When Mark was in Calgary, Alberta for the When Words Collide conference, Air Canada went on strike and all flights were canceled. Finding himself unable to get home (without having to pay for 4 nights in a hotel plus a flight on an alternate airline that would have cost him $1500), Mark decided to rent a car and drive back home nearly 3,500 kilometers (2174 miles) during the week of Monday August 18th through Friday August 22nd.

Instead of being frustrated over the predicament, Mark chose to see this as an amazing opportunity to see parts of the country he hadn't yet visited.

This episode is a rambling reflection from the road that he recorded on the morning of Wednesday October 20th on the highway between Dryden, ON and Thunder Bay, ON.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> This episode features a rambling reflection that Mark recorded on part of an unexpected and unplanned four-day road trip from Calgary, Alberta to Waterloo, Ontario.

When Mark was in Calgary, Alberta for the When Words Collide conference, Air Canada went on strike and all flights were canceled. Finding himself unable to get home (without having to pay for 4 nights in a hotel plus a flight on an alternate airline that would have cost him $1500), Mark decided to rent a car and drive back home nearly 3,500 kilometers (2174 miles) during the week of Monday August 18th through Friday August 22nd.

Instead of being frustrated over the predicament, Mark chose to see this as an amazing opportunity to see parts of the country he hadn't yet visited.

This episode is a rambling reflection from the road that he recorded on the morning of Wednesday October 20th on the highway between Dryden, ON and Thunder Bay, ON.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 50:42 false 8 430 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This episode features a rambling reflection that Mark recorded on part of an unexpected and unplanned four-day road trip from Calgary, Alberta to Waterloo, Ontario. When Mark was in Calgary, Alberta for the When Words Collide conference, Air Canada went on strike and all flights were canceled. Finding himself unable to get home (without having to pay for 4 nights in a hotel plus a flight on an alternate airline that would have cost him $1500), Mark decided to rent a car and drive back home nearly 3,500 kilometers (2174 miles) during the week of Monday August 18th through Friday August 22nd. Instead of being frustrated over the predicament, Mark chose to see this as an amazing opportunity to see parts of the country he hadn't yet visited. This episode is a rambling reflection from the road that he recorded on the morning of Wednesday October 20th on the highway between Dryden, ON and Thunder Bay, ON.   Links of Interest: When Words Collide Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0This episode features a rambling reflection that Mark recorded on part of an unexpected and unplanned four-day road trip from Calgary, Alberta to Waterloo, Ontario. When Mark was in Calgary, Alberta for the When Words Collide conference, Air Canada went on strike and all flights were canceled. Finding himself unable to get home (without having to pay for 4 nights in a hotel plus a flight on an alternate airline that would have cost him $1500), Mark decided to rent a car and drive back home nearly 3,500 kilometers (2174 miles) during the week of Monday August 18th through Friday August 22nd. Instead of being frustrated over the predicament, Mark chose to see this as an amazing opportunity to see parts of the country he hadn't yet visited. This episode is a rambling reflection from the road that he recorded on the morning of Wednesday October 20th on the highway between Dryden, ON and Thunder Bay, ON.   Links of Interest: When Words Collide Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 429 - A Post-Mortem on Co-Hosting the 2025 Aurora Awards with Liz May Anderson A Post-Mortem on Co-Hosting the 2025 Aurora Awards with Liz May Anderson Thu, 14 Aug 2025 22:15:00 +0000 This episode features a campfire chat with Mark's partner Liz Anderson about co-hosting the 2025 Aurora Awards livestream on Sunday August 10, 2025.

In the interview, Mark and Liz talk about:

  • The background of co-hosting the Aurora Awards over the years
  • Working on a pandemic parody music video on a whim within about 24 hours as a bit of an escape
  • The trepidation and challenge of working on something that one is not as familiar about
  • The level of commitment and interest within the speculative fiction community
  • How much time and creative energy people have poured themselves into the creative work they do
  • The privilege of being able to highlight these creators and their achievements
  • A history of the themes Mark and Liz have used for their Aurora opening shtick bits over the years
  • The "Last Minute Production" branding that Liz has long adapted
  • Leveraging the mixture of talent/skill in singing when working on a project together (how Mark sings with far more passion than ability
  • How Liz and Mark have been pushing themselves every year
  • The challenge of offering constructive feedback to someone you are close to
  • The importance of just getting it done when you're completing a task with a tight deadline
  • Considering that "first draft" of something that's created in order to get to the next level
  • Getting the thing "out of your head" to keep things moving
  • The different approaches Mark and Liz have when it comes to putting content into the world
  • Liz's experience having never fallen flat on her face when creating content completely at the last minute
  • Advice about stepping into an environment where you're not as familiar with the landscapeould give to writers
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the way Liz described the staff and students at her school.

The introduction and concluding reflection were performed by Mark's digital AI voice clone from ElevenLabs.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> This episode features a campfire chat with Mark's partner Liz Anderson about co-hosting the 2025 Aurora Awards livestream on Sunday August 10, 2025.

In the interview, Mark and Liz talk about:

  • The background of co-hosting the Aurora Awards over the years
  • Working on a pandemic parody music video on a whim within about 24 hours as a bit of an escape
  • The trepidation and challenge of working on something that one is not as familiar about
  • The level of commitment and interest within the speculative fiction community
  • How much time and creative energy people have poured themselves into the creative work they do
  • The privilege of being able to highlight these creators and their achievements
  • A history of the themes Mark and Liz have used for their Aurora opening shtick bits over the years
  • The "Last Minute Production" branding that Liz has long adapted
  • Leveraging the mixture of talent/skill in singing when working on a project together (how Mark sings with far more passion than ability
  • How Liz and Mark have been pushing themselves every year
  • The challenge of offering constructive feedback to someone you are close to
  • The importance of just getting it done when you're completing a task with a tight deadline
  • Considering that "first draft" of something that's created in order to get to the next level
  • Getting the thing "out of your head" to keep things moving
  • The different approaches Mark and Liz have when it comes to putting content into the world
  • Liz's experience having never fallen flat on her face when creating content completely at the last minute
  • Advice about stepping into an environment where you're not as familiar with the landscapeould give to writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the way Liz described the staff and students at her school.

The introduction and concluding reflection were performed by Mark's digital AI voice clone from ElevenLabs.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 58:01 false 8 429 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This episode features a campfire chat with Mark's partner Liz Anderson about co-hosting the 2025 Aurora Awards livestream on Sunday August 10, 2025. In the interview, Mark and Liz talk about: The background of co-hosting the Aurora Awards over the years Working on a pandemic parody music video on a whim within about 24 hours as a bit of an escape The trepidation and challenge of working on something that one is not as familiar about The level of commitment and interest within the speculative fiction community How much time and creative energy people have poured themselves into the creative work they do The privilege of being able to highlight these creators and their achievements A history of the themes Mark and Liz have used for their Aurora opening shtick bits over the years The "Last Minute Production" branding that Liz has long adapted Leveraging the mixture of talent/skill in singing when working on a project together (how Mark sings with far more passion than ability How Liz and Mark have been pushing themselves every year The challenge of offering constructive feedback to someone you are close to The importance of just getting it done when you're completing a task with a tight deadline Considering that "first draft" of something that's created in order to get to the next level Getting the thing "out of your head" to keep things moving The different approaches Mark and Liz have when it comes to putting content into the world Liz's experience having never fallen flat on her face when creating content completely at the last minute Advice about stepping into an environment where you're not as familiar with the landscapeould give to writers And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the way Liz described the staff and students at her school. The introduction and concluding reflection were performed by Mark's digital AI voice clone from ElevenLabs.   Links of Interest: The 2025 Aurora Awards (Livestreamed on Aug 10, 2025) Previous Years Auroras 2024 2023 2022 2020 Opening Shtick Clips 2025 ("If I Had $1000000" Parody) 2024 (Graduating and Getting Married) 2023 (Teaching Liz about Sci-Fi) 2022 (Last Minute Host/Co-host) Mark and Liz Parody Videos Stuck in This House Here with You K-Tel Pandemic Collection Commerical Parody Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The 2025 Aurora Awards Livestream (Sunday Aug 10 at 5 PM Eastern) The Opening Schtick Bits from previous Aurora Awards 2022 Opening 2023 Opening 2024 Opening Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0This episode features a campfire chat with Mark's partner Liz Anderson about co-hosting the 2025 Aurora Awards livestream on Sunday August 10, 2025. In the interview, Mark and Liz talk about: The background of co-hosting the Aurora Awards over the years Working on a pandemic parody music video on a whim within about 24 hours as a bit of an escape The trepidation and challenge of working on something that one is not as familiar about The level of commitment and interest within the speculative fiction community How much time and creative energy people have poured themselves into the creative work they do The privilege of being able to highlight these creators and their achievements A history of the themes Mark and Liz have used for their Aurora opening shtick bits over the years The "Last Minute Production" branding that Liz has long adapted Leveraging the mixture of talent/skill in singing when working on a project together (how Mark sings with far more passion than ability How Liz and Mark have been pushing themselves every year The challenge of offering constructive feedback to someone you are close to The importance of just getting it done when you're completing a task with a tight deadline Considering that "first draft" of something that's created in order to get to the next level Getting the thing "out of your head" to keep things moving The different approaches Mark and Liz have when it comes to putting content into the world Liz's experience having never fallen flat on her face when creating content completely at the last minute Advice about stepping into an environment where you're not as familiar with the landscapeould give to writers And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the way Liz described the staff and students at her school. The introduction and concluding reflection were performed by Mark's digital AI voice clone from ElevenLabs.   Links of Interest: The 2025 Aurora Awards (Livestreamed on Aug 10, 2025) Previous Years Auroras 2024 2023 2022 2020 Opening Shtick Clips 2025 ("If I Had $1000000" Parody) 2024 (Graduating and Getting Married) 2023 (Teaching Liz about Sci-Fi) 2022 (Last Minute Host/Co-host) Mark and Liz Parody Videos Stuck in This House Here with You K-Tel Pandemic Collection Commerical Parody Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The 2025 Aurora Awards Livestream (Sunday Aug 10 at 5 PM Eastern) The Opening Schtick Bits from previous Aurora Awards 2022 Opening 2023 Opening 2024 Opening Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 428 - The "Author Versus AI" Project with Alison McBain The "Author Versus AI" Project with Alison McBain Fri, 08 Aug 2025 13:16:00 +0000 Mark interviews Canadian author Alison McBain about her "Author Versus AI" project, her life in writing, and more.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and Alison talk about:

  • The various roles that Alison has played in the creative arts
  • Wanting to be a writer since she was young and her first written story created when she was 4 years old
  • Thinking that one day she would be a teacher or a professor, but never actually taking that path
  • Alison's very first published piece of writing
  • The early days of writing that involved mailing manuscripts out and then waiting for a response
  • Alison's first book, The Rose Queen, which is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast
  • The many awards that Alison has won
  • The creative team you have working with you whenever you publish with a traditional publisher
  • The magazine (ScribesMICRO - which features stories and poems of no more than 100 words) that Alison started with a few other editors during the pandemic
  • Being surprised at how popular this magazine was and the new 100-word story award that they recent started
  • The thrill of helping discover and publish newer writers in this magazine
  • Deciding how Alison could, as one human, try to take on AI by writing a book a week for a full year
  • Completing 8 months of the challenge with a total of 34 books
  • The more than 2 dozen books that Alison has ghost-written
  • How Alison writes in numerous genres with a spirit of "why not try it all?"
  • The preparation Alison had to do in order to write those 34 novels so effectively during her challenge
  • Advise Alison would offer to authors who are thinking of doing a similar type of writing challenge
  • Having a writing space that's outside the house
  • Balancing writing with family life
  • What Alison has recently been working on
  • The coaching that Alison offers to other writers and how it can be like being a parent
  • Advice Alison would give to writers
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in their conversation.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Alison McBain's human-created novels are the recipients of over 13 awards, including the Foreword INDIES. Her latest novella Dual took home 3rd place in the 3-Day Novel Contest. When not writing for herself, she's a ghostwriter who has penned over two dozen books for clients, as well as an award-winning editor who has worked with both celebrity and NY Times-bestselling authors. In 2024, she pursued a project called "Author Versus AI," where she wrote a book a week, using NO AI at all (34 books total). When not writing, Ms. McBain is the associate editor for the magazine ScribesMICRO and draws all over the walls of her house with the enthusiastic help of her kids. She lives in Alberta, Canada.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Canadian author Alison McBain about her "Author Versus AI" project, her life in writing, and more.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and Alison talk about:

  • The various roles that Alison has played in the creative arts
  • Wanting to be a writer since she was young and her first written story created when she was 4 years old
  • Thinking that one day she would be a teacher or a professor, but never actually taking that path
  • Alison's very first published piece of writing
  • The early days of writing that involved mailing manuscripts out and then waiting for a response
  • Alison's first book, The Rose Queen, which is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast
  • The many awards that Alison has won
  • The creative team you have working with you whenever you publish with a traditional publisher
  • The magazine (ScribesMICRO - which features stories and poems of no more than 100 words) that Alison started with a few other editors during the pandemic
  • Being surprised at how popular this magazine was and the new 100-word story award that they recent started
  • The thrill of helping discover and publish newer writers in this magazine
  • Deciding how Alison could, as one human, try to take on AI by writing a book a week for a full year
  • Completing 8 months of the challenge with a total of 34 books
  • The more than 2 dozen books that Alison has ghost-written
  • How Alison writes in numerous genres with a spirit of "why not try it all?"
  • The preparation Alison had to do in order to write those 34 novels so effectively during her challenge
  • Advise Alison would offer to authors who are thinking of doing a similar type of writing challenge
  • Having a writing space that's outside the house
  • Balancing writing with family life
  • What Alison has recently been working on
  • The coaching that Alison offers to other writers and how it can be like being a parent
  • Advice Alison would give to writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in their conversation.

Links of Interest:

Alison McBain's human-created novels are the recipients of over 13 awards, including the Foreword INDIES. Her latest novella Dual took home 3rd place in the 3-Day Novel Contest. When not writing for herself, she's a ghostwriter who has penned over two dozen books for clients, as well as an award-winning editor who has worked with both celebrity and NY Times-bestselling authors. In 2024, she pursued a project called "Author Versus AI," where she wrote a book a week, using NO AI at all (34 books total). When not writing, Ms. McBain is the associate editor for the magazine ScribesMICRO and draws all over the walls of her house with the enthusiastic help of her kids. She lives in Alberta, Canada.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 55:04 false 8 428 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Canadian author Alison McBain about her "Author Versus AI" project, her life in writing, and more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Alison talk about: The various roles that Alison has played in the creative arts Wanting to be a writer since she was young and her first written story created when she was 4 years old Thinking that one day she would be a teacher or a professor, but never actually taking that path Alison's very first published piece of writing The early days of writing that involved mailing manuscripts out and then waiting for a response Alison's first book, The Rose Queen, which is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast The many awards that Alison has won The creative team you have working with you whenever you publish with a traditional publisher The magazine (ScribesMICRO - which features stories and poems of no more than 100 words) that Alison started with a few other editors during the pandemic Being surprised at how popular this magazine was and the new 100-word story award that they recent started The thrill of helping discover and publish newer writers in this magazine Deciding how Alison could, as one human, try to take on AI by writing a book a week for a full year Completing 8 months of the challenge with a total of 34 books The more than 2 dozen books that Alison has ghost-written How Alison writes in numerous genres with a spirit of "why not try it all?" The preparation Alison had to do in order to write those 34 novels so effectively during her challenge Advise Alison would offer to authors who are thinking of doing a similar type of writing challenge Having a writing space that's outside the house Balancing writing with family life What Alison has recently been working on The coaching that Alison offers to other writers and how it can be like being a parent Advice Alison would give to writers And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in their conversation.   Links of Interest: Alison McBain Website Alison's "Author Versus AI" Project ScribesMICRO Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The 2025 Aurora Awards Livestream (Sunday Aug 10 at 5 PM Eastern) The Opening Schtick Bits from previous Aurora Awards 2022 Opening 2023 Opening 2024 Opening Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Alison McBain's human-created novels are the recipients of over 13 awards, including the Foreword INDIES. Her latest novella Dual took home 3rd place in the 3-Day Novel Contest. When not writing for herself, she's a ghostwriter who has penned over two dozen books for clients, as well as an award-winning editor who has worked with both celebrity and NY Times-bestselling authors. In 2024, she pursued a project called "Author Versus AI," where she wrote a book a week, using NO AI at all (34 books total). When not writing, Ms. McBain is the associate editor for the magazine ScribesMICRO and draws all over the walls of her house with the enthusiastic help of her kids. She lives in Alberta, Canada.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Canadian author Alison McBain about her "Author Versus AI" project, her life in writing, and more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Alison talk about: The various roles that Alison has played in the creative arts Wanting to be a writer since she was young and her first written story created when she was 4 years old Thinking that one day she would be a teacher or a professor, but never actually taking that path Alison's very first published piece of writing The early days of writing that involved mailing manuscripts out and then waiting for a response Alison's first book, The Rose Queen, which is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast The many awards that Alison has won The creative team you have working with you whenever you publish with a traditional publisher The magazine (ScribesMICRO - which features stories and poems of no more than 100 words) that Alison started with a few other editors during the pandemic Being surprised at how popular this magazine was and the new 100-word story award that they recent started The thrill of helping discover and publish newer writers in this magazine Deciding how Alison could, as one human, try to take on AI by writing a book a week for a full year Completing 8 months of the challenge with a total of 34 books The more than 2 dozen books that Alison has ghost-written How Alison writes in numerous genres with a spirit of "why not try it all?" The preparation Alison had to do in order to write those 34 novels so effectively during her challenge Advise Alison would offer to authors who are thinking of doing a similar type of writing challenge Having a writing space that's outside the house Balancing writing with family life What Alison has recently been working on The coaching that Alison offers to other writers and how it can be like being a parent Advice Alison would give to writers And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in their conversation.   Links of Interest: Alison McBain Website Alison's "Author Versus AI" Project ScribesMICRO Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The 2025 Aurora Awards Livestream (Sunday Aug 10 at 5 PM Eastern) The Opening Schtick Bits from previous Aurora Awards 2022 Opening 2023 Opening 2024 Opening Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Alison McBain's human-created novels are the recipients of over 13 awards, including the Foreword INDIES. Her latest novella Dual took home 3rd place in the 3-Day Novel Contest. When not writing for herself, she's a ghostwriter who has penned over two dozen books for clients, as well as an award-winning editor who has worked with both celebrity and NY Times-bestselling authors. In 2024, she pursued a project called "Author Versus AI," where she wrote a book a week, using NO AI at all (34 books total). When not writing, Ms. McBain is the associate editor for the magazine ScribesMICRO and draws all over the walls of her house with the enthusiastic help of her kids. She lives in Alberta, Canada.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 427 - A Tale of Two Mountains: An Uphill Climb, Rain, Exhaustion, And Rainbows A Tale of Two Mountains: An Uphill Climb, Rain, Exhaustion, And Rainbows Thu, 31 Jul 2025 23:00:00 +0000 In this solo episode Mark talks about the experience of hiking two different mountainscapes in the Canadian west. The first, Grouse Mountain in Vancouver, British Columbia. And the other, the foothills of Fairview Mountain at Lake Louise, Alberta.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode Mark talks about the experience of hiking two different mountainscapes in the Canadian west. The first, Grouse Mountain in Vancouver, British Columbia. And the other, the foothills of Fairview Mountain at Lake Louise, Alberta.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 47:30 false 8 427 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark talks about the experience of hiking two different mountainscapes in the Canadian west. The first, Grouse Mountain in Vancouver, British Columbia. And the other, the foothills of Fairview Mountain at Lake Louise, Alberta. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. Links of Interest: Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode Mark talks about the experience of hiking two different mountainscapes in the Canadian west. The first, Grouse Mountain in Vancouver, British Columbia. And the other, the foothills of Fairview Mountain at Lake Louise, Alberta. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. Links of Interest: Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 426 - Getting YOUR Book Into Bookstores and Libraries EP 426 - Getting YOUR Book Into Bookstores and Libraries Fri, 25 Jul 2025 15:08:00 +0000 In this episode Mark shares clips and highlights from a talk he'll be giving at the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) Summer Virtual Conference 2025.

VIDEO 1.png

Ready to take your children's book career to the next level?

Wherever you are in your publishing journey, the Virtual Summer Conference provides an opportunity for growth, creativity, and connection. Dive into every aspect of the children's book world, from writing and illustrating to translating, marketing, and self-publishing. Put your art in front of industry pros in the career-launching Portfolio Showcase. And get inspired by sessions tailored for illustrators, picture book authors, nonfiction writers, graphic novel creators, and more—no matter your path or publishing background. Best of all? You'll have access to all 50+ sessions until September 14th, so you can learn and grow at your own pace. Join us and invest in your passion. It's time to bring your stories to life! REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN.

You can register for the full conference, which takes place July 31st through August 3, 2025 online at scbwi.org.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark shares clips and highlights from a talk he'll be giving at the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) Summer Virtual Conference 2025.

Ready to take your children's book career to the next level?

Wherever you are in your publishing journey, the Virtual Summer Conference provides an opportunity for growth, creativity, and connection. Dive into every aspect of the children's book world, from writing and illustrating to translating, marketing, and self-publishing. Put your art in front of industry pros in the career-launching Portfolio Showcase. And get inspired by sessions tailored for illustrators, picture book authors, nonfiction writers, graphic novel creators, and more—no matter your path or publishing background. Best of all? You'll have access to all 50+ sessions until September 14th, so you can learn and grow at your own pace. Join us and invest in your passion. It's time to bring your stories to life! REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN.

You can register for the full conference, which takes place July 31st through August 3, 2025 online at scbwi.org.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 33:44 false 8 426 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark shares clips and highlights from a talk he'll be giving at the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) Summer Virtual Conference 2025. Ready to take your children's book career to the next level? Wherever you are in your publishing journey, the Virtual Summer Conference provides an opportunity for growth, creativity, and connection. Dive into every aspect of the children's book world, from writing and illustrating to translating, marketing, and self-publishing. Put your art in front of industry pros in the career-launching Portfolio Showcase. And get inspired by sessions tailored for illustrators, picture book authors, nonfiction writers, graphic novel creators, and more—no matter your path or publishing background. Best of all? You'll have access to all 50+ sessions until September 14th, so you can learn and grow at your own pace. Join us and invest in your passion. It's time to bring your stories to life! REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN. You can register for the full conference, which takes place July 31st through August 3, 2025 online at scbwi.org. Links of Interest: SCBWI Virtual Summer Conference 2025 Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark shares clips and highlights from a talk he'll be giving at the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) Summer Virtual Conference 2025. Ready to take your children's book career to the next level? Wherever you are in your publishing journey, the Virtual Summer Conference provides an opportunity for growth, creativity, and connection. Dive into every aspect of the children's book world, from writing and illustrating to translating, marketing, and self-publishing. Put your art in front of industry pros in the career-launching Portfolio Showcase. And get inspired by sessions tailored for illustrators, picture book authors, nonfiction writers, graphic novel creators, and more—no matter your path or publishing background. Best of all? You'll have access to all 50+ sessions until September 14th, so you can learn and grow at your own pace. Join us and invest in your passion. It's time to bring your stories to life! REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN. You can register for the full conference, which takes place July 31st through August 3, 2025 online at scbwi.org. Links of Interest: SCBWI Virtual Summer Conference 2025 Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 425 - Escaping the Self-Publishing Rapid Release Rat Race with Johnny B. Truant Escaping the Self-Publishing Rapid Release Rat Race with Johnny B. Truant Fri, 18 Jul 2025 00:34:00 +0000 In this episode Mark speaks to author Johnny B. Truant about THE ARTISAN AUTHOR.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and Johnny talk about:

  • Johnny's return to this podcast (with neither of them being able to remember how many episodes he'd been on previously). Technically, this is his fourth time. Two previous episodes were interviews, and the other was Johnny's brief guest reflection spot in Episode 300
  • Why Johnny's new book THE ARTISAN AUTHOR is a much-anticipated and needed book in the industry
  • A definition of what it means to be an artisan author, which is kind of the opposite of being a "rapid release, Kindle-only eBook" author
  • The importance of taking away that stress-cycle of having to pump out so many books as a single prescription "how to do it" answer
  • Remembering an important thing that, just like there is no single "the way" neither is being an artisan author
  • The paradigm shift and mindset change that is required as a fundamental starting point
  • How readers outside of the eBook/Kindle-only marketplace aren't as focused on lower price points and are okay with higher prices
  • The reality of the publishing landscape in terms of the books being sold and money being earned
  • The misinterpretation of the book Johnny and Sean Platt released years ago called WRITE, PUBLISH, REPEAT
  • How there are two kinds of writers. The type who approach the business as trying to solve a puzzle and the type who approach it as a way of telling a story that they really want to share
  • How a call of "go slow and make art" is not nearly as sexy as a "solution"
  • The experience of driving off to meet a couple of long-term fans to sign and sell directly to them
  • Connections and humanity being a key element of the artisan author experience
  • The value of authentic connection, regardless of whether or not it's in person or online
  • That powerful experience Johnny had doing one of his first major live book signing events as an author at Author Nation in Vegas and how that led to doing a lot more in person events
  • The ability to adapt to a customer based on their reactions in person
  • Look at it as connections, and then if sales happen . . . great!
  • Being really generous with your time and attention
  • Some of the logistics of doing an in person book signing
  • A couple of unexpected and amusing anecdotes from selling books in person
  • The Kickstarter that Johnny is doing for this book, which runs July 15 through Aug 14 (johnnybtruant.com/artisan)
  • The additional "continuum of education" that Johnny is including in this Kickstarter (Artisan University)
  • The importance of authors entering into things with conscious decisions rather than just blindly following the generic advice they've found
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on a few specific points from the discussion.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Johnny B. Truant is one of indie publishing's early authorities, having created and co-hosted the original Self Publishing Podcast with Sean Platt and David Wright. He is also the author of the indie cornerstone guide Write. Publish. Repeat, and hosted the Smarter Artist Summit author conference in Austin, Texas from 2015-2018 with the same two partners.

On the fiction side, Johnny is the bestselling author of Fat Vampire, adapted by The SyFy Network as Reginald the Vampire. His other books include Pretty Killer, Gore Point, Invasion, The Beam, Dead City, Unicorn Western, and over 100 other titles across many genres.

Originally from Ohio, Johnny and his family now live in Austin, Texas where he's finally surrounded by creative types as weird as he is.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark speaks to author Johnny B. Truant about THE ARTISAN AUTHOR.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and Johnny talk about:

  • Johnny's return to this podcast (with neither of them being able to remember how many episodes he'd been on previously). Technically, this is his fourth time. Two previous episodes were interviews, and the other was Johnny's brief guest reflection spot in Episode 300
  • Why Johnny's new book THE ARTISAN AUTHOR is a much-anticipated and needed book in the industry
  • A definition of what it means to be an artisan author, which is kind of the opposite of being a "rapid release, Kindle-only eBook" author
  • The importance of taking away that stress-cycle of having to pump out so many books as a single prescription "how to do it" answer
  • Remembering an important thing that, just like there is no single "the way" neither is being an artisan author
  • The paradigm shift and mindset change that is required as a fundamental starting point
  • How readers outside of the eBook/Kindle-only marketplace aren't as focused on lower price points and are okay with higher prices
  • The reality of the publishing landscape in terms of the books being sold and money being earned
  • The misinterpretation of the book Johnny and Sean Platt released years ago called WRITE, PUBLISH, REPEAT
  • How there are two kinds of writers. The type who approach the business as trying to solve a puzzle and the type who approach it as a way of telling a story that they really want to share
  • How a call of "go slow and make art" is not nearly as sexy as a "solution"
  • The experience of driving off to meet a couple of long-term fans to sign and sell directly to them
  • Connections and humanity being a key element of the artisan author experience
  • The value of authentic connection, regardless of whether or not it's in person or online
  • That powerful experience Johnny had doing one of his first major live book signing events as an author at Author Nation in Vegas and how that led to doing a lot more in person events
  • The ability to adapt to a customer based on their reactions in person
  • Look at it as connections, and then if sales happen . . . great!
  • Being really generous with your time and attention
  • Some of the logistics of doing an in person book signing
  • A couple of unexpected and amusing anecdotes from selling books in person
  • The Kickstarter that Johnny is doing for this book, which runs July 15 through Aug 14 (johnnybtruant.com/artisan)
  • The additional "continuum of education" that Johnny is including in this Kickstarter (Artisan University)
  • The importance of authors entering into things with conscious decisions rather than just blindly following the generic advice they've found
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a few specific points from the discussion.

Links of Interest:

Johnny B. Truant is one of indie publishing's early authorities, having created and co-hosted the original Self Publishing Podcast with Sean Platt and David Wright. He is also the author of the indie cornerstone guide Write. Publish. Repeat, and hosted the Smarter Artist Summit author conference in Austin, Texas from 2015-2018 with the same two partners.

On the fiction side, Johnny is the bestselling author of Fat Vampire, adapted by The SyFy Network as Reginald the Vampire. His other books include Pretty Killer, Gore Point, Invasion, The Beam, Dead City, Unicorn Western, and over 100 other titles across many genres.

Originally from Ohio, Johnny and his family now live in Austin, Texas where he's finally surrounded by creative types as weird as he is.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:08:01 false 8 425 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark speaks to author Johnny B. Truant about THE ARTISAN AUTHOR. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Johnny talk about: Johnny's return to this podcast (with neither of them being able to remember how many episodes he'd been on previously). Technically, this is his fourth time. Two previous episodes were interviews, and the other was Johnny's brief guest reflection spot in Episode 300 Why Johnny's new book THE ARTISAN AUTHOR is a much-anticipated and needed book in the industry A definition of what it means to be an artisan author, which is kind of the opposite of being a "rapid release, Kindle-only eBook" author The importance of taking away that stress-cycle of having to pump out so many books as a single prescription "how to do it" answer Remembering an important thing that, just like there is no single "the way" neither is being an artisan author The paradigm shift and mindset change that is required as a fundamental starting point How readers outside of the eBook/Kindle-only marketplace aren't as focused on lower price points and are okay with higher prices The reality of the publishing landscape in terms of the books being sold and money being earned The misinterpretation of the book Johnny and Sean Platt released years ago called WRITE, PUBLISH, REPEAT How there are two kinds of writers. The type who approach the business as trying to solve a puzzle and the type who approach it as a way of telling a story that they really want to share How a call of "go slow and make art" is not nearly as sexy as a "solution" The experience of driving off to meet a couple of long-term fans to sign and sell directly to them Connections and humanity being a key element of the artisan author experience The value of authentic connection, regardless of whether or not it's in person or online That powerful experience Johnny had doing one of his first major live book signing events as an author at Author Nation in Vegas and how that led to doing a lot more in person events The ability to adapt to a customer based on their reactions in person Look at it as connections, and then if sales happen . . . great! Being really generous with your time and attention Some of the logistics of doing an in person book signing A couple of unexpected and amusing anecdotes from selling books in person The Kickstarter that Johnny is doing for this book, which runs July 15 through Aug 14 (johnnybtruant.com/artisan) The additional "continuum of education" that Johnny is including in this Kickstarter (Artisan University) The importance of authors entering into things with conscious decisions rather than just blindly following the generic advice they've found And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on a few specific points from the discussion.   Links of Interest: Johnny B. Truant's Website The Artisan Author EP 424 - Passion From Between and Beyond the Pages with Jessica Rampersad EP 322 - The Art of Noticing with Johnny B. Truant EP 302 - Fat Vampires, Storytelling, and Empathy with Johnny B. Truant EP 300 - Celebrating 300 Episodes with Guest Reflections Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Johnny B. Truant is one of indie publishing's early authorities, having created and co-hosted the original Self Publishing Podcast with Sean Platt and David Wright. He is also the author of the indie cornerstone guide Write. Publish. Repeat, and hosted the Smarter Artist Summit author conference in Austin, Texas from 2015-2018 with the same two partners. On the fiction side, Johnny is the bestselling author of Fat Vampire, adapted by The SyFy Network as Reginald the Vampire. His other books include Pretty Killer, Gore Point, Invasion, The Beam, Dead City, Unicorn Western, and over 100 other titles across many genres. Originally from Ohio, Johnny and his family now live in Austin, Texas where he's finally surrounded by creative types as weird as he is.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark speaks to author Johnny B. Truant about THE ARTISAN AUTHOR. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Johnny talk about: Johnny's return to this podcast (with neither of them being able to remember how many episodes he'd been on previously). Technically, this is his fourth time. Two previous episodes were interviews, and the other was Johnny's brief guest reflection spot in Episode 300 Why Johnny's new book THE ARTISAN AUTHOR is a much-anticipated and needed book in the industry A definition of what it means to be an artisan author, which is kind of the opposite of being a "rapid release, Kindle-only eBook" author The importance of taking away that stress-cycle of having to pump out so many books as a single prescription "how to do it" answer Remembering an important thing that, just like there is no single "the way" neither is being an artisan author The paradigm shift and mindset change that is required as a fundamental starting point How readers outside of the eBook/Kindle-only marketplace aren't as focused on lower price points and are okay with higher prices The reality of the publishing landscape in terms of the books being sold and money being earned The misinterpretation of the book Johnny and Sean Platt released years ago called WRITE, PUBLISH, REPEAT How there are two kinds of writers. The type who approach the business as trying to solve a puzzle and the type who approach it as a way of telling a story that they really want to share How a call of "go slow and make art" is not nearly as sexy as a "solution" The experience of driving off to meet a couple of long-term fans to sign and sell directly to them Connections and humanity being a key element of the artisan author experience The value of authentic connection, regardless of whether or not it's in person or online That powerful experience Johnny had doing one of his first major live book signing events as an author at Author Nation in Vegas and how that led to doing a lot more in person events The ability to adapt to a customer based on their reactions in person Look at it as connections, and then if sales happen . . . great! Being really generous with your time and attention Some of the logistics of doing an in person book signing A couple of unexpected and amusing anecdotes from selling books in person The Kickstarter that Johnny is doing for this book, which runs July 15 through Aug 14 (johnnybtruant.com/artisan) The additional "continuum of education" that Johnny is including in this Kickstarter (Artisan University) The importance of authors entering into things with conscious decisions rather than just blindly following the generic advice they've found And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on a few specific points from the discussion.   Links of Interest: Johnny B. Truant's Website The Artisan Author EP 424 - Passion From Between and Beyond the Pages with Jessica Rampersad EP 322 - The Art of Noticing with Johnny B. Truant EP 302 - Fat Vampires, Storytelling, and Empathy with Johnny B. Truant EP 300 - Celebrating 300 Episodes with Guest Reflections Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Johnny B. Truant is one of indie publishing's early authorities, having created and co-hosted the original Self Publishing Podcast with Sean Platt and David Wright. He is also the author of the indie cornerstone guide Write. Publish. Repeat, and hosted the Smarter Artist Summit author conference in Austin, Texas from 2015-2018 with the same two partners. On the fiction side, Johnny is the bestselling author of Fat Vampire, adapted by The SyFy Network as Reginald the Vampire. His other books include Pretty Killer, Gore Point, Invasion, The Beam, Dead City, Unicorn Western, and over 100 other titles across many genres. Originally from Ohio, Johnny and his family now live in Austin, Texas where he's finally surrounded by creative types as weird as he is.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 424 - Passion From Between and Beyond The Pages with Jessica Rampersad Passion From Between and Beyond The Pages with Jessica Rampersad Thu, 10 Jul 2025 23:56:00 +0000 Mark interviews Jessica Rampersad AKA JessBeyondThePages, an expert experienced in social media management, content creation, and editing who helps authors and brands elevate their online presence.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and Jessica talk about:

  • Jessica being a reader her entire life and how she has fallen in and out of love with it because of the workload from school
  • Doing research based on a fictional character in a Lauren Asher novel and then deciding upon that as a career path
  • Some of the misconceptions that authors have when it comes to social media
  • How the various social media platforms prefer specific types of content
  • Ideas on things that really resonate with readers that authors can share on social media
  • The services that Jess offers to authors and her willingness to be flexible and learn/try new things that authors are interested in doing
  • The types of books that Jessica typically reads and works on (mystery, romance, thriller) as well as the master list she sends out to other readers
  • The challenge of Mark's various brands along with the fact "MarkLeslie" was already taken on a lot of social media when he arrived
  • How Trope Maps are often the way Jess starts working with an author on their branding for their books
  • The importance of a positive and collaborative partnership between an author and their PAs
  • How valuable giving recognition or giving thanks is, and the positive impression that can make
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the value of sharing your passion instead of focusing on sales.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

Jessica Rampersad's bio. Hi, I'm Jessica! Experienced in social media management, content creation, and editing, I help authors and brands elevate their online presence. I specialize in building engaging digital communities, coordinating book launches, and crafting compelling content strategies. Passionate about storytelling, I work with authors at every stage (independent, traditional, debut, or seasoned) to amplify their voices and help them connect with audiences across platforms. You can find me on TikTok and Instagram at @jessbeyondthepages, and on YouTube at youtube.com/smileyrue.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Jessica Rampersad AKA JessBeyondThePages, an expert experienced in social media management, content creation, and editing who helps authors and brands elevate their online presence.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and Jessica talk about:

  • Jessica being a reader her entire life and how she has fallen in and out of love with it because of the workload from school
  • Doing research based on a fictional character in a Lauren Asher novel and then deciding upon that as a career path
  • Some of the misconceptions that authors have when it comes to social media
  • How the various social media platforms prefer specific types of content
  • Ideas on things that really resonate with readers that authors can share on social media
  • The services that Jess offers to authors and her willingness to be flexible and learn/try new things that authors are interested in doing
  • The types of books that Jessica typically reads and works on (mystery, romance, thriller) as well as the master list she sends out to other readers
  • The challenge of Mark's various brands along with the fact "MarkLeslie" was already taken on a lot of social media when he arrived
  • How Trope Maps are often the way Jess starts working with an author on their branding for their books
  • The importance of a positive and collaborative partnership between an author and their PAs
  • How valuable giving recognition or giving thanks is, and the positive impression that can make
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the value of sharing your passion instead of focusing on sales.

Links of Interest:

Jessica Rampersad's bio. Hi, I'm Jessica! Experienced in social media management, content creation, and editing, I help authors and brands elevate their online presence. I specialize in building engaging digital communities, coordinating book launches, and crafting compelling content strategies. Passionate about storytelling, I work with authors at every stage (independent, traditional, debut, or seasoned) to amplify their voices and help them connect with audiences across platforms. You can find me on TikTok and Instagram at @jessbeyondthepages, and on YouTube at youtube.com/smileyrue.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 59:02 false 8 424 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Jessica Rampersad AKA JessBeyondThePages, an expert experienced in social media management, content creation, and editing who helps authors and brands elevate their online presence. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Jessica talk about: Jessica being a reader her entire life and how she has fallen in and out of love with it because of the workload from school Doing research based on a fictional character in a Lauren Asher novel and then deciding upon that as a career path Some of the misconceptions that authors have when it comes to social media How the various social media platforms prefer specific types of content Ideas on things that really resonate with readers that authors can share on social media The services that Jess offers to authors and her willingness to be flexible and learn/try new things that authors are interested in doing The types of books that Jessica typically reads and works on (mystery, romance, thriller) as well as the master list she sends out to other readers The challenge of Mark's various brands along with the fact "MarkLeslie" was already taken on a lot of social media when he arrived How Trope Maps are often the way Jess starts working with an author on their branding for their books The importance of a positive and collaborative partnership between an author and their PAs How valuable giving recognition or giving thanks is, and the positive impression that can make And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the value of sharing your passion instead of focusing on sales.   Links of Interest: Jessica Rampersad's Website TikTok Instagram YouTube EP 422 - Writing, Humor, and Teaching with Patrick MacPhee EP 417 - Embracing Your Passion For Creativity with C L Fors Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation     Jessica Rampersad's bio. Hi, I'm Jessica! Experienced in social media management, content creation, and editing, I help authors and brands elevate their online presence. I specialize in building engaging digital communities, coordinating book launches, and crafting compelling content strategies. Passionate about storytelling, I work with authors at every stage (independent, traditional, debut, or seasoned) to amplify their voices and help them connect with audiences across platforms. You can find me on TikTok and Instagram at @jessbeyondthepages, and on YouTube at youtube.com/smileyrue.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Jessica Rampersad AKA JessBeyondThePages, an expert experienced in social media management, content creation, and editing who helps authors and brands elevate their online presence. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Jessica talk about: Jessica being a reader her entire life and how she has fallen in and out of love with it because of the workload from school Doing research based on a fictional character in a Lauren Asher novel and then deciding upon that as a career path Some of the misconceptions that authors have when it comes to social media How the various social media platforms prefer specific types of content Ideas on things that really resonate with readers that authors can share on social media The services that Jess offers to authors and her willingness to be flexible and learn/try new things that authors are interested in doing The types of books that Jessica typically reads and works on (mystery, romance, thriller) as well as the master list she sends out to other readers The challenge of Mark's various brands along with the fact "MarkLeslie" was already taken on a lot of social media when he arrived How Trope Maps are often the way Jess starts working with an author on their branding for their books The importance of a positive and collaborative partnership between an author and their PAs How valuable giving recognition or giving thanks is, and the positive impression that can make And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the value of sharing your passion instead of focusing on sales.   Links of Interest: Jessica Rampersad's Website TikTok Instagram YouTube EP 422 - Writing, Humor, and Teaching with Patrick MacPhee EP 417 - Embracing Your Passion For Creativity with C L Fors Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation     Jessica Rampersad's bio. Hi, I'm Jessica! Experienced in social media management, content creation, and editing, I help authors and brands elevate their online presence. I specialize in building engaging digital communities, coordinating book launches, and crafting compelling content strategies. Passionate about storytelling, I work with authors at every stage (independent, traditional, debut, or seasoned) to amplify their voices and help them connect with audiences across platforms. You can find me on TikTok and Instagram at @jessbeyondthepages, and on YouTube at youtube.com/smileyrue.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 423 - Dear Writer: The World Needs Your Writing Now More Than Ever Dear Writer: The World Needs Your Writing Now More Than Ever Thu, 03 Jul 2025 22:57:00 +0000 In this solo episode Mark expresses his frustration, anger, and anxiety over what's happening in the world right now, and reminds himself, and listeners, about the power of writing and why the world NEEDS you and your writing now more than ever before.

Link to video of Mark's Keynote for The BookFest Spring 2025. "Writer, the World Needs You: Why Your Writing Is More Important Than Ever."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6usfgdtmg

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode Mark expresses his frustration, anger, and anxiety over what's happening in the world right now, and reminds himself, and listeners, about the power of writing and why the world NEEDS you and your writing now more than ever before.

Link to video of Mark's Keynote for The BookFest Spring 2025. "Writer, the World Needs You: Why Your Writing Is More Important Than Ever."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6usfgdtmg

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 19:31 true 8 423 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark expresses his frustration, anger, and anxiety over what's happening in the world right now, and reminds himself, and listeners, about the power of writing and why the world NEEDS you and your writing now more than ever before. Link to video of Mark's Keynote for The BookFest Spring 2025. "Writer, the World Needs You: Why Your Writing Is More Important Than Ever." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6usfgdtmg   Links of Interest: Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode Mark expresses his frustration, anger, and anxiety over what's happening in the world right now, and reminds himself, and listeners, about the power of writing and why the world NEEDS you and your writing now more than ever before. Link to video of Mark's Keynote for The BookFest Spring 2025. "Writer, the World Needs You: Why Your Writing Is More Important Than Ever." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6usfgdtmg   Links of Interest: Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 422 - Writing, Humor, and Teaching with Patrick MacPhee Writing, Humor, and Teaching with Patrick MacPhee Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:59:00 +0000 Mark interviews Patrick MacPhee, teacher and Writers of the Future award-winning author about his love of reading, writing, and helping to inspire students.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and Patrick talk about:

  • Patrick's experience reading Fellowship of the Rings when he was rather young and how it impacted him in a profound way
  • The impact on the mind and imagination when reading something really slowly
  • How when you're a kid you play in a specific way when experiencing new things
  • Seeing speculative fiction as having that additional special spice that enhances a regular dish
  • The five-book epic fantasy series that Patrick mapped out years ago (and which he recently finished writing book one of)
  • Being influenced and inspired by Neal Stephenson's writing
  • Patrick's Writers of the Future Award-winning story "Thirty Minutes or it's a Paradox"
  • How the inspiration for this short story came from something Patrick was intimately aware of as a teacher
  • Some of the previous stories that Patrick has had published in semi-pro magazines
  • How Patrick learned about Writers of the Future and some of his submission history with the contest
  • Getting the call from Joni about Patrick's finalist position in the contest
  • Patrick's thoughts about the experience being in Hollywood and seeing the rendition of his story illustrated by Cam Collins
  • How Patrick got into teaching and an important thing that he learned in that vocation
    - What Patrick is going to be doing next
  • Advice for other writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things he discussed with Patrick.

 

Links of Interest:

 

In addition to being a writer, Patrick MacPhee considers himself very luck to spend the past twenty years helping young people become better versions of themselves in his role as a teacher. He has learned that almost every part of the curriculum has room for a little humor — sometimes a lot of humor. We talk about that as well as his writing, and what inspired him to write the Writers of the Future Award-Winning story "Thirty Minutes or It's a Paradox." 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Patrick MacPhee, teacher and Writers of the Future award-winning author about his love of reading, writing, and helping to inspire students.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and Patrick talk about:

  • Patrick's experience reading Fellowship of the Rings when he was rather young and how it impacted him in a profound way
  • The impact on the mind and imagination when reading something really slowly
  • How when you're a kid you play in a specific way when experiencing new things
  • Seeing speculative fiction as having that additional special spice that enhances a regular dish
  • The five-book epic fantasy series that Patrick mapped out years ago (and which he recently finished writing book one of)
  • Being influenced and inspired by Neal Stephenson's writing
  • Patrick's Writers of the Future Award-winning story "Thirty Minutes or it's a Paradox"
  • How the inspiration for this short story came from something Patrick was intimately aware of as a teacher
  • Some of the previous stories that Patrick has had published in semi-pro magazines
  • How Patrick learned about Writers of the Future and some of his submission history with the contest
  • Getting the call from Joni about Patrick's finalist position in the contest
  • Patrick's thoughts about the experience being in Hollywood and seeing the rendition of his story illustrated by Cam Collins
  • How Patrick got into teaching and an important thing that he learned in that vocation - What Patrick is going to be doing next
  • Advice for other writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things he discussed with Patrick.

Links of Interest:

In addition to being a writer, Patrick MacPhee considers himself very luck to spend the past twenty years helping young people become better versions of themselves in his role as a teacher. He has learned that almost every part of the curriculum has room for a little humor — sometimes a lot of humor. We talk about that as well as his writing, and what inspired him to write the Writers of the Future Award-Winning story "Thirty Minutes or It's a Paradox."

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:06:43 false 8 422 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Patrick MacPhee, teacher and Writers of the Future award-winning author about his love of reading, writing, and helping to inspire students. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Patrick talk about: Patrick's experience reading Fellowship of the Rings when he was rather young and how it impacted him in a profound way The impact on the mind and imagination when reading something really slowly How when you're a kid you play in a specific way when experiencing new things Seeing speculative fiction as having that additional special spice that enhances a regular dish The five-book epic fantasy series that Patrick mapped out years ago (and which he recently finished writing book one of) Being influenced and inspired by Neal Stephenson's writing Patrick's Writers of the Future Award-winning story "Thirty Minutes or it's a Paradox" How the inspiration for this short story came from something Patrick was intimately aware of as a teacher Some of the previous stories that Patrick has had published in semi-pro magazines How Patrick learned about Writers of the Future and some of his submission history with the contest Getting the call from Joni about Patrick's finalist position in the contest Patrick's thoughts about the experience being in Hollywood and seeing the rendition of his story illustrated by Cam Collins How Patrick got into teaching and an important thing that he learned in that vocation - What Patrick is going to be doing next Advice for other writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things he discussed with Patrick.   Links of Interest: Patrick MacPhee Website Free Short Stories by Patrick Writers of the Future Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   In addition to being a writer, Patrick MacPhee considers himself very luck to spend the past twenty years helping young people become better versions of themselves in his role as a teacher. He has learned that almost every part of the curriculum has room for a little humor — sometimes a lot of humor. We talk about that as well as his writing, and what inspired him to write the Writers of the Future Award-Winning story "Thirty Minutes or It's a Paradox."    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Patrick MacPhee, teacher and Writers of the Future award-winning author about his love of reading, writing, and helping to inspire students. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Patrick talk about: Patrick's experience reading Fellowship of the Rings when he was rather young and how it impacted him in a profound way The impact on the mind and imagination when reading something really slowly How when you're a kid you play in a specific way when experiencing new things Seeing speculative fiction as having that additional special spice that enhances a regular dish The five-book epic fantasy series that Patrick mapped out years ago (and which he recently finished writing book one of) Being influenced and inspired by Neal Stephenson's writing Patrick's Writers of the Future Award-winning story "Thirty Minutes or it's a Paradox" How the inspiration for this short story came from something Patrick was intimately aware of as a teacher Some of the previous stories that Patrick has had published in semi-pro magazines How Patrick learned about Writers of the Future and some of his submission history with the contest Getting the call from Joni about Patrick's finalist position in the contest Patrick's thoughts about the experience being in Hollywood and seeing the rendition of his story illustrated by Cam Collins How Patrick got into teaching and an important thing that he learned in that vocation - What Patrick is going to be doing next Advice for other writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things he discussed with Patrick.   Links of Interest: Patrick MacPhee Website Free Short Stories by Patrick Writers of the Future Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   In addition to being a writer, Patrick MacPhee considers himself very luck to spend the past twenty years helping young people become better versions of themselves in his role as a teacher. He has learned that almost every part of the curriculum has room for a little humor — sometimes a lot of humor. We talk about that as well as his writing, and what inspired him to write the Writers of the Future Award-Winning story "Thirty Minutes or It's a Paradox."    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 421 - Some Publishing Pitfalls Some Publishing Pitfalls Thu, 19 Jun 2025 23:00:00 +0000 In this solo episode Mark shares some audio excerpts from his book PUBLISHING PITFALLS FOR AUTHORS.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode Mark shares some audio excerpts from his book PUBLISHING PITFALLS FOR AUTHORS.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 27:27 false 8 421 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark shares some audio excerpts from his book PUBLISHING PITFALLS FOR AUTHORS. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.   Links of Interest: Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode Mark shares some audio excerpts from his book PUBLISHING PITFALLS FOR AUTHORS. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.   Links of Interest: Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 420 - Artist and Author Collaboration with JJ McFaull Artist and Author Collaboration with JJ McFaull Thu, 12 Jun 2025 20:44:00 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Jacob from the JJ McFaull is collaboration children's book Where Pumpkins Go After Halloween.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the new book The Podcast Guest Playbook co-authored by Mark and Matty Dalrymple.

Check out the book here: https://books2read.com/podcastguestplaybook

In the interview, Mark and Jacob talk about:

Mark and Jacob talk about:

  • How even as a kid, Jacob was making up stories
  • Getting involved in the book industry in 2024 after initially trying to get his children's book published
  • The organization CANSCAPE (Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers) which is a great resource for creators
  • The title for his book which incites the right questions in people
  • Seeing pumpkins left on the curb after Halloween, which is what inspired the story
  • Collaborating with his father James and working as an author/illustrator duo under the name JJ McFaull (JJ being short for Jacob and James)
  • How Jacob's father has been an illustrator his entire life
  • The origin of how the book got conceived and published
  • An important design element Jacob would recommend for children's book authors to consider
  • Some of the challenges with the quality of POD children's books ordered from Amazon
  • Selling books at in person fairs and other locales
  • How having the book tied in to a specific holiday (Halloween) can be really beneficial
  • How farmers markets were a great place for Jacob to set up for selling his books in person
  • The way that having a pre-illustrated book on submission to a publisher can actually work against an author
  • A little bit about the YA book that Jacob is working on right now
  • The Christmas themed picture book that JJ McFaull will be releasing in the fall of 2025
  • Advice Jacob would offer to other writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the unique father-and-son collaboration as well as on the importance of recognizing where additional talent needs to be brought in on a project. 

 

Links of Interest:

 

JJ McFaull is the author/illustrator of Where Pumpkins Go After Halloween, a debut picture book released in September 2024. Under the pen name JJ McFaull, Jacob (the author) and James (his father and illustrator) combine their passions for storytelling and art to create memorable books for young readers. The second book in their holiday series is scheduled to release this fall.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Jacob from the JJ McFaull is collaboration children's book Where Pumpkins Go After Halloween.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the new book The Podcast Guest Playbook co-authored by Mark and Matty Dalrymple.

Check out the book here: https://books2read.com/podcastguestplaybook

In the interview, Mark and Jacob talk about:

Mark and Jacob talk about:

  • How even as a kid, Jacob was making up stories
  • Getting involved in the book industry in 2024 after initially trying to get his children's book published
  • The organization CANSCAPE (Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers) which is a great resource for creators
  • The title for his book which incites the right questions in people
  • Seeing pumpkins left on the curb after Halloween, which is what inspired the story
  • Collaborating with his father James and working as an author/illustrator duo under the name JJ McFaull (JJ being short for Jacob and James)
  • How Jacob's father has been an illustrator his entire life
  • The origin of how the book got conceived and published
  • An important design element Jacob would recommend for children's book authors to consider
  • Some of the challenges with the quality of POD children's books ordered from Amazon
  • Selling books at in person fairs and other locales
  • How having the book tied in to a specific holiday (Halloween) can be really beneficial
  • How farmers markets were a great place for Jacob to set up for selling his books in person
  • The way that having a pre-illustrated book on submission to a publisher can actually work against an author
  • A little bit about the YA book that Jacob is working on right now
  • The Christmas themed picture book that JJ McFaull will be releasing in the fall of 2025
  • Advice Jacob would offer to other writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the unique father-and-son collaboration as well as on the importance of recognizing where additional talent needs to be brought in on a project.

Links of Interest:

JJ McFaull is the author/illustrator of Where Pumpkins Go After Halloween, a debut picture book released in September 2024. Under the pen name JJ McFaull, Jacob (the author) and James (his father and illustrator) combine their passions for storytelling and art to create memorable books for young readers. The second book in their holiday series is scheduled to release this fall.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 38:28 false 8 420 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Jacob from the JJ McFaull is collaboration children's book Where Pumpkins Go After Halloween. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the new book The Podcast Guest Playbook co-authored by Mark and Matty Dalrymple. Check out the book here: https://books2read.com/podcastguestplaybook In the interview, Mark and Jacob talk about: Mark and Jacob talk about: How even as a kid, Jacob was making up stories Getting involved in the book industry in 2024 after initially trying to get his children's book published The organization CANSCAPE (Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers) which is a great resource for creators The title for his book which incites the right questions in people Seeing pumpkins left on the curb after Halloween, which is what inspired the story Collaborating with his father James and working as an author/illustrator duo under the name JJ McFaull (JJ being short for Jacob and James) How Jacob's father has been an illustrator his entire life The origin of how the book got conceived and published An important design element Jacob would recommend for children's book authors to consider Some of the challenges with the quality of POD children's books ordered from Amazon Selling books at in person fairs and other locales How having the book tied in to a specific holiday (Halloween) can be really beneficial How farmers markets were a great place for Jacob to set up for selling his books in person The way that having a pre-illustrated book on submission to a publisher can actually work against an author A little bit about the YA book that Jacob is working on right now The Christmas themed picture book that JJ McFaull will be releasing in the fall of 2025 Advice Jacob would offer to other writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the unique father-and-son collaboration as well as on the importance of recognizing where additional talent needs to be brought in on a project.    Links of Interest: JJ McFaull's Website JJ McFaull Instagram The Indy Author Podcast - Episode 291: The Podcast Guest Playbook with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   JJ McFaull is the author/illustrator of Where Pumpkins Go After Halloween, a debut picture book released in September 2024. Under the pen name JJ McFaull, Jacob (the author) and James (his father and illustrator) combine their passions for storytelling and art to create memorable books for young readers. The second book in their holiday series is scheduled to release this fall.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Jacob from the JJ McFaull is collaboration children's book Where Pumpkins Go After Halloween. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the new book The Podcast Guest Playbook co-authored by Mark and Matty Dalrymple. Check out the book here: https://books2read.com/podcastguestplaybook In the interview, Mark and Jacob talk about: Mark and Jacob talk about: How even as a kid, Jacob was making up stories Getting involved in the book industry in 2024 after initially trying to get his children's book published The organization CANSCAPE (Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers) which is a great resource for creators The title for his book which incites the right questions in people Seeing pumpkins left on the curb after Halloween, which is what inspired the story Collaborating with his father James and working as an author/illustrator duo under the name JJ McFaull (JJ being short for Jacob and James) How Jacob's father has been an illustrator his entire life The origin of how the book got conceived and published An important design element Jacob would recommend for children's book authors to consider Some of the challenges with the quality of POD children's books ordered from Amazon Selling books at in person fairs and other locales How having the book tied in to a specific holiday (Halloween) can be really beneficial How farmers markets were a great place for Jacob to set up for selling his books in person The way that having a pre-illustrated book on submission to a publisher can actually work against an author A little bit about the YA book that Jacob is working on right now The Christmas themed picture book that JJ McFaull will be releasing in the fall of 2025 Advice Jacob would offer to other writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the unique father-and-son collaboration as well as on the importance of recognizing where additional talent needs to be brought in on a project.    Links of Interest: JJ McFaull's Website JJ McFaull Instagram The Indy Author Podcast - Episode 291: The Podcast Guest Playbook with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   JJ McFaull is the author/illustrator of Where Pumpkins Go After Halloween, a debut picture book released in September 2024. Under the pen name JJ McFaull, Jacob (the author) and James (his father and illustrator) combine their passions for storytelling and art to create memorable books for young readers. The second book in their holiday series is scheduled to release this fall.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 419 - Seeing The Beauty with Artist, Photographer, Graphic Designer, and Music Aficionado Stephan Gaydos Seeing The Beauty with Artist, Photographer, Graphic Designer, and Music Aficionado Stephan Gaydos Fri, 06 Jun 2025 17:36:00 +0000 Mark has a conversation with his life-long best buddy Steve Gaydos about art, beauty, photography, music, and so much more in a conversation recorded on their recent Canadian East Coast road trip.

Links of Interest:

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark has a conversation with his life-long best buddy Steve Gaydos about art, beauty, photography, music, and so much more in a conversation recorded on their recent Canadian East Coast road trip.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 49:10 false 8 419 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark has a conversation with his life-long best buddy Steve Gaydos about art, beauty, photography, music, and so much more in a conversation recorded on their recent Canadian East Coast road trip. Links of Interest: Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark has a conversation with his life-long best buddy Steve Gaydos about art, beauty, photography, music, and so much more in a conversation recorded on their recent Canadian East Coast road trip. Links of Interest: Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 418 - Giving Away A Million Copies of Your Book With DC Gomez EP 418 - Giving Away A Million Copies of Your Book With DC Gomez Fri, 30 May 2025 11:34:00 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews D.C. Gomez about her plan to give away a million copies of her best-selling and award-winning novel Death's Intern.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and D.C. talk about:

  • DC being one of those kids who was into storytelling since as far back as she can remember
  • Having a passion and background for video and screenplays
  • The way everything changed for DC back during 9/11
  • DC's spiritual director who suggested that DC write a book and how it was finally the spark that she needed
  • "Causing trouble" for 30 years
  • Her first novel being Death's Intern
  • Adapting elements that she learned in screenwriting into crafting a novel
  • Writing within a large universe that's interconnected
  • The origin of the story "Cursed by Fur: A Little Red Riding Hood Retelling"
  • How it's different to connect with characters at different stages in their lives
  • The reasoning behind giving away a million copies of Death's Intern with no strings attached
  • Constantine the talking cat character who has taken over DC's Instagram as well as her end of month newsletter
  • Why DC defines herself as a "serial hobbyist"
  • The blast that DC has doing in person events
  • Advice that DC would give to writers
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things about their conversation.

 

Links of Interest:

 

D. C. Gomez is a fast-talking, extra-quirky Dominican with a dark sense of humor.

A long time ago, she used to enjoy long walks at the park and long days under the sun. Unfortunately, due to a mysterious condition, she is now allergic to those pesky UV rays. Rumor has it that her true nature is coming out and her vampirism is now showing. But don't fear my friend, she doesn't bite (much…).

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews D.C. Gomez about her plan to give away a million copies of her best-selling and award-winning novel Death's Intern.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and D.C. talk about:

  • DC being one of those kids who was into storytelling since as far back as she can remember
  • Having a passion and background for video and screenplays
  • The way everything changed for DC back during 9/11
  • DC's spiritual director who suggested that DC write a book and how it was finally the spark that she needed
  • "Causing trouble" for 30 years
  • Her first novel being Death's Intern
  • Adapting elements that she learned in screenwriting into crafting a novel
  • Writing within a large universe that's interconnected
  • The origin of the story "Cursed by Fur: A Little Red Riding Hood Retelling"
  • How it's different to connect with characters at different stages in their lives
  • The reasoning behind giving away a million copies of Death's Intern with no strings attached
  • Constantine the talking cat character who has taken over DC's Instagram as well as her end of month newsletter
  • Why DC defines herself as a "serial hobbyist"
  • The blast that DC has doing in person events
  • Advice that DC would give to writers
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things about their conversation.

Links of Interest:

D. C. Gomez is a fast-talking, extra-quirky Dominican with a dark sense of humor.

A long time ago, she used to enjoy long walks at the park and long days under the sun. Unfortunately, due to a mysterious condition, she is now allergic to those pesky UV rays. Rumor has it that her true nature is coming out and her vampirism is now showing. But don't fear my friend, she doesn't bite (much…).

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 53:26 false 8 418 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews D.C. Gomez about her plan to give away a million copies of her best-selling and award-winning novel Death's Intern. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and D.C. talk about: DC being one of those kids who was into storytelling since as far back as she can remember Having a passion and background for video and screenplays The way everything changed for DC back during 9/11 DC's spiritual director who suggested that DC write a book and how it was finally the spark that she needed "Causing trouble" for 30 years Her first novel being Death's Intern Adapting elements that she learned in screenwriting into crafting a novel Writing within a large universe that's interconnected The origin of the story "Cursed by Fur: A Little Red Riding Hood Retelling" How it's different to connect with characters at different stages in their lives The reasoning behind giving away a million copies of Death's Intern with no strings attached Constantine the talking cat character who has taken over DC's Instagram as well as her end of month newsletter Why DC defines herself as a "serial hobbyist" The blast that DC has doing in person events Advice that DC would give to writers And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on a few things about their conversation.   Links of Interest: D.C. Gomez (Author Website) Death's Intern (Universal Book Link) The Podcast Guest Playbook (co-authored with Matty Dalrymple) Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   D. C. Gomez is a fast-talking, extra-quirky Dominican with a dark sense of humor. A long time ago, she used to enjoy long walks at the park and long days under the sun. Unfortunately, due to a mysterious condition, she is now allergic to those pesky UV rays. Rumor has it that her true nature is coming out and her vampirism is now showing. But don't fear my friend, she doesn't bite (much…).   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews D.C. Gomez about her plan to give away a million copies of her best-selling and award-winning novel Death's Intern. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and D.C. talk about: DC being one of those kids who was into storytelling since as far back as she can remember Having a passion and background for video and screenplays The way everything changed for DC back during 9/11 DC's spiritual director who suggested that DC write a book and how it was finally the spark that she needed "Causing trouble" for 30 years Her first novel being Death's Intern Adapting elements that she learned in screenwriting into crafting a novel Writing within a large universe that's interconnected The origin of the story "Cursed by Fur: A Little Red Riding Hood Retelling" How it's different to connect with characters at different stages in their lives The reasoning behind giving away a million copies of Death's Intern with no strings attached Constantine the talking cat character who has taken over DC's Instagram as well as her end of month newsletter Why DC defines herself as a "serial hobbyist" The blast that DC has doing in person events Advice that DC would give to writers And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on a few things about their conversation.   Links of Interest: D.C. Gomez (Author Website) Death's Intern (Universal Book Link) The Podcast Guest Playbook (co-authored with Matty Dalrymple) Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   D. C. Gomez is a fast-talking, extra-quirky Dominican with a dark sense of humor. A long time ago, she used to enjoy long walks at the park and long days under the sun. Unfortunately, due to a mysterious condition, she is now allergic to those pesky UV rays. Rumor has it that her true nature is coming out and her vampirism is now showing. But don't fear my friend, she doesn't bite (much…).   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 417 - Embracing Your Passion for Creativity with Artist and Author C L Fors Embracing Your Passion for Creativity with Artist and Author C L Fors Fri, 23 May 2025 13:43:00 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews author and artist C L Fors about her recent award win with Writers of the Future and her life in writing and illustration.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and Cherrie talk about:

  • Cherrie's recent win as an illustrator for Writers and Illustrators of the Future for Volume 41 of the annual anthology
  • Entering the contest as both a writer and an illustrator every quarter since 2016
  • How Cherrie can be creative in both writing and illustrating based on the same spark of inspiration. Sometimes it comes out first as a story and then later as an illustration, sometimes vice versa
  • The process of how illustrator winners of Writers and Illustrators of the Future are "teamed up" with a writer winner
  • Cherrie's four-book epic science fiction series - which is a story about people re-claiming self-determination
  • The graphic novel Cherrie is working on which, at first, she wasn't sure what medium it was going to emerge into
  • How a lot of the skills that Cherrie initially learned about art was self-taught, before she received more formal instruction
  • Learning the right time to make that creative jump as a creator
  • How when she is in the midst of the process of creating, regardless of whether it is writing or art, Cherrie feels most alive
  • Taking a step back to understand if she's taking realistic stock of her time and energy
  • The challenge of getting sucked in to social media
  • Ensuring that you're not being too hard on yourself
  • How Cherrie cannot remember a time when she was not doing both art and writing
  • Publishing her first work (a magazine that had her stories, poetry and art) and selling copies of it door-to-door when she was 9 years old in order to earn money to make a purchase
  • Getting her Masters in Publishing at Western Colorado University and continuing the program in Genre fiction to get her MFA
  • Seeing and representing herself as BOTH a writer and an illustrator
  • Using C L Fors for both her art and her writing
  • Learning that she has to "go with the flow" and use the time she has to approach her various tasks as an author, an illustrator, a wife, and a mother
  • Advice that Cherrie would give her younger self
  • How rejection is just a lesson
  • What is next for Cherrie
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that were discussed including Cherrie's advice on continuing to do something once you find the thing that you love.

 

Links of Interest:

 

CL Fors lives and breathes stories in multiple mediums: the written word, illustration in watercolor, acrylic, digital, and ink, and the creation of custom jewelry and other artifacts of story. She is an artist with a myriad of interests and experiences that inform and flavor her writing and illustrating. A multipotentialite, mother, author, and adventurer, CL is a science and science-fiction enthusiast with a passion for research based sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction in general. She has at various times in her life been a film actor, military intelligence linguist in the Arabic language, a doula, childbirth educator, and student midwife for birthing, as well as a bellydancer.

Cherrie and her husband, Jason P. Crawford, founded the indie publishing house Epitome Press and together bring the work of talented authors out of the brambles and into the light of day. CL's  debut novel, Progeny is the first installment of the Primogenitor series.The second installment, Breach of Mars is available on Amazon as are the third and fourth books in the series, Crowning of Mars and Futures of Mars.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> In this episode Mark interviews author and artist C L Fors about her recent award win with Writers of the Future and her life in writing and illustration.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In the interview, Mark and Cherrie talk about:

  • Cherrie's recent win as an illustrator for Writers and Illustrators of the Future for Volume 41 of the annual anthology
  • Entering the contest as both a writer and an illustrator every quarter since 2016
  • How Cherrie can be creative in both writing and illustrating based on the same spark of inspiration. Sometimes it comes out first as a story and then later as an illustration, sometimes vice versa
  • The process of how illustrator winners of Writers and Illustrators of the Future are "teamed up" with a writer winner
  • Cherrie's four-book epic science fiction series - which is a story about people re-claiming self-determination
  • The graphic novel Cherrie is working on which, at first, she wasn't sure what medium it was going to emerge into
  • How a lot of the skills that Cherrie initially learned about art was self-taught, before she received more formal instruction
  • Learning the right time to make that creative jump as a creator
  • How when she is in the midst of the process of creating, regardless of whether it is writing or art, Cherrie feels most alive
  • Taking a step back to understand if she's taking realistic stock of her time and energy
  • The challenge of getting sucked in to social media
  • Ensuring that you're not being too hard on yourself
  • How Cherrie cannot remember a time when she was not doing both art and writing
  • Publishing her first work (a magazine that had her stories, poetry and art) and selling copies of it door-to-door when she was 9 years old in order to earn money to make a purchase
  • Getting her Masters in Publishing at Western Colorado University and continuing the program in Genre fiction to get her MFA
  • Seeing and representing herself as BOTH a writer and an illustrator
  • Using C L Fors for both her art and her writing
  • Learning that she has to "go with the flow" and use the time she has to approach her various tasks as an author, an illustrator, a wife, and a mother
  • Advice that Cherrie would give her younger self
  • How rejection is just a lesson
  • What is next for Cherrie
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that were discussed including Cherrie's advice on continuing to do something once you find the thing that you love.

Links of Interest:

CL Fors lives and breathes stories in multiple mediums: the written word, illustration in watercolor, acrylic, digital, and ink, and the creation of custom jewelry and other artifacts of story. She is an artist with a myriad of interests and experiences that inform and flavor her writing and illustrating. A multipotentialite, mother, author, and adventurer, CL is a science and science-fiction enthusiast with a passion for research based sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction in general. She has at various times in her life been a film actor, military intelligence linguist in the Arabic language, a doula, childbirth educator, and student midwife for birthing, as well as a bellydancer.

Cherrie and her husband, Jason P. Crawford, founded the indie publishing house Epitome Press and together bring the work of talented authors out of the brambles and into the light of day. CL's debut novel, Progeny is the first installment of the Primogenitor series.The second installment, Breach of Mars is available on Amazon as are the third and fourth books in the series, Crowning of Mars and Futures of Mars.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 59:56 false 8 417 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews author and artist C L Fors about her recent award win with Writers of the Future and her life in writing and illustration. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Cherrie talk about: Cherrie's recent win as an illustrator for Writers and Illustrators of the Future for Volume 41 of the annual anthology Entering the contest as both a writer and an illustrator every quarter since 2016 How Cherrie can be creative in both writing and illustrating based on the same spark of inspiration. Sometimes it comes out first as a story and then later as an illustration, sometimes vice versa The process of how illustrator winners of Writers and Illustrators of the Future are "teamed up" with a writer winner Cherrie's four-book epic science fiction series - which is a story about people re-claiming self-determination The graphic novel Cherrie is working on which, at first, she wasn't sure what medium it was going to emerge into How a lot of the skills that Cherrie initially learned about art was self-taught, before she received more formal instruction Learning the right time to make that creative jump as a creator How when she is in the midst of the process of creating, regardless of whether it is writing or art, Cherrie feels most alive Taking a step back to understand if she's taking realistic stock of her time and energy The challenge of getting sucked in to social media Ensuring that you're not being too hard on yourself How Cherrie cannot remember a time when she was not doing both art and writing Publishing her first work (a magazine that had her stories, poetry and art) and selling copies of it door-to-door when she was 9 years old in order to earn money to make a purchase Getting her Masters in Publishing at Western Colorado University and continuing the program in Genre fiction to get her MFA Seeing and representing herself as BOTH a writer and an illustrator Using C L Fors for both her art and her writing Learning that she has to "go with the flow" and use the time she has to approach her various tasks as an author, an illustrator, a wife, and a mother Advice that Cherrie would give her younger self How rejection is just a lesson What is next for Cherrie And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that were discussed including Cherrie's advice on continuing to do something once you find the thing that you love.   Links of Interest: CL Fors Author CL Fors Illustrator Writers of the Future The Podcast Guest Playbook (co-authored with Matty Dalrymple) Writers' Federation of New Brunswick: WordSpring 2025 Episodes with Kathy Mac The Lefebvre Monument Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   CL Fors lives and breathes stories in multiple mediums: the written word, illustration in watercolor, acrylic, digital, and ink, and the creation of custom jewelry and other artifacts of story. She is an artist with a myriad of interests and experiences that inform and flavor her writing and illustrating. A multipotentialite, mother, author, and adventurer, CL is a science and science-fiction enthusiast with a passion for research based sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction in general. She has at various times in her life been a film actor, military intelligence linguist in the Arabic language, a doula, childbirth educator, and student midwife for birthing, as well as a bellydancer. Cherrie and her husband, Jason P. Crawford, founded the indie publishing house Epitome Press and together bring the work of talented authors out of the brambles and into the light of day. CL's  debut novel, Progeny is the first installment of the Primogenitor series.The second installment, Breach of Mars is available on Amazon as are the third and fourth books in the series, Crowning of Mars and Futures of Mars.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this episode Mark interviews author and artist C L Fors about her recent award win with Writers of the Future and her life in writing and illustration. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Cherrie talk about: Cherrie's recent win as an illustrator for Writers and Illustrators of the Future for Volume 41 of the annual anthology Entering the contest as both a writer and an illustrator every quarter since 2016 How Cherrie can be creative in both writing and illustrating based on the same spark of inspiration. Sometimes it comes out first as a story and then later as an illustration, sometimes vice versa The process of how illustrator winners of Writers and Illustrators of the Future are "teamed up" with a writer winner Cherrie's four-book epic science fiction series - which is a story about people re-claiming self-determination The graphic novel Cherrie is working on which, at first, she wasn't sure what medium it was going to emerge into How a lot of the skills that Cherrie initially learned about art was self-taught, before she received more formal instruction Learning the right time to make that creative jump as a creator How when she is in the midst of the process of creating, regardless of whether it is writing or art, Cherrie feels most alive Taking a step back to understand if she's taking realistic stock of her time and energy The challenge of getting sucked in to social media Ensuring that you're not being too hard on yourself How Cherrie cannot remember a time when she was not doing both art and writing Publishing her first work (a magazine that had her stories, poetry and art) and selling copies of it door-to-door when she was 9 years old in order to earn money to make a purchase Getting her Masters in Publishing at Western Colorado University and continuing the program in Genre fiction to get her MFA Seeing and representing herself as BOTH a writer and an illustrator Using C L Fors for both her art and her writing Learning that she has to "go with the flow" and use the time she has to approach her various tasks as an author, an illustrator, a wife, and a mother Advice that Cherrie would give her younger self How rejection is just a lesson What is next for Cherrie And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that were discussed including Cherrie's advice on continuing to do something once you find the thing that you love.   Links of Interest: CL Fors Author CL Fors Illustrator Writers of the Future The Podcast Guest Playbook (co-authored with Matty Dalrymple) Writers' Federation of New Brunswick: WordSpring 2025 Episodes with Kathy Mac The Lefebvre Monument Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   CL Fors lives and breathes stories in multiple mediums: the written word, illustration in watercolor, acrylic, digital, and ink, and the creation of custom jewelry and other artifacts of story. She is an artist with a myriad of interests and experiences that inform and flavor her writing and illustrating. A multipotentialite, mother, author, and adventurer, CL is a science and science-fiction enthusiast with a passion for research based sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction in general. She has at various times in her life been a film actor, military intelligence linguist in the Arabic language, a doula, childbirth educator, and student midwife for birthing, as well as a bellydancer. Cherrie and her husband, Jason P. Crawford, founded the indie publishing house Epitome Press and together bring the work of talented authors out of the brambles and into the light of day. CL's  debut novel, Progeny is the first installment of the Primogenitor series.The second installment, Breach of Mars is available on Amazon as are the third and fourth books in the series, Crowning of Mars and Futures of Mars.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 416 - The Irony of a Woefully Inadequate Imposter Syndrome The Irony of a Woefully Inadequate Imposter Syndrome Fri, 16 May 2025 10:22:00 +0000 That pervasive feeling of self-doubt and insecurity you believe you are not deserving of your achievements and fear being exposed as a fraud known as imposter syndrome is especially common among writers and other creatives who often grapple with the vulnerability inherent in sharing their work with the world.

But perhaps your imposter syndrome is actually a positive sign about your progression as a writer.

That's the topic of this solo episode in which Mark reflects upon that.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> That pervasive feeling of self-doubt and insecurity you believe you are not deserving of your achievements and fear being exposed as a fraud known as imposter syndrome is especially common among writers and other creatives who often grapple with the vulnerability inherent in sharing their work with the world.

But perhaps your imposter syndrome is actually a positive sign about your progression as a writer.

That's the topic of this solo episode in which Mark reflects upon that.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 31:28 false 8 416 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)That pervasive feeling of self-doubt and insecurity you believe you are not deserving of your achievements and fear being exposed as a fraud known as imposter syndrome is especially common among writers and other creatives who often grapple with the vulnerability inherent in sharing their work with the world. But perhaps your imposter syndrome is actually a positive sign about your progression as a writer. That's the topic of this solo episode in which Mark reflects upon that. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. Links of Interest: Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0That pervasive feeling of self-doubt and insecurity you believe you are not deserving of your achievements and fear being exposed as a fraud known as imposter syndrome is especially common among writers and other creatives who often grapple with the vulnerability inherent in sharing their work with the world. But perhaps your imposter syndrome is actually a positive sign about your progression as a writer. That's the topic of this solo episode in which Mark reflects upon that. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. Links of Interest: Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 415 - April Showers Bring May Reflections April Showers Bring May Reflections Fri, 09 May 2025 14:47:00 +0000 In this solo episode Mark shares a personal update and some reflections about writing, publishing, and some marketing ideas.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode Mark shares a personal update and some reflections about writing, publishing, and some marketing ideas.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 42:37 false 8 415 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark shares a personal update and some reflections about writing, publishing, and some marketing ideas. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. Links of Interest: Mark's BookFest Keynote One Book, One Community: Haldimand Public Library: Haunted Hamilton by Mark Leslie Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode Mark shares a personal update and some reflections about writing, publishing, and some marketing ideas. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. Links of Interest: Mark's BookFest Keynote One Book, One Community: Haldimand Public Library: Haunted Hamilton by Mark Leslie Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 414 - Thanks for the Inspiration Nancy Kilpatrick Thanks for the Inspiration Nancy Kilpatrick Tue, 06 May 2025 13:47:00 +0000 In this episode Mark reflects on friend, mentor, and fellow author Nancy Kilpatrick.

Nancy Kilpatrick (May 6, 1946 – March 31, 2025) was a Canadian author who wrote stories in the genres of dark fantasy, horror, mystery, erotic horror, and gothic subculture and was perhaps best known for her vampire novels and stories.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark reflects on friend, mentor, and fellow author Nancy Kilpatrick.

Nancy Kilpatrick (May 6, 1946 – March 31, 2025) was a Canadian author who wrote stories in the genres of dark fantasy, horror, mystery, erotic horror, and gothic subculture and was perhaps best known for her vampire novels and stories.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 19:49 false 8 414 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark reflects on friend, mentor, and fellow author Nancy Kilpatrick. Nancy Kilpatrick (May 6, 1946 – March 31, 2025) was a Canadian author who wrote stories in the genres of dark fantasy, horror, mystery, erotic horror, and gothic subculture and was perhaps best known for her vampire novels and stories.   Links of Interest: Nancy Kilpatrick's Wikipedia Page Nancy Kilpatrick's Webpage YouTube Playlist of Nancy's readings and Q&A sessions (2020 to 2024) Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark reflects on friend, mentor, and fellow author Nancy Kilpatrick. Nancy Kilpatrick (May 6, 1946 – March 31, 2025) was a Canadian author who wrote stories in the genres of dark fantasy, horror, mystery, erotic horror, and gothic subculture and was perhaps best known for her vampire novels and stories.   Links of Interest: Nancy Kilpatrick's Wikipedia Page Nancy Kilpatrick's Webpage YouTube Playlist of Nancy's readings and Q&A sessions (2020 to 2024) Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 413 - Coming Home to Your Found Family with Aaron Fors Coming Home to Your Found Family with Aaron Fors Fri, 02 May 2025 18:12:00 +0000 In this interview Mark interviews author, actor, and narrator Aaron Fors about numerous aspects of his creative life.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

During their interview Mark and Aaron talk about:

  • Recently hanging out at Superstars Writing Seminars
  • Aaron's creative life as an author, an actor, and a voice talent/narrator
  • How Aaron started acting when he was eight years old, and his supportive father who took a "sure, let's do this" approach when Aaron's older siblings talked about wanting to get into acting
  • Aaron's first scene doing a dark-themed dramatic monologue and how he fell in love with acting
  • The list Aaron created at the age of 5 which included being a famous actor, a rock star, President of the United States, and a basketball star
  • Being a voracious reader from an early age, with his favorite authors being Stephen King, William Shakespeare and Isaac Asimov
  • Latching on to "found family" style stories from science-fiction disguised as "bad ass robot movies"
  • Wanting to be a part of sharing stories that help remind people who feel alone or outcast that there's a place for them
  • Being a guest star on a lot of cop, doctor, and lawyer shows on TV and having to have read hundreds of scripts - and how that has played a role in studying story
  • Getting into writing books because of his sister C L Fors and her husband Jason Crawford suggesting it
  • How writing stories and novels felt a lot like "coming home"
  • The natural symbiotic relationship between performers of story and creators of story
  • Some of the fundamental storytelling aspects that translate well from screenplays to narrative fiction, such as the "camera's focus" on the relevant details in a scene
  • How having a healthy relationship with rejection as an actor has been helpful to Aaron in his role as a writer
  • Having 17 auditions in person in a single day driving from 6 AM until midnight to get to the various offices and studios
  • The concept of when you are doing an audition you're actually performing in front of an audience that's right there in the room (even if that audience is one or two or just a few people) - and that you're actually getting to do your job - you got to entertain
  • Aaron's story "Best Foot Forward" which appeared in the anthology Weird Wilderness edited by Lisa Mangum
  • The first two full length novel manuscripts that Aaron has written
  • Aaron's work doing voice-over performances in various different categories
  • How the industry for doing voice-over and narrator roles changed during the pandemic which allowed for a lot more work-from-home-studio opportunities
  • The way that the narrator themselves add a layer of artistry to the manuscript they are reading
  • The fact that Aaron is a dialectologist who studied in Masterclasses with Robert Easton
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark makes an offer to his patrons for getting a chance to work with Aaron and also reflects on three different things that Aaron mentioned.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Aaron Fors is a passionate actor, dialectologist, writer, and all around performer. He is a weaver of stories, with threads of magic, science, wonder, and love. He is a collector of information, skills, and wisdom. He also crafts with his hands, leather-working and woodworking. His two cats and wife (honorary third cat) love him very much, and are spoiled by his cooking. 
 
He does all the things. Want a thing done? He can probably do it.
 
You can find Aaron online at www.aaronfors.com 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> In this interview Mark interviews author, actor, and narrator Aaron Fors about numerous aspects of his creative life.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

During their interview Mark and Aaron talk about:

  • Recently hanging out at Superstars Writing Seminars
  • Aaron's creative life as an author, an actor, and a voice talent/narrator
  • How Aaron started acting when he was eight years old, and his supportive father who took a "sure, let's do this" approach when Aaron's older siblings talked about wanting to get into acting
  • Aaron's first scene doing a dark-themed dramatic monologue and how he fell in love with acting
  • The list Aaron created at the age of 5 which included being a famous actor, a rock star, President of the United States, and a basketball star
  • Being a voracious reader from an early age, with his favorite authors being Stephen King, William Shakespeare and Isaac Asimov
  • Latching on to "found family" style stories from science-fiction disguised as "bad ass robot movies"
  • Wanting to be a part of sharing stories that help remind people who feel alone or outcast that there's a place for them
  • Being a guest star on a lot of cop, doctor, and lawyer shows on TV and having to have read hundreds of scripts - and how that has played a role in studying story
  • Getting into writing books because of his sister C L Fors and her husband Jason Crawford suggesting it
  • How writing stories and novels felt a lot like "coming home"
  • The natural symbiotic relationship between performers of story and creators of story
  • Some of the fundamental storytelling aspects that translate well from screenplays to narrative fiction, such as the "camera's focus" on the relevant details in a scene
  • How having a healthy relationship with rejection as an actor has been helpful to Aaron in his role as a writer
  • Having 17 auditions in person in a single day driving from 6 AM until midnight to get to the various offices and studios
  • The concept of when you are doing an audition you're actually performing in front of an audience that's right there in the room (even if that audience is one or two or just a few people) - and that you're actually getting to do your job - you got to entertain
  • Aaron's story "Best Foot Forward" which appeared in the anthology Weird Wilderness edited by Lisa Mangum
  • The first two full length novel manuscripts that Aaron has written
  • Aaron's work doing voice-over performances in various different categories
  • How the industry for doing voice-over and narrator roles changed during the pandemic which allowed for a lot more work-from-home-studio opportunities
  • The way that the narrator themselves add a layer of artistry to the manuscript they are reading
  • The fact that Aaron is a dialectologist who studied in Masterclasses with Robert Easton
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark makes an offer to his patrons for getting a chance to work with Aaron and also reflects on three different things that Aaron mentioned.

Links of Interest:

Aaron Fors is a passionate actor, dialectologist, writer, and all around performer. He is a weaver of stories, with threads of magic, science, wonder, and love. He is a collector of information, skills, and wisdom. He also crafts with his hands, leather-working and woodworking. His two cats and wife (honorary third cat) love him very much, and are spoiled by his cooking. He does all the things. Want a thing done? He can probably do it. You can find Aaron online at www.aaronfors.com

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:10:11 false 8 413 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this interview Mark interviews author, actor, and narrator Aaron Fors about numerous aspects of his creative life. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. During their interview Mark and Aaron talk about: Recently hanging out at Superstars Writing Seminars Aaron's creative life as an author, an actor, and a voice talent/narrator How Aaron started acting when he was eight years old, and his supportive father who took a "sure, let's do this" approach when Aaron's older siblings talked about wanting to get into acting Aaron's first scene doing a dark-themed dramatic monologue and how he fell in love with acting The list Aaron created at the age of 5 which included being a famous actor, a rock star, President of the United States, and a basketball star Being a voracious reader from an early age, with his favorite authors being Stephen King, William Shakespeare and Isaac Asimov Latching on to "found family" style stories from science-fiction disguised as "bad ass robot movies" Wanting to be a part of sharing stories that help remind people who feel alone or outcast that there's a place for them Being a guest star on a lot of cop, doctor, and lawyer shows on TV and having to have read hundreds of scripts - and how that has played a role in studying story Getting into writing books because of his sister C L Fors and her husband Jason Crawford suggesting it How writing stories and novels felt a lot like "coming home" The natural symbiotic relationship between performers of story and creators of story Some of the fundamental storytelling aspects that translate well from screenplays to narrative fiction, such as the "camera's focus" on the relevant details in a scene How having a healthy relationship with rejection as an actor has been helpful to Aaron in his role as a writer Having 17 auditions in person in a single day driving from 6 AM until midnight to get to the various offices and studios The concept of when you are doing an audition you're actually performing in front of an audience that's right there in the room (even if that audience is one or two or just a few people) - and that you're actually getting to do your job - you got to entertain Aaron's story "Best Foot Forward" which appeared in the anthology Weird Wilderness edited by Lisa Mangum The first two full length novel manuscripts that Aaron has written Aaron's work doing voice-over performances in various different categories How the industry for doing voice-over and narrator roles changed during the pandemic which allowed for a lot more work-from-home-studio opportunities The way that the narrator themselves add a layer of artistry to the manuscript they are reading The fact that Aaron is a dialectologist who studied in Masterclasses with Robert Easton And more . . .   After the interview Mark makes an offer to his patrons for getting a chance to work with Aaron and also reflects on three different things that Aaron mentioned.   Links of Interest: Aaron Fors Website EP 411 - Small Acts of Kindness in Every Little Thing with Janice Landry Draft2Digital Self Publishing Insiders (May 1, 2025) - Creating Your Community of Superfans with Rachel Rener (YouTube) Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Aaron Fors is a passionate actor, dialectologist, writer, and all around performer. He is a weaver of stories, with threads of magic, science, wonder, and love. He is a collector of information, skills, and wisdom. He also crafts with his hands, leather-working and woodworking. His two cats and wife (honorary third cat) love him very much, and are spoiled by his cooking.    He does all the things. Want a thing done? He can probably do it.   You can find Aaron online at www.aaronfors.com    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this interview Mark interviews author, actor, and narrator Aaron Fors about numerous aspects of his creative life. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. During their interview Mark and Aaron talk about: Recently hanging out at Superstars Writing Seminars Aaron's creative life as an author, an actor, and a voice talent/narrator How Aaron started acting when he was eight years old, and his supportive father who took a "sure, let's do this" approach when Aaron's older siblings talked about wanting to get into acting Aaron's first scene doing a dark-themed dramatic monologue and how he fell in love with acting The list Aaron created at the age of 5 which included being a famous actor, a rock star, President of the United States, and a basketball star Being a voracious reader from an early age, with his favorite authors being Stephen King, William Shakespeare and Isaac Asimov Latching on to "found family" style stories from science-fiction disguised as "bad ass robot movies" Wanting to be a part of sharing stories that help remind people who feel alone or outcast that there's a place for them Being a guest star on a lot of cop, doctor, and lawyer shows on TV and having to have read hundreds of scripts - and how that has played a role in studying story Getting into writing books because of his sister C L Fors and her husband Jason Crawford suggesting it How writing stories and novels felt a lot like "coming home" The natural symbiotic relationship between performers of story and creators of story Some of the fundamental storytelling aspects that translate well from screenplays to narrative fiction, such as the "camera's focus" on the relevant details in a scene How having a healthy relationship with rejection as an actor has been helpful to Aaron in his role as a writer Having 17 auditions in person in a single day driving from 6 AM until midnight to get to the various offices and studios The concept of when you are doing an audition you're actually performing in front of an audience that's right there in the room (even if that audience is one or two or just a few people) - and that you're actually getting to do your job - you got to entertain Aaron's story "Best Foot Forward" which appeared in the anthology Weird Wilderness edited by Lisa Mangum The first two full length novel manuscripts that Aaron has written Aaron's work doing voice-over performances in various different categories How the industry for doing voice-over and narrator roles changed during the pandemic which allowed for a lot more work-from-home-studio opportunities The way that the narrator themselves add a layer of artistry to the manuscript they are reading The fact that Aaron is a dialectologist who studied in Masterclasses with Robert Easton And more . . .   After the interview Mark makes an offer to his patrons for getting a chance to work with Aaron and also reflects on three different things that Aaron mentioned.   Links of Interest: Aaron Fors Website EP 411 - Small Acts of Kindness in Every Little Thing with Janice Landry Draft2Digital Self Publishing Insiders (May 1, 2025) - Creating Your Community of Superfans with Rachel Rener (YouTube) Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Aaron Fors is a passionate actor, dialectologist, writer, and all around performer. He is a weaver of stories, with threads of magic, science, wonder, and love. He is a collector of information, skills, and wisdom. He also crafts with his hands, leather-working and woodworking. His two cats and wife (honorary third cat) love him very much, and are spoiled by his cooking.    He does all the things. Want a thing done? He can probably do it.   You can find Aaron online at www.aaronfors.com    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 412 - Books, Bookstores, and Community Books, Bookstores, and Community Fri, 25 Apr 2025 10:09:00 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark talks about the importance of indie bookstores to the local community and what he is doing as an author to help support/promote indie bookstores on April 26, 2025, Independent Bookstore Day.

This episode is sponsored by Draft2Digital.

Check out the full day of PRINT BOOKS FOR INDIE AUTHORS videos here.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode, Mark talks about the importance of indie bookstores to the local community and what he is doing as an author to help support/promote indie bookstores on April 26, 2025, Independent Bookstore Day.

This episode is sponsored by Draft2Digital.

Check out the full day of PRINT BOOKS FOR INDIE AUTHORS videos here.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 41:48 false 8 412 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark talks about the importance of indie bookstores to the local community and what he is doing as an author to help support/promote indie bookstores on April 26, 2025, Independent Bookstore Day. This episode is sponsored by Draft2Digital. Check out the full day of PRINT BOOKS FOR INDIE AUTHORS videos here. Links of Interest: Canadian Indie Bookstores Canadian Independent Bookstore Day Indiebound: Independent Bookstore Day (US) Bookshop.org Mark's Form for Readers Supporting Indie Bookstores T. Thorn Coyle links: Essay: Rehumanizing each other Podcast: Magic, Creativity, and Life Essay on Community Prosperity, Community Health The BookFest 2025 Video with Mark's Keynote (Video is for full day) Draft2Digital PRINT BOOKS FOR INDIE AUTHORS Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode, Mark talks about the importance of indie bookstores to the local community and what he is doing as an author to help support/promote indie bookstores on April 26, 2025, Independent Bookstore Day. This episode is sponsored by Draft2Digital. Check out the full day of PRINT BOOKS FOR INDIE AUTHORS videos here. Links of Interest: Canadian Indie Bookstores Canadian Independent Bookstore Day Indiebound: Independent Bookstore Day (US) Bookshop.org Mark's Form for Readers Supporting Indie Bookstores T. Thorn Coyle links: Essay: Rehumanizing each other Podcast: Magic, Creativity, and Life Essay on Community Prosperity, Community Health The BookFest 2025 Video with Mark's Keynote (Video is for full day) Draft2Digital PRINT BOOKS FOR INDIE AUTHORS Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 411 - Small Acts of Kindness in Every Little Thing With Janice Landry Small Acts of Kindness in Every Little Thing With Janice Landry Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:25:00 +0000 Mark has a conversation with award winning writer and veteran journalist Janice Landryabout her seventh book, Every Little Thing: How Small Acts of Kindness Make a Big Impact, her 2023 diagnosis of Lyme disease which was part of the inspiration for this book, Janice's life as a writer, how having lived adjacent to the ocean in Canada's East Coast has impacted her creative spirit, and so much more.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes and reads a word about two Canadian conferences taking place at the end of April 2026: Toronto Indie Author Conference and GritLIT. (You can use code gritLITfriends at checkout to save 25% off the cost of registration).

Mark and Janice talk about:

  • Being of the generation that spent their entire summer days outside and not-connected to anything except friends and the world around them
  • The old school-style desk Janice had when she was young and starting to write which was shoved up against a window that looked out on the ocean
  • Telling herself fictional stories to amuse herself when she was young
  • The ocean being one of the single biggest factors on Janice's creative life
  • The importance of Janice's 2022 book EYE OF THE OCEAN
  • Why it's priceless that we create and share Canadian stories
  • How so much of what we do is about all of the people who help us in our achievements and why it's one of the core messages in Janice's latest book
  • The dramatically debilitating side-effects of Lyme disease
  • Why small acts of kindness and sharing uplifting and positive stories is so important
  • The tiny thing (a tick) that ended up inspiring Janice to write the book EVERY LITTLE THING
  • Importance messages of hope and that you're not alone, which come from the book
  • A very special note that a teacher gave to Janice when she was 10 years old, and why she carried it around for fifty years
  • Advice Janice would offer to beginning writers
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on three different things that came up in the discussion.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Janice Landry has won four national awards for her writing and work. In March 2025,
Halifax West MP Lena Metlege Diab presented Janice with the King Charles III
Coronation Medal from the Government of Canada for her body of work, books, and
longtime mental health advocacy.

Janice is a veteran journalist and proud Haligonian. In May 2025, she released her
seventh book, Every Little Thing – how small acts of kindness make a big impact,
following her 2023 Lyme disease diagnosis. Janice has since fully recovered and wrote
this "small book with big messages" to thank society's many and varied helpers,
including some of her own. Janice's longtime publisher is Nova Scotia's Pottersfield
Press. Her last two books, Eye of the Ocean and Silver Linings, were both bestsellers.

Janice's biggest inspiration is her family, husband, Rob, and daughter, Laura. Through
her writing, she also honours her late parents, Baz and Theresa. Janice began writing
longform non-fiction to tell the gripping story of her firefighter father's national Medal of
Bravery for his part in the near-death rescue of an infant from a harrowing 1978 Halifax
house fire.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark has a conversation with award winning writer and veteran journalist Janice Landryabout her seventh book, Every Little Thing: How Small Acts of Kindness Make a Big Impact, her 2023 diagnosis of Lyme disease which was part of the inspiration for this book, Janice's life as a writer, how having lived adjacent to the ocean in Canada's East Coast has impacted her creative spirit, and so much more.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes and reads a word about two Canadian conferences taking place at the end of April 2026: Toronto Indie Author Conference and GritLIT. (You can use code gritLITfriends at checkout to save 25% off the cost of registration).

Mark and Janice talk about:

  • Being of the generation that spent their entire summer days outside and not-connected to anything except friends and the world around them
  • The old school-style desk Janice had when she was young and starting to write which was shoved up against a window that looked out on the ocean
  • Telling herself fictional stories to amuse herself when she was young
  • The ocean being one of the single biggest factors on Janice's creative life
  • The importance of Janice's 2022 book EYE OF THE OCEAN
  • Why it's priceless that we create and share Canadian stories
  • How so much of what we do is about all of the people who help us in our achievements and why it's one of the core messages in Janice's latest book
  • The dramatically debilitating side-effects of Lyme disease
  • Why small acts of kindness and sharing uplifting and positive stories is so important
  • The tiny thing (a tick) that ended up inspiring Janice to write the book EVERY LITTLE THING
  • Importance messages of hope and that you're not alone, which come from the book
  • A very special note that a teacher gave to Janice when she was 10 years old, and why she carried it around for fifty years
  • Advice Janice would offer to beginning writers
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on three different things that came up in the discussion.

Links of Interest:

Janice Landry has won four national awards for her writing and work. In March 2025, Halifax West MP Lena Metlege Diab presented Janice with the King Charles III Coronation Medal from the Government of Canada for her body of work, books, and longtime mental health advocacy.

Janice is a veteran journalist and proud Haligonian. In May 2025, she released her seventh book, Every Little Thing – how small acts of kindness make a big impact, following her 2023 Lyme disease diagnosis. Janice has since fully recovered and wrote this "small book with big messages" to thank society's many and varied helpers, including some of her own. Janice's longtime publisher is Nova Scotia's Pottersfield Press. Her last two books, Eye of the Ocean and Silver Linings, were both bestsellers.

Janice's biggest inspiration is her family, husband, Rob, and daughter, Laura. Through her writing, she also honours her late parents, Baz and Theresa. Janice began writing longform non-fiction to tell the gripping story of her firefighter father's national Medal of Bravery for his part in the near-death rescue of an infant from a harrowing 1978 Halifax house fire.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 58:09 false 8 411 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark has a conversation with award winning writer and veteran journalist Janice Landryabout her seventh book, Every Little Thing: How Small Acts of Kindness Make a Big Impact, her 2023 diagnosis of Lyme disease which was part of the inspiration for this book, Janice's life as a writer, how having lived adjacent to the ocean in Canada's East Coast has impacted her creative spirit, and so much more. Prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes and reads a word about two Canadian conferences taking place at the end of April 2026: Toronto Indie Author Conference and GritLIT. (You can use code gritLITfriends at checkout to save 25% off the cost of registration). Mark and Janice talk about: Being of the generation that spent their entire summer days outside and not-connected to anything except friends and the world around them The old school-style desk Janice had when she was young and starting to write which was shoved up against a window that looked out on the ocean Telling herself fictional stories to amuse herself when she was young The ocean being one of the single biggest factors on Janice's creative life The importance of Janice's 2022 book EYE OF THE OCEAN Why it's priceless that we create and share Canadian stories How so much of what we do is about all of the people who help us in our achievements and why it's one of the core messages in Janice's latest book The dramatically debilitating side-effects of Lyme disease Why small acts of kindness and sharing uplifting and positive stories is so important The tiny thing (a tick) that ended up inspiring Janice to write the book EVERY LITTLE THING Importance messages of hope and that you're not alone, which come from the book A very special note that a teacher gave to Janice when she was 10 years old, and why she carried it around for fifty years Advice Janice would offer to beginning writers And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on three different things that came up in the discussion.   Links of Interest: Janice Landry Website Pottersfield Press GritLIT Special 25% Discount Registration Link Draft2Digital PRINT BOOKS FOR INDIE AUTHORS Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Janice Landry has won four national awards for her writing and work. In March 2025, Halifax West MP Lena Metlege Diab presented Janice with the King Charles III Coronation Medal from the Government of Canada for her body of work, books, and longtime mental health advocacy. Janice is a veteran journalist and proud Haligonian. In May 2025, she released her seventh book, Every Little Thing – how small acts of kindness make a big impact, following her 2023 Lyme disease diagnosis. Janice has since fully recovered and wrote this "small book with big messages" to thank society's many and varied helpers, including some of her own. Janice's longtime publisher is Nova Scotia's Pottersfield Press. Her last two books, Eye of the Ocean and Silver Linings, were both bestsellers. Janice's biggest inspiration is her family, husband, Rob, and daughter, Laura. Through her writing, she also honours her late parents, Baz and Theresa. Janice began writing longform non-fiction to tell the gripping story of her firefighter father's national Medal of Bravery for his part in the near-death rescue of an infant from a harrowing 1978 Halifax house fire.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark has a conversation with award winning writer and veteran journalist Janice Landryabout her seventh book, Every Little Thing: How Small Acts of Kindness Make a Big Impact, her 2023 diagnosis of Lyme disease which was part of the inspiration for this book, Janice's life as a writer, how having lived adjacent to the ocean in Canada's East Coast has impacted her creative spirit, and so much more. Prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes and reads a word about two Canadian conferences taking place at the end of April 2026: Toronto Indie Author Conference and GritLIT. (You can use code gritLITfriends at checkout to save 25% off the cost of registration). Mark and Janice talk about: Being of the generation that spent their entire summer days outside and not-connected to anything except friends and the world around them The old school-style desk Janice had when she was young and starting to write which was shoved up against a window that looked out on the ocean Telling herself fictional stories to amuse herself when she was young The ocean being one of the single biggest factors on Janice's creative life The importance of Janice's 2022 book EYE OF THE OCEAN Why it's priceless that we create and share Canadian stories How so much of what we do is about all of the people who help us in our achievements and why it's one of the core messages in Janice's latest book The dramatically debilitating side-effects of Lyme disease Why small acts of kindness and sharing uplifting and positive stories is so important The tiny thing (a tick) that ended up inspiring Janice to write the book EVERY LITTLE THING Importance messages of hope and that you're not alone, which come from the book A very special note that a teacher gave to Janice when she was 10 years old, and why she carried it around for fifty years Advice Janice would offer to beginning writers And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on three different things that came up in the discussion.   Links of Interest: Janice Landry Website Pottersfield Press GritLIT Special 25% Discount Registration Link Draft2Digital PRINT BOOKS FOR INDIE AUTHORS Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Janice Landry has won four national awards for her writing and work. In March 2025, Halifax West MP Lena Metlege Diab presented Janice with the King Charles III Coronation Medal from the Government of Canada for her body of work, books, and longtime mental health advocacy. Janice is a veteran journalist and proud Haligonian. In May 2025, she released her seventh book, Every Little Thing – how small acts of kindness make a big impact, following her 2023 Lyme disease diagnosis. Janice has since fully recovered and wrote this "small book with big messages" to thank society's many and varied helpers, including some of her own. Janice's longtime publisher is Nova Scotia's Pottersfield Press. Her last two books, Eye of the Ocean and Silver Linings, were both bestsellers. Janice's biggest inspiration is her family, husband, Rob, and daughter, Laura. Through her writing, she also honours her late parents, Baz and Theresa. Janice began writing longform non-fiction to tell the gripping story of her firefighter father's national Medal of Bravery for his part in the near-death rescue of an infant from a harrowing 1978 Halifax house fire.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 410 - Writer Reflections at Lucifers Pizza with Robert J. Sawyer and Kevin J. Anderson Writer Reflections at Lucifers Pizza with Robert J. Sawyer and Kevin J. Anderson Thu, 10 Apr 2025 23:00:00 +0000 On Wednesday April 9, 2025, Mark had a pizza lunch at Lucifers Pizza on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. It was a place recommended by friend of the podcast Nikki Guerlain.

In addition to agreeing that this was fantastic pizza (with wonderful staff), Mark, Kevin, and Rob had a conversation about Writers of the Future, and various aspects about the business of writing and publishing.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> On Wednesday April 9, 2025, Mark had a pizza lunch at Lucifers Pizza on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. It was a place recommended by friend of the podcast Nikki Guerlain.

In addition to agreeing that this was fantastic pizza (with wonderful staff), Mark, Kevin, and Rob had a conversation about Writers of the Future, and various aspects about the business of writing and publishing.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 26:31 false 8 410 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)On Wednesday April 9, 2025, Mark had a pizza lunch at Lucifers Pizza on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. It was a place recommended by friend of the podcast Nikki Guerlain. In addition to agreeing that this was fantastic pizza (with wonderful staff), Mark, Kevin, and Rob had a conversation about Writers of the Future, and various aspects about the business of writing and publishing.   Links of Interest: Robert J. Sawyer's Website Kevin J. Anderson's Website Writers of the Future Website Lucifers Pizza Website Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections EP 353 - Tao Wong on The Toronto Indie Author Conference Alex Lifeson's Speech on Behalf of Rush at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0On Wednesday April 9, 2025, Mark had a pizza lunch at Lucifers Pizza on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. It was a place recommended by friend of the podcast Nikki Guerlain. In addition to agreeing that this was fantastic pizza (with wonderful staff), Mark, Kevin, and Rob had a conversation about Writers of the Future, and various aspects about the business of writing and publishing.   Links of Interest: Robert J. Sawyer's Website Kevin J. Anderson's Website Writers of the Future Website Lucifers Pizza Website Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections EP 353 - Tao Wong on The Toronto Indie Author Conference Alex Lifeson's Speech on Behalf of Rush at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 409 - Show, Don't Tell With Suzy Vadori Show, Don't Tell With Suzy Vadori Fri, 04 Apr 2025 15:57:00 +0000 Mark interviews Suzy Vadori, Calgary Bestselling author of The Fountain Series, the founder of the Inspired Writing Community, a Resident Writing Coach for Writers Helping Writers, and the host of the Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book you're writing into the bestseller you know deep down that it can be.

During their interview, Mark and Suzy talk about:

  • The last time Suzy was on the podcast in an episode talking about doing a book launch in collaboration with her local bookstore
  • A little bit about who Suzy is and what she is passionate about
  • Suzy's background that includes having a Commerce Bachelors Degree and being a Chief Operating Officer for a startup
  • Suzy's main superpower, which is to take enormous amounts of information, feed them into her brain, and then to determine a path forward
  • Applying skills that come from outside writing into the writing world
  • The Suzy Vadori umbrella and how that came about
  • The areas that Suzy is most passionate about helping writers with: the actual writing
  • The myth that writing talent is all your need to be successful
  • The free newsletter Suzy sends out to writers and some of the content that's contained within it
  • Some of the tools Suzy uses to evaluate a writer's manuscript
  • Suzy's "Show Don't Tell" Podcast
  • The book that Suzy is currently working on which aligns with the branding for her podcast
  • Advice that Suzy would offer to beginning writers
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on something Suzy said about bringing in skills and experience from outside the writing world.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Suzy Vadori is Calgary Bestselling Author of The Fountain Series (The Fountain, The West Woods, Wall of Wishes). This fantastical series has received three Aurora Nominations for Best Young Adult Novel. She is represented by Naomi Davis of Bookends Literary Agency.

Suzy is the founder of the Inspired Writing Community, a Resident Writing Coach for Writers Helping Writers, a touring member of the Young Alberta Book Society (YABS) and a Program Manager for When Words Collide (WWC), a festival for readers and writers.

Suzy specializes in breaking down complex writing concepts for newer writers into manageable steps, to get the book idea exploding in their minds onto the page in a way that will make readers take notice. She works with both fiction and nonfiction writers, in Memoir, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Women's Fiction, Romance, Middle Grade, and of course, Young Adult. Suzy is an Advanced Certified Book Coach from Jennie Nash's Author Accelerator.

Suzy speaks to youth and adult audiences across Western Canada about how writing can unlock doors and help you achieve your goals, whatever they may be.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark interviews Suzy Vadori, Calgary Bestselling author of The Fountain Series, the founder of the Inspired Writing Community, a Resident Writing Coach for Writers Helping Writers, and the host of the Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book you're writing into the bestseller you know deep down that it can be.

During their interview, Mark and Suzy talk about:

  • The last time Suzy was on the podcast in an episode talking about doing a book launch in collaboration with her local bookstore
  • A little bit about who Suzy is and what she is passionate about
  • Suzy's background that includes having a Commerce Bachelors Degree and being a Chief Operating Officer for a startup
  • Suzy's main superpower, which is to take enormous amounts of information, feed them into her brain, and then to determine a path forward
  • Applying skills that come from outside writing into the writing world
  • The Suzy Vadori umbrella and how that came about
  • The areas that Suzy is most passionate about helping writers with: the actual writing
  • The myth that writing talent is all your need to be successful
  • The free newsletter Suzy sends out to writers and some of the content that's contained within it
  • Some of the tools Suzy uses to evaluate a writer's manuscript
  • Suzy's "Show Don't Tell" Podcast
  • The book that Suzy is currently working on which aligns with the branding for her podcast
  • Advice that Suzy would offer to beginning writers
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on something Suzy said about bringing in skills and experience from outside the writing world.

Links of Interest:

Suzy Vadori is Calgary Bestselling Author of The Fountain Series (The Fountain, The West Woods, Wall of Wishes). This fantastical series has received three Aurora Nominations for Best Young Adult Novel. She is represented by Naomi Davis of Bookends Literary Agency.

Suzy is the founder of the Inspired Writing Community, a Resident Writing Coach for Writers Helping Writers, a touring member of the Young Alberta Book Society (YABS) and a Program Manager for When Words Collide (WWC), a festival for readers and writers.

Suzy specializes in breaking down complex writing concepts for newer writers into manageable steps, to get the book idea exploding in their minds onto the page in a way that will make readers take notice. She works with both fiction and nonfiction writers, in Memoir, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Women's Fiction, Romance, Middle Grade, and of course, Young Adult. Suzy is an Advanced Certified Book Coach from Jennie Nash's Author Accelerator.

Suzy speaks to youth and adult audiences across Western Canada about how writing can unlock doors and help you achieve your goals, whatever they may be.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 40:45 false 8 409 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Suzy Vadori, Calgary Bestselling author of The Fountain Series, the founder of the Inspired Writing Community, a Resident Writing Coach for Writers Helping Writers, and the host of the Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book you're writing into the bestseller you know deep down that it can be. During their interview, Mark and Suzy talk about: The last time Suzy was on the podcast in an episode talking about doing a book launch in collaboration with her local bookstore A little bit about who Suzy is and what she is passionate about Suzy's background that includes having a Commerce Bachelors Degree and being a Chief Operating Officer for a startup Suzy's main superpower, which is to take enormous amounts of information, feed them into her brain, and then to determine a path forward Applying skills that come from outside writing into the writing world The Suzy Vadori umbrella and how that came about The areas that Suzy is most passionate about helping writers with: the actual writing The myth that writing talent is all your need to be successful The free newsletter Suzy sends out to writers and some of the content that's contained within it Some of the tools Suzy uses to evaluate a writer's manuscript Suzy's "Show Don't Tell" Podcast The book that Suzy is currently working on which aligns with the branding for her podcast Advice that Suzy would offer to beginning writers And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on something Suzy said about bringing in skills and experience from outside the writing world.   Links of Interest: Suzy Vadori's Website Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast EP 142 - Strategies For Launching a Book During a Pandemic with Suzy Vadori Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections EP 353 - Tao Wong on The Toronto Indie Author Conference Alex Lifeson's Speech on Behalf of Rush at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Suzy Vadori is Calgary Bestselling Author of The Fountain Series (The Fountain, The West Woods, Wall of Wishes). This fantastical series has received three Aurora Nominations for Best Young Adult Novel. She is represented by Naomi Davis of Bookends Literary Agency. Suzy is the founder of the Inspired Writing Community, a Resident Writing Coach for Writers Helping Writers, a touring member of the Young Alberta Book Society (YABS) and a Program Manager for When Words Collide (WWC), a festival for readers and writers. Suzy specializes in breaking down complex writing concepts for newer writers into manageable steps, to get the book idea exploding in their minds onto the page in a way that will make readers take notice. She works with both fiction and nonfiction writers, in Memoir, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Women's Fiction, Romance, Middle Grade, and of course, Young Adult. Suzy is an Advanced Certified Book Coach from Jennie Nash's Author Accelerator. Suzy speaks to youth and adult audiences across Western Canada about how writing can unlock doors and help you achieve your goals, whatever they may be.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark interviews Suzy Vadori, Calgary Bestselling author of The Fountain Series, the founder of the Inspired Writing Community, a Resident Writing Coach for Writers Helping Writers, and the host of the Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book you're writing into the bestseller you know deep down that it can be. During their interview, Mark and Suzy talk about: The last time Suzy was on the podcast in an episode talking about doing a book launch in collaboration with her local bookstore A little bit about who Suzy is and what she is passionate about Suzy's background that includes having a Commerce Bachelors Degree and being a Chief Operating Officer for a startup Suzy's main superpower, which is to take enormous amounts of information, feed them into her brain, and then to determine a path forward Applying skills that come from outside writing into the writing world The Suzy Vadori umbrella and how that came about The areas that Suzy is most passionate about helping writers with: the actual writing The myth that writing talent is all your need to be successful The free newsletter Suzy sends out to writers and some of the content that's contained within it Some of the tools Suzy uses to evaluate a writer's manuscript Suzy's "Show Don't Tell" Podcast The book that Suzy is currently working on which aligns with the branding for her podcast Advice that Suzy would offer to beginning writers And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on something Suzy said about bringing in skills and experience from outside the writing world.   Links of Interest: Suzy Vadori's Website Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast EP 142 - Strategies For Launching a Book During a Pandemic with Suzy Vadori Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections EP 353 - Tao Wong on The Toronto Indie Author Conference Alex Lifeson's Speech on Behalf of Rush at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Suzy Vadori is Calgary Bestselling Author of The Fountain Series (The Fountain, The West Woods, Wall of Wishes). This fantastical series has received three Aurora Nominations for Best Young Adult Novel. She is represented by Naomi Davis of Bookends Literary Agency. Suzy is the founder of the Inspired Writing Community, a Resident Writing Coach for Writers Helping Writers, a touring member of the Young Alberta Book Society (YABS) and a Program Manager for When Words Collide (WWC), a festival for readers and writers. Suzy specializes in breaking down complex writing concepts for newer writers into manageable steps, to get the book idea exploding in their minds onto the page in a way that will make readers take notice. She works with both fiction and nonfiction writers, in Memoir, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Women's Fiction, Romance, Middle Grade, and of course, Young Adult. Suzy is an Advanced Certified Book Coach from Jennie Nash's Author Accelerator. Suzy speaks to youth and adult audiences across Western Canada about how writing can unlock doors and help you achieve your goals, whatever they may be.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 408 - Definitely A Chat With Definitely The Real Alex Lifeson (AKA Tony Binns) EP 408 - Definitely A Chat With Definitely The Real Alex Lifeson (AKA Tony Binns) Thu, 27 Mar 2025 23:04:00 +0000 Mark interviews Tony Binns, an award-winning stand-up comedian and screenwriter whose feature #ROXY was nominated for 3 Canadian screen awards, 3 Canadian Comedy Awards, and took home Best Feature at the Ampia awards as well as Best Feature for Teens at the Kidscreen awards. Tony is also the man behind the parody profile on Facebook called Definitely The Real Alex Lifeson where he pretends to be a guy pretending to be the real guitarist from Rush.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, which includes a few engagements he'll be speaking at in person and virtually:

Mark then shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place April 26 & 27, 2025 in Toronto, ON. The schedule appears below

Learn more about Toronto Indie Author Conference 2025 here.

 

In their chat, Mark and Tony talk about:

  • How Tony is a multi-faceted nerd who used to tape episodes of SCTV so he could play them back and memorize them
  • Being big into Monty Python and, of course, Rush
  • Always thinking that he was going to be an actor and his love of Shakespeare, but always getting the comedic parts
  • Being a good actor but not being so good at auditioning because he freezes when put in a pressure situation
  • Founding a comedy sketch troop called Obscene But Not Heard which was partially inspired by his love for Kids In The Hall
  • Evolving into doing stand-up despite being a shy person
  • Deciding to leave stand-up comedy around the time that Covid hit
  • The movie XROXY (a modern tale based on Cyrano de Bergerac) that Tony wrote after he pitched it to some producers he had done some other work for
  • Having a strength for dialogue but a weakness when it comes to plot
  • Being brought in to help punch up an episodic YouTube series that was a campy horror flick and make it funnier (TRUCKSTOP BLOODSUCKERS)
  • Tony's most recent script entitled SAVING MR. CHRISTMAS and how it evolved into a completely different movie than the one that he originally pitched
  • The "we love this, change everything" thing that happens with movies
  • Tony's WAITING FOR WAITING FOR GODOT which is a show about two women waiting for a production of the play Waiting For Godot which never happens, and how that play was inspired by the way that days could blur together for people, particularly as we get older and "become that guy"
  • Being a Rush fan since he first heard "Spirit of Radio"
  • How Tony was inspired to create a fake Alex Lifeson account on Facebook after he's seen a fake Geddy Lee account
  • The relation between ADHD and being "all in" on something -- like Rush, Monty Python and Rush for Tony
  • How, during Covid Tony did a one-man reading of Monty Python and the Holy Grail
  • Doing a Canadian overdub of Dragonball Z
  • Adapting a pilot from a Canadian novel called The Smeltdog Man by Frank Macdonald and leveraging the "Deadpool" style of breaking the fourth wall
  • Advice that Tony would give to the young nerdy Mark and Tony
  • How Tony used to write sketches even though he didn't have an outlet for them
  • The Dungeons & Dragons podcast that Tony is a part of called The +2 Rodcast
  • And more . . . 

 

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in the discussion.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark interviews Tony Binns, an award-winning stand-up comedian and screenwriter whose feature #ROXY was nominated for 3 Canadian screen awards, 3 Canadian Comedy Awards, and took home Best Feature at the Ampia awards as well as Best Feature for Teens at the Kidscreen awards. Tony is also the man behind the parody profile on Facebook called Definitely The Real Alex Lifeson where he pretends to be a guy pretending to be the real guitarist from Rush.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, which includes a few engagements he'll be speaking at in person and virtually:

Mark then shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place April 26 & 27, 2025 in Toronto, ON. The schedule appears below

Learn more about Toronto Indie Author Conference 2025 here.

In their chat, Mark and Tony talk about:

  • How Tony is a multi-faceted nerd who used to tape episodes of SCTV so he could play them back and memorize them
  • Being big into Monty Python and, of course, Rush
  • Always thinking that he was going to be an actor and his love of Shakespeare, but always getting the comedic parts
  • Being a good actor but not being so good at auditioning because he freezes when put in a pressure situation
  • Founding a comedy sketch troop called Obscene But Not Heard which was partially inspired by his love for Kids In The Hall
  • Evolving into doing stand-up despite being a shy person
  • Deciding to leave stand-up comedy around the time that Covid hit
  • The movie XROXY (a modern tale based on Cyrano de Bergerac) that Tony wrote after he pitched it to some producers he had done some other work for
  • Having a strength for dialogue but a weakness when it comes to plot
  • Being brought in to help punch up an episodic YouTube series that was a campy horror flick and make it funnier (TRUCKSTOP BLOODSUCKERS)
  • Tony's most recent script entitled SAVING MR. CHRISTMAS and how it evolved into a completely different movie than the one that he originally pitched
  • The "we love this, change everything" thing that happens with movies
  • Tony's WAITING FOR WAITING FOR GODOT which is a show about two women waiting for a production of the play Waiting For Godot which never happens, and how that play was inspired by the way that days could blur together for people, particularly as we get older and "become that guy"
  • Being a Rush fan since he first heard "Spirit of Radio"
  • How Tony was inspired to create a fake Alex Lifeson account on Facebook after he's seen a fake Geddy Lee account
  • The relation between ADHD and being "all in" on something -- like Rush, Monty Python and Rush for Tony
  • How, during Covid Tony did a one-man reading of Monty Python and the Holy Grail
  • Doing a Canadian overdub of Dragonball Z
  • Adapting a pilot from a Canadian novel called The Smeltdog Man by Frank Macdonald and leveraging the "Deadpool" style of breaking the fourth wall
  • Advice that Tony would give to the young nerdy Mark and Tony
  • How Tony used to write sketches even though he didn't have an outlet for them
  • The Dungeons & Dragons podcast that Tony is a part of called The +2 Rodcast
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in the discussion.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:19:22 false 8 408 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Tony Binns, an award-winning stand-up comedian and screenwriter whose feature #ROXY was nominated for 3 Canadian screen awards, 3 Canadian Comedy Awards, and took home Best Feature at the Ampia awards as well as Best Feature for Teens at the Kidscreen awards. Tony is also the man behind the parody profile on Facebook called Definitely The Real Alex Lifeson where he pretends to be a guy pretending to be the real guitarist from Rush. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, which includes a few engagements he'll be speaking at in person and virtually: IN PERSON: (Brantford, ON) Brantford Public Library (April 2, 2025 from 6 PM to 7:30 PM) – Inside the Writer's Mind: Mark Leslie Lefebvre on Ghosts and Paranormal Storytelling VIRTUAL: (Online) The BookFest (April 6, 1:30 PM Eastern). Keynote: Writer, The World Needs You: Why Your Writing Is More Important Than Ever IN PERSON: (Los Angeles, CA) Writers of the Future. Week of mentoring winning writers and Gala Dinner/Evening celebrating this year's winners on April 10, 2025 Mark then shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place April 26 & 27, 2025 in Toronto, ON. The schedule appears below Learn more about Toronto Indie Author Conference 2025 here.   In their chat, Mark and Tony talk about: How Tony is a multi-faceted nerd who used to tape episodes of SCTV so he could play them back and memorize them Being big into Monty Python and, of course, Rush Always thinking that he was going to be an actor and his love of Shakespeare, but always getting the comedic parts Being a good actor but not being so good at auditioning because he freezes when put in a pressure situation Founding a comedy sketch troop called Obscene But Not Heard which was partially inspired by his love for Kids In The Hall Evolving into doing stand-up despite being a shy person Deciding to leave stand-up comedy around the time that Covid hit The movie XROXY (a modern tale based on Cyrano de Bergerac) that Tony wrote after he pitched it to some producers he had done some other work for Having a strength for dialogue but a weakness when it comes to plot Being brought in to help punch up an episodic YouTube series that was a campy horror flick and make it funnier (TRUCKSTOP BLOODSUCKERS) Tony's most recent script entitled SAVING MR. CHRISTMAS and how it evolved into a completely different movie than the one that he originally pitched The "we love this, change everything" thing that happens with movies Tony's WAITING FOR WAITING FOR GODOT which is a show about two women waiting for a production of the play Waiting For Godot which never happens, and how that play was inspired by the way that days could blur together for people, particularly as we get older and "become that guy" Being a Rush fan since he first heard "Spirit of Radio" How Tony was inspired to create a fake Alex Lifeson account on Facebook after he's seen a fake Geddy Lee account The relation between ADHD and being "all in" on something -- like Rush, Monty Python and Rush for Tony How, during Covid Tony did a one-man reading of Monty Python and the Holy Grail Doing a Canadian overdub of Dragonball Z Adapting a pilot from a Canadian novel called The Smeltdog Man by Frank Macdonald and leveraging the "Deadpool" style of breaking the fourth wall Advice that Tony would give to the young nerdy Mark and Tony How Tony used to write sketches even though he didn't have an outlet for them The Dungeons & Dragons podcast that Tony is a part of called The +2 Rodcast And more . . .    After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in the discussion.   Links of Interest: Tony's Definitely The Real Alex Lifeson Facebook Profile Tony on Twitter/X Tony Binns on IMDB #ROXY Truckstop Bloodsuckers Fugget About It Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections EP 353 - Tao Wong on The Toronto Indie Author Conference Alex Lifeson's Speech on Behalf of Rush at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark interviews Tony Binns, an award-winning stand-up comedian and screenwriter whose feature #ROXY was nominated for 3 Canadian screen awards, 3 Canadian Comedy Awards, and took home Best Feature at the Ampia awards as well as Best Feature for Teens at the Kidscreen awards. Tony is also the man behind the parody profile on Facebook called Definitely The Real Alex Lifeson where he pretends to be a guy pretending to be the real guitarist from Rush. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, which includes a few engagements he'll be speaking at in person and virtually: IN PERSON: (Brantford, ON) Brantford Public Library (April 2, 2025 from 6 PM to 7:30 PM) – Inside the Writer's Mind: Mark Leslie Lefebvre on Ghosts and Paranormal Storytelling VIRTUAL: (Online) The BookFest (April 6, 1:30 PM Eastern). Keynote: Writer, The World Needs You: Why Your Writing Is More Important Than Ever IN PERSON: (Los Angeles, CA) Writers of the Future. Week of mentoring winning writers and Gala Dinner/Evening celebrating this year's winners on April 10, 2025 Mark then shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place April 26 & 27, 2025 in Toronto, ON. The schedule appears below Learn more about Toronto Indie Author Conference 2025 here.   In their chat, Mark and Tony talk about: How Tony is a multi-faceted nerd who used to tape episodes of SCTV so he could play them back and memorize them Being big into Monty Python and, of course, Rush Always thinking that he was going to be an actor and his love of Shakespeare, but always getting the comedic parts Being a good actor but not being so good at auditioning because he freezes when put in a pressure situation Founding a comedy sketch troop called Obscene But Not Heard which was partially inspired by his love for Kids In The Hall Evolving into doing stand-up despite being a shy person Deciding to leave stand-up comedy around the time that Covid hit The movie XROXY (a modern tale based on Cyrano de Bergerac) that Tony wrote after he pitched it to some producers he had done some other work for Having a strength for dialogue but a weakness when it comes to plot Being brought in to help punch up an episodic YouTube series that was a campy horror flick and make it funnier (TRUCKSTOP BLOODSUCKERS) Tony's most recent script entitled SAVING MR. CHRISTMAS and how it evolved into a completely different movie than the one that he originally pitched The "we love this, change everything" thing that happens with movies Tony's WAITING FOR WAITING FOR GODOT which is a show about two women waiting for a production of the play Waiting For Godot which never happens, and how that play was inspired by the way that days could blur together for people, particularly as we get older and "become that guy" Being a Rush fan since he first heard "Spirit of Radio" How Tony was inspired to create a fake Alex Lifeson account on Facebook after he's seen a fake Geddy Lee account The relation between ADHD and being "all in" on something -- like Rush, Monty Python and Rush for Tony How, during Covid Tony did a one-man reading of Monty Python and the Holy Grail Doing a Canadian overdub of Dragonball Z Adapting a pilot from a Canadian novel called The Smeltdog Man by Frank Macdonald and leveraging the "Deadpool" style of breaking the fourth wall Advice that Tony would give to the young nerdy Mark and Tony How Tony used to write sketches even though he didn't have an outlet for them The Dungeons & Dragons podcast that Tony is a part of called The +2 Rodcast And more . . .    After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in the discussion.   Links of Interest: Tony's Definitely The Real Alex Lifeson Facebook Profile Tony on Twitter/X Tony Binns on IMDB #ROXY Truckstop Bloodsuckers Fugget About It Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections EP 353 - Tao Wong on The Toronto Indie Author Conference Alex Lifeson's Speech on Behalf of Rush at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 407 - An Evening With A Drink And A Friend With Kevin J. Anderson An Evening With A Drink And A Friend With Kevin J. Anderson Thu, 20 Mar 2025 23:42:00 +0000 Mark has a virtual beer with Kevin J. Anderson while they talk through various aspects about writing and publishing. This episode is from a live chat that was hosted on the evening of Sunday March 16, 2025.

This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place in early Feb 2026 in Colorado Springs, CO and where Mark will be a guest speaker.

Use code: STARK100 to get $100 off your registration.

In their chat Mark and Kevin talk about:

  • The loss of author and poet Danny Peart, Neil Peart's brother and how the first story Kevin and Neil wrote together named the main character after Neil's brother
  • Mark and Kevin's Rush and beer connection
  • Kevin's "music starter kit" to his grand-kids
  • The significance of the Rush album Grace Under Pressure to both Kevin and Mark
  • How the Columbia Music Record Club is what led to Kevin discovering Rush (because he was looking for sci-fi style album covers and Rush's 2112 jumped out at him)
  • The back-story to Kevin's Terra Incognita novels
  • Writing a novel that was a tie-in to a Rush album
  • How Kevin has been able to leverage Kickstarter to produce products that no New York publisher would likely ever get behind
  • The way a tribute song "No Words" about Neil Peart led to a new friendship and collaboration with Kevin
  • The music behind the Terra Incognita trilogy
  • Kevin's Kickstarter for Terra Incognita funding in 14 minutes, but the ultimate goal of earning back the high investment he has already put into it
  • The number of novels that Kevin has written
  • Benefits of being able to order books directly from the author versus going through the multiple layers of traditional publishing
  • Superstars Writing Seminars, the conference that Kevin, his wife Rebecca, Dave Farland, Eric Flint, and Brandon Sanderson started more than 15 years ago
  • The Masters of Creative Writing with a focus on Publishing that Kevin teaches at Western Colorado University
  • The annual anthology that this program publishes thanks to sponsorship from Draft2Digital
  • The latest musical collaboration Kevin recently announced
  • Kevin coming to Toronto's Massey Hall for RushFest on August 1, 2025
  • What books Kevin and Mark are currently working on
  • Favorite advice for running a Kickstarter and the real costs of shipping and handling
  • Kevin's love of hiking and dictating when he writes
  • And more . . .

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark has a virtual beer with Kevin J. Anderson while they talk through various aspects about writing and publishing. This episode is from a live chat that was hosted on the evening of Sunday March 16, 2025.

This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place in early Feb 2026 in Colorado Springs, CO and where Mark will be a guest speaker.

Use code: STARK100 to get $100 off your registration.

In their chat Mark and Kevin talk about:

  • The loss of author and poet Danny Peart, Neil Peart's brother and how the first story Kevin and Neil wrote together named the main character after Neil's brother
  • Mark and Kevin's Rush and beer connection
  • Kevin's "music starter kit" to his grand-kids
  • The significance of the Rush album Grace Under Pressure to both Kevin and Mark
  • How the Columbia Music Record Club is what led to Kevin discovering Rush (because he was looking for sci-fi style album covers and Rush's 2112 jumped out at him)
  • The back-story to Kevin's Terra Incognita novels
  • Writing a novel that was a tie-in to a Rush album
  • How Kevin has been able to leverage Kickstarter to produce products that no New York publisher would likely ever get behind
  • The way a tribute song "No Words" about Neil Peart led to a new friendship and collaboration with Kevin
  • The music behind the Terra Incognita trilogy
  • Kevin's Kickstarter for Terra Incognita funding in 14 minutes, but the ultimate goal of earning back the high investment he has already put into it
  • The number of novels that Kevin has written
  • Benefits of being able to order books directly from the author versus going through the multiple layers of traditional publishing
  • Superstars Writing Seminars, the conference that Kevin, his wife Rebecca, Dave Farland, Eric Flint, and Brandon Sanderson started more than 15 years ago
  • The Masters of Creative Writing with a focus on Publishing that Kevin teaches at Western Colorado University
  • The annual anthology that this program publishes thanks to sponsorship from Draft2Digital
  • The latest musical collaboration Kevin recently announced
  • Kevin coming to Toronto's Massey Hall for RushFest on August 1, 2025
  • What books Kevin and Mark are currently working on
  • Favorite advice for running a Kickstarter and the real costs of shipping and handling
  • Kevin's love of hiking and dictating when he writes
  • And more . . .

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:22:00 false 8 407 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark has a virtual beer with Kevin J. Anderson while they talk through various aspects about writing and publishing. This episode is from a live chat that was hosted on the evening of Sunday March 16, 2025. This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place in early Feb 2026 in Colorado Springs, CO and where Mark will be a guest speaker. Use code: STARK100 to get $100 off your registration. In their chat Mark and Kevin talk about: The loss of author and poet Danny Peart, Neil Peart's brother and how the first story Kevin and Neil wrote together named the main character after Neil's brother Mark and Kevin's Rush and beer connection Kevin's "music starter kit" to his grand-kids The significance of the Rush album Grace Under Pressure to both Kevin and Mark How the Columbia Music Record Club is what led to Kevin discovering Rush (because he was looking for sci-fi style album covers and Rush's 2112 jumped out at him) The back-story to Kevin's Terra Incognita novels Writing a novel that was a tie-in to a Rush album How Kevin has been able to leverage Kickstarter to produce products that no New York publisher would likely ever get behind The way a tribute song "No Words" about Neil Peart led to a new friendship and collaboration with Kevin The music behind the Terra Incognita trilogy Kevin's Kickstarter for Terra Incognita funding in 14 minutes, but the ultimate goal of earning back the high investment he has already put into it The number of novels that Kevin has written Benefits of being able to order books directly from the author versus going through the multiple layers of traditional publishing Superstars Writing Seminars, the conference that Kevin, his wife Rebecca, Dave Farland, Eric Flint, and Brandon Sanderson started more than 15 years ago The Masters of Creative Writing with a focus on Publishing that Kevin teaches at Western Colorado University The annual anthology that this program publishes thanks to sponsorship from Draft2Digital The latest musical collaboration Kevin recently announced Kevin coming to Toronto's Massey Hall for RushFest on August 1, 2025 What books Kevin and Mark are currently working on Favorite advice for running a Kickstarter and the real costs of shipping and handling Kevin's love of hiking and dictating when he writes And more . . .   Links of Interest: Kevin J Anderson's Website WordFire Press Kevin's Terra Incognita Kickstarter Western Colorado University Publishing Masters Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark has a virtual beer with Kevin J. Anderson while they talk through various aspects about writing and publishing. This episode is from a live chat that was hosted on the evening of Sunday March 16, 2025. This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place in early Feb 2026 in Colorado Springs, CO and where Mark will be a guest speaker. Use code: STARK100 to get $100 off your registration. In their chat Mark and Kevin talk about: The loss of author and poet Danny Peart, Neil Peart's brother and how the first story Kevin and Neil wrote together named the main character after Neil's brother Mark and Kevin's Rush and beer connection Kevin's "music starter kit" to his grand-kids The significance of the Rush album Grace Under Pressure to both Kevin and Mark How the Columbia Music Record Club is what led to Kevin discovering Rush (because he was looking for sci-fi style album covers and Rush's 2112 jumped out at him) The back-story to Kevin's Terra Incognita novels Writing a novel that was a tie-in to a Rush album How Kevin has been able to leverage Kickstarter to produce products that no New York publisher would likely ever get behind The way a tribute song "No Words" about Neil Peart led to a new friendship and collaboration with Kevin The music behind the Terra Incognita trilogy Kevin's Kickstarter for Terra Incognita funding in 14 minutes, but the ultimate goal of earning back the high investment he has already put into it The number of novels that Kevin has written Benefits of being able to order books directly from the author versus going through the multiple layers of traditional publishing Superstars Writing Seminars, the conference that Kevin, his wife Rebecca, Dave Farland, Eric Flint, and Brandon Sanderson started more than 15 years ago The Masters of Creative Writing with a focus on Publishing that Kevin teaches at Western Colorado University The annual anthology that this program publishes thanks to sponsorship from Draft2Digital The latest musical collaboration Kevin recently announced Kevin coming to Toronto's Massey Hall for RushFest on August 1, 2025 What books Kevin and Mark are currently working on Favorite advice for running a Kickstarter and the real costs of shipping and handling Kevin's love of hiking and dictating when he writes And more . . .   Links of Interest: Kevin J Anderson's Website WordFire Press Kevin's Terra Incognita Kickstarter Western Colorado University Publishing Masters Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 406 - How Authors Can Engage With Their Library How Authors Can Engage With Their Library Fri, 14 Mar 2025 12:21:00 +0000

In this solo episode Mark shares an excerpt from his forthcoming book A BOOK IN HAND: Strategies for Optimizing Print Book Sales via Signings and Other In Person Events.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about Toronto Indie Author Conference 2025 here.

The content for this episode is an excerpt from the work in progress: A BOOK IN HAND.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode Mark shares an excerpt from his forthcoming book A BOOK IN HAND: Strategies for Optimizing Print Book Sales via Signings and Other In Person Events.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about Toronto Indie Author Conference 2025 here.

The content for this episode is an excerpt from the work in progress: A BOOK IN HAND.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 55:21 false 8 406 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark shares an excerpt from his forthcoming book A BOOK IN HAND: Strategies for Optimizing Print Book Sales via Signings and Other In Person Events. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. Learn more about Toronto Indie Author Conference 2025 here. The content for this episode is an excerpt from the work in progress: A BOOK IN HAND. Links of Interest: Notification for when A BOOK IN HAND becomes available Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode Mark shares an excerpt from his forthcoming book A BOOK IN HAND: Strategies for Optimizing Print Book Sales via Signings and Other In Person Events. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. Learn more about Toronto Indie Author Conference 2025 here. The content for this episode is an excerpt from the work in progress: A BOOK IN HAND. Links of Interest: Notification for when A BOOK IN HAND becomes available Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 405 - Ask Not What Your Bookstore Can Do For You Ask Not What Your Bookstore Can Do For You Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:30:00 +0000 In this solo episode Mark shares an excerpt from his forthcoming book A BOOK IN HAND: Strategies for Optimizing Print Book Sales via Signings and Other In Person Events.

This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place in early Feb 2026 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Use code: STARK100 to get $100 off your registration.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode Mark shares an excerpt from his forthcoming book A BOOK IN HAND: Strategies for Optimizing Print Book Sales via Signings and Other In Person Events.

This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place in early Feb 2026 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Use code: STARK100 to get $100 off your registration.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 35:31 false 8 405 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark shares an excerpt from his forthcoming book A BOOK IN HAND: Strategies for Optimizing Print Book Sales via Signings and Other In Person Events. This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place in early Feb 2026 in Colorado Springs, CO. Use code: STARK100 to get $100 off your registration. Links of Interest: Notification for when A BOOK IN HAND becomes available Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode Mark shares an excerpt from his forthcoming book A BOOK IN HAND: Strategies for Optimizing Print Book Sales via Signings and Other In Person Events. This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place in early Feb 2026 in Colorado Springs, CO. Use code: STARK100 to get $100 off your registration. Links of Interest: Notification for when A BOOK IN HAND becomes available Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 404 - Elbows Up, Canada! Elbows Up, Canada! Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:57:00 +0000 In this special additional solo episode, Mark reflects on the term "Elbows up!" and recent events in Canada/US relations and the tariffs being needlessly opposed based on completely fabricated issues. He also discusses the disease of division that is so prominent today, and shares a clip of Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau from a press conference held on March 4, 2025.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this special additional solo episode, Mark reflects on the term "Elbows up!" and recent events in Canada/US relations and the tariffs being needlessly opposed based on completely fabricated issues. He also discusses the disease of division that is so prominent today, and shares a clip of Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau from a press conference held on March 4, 2025.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 28:28 false 8 404 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this special additional solo episode, Mark reflects on the term "Elbows up!" and recent events in Canada/US relations and the tariffs being needlessly opposed based on completely fabricated issues. He also discusses the disease of division that is so prominent today, and shares a clip of Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau from a press conference held on March 4, 2025.   Links of Interest: Buy Me a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this special additional solo episode, Mark reflects on the term "Elbows up!" and recent events in Canada/US relations and the tariffs being needlessly opposed based on completely fabricated issues. He also discusses the disease of division that is so prominent today, and shares a clip of Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau from a press conference held on March 4, 2025.   Links of Interest: Buy Me a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 403 - The Magic of Combining Poetry and Playwriting with Richard Marsh EP 403 - The Magic of Combining Poetry and Playwriting with Richard Marsh Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:26:00 +0000 Mark interviews writer, actor and poet, Richard Marsh, the genius behind YIPPEE KI YAY the one-man poetry stage parody of Die Hard.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a brief personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book you're writing into the bestseller you know deep down that it can be.

Mark also mentions a free podcast event he'll be on with Suzie on March 7th called NAVIGATING TODAY'S PUBLISHING.

In the interview, Mark and Richard talk about:

  • How, ever since Richard started poetry, he ended up using it to tell the types of stories that one wouldn't normally think could be told via poems
  • The poetry rom-com stage show Richard worked on with a good friend
  • How the procrastination project of writing a Die Hard play told in poetry became a priority when Richard wasn't interested in the play he'd been intending to roll out that had a heavy themes of grief and loss. The Die Hard play was fun and silly and funny and warm, and was more of what the world could use at the time
  • How focusing on a few elements of what would make Richard himself laugh was a great place to start
  • The themes in the play of how love and life change through parenthood
  • The importance to Richard of not just retelling or parodying Die Hard, but to do so much more
  • How the personal story that Richard weaved into his Die Hard stage show ties in quite nicely to the relationship between John and Holly
  • Art impacting us differently through various stages in our life
  • The first time that Richard ever performed the play, which was an active reading in the middle of a crowded bar
  • The initial public performance of the stage show at The Omnibus theatre in London in March of 2022
  • Taking the show on the road beyond the UK by touring the US during Christmas 2023
  • Additionally touring in Australia and Canada
  • A little bit about the play Richard DIRTY GREAT LOVE STORY that Richard co-wrote and performed with Katie Bonna was created and launched
  • How the people who go to poetry events are some of the most loveable weirdos in the world
  • The various plays that Richard has published
  • Working with producer James Seabright to produce Yippee Ki-Yay
  • The numerous complex elements of staging Yippee Ki-Yay, including movement and physicality, puppet show aspects, props, finger guns, and more - and the importance of the collaborators that helped with this
  • The two-hander stage show WINGMAN which is a type of romantic comedy between a father and son, which has been optioned for both US and UK television
  • The numerous things Richard has written that ultimately end up as an "elaborate PDF" on his PC
  • The moment when Stephen E. de Sousa co-writer of Die Hard, went to see Richard's play at the London Action Festival
  • The musical Richard is working on which is based on the movie SON OF RAMBOW
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in the conversation.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Richard Marsh is a writer (film, TV, theatre, to-do lists). Actor (stage, radio, social events). CEO of the MCU (Marsh Connected Universe). He will rhyme for money (write poems on commission). You can find him online at: https://www.richmarsh.com/

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews writer, actor and poet, Richard Marsh, the genius behind YIPPEE KI YAY the one-man poetry stage parody of Die Hard.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a brief personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book you're writing into the bestseller you know deep down that it can be.

Mark also mentions a free podcast event he'll be on with Suzie on March 7th called NAVIGATING TODAY'S PUBLISHING.

In the interview, Mark and Richard talk about:

  • How, ever since Richard started poetry, he ended up using it to tell the types of stories that one wouldn't normally think could be told via poems
  • The poetry rom-com stage show Richard worked on with a good friend
  • How the procrastination project of writing a Die Hard play told in poetry became a priority when Richard wasn't interested in the play he'd been intending to roll out that had a heavy themes of grief and loss. The Die Hard play was fun and silly and funny and warm, and was more of what the world could use at the time
  • How focusing on a few elements of what would make Richard himself laugh was a great place to start
  • The themes in the play of how love and life change through parenthood
  • The importance to Richard of not just retelling or parodying Die Hard, but to do so much more
  • How the personal story that Richard weaved into his Die Hard stage show ties in quite nicely to the relationship between John and Holly
  • Art impacting us differently through various stages in our life
  • The first time that Richard ever performed the play, which was an active reading in the middle of a crowded bar
  • The initial public performance of the stage show at The Omnibus theatre in London in March of 2022
  • Taking the show on the road beyond the UK by touring the US during Christmas 2023
  • Additionally touring in Australia and Canada
  • A little bit about the play Richard DIRTY GREAT LOVE STORY that Richard co-wrote and performed with Katie Bonna was created and launched
  • How the people who go to poetry events are some of the most loveable weirdos in the world
  • The various plays that Richard has published
  • Working with producer James Seabright to produce Yippee Ki-Yay
  • The numerous complex elements of staging Yippee Ki-Yay, including movement and physicality, puppet show aspects, props, finger guns, and more - and the importance of the collaborators that helped with this
  • The two-hander stage show WINGMAN which is a type of romantic comedy between a father and son, which has been optioned for both US and UK television
  • The numerous things Richard has written that ultimately end up as an "elaborate PDF" on his PC
  • The moment when Stephen E. de Sousa co-writer of Die Hard, went to see Richard's play at the London Action Festival
  • The musical Richard is working on which is based on the movie SON OF RAMBOW
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in the conversation.

Links of Interest:

Richard Marsh is a writer (film, TV, theatre, to-do lists). Actor (stage, radio, social events). CEO of the MCU (Marsh Connected Universe). He will rhyme for money (write poems on commission). You can find him online at: https://www.richmarsh.com/

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 57:53 false 8 403 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews writer, actor and poet, Richard Marsh, the genius behind YIPPEE KI YAY the one-man poetry stage parody of Die Hard. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a brief personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book you're writing into the bestseller you know deep down that it can be. Mark also mentions a free podcast event he'll be on with Suzie on March 7th called NAVIGATING TODAY'S PUBLISHING. In the interview, Mark and Richard talk about: How, ever since Richard started poetry, he ended up using it to tell the types of stories that one wouldn't normally think could be told via poems The poetry rom-com stage show Richard worked on with a good friend How the procrastination project of writing a Die Hard play told in poetry became a priority when Richard wasn't interested in the play he'd been intending to roll out that had a heavy themes of grief and loss. The Die Hard play was fun and silly and funny and warm, and was more of what the world could use at the time How focusing on a few elements of what would make Richard himself laugh was a great place to start The themes in the play of how love and life change through parenthood The importance to Richard of not just retelling or parodying Die Hard, but to do so much more How the personal story that Richard weaved into his Die Hard stage show ties in quite nicely to the relationship between John and Holly Art impacting us differently through various stages in our life The first time that Richard ever performed the play, which was an active reading in the middle of a crowded bar The initial public performance of the stage show at The Omnibus theatre in London in March of 2022 Taking the show on the road beyond the UK by touring the US during Christmas 2023 Additionally touring in Australia and Canada A little bit about the play Richard DIRTY GREAT LOVE STORY that Richard co-wrote and performed with Katie Bonna was created and launched How the people who go to poetry events are some of the most loveable weirdos in the world The various plays that Richard has published Working with producer James Seabright to produce Yippee Ki-Yay The numerous complex elements of staging Yippee Ki-Yay, including movement and physicality, puppet show aspects, props, finger guns, and more - and the importance of the collaborators that helped with this The two-hander stage show WINGMAN which is a type of romantic comedy between a father and son, which has been optioned for both US and UK television The numerous things Richard has written that ultimately end up as an "elaborate PDF" on his PC The moment when Stephen E. de Sousa co-writer of Die Hard, went to see Richard's play at the London Action Festival The musical Richard is working on which is based on the movie SON OF RAMBOW And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in the conversation.   Links of Interest: Richard Marsh's Website Yippee Ki Yay: The Parody Stage Show Richard's social media handle: @speckywiththegoodhair Richard on Instagram James Seabright / Producer EP 398 - Multiple Outlets for Storytelling with Denise Baden EP 402 - The Visible Author Marketing Method with Laurie Cooper Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Richard Marsh is a writer (film, TV, theatre, to-do lists). Actor (stage, radio, social events). CEO of the MCU (Marsh Connected Universe). He will rhyme for money (write poems on commission). You can find him online at: https://www.richmarsh.com/   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews writer, actor and poet, Richard Marsh, the genius behind YIPPEE KI YAY the one-man poetry stage parody of Die Hard. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a brief personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book you're writing into the bestseller you know deep down that it can be. Mark also mentions a free podcast event he'll be on with Suzie on March 7th called NAVIGATING TODAY'S PUBLISHING. In the interview, Mark and Richard talk about: How, ever since Richard started poetry, he ended up using it to tell the types of stories that one wouldn't normally think could be told via poems The poetry rom-com stage show Richard worked on with a good friend How the procrastination project of writing a Die Hard play told in poetry became a priority when Richard wasn't interested in the play he'd been intending to roll out that had a heavy themes of grief and loss. The Die Hard play was fun and silly and funny and warm, and was more of what the world could use at the time How focusing on a few elements of what would make Richard himself laugh was a great place to start The themes in the play of how love and life change through parenthood The importance to Richard of not just retelling or parodying Die Hard, but to do so much more How the personal story that Richard weaved into his Die Hard stage show ties in quite nicely to the relationship between John and Holly Art impacting us differently through various stages in our life The first time that Richard ever performed the play, which was an active reading in the middle of a crowded bar The initial public performance of the stage show at The Omnibus theatre in London in March of 2022 Taking the show on the road beyond the UK by touring the US during Christmas 2023 Additionally touring in Australia and Canada A little bit about the play Richard DIRTY GREAT LOVE STORY that Richard co-wrote and performed with Katie Bonna was created and launched How the people who go to poetry events are some of the most loveable weirdos in the world The various plays that Richard has published Working with producer James Seabright to produce Yippee Ki-Yay The numerous complex elements of staging Yippee Ki-Yay, including movement and physicality, puppet show aspects, props, finger guns, and more - and the importance of the collaborators that helped with this The two-hander stage show WINGMAN which is a type of romantic comedy between a father and son, which has been optioned for both US and UK television The numerous things Richard has written that ultimately end up as an "elaborate PDF" on his PC The moment when Stephen E. de Sousa co-writer of Die Hard, went to see Richard's play at the London Action Festival The musical Richard is working on which is based on the movie SON OF RAMBOW And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in the conversation.   Links of Interest: Richard Marsh's Website Yippee Ki Yay: The Parody Stage Show Richard's social media handle: @speckywiththegoodhair Richard on Instagram James Seabright / Producer EP 398 - Multiple Outlets for Storytelling with Denise Baden EP 402 - The Visible Author Marketing Method with Laurie Cooper Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Richard Marsh is a writer (film, TV, theatre, to-do lists). Actor (stage, radio, social events). CEO of the MCU (Marsh Connected Universe). He will rhyme for money (write poems on commission). You can find him online at: https://www.richmarsh.com/   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 402 - The Visible Author Method of Marketing with Laurie Cooper The Visible Author Method of Marketing with Laurie Cooper Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:49:00 +0000 Mark interviews Laurie Cooper, an award-winning speaker, and an author coach and marketing expert, who helps fiction authors go from struggling, feeling invisible and not knowing what to do next, to finding and connecting with their ideal readers.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about Toronto Indie Author Conference 2025 here.

In their conversation, Mark and Laurie talk about:

  • The round-about way that Laurie got into the role of becoming a marketing coach for authors
  • Starting off as a virtual assistant, then moving on to more marketing-related and coaching for authors
  • It being 11 years since Laurie started working with authors
  • Some of the ways the marketing landscape and promotion strategies have changed over the years
  • Laurie's "The Visible Author Method" that authors can enroll in, but only after a discovery call with Laurie and an invitation
  • The idea that coaches need coaches and therapists need therapists
  • The most important aspect of what writers want, which is ways to connect with their readers, and having their books read
  • How "Niching Down and Branding" is at the core of everything Laurie offers to authors
  • How positioning, or establishing a positioning statement is one of the most taxing endeavors for an author
  • The way that working with a coach can help an author with being able to see themselves and their writing in a new light/different way is important
  • The tiny roadblocks that can stop us from moving forward, and the importance of getting over them
  • The concept of personalized repeatable systems
  • Navigating the road map of best practices, and the importance of trial and error and measurable metrics
  • Some of the differences related to marketing for traditionally published authors versus self-published authors
  • An example of working with a traditionally published author that took some extra effort but worked nicely in the end
  • Some resources that Laurie recommends
  • The three questions that you should always be answering for your readers
      1) What can they expect
      2) Why should they care? (What makes it special)
      3) What they can/should do next
  • The importance of the idea of "my brand equals my promise to my readers"
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on how the the same process/procedure might work differently for different authors, as well as the importance of being able to pivot when unexpected elements clash with your plans and goals.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Award-winning speaker, Laurie Cooper, launched her online business, Pub-Craft: Marketing for Books and Brands, in October 2013. She helps fiction authors go from struggling, feeling invisible and not knowing what to do next, to finding and connecting with their ideal readers. In her first year of business, Laurie went from 1 to over 200 clients and helped 100+ authors hit the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Lists. While she works as a marketing coach with authors from around the world, Laurie calls Ottawa, Canada her home. Learn more about Laurie and her course,The Visible Author Method. Connect at www.Pub-Craft.com.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Laurie Cooper, an award-winning speaker, and an author coach and marketing expert, who helps fiction authors go from struggling, feeling invisible and not knowing what to do next, to finding and connecting with their ideal readers.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about Toronto Indie Author Conference 2025 here.

In their conversation, Mark and Laurie talk about:

  • The round-about way that Laurie got into the role of becoming a marketing coach for authors
  • Starting off as a virtual assistant, then moving on to more marketing-related and coaching for authors
  • It being 11 years since Laurie started working with authors
  • Some of the ways the marketing landscape and promotion strategies have changed over the years
  • Laurie's "The Visible Author Method" that authors can enroll in, but only after a discovery call with Laurie and an invitation
  • The idea that coaches need coaches and therapists need therapists
  • The most important aspect of what writers want, which is ways to connect with their readers, and having their books read
  • How "Niching Down and Branding" is at the core of everything Laurie offers to authors
  • How positioning, or establishing a positioning statement is one of the most taxing endeavors for an author
  • The way that working with a coach can help an author with being able to see themselves and their writing in a new light/different way is important
  • The tiny roadblocks that can stop us from moving forward, and the importance of getting over them
  • The concept of personalized repeatable systems
  • Navigating the road map of best practices, and the importance of trial and error and measurable metrics
  • Some of the differences related to marketing for traditionally published authors versus self-published authors
  • An example of working with a traditionally published author that took some extra effort but worked nicely in the end
  • Some resources that Laurie recommends
  • The three questions that you should always be answering for your readers 1) What can they expect 2) Why should they care? (What makes it special) 3) What they can/should do next
  • The importance of the idea of "my brand equals my promise to my readers"
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on how the the same process/procedure might work differently for different authors, as well as the importance of being able to pivot when unexpected elements clash with your plans and goals.

Links of Interest:

Award-winning speaker, Laurie Cooper, launched her online business, Pub-Craft: Marketing for Books and Brands, in October 2013. She helps fiction authors go from struggling, feeling invisible and not knowing what to do next, to finding and connecting with their ideal readers. In her first year of business, Laurie went from 1 to over 200 clients and helped 100+ authors hit the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Lists. While she works as a marketing coach with authors from around the world, Laurie calls Ottawa, Canada her home. Learn more about Laurie and her course,The Visible Author Method. Connect at www.Pub-Craft.com.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 43:50 false 8 402 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Laurie Cooper, an award-winning speaker, and an author coach and marketing expert, who helps fiction authors go from struggling, feeling invisible and not knowing what to do next, to finding and connecting with their ideal readers. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. Learn more about Toronto Indie Author Conference 2025 here. In their conversation, Mark and Laurie talk about: The round-about way that Laurie got into the role of becoming a marketing coach for authors Starting off as a virtual assistant, then moving on to more marketing-related and coaching for authors It being 11 years since Laurie started working with authors Some of the ways the marketing landscape and promotion strategies have changed over the years Laurie's "The Visible Author Method" that authors can enroll in, but only after a discovery call with Laurie and an invitation The idea that coaches need coaches and therapists need therapists The most important aspect of what writers want, which is ways to connect with their readers, and having their books read How "Niching Down and Branding" is at the core of everything Laurie offers to authors How positioning, or establishing a positioning statement is one of the most taxing endeavors for an author The way that working with a coach can help an author with being able to see themselves and their writing in a new light/different way is important The tiny roadblocks that can stop us from moving forward, and the importance of getting over them The concept of personalized repeatable systems Navigating the road map of best practices, and the importance of trial and error and measurable metrics Some of the differences related to marketing for traditionally published authors versus self-published authors An example of working with a traditionally published author that took some extra effort but worked nicely in the end Some resources that Laurie recommends The three questions that you should always be answering for your readers   1) What can they expect   2) Why should they care? (What makes it special)   3) What they can/should do next The importance of the idea of "my brand equals my promise to my readers" And more... After the interview Mark reflects on how the the same process/procedure might work differently for different authors, as well as the importance of being able to pivot when unexpected elements clash with your plans and goals.   Links of Interest: Laurie Cooper's Pub-Craft Laurie's Printer-Friendly Book Launch Checklist Laurie's Pub-Craft Resources Book a free consult with Laurie Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Award-winning speaker, Laurie Cooper, launched her online business, Pub-Craft: Marketing for Books and Brands, in October 2013. She helps fiction authors go from struggling, feeling invisible and not knowing what to do next, to finding and connecting with their ideal readers. In her first year of business, Laurie went from 1 to over 200 clients and helped 100+ authors hit the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Lists. While she works as a marketing coach with authors from around the world, Laurie calls Ottawa, Canada her home. Learn more about Laurie and her course,The Visible Author Method. Connect at www.Pub-Craft.com.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Laurie Cooper, an award-winning speaker, and an author coach and marketing expert, who helps fiction authors go from struggling, feeling invisible and not knowing what to do next, to finding and connecting with their ideal readers. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. Learn more about Toronto Indie Author Conference 2025 here. In their conversation, Mark and Laurie talk about: The round-about way that Laurie got into the role of becoming a marketing coach for authors Starting off as a virtual assistant, then moving on to more marketing-related and coaching for authors It being 11 years since Laurie started working with authors Some of the ways the marketing landscape and promotion strategies have changed over the years Laurie's "The Visible Author Method" that authors can enroll in, but only after a discovery call with Laurie and an invitation The idea that coaches need coaches and therapists need therapists The most important aspect of what writers want, which is ways to connect with their readers, and having their books read How "Niching Down and Branding" is at the core of everything Laurie offers to authors How positioning, or establishing a positioning statement is one of the most taxing endeavors for an author The way that working with a coach can help an author with being able to see themselves and their writing in a new light/different way is important The tiny roadblocks that can stop us from moving forward, and the importance of getting over them The concept of personalized repeatable systems Navigating the road map of best practices, and the importance of trial and error and measurable metrics Some of the differences related to marketing for traditionally published authors versus self-published authors An example of working with a traditionally published author that took some extra effort but worked nicely in the end Some resources that Laurie recommends The three questions that you should always be answering for your readers   1) What can they expect   2) Why should they care? (What makes it special)   3) What they can/should do next The importance of the idea of "my brand equals my promise to my readers" And more... After the interview Mark reflects on how the the same process/procedure might work differently for different authors, as well as the importance of being able to pivot when unexpected elements clash with your plans and goals.   Links of Interest: Laurie Cooper's Pub-Craft Laurie's Printer-Friendly Book Launch Checklist Laurie's Pub-Craft Resources Book a free consult with Laurie Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Award-winning speaker, Laurie Cooper, launched her online business, Pub-Craft: Marketing for Books and Brands, in October 2013. She helps fiction authors go from struggling, feeling invisible and not knowing what to do next, to finding and connecting with their ideal readers. In her first year of business, Laurie went from 1 to over 200 clients and helped 100+ authors hit the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Lists. While she works as a marketing coach with authors from around the world, Laurie calls Ottawa, Canada her home. Learn more about Laurie and her course,The Visible Author Method. Connect at www.Pub-Craft.com.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 401 - Reflections From the Road: Superstars Writing Seminars 2025 Reflections From the Road: Superstars Writing Seminars 2025 Fri, 14 Feb 2025 18:01:00 +0000 Mark reflects on the power and importance of Superstars Writing Seminars and why it's one of the most important annual in person sessions he attends and participates in.

He also reflects on the rule of "no politics/no religion" in writing groups focused on supporting one another and helping to learn and grow, a new way he now sees this, and his desire for continuing to create bridges rather than divides without compromosing his morality.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark reflects on the power and importance of Superstars Writing Seminars and why it's one of the most important annual in person sessions he attends and participates in.

He also reflects on the rule of "no politics/no religion" in writing groups focused on supporting one another and helping to learn and grow, a new way he now sees this, and his desire for continuing to create bridges rather than divides without compromosing his morality.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 31:33 true 8 401 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark reflects on the power and importance of Superstars Writing Seminars and why it's one of the most important annual in person sessions he attends and participates in. He also reflects on the rule of "no politics/no religion" in writing groups focused on supporting one another and helping to learn and grow, a new way he now sees this, and his desire for continuing to create bridges rather than divides without compromosing his morality.   Links of Interest: Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark reflects on the power and importance of Superstars Writing Seminars and why it's one of the most important annual in person sessions he attends and participates in. He also reflects on the rule of "no politics/no religion" in writing groups focused on supporting one another and helping to learn and grow, a new way he now sees this, and his desire for continuing to create bridges rather than divides without compromosing his morality.   Links of Interest: Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 400 - Community Reflections Community Reflections Fri, 07 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 In this special 400th Episode, Mark shares comments from the Stark Reflections Community.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface.

This episode includes comments from:

  • Matty Dalrymple
  • Zachary Kai
  • Birgit Constant
  • Stanley B. Trice
  • Donn King
  • Beth Biss
  • Matthew del Papa
  • Guylaine
  • Kathy Mac
  • Justin Trudeau

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> In this special 400th Episode, Mark shares comments from the Stark Reflections Community.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface.

This episode includes comments from:

  • Matty Dalrymple
  • Zachary Kai
  • Birgit Constant
  • Stanley B. Trice
  • Donn King
  • Beth Biss
  • Matthew del Papa
  • Guylaine
  • Kathy Mac
  • Justin Trudeau

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:09:55 false 8 400 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this special 400th Episode, Mark shares comments from the Stark Reflections Community. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface. This episode includes comments from: Matty Dalrymple Zachary Kai Birgit Constant Stanley B. Trice Donn King Beth Biss Matthew del Papa Guylaine Kathy Mac Justin Trudeau Links of Interest: Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this special 400th Episode, Mark shares comments from the Stark Reflections Community. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface. This episode includes comments from: Matty Dalrymple Zachary Kai Birgit Constant Stanley B. Trice Donn King Beth Biss Matthew del Papa Guylaine Kathy Mac Justin Trudeau Links of Interest: Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 399 - Post Publishing Marketing with Deborah Kevin Post Publishing Marketing with Deborah Kevin Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:19:00 +0000 Mark interviews Deborah Kevin, the visionary founder and chief inspiration officer at Highlander Press, about her new book SHELF LIFE: A Field Guide to Long-Term Author Success.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book you're writing into the bestseller you know deep down that it can be.

During the interview Mark and Deborah talk about:

  • How Deborah describes herself as one of the most curious people you'll ever meet
  • First learning about the Camino de Santiago in 2013, and then later walking the pilgrimage in chunks
  • Learning to read when she was four years old, and Deborah's first library card at the age of five
  • Writing her first "novelette" when she was eleven years old, and then later adapting that initial story into a novel that she used to get into Stanford
  • The giant wall calendar that Deborah uses for planning out the year using different colored sticky notes
  • Launching Highlander Press, and the story behind the initial name Deborah wanted to use to denote  the idea of a mission
  • The 51 books that Highlander Press has released (as of November 2024 when the interview was conducted)
  • Shifting the structure of the way we talk about running a business from less masculine energy and more feminine energy
  • Deborah's new book: SHELF LIFE: A Field Guide to Long-Term Author Success and the origin of writing it
  • How promotion and marketing can be simple and easy and to properly serve readers
  • Suggestions for authors on pre and post publication promotions
  • The importance of ensuring that "fun" is a part of the work you do when showing off your creative works and life
  • How showing up as ourselves authentically is one of the best things an author can do
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of dividing big tasks into chunks, the importance of not self-rejecting, and being one's authentic self.

Links of Interest:

 

Deborah Kevin, the visionary founder and chief inspiration officer at Highlander Press, ignites change-makers to share their stories of healing and truth. Having steered hundreds of authors to literary success, she's a beacon for impactful writing. Deborah also hosts the STORYTELLHER podcast, amplifying women's voices one riveting episode at a time. When she's not shaping the future of publishing, she's globetrotting from the historic trails of Camino de Santiago to the comforts of home in Maryland with her soulmate, Rob, their adventurous sons, and a mischievous puppy, Fergus.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Deborah Kevin, the visionary founder and chief inspiration officer at Highlander Press, about her new book SHELF LIFE: A Field Guide to Long-Term Author Success.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book you're writing into the bestseller you know deep down that it can be.

During the interview Mark and Deborah talk about:

  • How Deborah describes herself as one of the most curious people you'll ever meet
  • First learning about the Camino de Santiago in 2013, and then later walking the pilgrimage in chunks
  • Learning to read when she was four years old, and Deborah's first library card at the age of five
  • Writing her first "novelette" when she was eleven years old, and then later adapting that initial story into a novel that she used to get into Stanford
  • The giant wall calendar that Deborah uses for planning out the year using different colored sticky notes
  • Launching Highlander Press, and the story behind the initial name Deborah wanted to use to denote the idea of a mission
  • The 51 books that Highlander Press has released (as of November 2024 when the interview was conducted)
  • Shifting the structure of the way we talk about running a business from less masculine energy and more feminine energy
  • Deborah's new book: SHELF LIFE: A Field Guide to Long-Term Author Success and the origin of writing it
  • How promotion and marketing can be simple and easy and to properly serve readers
  • Suggestions for authors on pre and post publication promotions
  • The importance of ensuring that "fun" is a part of the work you do when showing off your creative works and life
  • How showing up as ourselves authentically is one of the best things an author can do
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of dividing big tasks into chunks, the importance of not self-rejecting, and being one's authentic self.

Links of Interest:

Deborah Kevin, the visionary founder and chief inspiration officer at Highlander Press, ignites change-makers to share their stories of healing and truth. Having steered hundreds of authors to literary success, she's a beacon for impactful writing. Deborah also hosts the STORYTELLHER podcast, amplifying women's voices one riveting episode at a time. When she's not shaping the future of publishing, she's globetrotting from the historic trails of Camino de Santiago to the comforts of home in Maryland with her soulmate, Rob, their adventurous sons, and a mischievous puppy, Fergus.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 56:10 false 8 399 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Deborah Kevin, the visionary founder and chief inspiration officer at Highlander Press, about her new book SHELF LIFE: A Field Guide to Long-Term Author Success. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book you're writing into the bestseller you know deep down that it can be. During the interview Mark and Deborah talk about: How Deborah describes herself as one of the most curious people you'll ever meet First learning about the Camino de Santiago in 2013, and then later walking the pilgrimage in chunks Learning to read when she was four years old, and Deborah's first library card at the age of five Writing her first "novelette" when she was eleven years old, and then later adapting that initial story into a novel that she used to get into Stanford The giant wall calendar that Deborah uses for planning out the year using different colored sticky notes Launching Highlander Press, and the story behind the initial name Deborah wanted to use to denote  the idea of a mission The 51 books that Highlander Press has released (as of November 2024 when the interview was conducted) Shifting the structure of the way we talk about running a business from less masculine energy and more feminine energy Deborah's new book: SHELF LIFE: A Field Guide to Long-Term Author Success and the origin of writing it How promotion and marketing can be simple and easy and to properly serve readers Suggestions for authors on pre and post publication promotions The importance of ensuring that "fun" is a part of the work you do when showing off your creative works and life How showing up as ourselves authentically is one of the best things an author can do And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of dividing big tasks into chunks, the importance of not self-rejecting, and being one's authentic self. Links of Interest: Highlander Press Books Deborah Kevin on LinkedIn EP 142- Strategies for Launching a Book During a Pandemic with Suzy Vadori EP 398 - Multiple Outlets for Your Writing with Denise Baden EP 397 - In It For the Creativity and Connection with Ron Vitale EP 396 - Waubgeshig Rice on Community, Publishing, and the Creative Journey Form for Listener Reflections for Episode 400 Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Deborah Kevin, the visionary founder and chief inspiration officer at Highlander Press, ignites change-makers to share their stories of healing and truth. Having steered hundreds of authors to literary success, she's a beacon for impactful writing. Deborah also hosts the STORYTELLHER podcast, amplifying women's voices one riveting episode at a time. When she's not shaping the future of publishing, she's globetrotting from the historic trails of Camino de Santiago to the comforts of home in Maryland with her soulmate, Rob, their adventurous sons, and a mischievous puppy, Fergus.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Deborah Kevin, the visionary founder and chief inspiration officer at Highlander Press, about her new book SHELF LIFE: A Field Guide to Long-Term Author Success. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the Show, Don't Tell Writing Podcast with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book you're writing into the bestseller you know deep down that it can be. During the interview Mark and Deborah talk about: How Deborah describes herself as one of the most curious people you'll ever meet First learning about the Camino de Santiago in 2013, and then later walking the pilgrimage in chunks Learning to read when she was four years old, and Deborah's first library card at the age of five Writing her first "novelette" when she was eleven years old, and then later adapting that initial story into a novel that she used to get into Stanford The giant wall calendar that Deborah uses for planning out the year using different colored sticky notes Launching Highlander Press, and the story behind the initial name Deborah wanted to use to denote  the idea of a mission The 51 books that Highlander Press has released (as of November 2024 when the interview was conducted) Shifting the structure of the way we talk about running a business from less masculine energy and more feminine energy Deborah's new book: SHELF LIFE: A Field Guide to Long-Term Author Success and the origin of writing it How promotion and marketing can be simple and easy and to properly serve readers Suggestions for authors on pre and post publication promotions The importance of ensuring that "fun" is a part of the work you do when showing off your creative works and life How showing up as ourselves authentically is one of the best things an author can do And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of dividing big tasks into chunks, the importance of not self-rejecting, and being one's authentic self. Links of Interest: Highlander Press Books Deborah Kevin on LinkedIn EP 142- Strategies for Launching a Book During a Pandemic with Suzy Vadori EP 398 - Multiple Outlets for Your Writing with Denise Baden EP 397 - In It For the Creativity and Connection with Ron Vitale EP 396 - Waubgeshig Rice on Community, Publishing, and the Creative Journey Form for Listener Reflections for Episode 400 Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Deborah Kevin, the visionary founder and chief inspiration officer at Highlander Press, ignites change-makers to share their stories of healing and truth. Having steered hundreds of authors to literary success, she's a beacon for impactful writing. Deborah also hosts the STORYTELLHER podcast, amplifying women's voices one riveting episode at a time. When she's not shaping the future of publishing, she's globetrotting from the historic trails of Camino de Santiago to the comforts of home in Maryland with her soulmate, Rob, their adventurous sons, and a mischievous puppy, Fergus.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 398 - Multiple Outlets For Storytelling with Denise Baden Multiple Outlets For Storytelling with Denise Baden Fri, 24 Jan 2025 01:33:00 +0000 Mark interviews Denise Baden about the novel/book version of Murder in the Climate Assembly as well as the various incarnations and adaptions she had created for the stage and television.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface.

During the interview Mark and Denise talk about:

  • Denise's varied educational, professional, and personal background which has given her a finger in "every pie"
  • How Denise turned to fiction because it's her joy
  • The different formats that a story can take for a creative person
  • Denise's memoir "Confessions of a Climate Activist in a Business School" and how she adapted it into a novel by fictionalizing some elements
  • Also creating a re-adaptation of the story into a stage play "Murder in the Citizens' Jury"
  • The additional dramatic monolog version of the play that Denise created
  • The TV-script version that Denise also wrote based on this
  • The videos that Denise has that share these highlights
  • How the different mediums inform Denise's approach to each version of the story
  • Not feeling good about the traditional publishing offer Denise rec'd for the book
  • A Kickstarter project that Denise is launching related to this same IP
  • The struggle with what to do as a reward, and what to do as an add-on
  • How too much of existing climate fiction is so dystopian in nature
  • The white-washing that some companies tried to do in partnering Denise's Green Stories project
  • The idea of thrutopian fiction
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the choice Denise made to turn down a publishing contract and launch the book leveraging Kickstarter, as well as the genius way she's taken a single IP and adapted into numerous formats and platforms.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Denise Baden is a Professor of Sustainability at the University of Southampton and a writer. Her eco-themed rom-com 'Habitat Man' was published in 2021, followed by 'The Assassin' and 'No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet' in 2022. Denise is listed on the Forbes list of Climate Leaders Changing the Film and TV industry and has worked with Bafta on #ClimateCharacters exploring cultural aspects of sustainability. A TV adaptation of her play 'Murder in the Citizens' Jury' was a winner of the 2024 Writing Climate Pitchfest and is under consideration by Hollywood producers. She is currently launching the novel version 'Murder in the Climate Assembly' on Kickstarter.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Denise Baden about the novel/book version of Murder in the Climate Assembly as well as the various incarnations and adaptions she had created for the stage and television.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface.

During the interview Mark and Denise talk about:

  • Denise's varied educational, professional, and personal background which has given her a finger in "every pie"
  • How Denise turned to fiction because it's her joy
  • The different formats that a story can take for a creative person
  • Denise's memoir "Confessions of a Climate Activist in a Business School" and how she adapted it into a novel by fictionalizing some elements
  • Also creating a re-adaptation of the story into a stage play "Murder in the Citizens' Jury"
  • The additional dramatic monolog version of the play that Denise created
  • The TV-script version that Denise also wrote based on this
  • The videos that Denise has that share these highlights
  • How the different mediums inform Denise's approach to each version of the story
  • Not feeling good about the traditional publishing offer Denise rec'd for the book
  • A Kickstarter project that Denise is launching related to this same IP
  • The struggle with what to do as a reward, and what to do as an add-on
  • How too much of existing climate fiction is so dystopian in nature
  • The white-washing that some companies tried to do in partnering Denise's Green Stories project
  • The idea of thrutopian fiction
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the choice Denise made to turn down a publishing contract and launch the book leveraging Kickstarter, as well as the genius way she's taken a single IP and adapted into numerous formats and platforms.

Links of Interest:

Denise Baden is a Professor of Sustainability at the University of Southampton and a writer. Her eco-themed rom-com 'Habitat Man' was published in 2021, followed by 'The Assassin' and 'No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet' in 2022. Denise is listed on the Forbes list of Climate Leaders Changing the Film and TV industry and has worked with Bafta on #ClimateCharacters exploring cultural aspects of sustainability. A TV adaptation of her play 'Murder in the Citizens' Jury' was a winner of the 2024 Writing Climate Pitchfest and is under consideration by Hollywood producers. She is currently launching the novel version 'Murder in the Climate Assembly' on Kickstarter.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 50:25 false 8 398 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Denise Baden about the novel/book version of Murder in the Climate Assembly as well as the various incarnations and adaptions she had created for the stage and television. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface. During the interview Mark and Denise talk about: Denise's varied educational, professional, and personal background which has given her a finger in "every pie" How Denise turned to fiction because it's her joy The different formats that a story can take for a creative person Denise's memoir "Confessions of a Climate Activist in a Business School" and how she adapted it into a novel by fictionalizing some elements Also creating a re-adaptation of the story into a stage play "Murder in the Citizens' Jury" The additional dramatic monolog version of the play that Denise created The TV-script version that Denise also wrote based on this The videos that Denise has that share these highlights How the different mediums inform Denise's approach to each version of the story Not feeling good about the traditional publishing offer Denise rec'd for the book A Kickstarter project that Denise is launching related to this same IP The struggle with what to do as a reward, and what to do as an add-on How too much of existing climate fiction is so dystopian in nature The white-washing that some companies tried to do in partnering Denise's Green Stories project The idea of thrutopian fiction And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on the choice Denise made to turn down a publishing contract and launch the book leveraging Kickstarter, as well as the genius way she's taken a single IP and adapted into numerous formats and platforms.   Links of Interest: Denise Baden's Website Murder in the Citizens Jury Denise's Kickstarter for Murder in the Climate Assembly The Green Stories Project T. Thorn Coyle's Resistance Matters Kickstarter EP 304 - Narrative Transportation with Denise Baden EP 397 - In It For The Creativity and Compassion with Ron Vitale  EP 395 - Rants and Reflections From the Road on 2024 Sales Sharing Form for Listener Reflections for Episode 400 Patreon Article with Zoom Hangout Links (for Episode 400 Listener Reflections) Wide for the Win WIDEStream (YouTube Link) Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Denise Baden is a Professor of Sustainability at the University of Southampton and a writer. Her eco-themed rom-com 'Habitat Man' was published in 2021, followed by 'The Assassin' and 'No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet' in 2022. Denise is listed on the Forbes list of Climate Leaders Changing the Film and TV industry and has worked with Bafta on #ClimateCharacters exploring cultural aspects of sustainability. A TV adaptation of her play 'Murder in the Citizens' Jury' was a winner of the 2024 Writing Climate Pitchfest and is under consideration by Hollywood producers. She is currently launching the novel version 'Murder in the Climate Assembly' on Kickstarter.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Denise Baden about the novel/book version of Murder in the Climate Assembly as well as the various incarnations and adaptions she had created for the stage and television. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface. During the interview Mark and Denise talk about: Denise's varied educational, professional, and personal background which has given her a finger in "every pie" How Denise turned to fiction because it's her joy The different formats that a story can take for a creative person Denise's memoir "Confessions of a Climate Activist in a Business School" and how she adapted it into a novel by fictionalizing some elements Also creating a re-adaptation of the story into a stage play "Murder in the Citizens' Jury" The additional dramatic monolog version of the play that Denise created The TV-script version that Denise also wrote based on this The videos that Denise has that share these highlights How the different mediums inform Denise's approach to each version of the story Not feeling good about the traditional publishing offer Denise rec'd for the book A Kickstarter project that Denise is launching related to this same IP The struggle with what to do as a reward, and what to do as an add-on How too much of existing climate fiction is so dystopian in nature The white-washing that some companies tried to do in partnering Denise's Green Stories project The idea of thrutopian fiction And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on the choice Denise made to turn down a publishing contract and launch the book leveraging Kickstarter, as well as the genius way she's taken a single IP and adapted into numerous formats and platforms.   Links of Interest: Denise Baden's Website Murder in the Citizens Jury Denise's Kickstarter for Murder in the Climate Assembly The Green Stories Project T. Thorn Coyle's Resistance Matters Kickstarter EP 304 - Narrative Transportation with Denise Baden EP 397 - In It For The Creativity and Compassion with Ron Vitale  EP 395 - Rants and Reflections From the Road on 2024 Sales Sharing Form for Listener Reflections for Episode 400 Patreon Article with Zoom Hangout Links (for Episode 400 Listener Reflections) Wide for the Win WIDEStream (YouTube Link) Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Denise Baden is a Professor of Sustainability at the University of Southampton and a writer. Her eco-themed rom-com 'Habitat Man' was published in 2021, followed by 'The Assassin' and 'No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet' in 2022. Denise is listed on the Forbes list of Climate Leaders Changing the Film and TV industry and has worked with Bafta on #ClimateCharacters exploring cultural aspects of sustainability. A TV adaptation of her play 'Murder in the Citizens' Jury' was a winner of the 2024 Writing Climate Pitchfest and is under consideration by Hollywood producers. She is currently launching the novel version 'Murder in the Climate Assembly' on Kickstarter.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 397 - In It For The Creativity and Compassion with Ron Vitale In It For The Creativity and Compassion with Ron Vitale Fri, 17 Jan 2025 01:01:00 +0000 Mark interviews Ron Vitale about his writing, and his recent unflinching and honest looks at his writing income versus expenses.

Prior to the interview, Mark talks about wanting to hear from listeners on THEIR reflections via an online form or via a few Zoom hangouts (see more info here) for forthcoming Episode 400.

Image of a woman sitting at a typewriter holding a coffee cup and staring reflectively off into the distance. The text

Mark also shares comments, a personal update and word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration.

In their conversation Mark and Ron talk about:

  • Ron growing up in an environment where a family member stuggled with alcoholism and then learning how to heal from some of the trauma experienced in his past
  • The 2020 lockdown blog posts that Ron wrote and shared in order to help others who might be dealing with that and giving back to the community
  • The four "Let Go And Be Free" books he released that were derived from that blog content
  • Writing his first short fiction at the age of 9 and his first novel at 16
  • Ron's Masters degree and how his topic related to trauma
  • How to date Ron's best success as an author has been with his "Let Go and Be Free: 100 Daily Reflections for Adult Children of Alcoholics" books
  • Shooting for 365 reflections for his books, but ending up with 400
  • The value in creating content thinking of the benefit to himself as well as others, and how that worked out extremely well because of the way it hit with the correct audience
  • How Ron's fiction titles dealt with most of the same issues, but that they ended up hitting different with the audiences
  • Making a decision of what he needs to let go of in order to make more space for focusing on what he wants to do as a writer
  • The five different fiction series that Ron has written, including a Cinderella fairy tale-inspired series, and a Were-whale series inspired by Moby Dick
  • Ron's start in indie writing in 2009 and publishing in 2011
  • Why Ron has consistently shared such an honest and unflinching look at the economics of his own publishing journey
  • Sharing his annual numbers for about 10 years and how only two of those years were ones where he earned more than he spent
  • How 2024 was a "non-marketing-spending" year for Ron as an important experiment
  • The elements of the filter that most people put on before they share something publicly or on social media'
  • The regular habits that Ron says make an important difference
  • Being touched by a personal message from a reader who appreciated one of Ron's audiobooks and how it moved her
  • How Ron isn't in writing just for the money, but for so many other reasons
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things Ron said and also shares a special offer to listeners in support of both Ron and the Stark Reflections community, thanks to Mark's coffee buddy Nikki Guerlain.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Ron Vitale about his writing, and his recent unflinching and honest looks at his writing income versus expenses.

Prior to the interview, Mark talks about wanting to hear from listeners on THEIR reflections via an online form or via a few Zoom hangouts (see more info here) for forthcoming Episode 400.

Mark also shares comments, a personal update and word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration.

In their conversation Mark and Ron talk about:

  • Ron growing up in an environment where a family member stuggled with alcoholism and then learning how to heal from some of the trauma experienced in his past
  • The 2020 lockdown blog posts that Ron wrote and shared in order to help others who might be dealing with that and giving back to the community
  • The four "Let Go And Be Free" books he released that were derived from that blog content
  • Writing his first short fiction at the age of 9 and his first novel at 16
  • Ron's Masters degree and how his topic related to trauma
  • How to date Ron's best success as an author has been with his "Let Go and Be Free: 100 Daily Reflections for Adult Children of Alcoholics" books
  • Shooting for 365 reflections for his books, but ending up with 400
  • The value in creating content thinking of the benefit to himself as well as others, and how that worked out extremely well because of the way it hit with the correct audience
  • How Ron's fiction titles dealt with most of the same issues, but that they ended up hitting different with the audiences
  • Making a decision of what he needs to let go of in order to make more space for focusing on what he wants to do as a writer
  • The five different fiction series that Ron has written, including a Cinderella fairy tale-inspired series, and a Were-whale series inspired by Moby Dick
  • Ron's start in indie writing in 2009 and publishing in 2011
  • Why Ron has consistently shared such an honest and unflinching look at the economics of his own publishing journey
  • Sharing his annual numbers for about 10 years and how only two of those years were ones where he earned more than he spent
  • How 2024 was a "non-marketing-spending" year for Ron as an important experiment
  • The elements of the filter that most people put on before they share something publicly or on social media'
  • The regular habits that Ron says make an important difference
  • Being touched by a personal message from a reader who appreciated one of Ron's audiobooks and how it moved her
  • How Ron isn't in writing just for the money, but for so many other reasons
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things Ron said and also shares a special offer to listeners in support of both Ron and the Stark Reflections community, thanks to Mark's coffee buddy Nikki Guerlain.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 52:36 false 8 397 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Ron Vitale about his writing, and his recent unflinching and honest looks at his writing income versus expenses. Prior to the interview, Mark talks about wanting to hear from listeners on THEIR reflections via an online form or via a few Zoom hangouts (see more info here) for forthcoming Episode 400. Mark also shares comments, a personal update and word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO. Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration. In their conversation Mark and Ron talk about: Ron growing up in an environment where a family member stuggled with alcoholism and then learning how to heal from some of the trauma experienced in his past The 2020 lockdown blog posts that Ron wrote and shared in order to help others who might be dealing with that and giving back to the community The four "Let Go And Be Free" books he released that were derived from that blog content Writing his first short fiction at the age of 9 and his first novel at 16 Ron's Masters degree and how his topic related to trauma How to date Ron's best success as an author has been with his "Let Go and Be Free: 100 Daily Reflections for Adult Children of Alcoholics" books Shooting for 365 reflections for his books, but ending up with 400 The value in creating content thinking of the benefit to himself as well as others, and how that worked out extremely well because of the way it hit with the correct audience How Ron's fiction titles dealt with most of the same issues, but that they ended up hitting different with the audiences Making a decision of what he needs to let go of in order to make more space for focusing on what he wants to do as a writer The five different fiction series that Ron has written, including a Cinderella fairy tale-inspired series, and a Were-whale series inspired by Moby Dick Ron's start in indie writing in 2009 and publishing in 2011 Why Ron has consistently shared such an honest and unflinching look at the economics of his own publishing journey Sharing his annual numbers for about 10 years and how only two of those years were ones where he earned more than he spent How 2024 was a "non-marketing-spending" year for Ron as an important experiment The elements of the filter that most people put on before they share something publicly or on social media' The regular habits that Ron says make an important difference Being touched by a personal message from a reader who appreciated one of Ron's audiobooks and how it moved her How Ron isn't in writing just for the money, but for so many other reasons And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on a few things Ron said and also shares a special offer to listeners in support of both Ron and the Stark Reflections community, thanks to Mark's coffee buddy Nikki Guerlain.   Links of Interest: Ron Vitale's Website Ron's Blog: What I Learned About Indie Publishing in 2024 What I Learned About Indie Publishing in 2023 What I Learned About Indie Publishing in 2022 2021 Year End Wrap Up: Full Sales and Expenses EP 396 - Waubgeshig Rice on Community, Publishing, and The Creative Journey EP 395 - Rants and Reflections From the Road on 2024 Sales Sharing Form for Listener Reflections for Episode 400 Patreon Article with Zoom Hangout Links (for Episode 400 Listener Reflections) Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Ron Vitale about his writing, and his recent unflinching and honest looks at his writing income versus expenses. Prior to the interview, Mark talks about wanting to hear from listeners on THEIR reflections via an online form or via a few Zoom hangouts (see more info here) for forthcoming Episode 400. Mark also shares comments, a personal update and word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO. Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration. In their conversation Mark and Ron talk about: Ron growing up in an environment where a family member stuggled with alcoholism and then learning how to heal from some of the trauma experienced in his past The 2020 lockdown blog posts that Ron wrote and shared in order to help others who might be dealing with that and giving back to the community The four "Let Go And Be Free" books he released that were derived from that blog content Writing his first short fiction at the age of 9 and his first novel at 16 Ron's Masters degree and how his topic related to trauma How to date Ron's best success as an author has been with his "Let Go and Be Free: 100 Daily Reflections for Adult Children of Alcoholics" books Shooting for 365 reflections for his books, but ending up with 400 The value in creating content thinking of the benefit to himself as well as others, and how that worked out extremely well because of the way it hit with the correct audience How Ron's fiction titles dealt with most of the same issues, but that they ended up hitting different with the audiences Making a decision of what he needs to let go of in order to make more space for focusing on what he wants to do as a writer The five different fiction series that Ron has written, including a Cinderella fairy tale-inspired series, and a Were-whale series inspired by Moby Dick Ron's start in indie writing in 2009 and publishing in 2011 Why Ron has consistently shared such an honest and unflinching look at the economics of his own publishing journey Sharing his annual numbers for about 10 years and how only two of those years were ones where he earned more than he spent How 2024 was a "non-marketing-spending" year for Ron as an important experiment The elements of the filter that most people put on before they share something publicly or on social media' The regular habits that Ron says make an important difference Being touched by a personal message from a reader who appreciated one of Ron's audiobooks and how it moved her How Ron isn't in writing just for the money, but for so many other reasons And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on a few things Ron said and also shares a special offer to listeners in support of both Ron and the Stark Reflections community, thanks to Mark's coffee buddy Nikki Guerlain.   Links of Interest: Ron Vitale's Website Ron's Blog: What I Learned About Indie Publishing in 2024 What I Learned About Indie Publishing in 2023 What I Learned About Indie Publishing in 2022 2021 Year End Wrap Up: Full Sales and Expenses EP 396 - Waubgeshig Rice on Community, Publishing, and The Creative Journey EP 395 - Rants and Reflections From the Road on 2024 Sales Sharing Form for Listener Reflections for Episode 400 Patreon Article with Zoom Hangout Links (for Episode 400 Listener Reflections) Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 396 - Waubgeshig Rice on Community, Publishing, and The Creative Journey Waubgeshig Rice on Community, Publishing, and The Creative Journey Fri, 10 Jan 2025 17:05:00 +0000 Mark interviews Waubgeshig Rice, an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation, and the author of four books, most notably the bestselling novels Moon of the Crusted Snow and Moon of the Turning Leaves.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments, a personal update and word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration.

In their conversation Mark and Waubgeshig talk about:

  • Waub's interest in high school with English classes but still feeling like there was no strong connection and that not many of the books and stories being taught in Ontario in the 1990s were all that relatable
  • Being shown books by indigenous authors via his Auntie that weren't being studied in school -- books by authors such as Richard Wagamese, Lee Maracle, Louise Erdrich -- and how that blew his world wide open and included thoughts such as maybe he could do that himself some day
  • The Grade 12 Writing Course taught by Tom Bennett at Parry Sound High School that helped Waubgeshig in shaping stories
  • Being side-tracked from creative writing by studying and beginning a career in journalism
  • The benefit of getting to know writers and artists in the Toronto area in the early 2000s
  • Applying for his first writing grant from Canada Council for the Arts in 2004
  • Waub's first book, Midnight Sweat Lodge, a connected short story collection
  • How things really changed when Waubgeshig's Moon of the Crusted Snow first came out in 2018
  • Leaving full time journalism employment at CBC to become a full-time writer in 2020
  • The Northeast Blackout of 2003 and how his experiences being back home at Wasauksing First Nation near Parry Sound when it was all going down is what inspired Waubgeshig in writing Moon of the Crusted Snow
  • Coming to the realization that home was the best place to be if this were actually a world-ending electricity blackout
  • The stereotypes and mythologies about what life on a reservation is, and how, during that dark moment, it was a reminder of the resources and the beauty that place could actually be
  • Expressing the heartfelt spirit of community that has withstood a lot of violence historically, and how that helps a group of people survive this latest major crisis
  • Deciding to set the story in a location that a little further removed from Southern Ontario than where Waubgeshig actually grew up
  • Waub's approach in writing the sequel and wanting it to take place several years after the events in the first novel and how that came to happen
  • How the second novel explores the way the people of the community are able to live more autonomously on the land as Anishinaabe people
  • The interesting publishing path that Waubgeshig's first novel took in landing at ECW Press
  • Working with acquiring editor Susan Renouf and how great an experience that was and the wonderful suggestions she made to improve the raw manuscript
  • The speculative fiction elements of a post-apocalyptic novel and Waub feeling so accepted in the SF/F community
  • How the success of Moon of the Crusted Snow led Waub to getting agent representation by Denise Bukowski
  • The path that led to Penguin Random House offering the contract for the sequel Moon of the Turning Leaves
  • The new project that Waub is working on now
  • Advice that Waub would offer to other writers
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on several different things he was thinking about during and after the conversation.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Waubgeshig Rice is an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation.

He's written four books, most notably the bestselling novels Moon of the Crusted Snow, and Moon of the Turning Leaves.

He graduated from the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2002, and spent most of his journalism career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a video journalist and radio host.

He left CBC in 2020 to focus on his literary career.

In addition to his writing endeavours, Waubgeshig is an eclectic public speaker, delivering keynote addresses and workshops, engaging in interviews, and contributing to various panels at literary festivals and conferences.

He speaks on creative writing and oral storytelling, contemporary Anishinaabe culture and matters, Indigenous representation in arts and media, and more.

He lives in Sudbury, Ontario with his wife and three sons.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Waubgeshig Rice, an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation, and the author of four books, most notably the bestselling novels Moon of the Crusted Snow and Moon of the Turning Leaves.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments, a personal update and word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration.

In their conversation Mark and Waubgeshig talk about:

  • Waub's interest in high school with English classes but still feeling like there was no strong connection and that not many of the books and stories being taught in Ontario in the 1990s were all that relatable
  • Being shown books by indigenous authors via his Auntie that weren't being studied in school -- books by authors such as Richard Wagamese, Lee Maracle, Louise Erdrich -- and how that blew his world wide open and included thoughts such as maybe he could do that himself some day
  • The Grade 12 Writing Course taught by Tom Bennett at Parry Sound High School that helped Waubgeshig in shaping stories
  • Being side-tracked from creative writing by studying and beginning a career in journalism
  • The benefit of getting to know writers and artists in the Toronto area in the early 2000s
  • Applying for his first writing grant from Canada Council for the Arts in 2004
  • Waub's first book, Midnight Sweat Lodge, a connected short story collection
  • How things really changed when Waubgeshig's Moon of the Crusted Snow first came out in 2018
  • Leaving full time journalism employment at CBC to become a full-time writer in 2020
  • The Northeast Blackout of 2003 and how his experiences being back home at Wasauksing First Nation near Parry Sound when it was all going down is what inspired Waubgeshig in writing Moon of the Crusted Snow
  • Coming to the realization that home was the best place to be if this were actually a world-ending electricity blackout
  • The stereotypes and mythologies about what life on a reservation is, and how, during that dark moment, it was a reminder of the resources and the beauty that place could actually be
  • Expressing the heartfelt spirit of community that has withstood a lot of violence historically, and how that helps a group of people survive this latest major crisis
  • Deciding to set the story in a location that a little further removed from Southern Ontario than where Waubgeshig actually grew up
  • Waub's approach in writing the sequel and wanting it to take place several years after the events in the first novel and how that came to happen
  • How the second novel explores the way the people of the community are able to live more autonomously on the land as Anishinaabe people
  • The interesting publishing path that Waubgeshig's first novel took in landing at ECW Press
  • Working with acquiring editor Susan Renouf and how great an experience that was and the wonderful suggestions she made to improve the raw manuscript
  • The speculative fiction elements of a post-apocalyptic novel and Waub feeling so accepted in the SF/F community
  • How the success of Moon of the Crusted Snow led Waub to getting agent representation by Denise Bukowski
  • The path that led to Penguin Random House offering the contract for the sequel Moon of the Turning Leaves
  • The new project that Waub is working on now
  • Advice that Waub would offer to other writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on several different things he was thinking about during and after the conversation.

Links of Interest:

Waubgeshig Rice is an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation.

He's written four books, most notably the bestselling novels Moon of the Crusted Snow, and Moon of the Turning Leaves.

He graduated from the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2002, and spent most of his journalism career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a video journalist and radio host.

He left CBC in 2020 to focus on his literary career.

In addition to his writing endeavours, Waubgeshig is an eclectic public speaker, delivering keynote addresses and workshops, engaging in interviews, and contributing to various panels at literary festivals and conferences.

He speaks on creative writing and oral storytelling, contemporary Anishinaabe culture and matters, Indigenous representation in arts and media, and more.

He lives in Sudbury, Ontario with his wife and three sons.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:12:01 false 8 396 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Waubgeshig Rice, an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation, and the author of four books, most notably the bestselling novels Moon of the Crusted Snow and Moon of the Turning Leaves. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments, a personal update and word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO. Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration. In their conversation Mark and Waubgeshig talk about: Waub's interest in high school with English classes but still feeling like there was no strong connection and that not many of the books and stories being taught in Ontario in the 1990s were all that relatable Being shown books by indigenous authors via his Auntie that weren't being studied in school -- books by authors such as Richard Wagamese, Lee Maracle, Louise Erdrich -- and how that blew his world wide open and included thoughts such as maybe he could do that himself some day The Grade 12 Writing Course taught by Tom Bennett at Parry Sound High School that helped Waubgeshig in shaping stories Being side-tracked from creative writing by studying and beginning a career in journalism The benefit of getting to know writers and artists in the Toronto area in the early 2000s Applying for his first writing grant from Canada Council for the Arts in 2004 Waub's first book, Midnight Sweat Lodge, a connected short story collection How things really changed when Waubgeshig's Moon of the Crusted Snow first came out in 2018 Leaving full time journalism employment at CBC to become a full-time writer in 2020 The Northeast Blackout of 2003 and how his experiences being back home at Wasauksing First Nation near Parry Sound when it was all going down is what inspired Waubgeshig in writing Moon of the Crusted Snow Coming to the realization that home was the best place to be if this were actually a world-ending electricity blackout The stereotypes and mythologies about what life on a reservation is, and how, during that dark moment, it was a reminder of the resources and the beauty that place could actually be Expressing the heartfelt spirit of community that has withstood a lot of violence historically, and how that helps a group of people survive this latest major crisis Deciding to set the story in a location that a little further removed from Southern Ontario than where Waubgeshig actually grew up Waub's approach in writing the sequel and wanting it to take place several years after the events in the first novel and how that came to happen How the second novel explores the way the people of the community are able to live more autonomously on the land as Anishinaabe people The interesting publishing path that Waubgeshig's first novel took in landing at ECW Press Working with acquiring editor Susan Renouf and how great an experience that was and the wonderful suggestions she made to improve the raw manuscript The speculative fiction elements of a post-apocalyptic novel and Waub feeling so accepted in the SF/F community How the success of Moon of the Crusted Snow led Waub to getting agent representation by Denise Bukowski The path that led to Penguin Random House offering the contract for the sequel Moon of the Turning Leaves The new project that Waub is working on now Advice that Waub would offer to other writers And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on several different things he was thinking about during and after the conversation.   Links of Interest: Waubgeshig Rice Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Bluesky Superstars Writing Seminars EP 389 - "Now You've Gone" with Cathy Rankin and Ken K. Mary Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Waubgeshig Rice is an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation. He's written four books, most notably the bestselling novels Moon of the Crusted Snow, and Moon of the Turning Leaves. He graduated from the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2002, and spent most of his journalism career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a video journalist and radio host. He left CBC in 2020 to focus on his literary career. In addition to his writing endeavours, Waubgeshig is an eclectic public speaker, delivering keynote addresses and workshops, engaging in interviews, and contributing to various panels at literary festivals and conferences. He speaks on creative writing and oral storytelling, contemporary Anishinaabe culture and matters, Indigenous representation in arts and media, and more. He lives in Sudbury, Ontario with his wife and three sons.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Waubgeshig Rice, an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation, and the author of four books, most notably the bestselling novels Moon of the Crusted Snow and Moon of the Turning Leaves. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments, a personal update and word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO. Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration. In their conversation Mark and Waubgeshig talk about: Waub's interest in high school with English classes but still feeling like there was no strong connection and that not many of the books and stories being taught in Ontario in the 1990s were all that relatable Being shown books by indigenous authors via his Auntie that weren't being studied in school -- books by authors such as Richard Wagamese, Lee Maracle, Louise Erdrich -- and how that blew his world wide open and included thoughts such as maybe he could do that himself some day The Grade 12 Writing Course taught by Tom Bennett at Parry Sound High School that helped Waubgeshig in shaping stories Being side-tracked from creative writing by studying and beginning a career in journalism The benefit of getting to know writers and artists in the Toronto area in the early 2000s Applying for his first writing grant from Canada Council for the Arts in 2004 Waub's first book, Midnight Sweat Lodge, a connected short story collection How things really changed when Waubgeshig's Moon of the Crusted Snow first came out in 2018 Leaving full time journalism employment at CBC to become a full-time writer in 2020 The Northeast Blackout of 2003 and how his experiences being back home at Wasauksing First Nation near Parry Sound when it was all going down is what inspired Waubgeshig in writing Moon of the Crusted Snow Coming to the realization that home was the best place to be if this were actually a world-ending electricity blackout The stereotypes and mythologies about what life on a reservation is, and how, during that dark moment, it was a reminder of the resources and the beauty that place could actually be Expressing the heartfelt spirit of community that has withstood a lot of violence historically, and how that helps a group of people survive this latest major crisis Deciding to set the story in a location that a little further removed from Southern Ontario than where Waubgeshig actually grew up Waub's approach in writing the sequel and wanting it to take place several years after the events in the first novel and how that came to happen How the second novel explores the way the people of the community are able to live more autonomously on the land as Anishinaabe people The interesting publishing path that Waubgeshig's first novel took in landing at ECW Press Working with acquiring editor Susan Renouf and how great an experience that was and the wonderful suggestions she made to improve the raw manuscript The speculative fiction elements of a post-apocalyptic novel and Waub feeling so accepted in the SF/F community How the success of Moon of the Crusted Snow led Waub to getting agent representation by Denise Bukowski The path that led to Penguin Random House offering the contract for the sequel Moon of the Turning Leaves The new project that Waub is working on now Advice that Waub would offer to other writers And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on several different things he was thinking about during and after the conversation.   Links of Interest: Waubgeshig Rice Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Bluesky Superstars Writing Seminars EP 389 - "Now You've Gone" with Cathy Rankin and Ken K. Mary Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Waubgeshig Rice is an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation. He's written four books, most notably the bestselling novels Moon of the Crusted Snow, and Moon of the Turning Leaves. He graduated from the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2002, and spent most of his journalism career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a video journalist and radio host. He left CBC in 2020 to focus on his literary career. In addition to his writing endeavours, Waubgeshig is an eclectic public speaker, delivering keynote addresses and workshops, engaging in interviews, and contributing to various panels at literary festivals and conferences. He speaks on creative writing and oral storytelling, contemporary Anishinaabe culture and matters, Indigenous representation in arts and media, and more. He lives in Sudbury, Ontario with his wife and three sons.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 395 - Rants and Reflections From The Road Rants and Reflections From The Road Fri, 03 Jan 2025 03:50:00 +0000 Mark shares reflections on his 2024 sales, as well as a bit of a rant about people sharing their 2024 sales without disclaimers about how much they spent, or the other costs involved in achieving those sales.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie. 

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark shares reflections on his 2024 sales, as well as a bit of a rant about people sharing their 2024 sales without disclaimers about how much they spent, or the other costs involved in achieving those sales.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 57:29 false 8 395 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark shares reflections on his 2024 sales, as well as a bit of a rant about people sharing their 2024 sales without disclaimers about how much they spent, or the other costs involved in achieving those sales. This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.    Links of Interest: Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark shares reflections on his 2024 sales, as well as a bit of a rant about people sharing their 2024 sales without disclaimers about how much they spent, or the other costs involved in achieving those sales. This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.    Links of Interest: Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 394 - Centerfold Stories with Charlotte Kemp Centerfold Stories with Charlotte Kemp Thu, 26 Dec 2024 22:20:00 +0000 Mark interviews author and former Playboy Playmate Charlotte Kemp about her book CENTERFOLDS.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration.

In the interview Mark and Charlotte talk about:

  • Charlotte adjusting her last name Helmkamp into Charlotte Kemp when she first began modeling
  • Being Playmate of the month December 1982 and the cover model for the October 1983 issue of Playboy
  • Interviewing about 40 women in order to get the 20 stories that she included in the book
  • Being blocked from publishing her book when she'd first started by Hugh Hefner
  • Using the title "Centerfolds" for her book because she wasn't able to use the term "Playmate" as the trademark is owned by Playboy
  • How Charlotte decided which of the stories ended up making it into the book
  • The backstory of how Charlotte became Playmate of the Month at the age of 19
  •  Charlotte's self-appointed bodyguard, Lance, who sat outside the Green Room and kept her safe from any men looking to take advantage of an innocent younger "girl next door"
  • How the payment works for Playboy models, which is pay for the first photo shoot but no residuals for re-use of those photos in other issues
  • Learning how to read when she was two years old and the voracious reading she's been doing since she was young
  • What Charlotte is reading now
  • The type of short stories that Charlotte likes to write
  • Charlotte being the first Playmate to ever have a license from Playboy for the running team that she created
  • The Playmates with a Purpose running group fund-raising and brand-raising Charlotte was passionate about
  • Charlotte's experience with the Playboy brand in Japan and how the associated merchandise was all high end
  • How more women have found their voices in recent times and own more of their own properties instead of letting men control them
  • Prince's role in taking back his name, and helping female artists with similar strategies, being a strong champion of women
  • Stories from the book such as one from Cynthia Myers and how she narrowly evaded a fateful event with Charles Manson
  • Charlotte's strong feelings about ensuring she preserved the voices of the people she interviewed for Centerfolds
  • How the women Charlotte interviewed were able to open up and share their experiences
  • The way that a person could feel "owned" by Playboy
  • The short story collection that Charlotte is working on releasing
  • Charlotte's Howard Cosell story 
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on his own history as a Playboy magazine reader and writer, as well as a few things Charlotte shared in the interview.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Charlotte Kemp was Playboy's "Miss December 1982" and Playboy's cover model in October 1983. She also appeared in many ads and calendar photos for Playboy. She was the first Playmate ever given a license for "The Playboy Running Team" in 1993 and had ten Playmates on the team who successfully raised money for many charities. Her first book was For My Eyes Only, which includes poetry, prose and short stories. During her working years with Playboy, she was the first to hold the titles of "Miss Budweiser" and "The Best Breasts in the USA." She has starred and appeared in several commercials and movies, including a top 25 B-Horror film of all time, Frankenhooker. She has appeared on Inside Edition, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and many radio shows all over the country. She has appeared in fourteen foreign editions of Playboy and lived for a time at the Playboy Mansion.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews author and former Playboy Playmate Charlotte Kemp about her book CENTERFOLDS.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration.

In the interview Mark and Charlotte talk about:

  • Charlotte adjusting her last name Helmkamp into Charlotte Kemp when she first began modeling
  • Being Playmate of the month December 1982 and the cover model for the October 1983 issue of Playboy
  • Interviewing about 40 women in order to get the 20 stories that she included in the book
  • Being blocked from publishing her book when she'd first started by Hugh Hefner
  • Using the title "Centerfolds" for her book because she wasn't able to use the term "Playmate" as the trademark is owned by Playboy
  • How Charlotte decided which of the stories ended up making it into the book
  • The backstory of how Charlotte became Playmate of the Month at the age of 19
  • Charlotte's self-appointed bodyguard, Lance, who sat outside the Green Room and kept her safe from any men looking to take advantage of an innocent younger "girl next door"
  • How the payment works for Playboy models, which is pay for the first photo shoot but no residuals for re-use of those photos in other issues
  • Learning how to read when she was two years old and the voracious reading she's been doing since she was young
  • What Charlotte is reading now
  • The type of short stories that Charlotte likes to write
  • Charlotte being the first Playmate to ever have a license from Playboy for the running team that she created
  • The Playmates with a Purpose running group fund-raising and brand-raising Charlotte was passionate about
  • Charlotte's experience with the Playboy brand in Japan and how the associated merchandise was all high end
  • How more women have found their voices in recent times and own more of their own properties instead of letting men control them
  • Prince's role in taking back his name, and helping female artists with similar strategies, being a strong champion of women
  • Stories from the book such as one from Cynthia Myers and how she narrowly evaded a fateful event with Charles Manson
  • Charlotte's strong feelings about ensuring she preserved the voices of the people she interviewed for Centerfolds
  • How the women Charlotte interviewed were able to open up and share their experiences
  • The way that a person could feel "owned" by Playboy
  • The short story collection that Charlotte is working on releasing
  • Charlotte's Howard Cosell story
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on his own history as a Playboy magazine reader and writer, as well as a few things Charlotte shared in the interview.

Links of Interest:

Charlotte Kemp was Playboy's "Miss December 1982" and Playboy's cover model in October 1983. She also appeared in many ads and calendar photos for Playboy. She was the first Playmate ever given a license for "The Playboy Running Team" in 1993 and had ten Playmates on the team who successfully raised money for many charities. Her first book was For My Eyes Only, which includes poetry, prose and short stories. During her working years with Playboy, she was the first to hold the titles of "Miss Budweiser" and "The Best Breasts in the USA." She has starred and appeared in several commercials and movies, including a top 25 B-Horror film of all time, Frankenhooker. She has appeared on Inside Edition, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and many radio shows all over the country. She has appeared in fourteen foreign editions of Playboy and lived for a time at the Playboy Mansion.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:07:37 false 7 394 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author and former Playboy Playmate Charlotte Kemp about her book CENTERFOLDS. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO. Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration. In the interview Mark and Charlotte talk about: Charlotte adjusting her last name Helmkamp into Charlotte Kemp when she first began modeling Being Playmate of the month December 1982 and the cover model for the October 1983 issue of Playboy Interviewing about 40 women in order to get the 20 stories that she included in the book Being blocked from publishing her book when she'd first started by Hugh Hefner Using the title "Centerfolds" for her book because she wasn't able to use the term "Playmate" as the trademark is owned by Playboy How Charlotte decided which of the stories ended up making it into the book The backstory of how Charlotte became Playmate of the Month at the age of 19  Charlotte's self-appointed bodyguard, Lance, who sat outside the Green Room and kept her safe from any men looking to take advantage of an innocent younger "girl next door" How the payment works for Playboy models, which is pay for the first photo shoot but no residuals for re-use of those photos in other issues Learning how to read when she was two years old and the voracious reading she's been doing since she was young What Charlotte is reading now The type of short stories that Charlotte likes to write Charlotte being the first Playmate to ever have a license from Playboy for the running team that she created The Playmates with a Purpose running group fund-raising and brand-raising Charlotte was passionate about Charlotte's experience with the Playboy brand in Japan and how the associated merchandise was all high end How more women have found their voices in recent times and own more of their own properties instead of letting men control them Prince's role in taking back his name, and helping female artists with similar strategies, being a strong champion of women Stories from the book such as one from Cynthia Myers and how she narrowly evaded a fateful event with Charles Manson Charlotte's strong feelings about ensuring she preserved the voices of the people she interviewed for Centerfolds How the women Charlotte interviewed were able to open up and share their experiences The way that a person could feel "owned" by Playboy The short story collection that Charlotte is working on releasing Charlotte's Howard Cosell story  And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on his own history as a Playboy magazine reader and writer, as well as a few things Charlotte shared in the interview.   Links of Interest: Charlotte's Website Instagram Facebook EP 391 - Networking for Authors with Dale L. Roberts Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Apollo Cinema Christmas Vacation Event (Kitchener, ON - Dec 12, 2024) Sudbury Indie Cinema / Northern Lights Festival Boreal Christmas Vacation Event (Sudbury, ON - Dec 21, 2024) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Charlotte Kemp was Playboy's "Miss December 1982" and Playboy's cover model in October 1983. She also appeared in many ads and calendar photos for Playboy. She was the first Playmate ever given a license for "The Playboy Running Team" in 1993 and had ten Playmates on the team who successfully raised money for many charities. Her first book was For My Eyes Only, which includes poetry, prose and short stories. During her working years with Playboy, she was the first to hold the titles of "Miss Budweiser" and "The Best Breasts in the USA." She has starred and appeared in several commercials and movies, including a top 25 B-Horror film of all time, Frankenhooker. She has appeared on Inside Edition, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and many radio shows all over the country. She has appeared in fourteen foreign editions of Playboy and lived for a time at the Playboy Mansion.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews author and former Playboy Playmate Charlotte Kemp about her book CENTERFOLDS. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO. Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration. In the interview Mark and Charlotte talk about: Charlotte adjusting her last name Helmkamp into Charlotte Kemp when she first began modeling Being Playmate of the month December 1982 and the cover model for the October 1983 issue of Playboy Interviewing about 40 women in order to get the 20 stories that she included in the book Being blocked from publishing her book when she'd first started by Hugh Hefner Using the title "Centerfolds" for her book because she wasn't able to use the term "Playmate" as the trademark is owned by Playboy How Charlotte decided which of the stories ended up making it into the book The backstory of how Charlotte became Playmate of the Month at the age of 19  Charlotte's self-appointed bodyguard, Lance, who sat outside the Green Room and kept her safe from any men looking to take advantage of an innocent younger "girl next door" How the payment works for Playboy models, which is pay for the first photo shoot but no residuals for re-use of those photos in other issues Learning how to read when she was two years old and the voracious reading she's been doing since she was young What Charlotte is reading now The type of short stories that Charlotte likes to write Charlotte being the first Playmate to ever have a license from Playboy for the running team that she created The Playmates with a Purpose running group fund-raising and brand-raising Charlotte was passionate about Charlotte's experience with the Playboy brand in Japan and how the associated merchandise was all high end How more women have found their voices in recent times and own more of their own properties instead of letting men control them Prince's role in taking back his name, and helping female artists with similar strategies, being a strong champion of women Stories from the book such as one from Cynthia Myers and how she narrowly evaded a fateful event with Charles Manson Charlotte's strong feelings about ensuring she preserved the voices of the people she interviewed for Centerfolds How the women Charlotte interviewed were able to open up and share their experiences The way that a person could feel "owned" by Playboy The short story collection that Charlotte is working on releasing Charlotte's Howard Cosell story  And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on his own history as a Playboy magazine reader and writer, as well as a few things Charlotte shared in the interview.   Links of Interest: Charlotte's Website Instagram Facebook EP 391 - Networking for Authors with Dale L. Roberts Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Apollo Cinema Christmas Vacation Event (Kitchener, ON - Dec 12, 2024) Sudbury Indie Cinema / Northern Lights Festival Boreal Christmas Vacation Event (Sudbury, ON - Dec 21, 2024) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Charlotte Kemp was Playboy's "Miss December 1982" and Playboy's cover model in October 1983. She also appeared in many ads and calendar photos for Playboy. She was the first Playmate ever given a license for "The Playboy Running Team" in 1993 and had ten Playmates on the team who successfully raised money for many charities. Her first book was For My Eyes Only, which includes poetry, prose and short stories. During her working years with Playboy, she was the first to hold the titles of "Miss Budweiser" and "The Best Breasts in the USA." She has starred and appeared in several commercials and movies, including a top 25 B-Horror film of all time, Frankenhooker. She has appeared on Inside Edition, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and many radio shows all over the country. She has appeared in fourteen foreign editions of Playboy and lived for a time at the Playboy Mansion.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 393 - Book Adjacent Strategies with Jody Swannell EP 393 - Book Adjacent Strategies with Jody Swannell Thu, 19 Dec 2024 22:58:00 +0000 Mark interviews author Jody Swannell about her writing and the book ajacent activities and strategies she has employed.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration.

In the interview Mark and Jody talk about:

  • How Jody got started in writing about 20/30 years ago
  • Spending at least an hour a week at Chapters big box bookstores back in the day, with dreams of wanting to write a book
  • The way that the recent pandemic inspired a lot of people to actually take a shot at some of the things they'd wanted to do for a long time
  • The two novels and one novella that Jody has released in the past 3 years
  • Jody's interest and writing about Tarot card reading
  • Selling books in person at the local markets and how Jody was inspired by seeing local author Richard Stephens there
  • Jody's role as a host of a local community radio program (Readers Delight) on CKMS 102.7 FM - Radio Waterloo
  • The software and equipment that Jody had to learn how to use in order to host the show as well as the license that needed to be purchased
  • The additional work and stress that hosting this show took on Jody
  • Some of the things that guests did which made life so challenging for Jody as the host
  • The way this show helped Jody connect with so many other local writers
  • What creative/writing projects Jody is working on lately
  • The success that Jody saw at a recent event (Frightmare in the Falls) by having book-adjacent products.
  • Pivoting from Jody Swannell Author/Books to Jody Swannell Bookery
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the ingenius strategies Jody has used to connect with other writers, to learn more, and to grow her author brand, the importance of giving something up when it's not working/causing too much stress, and things NOT to do when you're a guest on a podcast or radio program.

Links of Interest:

 

Jody Swannell is an author from the beautiful Region of Waterloo. Her love of adventure has taken her on incredible trips, such as visiting castles in Scotland, shopping in the West Edmonton Mall, snorkelling in Jamaica, and photographing glaciers during an Alaskan cruise.

Her goal is to keep readers eagerly turning pages while trying to guess what happens next—occasionally adding a splash of romance here and there to spice things up a bit. She loves writing contemporary fiction in thriller, mystery occult, sci-fi and horror genres.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark interviews author Jody Swannell about her writing and the book ajacent activities and strategies she has employed.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration.

In the interview Mark and Jody talk about:

  • How Jody got started in writing about 20/30 years ago
  • Spending at least an hour a week at Chapters big box bookstores back in the day, with dreams of wanting to write a book
  • The way that the recent pandemic inspired a lot of people to actually take a shot at some of the things they'd wanted to do for a long time
  • The two novels and one novella that Jody has released in the past 3 years
  • Jody's interest and writing about Tarot card reading
  • Selling books in person at the local markets and how Jody was inspired by seeing local author Richard Stephens there
  • Jody's role as a host of a local community radio program (Readers Delight) on CKMS 102.7 FM - Radio Waterloo
  • The software and equipment that Jody had to learn how to use in order to host the show as well as the license that needed to be purchased
  • The additional work and stress that hosting this show took on Jody
  • Some of the things that guests did which made life so challenging for Jody as the host
  • The way this show helped Jody connect with so many other local writers
  • What creative/writing projects Jody is working on lately
  • The success that Jody saw at a recent event (Frightmare in the Falls) by having book-adjacent products.
  • Pivoting from Jody Swannell Author/Books to Jody Swannell Bookery
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the ingenius strategies Jody has used to connect with other writers, to learn more, and to grow her author brand, the importance of giving something up when it's not working/causing too much stress, and things NOT to do when you're a guest on a podcast or radio program.

Links of Interest:

Jody Swannell is an author from the beautiful Region of Waterloo. Her love of adventure has taken her on incredible trips, such as visiting castles in Scotland, shopping in the West Edmonton Mall, snorkelling in Jamaica, and photographing glaciers during an Alaskan cruise.

Her goal is to keep readers eagerly turning pages while trying to guess what happens next—occasionally adding a splash of romance here and there to spice things up a bit. She loves writing contemporary fiction in thriller, mystery occult, sci-fi and horror genres.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 51:14 false 7 393 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author Jody Swannell about her writing and the book ajacent activities and strategies she has employed. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO. Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration. In the interview Mark and Jody talk about: How Jody got started in writing about 20/30 years ago Spending at least an hour a week at Chapters big box bookstores back in the day, with dreams of wanting to write a book The way that the recent pandemic inspired a lot of people to actually take a shot at some of the things they'd wanted to do for a long time The two novels and one novella that Jody has released in the past 3 years Jody's interest and writing about Tarot card reading Selling books in person at the local markets and how Jody was inspired by seeing local author Richard Stephens there Jody's role as a host of a local community radio program (Readers Delight) on CKMS 102.7 FM - Radio Waterloo The software and equipment that Jody had to learn how to use in order to host the show as well as the license that needed to be purchased The additional work and stress that hosting this show took on Jody Some of the things that guests did which made life so challenging for Jody as the host The way this show helped Jody connect with so many other local writers What creative/writing projects Jody is working on lately The success that Jody saw at a recent event (Frightmare in the Falls) by having book-adjacent products. Pivoting from Jody Swannell Author/Books to Jody Swannell Bookery And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the ingenius strategies Jody has used to connect with other writers, to learn more, and to grow her author brand, the importance of giving something up when it's not working/causing too much stress, and things NOT to do when you're a guest on a podcast or radio program. Links of Interest: Jody's LinkTree Swannell Bookery Instagram Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Apollo Cinema Christmas Vacation Event (Kitchener, ON - Dec 12, 2024) Sudbury Indie Cinema / Northern Lights Festival Boreal Christmas Vacation Event (Sudbury, ON - Dec 21, 2024) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Jody Swannell is an author from the beautiful Region of Waterloo. Her love of adventure has taken her on incredible trips, such as visiting castles in Scotland, shopping in the West Edmonton Mall, snorkelling in Jamaica, and photographing glaciers during an Alaskan cruise. Her goal is to keep readers eagerly turning pages while trying to guess what happens next—occasionally adding a splash of romance here and there to spice things up a bit. She loves writing contemporary fiction in thriller, mystery occult, sci-fi and horror genres.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark interviews author Jody Swannell about her writing and the book ajacent activities and strategies she has employed. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO. Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration. In the interview Mark and Jody talk about: How Jody got started in writing about 20/30 years ago Spending at least an hour a week at Chapters big box bookstores back in the day, with dreams of wanting to write a book The way that the recent pandemic inspired a lot of people to actually take a shot at some of the things they'd wanted to do for a long time The two novels and one novella that Jody has released in the past 3 years Jody's interest and writing about Tarot card reading Selling books in person at the local markets and how Jody was inspired by seeing local author Richard Stephens there Jody's role as a host of a local community radio program (Readers Delight) on CKMS 102.7 FM - Radio Waterloo The software and equipment that Jody had to learn how to use in order to host the show as well as the license that needed to be purchased The additional work and stress that hosting this show took on Jody Some of the things that guests did which made life so challenging for Jody as the host The way this show helped Jody connect with so many other local writers What creative/writing projects Jody is working on lately The success that Jody saw at a recent event (Frightmare in the Falls) by having book-adjacent products. Pivoting from Jody Swannell Author/Books to Jody Swannell Bookery And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the ingenius strategies Jody has used to connect with other writers, to learn more, and to grow her author brand, the importance of giving something up when it's not working/causing too much stress, and things NOT to do when you're a guest on a podcast or radio program. Links of Interest: Jody's LinkTree Swannell Bookery Instagram Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Apollo Cinema Christmas Vacation Event (Kitchener, ON - Dec 12, 2024) Sudbury Indie Cinema / Northern Lights Festival Boreal Christmas Vacation Event (Sudbury, ON - Dec 21, 2024) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Jody Swannell is an author from the beautiful Region of Waterloo. Her love of adventure has taken her on incredible trips, such as visiting castles in Scotland, shopping in the West Edmonton Mall, snorkelling in Jamaica, and photographing glaciers during an Alaskan cruise. Her goal is to keep readers eagerly turning pages while trying to guess what happens next—occasionally adding a splash of romance here and there to spice things up a bit. She loves writing contemporary fiction in thriller, mystery occult, sci-fi and horror genres.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 392 - Pillars of Author Success with Emma Dhesi Pillars of Author Success with Emma Dhesi Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:26:00 +0000 Mark interviews Emma Dhesi, a bestselling author and certified book coach who educates and inspires first-time authors to fulfil a calling and write their debut novel.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie. 

New content for patrons has dropped here.

In the interview, Mark and Emma talk about:

  • How Emma got started in writing as a child at school
  • The waves of how that "itch" to write kept coming to Emma every 6 months or so
  • The feeling of writing that first draft and the effective challenge it was for her
  • Emma's first book THE DAY SHE CAME HOME and how it began as an exploration of post-partum depression
  • The concept of how engaging in the creative life can provide that balance we need
  • How it can look different depending on where on the creative journey we are, but the similarities
  • The importance of trying new things, but then recognizing when it's not the right thing for us at that time in our journey
  • Emma's decision to become an author coach and to help other writers like her
  • The first book being important "evidence" that you can do it
  • The value of even a little bit of positive encouragement
  • Emma's focus on a VERY SPECIFIC demographic instead of trying to create a service to please everyone
  • What Emma is working on now in her writing and in her coaching
  • The online summit Emma is hosting in January 2025 (Be A Bestseller 6.0 - Back to Basics)
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the intrinsic satisfaction of completely that first novel, the importance of proving to yourself that you CAN do it, of trying new things (but being able to stop if that new thing is not for you), and the value of focusing in on a target audience.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Emma Dhesi, bestselling author and certified book coach, educates and inspires first-time authors to fulfil a calling and write their debut novel.

Drawing from her own success and training, Emma guides writers to finish their first book through detailed feedback, accountability check-ins, and compassionate support in her year-long 1:1 mentorship.

Emma lives in Edinburgh with her husband, three children, three cats, and is passionate about helping authors achieve their dreams through her individualised mentoring.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

 

 

]]> Mark interviews Emma Dhesi, a bestselling author and certified book coach who educates and inspires first-time authors to fulfil a calling and write their debut novel.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.

New content for patrons has dropped here.

In the interview, Mark and Emma talk about:

  • How Emma got started in writing as a child at school
  • The waves of how that "itch" to write kept coming to Emma every 6 months or so
  • The feeling of writing that first draft and the effective challenge it was for her
  • Emma's first book THE DAY SHE CAME HOME and how it began as an exploration of post-partum depression
  • The concept of how engaging in the creative life can provide that balance we need
  • How it can look different depending on where on the creative journey we are, but the similarities
  • The importance of trying new things, but then recognizing when it's not the right thing for us at that time in our journey
  • Emma's decision to become an author coach and to help other writers like her
  • The first book being important "evidence" that you can do it
  • The value of even a little bit of positive encouragement
  • Emma's focus on a VERY SPECIFIC demographic instead of trying to create a service to please everyone
  • What Emma is working on now in her writing and in her coaching
  • The online summit Emma is hosting in January 2025 (Be A Bestseller 6.0 - Back to Basics)
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the intrinsic satisfaction of completely that first novel, the importance of proving to yourself that you CAN do it, of trying new things (but being able to stop if that new thing is not for you), and the value of focusing in on a target audience.

Links of Interest:

Emma Dhesi, bestselling author and certified book coach, educates and inspires first-time authors to fulfil a calling and write their debut novel.

Drawing from her own success and training, Emma guides writers to finish their first book through detailed feedback, accountability check-ins, and compassionate support in her year-long 1:1 mentorship.

Emma lives in Edinburgh with her husband, three children, three cats, and is passionate about helping authors achieve their dreams through her individualised mentoring.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 50:34 false 7 392 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Emma Dhesi, a bestselling author and certified book coach who educates and inspires first-time authors to fulfil a calling and write their debut novel. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.  New content for patrons has dropped here. In the interview, Mark and Emma talk about: How Emma got started in writing as a child at school The waves of how that "itch" to write kept coming to Emma every 6 months or so The feeling of writing that first draft and the effective challenge it was for her Emma's first book THE DAY SHE CAME HOME and how it began as an exploration of post-partum depression The concept of how engaging in the creative life can provide that balance we need How it can look different depending on where on the creative journey we are, but the similarities The importance of trying new things, but then recognizing when it's not the right thing for us at that time in our journey Emma's decision to become an author coach and to help other writers like her The first book being important "evidence" that you can do it The value of even a little bit of positive encouragement Emma's focus on a VERY SPECIFIC demographic instead of trying to create a service to please everyone What Emma is working on now in her writing and in her coaching The online summit Emma is hosting in January 2025 (Be A Bestseller 6.0 - Back to Basics) And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the intrinsic satisfaction of completely that first novel, the importance of proving to yourself that you CAN do it, of trying new things (but being able to stop if that new thing is not for you), and the value of focusing in on a target audience.   Links of Interest: Emma Dhesi's Website Emma's YouTube Channel EP 336 - Coming Out of the Writer Closet With Bradley Charbonneau Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Apollo Cinema Christmas Vacation Event (Kitchener, ON - Dec 12, 2024) Sudbury Indie Cinema / Northern Lights Festival Boreal Christmas Vacation Event (Sudbury, ON - Dec 21, 2024) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Emma Dhesi, bestselling author and certified book coach, educates and inspires first-time authors to fulfil a calling and write their debut novel. Drawing from her own success and training, Emma guides writers to finish their first book through detailed feedback, accountability check-ins, and compassionate support in her year-long 1:1 mentorship. Emma lives in Edinburgh with her husband, three children, three cats, and is passionate about helping authors achieve their dreams through her individualised mentoring.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0      Mark interviews Emma Dhesi, a bestselling author and certified book coach who educates and inspires first-time authors to fulfil a calling and write their debut novel. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.  New content for patrons has dropped here. In the interview, Mark and Emma talk about: How Emma got started in writing as a child at school The waves of how that "itch" to write kept coming to Emma every 6 months or so The feeling of writing that first draft and the effective challenge it was for her Emma's first book THE DAY SHE CAME HOME and how it began as an exploration of post-partum depression The concept of how engaging in the creative life can provide that balance we need How it can look different depending on where on the creative journey we are, but the similarities The importance of trying new things, but then recognizing when it's not the right thing for us at that time in our journey Emma's decision to become an author coach and to help other writers like her The first book being important "evidence" that you can do it The value of even a little bit of positive encouragement Emma's focus on a VERY SPECIFIC demographic instead of trying to create a service to please everyone What Emma is working on now in her writing and in her coaching The online summit Emma is hosting in January 2025 (Be A Bestseller 6.0 - Back to Basics) And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the intrinsic satisfaction of completely that first novel, the importance of proving to yourself that you CAN do it, of trying new things (but being able to stop if that new thing is not for you), and the value of focusing in on a target audience.   Links of Interest: Emma Dhesi's Website Emma's YouTube Channel EP 336 - Coming Out of the Writer Closet With Bradley Charbonneau Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Apollo Cinema Christmas Vacation Event (Kitchener, ON - Dec 12, 2024) Sudbury Indie Cinema / Northern Lights Festival Boreal Christmas Vacation Event (Sudbury, ON - Dec 21, 2024) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Emma Dhesi, bestselling author and certified book coach, educates and inspires first-time authors to fulfil a calling and write their debut novel. Drawing from her own success and training, Emma guides writers to finish their first book through detailed feedback, accountability check-ins, and compassionate support in her year-long 1:1 mentorship. Emma lives in Edinburgh with her husband, three children, three cats, and is passionate about helping authors achieve their dreams through her individualised mentoring.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       EP 391 - Networking for Authors with Dale L. Roberts Networking for Authors with Dale L. Roberts Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:46:00 +0000 Mark interviews Dale L. Roberts about his new book NETWORKING FOR AUTHORS.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads comments from recent episodes, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Mark's book AN AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO WORKING WITH LIBRARIES AND BOOKSTORES.

You can get the book for 50% direct from Mark from now until Jan 2024 using coupon code STARK2024 at checkout. Patrons will get access to a 75% off coupon for that book and a wider range of titles from Mark's direct sale store.

In their interview Mark and Dale talk about:

  • How long it has been since Dale has been on the Stark Reflections podcast. (Episode 96 - Sept 2019)
  • Dale's first big breakthrough in the indie author space and how that led to him pivoting to becoming a YouTube content creator
  • Dale's passion for helping showing other authors things related to the business of writing and publishing
  • Their mutual passion for Rush
  • How the word networking can be thought of as a "dirty" word
  • Dale's unique approach to networking as an introverted person, by looking at it like a good movie or some other product that he enjoys and wanting to share that "thing" with someone else. IE, "This is super cool. You should know about this" translated into "This person is super cool. You should know them."
  • Having a pool of like-minded business professionals
  • An example of a solid and long-lasting bond Dale helped two people forge and the satisfaction that comes from that
  • How this type of work connecting people is a "let me feed my soul" type of thing
  • The way that some in person events can be extremely overwhelming for Dale and how he deals with it
  • Dale's YouTube platform being up to 1700 videos
  • How it's not about the number of times you fall down, it's the number of times you get back up
  • The advice Dale received from Nick Thacker whenever he's being too hard on himself and picking apart something he has done
  • The importance of at least showing up as a good starting step
  • How S.D. Huston is so good at what she does at connecting with people and making opportunities and the way she shows up in so many different places
  • Some of the things that authors can get wrong when they are networking
  • The importance of asking questions when you're networking not just because it makes you seem more interesting, but it also helps you to uncover more things, some of which you might have in common
  • How you should not try to rush relationships
  • Remember that authors are a rare breed (particularly when you're in non-writer circles)
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things that Dale talked about.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Dale L. Roberts is a self-publishing advocate, award-winning author, and renowned video creator. With over 50 publications, he has become an authority in self-publishing, leading him to create his own YouTube channel, Self-Publishing with Dale, regarded as one of the premier information resources in the indie publishing community. Dale lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife Kelli and two rescue cats, Auggie and Allie.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark interviews Dale L. Roberts about his new book NETWORKING FOR AUTHORS.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads comments from recent episodes, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Mark's book AN AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO WORKING WITH LIBRARIES AND BOOKSTORES.

You can get the book for 50% direct from Mark from now until Jan 2024 using coupon code STARK2024 at checkout. Patrons will get access to a 75% off coupon for that book and a wider range of titles from Mark's direct sale store.

In their interview Mark and Dale talk about:

  • How long it has been since Dale has been on the Stark Reflections podcast. (Episode 96 - Sept 2019)
  • Dale's first big breakthrough in the indie author space and how that led to him pivoting to becoming a YouTube content creator
  • Dale's passion for helping showing other authors things related to the business of writing and publishing
  • Their mutual passion for Rush
  • How the word networking can be thought of as a "dirty" word
  • Dale's unique approach to networking as an introverted person, by looking at it like a good movie or some other product that he enjoys and wanting to share that "thing" with someone else. IE, "This is super cool. You should know about this" translated into "This person is super cool. You should know them."
  • Having a pool of like-minded business professionals
  • An example of a solid and long-lasting bond Dale helped two people forge and the satisfaction that comes from that
  • How this type of work connecting people is a "let me feed my soul" type of thing
  • The way that some in person events can be extremely overwhelming for Dale and how he deals with it
  • Dale's YouTube platform being up to 1700 videos
  • How it's not about the number of times you fall down, it's the number of times you get back up
  • The advice Dale received from Nick Thacker whenever he's being too hard on himself and picking apart something he has done
  • The importance of at least showing up as a good starting step
  • How S.D. Huston is so good at what she does at connecting with people and making opportunities and the way she shows up in so many different places
  • Some of the things that authors can get wrong when they are networking
  • The importance of asking questions when you're networking not just because it makes you seem more interesting, but it also helps you to uncover more things, some of which you might have in common
  • How you should not try to rush relationships
  • Remember that authors are a rare breed (particularly when you're in non-writer circles)
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things that Dale talked about.

Links of Interest:

Dale L. Roberts is a self-publishing advocate, award-winning author, and renowned video creator. With over 50 publications, he has become an authority in self-publishing, leading him to create his own YouTube channel, Self-Publishing with Dale, regarded as one of the premier information resources in the indie publishing community. Dale lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife Kelli and two rescue cats, Auggie and Allie.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 56:31 false 7 391 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Dale L. Roberts about his new book NETWORKING FOR AUTHORS. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads comments from recent episodes, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Mark's book AN AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO WORKING WITH LIBRARIES AND BOOKSTORES. You can get the book for 50% direct from Mark from now until Jan 2024 using coupon code STARK2024 at checkout. Patrons will get access to a 75% off coupon for that book and a wider range of titles from Mark's direct sale store. In their interview Mark and Dale talk about: How long it has been since Dale has been on the Stark Reflections podcast. (Episode 96 - Sept 2019) Dale's first big breakthrough in the indie author space and how that led to him pivoting to becoming a YouTube content creator Dale's passion for helping showing other authors things related to the business of writing and publishing Their mutual passion for Rush How the word networking can be thought of as a "dirty" word Dale's unique approach to networking as an introverted person, by looking at it like a good movie or some other product that he enjoys and wanting to share that "thing" with someone else. IE, "This is super cool. You should know about this" translated into "This person is super cool. You should know them." Having a pool of like-minded business professionals An example of a solid and long-lasting bond Dale helped two people forge and the satisfaction that comes from that How this type of work connecting people is a "let me feed my soul" type of thing The way that some in person events can be extremely overwhelming for Dale and how he deals with it Dale's YouTube platform being up to 1700 videos How it's not about the number of times you fall down, it's the number of times you get back up The advice Dale received from Nick Thacker whenever he's being too hard on himself and picking apart something he has done The importance of at least showing up as a good starting step How S.D. Huston is so good at what she does at connecting with people and making opportunities and the way she shows up in so many different places Some of the things that authors can get wrong when they are networking The importance of asking questions when you're networking not just because it makes you seem more interesting, but it also helps you to uncover more things, some of which you might have in common How you should not try to rush relationships Remember that authors are a rare breed (particularly when you're in non-writer circles) And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things that Dale talked about.   Links of Interest: Self Publishing with Dale Dale L. Roberts YouTube Dale's Books EP 096 - Focusing on And Delivering to Your Audience with Dale L. Roberts EP 390 - Author Accounting Made Simple with D.F. Hart Don Rickles Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Dale L. Roberts is a self-publishing advocate, award-winning author, and renowned video creator. With over 50 publications, he has become an authority in self-publishing, leading him to create his own YouTube channel, Self-Publishing with Dale, regarded as one of the premier information resources in the indie publishing community. Dale lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife Kelli and two rescue cats, Auggie and Allie.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark interviews Dale L. Roberts about his new book NETWORKING FOR AUTHORS. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads comments from recent episodes, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Mark's book AN AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO WORKING WITH LIBRARIES AND BOOKSTORES. You can get the book for 50% direct from Mark from now until Jan 2024 using coupon code STARK2024 at checkout. Patrons will get access to a 75% off coupon for that book and a wider range of titles from Mark's direct sale store. In their interview Mark and Dale talk about: How long it has been since Dale has been on the Stark Reflections podcast. (Episode 96 - Sept 2019) Dale's first big breakthrough in the indie author space and how that led to him pivoting to becoming a YouTube content creator Dale's passion for helping showing other authors things related to the business of writing and publishing Their mutual passion for Rush How the word networking can be thought of as a "dirty" word Dale's unique approach to networking as an introverted person, by looking at it like a good movie or some other product that he enjoys and wanting to share that "thing" with someone else. IE, "This is super cool. You should know about this" translated into "This person is super cool. You should know them." Having a pool of like-minded business professionals An example of a solid and long-lasting bond Dale helped two people forge and the satisfaction that comes from that How this type of work connecting people is a "let me feed my soul" type of thing The way that some in person events can be extremely overwhelming for Dale and how he deals with it Dale's YouTube platform being up to 1700 videos How it's not about the number of times you fall down, it's the number of times you get back up The advice Dale received from Nick Thacker whenever he's being too hard on himself and picking apart something he has done The importance of at least showing up as a good starting step How S.D. Huston is so good at what she does at connecting with people and making opportunities and the way she shows up in so many different places Some of the things that authors can get wrong when they are networking The importance of asking questions when you're networking not just because it makes you seem more interesting, but it also helps you to uncover more things, some of which you might have in common How you should not try to rush relationships Remember that authors are a rare breed (particularly when you're in non-writer circles) And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things that Dale talked about.   Links of Interest: Self Publishing with Dale Dale L. Roberts YouTube Dale's Books EP 096 - Focusing on And Delivering to Your Audience with Dale L. Roberts EP 390 - Author Accounting Made Simple with D.F. Hart Don Rickles Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation   Dale L. Roberts is a self-publishing advocate, award-winning author, and renowned video creator. With over 50 publications, he has become an authority in self-publishing, leading him to create his own YouTube channel, Self-Publishing with Dale, regarded as one of the premier information resources in the indie publishing community. Dale lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife Kelli and two rescue cats, Auggie and Allie.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 390 - Author Accounting Made Simple with D.F. Hart EP 390 - Author Accounting Made Simple with D.F. Hart Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:32:00 +0000 Mark interviews author D.F. Hart about 2 of Harts Business Services, a company she founded with her sister by empowering indie authors and small businesses through bookkeeping services that not only track the 'in and out' but also provide tailored product analysis reporting to assist authors in growing their business.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the 2024 Novel Writing Storybundle - Only available until the end of November 2024.

 

In the interview, Mark and DeAnna talk about

  • How long it has been since D.F. Hart and Mark co-authored a book (Accounting for Authors) in March 2022
  • The work she has done as an accountant which started with Wide for the Win, an indie author, and a local newspaper back in April 2022
  • Walking away from her full-time day job in July of 2024 in order to have the time to support the growing roster of clients she works with
  • The various specific things that she is tracking for her author clients every month
  • How book-keeping firms from outside the book industry might not effectively classify sales by the unique formats and categories, which can help authors track trends
  • Never asking for platform login information out of respect for the confidentiality and privacy of their clients
  • The benefit of having a balance sheet and a profit and loss statement that makes it easier for a CPA to get their taxes done more efficiently
  • How there is a difference between an MBA and a CAP - ie, that the services DeAnna offers do not include taxes
  • DeAnna's recommended 30/30/40 split rule for managing income
  • The importance of trying to figure out what your own time is worth when you're determining which tasks you'll be doing yourself and which tasks you'll hand over to others
  • The initial consultant DeAnna will do with a potential client who is interested in leveraging the 2 of Harts Accounting services
  • How DeAnna and her co-owner/founder sister have a combined 47 years of accounting experience between them
  • The impact that running this full time service for authors has had on DeAnna's own writing
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the payment cycles for authors and then also talks about a special virtual workshop that DeAnna will be running for his patrons.

 

Links of Interest:

 

DeAnna Hart is an Accounting veteran with over twenty-seven years' experience and a deep background in multiple industries including manufacturing, wholesale distribution, commercial construction, higher education, rotorcraft services, and industrial equipment sales and rental.

She's done it all, from full cycle Accounts Payable all the way up to preparing monthly financial statements and everything in between.

DeAnna holds a Masters of Business Administration with Accounting concentration.

She's also a fellow indie author! Her pen name is D.F. Hart, and with nineteen titles and counting under her belt – including Accounting for Authors – she understands the nuances and challenges specific to self-publishing that indie authors face.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews author D.F. Hart about 2 of Harts Business Services, a company she founded with her sister by empowering indie authors and small businesses through bookkeeping services that not only track the 'in and out' but also provide tailored product analysis reporting to assist authors in growing their business.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the 2024 Novel Writing Storybundle - Only available until the end of November 2024.

In the interview, Mark and DeAnna talk about

  • How long it has been since D.F. Hart and Mark co-authored a book (Accounting for Authors) in March 2022
  • The work she has done as an accountant which started with Wide for the Win, an indie author, and a local newspaper back in April 2022
  • Walking away from her full-time day job in July of 2024 in order to have the time to support the growing roster of clients she works with
  • The various specific things that she is tracking for her author clients every month
  • How book-keeping firms from outside the book industry might not effectively classify sales by the unique formats and categories, which can help authors track trends
  • Never asking for platform login information out of respect for the confidentiality and privacy of their clients
  • The benefit of having a balance sheet and a profit and loss statement that makes it easier for a CPA to get their taxes done more efficiently
  • How there is a difference between an MBA and a CAP - ie, that the services DeAnna offers do not include taxes
  • DeAnna's recommended 30/30/40 split rule for managing income
  • The importance of trying to figure out what your own time is worth when you're determining which tasks you'll be doing yourself and which tasks you'll hand over to others
  • The initial consultant DeAnna will do with a potential client who is interested in leveraging the 2 of Harts Accounting services
  • How DeAnna and her co-owner/founder sister have a combined 47 years of accounting experience between them
  • The impact that running this full time service for authors has had on DeAnna's own writing
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the payment cycles for authors and then also talks about a special virtual workshop that DeAnna will be running for his patrons.

Links of Interest:

DeAnna Hart is an Accounting veteran with over twenty-seven years' experience and a deep background in multiple industries including manufacturing, wholesale distribution, commercial construction, higher education, rotorcraft services, and industrial equipment sales and rental.

She's done it all, from full cycle Accounts Payable all the way up to preparing monthly financial statements and everything in between.

DeAnna holds a Masters of Business Administration with Accounting concentration.

She's also a fellow indie author! Her pen name is D.F. Hart, and with nineteen titles and counting under her belt – including Accounting for Authors – she understands the nuances and challenges specific to self-publishing that indie authors face.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 52:00 false 7 390 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author D.F. Hart about 2 of Harts Business Services, a company she founded with her sister by empowering indie authors and small businesses through bookkeeping services that not only track the 'in and out' but also provide tailored product analysis reporting to assist authors in growing their business. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the 2024 Novel Writing Storybundle - Only available until the end of November 2024.   In the interview, Mark and DeAnna talk about How long it has been since D.F. Hart and Mark co-authored a book (Accounting for Authors) in March 2022 The work she has done as an accountant which started with Wide for the Win, an indie author, and a local newspaper back in April 2022 Walking away from her full-time day job in July of 2024 in order to have the time to support the growing roster of clients she works with The various specific things that she is tracking for her author clients every month How book-keeping firms from outside the book industry might not effectively classify sales by the unique formats and categories, which can help authors track trends Never asking for platform login information out of respect for the confidentiality and privacy of their clients The benefit of having a balance sheet and a profit and loss statement that makes it easier for a CPA to get their taxes done more efficiently How there is a difference between an MBA and a CAP - ie, that the services DeAnna offers do not include taxes DeAnna's recommended 30/30/40 split rule for managing income The importance of trying to figure out what your own time is worth when you're determining which tasks you'll be doing yourself and which tasks you'll hand over to others The initial consultant DeAnna will do with a potential client who is interested in leveraging the 2 of Harts Accounting services How DeAnna and her co-owner/founder sister have a combined 47 years of accounting experience between them The impact that running this full time service for authors has had on DeAnna's own writing And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the payment cycles for authors and then also talks about a special virtual workshop that DeAnna will be running for his patrons.   Links of Interest: 2 of Harts Business Services Accounting for Authors (Book) Wide for the Win: Getting The Most Out of In Person Conferences Authors Giving Thanks: A Self-Publishing Insiders Thanksgiving Writer Beware Storybundle.com/writing EP 155 - Rebel Reflections with Guest Host Sacha Black EP 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel with Sacha Black EP 387- Rambling Reflections From The Disappointing Aftermath EP 389 - "Now You've Gone" with Cathy Rankin & Ken K. Mary One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Books2Read Link Shop Local (Canadian Indie Bookstore Lookup) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   DeAnna Hart is an Accounting veteran with over twenty-seven years' experience and a deep background in multiple industries including manufacturing, wholesale distribution, commercial construction, higher education, rotorcraft services, and industrial equipment sales and rental. She's done it all, from full cycle Accounts Payable all the way up to preparing monthly financial statements and everything in between. DeAnna holds a Masters of Business Administration with Accounting concentration. She's also a fellow indie author! Her pen name is D.F. Hart, and with nineteen titles and counting under her belt – including Accounting for Authors – she understands the nuances and challenges specific to self-publishing that indie authors face.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews author D.F. Hart about 2 of Harts Business Services, a company she founded with her sister by empowering indie authors and small businesses through bookkeeping services that not only track the 'in and out' but also provide tailored product analysis reporting to assist authors in growing their business. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the 2024 Novel Writing Storybundle - Only available until the end of November 2024.   In the interview, Mark and DeAnna talk about How long it has been since D.F. Hart and Mark co-authored a book (Accounting for Authors) in March 2022 The work she has done as an accountant which started with Wide for the Win, an indie author, and a local newspaper back in April 2022 Walking away from her full-time day job in July of 2024 in order to have the time to support the growing roster of clients she works with The various specific things that she is tracking for her author clients every month How book-keeping firms from outside the book industry might not effectively classify sales by the unique formats and categories, which can help authors track trends Never asking for platform login information out of respect for the confidentiality and privacy of their clients The benefit of having a balance sheet and a profit and loss statement that makes it easier for a CPA to get their taxes done more efficiently How there is a difference between an MBA and a CAP - ie, that the services DeAnna offers do not include taxes DeAnna's recommended 30/30/40 split rule for managing income The importance of trying to figure out what your own time is worth when you're determining which tasks you'll be doing yourself and which tasks you'll hand over to others The initial consultant DeAnna will do with a potential client who is interested in leveraging the 2 of Harts Accounting services How DeAnna and her co-owner/founder sister have a combined 47 years of accounting experience between them The impact that running this full time service for authors has had on DeAnna's own writing And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the payment cycles for authors and then also talks about a special virtual workshop that DeAnna will be running for his patrons.   Links of Interest: 2 of Harts Business Services Accounting for Authors (Book) Wide for the Win: Getting The Most Out of In Person Conferences Authors Giving Thanks: A Self-Publishing Insiders Thanksgiving Writer Beware Storybundle.com/writing EP 155 - Rebel Reflections with Guest Host Sacha Black EP 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel with Sacha Black EP 387- Rambling Reflections From The Disappointing Aftermath EP 389 - "Now You've Gone" with Cathy Rankin & Ken K. Mary One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Books2Read Link Shop Local (Canadian Indie Bookstore Lookup) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   DeAnna Hart is an Accounting veteran with over twenty-seven years' experience and a deep background in multiple industries including manufacturing, wholesale distribution, commercial construction, higher education, rotorcraft services, and industrial equipment sales and rental. She's done it all, from full cycle Accounts Payable all the way up to preparing monthly financial statements and everything in between. DeAnna holds a Masters of Business Administration with Accounting concentration. She's also a fellow indie author! Her pen name is D.F. Hart, and with nineteen titles and counting under her belt – including Accounting for Authors – she understands the nuances and challenges specific to self-publishing that indie authors face.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 389 - "Now You've Gone" with Cathy Rankin and Ken K. Mary EP 389 - "Now You've Gone" with Cathy Rankin and Ken K. Mary Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:52:00 +0000 Mark interviews Cathy Rankin and Ken Mary about Cathy's new single "Now You've Gone."

On October 29, 2024, Cathy Rankin released her debut single "Now You've Gone," featuring renowned musicians David Ellefson (formerly of Megadeth) Ken Mary (formerly of Alice Cooper) and John Ronson. The emotional track, inspired by deeply personal experiences, reflects on themes of love, grief, and ultimately hope.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the 2024 Novel Writing Storybundle - Only available until the end of November 2024.

 

In the interview, Mark, Cathy, and Ken talk about:

  • Cathy's various family members who are musicians, her first exposure to music when she was young and how that impacted her creative life
  • Getting into theatre, and acting, when she was little, but not having the confidence in music itself
  • The first time Cathy had to perform a singing scene when she was acting in a film
  • The difference between being a performing musician and being a live host
  • Ken's background as a musician having toured with various different artists over the years
  • How being the lead singer might be one of the more difficult positions to be in, since the majority of the audience focus is on them (rather than, for example, the drummer)
  • The concept of the instrument choosing the musician rather than it being the other way around - and how that's the way it was for Ken and playing the drums
  • How playing drums was never "work" for Ken no matter what type of band he was in
  • The great producers that Ken has worked alongside over the years
  • The way that Cathy and Ken first met and started to work together (When Jon Ronson asked Cathy to interview Ken about his most recent album)
  • Cathy showing some of her poems to Ken and getting some feedback on the option to produce one of them into a song
  • How everything in this production unfolded organically and the chemistry of Cathy and the musicians in producing the song
  • The delightful lyrical and musical Easter Eggs that appear in the song
  • The connection between Neil Peart's loss of his daughter and the loss of Cathy's nephew Christian and why the song is a tribute to both their memories
  • What people who want to support the musical artists can do to help out

 

After the interview Mark reflects on three different things that came up in the conversation, including the magic of organic creativity, the concept of playing a character when on stage, and the value of art, music, poetry, and prose in expressing deep emotion and forging connections.

Clips from "Now You've Gone" have been used with permission.

"Now You've Gone" is performed by:
Cathy Rankin - Vocals, Lyrics
Ken Mary - Drums/Percussion
David Ellefson - Bass
John Bronson - Guitar
Produced and Mixed by Ken Mary/Sonic Phish Studios with contribution by Thomas Laufenberg

 

Links of Interest:

 

One look and listen at Cathy Rankin and her stellar high notes, and you know she was born to entertain. Whether on stage, on camera, or in any crowd, Rankin brings a strong female voice to her music on every level. Never one to take a backseat, this force-to-be-reckoned-with doesn't just move fans with her powerful vocals, but also proudly reps the girls while holding her own with the guys. And, in Cathy's case, it's not just any ordinary "guys" that are part of her project, its renowned rockers David Ellefson, bassist (Kings of Thrash, Dieth, formerly of Megadeth), Ken Mary, Drummer/Composer/Producer (Flotsam and Jetsam, Great White, Fifth Angel, formerly of Alice Cooper and House of Lords), and guitarist John Bronson. This formidable line-up is on display on her new single, "Now You've Gone," with more music arriving soon.

Cathy's natural inclination for music and performance was evident from an early age when she vowed she would be a singer and actor, and her dream never wavered. Her grandfather first influenced her love of music. An accomplished professional big band musician, he played saxophone, clarinet, flute, piccolo and piano, primarily by ear, practicing in his music room with Cathy paying close attention. This exposure, along with her grandmother, one of the first female violinists in the Scottsdale Symphony, and guidance from her big sister who played drums in the popular 80s metal band, Whiskey Blu, formed the musical foundation that would be a lifelong passion for this songstress. While Cathy's influences were wide-ranging, her original work is deeply rooted in classic rock woven with elements of blues, a touch of prog and at times even country, taking listeners on a journey reminiscent of the iconic frontwomen that defined female rock, such as Nicks, Wilson and Benatar.

As a member of popular cover bands, Superhero and Daisy Train, Cathy spent years performing full time for thousands of audiences on countless stages, from Superbowl Fanfest, to corporate events, festivals and the Vegas Strip. Cathy is also co-host of the Metal Hall of Fame with Eddie Trunk (That Metal Show, Trunk Nation), and host of the annual Bubba Bash honoring Neil Peart. And through in-depth interviews with award-winning artists such as John Waite, Geoff Tate, Lita Ford, KIX, Winger, Fifth Angel, and more, Cathy has been able to share that education and inspiration with countless other passionate music fans.

Ken K. Mary is an American musician who has worked as a drummer, producer, engineer, and record executive on over thirty-five albums. He has worked in genres from heavy rock to choral music. Mary is best known for his work with acts such as Accept, Fifth Angel, Chastain, TKO, Impellitteri, House of Lords, Bonfire and Alice Cooper, and is currently the drummer of Flotsam and Jetsam and Jack Russell's Great White

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Cathy Rankin and Ken Mary about Cathy's new single "Now You've Gone."

On October 29, 2024, Cathy Rankin released her debut single "Now You've Gone," featuring renowned musicians David Ellefson (formerly of Megadeth) Ken Mary (formerly of Alice Cooper) and John Ronson. The emotional track, inspired by deeply personal experiences, reflects on themes of love, grief, and ultimately hope.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the 2024 Novel Writing Storybundle - Only available until the end of November 2024.

In the interview, Mark, Cathy, and Ken talk about:

  • Cathy's various family members who are musicians, her first exposure to music when she was young and how that impacted her creative life
  • Getting into theatre, and acting, when she was little, but not having the confidence in music itself
  • The first time Cathy had to perform a singing scene when she was acting in a film
  • The difference between being a performing musician and being a live host
  • Ken's background as a musician having toured with various different artists over the years
  • How being the lead singer might be one of the more difficult positions to be in, since the majority of the audience focus is on them (rather than, for example, the drummer)
  • The concept of the instrument choosing the musician rather than it being the other way around - and how that's the way it was for Ken and playing the drums
  • How playing drums was never "work" for Ken no matter what type of band he was in
  • The great producers that Ken has worked alongside over the years
  • The way that Cathy and Ken first met and started to work together (When Jon Ronson asked Cathy to interview Ken about his most recent album)
  • Cathy showing some of her poems to Ken and getting some feedback on the option to produce one of them into a song
  • How everything in this production unfolded organically and the chemistry of Cathy and the musicians in producing the song
  • The delightful lyrical and musical Easter Eggs that appear in the song
  • The connection between Neil Peart's loss of his daughter and the loss of Cathy's nephew Christian and why the song is a tribute to both their memories
  • What people who want to support the musical artists can do to help out

After the interview Mark reflects on three different things that came up in the conversation, including the magic of organic creativity, the concept of playing a character when on stage, and the value of art, music, poetry, and prose in expressing deep emotion and forging connections.

Clips from "Now You've Gone" have been used with permission.

"Now You've Gone" is performed by: Cathy Rankin - Vocals, Lyrics Ken Mary - Drums/Percussion David Ellefson - Bass John Bronson - Guitar Produced and Mixed by Ken Mary/Sonic Phish Studios with contribution by Thomas Laufenberg

Links of Interest:

One look and listen at Cathy Rankin and her stellar high notes, and you know she was born to entertain. Whether on stage, on camera, or in any crowd, Rankin brings a strong female voice to her music on every level. Never one to take a backseat, this force-to-be-reckoned-with doesn't just move fans with her powerful vocals, but also proudly reps the girls while holding her own with the guys. And, in Cathy's case, it's not just any ordinary "guys" that are part of her project, its renowned rockers David Ellefson, bassist (Kings of Thrash, Dieth, formerly of Megadeth), Ken Mary, Drummer/Composer/Producer (Flotsam and Jetsam, Great White, Fifth Angel, formerly of Alice Cooper and House of Lords), and guitarist John Bronson. This formidable line-up is on display on her new single, "Now You've Gone," with more music arriving soon.

Cathy's natural inclination for music and performance was evident from an early age when she vowed she would be a singer and actor, and her dream never wavered. Her grandfather first influenced her love of music. An accomplished professional big band musician, he played saxophone, clarinet, flute, piccolo and piano, primarily by ear, practicing in his music room with Cathy paying close attention. This exposure, along with her grandmother, one of the first female violinists in the Scottsdale Symphony, and guidance from her big sister who played drums in the popular 80s metal band, Whiskey Blu, formed the musical foundation that would be a lifelong passion for this songstress. While Cathy's influences were wide-ranging, her original work is deeply rooted in classic rock woven with elements of blues, a touch of prog and at times even country, taking listeners on a journey reminiscent of the iconic frontwomen that defined female rock, such as Nicks, Wilson and Benatar.

As a member of popular cover bands, Superhero and Daisy Train, Cathy spent years performing full time for thousands of audiences on countless stages, from Superbowl Fanfest, to corporate events, festivals and the Vegas Strip. Cathy is also co-host of the Metal Hall of Fame with Eddie Trunk (That Metal Show, Trunk Nation), and host of the annual Bubba Bash honoring Neil Peart. And through in-depth interviews with award-winning artists such as John Waite, Geoff Tate, Lita Ford, KIX, Winger, Fifth Angel, and more, Cathy has been able to share that education and inspiration with countless other passionate music fans.

Ken K. Mary is an American musician who has worked as a drummer, producer, engineer, and record executive on over thirty-five albums. He has worked in genres from heavy rock to choral music. Mary is best known for his work with acts such as Accept, Fifth Angel, Chastain, TKO, Impellitteri, House of Lords, Bonfire and Alice Cooper, and is currently the drummer of Flotsam and Jetsam and Jack Russell's Great White

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:05:50 false 7 389 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Cathy Rankin and Ken Mary about Cathy's new single "Now You've Gone." On October 29, 2024, Cathy Rankin released her debut single "Now You've Gone," featuring renowned musicians David Ellefson (formerly of Megadeth) Ken Mary (formerly of Alice Cooper) and John Ronson. The emotional track, inspired by deeply personal experiences, reflects on themes of love, grief, and ultimately hope. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the 2024 Novel Writing Storybundle - Only available until the end of November 2024.   In the interview, Mark, Cathy, and Ken talk about: Cathy's various family members who are musicians, her first exposure to music when she was young and how that impacted her creative life Getting into theatre, and acting, when she was little, but not having the confidence in music itself The first time Cathy had to perform a singing scene when she was acting in a film The difference between being a performing musician and being a live host Ken's background as a musician having toured with various different artists over the years How being the lead singer might be one of the more difficult positions to be in, since the majority of the audience focus is on them (rather than, for example, the drummer) The concept of the instrument choosing the musician rather than it being the other way around - and how that's the way it was for Ken and playing the drums How playing drums was never "work" for Ken no matter what type of band he was in The great producers that Ken has worked alongside over the years The way that Cathy and Ken first met and started to work together (When Jon Ronson asked Cathy to interview Ken about his most recent album) Cathy showing some of her poems to Ken and getting some feedback on the option to produce one of them into a song How everything in this production unfolded organically and the chemistry of Cathy and the musicians in producing the song The delightful lyrical and musical Easter Eggs that appear in the song The connection between Neil Peart's loss of his daughter and the loss of Cathy's nephew Christian and why the song is a tribute to both their memories What people who want to support the musical artists can do to help out   After the interview Mark reflects on three different things that came up in the conversation, including the magic of organic creativity, the concept of playing a character when on stage, and the value of art, music, poetry, and prose in expressing deep emotion and forging connections. Clips from "Now You've Gone" have been used with permission. "Now You've Gone" is performed by: Cathy Rankin - Vocals, Lyrics Ken Mary - Drums/Percussion David Ellefson - Bass John Bronson - Guitar Produced and Mixed by Ken Mary/Sonic Phish Studios with contribution by Thomas Laufenberg   Links of Interest: Now You've Gone (YouTube) Cathy Rankin (Website) Instagram Facebook YouTube TikTok Twitter (X) Ken Mary Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter (X) Superhero (Band) Merchandise from Deko Entertainment Storybundle.com/writing EP 388 - Unconditional Boundaries with Andy Lidstone EP 387- Rambling Reflections From The Disappointing Aftermath One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Books2Read Link Shop Local (Canadian Indie Bookstore Lookup) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   One look and listen at Cathy Rankin and her stellar high notes, and you know she was born to entertain. Whether on stage, on camera, or in any crowd, Rankin brings a strong female voice to her music on every level. Never one to take a backseat, this force-to-be-reckoned-with doesn't just move fans with her powerful vocals, but also proudly reps the girls while holding her own with the guys. And, in Cathy's case, it's not just any ordinary "guys" that are part of her project, its renowned rockers David Ellefson, bassist (Kings of Thrash, Dieth, formerly of Megadeth), Ken Mary, Drummer/Composer/Producer (Flotsam and Jetsam, Great White, Fifth Angel, formerly of Alice Cooper and House of Lords), and guitarist John Bronson. This formidable line-up is on display on her new single, "Now You've Gone," with more music arriving soon. Cathy's natural inclination for music and performance was evident from an early age when she vowed she would be a singer and actor, and her dream never wavered. Her grandfather first influenced her love of music. An accomplished professional big band musician, he played saxophone, clarinet, flute, piccolo and piano, primarily by ear, practicing in his music room with Cathy paying close attention. This exposure, along with her grandmother, one of the first female violinists in the Scottsdale Symphony, and guidance from her big sister who played drums in the popular 80s metal band, Whiskey Blu, formed the musical foundation that would be a lifelong passion for this songstress. While Cathy's influences were wide-ranging, her original work is deeply rooted in classic rock woven with elements of blues, a touch of prog and at times even country, taking listeners on a journey reminiscent of the iconic frontwomen that defined female rock, such as Nicks, Wilson and Benatar. As a member of popular cover bands, Superhero and Daisy Train, Cathy spent years performing full time for thousands of audiences on countless stages, from Superbowl Fanfest, to corporate events, festivals and the Vegas Strip. Cathy is also co-host of the Metal Hall of Fame with Eddie Trunk (That Metal Show, Trunk Nation), and host of the annual Bubba Bash honoring Neil Peart. And through in-depth interviews with award-winning artists such as John Waite, Geoff Tate, Lita Ford, KIX, Winger, Fifth Angel, and more, Cathy has been able to share that education and inspiration with countless other passionate music fans. Ken K. Mary is an American musician who has worked as a drummer, producer, engineer, and record executive on over thirty-five albums. He has worked in genres from heavy rock to choral music. Mary is best known for his work with acts such as Accept, Fifth Angel, Chastain, TKO, Impellitteri, House of Lords, Bonfire and Alice Cooper, and is currently the drummer of Flotsam and Jetsam and Jack Russell's Great White   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Cathy Rankin and Ken Mary about Cathy's new single "Now You've Gone." On October 29, 2024, Cathy Rankin released her debut single "Now You've Gone," featuring renowned musicians David Ellefson (formerly of Megadeth) Ken Mary (formerly of Alice Cooper) and John Ronson. The emotional track, inspired by deeply personal experiences, reflects on themes of love, grief, and ultimately hope. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the 2024 Novel Writing Storybundle - Only available until the end of November 2024.   In the interview, Mark, Cathy, and Ken talk about: Cathy's various family members who are musicians, her first exposure to music when she was young and how that impacted her creative life Getting into theatre, and acting, when she was little, but not having the confidence in music itself The first time Cathy had to perform a singing scene when she was acting in a film The difference between being a performing musician and being a live host Ken's background as a musician having toured with various different artists over the years How being the lead singer might be one of the more difficult positions to be in, since the majority of the audience focus is on them (rather than, for example, the drummer) The concept of the instrument choosing the musician rather than it being the other way around - and how that's the way it was for Ken and playing the drums How playing drums was never "work" for Ken no matter what type of band he was in The great producers that Ken has worked alongside over the years The way that Cathy and Ken first met and started to work together (When Jon Ronson asked Cathy to interview Ken about his most recent album) Cathy showing some of her poems to Ken and getting some feedback on the option to produce one of them into a song How everything in this production unfolded organically and the chemistry of Cathy and the musicians in producing the song The delightful lyrical and musical Easter Eggs that appear in the song The connection between Neil Peart's loss of his daughter and the loss of Cathy's nephew Christian and why the song is a tribute to both their memories What people who want to support the musical artists can do to help out   After the interview Mark reflects on three different things that came up in the conversation, including the magic of organic creativity, the concept of playing a character when on stage, and the value of art, music, poetry, and prose in expressing deep emotion and forging connections. Clips from "Now You've Gone" have been used with permission. "Now You've Gone" is performed by: Cathy Rankin - Vocals, Lyrics Ken Mary - Drums/Percussion David Ellefson - Bass John Bronson - Guitar Produced and Mixed by Ken Mary/Sonic Phish Studios with contribution by Thomas Laufenberg   Links of Interest: Now You've Gone (YouTube) Cathy Rankin (Website) Instagram Facebook YouTube TikTok Twitter (X) Ken Mary Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter (X) Superhero (Band) Merchandise from Deko Entertainment Storybundle.com/writing EP 388 - Unconditional Boundaries with Andy Lidstone EP 387- Rambling Reflections From The Disappointing Aftermath One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Books2Read Link Shop Local (Canadian Indie Bookstore Lookup) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   One look and listen at Cathy Rankin and her stellar high notes, and you know she was born to entertain. Whether on stage, on camera, or in any crowd, Rankin brings a strong female voice to her music on every level. Never one to take a backseat, this force-to-be-reckoned-with doesn't just move fans with her powerful vocals, but also proudly reps the girls while holding her own with the guys. And, in Cathy's case, it's not just any ordinary "guys" that are part of her project, its renowned rockers David Ellefson, bassist (Kings of Thrash, Dieth, formerly of Megadeth), Ken Mary, Drummer/Composer/Producer (Flotsam and Jetsam, Great White, Fifth Angel, formerly of Alice Cooper and House of Lords), and guitarist John Bronson. This formidable line-up is on display on her new single, "Now You've Gone," with more music arriving soon. Cathy's natural inclination for music and performance was evident from an early age when she vowed she would be a singer and actor, and her dream never wavered. Her grandfather first influenced her love of music. An accomplished professional big band musician, he played saxophone, clarinet, flute, piccolo and piano, primarily by ear, practicing in his music room with Cathy paying close attention. This exposure, along with her grandmother, one of the first female violinists in the Scottsdale Symphony, and guidance from her big sister who played drums in the popular 80s metal band, Whiskey Blu, formed the musical foundation that would be a lifelong passion for this songstress. While Cathy's influences were wide-ranging, her original work is deeply rooted in classic rock woven with elements of blues, a touch of prog and at times even country, taking listeners on a journey reminiscent of the iconic frontwomen that defined female rock, such as Nicks, Wilson and Benatar. As a member of popular cover bands, Superhero and Daisy Train, Cathy spent years performing full time for thousands of audiences on countless stages, from Superbowl Fanfest, to corporate events, festivals and the Vegas Strip. Cathy is also co-host of the Metal Hall of Fame with Eddie Trunk (That Metal Show, Trunk Nation), and host of the annual Bubba Bash honoring Neil Peart. And through in-depth interviews with award-winning artists such as John Waite, Geoff Tate, Lita Ford, KIX, Winger, Fifth Angel, and more, Cathy has been able to share that education and inspiration with countless other passionate music fans. Ken K. Mary is an American musician who has worked as a drummer, producer, engineer, and record executive on over thirty-five albums. He has worked in genres from heavy rock to choral music. Mary is best known for his work with acts such as Accept, Fifth Angel, Chastain, TKO, Impellitteri, House of Lords, Bonfire and Alice Cooper, and is currently the drummer of Flotsam and Jetsam and Jack Russell's Great White   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 388 - Unconditional Boundaries with Andy Lidstone Unconditional Boundaries with Andy Lidstone Thu, 14 Nov 2024 22:21:00 +0000 Mark interviews Andy Lidstone about the unconditional boundaries he talks about in his life coaching as the Uncondictional Coach.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie. 

 

Links of Interest:

 

Andy Lidstone is the Unconditional Coach. Andy's biggest dream it to help other people reach their goals. And HIS goal is to help people of all walks of life make their dreams into reality. He believes the best communities are the ones made up of people that build each other up and help one another reach for the stars.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Andy Lidstone about the unconditional boundaries he talks about in his life coaching as the Uncondictional Coach.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.

Links of Interest:

Andy Lidstone is the Unconditional Coach. Andy's biggest dream it to help other people reach their goals. And HIS goal is to help people of all walks of life make their dreams into reality. He believes the best communities are the ones made up of people that build each other up and help one another reach for the stars.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:08:17 false 7 388 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Andy Lidstone about the unconditional boundaries he talks about in his life coaching as the Uncondictional Coach. This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.    Links of Interest: Andy Lidstone's Unconditional Coach EP 387- Rambling Reflections From The Disappointing Aftermath One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Books2Read Link Shop Local (Canadian Indie Bookstore Lookup) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Andy Lidstone is the Unconditional Coach. Andy's biggest dream it to help other people reach their goals. And HIS goal is to help people of all walks of life make their dreams into reality. He believes the best communities are the ones made up of people that build each other up and help one another reach for the stars.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Andy Lidstone about the unconditional boundaries he talks about in his life coaching as the Uncondictional Coach. This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.    Links of Interest: Andy Lidstone's Unconditional Coach EP 387- Rambling Reflections From The Disappointing Aftermath One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Books2Read Link Shop Local (Canadian Indie Bookstore Lookup) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Andy Lidstone is the Unconditional Coach. Andy's biggest dream it to help other people reach their goals. And HIS goal is to help people of all walks of life make their dreams into reality. He believes the best communities are the ones made up of people that build each other up and help one another reach for the stars.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 387 - Rambling Reflections From The Disappointing Aftermath Rambling Reflections From The Disappointing Aftermath Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:49:00 +0000 In this solo episode Mark reflects on how disappointed he is with the recent US election, and the importance of creators, artists, and writers to continue to do their work as storytellers and improving the world.

This episode contains adult language, but only for a brief moment when Mark loses his cool when trying to express his anger and frustration.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode Mark reflects on how disappointed he is with the recent US election, and the importance of creators, artists, and writers to continue to do their work as storytellers and improving the world.

This episode contains adult language, but only for a brief moment when Mark loses his cool when trying to express his anger and frustration.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 34:59 true 7 387 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark reflects on how disappointed he is with the recent US election, and the importance of creators, artists, and writers to continue to do their work as storytellers and improving the world. This episode contains adult language, but only for a brief moment when Mark loses his cool when trying to express his anger and frustration.   Links of Interest: Amie McNee's Website Instagram We Need Your Art (Book) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Books2Read Link The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode Mark reflects on how disappointed he is with the recent US election, and the importance of creators, artists, and writers to continue to do their work as storytellers and improving the world. This episode contains adult language, but only for a brief moment when Mark loses his cool when trying to express his anger and frustration.   Links of Interest: Amie McNee's Website Instagram We Need Your Art (Book) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Books2Read Link The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 386 - Inside Every Poem, a Raging Sea of Writerly Advice with Liz Worth Inside Every Poem, a Raging Sea of Writerly Advice with Liz Worth Fri, 01 Nov 2024 13:50:00 +0000 Mark interviews Liz Worth about her new poetry book Inside Every Poem, A Raging Sea.

Mark skips the regular introductory matter to skip right to the interview.

In their interview Mark and Liz talk about:

  • How the book is about p laying with the idea of the cross-over or similarities between spell-writing and poetry
  • The way that every line, every word counts in each of them
  • Thoughts on what intuition really is as opposed to what many people think it is
  • The importance of having to know the rules before you break them and how that works in both divination and writing
  • How a lot of the poems in this collection were written in the depths of the pandemic when things were closed down, as well as when Liz's mother was living with dementia and in the last years of her life
  • Her mother being a magical thinker and the influence her mother had on Liz
  • Certain lines and ideas that would come to Liz as she was going out on regular walks
  • Filling up a notebook she had found on the curb with these ideas and poems
  • The way a lot of writing happens for Liz not while she's sitting at her desk, but out walking or doing other things
  • How every piece of writing can have its own energy and have a life of its own that helps guide you when creating it
  • The unique interpretations that different readers can apply to a piece of writing
  • The recent popularity in horror-adjacent poetry
  • Remembering that poetry can be rebellious and that it doesn't have to be academic or dry
  • The process of putting the book of poetry together and then pitching it to a publisher
  • The joy of working with a publisher like Book Hug Press
  • The type of light editing that happens with a book of poetry
  • Specific placement of poems within the book
  • A bit behind the title poem "Inside Every Dream, a Raging Sea"
  • Some of the themes that appear in the collection
  • What Liz is working on now
  • Advice Liz would offer to anyone wanting to try their hand at poetry
  • And more...

 

 

Links of Interest:

 

Liz Worth is a poet, novelist and nonfiction writer. She is a two-time nominee for the ReLit Award for Poetry for her books The Truth is Told Better This Way and No Work Finished Here: Rewriting Andy Warhol. Her first book, Treat Me Like Dirt, was the first of its kind to provide an in-depth history of southern Ontario's first wave punk movement. Her new poetry book, Inside Every Dream, a Raging Sea is published through Book*hug Press.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Liz Worth about her new poetry book Inside Every Poem, A Raging Sea.

Mark skips the regular introductory matter to skip right to the interview.

In their interview Mark and Liz talk about:

  • How the book is about p laying with the idea of the cross-over or similarities between spell-writing and poetry
  • The way that every line, every word counts in each of them
  • Thoughts on what intuition really is as opposed to what many people think it is
  • The importance of having to know the rules before you break them and how that works in both divination and writing
  • How a lot of the poems in this collection were written in the depths of the pandemic when things were closed down, as well as when Liz's mother was living with dementia and in the last years of her life
  • Her mother being a magical thinker and the influence her mother had on Liz
  • Certain lines and ideas that would come to Liz as she was going out on regular walks
  • Filling up a notebook she had found on the curb with these ideas and poems
  • The way a lot of writing happens for Liz not while she's sitting at her desk, but out walking or doing other things
  • How every piece of writing can have its own energy and have a life of its own that helps guide you when creating it
  • The unique interpretations that different readers can apply to a piece of writing
  • The recent popularity in horror-adjacent poetry
  • Remembering that poetry can be rebellious and that it doesn't have to be academic or dry
  • The process of putting the book of poetry together and then pitching it to a publisher
  • The joy of working with a publisher like Book Hug Press
  • The type of light editing that happens with a book of poetry
  • Specific placement of poems within the book
  • A bit behind the title poem "Inside Every Dream, a Raging Sea"
  • Some of the themes that appear in the collection
  • What Liz is working on now
  • Advice Liz would offer to anyone wanting to try their hand at poetry
  • And more...

Links of Interest:

Liz Worth is a poet, novelist and nonfiction writer. She is a two-time nominee for the ReLit Award for Poetry for her books The Truth is Told Better This Way and No Work Finished Here: Rewriting Andy Warhol. Her first book, Treat Me Like Dirt, was the first of its kind to provide an in-depth history of southern Ontario's first wave punk movement. Her new poetry book, Inside Every Dream, a Raging Sea is published through Book*hug Press.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 48:09 false 7 386 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Liz Worth about her new poetry book Inside Every Poem, A Raging Sea. Mark skips the regular introductory matter to skip right to the interview. In their interview Mark and Liz talk about: How the book is about p laying with the idea of the cross-over or similarities between spell-writing and poetry The way that every line, every word counts in each of them Thoughts on what intuition really is as opposed to what many people think it is The importance of having to know the rules before you break them and how that works in both divination and writing How a lot of the poems in this collection were written in the depths of the pandemic when things were closed down, as well as when Liz's mother was living with dementia and in the last years of her life Her mother being a magical thinker and the influence her mother had on Liz Certain lines and ideas that would come to Liz as she was going out on regular walks Filling up a notebook she had found on the curb with these ideas and poems The way a lot of writing happens for Liz not while she's sitting at her desk, but out walking or doing other things How every piece of writing can have its own energy and have a life of its own that helps guide you when creating it The unique interpretations that different readers can apply to a piece of writing The recent popularity in horror-adjacent poetry Remembering that poetry can be rebellious and that it doesn't have to be academic or dry The process of putting the book of poetry together and then pitching it to a publisher The joy of working with a publisher like Book Hug Press The type of light editing that happens with a book of poetry Specific placement of poems within the book A bit behind the title poem "Inside Every Dream, a Raging Sea" Some of the themes that appear in the collection What Liz is working on now Advice Liz would offer to anyone wanting to try their hand at poetry And more...     Links of Interest: Liz Worth's Website Instagram Book Hug Press Episode 387 - Vulnerability in Writing....with Liz Worth One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Books2Read Link Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Liz Worth is a poet, novelist and nonfiction writer. She is a two-time nominee for the ReLit Award for Poetry for her books The Truth is Told Better This Way and No Work Finished Here: Rewriting Andy Warhol. Her first book, Treat Me Like Dirt, was the first of its kind to provide an in-depth history of southern Ontario's first wave punk movement. Her new poetry book, Inside Every Dream, a Raging Sea is published through Book*hug Press.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Liz Worth about her new poetry book Inside Every Poem, A Raging Sea. Mark skips the regular introductory matter to skip right to the interview. In their interview Mark and Liz talk about: How the book is about p laying with the idea of the cross-over or similarities between spell-writing and poetry The way that every line, every word counts in each of them Thoughts on what intuition really is as opposed to what many people think it is The importance of having to know the rules before you break them and how that works in both divination and writing How a lot of the poems in this collection were written in the depths of the pandemic when things were closed down, as well as when Liz's mother was living with dementia and in the last years of her life Her mother being a magical thinker and the influence her mother had on Liz Certain lines and ideas that would come to Liz as she was going out on regular walks Filling up a notebook she had found on the curb with these ideas and poems The way a lot of writing happens for Liz not while she's sitting at her desk, but out walking or doing other things How every piece of writing can have its own energy and have a life of its own that helps guide you when creating it The unique interpretations that different readers can apply to a piece of writing The recent popularity in horror-adjacent poetry Remembering that poetry can be rebellious and that it doesn't have to be academic or dry The process of putting the book of poetry together and then pitching it to a publisher The joy of working with a publisher like Book Hug Press The type of light editing that happens with a book of poetry Specific placement of poems within the book A bit behind the title poem "Inside Every Dream, a Raging Sea" Some of the themes that appear in the collection What Liz is working on now Advice Liz would offer to anyone wanting to try their hand at poetry And more...     Links of Interest: Liz Worth's Website Instagram Book Hug Press Episode 387 - Vulnerability in Writing....with Liz Worth One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Books2Read Link Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Liz Worth is a poet, novelist and nonfiction writer. She is a two-time nominee for the ReLit Award for Poetry for her books The Truth is Told Better This Way and No Work Finished Here: Rewriting Andy Warhol. Her first book, Treat Me Like Dirt, was the first of its kind to provide an in-depth history of southern Ontario's first wave punk movement. Her new poetry book, Inside Every Dream, a Raging Sea is published through Book*hug Press.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 385 - Rambling Reflections From The Road: Go West Not So Young Man Rambling Reflections From The Road: Go West Not So Young Man Thu, 24 Oct 2024 23:00:00 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark shares a few thoughts from his hotel room in Victoria, British Columbia, on Canada's West Coast.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie. 

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode, Mark shares a few thoughts from his hotel room in Victoria, British Columbia, on Canada's West Coast.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 30:46 false 7 385 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark shares a few thoughts from his hotel room in Victoria, British Columbia, on Canada's West Coast. This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.    Links of Interest: One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Books2Read Link Shop Local (Canadian Indie Bookstore Lookup) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode, Mark shares a few thoughts from his hotel room in Victoria, British Columbia, on Canada's West Coast. This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.    Links of Interest: One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Books2Read Link Shop Local (Canadian Indie Bookstore Lookup) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 384 - Rambling Reflections From The Road: World Fantasy Con 2024 Rambling Reflections From The Road: World Fantasy Con 2024 Thu, 17 Oct 2024 22:00:00 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark shares a few thoughts from the hotel room at World Fantasy Con 2024 in Niagara Falls, New York.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie. 

From Mark's extremely detailed bullet points about what he wanted to reflect on:

1) Coming to WFC.

2) The nature of relationships in the writing world/community

3) Feeling like a real writer (via recent events)

4) But also feeling like a failure - afternoon at Indigo

5) 

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> In this solo episode, Mark shares a few thoughts from the hotel room at World Fantasy Con 2024 in Niagara Falls, New York.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.

From Mark's extremely detailed bullet points about what he wanted to reflect on:

1) Coming to WFC.

2) The nature of relationships in the writing world/community

3) Feeling like a real writer (via recent events)

4) But also feeling like a failure - afternoon at Indigo

5)

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 43:32 false 7 384 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark shares a few thoughts from the hotel room at World Fantasy Con 2024 in Niagara Falls, New York. This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.  From Mark's extremely detailed bullet points about what he wanted to reflect on: 1) Coming to WFC. 2) The nature of relationships in the writing world/community 3) Feeling like a real writer (via recent events) 4) But also feeling like a failure - afternoon at Indigo 5)    Links of Interest: One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Books2Read Link Shop Local (Canadian Indie Bookstore Lookup) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this solo episode, Mark shares a few thoughts from the hotel room at World Fantasy Con 2024 in Niagara Falls, New York. This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.  From Mark's extremely detailed bullet points about what he wanted to reflect on: 1) Coming to WFC. 2) The nature of relationships in the writing world/community 3) Feeling like a real writer (via recent events) 4) But also feeling like a failure - afternoon at Indigo 5)    Links of Interest: One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Books2Read Link Shop Local (Canadian Indie Bookstore Lookup) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 383 - 20 Haunting Years 20 Haunting Years Thu, 10 Oct 2024 23:00:00 +0000 In this solo episode Mark talks through the logic and reasoning behind a recent book launch by sharing a little of his own experience and publication history.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie. 

 

Mark shares the behind-the-scenes story of:

  • Why he first self-published the book One Hand Screaming in 2004 
  • The logistics and strategy behind making it fully returnable and why he was trying to push the envelope of publishing so early in the digital publishing revolution
  • A little bit of his experience as a writer in those manual "mail out submissions" days
  • The reasoning behind wanting to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this first published book by launching One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years
  • Why he invested into getting this self-published book into a traditional distribution warehouse in Canada with a sales team -- and what that means
  • Collaborating with a local brewery to create a tie-in beer One Hop Screaming

 

  • Some of the marketing and branding logistics, reasoning, and strategies being used for the book launch
  • Products and marketing swag that Mark is leveraging, including a bonus "haunted beer" story to go along with the beer (QR code printed on the beer cans and the double-sided coasters

 

Mark also shares a couple of new marketing tools that he has come across and been experimenting with that are designed to help an author maximize their ability to create sales copy, draft up press releases, provide comp author/comp title information, and more.

 

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> In this solo episode Mark talks through the logic and reasoning behind a recent book launch by sharing a little of his own experience and publication history.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.

Mark shares the behind-the-scenes story of:

  • Why he first self-published the book One Hand Screaming in 2004
  • The logistics and strategy behind making it fully returnable and why he was trying to push the envelope of publishing so early in the digital publishing revolution
  • A little bit of his experience as a writer in those manual "mail out submissions" days
  • The reasoning behind wanting to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this first published book by launching One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years
  • Why he invested into getting this self-published book into a traditional distribution warehouse in Canada with a sales team -- and what that means
  • Collaborating with a local brewery to create a tie-in beer One Hop Screaming

  • Some of the marketing and branding logistics, reasoning, and strategies being used for the book launch
  • Products and marketing swag that Mark is leveraging, including a bonus "haunted beer" story to go along with the beer (QR code printed on the beer cans and the double-sided coasters

Mark also shares a couple of new marketing tools that he has come across and been experimenting with that are designed to help an author maximize their ability to create sales copy, draft up press releases, provide comp author/comp title information, and more.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:14:39 false 7 383 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark talks through the logic and reasoning behind a recent book launch by sharing a little of his own experience and publication history. This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.    Mark shares the behind-the-scenes story of: Why he first self-published the book One Hand Screaming in 2004  The logistics and strategy behind making it fully returnable and why he was trying to push the envelope of publishing so early in the digital publishing revolution A little bit of his experience as a writer in those manual "mail out submissions" days The reasoning behind wanting to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this first published book by launching One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Why he invested into getting this self-published book into a traditional distribution warehouse in Canada with a sales team -- and what that means Collaborating with a local brewery to create a tie-in beer One Hop Screaming   Some of the marketing and branding logistics, reasoning, and strategies being used for the book launch Products and marketing swag that Mark is leveraging, including a bonus "haunted beer" story to go along with the beer (QR code printed on the beer cans and the double-sided coasters   Mark also shares a couple of new marketing tools that he has come across and been experimenting with that are designed to help an author maximize their ability to create sales copy, draft up press releases, provide comp author/comp title information, and more.     Links of Interest: One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Books2Read Link Counterpoint Brewing One Hop Screaming (Beer - online order) One Hop Screaming and One Hand Screaming (Online order) "As One Hop Screams" (Haunted beer story) Mark's 2006 to 2011 Podcast: Prelude to a Scream Shop Local (Canadian Indie Bookstore Lookup) Marketing Tools Mentioned NoteBookLM (Google) ManuscriptReport.com (Manuscript Marketing Report) Social Media Content Generator Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this solo episode Mark talks through the logic and reasoning behind a recent book launch by sharing a little of his own experience and publication history. This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at https://patreon.com/starkreflections and https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie.    Mark shares the behind-the-scenes story of: Why he first self-published the book One Hand Screaming in 2004  The logistics and strategy behind making it fully returnable and why he was trying to push the envelope of publishing so early in the digital publishing revolution A little bit of his experience as a writer in those manual "mail out submissions" days The reasoning behind wanting to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this first published book by launching One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Why he invested into getting this self-published book into a traditional distribution warehouse in Canada with a sales team -- and what that means Collaborating with a local brewery to create a tie-in beer One Hop Screaming   Some of the marketing and branding logistics, reasoning, and strategies being used for the book launch Products and marketing swag that Mark is leveraging, including a bonus "haunted beer" story to go along with the beer (QR code printed on the beer cans and the double-sided coasters   Mark also shares a couple of new marketing tools that he has come across and been experimenting with that are designed to help an author maximize their ability to create sales copy, draft up press releases, provide comp author/comp title information, and more.     Links of Interest: One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years Books2Read Link Counterpoint Brewing One Hop Screaming (Beer - online order) One Hop Screaming and One Hand Screaming (Online order) "As One Hop Screams" (Haunted beer story) Mark's 2006 to 2011 Podcast: Prelude to a Scream Shop Local (Canadian Indie Bookstore Lookup) Marketing Tools Mentioned NoteBookLM (Google) ManuscriptReport.com (Manuscript Marketing Report) Social Media Content Generator Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 382 - From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker Fri, 04 Oct 2024 20:37:00 +0000 Mark interviews Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn about their new co-authored book From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker.

Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the Fall 2024 Novel Writing Storybundle.

In their conversation, Matty, Michael, and Mark talk about:

  • A bit of a refresher/background for both Matty and Michael
  • Dale L. Roberts being the person who connected the two of them together
  • How they got the idea for the book when both at a Writer's Digest conference together
  • The process of going about writing the book together
  • The flight instructor term of the "awkward exchange of control"
  • Why a writer might be interested in getting into speaking
  • A look at the importance of fleshing out your goals from speaking
  • How speaking can open up new opportunities for a writer
  • Some of the key strengths that can be brought to a speaking engagement, such as storytelling or making a talk feel more like a conversation
  • The "dress for the job that you want" aspect for speakers
  • Ideas for how to get started particularly if you're nervous about speaking to a large group of people
  • Some of the do's and don'ts for doing panels, author readings, keynotes, etc
  • Advise for authors who are on a panel
  • The concept of stepping up if necessary if the moderator isn't performing the job as well as they should
  • Matty's concept of the two different bios - the "speaker application bio" and the "brief speaker introduction" bio
  • Tips for professional behavior and things author speakers should consider doing
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things from the interview and also shares a special offer for Patrons related to the aforementioned Storybundle.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels and Suspense Shorts. She also podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. Her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine, and she serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors.


Michael La Ronn is the author of over 100 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has managed to write while raising a family, working a full-time job, and attending law school. Michael runs the award-winning YouTube channel "Author Level Up," and Michael serves as the Outreach Manager for ALLi.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn about their new co-authored book From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker.

Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the Fall 2024 Novel Writing Storybundle.

In their conversation, Matty, Michael, and Mark talk about:

  • A bit of a refresher/background for both Matty and Michael
  • Dale L. Roberts being the person who connected the two of them together
  • How they got the idea for the book when both at a Writer's Digest conference together
  • The process of going about writing the book together
  • The flight instructor term of the "awkward exchange of control"
  • Why a writer might be interested in getting into speaking
  • A look at the importance of fleshing out your goals from speaking
  • How speaking can open up new opportunities for a writer
  • Some of the key strengths that can be brought to a speaking engagement, such as storytelling or making a talk feel more like a conversation
  • The "dress for the job that you want" aspect for speakers
  • Ideas for how to get started particularly if you're nervous about speaking to a large group of people
  • Some of the do's and don'ts for doing panels, author readings, keynotes, etc
  • Advise for authors who are on a panel
  • The concept of stepping up if necessary if the moderator isn't performing the job as well as they should
  • Matty's concept of the two different bios - the "speaker application bio" and the "brief speaker introduction" bio
  • Tips for professional behavior and things author speakers should consider doing
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things from the interview and also shares a special offer for Patrons related to the aforementioned Storybundle.

Links of Interest:

Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels and Suspense Shorts. She also podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. Her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine, and she serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Michael La Ronn is the author of over 100 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has managed to write while raising a family, working a full-time job, and attending law school. Michael runs the award-winning YouTube channel "Author Level Up," and Michael serves as the Outreach Manager for ALLi.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:08:28 false 7 382 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn about their new co-authored book From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker. Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor This episode is sponsored by the Fall 2024 Novel Writing Storybundle. In their conversation, Matty, Michael, and Mark talk about: A bit of a refresher/background for both Matty and Michael Dale L. Roberts being the person who connected the two of them together How they got the idea for the book when both at a Writer's Digest conference together The process of going about writing the book together The flight instructor term of the "awkward exchange of control" Why a writer might be interested in getting into speaking A look at the importance of fleshing out your goals from speaking How speaking can open up new opportunities for a writer Some of the key strengths that can be brought to a speaking engagement, such as storytelling or making a talk feel more like a conversation The "dress for the job that you want" aspect for speakers Ideas for how to get started particularly if you're nervous about speaking to a large group of people Some of the do's and don'ts for doing panels, author readings, keynotes, etc Advise for authors who are on a panel The concept of stepping up if necessary if the moderator isn't performing the job as well as they should Matty's concept of the two different bios - the "speaker application bio" and the "brief speaker introduction" bio Tips for professional behavior and things author speakers should consider doing And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things from the interview and also shares a special offer for Patrons related to the aforementioned Storybundle.   Links of Interest: Matty Dalrymple's Author Site Michael's Author Level Up Site The Indy Author EP 379 - Simplify Your Life and Your Work With Dre Baldwin Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels and Suspense Shorts. She also podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. Her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine, and she serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors. Michael La Ronn is the author of over 100 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has managed to write while raising a family, working a full-time job, and attending law school. Michael runs the award-winning YouTube channel "Author Level Up," and Michael serves as the Outreach Manager for ALLi.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn about their new co-authored book From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker. Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor This episode is sponsored by the Fall 2024 Novel Writing Storybundle. In their conversation, Matty, Michael, and Mark talk about: A bit of a refresher/background for both Matty and Michael Dale L. Roberts being the person who connected the two of them together How they got the idea for the book when both at a Writer's Digest conference together The process of going about writing the book together The flight instructor term of the "awkward exchange of control" Why a writer might be interested in getting into speaking A look at the importance of fleshing out your goals from speaking How speaking can open up new opportunities for a writer Some of the key strengths that can be brought to a speaking engagement, such as storytelling or making a talk feel more like a conversation The "dress for the job that you want" aspect for speakers Ideas for how to get started particularly if you're nervous about speaking to a large group of people Some of the do's and don'ts for doing panels, author readings, keynotes, etc Advise for authors who are on a panel The concept of stepping up if necessary if the moderator isn't performing the job as well as they should Matty's concept of the two different bios - the "speaker application bio" and the "brief speaker introduction" bio Tips for professional behavior and things author speakers should consider doing And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things from the interview and also shares a special offer for Patrons related to the aforementioned Storybundle.   Links of Interest: Matty Dalrymple's Author Site Michael's Author Level Up Site The Indy Author EP 379 - Simplify Your Life and Your Work With Dre Baldwin Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels and Suspense Shorts. She also podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. Her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine, and she serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors. Michael La Ronn is the author of over 100 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has managed to write while raising a family, working a full-time job, and attending law school. Michael runs the award-winning YouTube channel "Author Level Up," and Michael serves as the Outreach Manager for ALLi.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 381 - Showcasing Independent Bookstores, Publishers, And Authors with Andrew Snook Showcasing Independent Bookstores, Publishers, And Authors with Andrew Snook Fri, 27 Sep 2024 01:44:00 +0000 Mark interviews Andrew Snook about his writing and editing work as well as Canadian Independent Publishers magazine, which is celebrating its first anniversary.

Prior to the interview Mark welcomes new Patrons, shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor

This episode is sponsored by FROM PAGE TO PLATFORM by Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn. You can learn more about the book at https://theindyauthor.com/platform.

In their conversation, Mark and Andrew talk about:

  • Celebrating the first year of publishing Canadian Independent Author
  • Andrew's first ventures self-publishing many many ago
  • Some of the early novels and novellas that Andrew released
  • Moving to Ottawa to become a newspaper reporter so that he could write full time
  • Moving back to Mississauga and getting a role in the Business-to-Business magazine business
  • Starting up his own company in 2019
  • The six issues per year of Canadian Independent Publishers Magazine
  • How the magazine is still a cost center and is not yet generating a profit - and how the goal is to have the magazine at least pay for itself
  • The gig Andrew got going to local hockey games and covering them and how that led to an internship with Metroland (who owned the paper), and eventually a job with a local newspaper
  • The form for Canadian authors interested in advertising their books in this magazine
  • The flash fiction contest Andrew is running to help Canadian authors in showcasing their work
  • When Mark and Andrew first met at Hamilton Comic Con several years ago
  • The small reader fee for submitting to this contest, which is $25
  • How Mark is offering for any Canadian authors listening who are interested in submitting to this flash fiction contest that Mark will pay the entry fee for the first 4 who contact him (form link)
  • The two books in the Remy series Andrew wrote
  • The dice rolling interactive gamebook Andrew published
  • The introductory chapter book Andrew published partially as a way to provide content for his daughter and other similar readers who were interested in the chapter book format, but with slightly longer chapters
  • The impact that working on and producing this magazine has had on Andrew's writing time
  • How Andrew used to work around his family and work schedule to get his writing done
  • Andrew's experience teaching young kids creating writing and how that led to going back to further his post-secondary education
  • Mistakes Andrew has made as a writer
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things from his chat with Andrew and then shares how Canadian writers can participate in the promotional ad opportunity as well as in the flash fiction contest.

 

Links of Interest:

 

https://www.canadianindependentpublishers.ca/

 

Andrew Snook has been working as a professional writer and editor for 15 years. He started his writing career as a newspaper reporter in the Ottawa area before moving to Toronto to take on various roles as a magazine editor and feature writer for a variety of business publications. In 2019, he founded his content creation company, Snookbooks Publishing. 

In his spare time, Snook is an avid fiction writer and reader. He has published four works of fiction to date: Remy's Dilemma (2015); Remy's Dilemma: Special Delivery (2019); Dungeon Jest: The Ruby of Power (2022); and The Snookie-Cookie Crew and the Cranberry Cookie Cruncher (2022). Snook's fiction and business writing have won him a combined 22 national and international awards, which is neat, but he's happier knowing he made someone laugh out loud while reading his books during an inappropriate moment.

Snook is also passionate about promoting independent authors, bookstores and publishers. In 2023, he founded Canadian Independent Publishers Magazine, which is dedicated to offering a platform for showcasing Canadian writers.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Andrew Snook about his writing and editing work as well as Canadian Independent Publishers magazine, which is celebrating its first anniversary.

Prior to the interview Mark welcomes new Patrons, shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor

This episode is sponsored by FROM PAGE TO PLATFORM by Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn. You can learn more about the book at https://theindyauthor.com/platform.

In their conversation, Mark and Andrew talk about:

  • Celebrating the first year of publishing Canadian Independent Author
  • Andrew's first ventures self-publishing many many ago
  • Some of the early novels and novellas that Andrew released
  • Moving to Ottawa to become a newspaper reporter so that he could write full time
  • Moving back to Mississauga and getting a role in the Business-to-Business magazine business
  • Starting up his own company in 2019
  • The six issues per year of Canadian Independent Publishers Magazine
  • How the magazine is still a cost center and is not yet generating a profit - and how the goal is to have the magazine at least pay for itself
  • The gig Andrew got going to local hockey games and covering them and how that led to an internship with Metroland (who owned the paper), and eventually a job with a local newspaper
  • The form for Canadian authors interested in advertising their books in this magazine
  • The flash fiction contest Andrew is running to help Canadian authors in showcasing their work
  • When Mark and Andrew first met at Hamilton Comic Con several years ago
  • The small reader fee for submitting to this contest, which is $25
  • How Mark is offering for any Canadian authors listening who are interested in submitting to this flash fiction contest that Mark will pay the entry fee for the first 4 who contact him (form link)
  • The two books in the Remy series Andrew wrote
  • The dice rolling interactive gamebook Andrew published
  • The introductory chapter book Andrew published partially as a way to provide content for his daughter and other similar readers who were interested in the chapter book format, but with slightly longer chapters
  • The impact that working on and producing this magazine has had on Andrew's writing time
  • How Andrew used to work around his family and work schedule to get his writing done
  • Andrew's experience teaching young kids creating writing and how that led to going back to further his post-secondary education
  • Mistakes Andrew has made as a writer
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things from his chat with Andrew and then shares how Canadian writers can participate in the promotional ad opportunity as well as in the flash fiction contest.

Links of Interest:

https://www.canadianindependentpublishers.ca/

Andrew Snook has been working as a professional writer and editor for 15 years. He started his writing career as a newspaper reporter in the Ottawa area before moving to Toronto to take on various roles as a magazine editor and feature writer for a variety of business publications. In 2019, he founded his content creation company, Snookbooks Publishing.

In his spare time, Snook is an avid fiction writer and reader. He has published four works of fiction to date: Remy's Dilemma (2015); Remy's Dilemma: Special Delivery (2019); Dungeon Jest: The Ruby of Power (2022); and The Snookie-Cookie Crew and the Cranberry Cookie Cruncher (2022). Snook's fiction and business writing have won him a combined 22 national and international awards, which is neat, but he's happier knowing he made someone laugh out loud while reading his books during an inappropriate moment.

Snook is also passionate about promoting independent authors, bookstores and publishers. In 2023, he founded Canadian Independent Publishers Magazine, which is dedicated to offering a platform for showcasing Canadian writers.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 58:35 false 7 381 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Andrew Snook about his writing and editing work as well as Canadian Independent Publishers magazine, which is celebrating its first anniversary. Prior to the interview Mark welcomes new Patrons, shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor This episode is sponsored by FROM PAGE TO PLATFORM by Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn. You can learn more about the book at https://theindyauthor.com/platform. In their conversation, Mark and Andrew talk about: Celebrating the first year of publishing Canadian Independent Author Andrew's first ventures self-publishing many many ago Some of the early novels and novellas that Andrew released Moving to Ottawa to become a newspaper reporter so that he could write full time Moving back to Mississauga and getting a role in the Business-to-Business magazine business Starting up his own company in 2019 The six issues per year of Canadian Independent Publishers Magazine How the magazine is still a cost center and is not yet generating a profit - and how the goal is to have the magazine at least pay for itself The gig Andrew got going to local hockey games and covering them and how that led to an internship with Metroland (who owned the paper), and eventually a job with a local newspaper The form for Canadian authors interested in advertising their books in this magazine The flash fiction contest Andrew is running to help Canadian authors in showcasing their work When Mark and Andrew first met at Hamilton Comic Con several years ago The small reader fee for submitting to this contest, which is $25 How Mark is offering for any Canadian authors listening who are interested in submitting to this flash fiction contest that Mark will pay the entry fee for the first 4 who contact him (form link) The two books in the Remy series Andrew wrote The dice rolling interactive gamebook Andrew published The introductory chapter book Andrew published partially as a way to provide content for his daughter and other similar readers who were interested in the chapter book format, but with slightly longer chapters The impact that working on and producing this magazine has had on Andrew's writing time How Andrew used to work around his family and work schedule to get his writing done Andrew's experience teaching young kids creating writing and how that led to going back to further his post-secondary education Mistakes Andrew has made as a writer And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things from his chat with Andrew and then shares how Canadian writers can participate in the promotional ad opportunity as well as in the flash fiction contest.   Links of Interest:   https://www.canadianindependentpublishers.ca/ Canadian Independent Publishers Magazine Canadian Authors Interested in Cdn Independent Publishers Mag Opportunities Mark's Kickstarter for ONE HAND SCREAMING: 20 Haunting Years Wide for the Win Wide for the Win New YouTube Channel EP 379 - Simplify Your Life and Your Work With Dre Baldwin Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Andrew Snook has been working as a professional writer and editor for 15 years. He started his writing career as a newspaper reporter in the Ottawa area before moving to Toronto to take on various roles as a magazine editor and feature writer for a variety of business publications. In 2019, he founded his content creation company, Snookbooks Publishing.  In his spare time, Snook is an avid fiction writer and reader. He has published four works of fiction to date: Remy's Dilemma (2015); Remy's Dilemma: Special Delivery (2019); Dungeon Jest: The Ruby of Power (2022); and The Snookie-Cookie Crew and the Cranberry Cookie Cruncher (2022). Snook's fiction and business writing have won him a combined 22 national and international awards, which is neat, but he's happier knowing he made someone laugh out loud while reading his books during an inappropriate moment. Snook is also passionate about promoting independent authors, bookstores and publishers. In 2023, he founded Canadian Independent Publishers Magazine, which is dedicated to offering a platform for showcasing Canadian writers.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Andrew Snook about his writing and editing work as well as Canadian Independent Publishers magazine, which is celebrating its first anniversary. Prior to the interview Mark welcomes new Patrons, shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor This episode is sponsored by FROM PAGE TO PLATFORM by Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn. You can learn more about the book at https://theindyauthor.com/platform. In their conversation, Mark and Andrew talk about: Celebrating the first year of publishing Canadian Independent Author Andrew's first ventures self-publishing many many ago Some of the early novels and novellas that Andrew released Moving to Ottawa to become a newspaper reporter so that he could write full time Moving back to Mississauga and getting a role in the Business-to-Business magazine business Starting up his own company in 2019 The six issues per year of Canadian Independent Publishers Magazine How the magazine is still a cost center and is not yet generating a profit - and how the goal is to have the magazine at least pay for itself The gig Andrew got going to local hockey games and covering them and how that led to an internship with Metroland (who owned the paper), and eventually a job with a local newspaper The form for Canadian authors interested in advertising their books in this magazine The flash fiction contest Andrew is running to help Canadian authors in showcasing their work When Mark and Andrew first met at Hamilton Comic Con several years ago The small reader fee for submitting to this contest, which is $25 How Mark is offering for any Canadian authors listening who are interested in submitting to this flash fiction contest that Mark will pay the entry fee for the first 4 who contact him (form link) The two books in the Remy series Andrew wrote The dice rolling interactive gamebook Andrew published The introductory chapter book Andrew published partially as a way to provide content for his daughter and other similar readers who were interested in the chapter book format, but with slightly longer chapters The impact that working on and producing this magazine has had on Andrew's writing time How Andrew used to work around his family and work schedule to get his writing done Andrew's experience teaching young kids creating writing and how that led to going back to further his post-secondary education Mistakes Andrew has made as a writer And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things from his chat with Andrew and then shares how Canadian writers can participate in the promotional ad opportunity as well as in the flash fiction contest.   Links of Interest:   https://www.canadianindependentpublishers.ca/ Canadian Independent Publishers Magazine Canadian Authors Interested in Cdn Independent Publishers Mag Opportunities Mark's Kickstarter for ONE HAND SCREAMING: 20 Haunting Years Wide for the Win Wide for the Win New YouTube Channel EP 379 - Simplify Your Life and Your Work With Dre Baldwin Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Andrew Snook has been working as a professional writer and editor for 15 years. He started his writing career as a newspaper reporter in the Ottawa area before moving to Toronto to take on various roles as a magazine editor and feature writer for a variety of business publications. In 2019, he founded his content creation company, Snookbooks Publishing.  In his spare time, Snook is an avid fiction writer and reader. He has published four works of fiction to date: Remy's Dilemma (2015); Remy's Dilemma: Special Delivery (2019); Dungeon Jest: The Ruby of Power (2022); and The Snookie-Cookie Crew and the Cranberry Cookie Cruncher (2022). Snook's fiction and business writing have won him a combined 22 national and international awards, which is neat, but he's happier knowing he made someone laugh out loud while reading his books during an inappropriate moment. Snook is also passionate about promoting independent authors, bookstores and publishers. In 2023, he founded Canadian Independent Publishers Magazine, which is dedicated to offering a platform for showcasing Canadian writers.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 380 - Passion Project Publishing with Brianna Wodabek Passion Project Publishing with Brianna Wodabek Fri, 20 Sep 2024 03:56:00 +0000 Mark interviews Brianna Wodabek, Assistant Manager of Digital Marketing at HarperCollins about her lifelong love of reading, books, and writing, and her evolution in the book industry.

Prior to the interview Mark welcomes new Patrons, shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor

This episode is sponsored by FROM PAGE TO PLATFORM by Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn. You can learn more about the book at https://theindyauthor.com/platform.

In their conversation, Mark and Brianna talk about:

  • How Brianna always loved reading and writing, but also knew that she wasn't interested in journalism
  • Finding the brand new Creative Writing & Publishing degree program at Sheridan College
  • Learning improv and how that helped with the overall process involved in publishing pitching
  • Thinking that she would be focusing more on the writing program when she got involved, but pivoting over to the publishing side of things
  • Getting an unofficial internship in her first year with a small Canadian publisher in Oakville, Ontario and being able to gain experience wearing multiple hats
  • Her official internship at Wolsak and Wynn publishing in Hamilton
  • Having to deliver her valedictorian speech for graduation via video because of the global pandemic
  • Securing her first job as Digital Marketing Coordinator at Harper Collins US (HTP Books) within 2 months of graduating and then progressing through a series of promotions to other positions
  • The fact that Harper Collins HTP Books interns are paid
  • The in-house influencer program called "The Hive" that Brianna and one of her colleagues created
  • How there's a growing trend of book influencers who collect more than one edition of a book
  • Brianna's passion project achievement with Voyage of the Damned by Frances White and bringing it to North America despite not being an acquisitions editor
  • How the role of the gatekeeping in the publishing world is being lowered due to additional influencers even from outside the publishing realm - social media influencers, for example
  • The way some publishers are reaching out directly to authors via social media DMs
  • Advice Brianna would share to authors and what she would like them to know about the traditional publishing world
  • The value of being you and being authentic
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of a new type of reader who collects multiple editions of a book, how Brianna's passion led to a fantastic acquisition, and the importance of authenticity.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Brianna Wodabek, an Honours Bachelor graduate in Creative Writing and Publishing, transitioned from independent publishing to her current role as Assistant Manager of Digital Marketing at HarperCollins. In this capacity, Brianna combines her expertise with her passion for storytelling, having notably personally acquiring important books like "Voyage of the Damned" by Frances White and collaborated with authors such as Colleen Hoover, Mary Kubica, Chelsea Devantez, Eve, and more to enhance their brands.

Apart from her professional endeavors, Brianna's written works have been featured in publications like the Journal of Applied Social Science, PAUSE. Magazine, and The Mighty. With her industry experience and creative drive, Brianna is devoted to crafting compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Brianna Wodabek, Assistant Manager of Digital Marketing at HarperCollins about her lifelong love of reading, books, and writing, and her evolution in the book industry.

Prior to the interview Mark welcomes new Patrons, shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor

This episode is sponsored by FROM PAGE TO PLATFORM by Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn. You can learn more about the book at https://theindyauthor.com/platform.

In their conversation, Mark and Brianna talk about:

  • How Brianna always loved reading and writing, but also knew that she wasn't interested in journalism
  • Finding the brand new Creative Writing & Publishing degree program at Sheridan College
  • Learning improv and how that helped with the overall process involved in publishing pitching
  • Thinking that she would be focusing more on the writing program when she got involved, but pivoting over to the publishing side of things
  • Getting an unofficial internship in her first year with a small Canadian publisher in Oakville, Ontario and being able to gain experience wearing multiple hats
  • Her official internship at Wolsak and Wynn publishing in Hamilton
  • Having to deliver her valedictorian speech for graduation via video because of the global pandemic
  • Securing her first job as Digital Marketing Coordinator at Harper Collins US (HTP Books) within 2 months of graduating and then progressing through a series of promotions to other positions
  • The fact that Harper Collins HTP Books interns are paid
  • The in-house influencer program called "The Hive" that Brianna and one of her colleagues created
  • How there's a growing trend of book influencers who collect more than one edition of a book
  • Brianna's passion project achievement with Voyage of the Damned by Frances White and bringing it to North America despite not being an acquisitions editor
  • How the role of the gatekeeping in the publishing world is being lowered due to additional influencers even from outside the publishing realm - social media influencers, for example
  • The way some publishers are reaching out directly to authors via social media DMs
  • Advice Brianna would share to authors and what she would like them to know about the traditional publishing world
  • The value of being you and being authentic
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of a new type of reader who collects multiple editions of a book, how Brianna's passion led to a fantastic acquisition, and the importance of authenticity.

Links of Interest:

Brianna Wodabek, an Honours Bachelor graduate in Creative Writing and Publishing, transitioned from independent publishing to her current role as Assistant Manager of Digital Marketing at HarperCollins. In this capacity, Brianna combines her expertise with her passion for storytelling, having notably personally acquiring important books like "Voyage of the Damned" by Frances White and collaborated with authors such as Colleen Hoover, Mary Kubica, Chelsea Devantez, Eve, and more to enhance their brands.

Apart from her professional endeavors, Brianna's written works have been featured in publications like the Journal of Applied Social Science, PAUSE. Magazine, and The Mighty. With her industry experience and creative drive, Brianna is devoted to crafting compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 58:53 false 7 380 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Brianna Wodabek, Assistant Manager of Digital Marketing at HarperCollins about her lifelong love of reading, books, and writing, and her evolution in the book industry. Prior to the interview Mark welcomes new Patrons, shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor This episode is sponsored by FROM PAGE TO PLATFORM by Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn. You can learn more about the book at https://theindyauthor.com/platform. In their conversation, Mark and Brianna talk about: How Brianna always loved reading and writing, but also knew that she wasn't interested in journalism Finding the brand new Creative Writing & Publishing degree program at Sheridan College Learning improv and how that helped with the overall process involved in publishing pitching Thinking that she would be focusing more on the writing program when she got involved, but pivoting over to the publishing side of things Getting an unofficial internship in her first year with a small Canadian publisher in Oakville, Ontario and being able to gain experience wearing multiple hats Her official internship at Wolsak and Wynn publishing in Hamilton Having to deliver her valedictorian speech for graduation via video because of the global pandemic Securing her first job as Digital Marketing Coordinator at Harper Collins US (HTP Books) within 2 months of graduating and then progressing through a series of promotions to other positions The fact that Harper Collins HTP Books interns are paid The in-house influencer program called "The Hive" that Brianna and one of her colleagues created How there's a growing trend of book influencers who collect more than one edition of a book Brianna's passion project achievement with Voyage of the Damned by Frances White and bringing it to North America despite not being an acquisitions editor How the role of the gatekeeping in the publishing world is being lowered due to additional influencers even from outside the publishing realm - social media influencers, for example The way some publishers are reaching out directly to authors via social media DMs Advice Brianna would share to authors and what she would like them to know about the traditional publishing world The value of being you and being authentic And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of a new type of reader who collects multiple editions of a book, how Brianna's passion led to a fantastic acquisition, and the importance of authenticity.   Links of Interest: HTP Books Voyage of the Damned by Frances White Brianna Wodebek on Instagram Mark's Kickstarter for ONE HAND SCREAMING: 20 Haunting Years Wide for the Win Wide for the Win New YouTube Channel EP 379 - Simplify Your Life and Your Work With Dre Baldwin Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Brianna Wodabek, an Honours Bachelor graduate in Creative Writing and Publishing, transitioned from independent publishing to her current role as Assistant Manager of Digital Marketing at HarperCollins. In this capacity, Brianna combines her expertise with her passion for storytelling, having notably personally acquiring important books like "Voyage of the Damned" by Frances White and collaborated with authors such as Colleen Hoover, Mary Kubica, Chelsea Devantez, Eve, and more to enhance their brands. Apart from her professional endeavors, Brianna's written works have been featured in publications like the Journal of Applied Social Science, PAUSE. Magazine, and The Mighty. With her industry experience and creative drive, Brianna is devoted to crafting compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Brianna Wodabek, Assistant Manager of Digital Marketing at HarperCollins about her lifelong love of reading, books, and writing, and her evolution in the book industry. Prior to the interview Mark welcomes new Patrons, shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor This episode is sponsored by FROM PAGE TO PLATFORM by Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn. You can learn more about the book at https://theindyauthor.com/platform. In their conversation, Mark and Brianna talk about: How Brianna always loved reading and writing, but also knew that she wasn't interested in journalism Finding the brand new Creative Writing & Publishing degree program at Sheridan College Learning improv and how that helped with the overall process involved in publishing pitching Thinking that she would be focusing more on the writing program when she got involved, but pivoting over to the publishing side of things Getting an unofficial internship in her first year with a small Canadian publisher in Oakville, Ontario and being able to gain experience wearing multiple hats Her official internship at Wolsak and Wynn publishing in Hamilton Having to deliver her valedictorian speech for graduation via video because of the global pandemic Securing her first job as Digital Marketing Coordinator at Harper Collins US (HTP Books) within 2 months of graduating and then progressing through a series of promotions to other positions The fact that Harper Collins HTP Books interns are paid The in-house influencer program called "The Hive" that Brianna and one of her colleagues created How there's a growing trend of book influencers who collect more than one edition of a book Brianna's passion project achievement with Voyage of the Damned by Frances White and bringing it to North America despite not being an acquisitions editor How the role of the gatekeeping in the publishing world is being lowered due to additional influencers even from outside the publishing realm - social media influencers, for example The way some publishers are reaching out directly to authors via social media DMs Advice Brianna would share to authors and what she would like them to know about the traditional publishing world The value of being you and being authentic And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of a new type of reader who collects multiple editions of a book, how Brianna's passion led to a fantastic acquisition, and the importance of authenticity.   Links of Interest: HTP Books Voyage of the Damned by Frances White Brianna Wodebek on Instagram Mark's Kickstarter for ONE HAND SCREAMING: 20 Haunting Years Wide for the Win Wide for the Win New YouTube Channel EP 379 - Simplify Your Life and Your Work With Dre Baldwin Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Brianna Wodabek, an Honours Bachelor graduate in Creative Writing and Publishing, transitioned from independent publishing to her current role as Assistant Manager of Digital Marketing at HarperCollins. In this capacity, Brianna combines her expertise with her passion for storytelling, having notably personally acquiring important books like "Voyage of the Damned" by Frances White and collaborated with authors such as Colleen Hoover, Mary Kubica, Chelsea Devantez, Eve, and more to enhance their brands. Apart from her professional endeavors, Brianna's written works have been featured in publications like the Journal of Applied Social Science, PAUSE. Magazine, and The Mighty. With her industry experience and creative drive, Brianna is devoted to crafting compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 379 - Simplifying Your Life & Work with Dre Baldwin EP 379 - Simplifying Your Life & Work with Dre Baldwin Fri, 13 Sep 2024 01:10:00 +0000 Mark interviews Dre Baldwin the CEO and Founder of Work On Your Game Inc. about his books and his experience helping others in finding their own paths to success.

Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor

This episode is sponsored by FROM PAGE TO PLATFORM by Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn. You can learn more about the book at https://theindyauthor.com/platform.

During the interview, Mark and Dre talk about:

  • The importance of the simplification process as a great place to begin
  • The 80/20 rule and the less-than-smooth ways we have of not being able to drop the 80%
  • How, over time, Dre has accumulated little pieces of wisdom that have ended up being part of the training and coaching that he does
  • The first question that Dre often asks which is: What is your goal?
  • The challenge of being inundated with so many messages which results in trying to work on more than one priority
  • How Dre has always been a big reader and a bit of a closet computer geek
  • The appeal of self-generated media and being able to articulate his ideas
  • Putting videos on YouTube about the basketball he was playing professionally and how other players began to take advantage of his advice and coaching
  • How even people who weren't playing sports could benefit from those basketball videos, which led to Dre recognizing he could help people beyond athletes
  • How a lot of Dre's mindset stuff started to come out around 2009/2010
  • Blogging his ideas and starting to put out his books
  • How discipline is the most important hallmark of the professional
  • The way people can fall off their structure and the importance of finding the structure that works best for you
  • Coaches being one of the ways that people can find/apply the proper structure
  • How a true professional holds themselves accountable to a structure
  • Shortcuts as something that can come from the right coach
  • The way that a coach can KEEP a professional athlete good
  • Human beings doing better work when accountability is involved
  • The importance of showing yourself the same respect you would show to a "boss" or some other supervisor or superior you report to at work
  • How the two golden questions related to your goal (What do you want and why do you want it?) help you build that bridge to the structure that can get you there
  • Knowing that he had always wanted to write a book and combining that with the fact he knew he already had an audience via his YouTube channel
  • The reason Dre didn't really pursue traditional publishing and decided to publish it himself in 2010
  • Dre's book Buy Me A Game (which is available as a free download)
  • Publishing about 19/20 books between 2010 and 2017
  • Doing an in person speaking gig in Atlanta all on his own dime and what opportunities that led to, including a New York publisher (McGraw Hill) who was interested in publishing a book for him. That book was Working on Your Game
  • Why Dre wasn't interested in reliving that experience again without the right offer/contract in place
  • Adapting part of the traditional publishing editing process into his own procedure for self-publishing his books
  • Why Dre prefers to have direct sales of his books on his own website
  • How in business the most valuable thing you have is your customer list
  • Dre's book The Third Day: The Decision That Separates The Pros From The Amateurs
  • How a professional shows up and delivers even when they don't "feel like it" - that's what makes them a professional
  • The fact that most people don't hear something you say - repeating it or exploring it in different ways can help
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on several of the points Dre brought up in the conversation, including re-leveraging your own IP by exploring a single topic into further detail and the fact that a professional always shows up.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Dre Baldwin is CEO and Founder of Work On Your Game Inc. He has given 4 TEDxTalks and has authored 35 books.

Dre's content has been consumed over 103 million times. His daily Work On Your Game MasterClass has amassed over 2,900 episodes and over 7.3 million listeners.

Dre had a 9-year professional basketball career, playing in 8 countries. Dre's framework is the "roadmap in reverse" for professional Mindset, Strategy, Systems & Accountability.

 

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

 

]]> Mark interviews Dre Baldwin the CEO and Founder of Work On Your Game Inc. about his books and his experience helping others in finding their own paths to success.

Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor

This episode is sponsored by FROM PAGE TO PLATFORM by Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn. You can learn more about the book at https://theindyauthor.com/platform.

During the interview, Mark and Dre talk about:

  • The importance of the simplification process as a great place to begin
  • The 80/20 rule and the less-than-smooth ways we have of not being able to drop the 80%
  • How, over time, Dre has accumulated little pieces of wisdom that have ended up being part of the training and coaching that he does
  • The first question that Dre often asks which is: What is your goal?
  • The challenge of being inundated with so many messages which results in trying to work on more than one priority
  • How Dre has always been a big reader and a bit of a closet computer geek
  • The appeal of self-generated media and being able to articulate his ideas
  • Putting videos on YouTube about the basketball he was playing professionally and how other players began to take advantage of his advice and coaching
  • How even people who weren't playing sports could benefit from those basketball videos, which led to Dre recognizing he could help people beyond athletes
  • How a lot of Dre's mindset stuff started to come out around 2009/2010
  • Blogging his ideas and starting to put out his books
  • How discipline is the most important hallmark of the professional
  • The way people can fall off their structure and the importance of finding the structure that works best for you
  • Coaches being one of the ways that people can find/apply the proper structure
  • How a true professional holds themselves accountable to a structure
  • Shortcuts as something that can come from the right coach
  • The way that a coach can KEEP a professional athlete good
  • Human beings doing better work when accountability is involved
  • The importance of showing yourself the same respect you would show to a "boss" or some other supervisor or superior you report to at work
  • How the two golden questions related to your goal (What do you want and why do you want it?) help you build that bridge to the structure that can get you there
  • Knowing that he had always wanted to write a book and combining that with the fact he knew he already had an audience via his YouTube channel
  • The reason Dre didn't really pursue traditional publishing and decided to publish it himself in 2010
  • Dre's book Buy Me A Game (which is available as a free download)
  • Publishing about 19/20 books between 2010 and 2017
  • Doing an in person speaking gig in Atlanta all on his own dime and what opportunities that led to, including a New York publisher (McGraw Hill) who was interested in publishing a book for him. That book was Working on Your Game
  • Why Dre wasn't interested in reliving that experience again without the right offer/contract in place
  • Adapting part of the traditional publishing editing process into his own procedure for self-publishing his books
  • Why Dre prefers to have direct sales of his books on his own website
  • How in business the most valuable thing you have is your customer list
  • Dre's book The Third Day: The Decision That Separates The Pros From The Amateurs
  • How a professional shows up and delivers even when they don't "feel like it" - that's what makes them a professional
  • The fact that most people don't hear something you say - repeating it or exploring it in different ways can help
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on several of the points Dre brought up in the conversation, including re-leveraging your own IP by exploring a single topic into further detail and the fact that a professional always shows up.

Links of Interest:

Dre Baldwin is CEO and Founder of Work On Your Game Inc. He has given 4 TEDxTalks and has authored 35 books.

Dre's content has been consumed over 103 million times. His daily Work On Your Game MasterClass has amassed over 2,900 episodes and over 7.3 million listeners.

Dre had a 9-year professional basketball career, playing in 8 countries. Dre's framework is the "roadmap in reverse" for professional Mindset, Strategy, Systems & Accountability.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 56:41 false 7 379 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Dre Baldwin the CEO and Founder of Work On Your Game Inc. about his books and his experience helping others in finding their own paths to success. Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor This episode is sponsored by FROM PAGE TO PLATFORM by Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn. You can learn more about the book at https://theindyauthor.com/platform. During the interview, Mark and Dre talk about: The importance of the simplification process as a great place to begin The 80/20 rule and the less-than-smooth ways we have of not being able to drop the 80% How, over time, Dre has accumulated little pieces of wisdom that have ended up being part of the training and coaching that he does The first question that Dre often asks which is: What is your goal? The challenge of being inundated with so many messages which results in trying to work on more than one priority How Dre has always been a big reader and a bit of a closet computer geek The appeal of self-generated media and being able to articulate his ideas Putting videos on YouTube about the basketball he was playing professionally and how other players began to take advantage of his advice and coaching How even people who weren't playing sports could benefit from those basketball videos, which led to Dre recognizing he could help people beyond athletes How a lot of Dre's mindset stuff started to come out around 2009/2010 Blogging his ideas and starting to put out his books How discipline is the most important hallmark of the professional The way people can fall off their structure and the importance of finding the structure that works best for you Coaches being one of the ways that people can find/apply the proper structure How a true professional holds themselves accountable to a structure Shortcuts as something that can come from the right coach The way that a coach can KEEP a professional athlete good Human beings doing better work when accountability is involved The importance of showing yourself the same respect you would show to a "boss" or some other supervisor or superior you report to at work How the two golden questions related to your goal (What do you want and why do you want it?) help you build that bridge to the structure that can get you there Knowing that he had always wanted to write a book and combining that with the fact he knew he already had an audience via his YouTube channel The reason Dre didn't really pursue traditional publishing and decided to publish it himself in 2010 Dre's book Buy Me A Game (which is available as a free download) Publishing about 19/20 books between 2010 and 2017 Doing an in person speaking gig in Atlanta all on his own dime and what opportunities that led to, including a New York publisher (McGraw Hill) who was interested in publishing a book for him. That book was Working on Your Game Why Dre wasn't interested in reliving that experience again without the right offer/contract in place Adapting part of the traditional publishing editing process into his own procedure for self-publishing his books Why Dre prefers to have direct sales of his books on his own website How in business the most valuable thing you have is your customer list Dre's book The Third Day: The Decision That Separates The Pros From The Amateurs How a professional shows up and delivers even when they don't "feel like it" - that's what makes them a professional The fact that most people don't hear something you say - repeating it or exploring it in different ways can help And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on several of the points Dre brought up in the conversation, including re-leveraging your own IP by exploring a single topic into further detail and the fact that a professional always shows up.   Links of Interest: Dre Baldwin's Website Work on Your Game/Dre Third Day (Book) http://Instagram.com/DreBaldwin http://YouTube.com/Dreupt https://www.facebook.com/WorkOnYourGameUniversity http://LinkedIn.com/in/DreAllDay http://Twitter.com/DreAllDay http://TikTok.com/WorkOnYourGame Mark's Kickstarter for ONE HAND SCREAMING: 20 Haunting Years Wide for the Win Wide for the Win New YouTube Channel EP 378 - Multimedia Storytelling with Dominician Gennari Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Dre Baldwin is CEO and Founder of Work On Your Game Inc. He has given 4 TEDxTalks and has authored 35 books. Dre's content has been consumed over 103 million times. His daily Work On Your Game MasterClass has amassed over 2,900 episodes and over 7.3 million listeners. Dre had a 9-year professional basketball career, playing in 8 countries. Dre's framework is the "roadmap in reverse" for professional Mindset, Strategy, Systems & Accountability.       The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    Mark interviews Dre Baldwin the CEO and Founder of Work On Your Game Inc. about his books and his experience helping others in finding their own paths to success. Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor This episode is sponsored by FROM PAGE TO PLATFORM by Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn. You can learn more about the book at https://theindyauthor.com/platform. During the interview, Mark and Dre talk about: The importance of the simplification process as a great place to begin The 80/20 rule and the less-than-smooth ways we have of not being able to drop the 80% How, over time, Dre has accumulated little pieces of wisdom that have ended up being part of the training and coaching that he does The first question that Dre often asks which is: What is your goal? The challenge of being inundated with so many messages which results in trying to work on more than one priority How Dre has always been a big reader and a bit of a closet computer geek The appeal of self-generated media and being able to articulate his ideas Putting videos on YouTube about the basketball he was playing professionally and how other players began to take advantage of his advice and coaching How even people who weren't playing sports could benefit from those basketball videos, which led to Dre recognizing he could help people beyond athletes How a lot of Dre's mindset stuff started to come out around 2009/2010 Blogging his ideas and starting to put out his books How discipline is the most important hallmark of the professional The way people can fall off their structure and the importance of finding the structure that works best for you Coaches being one of the ways that people can find/apply the proper structure How a true professional holds themselves accountable to a structure Shortcuts as something that can come from the right coach The way that a coach can KEEP a professional athlete good Human beings doing better work when accountability is involved The importance of showing yourself the same respect you would show to a "boss" or some other supervisor or superior you report to at work How the two golden questions related to your goal (What do you want and why do you want it?) help you build that bridge to the structure that can get you there Knowing that he had always wanted to write a book and combining that with the fact he knew he already had an audience via his YouTube channel The reason Dre didn't really pursue traditional publishing and decided to publish it himself in 2010 Dre's book Buy Me A Game (which is available as a free download) Publishing about 19/20 books between 2010 and 2017 Doing an in person speaking gig in Atlanta all on his own dime and what opportunities that led to, including a New York publisher (McGraw Hill) who was interested in publishing a book for him. That book was Working on Your Game Why Dre wasn't interested in reliving that experience again without the right offer/contract in place Adapting part of the traditional publishing editing process into his own procedure for self-publishing his books Why Dre prefers to have direct sales of his books on his own website How in business the most valuable thing you have is your customer list Dre's book The Third Day: The Decision That Separates The Pros From The Amateurs How a professional shows up and delivers even when they don't "feel like it" - that's what makes them a professional The fact that most people don't hear something you say - repeating it or exploring it in different ways can help And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on several of the points Dre brought up in the conversation, including re-leveraging your own IP by exploring a single topic into further detail and the fact that a professional always shows up.   Links of Interest: Dre Baldwin's Website Work on Your Game/Dre Third Day (Book) http://Instagram.com/DreBaldwin http://YouTube.com/Dreupt https://www.facebook.com/WorkOnYourGameUniversity http://LinkedIn.com/in/DreAllDay http://Twitter.com/DreAllDay http://TikTok.com/WorkOnYourGame Mark's Kickstarter for ONE HAND SCREAMING: 20 Haunting Years Wide for the Win Wide for the Win New YouTube Channel EP 378 - Multimedia Storytelling with Dominician Gennari Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Dre Baldwin is CEO and Founder of Work On Your Game Inc. He has given 4 TEDxTalks and has authored 35 books. Dre's content has been consumed over 103 million times. His daily Work On Your Game MasterClass has amassed over 2,900 episodes and over 7.3 million listeners. Dre had a 9-year professional basketball career, playing in 8 countries. Dre's framework is the "roadmap in reverse" for professional Mindset, Strategy, Systems & Accountability.       The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     EP 378 - Multimedia Storytelling with Dominician Gennari Multimedia Storytelling with Dominician Gennari Fri, 06 Sep 2024 15:32:00 +0000 Mark interviews Dominician Gennari, a writer, storyteller, composer, and musician about his multimedia book and novella opus, The War for Ascension.

Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, a word from this episode's sponsor, as well as a word about a previous episode sponsor.

One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years - Kickstarter

NEWS: Please note that the Feb/March 2025 Writers Retreat at Sea from Cruising Writers has been cancelled.

 

During their conversation Mark and Dominician talk about:

  • How Dominician's creative and artistic voice started with music at about the age of 13/14
  • Discovering Tolkien about six or seven years later
  • How, when writing, Dominician was imagining the accompanying soundtrack and the way the process became inseparable
  • Learning from one of the most incredible music teachers
  • Dominician's Italian heritage and how his family would gather in the kitchen and, while cooking together, would sing works like the music from Madame Butterfly and other classical sources
  • How that learning is layered and added in to the other styles and genres of music that Dominician composes and plays
  • The way that Richard Wagner would compose music with the elaborate use of leitmotifs (musical phrases associated with individual characters, places, ideas, or plot elements)
  • Dominician picking ten of the key moments in his story to hit really hard with his own compositions
  • The various members of the local musical community who participated in the recording
  • About the 2nd track, "Light of the Hydroverse"
  • Advice that David Farland, a mentor who worked with Dominician, offered in relation to this project
  • Being told by Dave Farland that Dominician reminded him of Gene Wolfe
  • Unpacking numerous languages in order to re-package them into the original language he created for this universe
  • The Kenorian greeting in the language Dominician invented which says "may serenity follow you"
  • Working with producers on a script adaptation of The War for Ascension but coming to irreconcilable differences that resulted in an end to that project
  • How Dominician connected with Dave Farland via a course he took online from Writers of the Future
  • Turning down what could have been millions of dollars on that cancelled Hollywood project
  • How people can get ahold of the accompanying soundtrack
  • The process that Dominician uses when writing the stories and composing the music
  •  What's next for Dominician
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of creating in the kitchen and the power of that type of collaboration, as well as the integrity to say no to a huge opportunity if it crosses the line of what is deemed as acceptible.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Dominician Gennari grew up in the rough western suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, in the 80's after his migrant parents fled war-torn Europe after WW2. As a young child, he would fantasise about imaginary creatures living in his backyard and he would dream of magical worlds.

As the years unfolded, Dominician's creative spirit flourished, giving birth to his mythical world, Númaria. This world, meticulously crafted, boasts a rich history and a complex ecosystem, providing the perfect backdrop for the vast timeline of his unfolding story called The War for Ascension.

Submerging himself in the fields of forbidden archaeology, esoteric wisdom, USAPs of the US government, and ancient warfare, a great awakening occurred as the veil of secrecy was lifted from his eyes. After learning humanity's obscured past was stranger than fiction, his desire to create a truthful and artistic message through fiction arose. This acquired knowledge segued into writing his epic fantasy series The War for Ascension and the sequential standalone series The Ascension Archive.

Having spent 3 years working alongside renowned Hollywood producers, Dominician garnered invaluable knowledge of screen craft and storytelling. But due to unforeseen events, he chose an alternative path to pursue his dream of writing wholesome fantasy stories.

Guided by fantasy author and genius, David Farland, Dominician is set to expand his grand mythology, The War for Ascension into a multimedia book and novella opus, along with accompanying soundtracks of epic music.

Dominician is also the producer of the epic industrial metal band Ark of Light, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor and National Champion. He currently lives in Melbourne, Australia.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Dominician Gennari, a writer, storyteller, composer, and musician about his multimedia book and novella opus, The War for Ascension.

Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, a word from this episode's sponsor, as well as a word about a previous episode sponsor.

One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years - Kickstarter

NEWS: Please note that the Feb/March 2025 Writers Retreat at Sea from Cruising Writers has been cancelled.

During their conversation Mark and Dominician talk about:

  • How Dominician's creative and artistic voice started with music at about the age of 13/14
  • Discovering Tolkien about six or seven years later
  • How, when writing, Dominician was imagining the accompanying soundtrack and the way the process became inseparable
  • Learning from one of the most incredible music teachers
  • Dominician's Italian heritage and how his family would gather in the kitchen and, while cooking together, would sing works like the music from Madame Butterfly and other classical sources
  • How that learning is layered and added in to the other styles and genres of music that Dominician composes and plays
  • The way that Richard Wagner would compose music with the elaborate use of leitmotifs (musical phrases associated with individual characters, places, ideas, or plot elements)
  • Dominician picking ten of the key moments in his story to hit really hard with his own compositions
  • The various members of the local musical community who participated in the recording
  • About the 2nd track, "Light of the Hydroverse"
  • Advice that David Farland, a mentor who worked with Dominician, offered in relation to this project
  • Being told by Dave Farland that Dominician reminded him of Gene Wolfe
  • Unpacking numerous languages in order to re-package them into the original language he created for this universe
  • The Kenorian greeting in the language Dominician invented which says "may serenity follow you"
  • Working with producers on a script adaptation of The War for Ascension but coming to irreconcilable differences that resulted in an end to that project
  • How Dominician connected with Dave Farland via a course he took online from Writers of the Future
  • Turning down what could have been millions of dollars on that cancelled Hollywood project
  • How people can get ahold of the accompanying soundtrack
  • The process that Dominician uses when writing the stories and composing the music
  • What's next for Dominician
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of creating in the kitchen and the power of that type of collaboration, as well as the integrity to say no to a huge opportunity if it crosses the line of what is deemed as acceptible.

Links of Interest:

Dominician Gennari grew up in the rough western suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, in the 80's after his migrant parents fled war-torn Europe after WW2. As a young child, he would fantasise about imaginary creatures living in his backyard and he would dream of magical worlds.

As the years unfolded, Dominician's creative spirit flourished, giving birth to his mythical world, Númaria. This world, meticulously crafted, boasts a rich history and a complex ecosystem, providing the perfect backdrop for the vast timeline of his unfolding story called The War for Ascension.

Submerging himself in the fields of forbidden archaeology, esoteric wisdom, USAPs of the US government, and ancient warfare, a great awakening occurred as the veil of secrecy was lifted from his eyes. After learning humanity's obscured past was stranger than fiction, his desire to create a truthful and artistic message through fiction arose. This acquired knowledge segued into writing his epic fantasy series The War for Ascension and the sequential standalone series The Ascension Archive.

Having spent 3 years working alongside renowned Hollywood producers, Dominician garnered invaluable knowledge of screen craft and storytelling. But due to unforeseen events, he chose an alternative path to pursue his dream of writing wholesome fantasy stories.

Guided by fantasy author and genius, David Farland, Dominician is set to expand his grand mythology, The War for Ascension into a multimedia book and novella opus, along with accompanying soundtracks of epic music.

Dominician is also the producer of the epic industrial metal band Ark of Light, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor and National Champion. He currently lives in Melbourne, Australia.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:02:21 false 7 378 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Dominician Gennari, a writer, storyteller, composer, and musician about his multimedia book and novella opus, The War for Ascension. Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, a word from this episode's sponsor, as well as a word about a previous episode sponsor. One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years - Kickstarter NEWS: Please note that the Feb/March 2025 Writers Retreat at Sea from Cruising Writers has been cancelled.   During their conversation Mark and Dominician talk about: How Dominician's creative and artistic voice started with music at about the age of 13/14 Discovering Tolkien about six or seven years later How, when writing, Dominician was imagining the accompanying soundtrack and the way the process became inseparable Learning from one of the most incredible music teachers Dominician's Italian heritage and how his family would gather in the kitchen and, while cooking together, would sing works like the music from Madame Butterfly and other classical sources How that learning is layered and added in to the other styles and genres of music that Dominician composes and plays The way that Richard Wagner would compose music with the elaborate use of leitmotifs (musical phrases associated with individual characters, places, ideas, or plot elements) Dominician picking ten of the key moments in his story to hit really hard with his own compositions The various members of the local musical community who participated in the recording About the 2nd track, "Light of the Hydroverse" Advice that David Farland, a mentor who worked with Dominician, offered in relation to this project Being told by Dave Farland that Dominician reminded him of Gene Wolfe Unpacking numerous languages in order to re-package them into the original language he created for this universe The Kenorian greeting in the language Dominician invented which says "may serenity follow you" Working with producers on a script adaptation of The War for Ascension but coming to irreconcilable differences that resulted in an end to that project How Dominician connected with Dave Farland via a course he took online from Writers of the Future Turning down what could have been millions of dollars on that cancelled Hollywood project How people can get ahold of the accompanying soundtrack The process that Dominician uses when writing the stories and composing the music  What's next for Dominician And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of creating in the kitchen and the power of that type of collaboration, as well as the integrity to say no to a huge opportunity if it crosses the line of what is deemed as acceptible.   Links of Interest: Dominician's Website Dominician on Instagram Mark's Kickstarter for ONE HAND SCREAMING: 20 Haunting Years EP 377 - Pivoting Your Publishing Dreams with Denise Massar Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Dominician Gennari grew up in the rough western suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, in the 80's after his migrant parents fled war-torn Europe after WW2. As a young child, he would fantasise about imaginary creatures living in his backyard and he would dream of magical worlds. As the years unfolded, Dominician's creative spirit flourished, giving birth to his mythical world, Númaria. This world, meticulously crafted, boasts a rich history and a complex ecosystem, providing the perfect backdrop for the vast timeline of his unfolding story called The War for Ascension. Submerging himself in the fields of forbidden archaeology, esoteric wisdom, USAPs of the US government, and ancient warfare, a great awakening occurred as the veil of secrecy was lifted from his eyes. After learning humanity's obscured past was stranger than fiction, his desire to create a truthful and artistic message through fiction arose. This acquired knowledge segued into writing his epic fantasy series The War for Ascension and the sequential standalone series The Ascension Archive. Having spent 3 years working alongside renowned Hollywood producers, Dominician garnered invaluable knowledge of screen craft and storytelling. But due to unforeseen events, he chose an alternative path to pursue his dream of writing wholesome fantasy stories. Guided by fantasy author and genius, David Farland, Dominician is set to expand his grand mythology, The War for Ascension into a multimedia book and novella opus, along with accompanying soundtracks of epic music. Dominician is also the producer of the epic industrial metal band Ark of Light, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor and National Champion. He currently lives in Melbourne, Australia.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Dominician Gennari, a writer, storyteller, composer, and musician about his multimedia book and novella opus, The War for Ascension. Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, a word from this episode's sponsor, as well as a word about a previous episode sponsor. One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years - Kickstarter NEWS: Please note that the Feb/March 2025 Writers Retreat at Sea from Cruising Writers has been cancelled.   During their conversation Mark and Dominician talk about: How Dominician's creative and artistic voice started with music at about the age of 13/14 Discovering Tolkien about six or seven years later How, when writing, Dominician was imagining the accompanying soundtrack and the way the process became inseparable Learning from one of the most incredible music teachers Dominician's Italian heritage and how his family would gather in the kitchen and, while cooking together, would sing works like the music from Madame Butterfly and other classical sources How that learning is layered and added in to the other styles and genres of music that Dominician composes and plays The way that Richard Wagner would compose music with the elaborate use of leitmotifs (musical phrases associated with individual characters, places, ideas, or plot elements) Dominician picking ten of the key moments in his story to hit really hard with his own compositions The various members of the local musical community who participated in the recording About the 2nd track, "Light of the Hydroverse" Advice that David Farland, a mentor who worked with Dominician, offered in relation to this project Being told by Dave Farland that Dominician reminded him of Gene Wolfe Unpacking numerous languages in order to re-package them into the original language he created for this universe The Kenorian greeting in the language Dominician invented which says "may serenity follow you" Working with producers on a script adaptation of The War for Ascension but coming to irreconcilable differences that resulted in an end to that project How Dominician connected with Dave Farland via a course he took online from Writers of the Future Turning down what could have been millions of dollars on that cancelled Hollywood project How people can get ahold of the accompanying soundtrack The process that Dominician uses when writing the stories and composing the music  What's next for Dominician And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of creating in the kitchen and the power of that type of collaboration, as well as the integrity to say no to a huge opportunity if it crosses the line of what is deemed as acceptible.   Links of Interest: Dominician's Website Dominician on Instagram Mark's Kickstarter for ONE HAND SCREAMING: 20 Haunting Years EP 377 - Pivoting Your Publishing Dreams with Denise Massar Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Dominician Gennari grew up in the rough western suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, in the 80's after his migrant parents fled war-torn Europe after WW2. As a young child, he would fantasise about imaginary creatures living in his backyard and he would dream of magical worlds. As the years unfolded, Dominician's creative spirit flourished, giving birth to his mythical world, Númaria. This world, meticulously crafted, boasts a rich history and a complex ecosystem, providing the perfect backdrop for the vast timeline of his unfolding story called The War for Ascension. Submerging himself in the fields of forbidden archaeology, esoteric wisdom, USAPs of the US government, and ancient warfare, a great awakening occurred as the veil of secrecy was lifted from his eyes. After learning humanity's obscured past was stranger than fiction, his desire to create a truthful and artistic message through fiction arose. This acquired knowledge segued into writing his epic fantasy series The War for Ascension and the sequential standalone series The Ascension Archive. Having spent 3 years working alongside renowned Hollywood producers, Dominician garnered invaluable knowledge of screen craft and storytelling. But due to unforeseen events, he chose an alternative path to pursue his dream of writing wholesome fantasy stories. Guided by fantasy author and genius, David Farland, Dominician is set to expand his grand mythology, The War for Ascension into a multimedia book and novella opus, along with accompanying soundtracks of epic music. Dominician is also the producer of the epic industrial metal band Ark of Light, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor and National Champion. He currently lives in Melbourne, Australia.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 377 - Pivoting Your Publishing Dreams with Denise Massar Pivoting Your Publishing Dreams with Denise Massar Fri, 30 Aug 2024 10:20:00 +0000 Mark interviews Denise Massar, a writer, an adoptee, and a mom via birth and adoption about her new memoir MATCHED and the ten-year journey she took getting it published.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from a recent episode, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Cruising Writers.

During their conversation Mark and Denise talk about:

  • How Denise had been "big five or die" when it originally came to her publishing dream and how and why that changed over the years
  • Some of the feedback that Denise's agent got back on submission of her memoir in 2020 and how they fueled her in a positive way
  • Denise's agent coming up with a strategy to change the title, to wait a year as publishing shifts and movements within editorial departments would naturally occur, then to try to send it out on sub to the market again
  • Some of the limitations within traditional publishing that happen with titles that might be perceived by some as "somewhat similar"
  • How memoir from an "unknown" person is one of the hardest things to sell
  • Prince Harry's penis
  • Having run the course with her agent on this book, and the respectful mutual decision to part ways
  • Submitting the book to a number of university presses without her agent
  • The sudden health scare that turned out to be a benign lump that Denise had to have surgery to remove
  • Resetting those initial big dreams that she had about what would happen when her book was finally published
  • The importance of her kids seeing her "finish this book" that she'd been working on for 10 years
  • Deciding to take the indie publishing approach which allowed her several freedoms, including changing the title back to MATCHED, working with the cover designer artist that she knew and liked, among other things
  • Leveraging 60 different ARC readers for her memoir
  • The power of hearing readers say things like "me too" - and "I never knew that anybody else went through that" and other ways a writer can come to feel that their writing resonates with readers
  • Writing about her own adoption and realizing that for the first six months of her life, before she was adopted, that she must have been in foster care
  • Altering the names of some of the people in the book in order to preserve their privacy
  • How the eight different birth mothers Denise was in contact with via the course of adopting her son who ended up changing her life
  • Advice Denise would give to her younger self as well as advise she'd give to beginning authors
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on just how significant it is when an editor provides any sort of feedback beyond a form/token "not for us at this time" rejection, as well as an agent that's willing to "re-package" a book in order to try to put it out on submission for a second round. He also reflects on how nothing can stop a determined writer.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Denise Massar is a writer, an adoptee, and a mom via birth and adoption. Her essays have been published in HuffPost, Writer's Digest, Mutha Magazine, Raise Magazine, An Injustice!, and she's a recurring guest blogger for Jane Friedman. Denise's memoir, Matched, is about the nine months she spent obsessively searching for a baby to adopt, the nine potential birth moms she met on that journey, and how, in a twist of fate, her son's birth mom led Denise to the one person she thought she'd never meet: The woman who gave birth to her. You can find Matched anywhere you buy books, and you can read the first ten pages right now, and get Denise's Top Ten Memoir Recommendations on her website, http://www.denisemassar.org/

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Denise Massar, a writer, an adoptee, and a mom via birth and adoption about her new memoir MATCHED and the ten-year journey she took getting it published.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from a recent episode, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Cruising Writers.

During their conversation Mark and Denise talk about:

  • How Denise had been "big five or die" when it originally came to her publishing dream and how and why that changed over the years
  • Some of the feedback that Denise's agent got back on submission of her memoir in 2020 and how they fueled her in a positive way
  • Denise's agent coming up with a strategy to change the title, to wait a year as publishing shifts and movements within editorial departments would naturally occur, then to try to send it out on sub to the market again
  • Some of the limitations within traditional publishing that happen with titles that might be perceived by some as "somewhat similar"
  • How memoir from an "unknown" person is one of the hardest things to sell
  • Prince Harry's penis
  • Having run the course with her agent on this book, and the respectful mutual decision to part ways
  • Submitting the book to a number of university presses without her agent
  • The sudden health scare that turned out to be a benign lump that Denise had to have surgery to remove
  • Resetting those initial big dreams that she had about what would happen when her book was finally published
  • The importance of her kids seeing her "finish this book" that she'd been working on for 10 years
  • Deciding to take the indie publishing approach which allowed her several freedoms, including changing the title back to MATCHED, working with the cover designer artist that she knew and liked, among other things
  • Leveraging 60 different ARC readers for her memoir
  • The power of hearing readers say things like "me too" - and "I never knew that anybody else went through that" and other ways a writer can come to feel that their writing resonates with readers
  • Writing about her own adoption and realizing that for the first six months of her life, before she was adopted, that she must have been in foster care
  • Altering the names of some of the people in the book in order to preserve their privacy
  • How the eight different birth mothers Denise was in contact with via the course of adopting her son who ended up changing her life
  • Advice Denise would give to her younger self as well as advise she'd give to beginning authors
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on just how significant it is when an editor provides any sort of feedback beyond a form/token "not for us at this time" rejection, as well as an agent that's willing to "re-package" a book in order to try to put it out on submission for a second round. He also reflects on how nothing can stop a determined writer.

Links of Interest:

Denise Massar is a writer, an adoptee, and a mom via birth and adoption. Her essays have been published in HuffPost, Writer's Digest, Mutha Magazine, Raise Magazine, An Injustice!, and she's a recurring guest blogger for Jane Friedman. Denise's memoir, Matched, is about the nine months she spent obsessively searching for a baby to adopt, the nine potential birth moms she met on that journey, and how, in a twist of fate, her son's birth mom led Denise to the one person she thought she'd never meet: The woman who gave birth to her. You can find Matched anywhere you buy books, and you can read the first ten pages right now, and get Denise's Top Ten Memoir Recommendations on her website, http://www.denisemassar.org/

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 48:04 false 7 377 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Denise Massar, a writer, an adoptee, and a mom via birth and adoption about her new memoir MATCHED and the ten-year journey she took getting it published. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from a recent episode, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Cruising Writers. During their conversation Mark and Denise talk about: How Denise had been "big five or die" when it originally came to her publishing dream and how and why that changed over the years Some of the feedback that Denise's agent got back on submission of her memoir in 2020 and how they fueled her in a positive way Denise's agent coming up with a strategy to change the title, to wait a year as publishing shifts and movements within editorial departments would naturally occur, then to try to send it out on sub to the market again Some of the limitations within traditional publishing that happen with titles that might be perceived by some as "somewhat similar" How memoir from an "unknown" person is one of the hardest things to sell Prince Harry's penis Having run the course with her agent on this book, and the respectful mutual decision to part ways Submitting the book to a number of university presses without her agent The sudden health scare that turned out to be a benign lump that Denise had to have surgery to remove Resetting those initial big dreams that she had about what would happen when her book was finally published The importance of her kids seeing her "finish this book" that she'd been working on for 10 years Deciding to take the indie publishing approach which allowed her several freedoms, including changing the title back to MATCHED, working with the cover designer artist that she knew and liked, among other things Leveraging 60 different ARC readers for her memoir The power of hearing readers say things like "me too" - and "I never knew that anybody else went through that" and other ways a writer can come to feel that their writing resonates with readers Writing about her own adoption and realizing that for the first six months of her life, before she was adopted, that she must have been in foster care Altering the names of some of the people in the book in order to preserve their privacy How the eight different birth mothers Denise was in contact with via the course of adopting her son who ended up changing her life Advice Denise would give to her younger self as well as advise she'd give to beginning authors And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on just how significant it is when an editor provides any sort of feedback beyond a form/token "not for us at this time" rejection, as well as an agent that's willing to "re-package" a book in order to try to put it out on submission for a second round. He also reflects on how nothing can stop a determined writer.   Links of Interest: Denise Massar's Website Denise on Instagram Mark's Kickstarter for ONE HAND SCREAMING: 20 Haunting Years EP 188 - A Gritty & Real Adoption and Publishing Journey with Denise Massar Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Denise Massar is a writer, an adoptee, and a mom via birth and adoption. Her essays have been published in HuffPost, Writer's Digest, Mutha Magazine, Raise Magazine, An Injustice!, and she's a recurring guest blogger for Jane Friedman. Denise's memoir, Matched, is about the nine months she spent obsessively searching for a baby to adopt, the nine potential birth moms she met on that journey, and how, in a twist of fate, her son's birth mom led Denise to the one person she thought she'd never meet: The woman who gave birth to her. You can find Matched anywhere you buy books, and you can read the first ten pages right now, and get Denise's Top Ten Memoir Recommendations on her website, http://www.denisemassar.org/   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Denise Massar, a writer, an adoptee, and a mom via birth and adoption about her new memoir MATCHED and the ten-year journey she took getting it published. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from a recent episode, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Cruising Writers. During their conversation Mark and Denise talk about: How Denise had been "big five or die" when it originally came to her publishing dream and how and why that changed over the years Some of the feedback that Denise's agent got back on submission of her memoir in 2020 and how they fueled her in a positive way Denise's agent coming up with a strategy to change the title, to wait a year as publishing shifts and movements within editorial departments would naturally occur, then to try to send it out on sub to the market again Some of the limitations within traditional publishing that happen with titles that might be perceived by some as "somewhat similar" How memoir from an "unknown" person is one of the hardest things to sell Prince Harry's penis Having run the course with her agent on this book, and the respectful mutual decision to part ways Submitting the book to a number of university presses without her agent The sudden health scare that turned out to be a benign lump that Denise had to have surgery to remove Resetting those initial big dreams that she had about what would happen when her book was finally published The importance of her kids seeing her "finish this book" that she'd been working on for 10 years Deciding to take the indie publishing approach which allowed her several freedoms, including changing the title back to MATCHED, working with the cover designer artist that she knew and liked, among other things Leveraging 60 different ARC readers for her memoir The power of hearing readers say things like "me too" - and "I never knew that anybody else went through that" and other ways a writer can come to feel that their writing resonates with readers Writing about her own adoption and realizing that for the first six months of her life, before she was adopted, that she must have been in foster care Altering the names of some of the people in the book in order to preserve their privacy How the eight different birth mothers Denise was in contact with via the course of adopting her son who ended up changing her life Advice Denise would give to her younger self as well as advise she'd give to beginning authors And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on just how significant it is when an editor provides any sort of feedback beyond a form/token "not for us at this time" rejection, as well as an agent that's willing to "re-package" a book in order to try to put it out on submission for a second round. He also reflects on how nothing can stop a determined writer.   Links of Interest: Denise Massar's Website Denise on Instagram Mark's Kickstarter for ONE HAND SCREAMING: 20 Haunting Years EP 188 - A Gritty & Real Adoption and Publishing Journey with Denise Massar Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Denise Massar is a writer, an adoptee, and a mom via birth and adoption. Her essays have been published in HuffPost, Writer's Digest, Mutha Magazine, Raise Magazine, An Injustice!, and she's a recurring guest blogger for Jane Friedman. Denise's memoir, Matched, is about the nine months she spent obsessively searching for a baby to adopt, the nine potential birth moms she met on that journey, and how, in a twist of fate, her son's birth mom led Denise to the one person she thought she'd never meet: The woman who gave birth to her. You can find Matched anywhere you buy books, and you can read the first ten pages right now, and get Denise's Top Ten Memoir Recommendations on her website, http://www.denisemassar.org/   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 376 - Dianne Scott on Writing Historical Mysteries Dianne Scott on Writing Historical Mysteries Thu, 22 Aug 2024 23:22:00 +0000 Mark interviews bestselling and award-winning author Dianne Scott about her Christine Lane Mystery series which is set on Toronto Island in the 1960s.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from a recent newsletter he sent out asking writers to share their thoughts on the collective noun for a group of editors, a personal update (including the launch of his new Kickstarter campaign), and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Cruising Writers.

During their conversation Mark and Dianne talk about:

  • How, after writing a creative writing piece in University that was supposed to be a research essay, Dianne's teacher suggested that she switch her major over to English
  • The teaching that Dianne has done for the past 30+ years
  • Other writing that Dianne has worked on and published
  • Dianne learning from her father, how he, as a police officer, used to patrol Toronto Island, and the spark of that into some ideas for her novels
  • Deciding to make her main character a female officer in that place in the 1960s
  • Preparing the final and 5th book in the series, FINAL LOOK, for publication in June 2025
  • Pitching and submitting her work to various Canadian markets
  • The innate conflict that was part of the first novel in Dianne's Christine Lane series
  • The "old VS new" conflict that happens in the stories in this setting
  • Dianne's first two years in self/indie publishing
  • Some of the volunteer work that Dianne does within her realms of expertise
  • The importance of literacy
  •  The different types of creativity that can fulfill that internal desire
  • Advice Dianne would give to other writers
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the research Dianne had to do as well as the concept of being creative in different ways.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Dianne Scott lives a short ferry ride from Toronto Island, which is the setting of her mystery novels. She is the award-winning author of the Christine Lane Mystery series. The first book, Final Look, was a #1 Amazon bestseller, Kobo Emerging Writers Award nominee and winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award. The second book, Missing, was a Finalist for the CWC Excellence in Writing Award. Lost and Found and Sabotage are the third and fourth books in the series.

When Dianne is not writing, she is walking Toronto's neighborhoods, coffee klatching with friends and cuddling her Bichon Poodle. She also teaches literacy skills and is working on her Erne in pickleball. For more information about Dianne, visit her website at diannescottauthor.com

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews bestselling and award-winning author Dianne Scott about her Christine Lane Mystery series which is set on Toronto Island in the 1960s.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from a recent newsletter he sent out asking writers to share their thoughts on the collective noun for a group of editors, a personal update (including the launch of his new Kickstarter campaign), and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Cruising Writers.

During their conversation Mark and Dianne talk about:

  • How, after writing a creative writing piece in University that was supposed to be a research essay, Dianne's teacher suggested that she switch her major over to English
  • The teaching that Dianne has done for the past 30+ years
  • Other writing that Dianne has worked on and published
  • Dianne learning from her father, how he, as a police officer, used to patrol Toronto Island, and the spark of that into some ideas for her novels
  • Deciding to make her main character a female officer in that place in the 1960s
  • Preparing the final and 5th book in the series, FINAL LOOK, for publication in June 2025
  • Pitching and submitting her work to various Canadian markets
  • The innate conflict that was part of the first novel in Dianne's Christine Lane series
  • The "old VS new" conflict that happens in the stories in this setting
  • Dianne's first two years in self/indie publishing
  • Some of the volunteer work that Dianne does within her realms of expertise
  • The importance of literacy
  • The different types of creativity that can fulfill that internal desire
  • Advice Dianne would give to other writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the research Dianne had to do as well as the concept of being creative in different ways.

Links of Interest:

Dianne Scott lives a short ferry ride from Toronto Island, which is the setting of her mystery novels. She is the award-winning author of the Christine Lane Mystery series. The first book, Final Look, was a #1 Amazon bestseller, Kobo Emerging Writers Award nominee and winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award. The second book, Missing, was a Finalist for the CWC Excellence in Writing Award. Lost and Found and Sabotage are the third and fourth books in the series.

When Dianne is not writing, she is walking Toronto's neighborhoods, coffee klatching with friends and cuddling her Bichon Poodle. She also teaches literacy skills and is working on her Erne in pickleball. For more information about Dianne, visit her website at diannescottauthor.com

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:06:17 false 7 376 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews bestselling and award-winning author Dianne Scott about her Christine Lane Mystery series which is set on Toronto Island in the 1960s. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from a recent newsletter he sent out asking writers to share their thoughts on the collective noun for a group of editors, a personal update (including the launch of his new Kickstarter campaign), and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Cruising Writers. During their conversation Mark and Dianne talk about: How, after writing a creative writing piece in University that was supposed to be a research essay, Dianne's teacher suggested that she switch her major over to English The teaching that Dianne has done for the past 30+ years Other writing that Dianne has worked on and published Dianne learning from her father, how he, as a police officer, used to patrol Toronto Island, and the spark of that into some ideas for her novels Deciding to make her main character a female officer in that place in the 1960s Preparing the final and 5th book in the series, FINAL LOOK, for publication in June 2025 Pitching and submitting her work to various Canadian markets The innate conflict that was part of the first novel in Dianne's Christine Lane series The "old VS new" conflict that happens in the stories in this setting Dianne's first two years in self/indie publishing Some of the volunteer work that Dianne does within her realms of expertise The importance of literacy  The different types of creativity that can fulfill that internal desire Advice Dianne would give to other writers And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the research Dianne had to do as well as the concept of being creative in different ways.   Links of Interest: Dianne Scott's Website Mark's Kickstarter for ONE HAND SCREAMING: 20 Haunting Years EP 374 - WMG Publishing Editor Round Table Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Dianne Scott lives a short ferry ride from Toronto Island, which is the setting of her mystery novels. She is the award-winning author of the Christine Lane Mystery series. The first book, Final Look, was a #1 Amazon bestseller, Kobo Emerging Writers Award nominee and winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award. The second book, Missing, was a Finalist for the CWC Excellence in Writing Award. Lost and Found and Sabotage are the third and fourth books in the series. When Dianne is not writing, she is walking Toronto's neighborhoods, coffee klatching with friends and cuddling her Bichon Poodle. She also teaches literacy skills and is working on her Erne in pickleball. For more information about Dianne, visit her website at diannescottauthor.com   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews bestselling and award-winning author Dianne Scott about her Christine Lane Mystery series which is set on Toronto Island in the 1960s. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from a recent newsletter he sent out asking writers to share their thoughts on the collective noun for a group of editors, a personal update (including the launch of his new Kickstarter campaign), and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Cruising Writers. During their conversation Mark and Dianne talk about: How, after writing a creative writing piece in University that was supposed to be a research essay, Dianne's teacher suggested that she switch her major over to English The teaching that Dianne has done for the past 30+ years Other writing that Dianne has worked on and published Dianne learning from her father, how he, as a police officer, used to patrol Toronto Island, and the spark of that into some ideas for her novels Deciding to make her main character a female officer in that place in the 1960s Preparing the final and 5th book in the series, FINAL LOOK, for publication in June 2025 Pitching and submitting her work to various Canadian markets The innate conflict that was part of the first novel in Dianne's Christine Lane series The "old VS new" conflict that happens in the stories in this setting Dianne's first two years in self/indie publishing Some of the volunteer work that Dianne does within her realms of expertise The importance of literacy  The different types of creativity that can fulfill that internal desire Advice Dianne would give to other writers And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the research Dianne had to do as well as the concept of being creative in different ways.   Links of Interest: Dianne Scott's Website Mark's Kickstarter for ONE HAND SCREAMING: 20 Haunting Years EP 374 - WMG Publishing Editor Round Table Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Dianne Scott lives a short ferry ride from Toronto Island, which is the setting of her mystery novels. She is the award-winning author of the Christine Lane Mystery series. The first book, Final Look, was a #1 Amazon bestseller, Kobo Emerging Writers Award nominee and winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award. The second book, Missing, was a Finalist for the CWC Excellence in Writing Award. Lost and Found and Sabotage are the third and fourth books in the series. When Dianne is not writing, she is walking Toronto's neighborhoods, coffee klatching with friends and cuddling her Bichon Poodle. She also teaches literacy skills and is working on her Erne in pickleball. For more information about Dianne, visit her website at diannescottauthor.com   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 375 - One Hand Kickstarting One Hand Kickstarting Thu, 15 Aug 2024 21:55:00 +0000 Mark shares some behind-the-scenes insights and helpful tips offered to him for his forthcoming Kickstarter.

He also loses it briefly after discovering that 40 minutes of in depth and detailed recording was lost due to a tech issue with Audacity crashing.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes a new patron, and introduces a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Cruising Writers.

Mark's Kickstarter, coming very soon, is for the 20th Anniversary edition of his book One Hand Screaming.

 

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark shares some behind-the-scenes insights and helpful tips offered to him for his forthcoming Kickstarter.

He also loses it briefly after discovering that 40 minutes of in depth and detailed recording was lost due to a tech issue with Audacity crashing.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes a new patron, and introduces a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Cruising Writers.

Mark's Kickstarter, coming very soon, is for the 20th Anniversary edition of his book One Hand Screaming.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 25:51 false 7 375 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark shares some behind-the-scenes insights and helpful tips offered to him for his forthcoming Kickstarter. He also loses it briefly after discovering that 40 minutes of in depth and detailed recording was lost due to a tech issue with Audacity crashing. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes a new patron, and introduces a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Cruising Writers. Mark's Kickstarter, coming very soon, is for the 20th Anniversary edition of his book One Hand Screaming.     Links of Interest: Mark's Kickstarter (Preview link as of Aug 15, 2024) Anthea L. Sharp's Kickstarter for Authors EP 374 - WMG Publishing Editor Round Table EP 373 - Musings on Getting a Masters and Getting Married Kickstarter Episodes EP 149 - Russell Nohelty - Killing it on Kickstarter EP 327 - Joanna Penn - Writing the Shadow EP 357 - Kevin J. Anderson - 50 Years of Short Stories EP 356 - T. Thorn Coyle - The Midlist Indie Author Mindset DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark shares some behind-the-scenes insights and helpful tips offered to him for his forthcoming Kickstarter. He also loses it briefly after discovering that 40 minutes of in depth and detailed recording was lost due to a tech issue with Audacity crashing. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes a new patron, and introduces a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Cruising Writers. Mark's Kickstarter, coming very soon, is for the 20th Anniversary edition of his book One Hand Screaming.     Links of Interest: Mark's Kickstarter (Preview link as of Aug 15, 2024) Anthea L. Sharp's Kickstarter for Authors EP 374 - WMG Publishing Editor Round Table EP 373 - Musings on Getting a Masters and Getting Married Kickstarter Episodes EP 149 - Russell Nohelty - Killing it on Kickstarter EP 327 - Joanna Penn - Writing the Shadow EP 357 - Kevin J. Anderson - 50 Years of Short Stories EP 356 - T. Thorn Coyle - The Midlist Indie Author Mindset DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 374 - WMG Publishing Editor Round Table WMG Publishing Editor Round Table Thu, 08 Aug 2024 21:55:00 +0000 In this episode Mark has a round-table discussion with the seven other editors in the August 2024 WMG Publishing Anthology Workshop.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Cruising Writers.

The WMG Publishing Anthology workshops help authors see behind-the-scenes on how editors compile and select stories for anthologies. This in-depth and in-person experience involves a panel of editors (for August 2024 it was a panel of 8 editors) debating the merits of stories written by the attending authors.

In this round-table discussion, Mark chats with the other editors:

  • Kristine Kathryn Rusch
  • Dean Wesley Smith
  • Loren Coleman
  • Anthea Sharp
  • Chris York
  • Ron Collins
  • Brigid Collins

They discuss advice for writers, some of the details about the process as well as the learnings (both as writers and editors).

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> In this episode Mark has a round-table discussion with the seven other editors in the August 2024 WMG Publishing Anthology Workshop.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Cruising Writers.

The WMG Publishing Anthology workshops help authors see behind-the-scenes on how editors compile and select stories for anthologies. This in-depth and in-person experience involves a panel of editors (for August 2024 it was a panel of 8 editors) debating the merits of stories written by the attending authors.

In this round-table discussion, Mark chats with the other editors:

  • Kristine Kathryn Rusch
  • Dean Wesley Smith
  • Loren Coleman
  • Anthea Sharp
  • Chris York
  • Ron Collins
  • Brigid Collins

They discuss advice for writers, some of the details about the process as well as the learnings (both as writers and editors).

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 40:44 false 7 374 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark has a round-table discussion with the seven other editors in the August 2024 WMG Publishing Anthology Workshop. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Cruising Writers. The WMG Publishing Anthology workshops help authors see behind-the-scenes on how editors compile and select stories for anthologies. This in-depth and in-person experience involves a panel of editors (for August 2024 it was a panel of 8 editors) debating the merits of stories written by the attending authors. In this round-table discussion, Mark chats with the other editors: Kristine Kathryn Rusch Dean Wesley Smith Loren Coleman Anthea Sharp Chris York Ron Collins Brigid Collins They discuss advice for writers, some of the details about the process as well as the learnings (both as writers and editors).   Links of Interest: WMG Publishing Workshops DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this episode Mark has a round-table discussion with the seven other editors in the August 2024 WMG Publishing Anthology Workshop. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Cruising Writers. The WMG Publishing Anthology workshops help authors see behind-the-scenes on how editors compile and select stories for anthologies. This in-depth and in-person experience involves a panel of editors (for August 2024 it was a panel of 8 editors) debating the merits of stories written by the attending authors. In this round-table discussion, Mark chats with the other editors: Kristine Kathryn Rusch Dean Wesley Smith Loren Coleman Anthea Sharp Chris York Ron Collins Brigid Collins They discuss advice for writers, some of the details about the process as well as the learnings (both as writers and editors).   Links of Interest: WMG Publishing Workshops DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 373 - Musings on Getting a Masters and Getting Married Musings on Getting a Masters and Getting Married Fri, 02 Aug 2024 13:28:00 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark reflects and muses on the past couple of weeks where we got his Masters in Creative Writing with a concentration on Publishing (July 26th in Gunnison, CO) and got married to his partner Liz (July 29th in New York City, NY).

 

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons and Buy Me A Coffee buddies, welcomes new patron Jo-Ann Carson, shares comments from recent episode, and announces the winner of the mindset coaching session with Thorn Coyle.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

 

]]> In this solo episode, Mark reflects and muses on the past couple of weeks where we got his Masters in Creative Writing with a concentration on Publishing (July 26th in Gunnison, CO) and got married to his partner Liz (July 29th in New York City, NY).

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons and Buy Me A Coffee buddies, welcomes new patron Jo-Ann Carson, shares comments from recent episode, and announces the winner of the mindset coaching session with Thorn Coyle.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 43:46 false 7 373 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark reflects and muses on the past couple of weeks where we got his Masters in Creative Writing with a concentration on Publishing (July 26th in Gunnison, CO) and got married to his partner Liz (July 29th in New York City, NY).   Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons and Buy Me A Coffee buddies, welcomes new patron Jo-Ann Carson, shares comments from recent episode, and announces the winner of the mindset coaching session with Thorn Coyle.   Links of Interest: EP 356 - The Midlist Author Mindset with T. Thorn Coyle EP 370 - Questioning and Reflecting with Becca Syme EP 371 - Rambling Reflections from the Road July 2024 DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    In this solo episode, Mark reflects and muses on the past couple of weeks where we got his Masters in Creative Writing with a concentration on Publishing (July 26th in Gunnison, CO) and got married to his partner Liz (July 29th in New York City, NY).   Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons and Buy Me A Coffee buddies, welcomes new patron Jo-Ann Carson, shares comments from recent episode, and announces the winner of the mindset coaching session with Thorn Coyle.   Links of Interest: EP 356 - The Midlist Author Mindset with T. Thorn Coyle EP 370 - Questioning and Reflecting with Becca Syme EP 371 - Rambling Reflections from the Road July 2024 DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     EP 372 - Getting Paid For Authors Interviews and Book Reviews with Rick Hipson Getting Paid For Authors Interviews and Book Reviews with Rick Hipson Thu, 25 Jul 2024 23:00:00 +0000 Mark interviews Rick Hipson, author of the new book A REVIEWER'S GUIDE TO WRITING BOOK REVIEWS: AND HOW TO GET PAID FOR THEM.

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons and Buy Me A Coffee buddies, welcomes new patron Kevin J. Anderson, shares comments from recent episode, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Rick talk about:

  • Rick getting his first stint at writing (A ginger man story) back in Grade 2 or Grade 3
  • Catching the horror bug first when reading "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" when he was about nine years old
  • Getting into vampires and reading stories about them at a young age
  • Starting off writing for publication (fiction, interviews, and reviews) for a magazine called Insidious Reflections
  • Rick's first author interview with Jack Ketchum and how it's one of the most memorable interview and one of his absolute favorites
  • How Jack was a true gentleman who was gracious and so supportive of so many other people in the horror industry
  • Rick interviewing Brian Keene through tweets
  • Some of the struggles with transcription
  • The way that Rick likes to conduct interviews
  • Rick's podcast of interviews with horror authors and the various articles that he writes based on the context from those interviews
  • Rick's interview with Frank Darabont of The Walking Dead, The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
  • Interview advice that Frank Darabont offered to Rick
  • Leveraging one's non-fiction interview assets in as many ways possible
  • Rick's book, which launched July 26, 2024, A Reviewer's Guide to Writing Book Reviews: And How to Get Paid for Them
  • Deciding to go with a publisher (Crystal Lake Publishing) instead of self-publishing this title, and why
  • The way that Rick worked his way through having his non-fiction pieces published in various horror markets
  • A horror story Rick shares about his first review
  • The importance of meeting people in person
  • The single conference Rick will go to every single year and why
  • A bit about Rick's podcast, Dark Bites
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on Rick's reasoning to go with a publisher as well as the long-term marketing effect of a reviewer feeling like they "owe" an author.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Rick Hipson, author of the new book A REVIEWER'S GUIDE TO WRITING BOOK REVIEWS: AND HOW TO GET PAID FOR THEM.

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons and Buy Me A Coffee buddies, welcomes new patron Kevin J. Anderson, shares comments from recent episode, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Rick talk about:

  • Rick getting his first stint at writing (A ginger man story) back in Grade 2 or Grade 3
  • Catching the horror bug first when reading "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" when he was about nine years old
  • Getting into vampires and reading stories about them at a young age
  • Starting off writing for publication (fiction, interviews, and reviews) for a magazine called Insidious Reflections
  • Rick's first author interview with Jack Ketchum and how it's one of the most memorable interview and one of his absolute favorites
  • How Jack was a true gentleman who was gracious and so supportive of so many other people in the horror industry
  • Rick interviewing Brian Keene through tweets
  • Some of the struggles with transcription
  • The way that Rick likes to conduct interviews
  • Rick's podcast of interviews with horror authors and the various articles that he writes based on the context from those interviews
  • Rick's interview with Frank Darabont of The Walking Dead, The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
  • Interview advice that Frank Darabont offered to Rick
  • Leveraging one's non-fiction interview assets in as many ways possible
  • Rick's book, which launched July 26, 2024, A Reviewer's Guide to Writing Book Reviews: And How to Get Paid for Them
  • Deciding to go with a publisher (Crystal Lake Publishing) instead of self-publishing this title, and why
  • The way that Rick worked his way through having his non-fiction pieces published in various horror markets
  • A horror story Rick shares about his first review
  • The importance of meeting people in person
  • The single conference Rick will go to every single year and why
  • A bit about Rick's podcast, Dark Bites
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on Rick's reasoning to go with a publisher as well as the long-term marketing effect of a reviewer feeling like they "owe" an author.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:04:20 false 7 372 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Rick Hipson, author of the new book A REVIEWER'S GUIDE TO WRITING BOOK REVIEWS: AND HOW TO GET PAID FOR THEM. Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons and Buy Me A Coffee buddies, welcomes new patron Kevin J. Anderson, shares comments from recent episode, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise. In the interview Mark and Rick talk about: Rick getting his first stint at writing (A ginger man story) back in Grade 2 or Grade 3 Catching the horror bug first when reading "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" when he was about nine years old Getting into vampires and reading stories about them at a young age Starting off writing for publication (fiction, interviews, and reviews) for a magazine called Insidious Reflections Rick's first author interview with Jack Ketchum and how it's one of the most memorable interview and one of his absolute favorites How Jack was a true gentleman who was gracious and so supportive of so many other people in the horror industry Rick interviewing Brian Keene through tweets Some of the struggles with transcription The way that Rick likes to conduct interviews Rick's podcast of interviews with horror authors and the various articles that he writes based on the context from those interviews Rick's interview with Frank Darabont of The Walking Dead, The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors Interview advice that Frank Darabont offered to Rick Leveraging one's non-fiction interview assets in as many ways possible Rick's book, which launched July 26, 2024, A Reviewer's Guide to Writing Book Reviews: And How to Get Paid for Them Deciding to go with a publisher (Crystal Lake Publishing) instead of self-publishing this title, and why The way that Rick worked his way through having his non-fiction pieces published in various horror markets A horror story Rick shares about his first review The importance of meeting people in person The single conference Rick will go to every single year and why A bit about Rick's podcast, Dark Bites And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on Rick's reasoning to go with a publisher as well as the long-term marketing effect of a reviewer feeling like they "owe" an author.   Links of Interest: Dark Bites Rick's Book Rick's Linktree DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Rick Hipson, author of the new book A REVIEWER'S GUIDE TO WRITING BOOK REVIEWS: AND HOW TO GET PAID FOR THEM. Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons and Buy Me A Coffee buddies, welcomes new patron Kevin J. Anderson, shares comments from recent episode, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise. In the interview Mark and Rick talk about: Rick getting his first stint at writing (A ginger man story) back in Grade 2 or Grade 3 Catching the horror bug first when reading "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" when he was about nine years old Getting into vampires and reading stories about them at a young age Starting off writing for publication (fiction, interviews, and reviews) for a magazine called Insidious Reflections Rick's first author interview with Jack Ketchum and how it's one of the most memorable interview and one of his absolute favorites How Jack was a true gentleman who was gracious and so supportive of so many other people in the horror industry Rick interviewing Brian Keene through tweets Some of the struggles with transcription The way that Rick likes to conduct interviews Rick's podcast of interviews with horror authors and the various articles that he writes based on the context from those interviews Rick's interview with Frank Darabont of The Walking Dead, The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors Interview advice that Frank Darabont offered to Rick Leveraging one's non-fiction interview assets in as many ways possible Rick's book, which launched July 26, 2024, A Reviewer's Guide to Writing Book Reviews: And How to Get Paid for Them Deciding to go with a publisher (Crystal Lake Publishing) instead of self-publishing this title, and why The way that Rick worked his way through having his non-fiction pieces published in various horror markets A horror story Rick shares about his first review The importance of meeting people in person The single conference Rick will go to every single year and why A bit about Rick's podcast, Dark Bites And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on Rick's reasoning to go with a publisher as well as the long-term marketing effect of a reviewer feeling like they "owe" an author.   Links of Interest: Dark Bites Rick's Book Rick's Linktree DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 371 - Rambling Reflections From The Road July 2024 Edition Rambling Reflections From The Road July 2024 Edition Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:50:00 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark reflects and talks his way through a several week stretch where there are many things to do and too little time to get them done.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode, Mark reflects and talks his way through a several week stretch where there are many things to do and too little time to get them done.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 29:50 false 7 371 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark reflects and talks his way through a several week stretch where there are many things to do and too little time to get them done.   Links of Interest: EP 301 - Procrastinating Partners: Collaborating with Liz Anderson DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode, Mark reflects and talks his way through a several week stretch where there are many things to do and too little time to get them done.   Links of Interest: EP 301 - Procrastinating Partners: Collaborating with Liz Anderson DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 370 - Questioning & Reflecting with Becca Syme EP 370 - Questioning & Reflecting with Becca Syme Thu, 11 Jul 2024 23:14:00 +0000 Mark interviews Becca Syme, an author and a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach who has been helping writers with coaching success alignment for more than a decade.

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons and Buy Me A Coffee buddies, shares comments from recent episode, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Becca talk about:

  • How Becca deals with unexpected situations such as someone being late for a virtual meeting (Mark was 20 minutes late getting to this interview) and how this aligns with her strength of "Arranger"
  • The Clifton Strengths personality metric and how Becca uses it to help writers
  • Mark's top 5 strengths and Becca's top 5 strengths
  • The pros and cons that come with a strength such as Empathy
  • How emotions can have residue - that emotions are not false just because they're fictional
  • Becca first taking the Clifton Strengths in 2005 and then immediately wanting to become certified and to figure this out; which is when her coaching began
  • The "Dear Writer"/"Question The Premise" books that Becca has written to help writers
  • How Becca's first book "Dear Writer You Need to Quit" has become a running joke, especially from people who have never read the book and have only heard the title
  • The challenge related to the new place Becca lives and trying to get audiobooks recorded
  • People who are pressure-prompted and the leveraging external motivation VS internal motivation
  • A look at home office versus having an office space separate from the home and how that can work better for some people
  • How our visions of ourselves are not correct because so much of it is based on impressions we were fed before we were able to effectively grasp a more pure vision of ourselves
  • Being able to look at what's often seen as a weakness as a strength
  • How even the more benign moments and experiences in childhood can have a dramatic life-long impact upon us
  • The way that Becca questions almost everything, including the thoughts and feelings that she has
  • Being an intuitive writer verses writing a book to outline
  • How 100% of the things that "everyone says" are for everyone, are definitely NOT for everyone
  • That most people are not lying to you, but they are lying to themselves, often because they just don't understand
  • How a person who NEVER questions themself is a major red flag
  • The "reach for my phone" game that Becca plays when she's traveling or out in public
  • The 12-Hour Walk
  • Becca dating someone who was comfortably disconnected from their phone, rarely ever reaching for it, but just being in the moment
  • The problem with interrupting the thought cycle and being able to get all the way to the bottom of the cognitive process
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a handful of things that came up in their conversation, which he felt was a lot of good therapy for him.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Becca Syme (MATL) is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has been coaching success alignment for more than a decade. She is the author of the Quitbooks for Writers series and the popular Write Better-Faster course. She also writes mystery novels in her spare time and lives on one of the thousand lakes in Minnesota.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Becca Syme, an author and a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach who has been helping writers with coaching success alignment for more than a decade.

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons and Buy Me A Coffee buddies, shares comments from recent episode, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Becca talk about:

  • How Becca deals with unexpected situations such as someone being late for a virtual meeting (Mark was 20 minutes late getting to this interview) and how this aligns with her strength of "Arranger"
  • The Clifton Strengths personality metric and how Becca uses it to help writers
  • Mark's top 5 strengths and Becca's top 5 strengths
  • The pros and cons that come with a strength such as Empathy
  • How emotions can have residue - that emotions are not false just because they're fictional
  • Becca first taking the Clifton Strengths in 2005 and then immediately wanting to become certified and to figure this out; which is when her coaching began
  • The "Dear Writer"/"Question The Premise" books that Becca has written to help writers
  • How Becca's first book "Dear Writer You Need to Quit" has become a running joke, especially from people who have never read the book and have only heard the title
  • The challenge related to the new place Becca lives and trying to get audiobooks recorded
  • People who are pressure-prompted and the leveraging external motivation VS internal motivation
  • A look at home office versus having an office space separate from the home and how that can work better for some people
  • How our visions of ourselves are not correct because so much of it is based on impressions we were fed before we were able to effectively grasp a more pure vision of ourselves
  • Being able to look at what's often seen as a weakness as a strength
  • How even the more benign moments and experiences in childhood can have a dramatic life-long impact upon us
  • The way that Becca questions almost everything, including the thoughts and feelings that she has
  • Being an intuitive writer verses writing a book to outline
  • How 100% of the things that "everyone says" are for everyone, are definitely NOT for everyone
  • That most people are not lying to you, but they are lying to themselves, often because they just don't understand
  • How a person who NEVER questions themself is a major red flag
  • The "reach for my phone" game that Becca plays when she's traveling or out in public
  • The 12-Hour Walk
  • Becca dating someone who was comfortably disconnected from their phone, rarely ever reaching for it, but just being in the moment
  • The problem with interrupting the thought cycle and being able to get all the way to the bottom of the cognitive process
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a handful of things that came up in their conversation, which he felt was a lot of good therapy for him.

Links of Interest:

Becca Syme (MATL) is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has been coaching success alignment for more than a decade. She is the author of the Quitbooks for Writers series and the popular Write Better-Faster course. She also writes mystery novels in her spare time and lives on one of the thousand lakes in Minnesota.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:15:13 false full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Becca Syme, an author and a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach who has been helping writers with coaching success alignment for more than a decade. Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons and Buy Me A Coffee buddies, shares comments from recent episode, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise. In the interview Mark and Becca talk about: How Becca deals with unexpected situations such as someone being late for a virtual meeting (Mark was 20 minutes late getting to this interview) and how this aligns with her strength of "Arranger" The Clifton Strengths personality metric and how Becca uses it to help writers Mark's top 5 strengths and Becca's top 5 strengths The pros and cons that come with a strength such as Empathy How emotions can have residue - that emotions are not false just because they're fictional Becca first taking the Clifton Strengths in 2005 and then immediately wanting to become certified and to figure this out; which is when her coaching began The "Dear Writer"/"Question The Premise" books that Becca has written to help writers How Becca's first book "Dear Writer You Need to Quit" has become a running joke, especially from people who have never read the book and have only heard the title The challenge related to the new place Becca lives and trying to get audiobooks recorded People who are pressure-prompted and the leveraging external motivation VS internal motivation A look at home office versus having an office space separate from the home and how that can work better for some people How our visions of ourselves are not correct because so much of it is based on impressions we were fed before we were able to effectively grasp a more pure vision of ourselves Being able to look at what's often seen as a weakness as a strength How even the more benign moments and experiences in childhood can have a dramatic life-long impact upon us The way that Becca questions almost everything, including the thoughts and feelings that she has Being an intuitive writer verses writing a book to outline How 100% of the things that "everyone says" are for everyone, are definitely NOT for everyone That most people are not lying to you, but they are lying to themselves, often because they just don't understand How a person who NEVER questions themself is a major red flag The "reach for my phone" game that Becca plays when she's traveling or out in public The 12-Hour Walk Becca dating someone who was comfortably disconnected from their phone, rarely ever reaching for it, but just being in the moment The problem with interrupting the thought cycle and being able to get all the way to the bottom of the cognitive process And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a handful of things that came up in their conversation, which he felt was a lot of good therapy for him.   Links of Interest: Becca Syme's Better Faster Academy Links The QuitCast Blog QuitCast Podcast for Writers Becca Syme YouTube EP 359 - The DIY Writer with Kaye Lynn Booth DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Becca Syme (MATL) is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has been coaching success alignment for more than a decade. She is the author of the Quitbooks for Writers series and the popular Write Better-Faster course. She also writes mystery novels in her spare time and lives on one of the thousand lakes in Minnesota.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreMark interviews Becca Syme, an author and a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach who has been helping writers with coaching success alignment for more than a decade. Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons and Buy Me A Coffee buddies, shares comments from recent episode, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise. In the interview Mark and Becca talk about: How Becca deals with unexpected situations such as someone being late for a virtual meeting (Mark was 20 minutes late getting to this interview) and how this aligns with her strength of "Arranger" The Clifton Strengths personality metric and how Becca uses it to help writers Mark's top 5 strengths and Becca's top 5 strengths The pros and cons that come with a strength such as Empathy How emotions can have residue - that emotions are not false just because they're fictional Becca first taking the Clifton Strengths in 2005 and then immediately wanting to become certified and to figure this out; which is when her coaching began The "Dear Writer"/"Question The Premise" books that Becca has written to help writers How Becca's first book "Dear Writer You Need to Quit" has become a running joke, especially from people who have never read the book and have only heard the title The challenge related to the new place Becca lives and trying to get audiobooks recorded People who are pressure-prompted and the leveraging external motivation VS internal motivation A look at home office versus having an office space separate from the home and how that can work better for some people How our visions of ourselves are not correct because so much of it is based on impressions we were fed before we were able to effectively grasp a more pure vision of ourselves Being able to look at what's often seen as a weakness as a strength How even the more benign moments and experiences in childhood can have a dramatic life-long impact upon us The way that Becca questions almost everything, including the thoughts and feelings that she has Being an intuitive writer verses writing a book to outline How 100% of the things that "everyone says" are for everyone, are definitely NOT for everyone That most people are not lying to you, but they are lying to themselves, often because they just don't understand How a person who NEVER questions themself is a major red flag The "reach for my phone" game that Becca plays when she's traveling or out in public The 12-Hour Walk Becca dating someone who was comfortably disconnected from their phone, rarely ever reaching for it, but just being in the moment The problem with interrupting the thought cycle and being able to get all the way to the bottom of the cognitive process And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a handful of things that came up in their conversation, which he felt was a lot of good therapy for him.   Links of Interest: Becca Syme's Better Faster Academy Links The QuitCast Blog QuitCast Podcast for Writers Becca Syme YouTube EP 359 - The DIY Writer with Kaye Lynn Booth DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Becca Syme (MATL) is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has been coaching success alignment for more than a decade. She is the author of the Quitbooks for Writers series and the popular Write Better-Faster course. She also writes mystery novels in her spare time and lives on one of the thousand lakes in Minnesota.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 369 - The DIY Author With Kaye Lynn Booth The DIY Author With Kaye Lynn Booth Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:50:00 +0000

Mark interviews Kaye Lynn Booth about her writing life and her new book The DIY Author.

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons and Buy Me A Coffee buddies, as well as a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Kaye Lynn talk about:

  • Kaye having written since 1994 and selling her first poem in 1996
  • Having always wanted to take a DIY approach to her creativity
  • Signing up for a booth at a local fair without having anything to sell and how that led to a creative way of selling her poems
  • Kaye's poem "Voices" and the perfect painting she found to use with it that was also called "Voices" and how that led to another collaborative poem and painting
  • The early blog-related writing that Kaye had done when the internet was still "young"
  • Creating the Writing to be Read brand on her blog/website and writing reviews for books she had read
  • How Kaye's blog remains her biggest marketing tool
  • The blog team that Kaye has writing specific content for her site
  • Getting degrees in genre fiction and screen-writing and then going back with the concentration in publishing
  • Kaye's perspective on what the harder part of writing and publishing is
  • The long-term outlook that Kaye has taken when it comes to creating and building an audience with her blog
  • The breakdown and sections of Kaye's book THE DIY AUTHOR
  • Kaye's first poetry collection: Small Wonders
  • The children's books that Kaye has written
  • The various genres that Kaye writes in as she follows her passion
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects making do with what you have and the creativity that can come when you find you've painted yourself into a corner.

 

Links of Interest:

 

For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors' blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Kaye Lynn Booth about her writing life and her new book The DIY Author.

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons and Buy Me A Coffee buddies, as well as a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Kaye Lynn talk about:

  • Kaye having written since 1994 and selling her first poem in 1996
  • Having always wanted to take a DIY approach to her creativity
  • Signing up for a booth at a local fair without having anything to sell and how that led to a creative way of selling her poems
  • Kaye's poem "Voices" and the perfect painting she found to use with it that was also called "Voices" and how that led to another collaborative poem and painting
  • The early blog-related writing that Kaye had done when the internet was still "young"
  • Creating the Writing to be Read brand on her blog/website and writing reviews for books she had read
  • How Kaye's blog remains her biggest marketing tool
  • The blog team that Kaye has writing specific content for her site
  • Getting degrees in genre fiction and screen-writing and then going back with the concentration in publishing
  • Kaye's perspective on what the harder part of writing and publishing is
  • The long-term outlook that Kaye has taken when it comes to creating and building an audience with her blog
  • The breakdown and sections of Kaye's book THE DIY AUTHOR
  • Kaye's first poetry collection: Small Wonders
  • The children's books that Kaye has written
  • The various genres that Kaye writes in as she follows her passion
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects making do with what you have and the creativity that can come when you find you've painted yourself into a corner.

Links of Interest:

For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors' blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 45:43 false 7 369 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Kaye Lynn Booth about her writing life and her new book The DIY Author. Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons and Buy Me A Coffee buddies, as well as a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise. In the interview Mark and Kaye Lynn talk about: Kaye having written since 1994 and selling her first poem in 1996 Having always wanted to take a DIY approach to her creativity Signing up for a booth at a local fair without having anything to sell and how that led to a creative way of selling her poems Kaye's poem "Voices" and the perfect painting she found to use with it that was also called "Voices" and how that led to another collaborative poem and painting The early blog-related writing that Kaye had done when the internet was still "young" Creating the Writing to be Read brand on her blog/website and writing reviews for books she had read How Kaye's blog remains her biggest marketing tool The blog team that Kaye has writing specific content for her site Getting degrees in genre fiction and screen-writing and then going back with the concentration in publishing Kaye's perspective on what the harder part of writing and publishing is The long-term outlook that Kaye has taken when it comes to creating and building an audience with her blog The breakdown and sections of Kaye's book THE DIY AUTHOR Kaye's first poetry collection: Small Wonders The children's books that Kaye has written The various genres that Kaye writes in as she follows her passion And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects making do with what you have and the creativity that can come when you find you've painted yourself into a corner.   Links of Interest: Kaye Lynn Booth's Writing to be Read Website EP 356 - The Midlist Indie Author Mindset with T. Thorn Coyle DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors' blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Kaye Lynn Booth about her writing life and her new book The DIY Author. Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons and Buy Me A Coffee buddies, as well as a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise. In the interview Mark and Kaye Lynn talk about: Kaye having written since 1994 and selling her first poem in 1996 Having always wanted to take a DIY approach to her creativity Signing up for a booth at a local fair without having anything to sell and how that led to a creative way of selling her poems Kaye's poem "Voices" and the perfect painting she found to use with it that was also called "Voices" and how that led to another collaborative poem and painting The early blog-related writing that Kaye had done when the internet was still "young" Creating the Writing to be Read brand on her blog/website and writing reviews for books she had read How Kaye's blog remains her biggest marketing tool The blog team that Kaye has writing specific content for her site Getting degrees in genre fiction and screen-writing and then going back with the concentration in publishing Kaye's perspective on what the harder part of writing and publishing is The long-term outlook that Kaye has taken when it comes to creating and building an audience with her blog The breakdown and sections of Kaye's book THE DIY AUTHOR Kaye's first poetry collection: Small Wonders The children's books that Kaye has written The various genres that Kaye writes in as she follows her passion And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects making do with what you have and the creativity that can come when you find you've painted yourself into a corner.   Links of Interest: Kaye Lynn Booth's Writing to be Read Website EP 356 - The Midlist Indie Author Mindset with T. Thorn Coyle DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors' blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 368 - Written Word Media with Clayton Noblit Written Word Media with Clayton Noblit Fri, 28 Jun 2024 10:47:00 +0000 Mark has a chat with Clayton Noblit, a senior marketing manager at Written Word Media.

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons, welcomes a few new Buy Me A Coffee buddies, shares a personal update, and shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Clayton talk about:

  • What Written Media is (a book marketing/promotions company)
  • Clayton's personal background as a marketer, and a big reader, but not an author
  • The purposeful design of the Written Word Media dashboard to help authors schedule a marketing promotion in about 20 minutes then get back on to the other parts of their day
  • The various Written Word Media reader-facing brands: FreeBooksy, BargainBooksy, Red Feather Romance, New in Books, and Audiothicket
  • Their partnerships with other reader promo sites like eReader News Today, Book Barbarian, Hello Books, and others
  • The strategy of promo stacking by spreading marketing promotions out over a series of 3 to 5 days
  • How the Facebook Ads and Amazon Ads support at Written Word Media works
  • The Written Word Media membership levels (Gold and Platinum) which offer a 10% discount on booking promos as well as additional exclusive promotion options and savings on other third party services
  • The Limelight feature promotion option available for members
  • The content that appears on the Written Word Media blog, including regular surveys of authors and industry trends
  • A few of the responses from a survey conducted in late 2023
  • A discussion of author's perceptions of AI and social media
  • The importance of diversifying instead of being reliant on a single platform
  • Advice Clayton offers to authors working on promoting and marketing their books

 

After the interview Mark reflects on just how much Written Word Media has grown over the years, by listening to authors, and adding tools and options to allow for greater efficiency in marketing. He also notes how authors are becoming more professional in their approach of planning ahead, and admits to not being as good at making those plans as he'd hoped.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Clayton Noblit is a senior marketing manager at Written Word Media. He is passionate about helping authors find their readers and finding ways to sell more books. When he's not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and making beverages.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark has a chat with Clayton Noblit, a senior marketing manager at Written Word Media.

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons, welcomes a few new Buy Me A Coffee buddies, shares a personal update, and shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Clayton talk about:

  • What Written Media is (a book marketing/promotions company)
  • Clayton's personal background as a marketer, and a big reader, but not an author
  • The purposeful design of the Written Word Media dashboard to help authors schedule a marketing promotion in about 20 minutes then get back on to the other parts of their day
  • The various Written Word Media reader-facing brands: FreeBooksy, BargainBooksy, Red Feather Romance, New in Books, and Audiothicket
  • Their partnerships with other reader promo sites like eReader News Today, Book Barbarian, Hello Books, and others
  • The strategy of promo stacking by spreading marketing promotions out over a series of 3 to 5 days
  • How the Facebook Ads and Amazon Ads support at Written Word Media works
  • The Written Word Media membership levels (Gold and Platinum) which offer a 10% discount on booking promos as well as additional exclusive promotion options and savings on other third party services
  • The Limelight feature promotion option available for members
  • The content that appears on the Written Word Media blog, including regular surveys of authors and industry trends
  • A few of the responses from a survey conducted in late 2023
  • A discussion of author's perceptions of AI and social media
  • The importance of diversifying instead of being reliant on a single platform
  • Advice Clayton offers to authors working on promoting and marketing their books

After the interview Mark reflects on just how much Written Word Media has grown over the years, by listening to authors, and adding tools and options to allow for greater efficiency in marketing. He also notes how authors are becoming more professional in their approach of planning ahead, and admits to not being as good at making those plans as he'd hoped.

Links of Interest:

Clayton Noblit is a senior marketing manager at Written Word Media. He is passionate about helping authors find their readers and finding ways to sell more books. When he's not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and making beverages.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 54:39 false 7 368 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark has a chat with Clayton Noblit, a senior marketing manager at Written Word Media. Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons, welcomes a few new Buy Me A Coffee buddies, shares a personal update, and shares a word from this episode's sponsor. episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise. In the interview Mark and Clayton talk about: What Written Media is (a book marketing/promotions company) Clayton's personal background as a marketer, and a big reader, but not an author The purposeful design of the Written Word Media dashboard to help authors schedule a marketing promotion in about 20 minutes then get back on to the other parts of their day The various Written Word Media reader-facing brands: FreeBooksy, BargainBooksy, Red Feather Romance, New in Books, and Audiothicket Their partnerships with other reader promo sites like eReader News Today, Book Barbarian, Hello Books, and others The strategy of promo stacking by spreading marketing promotions out over a series of 3 to 5 days How the Facebook Ads and Amazon Ads support at Written Word Media works The Written Word Media membership levels (Gold and Platinum) which offer a 10% discount on booking promos as well as additional exclusive promotion options and savings on other third party services The Limelight feature promotion option available for members The content that appears on the Written Word Media blog, including regular surveys of authors and industry trends A few of the responses from a survey conducted in late 2023 A discussion of author's perceptions of AI and social media The importance of diversifying instead of being reliant on a single platform Advice Clayton offers to authors working on promoting and marketing their books   After the interview Mark reflects on just how much Written Word Media has grown over the years, by listening to authors, and adding tools and options to allow for greater efficiency in marketing. He also notes how authors are becoming more professional in their approach of planning ahead, and admits to not being as good at making those plans as he'd hoped.   Links of Interest: Written Word Media EP 008 - Author Promotions with Ricci Wolman from Written Word Media EP 185 - Promotion Results and Analysis EP 285 - Written Word Media's Top 10 Publishing Trends for 2023 EP 342 - Publishing Trend Reflections for 2024 DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Clayton Noblit is a senior marketing manager at Written Word Media. He is passionate about helping authors find their readers and finding ways to sell more books. When he's not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and making beverages. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark has a chat with Clayton Noblit, a senior marketing manager at Written Word Media. Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons, welcomes a few new Buy Me A Coffee buddies, shares a personal update, and shares a word from this episode's sponsor. episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise. In the interview Mark and Clayton talk about: What Written Media is (a book marketing/promotions company) Clayton's personal background as a marketer, and a big reader, but not an author The purposeful design of the Written Word Media dashboard to help authors schedule a marketing promotion in about 20 minutes then get back on to the other parts of their day The various Written Word Media reader-facing brands: FreeBooksy, BargainBooksy, Red Feather Romance, New in Books, and Audiothicket Their partnerships with other reader promo sites like eReader News Today, Book Barbarian, Hello Books, and others The strategy of promo stacking by spreading marketing promotions out over a series of 3 to 5 days How the Facebook Ads and Amazon Ads support at Written Word Media works The Written Word Media membership levels (Gold and Platinum) which offer a 10% discount on booking promos as well as additional exclusive promotion options and savings on other third party services The Limelight feature promotion option available for members The content that appears on the Written Word Media blog, including regular surveys of authors and industry trends A few of the responses from a survey conducted in late 2023 A discussion of author's perceptions of AI and social media The importance of diversifying instead of being reliant on a single platform Advice Clayton offers to authors working on promoting and marketing their books   After the interview Mark reflects on just how much Written Word Media has grown over the years, by listening to authors, and adding tools and options to allow for greater efficiency in marketing. He also notes how authors are becoming more professional in their approach of planning ahead, and admits to not being as good at making those plans as he'd hoped.   Links of Interest: Written Word Media EP 008 - Author Promotions with Ricci Wolman from Written Word Media EP 185 - Promotion Results and Analysis EP 285 - Written Word Media's Top 10 Publishing Trends for 2023 EP 342 - Publishing Trend Reflections for 2024 DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Clayton Noblit is a senior marketing manager at Written Word Media. He is passionate about helping authors find their readers and finding ways to sell more books. When he's not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and making beverages. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 367 - Amazing Stories, Fanzines, and Community with Lloyd Penney Amazing Stories, Fanzines, and Community with Lloyd Penney Fri, 21 Jun 2024 11:18:00 +0000 Mark interviews Lloyd Penney, the editor of Amazing Stories magazine about his work on Amazing Stories, his forty years of engagement with the fanzine community, and more.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Lloyd talk about:

  • Meeting Robert J. Sawyer when they both attended Ryerson University in Toronto
  • Lloyd's first and only published science fiction story (which Rob was responsible for)
  • Getting involved in science fiction fanzines
  • Forty years of experience being engaged with fanzines from Canada, the United States and all over the world
  • The definition of what a fanzine is
  • How the common community ends up talking about almost anything else once they've established their commonalities in related to things they are fans of
  • How the production of fanzines have changed over the years, from mimeographs, to photocopies, to digital
  • Starting off his experience in engaging with fanzines by writing a letter of comment
  • The letter column being the heart of a fanzine
  • Social media having replaced the fanzine in a lot of ways, but how that has reduced the more nuanced, well-thought out responses and behavior
  • The "reaction" of social media verses the "responses" in fanzines
  • An example of a recent fanzine that Lloyd recently received
  • The first issue of Amazing Stories coming out in 1927
  • A fan, Steve Davidson, who, about 2008, wondered what happened to the copyright on the name Amazing Stories, found it was available and secured them
  • How Spielberg needing to purchase the rights to the name for a TV show helped pay for the production of the first few issues of the new version of the magazine
  • How Lloyd got involved with Amazing Stories in 2018 and then became the editor in chief of the magazine
  • The magazine being (at the time) an online magazine, with no current print issues available
  • The Patreon and merchandise that's available to help support the magazine's operation
  • Running two Kickstarters - one of which funded, and the other, which didn't fund
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the value of getting involved with such a prestigious magazine brand as Amazing Stories, as well as the strong sense of connection and engagement with readers that can happen within the fanzine community.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Lloyd Penney is a Canadian science fiction writer, science fiction convention organizer and a dedicated fan who took his long time science fiction interest and turned it into a career recently - as the editor-in-chief of Amazing Stories one of science fictions longest running magazines. He had previously written extensively for science fiction fanzines.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Lloyd Penney, the editor of Amazing Stories magazine about his work on Amazing Stories, his forty years of engagement with the fanzine community, and more.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Lloyd talk about:

  • Meeting Robert J. Sawyer when they both attended Ryerson University in Toronto
  • Lloyd's first and only published science fiction story (which Rob was responsible for)
  • Getting involved in science fiction fanzines
  • Forty years of experience being engaged with fanzines from Canada, the United States and all over the world
  • The definition of what a fanzine is
  • How the common community ends up talking about almost anything else once they've established their commonalities in related to things they are fans of
  • How the production of fanzines have changed over the years, from mimeographs, to photocopies, to digital
  • Starting off his experience in engaging with fanzines by writing a letter of comment
  • The letter column being the heart of a fanzine
  • Social media having replaced the fanzine in a lot of ways, but how that has reduced the more nuanced, well-thought out responses and behavior
  • The "reaction" of social media verses the "responses" in fanzines
  • An example of a recent fanzine that Lloyd recently received
  • The first issue of Amazing Stories coming out in 1927
  • A fan, Steve Davidson, who, about 2008, wondered what happened to the copyright on the name Amazing Stories, found it was available and secured them
  • How Spielberg needing to purchase the rights to the name for a TV show helped pay for the production of the first few issues of the new version of the magazine
  • How Lloyd got involved with Amazing Stories in 2018 and then became the editor in chief of the magazine
  • The magazine being (at the time) an online magazine, with no current print issues available
  • The Patreon and merchandise that's available to help support the magazine's operation
  • Running two Kickstarters - one of which funded, and the other, which didn't fund
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the value of getting involved with such a prestigious magazine brand as Amazing Stories, as well as the strong sense of connection and engagement with readers that can happen within the fanzine community.

Links of Interest:

Lloyd Penney is a Canadian science fiction writer, science fiction convention organizer and a dedicated fan who took his long time science fiction interest and turned it into a career recently - as the editor-in-chief of Amazing Stories one of science fictions longest running magazines. He had previously written extensively for science fiction fanzines.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 55:07 false 7 367 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Lloyd Penney, the editor of Amazing Stories magazine about his work on Amazing Stories, his forty years of engagement with the fanzine community, and more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise. In the interview Mark and Lloyd talk about: Meeting Robert J. Sawyer when they both attended Ryerson University in Toronto Lloyd's first and only published science fiction story (which Rob was responsible for) Getting involved in science fiction fanzines Forty years of experience being engaged with fanzines from Canada, the United States and all over the world The definition of what a fanzine is How the common community ends up talking about almost anything else once they've established their commonalities in related to things they are fans of How the production of fanzines have changed over the years, from mimeographs, to photocopies, to digital Starting off his experience in engaging with fanzines by writing a letter of comment The letter column being the heart of a fanzine Social media having replaced the fanzine in a lot of ways, but how that has reduced the more nuanced, well-thought out responses and behavior The "reaction" of social media verses the "responses" in fanzines An example of a recent fanzine that Lloyd recently received The first issue of Amazing Stories coming out in 1927 A fan, Steve Davidson, who, about 2008, wondered what happened to the copyright on the name Amazing Stories, found it was available and secured them How Spielberg needing to purchase the rights to the name for a TV show helped pay for the production of the first few issues of the new version of the magazine How Lloyd got involved with Amazing Stories in 2018 and then became the editor in chief of the magazine The magazine being (at the time) an online magazine, with no current print issues available The Patreon and merchandise that's available to help support the magazine's operation Running two Kickstarters - one of which funded, and the other, which didn't fund And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the value of getting involved with such a prestigious magazine brand as Amazing Stories, as well as the strong sense of connection and engagement with readers that can happen within the fanzine community.   Links of Interest: Amazing Stories Website Store (Includes Amazing Selects imprint of books) Submissions efanzines.com EP 366 - Bolts of Fiction EP 365 - An Interview That's A Hug With Gail Carriger DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Lloyd Penney is a Canadian science fiction writer, science fiction convention organizer and a dedicated fan who took his long time science fiction interest and turned it into a career recently - as the editor-in-chief of Amazing Stories one of science fictions longest running magazines. He had previously written extensively for science fiction fanzines.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Lloyd Penney, the editor of Amazing Stories magazine about his work on Amazing Stories, his forty years of engagement with the fanzine community, and more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise. In the interview Mark and Lloyd talk about: Meeting Robert J. Sawyer when they both attended Ryerson University in Toronto Lloyd's first and only published science fiction story (which Rob was responsible for) Getting involved in science fiction fanzines Forty years of experience being engaged with fanzines from Canada, the United States and all over the world The definition of what a fanzine is How the common community ends up talking about almost anything else once they've established their commonalities in related to things they are fans of How the production of fanzines have changed over the years, from mimeographs, to photocopies, to digital Starting off his experience in engaging with fanzines by writing a letter of comment The letter column being the heart of a fanzine Social media having replaced the fanzine in a lot of ways, but how that has reduced the more nuanced, well-thought out responses and behavior The "reaction" of social media verses the "responses" in fanzines An example of a recent fanzine that Lloyd recently received The first issue of Amazing Stories coming out in 1927 A fan, Steve Davidson, who, about 2008, wondered what happened to the copyright on the name Amazing Stories, found it was available and secured them How Spielberg needing to purchase the rights to the name for a TV show helped pay for the production of the first few issues of the new version of the magazine How Lloyd got involved with Amazing Stories in 2018 and then became the editor in chief of the magazine The magazine being (at the time) an online magazine, with no current print issues available The Patreon and merchandise that's available to help support the magazine's operation Running two Kickstarters - one of which funded, and the other, which didn't fund And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the value of getting involved with such a prestigious magazine brand as Amazing Stories, as well as the strong sense of connection and engagement with readers that can happen within the fanzine community.   Links of Interest: Amazing Stories Website Store (Includes Amazing Selects imprint of books) Submissions efanzines.com EP 366 - Bolts of Fiction EP 365 - An Interview That's A Hug With Gail Carriger DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Lloyd Penney is a Canadian science fiction writer, science fiction convention organizer and a dedicated fan who took his long time science fiction interest and turned it into a career recently - as the editor-in-chief of Amazing Stories one of science fictions longest running magazines. He had previously written extensively for science fiction fanzines.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 366 - Bolts of Fiction with Daniel Willcocks and Samantha Frost Bolts of Fiction with Daniel Willcocks and Samantha Frost Sat, 15 Jun 2024 10:58:00 +0000 Mark interviews Daniel Willcocks and Samantha Frost about their flash fiction anthology BOLTS OF FICTION and the unique engagement they created and managed through the month of February 2023 to inspire the writing community throughout the entire month.

In February 2023, the Activated Authors community embarked on an ambitious project: to respond to daily prompts and produce a flash fiction story by the next day.

The result was an outpouring of over 500 unique and imaginative pieces, from which the very best were meticulously curated for their anthology.

From heart-wrenching tales of love and loss to whimsical adventures in fantastical worlds, each story promises to transport you, even if just for a moment, into a different reality. Whether you have a minute or an hour, you'll find stories that will intrigue, inspire, and leave you yearning for more.

Featuring stories from:

Quenntis Ashby, Ara Bell, Amy Bulauski, Tracey Byrnes, S.F. Claymore, Cassi Emerson, Geoff Emberlyn, B.A. Ferguson, Michelle L.M. Gale, Renée Gallant, Megan L. Garner, Robert Gelik, Debbie Gravett, Karla Hailer, R.P. Howley, Jacqueline James, Claire Ladds, Arin Laney, Mark Leslie, Daisy Lythe, S.W. Millar, Kiz Moncrieff, Andrew Murray, Laura Nettles, Kymba Nijuck, Carolyn O'Brien, Leila Murton Poole, Karin Redclift, C.M. Simpson, K.T. Tate, and Karen Wicks.

In this interview, Mark, Dan, and Sam talk about:

  • June 15th being National Flash Fiction Day
  • What flash fiction is
  • The inspiration for this project
  • The tight deadlines involved
  • Creating daily prompts to inspire writers
  • The blind submission/reading process
  • And more . . .

Links of Interest:

 

Daniel Willcocks is an international bestselling author, award-winning podcaster, author coach, and speaker. Dan writes non-fiction for authors and creatives, as well as dark fiction for the twisted reader, spanning the genres of horror, post-apocalyptic, and sci-fi.

Sam Frost a.k.a. "Mastress of None," is a video-editor, poet, writer, painter, actor and creator. Based in the south of England (but not born there, that's an important distinction), Sam is passionate about helping creatives while battling the will of a medium sized human and the "affectionate" sneezes of a smaller sized pug.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Daniel Willcocks and Samantha Frost about their flash fiction anthology BOLTS OF FICTION and the unique engagement they created and managed through the month of February 2023 to inspire the writing community throughout the entire month.

In February 2023, the Activated Authors community embarked on an ambitious project: to respond to daily prompts and produce a flash fiction story by the next day.

The result was an outpouring of over 500 unique and imaginative pieces, from which the very best were meticulously curated for their anthology.

From heart-wrenching tales of love and loss to whimsical adventures in fantastical worlds, each story promises to transport you, even if just for a moment, into a different reality. Whether you have a minute or an hour, you'll find stories that will intrigue, inspire, and leave you yearning for more.

Featuring stories from:

Quenntis Ashby, Ara Bell, Amy Bulauski, Tracey Byrnes, S.F. Claymore, Cassi Emerson, Geoff Emberlyn, B.A. Ferguson, Michelle L.M. Gale, Renée Gallant, Megan L. Garner, Robert Gelik, Debbie Gravett, Karla Hailer, R.P. Howley, Jacqueline James, Claire Ladds, Arin Laney, Mark Leslie, Daisy Lythe, S.W. Millar, Kiz Moncrieff, Andrew Murray, Laura Nettles, Kymba Nijuck, Carolyn O'Brien, Leila Murton Poole, Karin Redclift, C.M. Simpson, K.T. Tate, and Karen Wicks.

In this interview, Mark, Dan, and Sam talk about:

  • June 15th being National Flash Fiction Day
  • What flash fiction is
  • The inspiration for this project
  • The tight deadlines involved
  • Creating daily prompts to inspire writers
  • The blind submission/reading process
  • And more . . .

Links of Interest:

Daniel Willcocks is an international bestselling author, award-winning podcaster, author coach, and speaker. Dan writes non-fiction for authors and creatives, as well as dark fiction for the twisted reader, spanning the genres of horror, post-apocalyptic, and sci-fi.

Sam Frost a.k.a. "Mastress of None," is a video-editor, poet, writer, painter, actor and creator. Based in the south of England (but not born there, that's an important distinction), Sam is passionate about helping creatives while battling the will of a medium sized human and the "affectionate" sneezes of a smaller sized pug.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 27:29 false 7 366 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Daniel Willcocks and Samantha Frost about their flash fiction anthology BOLTS OF FICTION and the unique engagement they created and managed through the month of February 2023 to inspire the writing community throughout the entire month. In February 2023, the Activated Authors community embarked on an ambitious project: to respond to daily prompts and produce a flash fiction story by the next day. The result was an outpouring of over 500 unique and imaginative pieces, from which the very best were meticulously curated for their anthology. From heart-wrenching tales of love and loss to whimsical adventures in fantastical worlds, each story promises to transport you, even if just for a moment, into a different reality. Whether you have a minute or an hour, you'll find stories that will intrigue, inspire, and leave you yearning for more. Featuring stories from: Quenntis Ashby, Ara Bell, Amy Bulauski, Tracey Byrnes, S.F. Claymore, Cassi Emerson, Geoff Emberlyn, B.A. Ferguson, Michelle L.M. Gale, Renée Gallant, Megan L. Garner, Robert Gelik, Debbie Gravett, Karla Hailer, R.P. Howley, Jacqueline James, Claire Ladds, Arin Laney, Mark Leslie, Daisy Lythe, S.W. Millar, Kiz Moncrieff, Andrew Murray, Laura Nettles, Kymba Nijuck, Carolyn O'Brien, Leila Murton Poole, Karin Redclift, C.M. Simpson, K.T. Tate, and Karen Wicks. In this interview, Mark, Dan, and Sam talk about: June 15th being National Flash Fiction Day What flash fiction is The inspiration for this project The tight deadlines involved Creating daily prompts to inspire writers The blind submission/reading process And more . . . Links of Interest: Bolts of Fiction Devil's Rock Publishing Dan's Website Sam's Website DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Daniel Willcocks is an international bestselling author, award-winning podcaster, author coach, and speaker. Dan writes non-fiction for authors and creatives, as well as dark fiction for the twisted reader, spanning the genres of horror, post-apocalyptic, and sci-fi. Sam Frost a.k.a. "Mastress of None," is a video-editor, poet, writer, painter, actor and creator. Based in the south of England (but not born there, that's an important distinction), Sam is passionate about helping creatives while battling the will of a medium sized human and the "affectionate" sneezes of a smaller sized pug.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Daniel Willcocks and Samantha Frost about their flash fiction anthology BOLTS OF FICTION and the unique engagement they created and managed through the month of February 2023 to inspire the writing community throughout the entire month. In February 2023, the Activated Authors community embarked on an ambitious project: to respond to daily prompts and produce a flash fiction story by the next day. The result was an outpouring of over 500 unique and imaginative pieces, from which the very best were meticulously curated for their anthology. From heart-wrenching tales of love and loss to whimsical adventures in fantastical worlds, each story promises to transport you, even if just for a moment, into a different reality. Whether you have a minute or an hour, you'll find stories that will intrigue, inspire, and leave you yearning for more. Featuring stories from: Quenntis Ashby, Ara Bell, Amy Bulauski, Tracey Byrnes, S.F. Claymore, Cassi Emerson, Geoff Emberlyn, B.A. Ferguson, Michelle L.M. Gale, Renée Gallant, Megan L. Garner, Robert Gelik, Debbie Gravett, Karla Hailer, R.P. Howley, Jacqueline James, Claire Ladds, Arin Laney, Mark Leslie, Daisy Lythe, S.W. Millar, Kiz Moncrieff, Andrew Murray, Laura Nettles, Kymba Nijuck, Carolyn O'Brien, Leila Murton Poole, Karin Redclift, C.M. Simpson, K.T. Tate, and Karen Wicks. In this interview, Mark, Dan, and Sam talk about: June 15th being National Flash Fiction Day What flash fiction is The inspiration for this project The tight deadlines involved Creating daily prompts to inspire writers The blind submission/reading process And more . . . Links of Interest: Bolts of Fiction Devil's Rock Publishing Dan's Website Sam's Website DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Daniel Willcocks is an international bestselling author, award-winning podcaster, author coach, and speaker. Dan writes non-fiction for authors and creatives, as well as dark fiction for the twisted reader, spanning the genres of horror, post-apocalyptic, and sci-fi. Sam Frost a.k.a. "Mastress of None," is a video-editor, poet, writer, painter, actor and creator. Based in the south of England (but not born there, that's an important distinction), Sam is passionate about helping creatives while battling the will of a medium sized human and the "affectionate" sneezes of a smaller sized pug.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 365 - An Interview That's A Hug with Gail Carriger An Interview That's A Hug with Gail Carriger Fri, 14 Jun 2024 01:05:00 +0000 Mark interviews Gail Carriger about her writing life, her journey through publishing, analytics, the careful curation of her author brand, being a hybrid author and so much more.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Gail talk about:- How honored Mark is to learn that Gail listens to the Stark Reflections Podcast

  • Gail's branding phrase of "Gail Carriger writes books that are hugs" and the various experiments she's done with that over the years
  • Always being a person who wrote, or had a passion for writing
  • Reading The Lord of the Rings as a child and deciding to craft her OWN ending for the story
  • Growing up in a "commune" environment with a bunch of poets
  • Gail's career as an academic when her first traditionally published book (Soulless) came out and took off
  • The challenge/dare to herself of wanting to write a genre-blending/cross-genre tale of something that she would enjoy as a reader
  • Negotiations taking a long time because Gail dug in her heels on specific contract clauses
  • Her agent investigating a back-door deal with another publisher who offered her 3X the deal the first was looking at and was willing to adjust the right of first refusal clause
  • The vision that the publishers had that Soulless was the beginning of a series (despite Gail believing, when she first wrote it, that it was a stand-alone)
  • Having a two-book contract and then writing a cliffhanger at the end of the 2nd book in order to grease the wheels of a contract for other books
  • Gail's love-affair with spreadsheets and the fact she reads all 56 pages of her royalty reports
  • One of the main reasons she became an indie author was her ability to have direct access to data about her sales and her readers
  • Gail's cautionary note to authors that with a "right of first refusal" a publisher is allowed to take their time with that offer, which can significantly delay an author's forward-movement plans
  • The possible "rights grab" that a publisher might do even if it's not something within their regular publishing plans
  • How growing up Gen-X and being a non-native to computers and the internet has resulted in an abundance of caution about digital, computers, the world wide web, how she is presented on the internet, etc.
  • Gail's recommendation to test the waters in self-publishing with short stories first
  • Nerding out with Mark about the "old days" of self-publishing and podcasting
  • Being a social scientist by training and loving analytics and spreadsheets
  • Pinging her rabid fan base and testing things all the time
  • Gail's A/B testing on whether it's better to put a newsletter signup link at the front of a book or the end of the book, or both
  • Ensuring that her author brand is not diluted with author business stuff that she's known for from other authors and industry insiders
  • Talking to her readers constantly to continue to stay in the loop on insights
  • The importance, when communicating to your readers to use the same language that they're used to
  • Learning that her readers tend to not have a distinction between libraries and bookstores - that many of them see them under the same umbrella of a place they go to see what books are on display
  • Confirming the reports that "word of mouth" is, by a landslide, the way that most readers find out about new books and new authors to read
  • The value of a recommendation from another author in a newsletter or on social media
  • The challenges of book blurbs
  • A podcast that Gail recommends: Reading Glasses - and that authors should subscribe and listen to it in order to understand the language that readers use
  • The deliberate curation and creation of the Gail Carriger persona, including her love of wearing retro outfits
  • The side benefit of being able to be a fan at conventions, etc when "out of uniform" and how she's rarely recognized when not sporting that specific "look"
  • A little bit about Gail's book THE HEROINE'S JOURNEY
  • The next book for writers that Gail is working on called GOING HYBRID, structured to help established and existing traditionally published authors to learn the indie publishing landscape
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on several different topics that came up in the conversation, including contract clauses, being incognito, and Gails's suggesting for testing the self-publishing waters.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Gail Carriger writes books that are hugs, mostly comedies of manners mixed with steampunk, urban fantasy, and sci-fi (plus cozy queer joy as G. L. Carriger). These include the Parasol Protectorate, Custard Protocol, Tinkered Stars, and San Andreas Shifter series for adults, and the Finishing School and Tinkered Starsong series for young adults. Also nonfiction: The Heroine's Journey. She is published in many languages, has over a million books in print, over a dozen New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, and starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus, and Romantic Times.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Gail Carriger about her writing life, her journey through publishing, analytics, the careful curation of her author brand, being a hybrid author and so much more.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Gail talk about:- How honored Mark is to learn that Gail listens to the Stark Reflections Podcast

  • Gail's branding phrase of "Gail Carriger writes books that are hugs" and the various experiments she's done with that over the years
  • Always being a person who wrote, or had a passion for writing
  • Reading The Lord of the Rings as a child and deciding to craft her OWN ending for the story
  • Growing up in a "commune" environment with a bunch of poets
  • Gail's career as an academic when her first traditionally published book (Soulless) came out and took off
  • The challenge/dare to herself of wanting to write a genre-blending/cross-genre tale of something that she would enjoy as a reader
  • Negotiations taking a long time because Gail dug in her heels on specific contract clauses
  • Her agent investigating a back-door deal with another publisher who offered her 3X the deal the first was looking at and was willing to adjust the right of first refusal clause
  • The vision that the publishers had that Soulless was the beginning of a series (despite Gail believing, when she first wrote it, that it was a stand-alone)
  • Having a two-book contract and then writing a cliffhanger at the end of the 2nd book in order to grease the wheels of a contract for other books
  • Gail's love-affair with spreadsheets and the fact she reads all 56 pages of her royalty reports
  • One of the main reasons she became an indie author was her ability to have direct access to data about her sales and her readers
  • Gail's cautionary note to authors that with a "right of first refusal" a publisher is allowed to take their time with that offer, which can significantly delay an author's forward-movement plans
  • The possible "rights grab" that a publisher might do even if it's not something within their regular publishing plans
  • How growing up Gen-X and being a non-native to computers and the internet has resulted in an abundance of caution about digital, computers, the world wide web, how she is presented on the internet, etc.
  • Gail's recommendation to test the waters in self-publishing with short stories first
  • Nerding out with Mark about the "old days" of self-publishing and podcasting
  • Being a social scientist by training and loving analytics and spreadsheets
  • Pinging her rabid fan base and testing things all the time
  • Gail's A/B testing on whether it's better to put a newsletter signup link at the front of a book or the end of the book, or both
  • Ensuring that her author brand is not diluted with author business stuff that she's known for from other authors and industry insiders
  • Talking to her readers constantly to continue to stay in the loop on insights
  • The importance, when communicating to your readers to use the same language that they're used to
  • Learning that her readers tend to not have a distinction between libraries and bookstores - that many of them see them under the same umbrella of a place they go to see what books are on display
  • Confirming the reports that "word of mouth" is, by a landslide, the way that most readers find out about new books and new authors to read
  • The value of a recommendation from another author in a newsletter or on social media
  • The challenges of book blurbs
  • A podcast that Gail recommends: Reading Glasses - and that authors should subscribe and listen to it in order to understand the language that readers use
  • The deliberate curation and creation of the Gail Carriger persona, including her love of wearing retro outfits
  • The side benefit of being able to be a fan at conventions, etc when "out of uniform" and how she's rarely recognized when not sporting that specific "look"
  • A little bit about Gail's book THE HEROINE'S JOURNEY
  • The next book for writers that Gail is working on called GOING HYBRID, structured to help established and existing traditionally published authors to learn the indie publishing landscape
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on several different topics that came up in the conversation, including contract clauses, being incognito, and Gails's suggesting for testing the self-publishing waters.

Links of Interest:

Gail Carriger writes books that are hugs, mostly comedies of manners mixed with steampunk, urban fantasy, and sci-fi (plus cozy queer joy as G. L. Carriger). These include the Parasol Protectorate, Custard Protocol, Tinkered Stars, and San Andreas Shifter series for adults, and the Finishing School and Tinkered Starsong series for young adults. Also nonfiction: The Heroine's Journey. She is published in many languages, has over a million books in print, over a dozen New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, and starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus, and Romantic Times.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:19:57 false 7 365 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Gail Carriger about her writing life, her journey through publishing, analytics, the careful curation of her author brand, being a hybrid author and so much more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise. In the interview Mark and Gail talk about:- How honored Mark is to learn that Gail listens to the Stark Reflections Podcast Gail's branding phrase of "Gail Carriger writes books that are hugs" and the various experiments she's done with that over the years Always being a person who wrote, or had a passion for writing Reading The Lord of the Rings as a child and deciding to craft her OWN ending for the story Growing up in a "commune" environment with a bunch of poets Gail's career as an academic when her first traditionally published book (Soulless) came out and took off The challenge/dare to herself of wanting to write a genre-blending/cross-genre tale of something that she would enjoy as a reader Negotiations taking a long time because Gail dug in her heels on specific contract clauses Her agent investigating a back-door deal with another publisher who offered her 3X the deal the first was looking at and was willing to adjust the right of first refusal clause The vision that the publishers had that Soulless was the beginning of a series (despite Gail believing, when she first wrote it, that it was a stand-alone) Having a two-book contract and then writing a cliffhanger at the end of the 2nd book in order to grease the wheels of a contract for other books Gail's love-affair with spreadsheets and the fact she reads all 56 pages of her royalty reports One of the main reasons she became an indie author was her ability to have direct access to data about her sales and her readers Gail's cautionary note to authors that with a "right of first refusal" a publisher is allowed to take their time with that offer, which can significantly delay an author's forward-movement plans The possible "rights grab" that a publisher might do even if it's not something within their regular publishing plans How growing up Gen-X and being a non-native to computers and the internet has resulted in an abundance of caution about digital, computers, the world wide web, how she is presented on the internet, etc. Gail's recommendation to test the waters in self-publishing with short stories first Nerding out with Mark about the "old days" of self-publishing and podcasting Being a social scientist by training and loving analytics and spreadsheets Pinging her rabid fan base and testing things all the time Gail's A/B testing on whether it's better to put a newsletter signup link at the front of a book or the end of the book, or both Ensuring that her author brand is not diluted with author business stuff that she's known for from other authors and industry insiders Talking to her readers constantly to continue to stay in the loop on insights The importance, when communicating to your readers to use the same language that they're used to Learning that her readers tend to not have a distinction between libraries and bookstores - that many of them see them under the same umbrella of a place they go to see what books are on display Confirming the reports that "word of mouth" is, by a landslide, the way that most readers find out about new books and new authors to read The value of a recommendation from another author in a newsletter or on social media The challenges of book blurbs A podcast that Gail recommends: Reading Glasses - and that authors should subscribe and listen to it in order to understand the language that readers use The deliberate curation and creation of the Gail Carriger persona, including her love of wearing retro outfits The side benefit of being able to be a fan at conventions, etc when "out of uniform" and how she's rarely recognized when not sporting that specific "look" A little bit about Gail's book THE HEROINE'S JOURNEY The next book for writers that Gail is working on called GOING HYBRID, structured to help established and existing traditionally published authors to learn the indie publishing landscape And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on several different topics that came up in the conversation, including contract clauses, being incognito, and Gails's suggesting for testing the self-publishing waters.   Links of Interest: Gail Carriger Website ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Gail Carriger writes books that are hugs, mostly comedies of manners mixed with steampunk, urban fantasy, and sci-fi (plus cozy queer joy as G. L. Carriger). These include the Parasol Protectorate, Custard Protocol, Tinkered Stars, and San Andreas Shifter series for adults, and the Finishing School and Tinkered Starsong series for young adults. Also nonfiction: The Heroine's Journey. She is published in many languages, has over a million books in print, over a dozen New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, and starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus, and Romantic Times.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Gail Carriger about her writing life, her journey through publishing, analytics, the careful curation of her author brand, being a hybrid author and so much more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise. In the interview Mark and Gail talk about:- How honored Mark is to learn that Gail listens to the Stark Reflections Podcast Gail's branding phrase of "Gail Carriger writes books that are hugs" and the various experiments she's done with that over the years Always being a person who wrote, or had a passion for writing Reading The Lord of the Rings as a child and deciding to craft her OWN ending for the story Growing up in a "commune" environment with a bunch of poets Gail's career as an academic when her first traditionally published book (Soulless) came out and took off The challenge/dare to herself of wanting to write a genre-blending/cross-genre tale of something that she would enjoy as a reader Negotiations taking a long time because Gail dug in her heels on specific contract clauses Her agent investigating a back-door deal with another publisher who offered her 3X the deal the first was looking at and was willing to adjust the right of first refusal clause The vision that the publishers had that Soulless was the beginning of a series (despite Gail believing, when she first wrote it, that it was a stand-alone) Having a two-book contract and then writing a cliffhanger at the end of the 2nd book in order to grease the wheels of a contract for other books Gail's love-affair with spreadsheets and the fact she reads all 56 pages of her royalty reports One of the main reasons she became an indie author was her ability to have direct access to data about her sales and her readers Gail's cautionary note to authors that with a "right of first refusal" a publisher is allowed to take their time with that offer, which can significantly delay an author's forward-movement plans The possible "rights grab" that a publisher might do even if it's not something within their regular publishing plans How growing up Gen-X and being a non-native to computers and the internet has resulted in an abundance of caution about digital, computers, the world wide web, how she is presented on the internet, etc. Gail's recommendation to test the waters in self-publishing with short stories first Nerding out with Mark about the "old days" of self-publishing and podcasting Being a social scientist by training and loving analytics and spreadsheets Pinging her rabid fan base and testing things all the time Gail's A/B testing on whether it's better to put a newsletter signup link at the front of a book or the end of the book, or both Ensuring that her author brand is not diluted with author business stuff that she's known for from other authors and industry insiders Talking to her readers constantly to continue to stay in the loop on insights The importance, when communicating to your readers to use the same language that they're used to Learning that her readers tend to not have a distinction between libraries and bookstores - that many of them see them under the same umbrella of a place they go to see what books are on display Confirming the reports that "word of mouth" is, by a landslide, the way that most readers find out about new books and new authors to read The value of a recommendation from another author in a newsletter or on social media The challenges of book blurbs A podcast that Gail recommends: Reading Glasses - and that authors should subscribe and listen to it in order to understand the language that readers use The deliberate curation and creation of the Gail Carriger persona, including her love of wearing retro outfits The side benefit of being able to be a fan at conventions, etc when "out of uniform" and how she's rarely recognized when not sporting that specific "look" A little bit about Gail's book THE HEROINE'S JOURNEY The next book for writers that Gail is working on called GOING HYBRID, structured to help established and existing traditionally published authors to learn the indie publishing landscape And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on several different topics that came up in the conversation, including contract clauses, being incognito, and Gails's suggesting for testing the self-publishing waters.   Links of Interest: Gail Carriger Website ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Gail Carriger writes books that are hugs, mostly comedies of manners mixed with steampunk, urban fantasy, and sci-fi (plus cozy queer joy as G. L. Carriger). These include the Parasol Protectorate, Custard Protocol, Tinkered Stars, and San Andreas Shifter series for adults, and the Finishing School and Tinkered Starsong series for young adults. Also nonfiction: The Heroine's Journey. She is published in many languages, has over a million books in print, over a dozen New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, and starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus, and Romantic Times.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 364 - 40 Years of Rubes® Cartoons with Leigh Rubin EP 364 - 40 Years of Rubes® Cartoons with Leigh Rubin Thu, 06 Jun 2024 21:47:00 +0000 Mark interviews Leigh Rubin about 40 years of his Rubes® cartoons and his latest book THINK LIKE A CARTOONIST.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Leigh talk about:

  • The fact that in 2024 Leigh is celebrating 40 years of producing Rubes® cartoons
  • Some of the things that have changed since Leigh first started writing the cartoons - such as the way he delivers the daily cartoons
  • The tools that haven't changed over the years, such as the drawing instruments he uses
  • How far in advance the daily cartoons need to be sent in for syndication
  • The fact that Leigh rarely ever takes a day off from drawing something new for the cartoon
  • Leigh's book THINK LIKE A CARTOONIST and the story behind it
  • The various types of essays that appear in this book
  • Leigh's Cartoonist Pledge (inspired by the Boy Scout pledge)
  • The ease of sharing cartoons on social media without any compensation given to the artist
  • What a "workaround" is for cartooning
  • The challenges of when humor doesn't age well because of changing sensitivities
  • Testing the cartoons and deciding not to use certain ones that don't hit just right - (and the big stack of un-used cartoons that Leigh never submitted because they weren't funny enough)
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of what Leigh calls a "workaround" and how a similar thing might apply to writers in general as well as the idea of testing cartoons and not publishing them unless the hit right.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Leigh Rubin is an accomplished author and cartoonist. He has written more than 20 books. 2024 will mark the 40th anniversary of Leigh's internationally syndicated cartoon, Rubes®, which is distributed by Creators Syndicate to hundreds of newspapers and media outlets worldwide.

His work has been featured in film, television, and advertising. Leigh also enjoys a busy schedule giving thought-provoking and entertaining presentations on art and creativity at conferences, as well as professional organizations all around the country.

In 2018 Leigh began serving at Rochester Institute of Technology as the college's first Cartoonist-in-Residence.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Leigh Rubin about 40 years of his Rubes® cartoons and his latest book THINK LIKE A CARTOONIST.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Leigh talk about:

  • The fact that in 2024 Leigh is celebrating 40 years of producing Rubes® cartoons
  • Some of the things that have changed since Leigh first started writing the cartoons - such as the way he delivers the daily cartoons
  • The tools that haven't changed over the years, such as the drawing instruments he uses
  • How far in advance the daily cartoons need to be sent in for syndication
  • The fact that Leigh rarely ever takes a day off from drawing something new for the cartoon
  • Leigh's book THINK LIKE A CARTOONIST and the story behind it
  • The various types of essays that appear in this book
  • Leigh's Cartoonist Pledge (inspired by the Boy Scout pledge)
  • The ease of sharing cartoons on social media without any compensation given to the artist
  • What a "workaround" is for cartooning
  • The challenges of when humor doesn't age well because of changing sensitivities
  • Testing the cartoons and deciding not to use certain ones that don't hit just right - (and the big stack of un-used cartoons that Leigh never submitted because they weren't funny enough)
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of what Leigh calls a "workaround" and how a similar thing might apply to writers in general as well as the idea of testing cartoons and not publishing them unless the hit right.

Links of Interest:

Leigh Rubin is an accomplished author and cartoonist. He has written more than 20 books. 2024 will mark the 40th anniversary of Leigh's internationally syndicated cartoon, Rubes®, which is distributed by Creators Syndicate to hundreds of newspapers and media outlets worldwide.

His work has been featured in film, television, and advertising. Leigh also enjoys a busy schedule giving thought-provoking and entertaining presentations on art and creativity at conferences, as well as professional organizations all around the country.

In 2018 Leigh began serving at Rochester Institute of Technology as the college's first Cartoonist-in-Residence.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 59:01 false 7 364 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Leigh Rubin about 40 years of his Rubes® cartoons and his latest book THINK LIKE A CARTOONIST. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise. In the interview Mark and Leigh talk about: The fact that in 2024 Leigh is celebrating 40 years of producing Rubes® cartoons Some of the things that have changed since Leigh first started writing the cartoons - such as the way he delivers the daily cartoons The tools that haven't changed over the years, such as the drawing instruments he uses How far in advance the daily cartoons need to be sent in for syndication The fact that Leigh rarely ever takes a day off from drawing something new for the cartoon Leigh's book THINK LIKE A CARTOONIST and the story behind it The various types of essays that appear in this book Leigh's Cartoonist Pledge (inspired by the Boy Scout pledge) The ease of sharing cartoons on social media without any compensation given to the artist What a "workaround" is for cartooning The challenges of when humor doesn't age well because of changing sensitivities Testing the cartoons and deciding not to use certain ones that don't hit just right - (and the big stack of un-used cartoons that Leigh never submitted because they weren't funny enough) And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of what Leigh calls a "workaround" and how a similar thing might apply to writers in general as well as the idea of testing cartoons and not publishing them unless the hit right.   Links of Interest: Leigh Rubins Website / Rubes Cartoons Think Like a Cartoonist (RIT Press Website) EP 152 - Drawing Inspiration with Cartoonist Leigh Rubin Dramatic Exit (YouTube Short Inspired by one of Leigh's cartoons) EP 316 - Free Your Inner Non-Fiction Writer with Johanna Rothman ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Leigh Rubin is an accomplished author and cartoonist. He has written more than 20 books. 2024 will mark the 40th anniversary of Leigh's internationally syndicated cartoon, Rubes®, which is distributed by Creators Syndicate to hundreds of newspapers and media outlets worldwide. His work has been featured in film, television, and advertising. Leigh also enjoys a busy schedule giving thought-provoking and entertaining presentations on art and creativity at conferences, as well as professional organizations all around the country. In 2018 Leigh began serving at Rochester Institute of Technology as the college's first Cartoonist-in-Residence.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Leigh Rubin about 40 years of his Rubes® cartoons and his latest book THINK LIKE A CARTOONIST. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise. In the interview Mark and Leigh talk about: The fact that in 2024 Leigh is celebrating 40 years of producing Rubes® cartoons Some of the things that have changed since Leigh first started writing the cartoons - such as the way he delivers the daily cartoons The tools that haven't changed over the years, such as the drawing instruments he uses How far in advance the daily cartoons need to be sent in for syndication The fact that Leigh rarely ever takes a day off from drawing something new for the cartoon Leigh's book THINK LIKE A CARTOONIST and the story behind it The various types of essays that appear in this book Leigh's Cartoonist Pledge (inspired by the Boy Scout pledge) The ease of sharing cartoons on social media without any compensation given to the artist What a "workaround" is for cartooning The challenges of when humor doesn't age well because of changing sensitivities Testing the cartoons and deciding not to use certain ones that don't hit just right - (and the big stack of un-used cartoons that Leigh never submitted because they weren't funny enough) And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of what Leigh calls a "workaround" and how a similar thing might apply to writers in general as well as the idea of testing cartoons and not publishing them unless the hit right.   Links of Interest: Leigh Rubins Website / Rubes Cartoons Think Like a Cartoonist (RIT Press Website) EP 152 - Drawing Inspiration with Cartoonist Leigh Rubin Dramatic Exit (YouTube Short Inspired by one of Leigh's cartoons) EP 316 - Free Your Inner Non-Fiction Writer with Johanna Rothman ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Leigh Rubin is an accomplished author and cartoonist. He has written more than 20 books. 2024 will mark the 40th anniversary of Leigh's internationally syndicated cartoon, Rubes®, which is distributed by Creators Syndicate to hundreds of newspapers and media outlets worldwide. His work has been featured in film, television, and advertising. Leigh also enjoys a busy schedule giving thought-provoking and entertaining presentations on art and creativity at conferences, as well as professional organizations all around the country. In 2018 Leigh began serving at Rochester Institute of Technology as the college's first Cartoonist-in-Residence.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 363 - Greatness Together with Sarah McVanel Greatness Together with Sarah McVanel Thu, 30 May 2024 23:30:00 +0000 Mark interviews Sarah McVanel, a recognition expert, professional speaker, coach, author, recovering perfectionist, and movement maker about her books, speaking, and her the new podcast she co-hosts with her daughter.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Sarah talk about:

  • What Sarah has been up to since Mark last had her on the podcast
  • How Sarah is an expert-based author rather than a "traditional" author
  • The difference between writing for a keynote as a speaker and writing a book
  • The various books that Sarah has previously written and how she went about putting them together, including FLIPSIDE OF FAILING
  • The research and legwork done in order to send hand-signed copies and hand-written notes to medical/health-care leaders for Sarah's book ROCKSTAR: Magnify Your Greatness in Times of Change for Healthcare Leaders
  • Providing space in the back of a specially printed edition of her book ROCKSTAR: Magnify Your Greatness in Times of Change for Women Leaders for conference organizers to put their own messaging in
  • The needless bloating in some non-fiction books; something which Sarah strives to not do
  • Satisfaction that's felt when you finish reading a book
  • How companies, publishers, and authors often bundle products together and how it might affect the reader
  • How we earn the right to be read as authors
  • Participating in physical bundles with other speakers as part of a conference
  • The way the most special readers deserve something special
  • The new podcast (The Greatness Together Podcast) that Sarah has started with her daughter and which runs every other week
  • Various topics related to the human dimension that mother and daughter Sarah and Simonne talk through
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on Sarah's perspective on the author needing to ensure that they deliver on their promise and that after earning the reader's attention, they need to keep it by delivering on that promise in the content. He also reflects on the incredible value Sarah brings as a greatness recognition expert.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Sarah McVanel is a recognition expert, professional speaker, coach, author, recovering perfectionist, and movement maker. She created F.R.O.G. Forever Recognize Others' GreatnessTM to invigorate companies so they can see their people as exceptional and, together, create a scrumptious, thriving culture where everyone belongs.

Sarah has 25+ years of experience training, coaching, and leading teams. From her senior leadership role, she founded her boutique firm Greatness Magnified. Proclaimed as the "Frog Lady," she can be found freaking out perfect strangers (in a good way) by handing out squishy frogs and asking them, "Have you been frogged lately?" and then acknowledging their greatness.

She's a Certified Senior Organizational Development Professional (CSODP), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL). She is one of 700 Certified Speaking Professionals (CSP) worldwide. She has a BA in Psychology, MSc in Family Relations, and Diplomas in Human Resources and Healthcare Administration.

You can catch her kayaking in the summer and snowshoeing in the winter with her husband, or cooking a feast (while listening to an audiobook on double speed). She's a die-hard carb-ivour, amateur hip hopper, and TikTok embarrasser to her two kids.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Sarah McVanel, a recognition expert, professional speaker, coach, author, recovering perfectionist, and movement maker about her books, speaking, and her the new podcast she co-hosts with her daughter.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Sarah talk about:

  • What Sarah has been up to since Mark last had her on the podcast
  • How Sarah is an expert-based author rather than a "traditional" author
  • The difference between writing for a keynote as a speaker and writing a book
  • The various books that Sarah has previously written and how she went about putting them together, including FLIPSIDE OF FAILING
  • The research and legwork done in order to send hand-signed copies and hand-written notes to medical/health-care leaders for Sarah's book ROCKSTAR: Magnify Your Greatness in Times of Change for Healthcare Leaders
  • Providing space in the back of a specially printed edition of her book ROCKSTAR: Magnify Your Greatness in Times of Change for Women Leaders for conference organizers to put their own messaging in
  • The needless bloating in some non-fiction books; something which Sarah strives to not do
  • Satisfaction that's felt when you finish reading a book
  • How companies, publishers, and authors often bundle products together and how it might affect the reader
  • How we earn the right to be read as authors
  • Participating in physical bundles with other speakers as part of a conference
  • The way the most special readers deserve something special
  • The new podcast (The Greatness Together Podcast) that Sarah has started with her daughter and which runs every other week
  • Various topics related to the human dimension that mother and daughter Sarah and Simonne talk through
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on Sarah's perspective on the author needing to ensure that they deliver on their promise and that after earning the reader's attention, they need to keep it by delivering on that promise in the content. He also reflects on the incredible value Sarah brings as a greatness recognition expert.

Links of Interest:

Sarah McVanel is a recognition expert, professional speaker, coach, author, recovering perfectionist, and movement maker. She created F.R.O.G. Forever Recognize Others' GreatnessTM to invigorate companies so they can see their people as exceptional and, together, create a scrumptious, thriving culture where everyone belongs.

Sarah has 25+ years of experience training, coaching, and leading teams. From her senior leadership role, she founded her boutique firm Greatness Magnified. Proclaimed as the "Frog Lady," she can be found freaking out perfect strangers (in a good way) by handing out squishy frogs and asking them, "Have you been frogged lately?" and then acknowledging their greatness.

She's a Certified Senior Organizational Development Professional (CSODP), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL). She is one of 700 Certified Speaking Professionals (CSP) worldwide. She has a BA in Psychology, MSc in Family Relations, and Diplomas in Human Resources and Healthcare Administration.

You can catch her kayaking in the summer and snowshoeing in the winter with her husband, or cooking a feast (while listening to an audiobook on double speed). She's a die-hard carb-ivour, amateur hip hopper, and TikTok embarrasser to her two kids.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:06:33 false 7 363 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Sarah McVanel, a recognition expert, professional speaker, coach, author, recovering perfectionist, and movement maker about her books, speaking, and her the new podcast she co-hosts with her daughter. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise. In the interview Mark and Sarah talk about: What Sarah has been up to since Mark last had her on the podcast How Sarah is an expert-based author rather than a "traditional" author The difference between writing for a keynote as a speaker and writing a book The various books that Sarah has previously written and how she went about putting them together, including FLIPSIDE OF FAILING The research and legwork done in order to send hand-signed copies and hand-written notes to medical/health-care leaders for Sarah's book ROCKSTAR: Magnify Your Greatness in Times of Change for Healthcare Leaders Providing space in the back of a specially printed edition of her book ROCKSTAR: Magnify Your Greatness in Times of Change for Women Leaders for conference organizers to put their own messaging in The needless bloating in some non-fiction books; something which Sarah strives to not do Satisfaction that's felt when you finish reading a book How companies, publishers, and authors often bundle products together and how it might affect the reader How we earn the right to be read as authors Participating in physical bundles with other speakers as part of a conference The way the most special readers deserve something special The new podcast (The Greatness Together Podcast) that Sarah has started with her daughter and which runs every other week Various topics related to the human dimension that mother and daughter Sarah and Simonne talk through And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on Sarah's perspective on the author needing to ensure that they deliver on their promise and that after earning the reader's attention, they need to keep it by delivering on that promise in the content. He also reflects on the incredible value Sarah brings as a greatness recognition expert.   Links of Interest: Sarah's Website The Greatness Together Podcast EP 76 - Recognizing Success in Failure with Sarah McVanel EP 109 - 12 Takeaways From CAPS Convention 2019 EP 361 - The Author Wheel with Greta Boris and Megan Haskell ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Sarah McVanel is a recognition expert, professional speaker, coach, author, recovering perfectionist, and movement maker. She created F.R.O.G. Forever Recognize Others' GreatnessTM to invigorate companies so they can see their people as exceptional and, together, create a scrumptious, thriving culture where everyone belongs. Sarah has 25+ years of experience training, coaching, and leading teams. From her senior leadership role, she founded her boutique firm Greatness Magnified. Proclaimed as the "Frog Lady," she can be found freaking out perfect strangers (in a good way) by handing out squishy frogs and asking them, "Have you been frogged lately?" and then acknowledging their greatness. She's a Certified Senior Organizational Development Professional (CSODP), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL). She is one of 700 Certified Speaking Professionals (CSP) worldwide. She has a BA in Psychology, MSc in Family Relations, and Diplomas in Human Resources and Healthcare Administration. You can catch her kayaking in the summer and snowshoeing in the winter with her husband, or cooking a feast (while listening to an audiobook on double speed). She's a die-hard carb-ivour, amateur hip hopper, and TikTok embarrasser to her two kids.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Sarah McVanel, a recognition expert, professional speaker, coach, author, recovering perfectionist, and movement maker about her books, speaking, and her the new podcast she co-hosts with her daughter. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise. In the interview Mark and Sarah talk about: What Sarah has been up to since Mark last had her on the podcast How Sarah is an expert-based author rather than a "traditional" author The difference between writing for a keynote as a speaker and writing a book The various books that Sarah has previously written and how she went about putting them together, including FLIPSIDE OF FAILING The research and legwork done in order to send hand-signed copies and hand-written notes to medical/health-care leaders for Sarah's book ROCKSTAR: Magnify Your Greatness in Times of Change for Healthcare Leaders Providing space in the back of a specially printed edition of her book ROCKSTAR: Magnify Your Greatness in Times of Change for Women Leaders for conference organizers to put their own messaging in The needless bloating in some non-fiction books; something which Sarah strives to not do Satisfaction that's felt when you finish reading a book How companies, publishers, and authors often bundle products together and how it might affect the reader How we earn the right to be read as authors Participating in physical bundles with other speakers as part of a conference The way the most special readers deserve something special The new podcast (The Greatness Together Podcast) that Sarah has started with her daughter and which runs every other week Various topics related to the human dimension that mother and daughter Sarah and Simonne talk through And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on Sarah's perspective on the author needing to ensure that they deliver on their promise and that after earning the reader's attention, they need to keep it by delivering on that promise in the content. He also reflects on the incredible value Sarah brings as a greatness recognition expert.   Links of Interest: Sarah's Website The Greatness Together Podcast EP 76 - Recognizing Success in Failure with Sarah McVanel EP 109 - 12 Takeaways From CAPS Convention 2019 EP 361 - The Author Wheel with Greta Boris and Megan Haskell ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Sarah McVanel is a recognition expert, professional speaker, coach, author, recovering perfectionist, and movement maker. She created F.R.O.G. Forever Recognize Others' GreatnessTM to invigorate companies so they can see their people as exceptional and, together, create a scrumptious, thriving culture where everyone belongs. Sarah has 25+ years of experience training, coaching, and leading teams. From her senior leadership role, she founded her boutique firm Greatness Magnified. Proclaimed as the "Frog Lady," she can be found freaking out perfect strangers (in a good way) by handing out squishy frogs and asking them, "Have you been frogged lately?" and then acknowledging their greatness. She's a Certified Senior Organizational Development Professional (CSODP), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL). She is one of 700 Certified Speaking Professionals (CSP) worldwide. She has a BA in Psychology, MSc in Family Relations, and Diplomas in Human Resources and Healthcare Administration. You can catch her kayaking in the summer and snowshoeing in the winter with her husband, or cooking a feast (while listening to an audiobook on double speed). She's a die-hard carb-ivour, amateur hip hopper, and TikTok embarrasser to her two kids.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 362 - The Book To Read Before Giving Up On Your Writing Dreams with Todd Fahnestock The Book To Read Before Giving Up On Your Writing Dreams with Todd Fahnestock Wed, 29 May 2024 16:33:00 +0000 Mark interviews author Todd Fahnestock about his latest book for writers: Falling to Fly: The Book To Read Before Giving Up On Your Writing Dreams.

This episode is sponsored by the Patrons and Coffee Buddies of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

 

Patreon for Stark Reflections Podcast

Buy Mark a Coffee

 

In the interview Mark and Todd talk about:

  • Who Todd is and the edge of the seat epic fantasy he writes
  • A little bit about Todd's memoir of hiking the Colorado Trail with his 15-year-old son
  • The pitch for Summer of the Fetch, one of his one-off books
  • Todd's latest book FALLING TO FLY: The Book to Read Before Giving Up on Your Writing Dreams
  • How the book includes several completely frank episodes where Todd fell flat on his face and failed, and yet picked himself up one more time
  • The idea of failure being the classroom and success being the diploma
  • Being bored with a story where there's no challenge, or struggle, or flaws in the main character
  • How fantasy books saved Todd's life when he was young and the fact he wanted to do the same thing for someone else
  • The "writer dream" interviews that Todd is doing on social media
  • The chapter called "The Little Rebel" and what that particular voice does for Todd
  • The nightmare that inspired the idea for the title FALLING TO FLY
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on how great a storyteller Todd is, how much he enjoyed Todd's latest book, and the value when someone paints an authentic picture of the actual stark realities of the writing life.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Todd Fahnestock is an award-winning, #1 bestselling author of fantasy for all ages and winner of the New York Public Library's Books for the Teen Age Award. Threadweavers and The Whisper Prince Trilogy are two of his bestselling epic fantasy series. He is a founder of Eldros Legacy—a multi-author, shared-world mega-epic fantasy series—three-time winner of the Colorado Authors League Award for Writing Excellence, and two-time finalist for the Colorado Book Award for Tower of the Four: The Champions Academy (2021) and Khyven the Unkillable (2022).

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark interviews author Todd Fahnestock about his latest book for writers: Falling to Fly: The Book To Read Before Giving Up On Your Writing Dreams.

This episode is sponsored by the Patrons and Coffee Buddies of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Patreon for Stark Reflections Podcast

Buy Mark a Coffee

In the interview Mark and Todd talk about:

  • Who Todd is and the edge of the seat epic fantasy he writes
  • A little bit about Todd's memoir of hiking the Colorado Trail with his 15-year-old son
  • The pitch for Summer of the Fetch, one of his one-off books
  • Todd's latest book FALLING TO FLY: The Book to Read Before Giving Up on Your Writing Dreams
  • How the book includes several completely frank episodes where Todd fell flat on his face and failed, and yet picked himself up one more time
  • The idea of failure being the classroom and success being the diploma
  • Being bored with a story where there's no challenge, or struggle, or flaws in the main character
  • How fantasy books saved Todd's life when he was young and the fact he wanted to do the same thing for someone else
  • The "writer dream" interviews that Todd is doing on social media
  • The chapter called "The Little Rebel" and what that particular voice does for Todd
  • The nightmare that inspired the idea for the title FALLING TO FLY
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on how great a storyteller Todd is, how much he enjoyed Todd's latest book, and the value when someone paints an authentic picture of the actual stark realities of the writing life.

Links of Interest:

Todd Fahnestock is an award-winning, #1 bestselling author of fantasy for all ages and winner of the New York Public Library's Books for the Teen Age Award. Threadweavers and The Whisper Prince Trilogy are two of his bestselling epic fantasy series. He is a founder of Eldros Legacy—a multi-author, shared-world mega-epic fantasy series—three-time winner of the Colorado Authors League Award for Writing Excellence, and two-time finalist for the Colorado Book Award for Tower of the Four: The Champions Academy (2021) and Khyven the Unkillable (2022).

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 50:00 false 7 362 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author Todd Fahnestock about his latest book for writers: Falling to Fly: The Book To Read Before Giving Up On Your Writing Dreams. This episode is sponsored by the Patrons and Coffee Buddies of the Stark Reflections Podcast.   Patreon for Stark Reflections Podcast Buy Mark a Coffee   In the interview Mark and Todd talk about: Who Todd is and the edge of the seat epic fantasy he writes A little bit about Todd's memoir of hiking the Colorado Trail with his 15-year-old son The pitch for Summer of the Fetch, one of his one-off books Todd's latest book FALLING TO FLY: The Book to Read Before Giving Up on Your Writing Dreams How the book includes several completely frank episodes where Todd fell flat on his face and failed, and yet picked himself up one more time The idea of failure being the classroom and success being the diploma Being bored with a story where there's no challenge, or struggle, or flaws in the main character How fantasy books saved Todd's life when he was young and the fact he wanted to do the same thing for someone else The "writer dream" interviews that Todd is doing on social media The chapter called "The Little Rebel" and what that particular voice does for Todd The nightmare that inspired the idea for the title FALLING TO FLY And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on how great a storyteller Todd is, how much he enjoyed Todd's latest book, and the value when someone paints an authentic picture of the actual stark realities of the writing life.   Links of Interest: Todd Fahnestock's Website EP 340 - Personality, Passion, Presentation, and Persistence with Todd Fahnestock ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Todd Fahnestock is an award-winning, #1 bestselling author of fantasy for all ages and winner of the New York Public Library's Books for the Teen Age Award. Threadweavers and The Whisper Prince Trilogy are two of his bestselling epic fantasy series. He is a founder of Eldros Legacy—a multi-author, shared-world mega-epic fantasy series—three-time winner of the Colorado Authors League Award for Writing Excellence, and two-time finalist for the Colorado Book Award for Tower of the Four: The Champions Academy (2021) and Khyven the Unkillable (2022).   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark interviews author Todd Fahnestock about his latest book for writers: Falling to Fly: The Book To Read Before Giving Up On Your Writing Dreams. This episode is sponsored by the Patrons and Coffee Buddies of the Stark Reflections Podcast.   Patreon for Stark Reflections Podcast Buy Mark a Coffee   In the interview Mark and Todd talk about: Who Todd is and the edge of the seat epic fantasy he writes A little bit about Todd's memoir of hiking the Colorado Trail with his 15-year-old son The pitch for Summer of the Fetch, one of his one-off books Todd's latest book FALLING TO FLY: The Book to Read Before Giving Up on Your Writing Dreams How the book includes several completely frank episodes where Todd fell flat on his face and failed, and yet picked himself up one more time The idea of failure being the classroom and success being the diploma Being bored with a story where there's no challenge, or struggle, or flaws in the main character How fantasy books saved Todd's life when he was young and the fact he wanted to do the same thing for someone else The "writer dream" interviews that Todd is doing on social media The chapter called "The Little Rebel" and what that particular voice does for Todd The nightmare that inspired the idea for the title FALLING TO FLY And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on how great a storyteller Todd is, how much he enjoyed Todd's latest book, and the value when someone paints an authentic picture of the actual stark realities of the writing life.   Links of Interest: Todd Fahnestock's Website EP 340 - Personality, Passion, Presentation, and Persistence with Todd Fahnestock ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Todd Fahnestock is an award-winning, #1 bestselling author of fantasy for all ages and winner of the New York Public Library's Books for the Teen Age Award. Threadweavers and The Whisper Prince Trilogy are two of his bestselling epic fantasy series. He is a founder of Eldros Legacy—a multi-author, shared-world mega-epic fantasy series—three-time winner of the Colorado Authors League Award for Writing Excellence, and two-time finalist for the Colorado Book Award for Tower of the Four: The Champions Academy (2021) and Khyven the Unkillable (2022).   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 361 - The Author Wheel with Greta Boris and Megan Haskell The Author Wheel with Greta Boris and Megan Haskell Thu, 23 May 2024 22:34:00 +0000 Mark interviews Greta Boris and Megan Haskell of The Author Wheel.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface.

In the interview Mark, Greta, and Megan talk about:

  • How Megan started writing as a creative outlet when she was working for a major accounting firm
  • The writing done on the train on the way in to work in Los Angeles and the blogs she had written
  • Continuing writing after having her daughter in 2012 and then publishing her first book before her second child was born
  • Greta's magazine background (her father was an editor and publisher of some major magazines back in the day)
  • The writing she did for a number of magazines over the years and the various genres and topics she took on
  • Being inspired by interviewing a bunch of fiction authors, including Joanna Penn
  • How Greta got her first publisher doing a Twitter pitch
  • Twitter pitches being really good for writing log lines
  • Megan and Greta's "meet cute" at the Southern California Writer's Conference in 2014
  • Pitching a course to that conference at a later date so they could attend it again without having to pay which got turned into a book (Publish: Take Charge of Your Author Career)
  • How they started The Author Wheel courses, podcast, and other resources
  • The metaphors for The Author Wheel
  • The way they try to break topics down into the smallest bits possible to simplify people
  • Why it's helpful to recognize that authors are all at different places and there are so many different paths and choices an author can make
  • Their course Trope Stacking and Other Genre Magic which is a companion to a quick-guide Understanding Your Genre
  • Greta's pioneering with writing a book she felt was a "Cozy Horror" novel
  • Strategies for mixing and layering in genres that are complimentary to one another while creating something unique
  • How writing to an outline made Megan feel like her creativity was being stifled
  • The way that Megan and Greta collaborate in their writing, the podcast, the social media, and the courses
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of the "Twitter pitch" and the benefit of having to craft writing that has tight restrictions as well as the importance of understanding that there's no one-size-fits-all solution, and that there's no single right way for authors to do things.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

Greta Boris is a USA Today Bestselling mystery and thriller author. Megan Haskell is an award-winning fantasy adventure author. Together, they founded The Author Wheel, publishers of books, courses, and a podcast to help writers overcome roadblocks and keep their stories rolling.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Greta Boris and Megan Haskell of The Author Wheel.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface.

In the interview Mark, Greta, and Megan talk about:

  • How Megan started writing as a creative outlet when she was working for a major accounting firm
  • The writing done on the train on the way in to work in Los Angeles and the blogs she had written
  • Continuing writing after having her daughter in 2012 and then publishing her first book before her second child was born
  • Greta's magazine background (her father was an editor and publisher of some major magazines back in the day)
  • The writing she did for a number of magazines over the years and the various genres and topics she took on
  • Being inspired by interviewing a bunch of fiction authors, including Joanna Penn
  • How Greta got her first publisher doing a Twitter pitch
  • Twitter pitches being really good for writing log lines
  • Megan and Greta's "meet cute" at the Southern California Writer's Conference in 2014
  • Pitching a course to that conference at a later date so they could attend it again without having to pay which got turned into a book (Publish: Take Charge of Your Author Career)
  • How they started The Author Wheel courses, podcast, and other resources
  • The metaphors for The Author Wheel
  • The way they try to break topics down into the smallest bits possible to simplify people
  • Why it's helpful to recognize that authors are all at different places and there are so many different paths and choices an author can make
  • Their course Trope Stacking and Other Genre Magic which is a companion to a quick-guide Understanding Your Genre
  • Greta's pioneering with writing a book she felt was a "Cozy Horror" novel
  • Strategies for mixing and layering in genres that are complimentary to one another while creating something unique
  • How writing to an outline made Megan feel like her creativity was being stifled
  • The way that Megan and Greta collaborate in their writing, the podcast, the social media, and the courses
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of the "Twitter pitch" and the benefit of having to craft writing that has tight restrictions as well as the importance of understanding that there's no one-size-fits-all solution, and that there's no single right way for authors to do things.

Links of Interest:

Greta Boris is a USA Today Bestselling mystery and thriller author. Megan Haskell is an award-winning fantasy adventure author. Together, they founded The Author Wheel, publishers of books, courses, and a podcast to help writers overcome roadblocks and keep their stories rolling.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:00:48 false 7 361 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Greta Boris and Megan Haskell of The Author Wheel. Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface. In the interview Mark, Greta, and Megan talk about: How Megan started writing as a creative outlet when she was working for a major accounting firm The writing done on the train on the way in to work in Los Angeles and the blogs she had written Continuing writing after having her daughter in 2012 and then publishing her first book before her second child was born Greta's magazine background (her father was an editor and publisher of some major magazines back in the day) The writing she did for a number of magazines over the years and the various genres and topics she took on Being inspired by interviewing a bunch of fiction authors, including Joanna Penn How Greta got her first publisher doing a Twitter pitch Twitter pitches being really good for writing log lines Megan and Greta's "meet cute" at the Southern California Writer's Conference in 2014 Pitching a course to that conference at a later date so they could attend it again without having to pay which got turned into a book (Publish: Take Charge of Your Author Career) How they started The Author Wheel courses, podcast, and other resources The metaphors for The Author Wheel The way they try to break topics down into the smallest bits possible to simplify people Why it's helpful to recognize that authors are all at different places and there are so many different paths and choices an author can make Their course Trope Stacking and Other Genre Magic which is a companion to a quick-guide Understanding Your Genre Greta's pioneering with writing a book she felt was a "Cozy Horror" novel Strategies for mixing and layering in genres that are complimentary to one another while creating something unique How writing to an outline made Megan feel like her creativity was being stifled The way that Megan and Greta collaborate in their writing, the podcast, the social media, and the courses And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of the "Twitter pitch" and the benefit of having to craft writing that has tight restrictions as well as the importance of understanding that there's no one-size-fits-all solution, and that there's no single right way for authors to do things.   Links of Interest: The Author Wheel Podcast Courses: 7 Days To Clarity Self Publish or Get an Agent Finish Your Novel Faster Layering Your Story World Trope Stacking and Other Genre Magic Megan Haskell's Website Greta Boris's Website Mark's Interview on The Author Wheel Podcast: Overcoming Self-Doubt and Mastering Book Marketing with Mark Leslie Lefebvre ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard     Greta Boris is a USA Today Bestselling mystery and thriller author. Megan Haskell is an award-winning fantasy adventure author. Together, they founded The Author Wheel, publishers of books, courses, and a podcast to help writers overcome roadblocks and keep their stories rolling.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Greta Boris and Megan Haskell of The Author Wheel. Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface. In the interview Mark, Greta, and Megan talk about: How Megan started writing as a creative outlet when she was working for a major accounting firm The writing done on the train on the way in to work in Los Angeles and the blogs she had written Continuing writing after having her daughter in 2012 and then publishing her first book before her second child was born Greta's magazine background (her father was an editor and publisher of some major magazines back in the day) The writing she did for a number of magazines over the years and the various genres and topics she took on Being inspired by interviewing a bunch of fiction authors, including Joanna Penn How Greta got her first publisher doing a Twitter pitch Twitter pitches being really good for writing log lines Megan and Greta's "meet cute" at the Southern California Writer's Conference in 2014 Pitching a course to that conference at a later date so they could attend it again without having to pay which got turned into a book (Publish: Take Charge of Your Author Career) How they started The Author Wheel courses, podcast, and other resources The metaphors for The Author Wheel The way they try to break topics down into the smallest bits possible to simplify people Why it's helpful to recognize that authors are all at different places and there are so many different paths and choices an author can make Their course Trope Stacking and Other Genre Magic which is a companion to a quick-guide Understanding Your Genre Greta's pioneering with writing a book she felt was a "Cozy Horror" novel Strategies for mixing and layering in genres that are complimentary to one another while creating something unique How writing to an outline made Megan feel like her creativity was being stifled The way that Megan and Greta collaborate in their writing, the podcast, the social media, and the courses And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of the "Twitter pitch" and the benefit of having to craft writing that has tight restrictions as well as the importance of understanding that there's no one-size-fits-all solution, and that there's no single right way for authors to do things.   Links of Interest: The Author Wheel Podcast Courses: 7 Days To Clarity Self Publish or Get an Agent Finish Your Novel Faster Layering Your Story World Trope Stacking and Other Genre Magic Megan Haskell's Website Greta Boris's Website Mark's Interview on The Author Wheel Podcast: Overcoming Self-Doubt and Mastering Book Marketing with Mark Leslie Lefebvre ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) DropCap Marketplace  Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard     Greta Boris is a USA Today Bestselling mystery and thriller author. Megan Haskell is an award-winning fantasy adventure author. Together, they founded The Author Wheel, publishers of books, courses, and a podcast to help writers overcome roadblocks and keep their stories rolling.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 360 - Foreign Rights Licensing with Roseanne Cheng of DropCap Foreign Rights Licensing with Roseanne Cheng of DropCap Fri, 17 May 2024 00:36:00 +0000 Mark interviews Roseanne Cheng, an award-winning author, ghostwriter, and book marketer who is passionate about educating authors and publishers about the power and opportunity of having their books elevated to the international market.

They talk about her writing life, her author mentoring life, and about how DropCap Marketplace is a great bridge between indie authors and the licensing foreign language rights through traditional agencies and book scouts.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

 

In their interview Mark and Roseanne talk about:

  • Roseanne's background and passion for helping writers
  • The first book Roseanne published (The Take Back of Lincoln Junior High) back in 2013 when she was teaching full-time and how it will always have a special place in her heart
  • Working with Wise Ink Creative Publishing and the great respect that Roseanne has for the women who run that business
  • The various lessons learned with writing and publishing a book and how you can turn the things that you learned (via various mistakes you've made) into positives by helping others on their own journeys
  • Taking on the role of Marketing Director at Wise Ink by leveraging her own experiences to help shepherd other writers through the process of releasing a new book
  • Working with authors to create their own custom marketing plans based on their goals
  • Meeting and connecting with a dear friend, Josie, and teaching one another things they were each good at
  • Creating an online school with Josie called Evergreen Authors in about 2019
  • How the pandemic ended up helping these courses and various other online teaching and Roseanne's ghostwriting business to really take off
  • The genesis of her first book, The Take Back of Lincoln Junior High
  • Reading the novel after taking a long break (focusing on the endless work and much sleeplessness of raising small children) and recognizing that it was really good
  • How Roseanne's role as a teacher helped prepare her for the work she does in helping authors
  • The co-authored book BUZZ: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BOOK MARKETING
  • Roseanne's books THE EVERYGREEN AUTHOR: MASTER THE ART OF BOOK MARKETING and PORTABLE MAGIC
  • The importance of asking your readers: "Where do you buy books?"
  • The WIDE FOR THE WIN message of being in as many places as possibly and opening as many doors as possible and how it really resonated with Roseanne
  • Getting involved in the "Rights" side of publishing and the entire distribution network that she had not yet been tapped into
  • A story about the first time Roseanne received an email from a foreign publisher who reached out because they were interested in the foreign language rights to her work
  • The creation of DropCap Marketplace as a match-making service between indie authors/small publishers and agents and book scouts
  • The various other marketing resources available for authors on the DropCap site
  • How DropCap marries technology with relationship resources within the industry
  • The special coupon code for Stark Reflections listeners. STARK20 - to get 20% off the listing at DropCap marketplace
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview, Mark reflections on Roseanne's passion for helping writers and the importance for indie authors of recognizing where they can DIY and where they might be better off leveraging experts in a particular area of publishing.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

Roseanne Cheng is an award-winning author, ghostwriter, book marketer, and Director of Business Development DropCap Rights Agency. A lifelong reader and writer, she began her work in book publishing as a Marketing Director for an indie publishing house based in Minneapolis and eventually co-founded Evergreen Authors, an online school teaching authors the business of writing and marketing their creative work. In her current role with DropCap, she has the unique pleasure of matching global rights buyers with titles that have the potential to positively impact their communities. She is passionate about educating authors and publishers about the power and opportunity of having their books elevated to the international market.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Roseanne Cheng, an award-winning author, ghostwriter, and book marketer who is passionate about educating authors and publishers about the power and opportunity of having their books elevated to the international market.

They talk about her writing life, her author mentoring life, and about how DropCap Marketplace is a great bridge between indie authors and the licensing foreign language rights through traditional agencies and book scouts.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In their interview Mark and Roseanne talk about:

  • Roseanne's background and passion for helping writers
  • The first book Roseanne published (The Take Back of Lincoln Junior High) back in 2013 when she was teaching full-time and how it will always have a special place in her heart
  • Working with Wise Ink Creative Publishing and the great respect that Roseanne has for the women who run that business
  • The various lessons learned with writing and publishing a book and how you can turn the things that you learned (via various mistakes you've made) into positives by helping others on their own journeys
  • Taking on the role of Marketing Director at Wise Ink by leveraging her own experiences to help shepherd other writers through the process of releasing a new book
  • Working with authors to create their own custom marketing plans based on their goals
  • Meeting and connecting with a dear friend, Josie, and teaching one another things they were each good at
  • Creating an online school with Josie called Evergreen Authors in about 2019
  • How the pandemic ended up helping these courses and various other online teaching and Roseanne's ghostwriting business to really take off
  • The genesis of her first book, The Take Back of Lincoln Junior High
  • Reading the novel after taking a long break (focusing on the endless work and much sleeplessness of raising small children) and recognizing that it was really good
  • How Roseanne's role as a teacher helped prepare her for the work she does in helping authors
  • The co-authored book BUZZ: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BOOK MARKETING
  • Roseanne's books THE EVERYGREEN AUTHOR: MASTER THE ART OF BOOK MARKETING and PORTABLE MAGIC
  • The importance of asking your readers: "Where do you buy books?"
  • The WIDE FOR THE WIN message of being in as many places as possibly and opening as many doors as possible and how it really resonated with Roseanne
  • Getting involved in the "Rights" side of publishing and the entire distribution network that she had not yet been tapped into
  • A story about the first time Roseanne received an email from a foreign publisher who reached out because they were interested in the foreign language rights to her work
  • The creation of DropCap Marketplace as a match-making service between indie authors/small publishers and agents and book scouts
  • The various other marketing resources available for authors on the DropCap site
  • How DropCap marries technology with relationship resources within the industry
  • The special coupon code for Stark Reflections listeners. STARK20 - to get 20% off the listing at DropCap marketplace
  • And more . . .

After the interview, Mark reflections on Roseanne's passion for helping writers and the importance for indie authors of recognizing where they can DIY and where they might be better off leveraging experts in a particular area of publishing.

Links of Interest:

Roseanne Cheng is an award-winning author, ghostwriter, book marketer, and Director of Business Development DropCap Rights Agency. A lifelong reader and writer, she began her work in book publishing as a Marketing Director for an indie publishing house based in Minneapolis and eventually co-founded Evergreen Authors, an online school teaching authors the business of writing and marketing their creative work. In her current role with DropCap, she has the unique pleasure of matching global rights buyers with titles that have the potential to positively impact their communities. She is passionate about educating authors and publishers about the power and opportunity of having their books elevated to the international market.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 49:00 false 7 360 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Roseanne Cheng, an award-winning author, ghostwriter, and book marketer who is passionate about educating authors and publishers about the power and opportunity of having their books elevated to the international market. They talk about her writing life, her author mentoring life, and about how DropCap Marketplace is a great bridge between indie authors and the licensing foreign language rights through traditional agencies and book scouts. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.   In their interview Mark and Roseanne talk about: Roseanne's background and passion for helping writers The first book Roseanne published (The Take Back of Lincoln Junior High) back in 2013 when she was teaching full-time and how it will always have a special place in her heart Working with Wise Ink Creative Publishing and the great respect that Roseanne has for the women who run that business The various lessons learned with writing and publishing a book and how you can turn the things that you learned (via various mistakes you've made) into positives by helping others on their own journeys Taking on the role of Marketing Director at Wise Ink by leveraging her own experiences to help shepherd other writers through the process of releasing a new book Working with authors to create their own custom marketing plans based on their goals Meeting and connecting with a dear friend, Josie, and teaching one another things they were each good at Creating an online school with Josie called Evergreen Authors in about 2019 How the pandemic ended up helping these courses and various other online teaching and Roseanne's ghostwriting business to really take off The genesis of her first book, The Take Back of Lincoln Junior High Reading the novel after taking a long break (focusing on the endless work and much sleeplessness of raising small children) and recognizing that it was really good How Roseanne's role as a teacher helped prepare her for the work she does in helping authors The co-authored book BUZZ: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BOOK MARKETING Roseanne's books THE EVERYGREEN AUTHOR: MASTER THE ART OF BOOK MARKETING and PORTABLE MAGIC The importance of asking your readers: "Where do you buy books?" The WIDE FOR THE WIN message of being in as many places as possibly and opening as many doors as possible and how it really resonated with Roseanne Getting involved in the "Rights" side of publishing and the entire distribution network that she had not yet been tapped into A story about the first time Roseanne received an email from a foreign publisher who reached out because they were interested in the foreign language rights to her work The creation of DropCap Marketplace as a match-making service between indie authors/small publishers and agents and book scouts The various other marketing resources available for authors on the DropCap site How DropCap marries technology with relationship resources within the industry The special coupon code for Stark Reflections listeners. STARK20 - to get 20% off the listing at DropCap marketplace And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflections on Roseanne's passion for helping writers and the importance for indie authors of recognizing where they can DIY and where they might be better off leveraging experts in a particular area of publishing.   Links of Interest: Roseanne Cheng's Website Roseanne's Books Evergreen Authors Website DropCap Marketplace Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard     Roseanne Cheng is an award-winning author, ghostwriter, book marketer, and Director of Business Development DropCap Rights Agency. A lifelong reader and writer, she began her work in book publishing as a Marketing Director for an indie publishing house based in Minneapolis and eventually co-founded Evergreen Authors, an online school teaching authors the business of writing and marketing their creative work. In her current role with DropCap, she has the unique pleasure of matching global rights buyers with titles that have the potential to positively impact their communities. She is passionate about educating authors and publishers about the power and opportunity of having their books elevated to the international market.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreMark interviews Roseanne Cheng, an award-winning author, ghostwriter, and book marketer who is passionate about educating authors and publishers about the power and opportunity of having their books elevated to the international market. They talk about her writing life, her author mentoring life, and about how DropCap Marketplace is a great bridge between indie authors and the licensing foreign language rights through traditional agencies and book scouts. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.   In their interview Mark and Roseanne talk about: Roseanne's background and passion for helping writers The first book Roseanne published (The Take Back of Lincoln Junior High) back in 2013 when she was teaching full-time and how it will always have a special place in her heart Working with Wise Ink Creative Publishing and the great respect that Roseanne has for the women who run that business The various lessons learned with writing and publishing a book and how you can turn the things that you learned (via various mistakes you've made) into positives by helping others on their own journeys Taking on the role of Marketing Director at Wise Ink by leveraging her own experiences to help shepherd other writers through the process of releasing a new book Working with authors to create their own custom marketing plans based on their goals Meeting and connecting with a dear friend, Josie, and teaching one another things they were each good at Creating an online school with Josie called Evergreen Authors in about 2019 How the pandemic ended up helping these courses and various other online teaching and Roseanne's ghostwriting business to really take off The genesis of her first book, The Take Back of Lincoln Junior High Reading the novel after taking a long break (focusing on the endless work and much sleeplessness of raising small children) and recognizing that it was really good How Roseanne's role as a teacher helped prepare her for the work she does in helping authors The co-authored book BUZZ: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BOOK MARKETING Roseanne's books THE EVERYGREEN AUTHOR: MASTER THE ART OF BOOK MARKETING and PORTABLE MAGIC The importance of asking your readers: "Where do you buy books?" The WIDE FOR THE WIN message of being in as many places as possibly and opening as many doors as possible and how it really resonated with Roseanne Getting involved in the "Rights" side of publishing and the entire distribution network that she had not yet been tapped into A story about the first time Roseanne received an email from a foreign publisher who reached out because they were interested in the foreign language rights to her work The creation of DropCap Marketplace as a match-making service between indie authors/small publishers and agents and book scouts The various other marketing resources available for authors on the DropCap site How DropCap marries technology with relationship resources within the industry The special coupon code for Stark Reflections listeners. STARK20 - to get 20% off the listing at DropCap marketplace And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflections on Roseanne's passion for helping writers and the importance for indie authors of recognizing where they can DIY and where they might be better off leveraging experts in a particular area of publishing.   Links of Interest: Roseanne Cheng's Website Roseanne's Books Evergreen Authors Website DropCap Marketplace Use coupon STARK20 to get 20% off Cruising Writers Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard     Roseanne Cheng is an award-winning author, ghostwriter, book marketer, and Director of Business Development DropCap Rights Agency. A lifelong reader and writer, she began her work in book publishing as a Marketing Director for an indie publishing house based in Minneapolis and eventually co-founded Evergreen Authors, an online school teaching authors the business of writing and marketing their creative work. In her current role with DropCap, she has the unique pleasure of matching global rights buyers with titles that have the potential to positively impact their communities. She is passionate about educating authors and publishers about the power and opportunity of having their books elevated to the international market.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 359 - Capturing the Flow with Aaron Palmer Capturing the Flow with Aaron Palmer Thu, 09 May 2024 23:16:00 +0000 Mark interviews author, songwriter, musician, and podcaster Aaron Palmer.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

 

In their interview Mark and Aaron talk about:

 

  • Aaron being tested at an early age and it being determined that he had perfect pitch
  • Picking up a guitar for the first time around 6th grade
  • The first big concert he saw when he was in 5th grade was Van Halen - and he was convinced he wanted to do that
  • A time in life when ambitions outweighed abilities
  • How playing the guitar came pretty naturally to Aaron
  • Being a pretty avid reader when he was growing up, consuming almost anything he could get his hands on
  • The writing of Michael Crichton and the very cinematic way he had of writing prose
  • Being in college and having a professor suggest he change his major to English
  • Beginning to write short fiction shortly after that
  • Aaron's podcast Native Tongues and the theme for the show
  • Dealing with ADHD and also regularly multi-tasking
  • How Aaron works through writing down log lines and concepts that are streaming through his mind to return to later to flesh out
  • Finding out that Dave Grohl does something similar
  • The initial concept of the podcast first coming out about five years ago, then beginning to develop the ideas for it in about August of 203 for a January 2024 launch
  • Starting off with a concept or idea and then later fleshing out the characters and character development
  • The idea of spending more time developing characters once you fully understand the world that they're in
  • Reaching to the darker, more speculative or fantastical elements in storytelling out of a relatively mundane, safe, and normal existence
  • Not taking himself very seriously as a writer or creative person
  • Gravitating toward 12-year-old Bacoo rum
  • Loving live music in multiple venues and forms
  • How Aaron's podcast is helping to tie multiple creative aspects together
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on capturing the endless flow of ideas that can come to a creative person and the value of putting a creative work out into the world instead of just holding onto it.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

Aaron Palmer has been described as this generation's Ernest Hemingway. Not because he can write majestic prose, but because he equally loves to drink lots of rum. Aaron enjoys writing screenplays in the horror and thriller genres in which he has an encyclopedic knowledge of. He hosts the podcast Native Tongues, where he talks to writers and musicians about where they came from and how that influenced their voice. He also plays guitar, is into fitness, travel and loves to read. Oh, and he's got a wife and kids he likes.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

 

]]> Mark interviews author, songwriter, musician, and podcaster Aaron Palmer.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In their interview Mark and Aaron talk about:

  • Aaron being tested at an early age and it being determined that he had perfect pitch
  • Picking up a guitar for the first time around 6th grade
  • The first big concert he saw when he was in 5th grade was Van Halen - and he was convinced he wanted to do that
  • A time in life when ambitions outweighed abilities
  • How playing the guitar came pretty naturally to Aaron
  • Being a pretty avid reader when he was growing up, consuming almost anything he could get his hands on
  • The writing of Michael Crichton and the very cinematic way he had of writing prose
  • Being in college and having a professor suggest he change his major to English
  • Beginning to write short fiction shortly after that
  • Aaron's podcast Native Tongues and the theme for the show
  • Dealing with ADHD and also regularly multi-tasking
  • How Aaron works through writing down log lines and concepts that are streaming through his mind to return to later to flesh out
  • Finding out that Dave Grohl does something similar
  • The initial concept of the podcast first coming out about five years ago, then beginning to develop the ideas for it in about August of 203 for a January 2024 launch
  • Starting off with a concept or idea and then later fleshing out the characters and character development
  • The idea of spending more time developing characters once you fully understand the world that they're in
  • Reaching to the darker, more speculative or fantastical elements in storytelling out of a relatively mundane, safe, and normal existence
  • Not taking himself very seriously as a writer or creative person
  • Gravitating toward 12-year-old Bacoo rum
  • Loving live music in multiple venues and forms
  • How Aaron's podcast is helping to tie multiple creative aspects together
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on capturing the endless flow of ideas that can come to a creative person and the value of putting a creative work out into the world instead of just holding onto it.

Links of Interest:

Aaron Palmer has been described as this generation's Ernest Hemingway. Not because he can write majestic prose, but because he equally loves to drink lots of rum. Aaron enjoys writing screenplays in the horror and thriller genres in which he has an encyclopedic knowledge of. He hosts the podcast Native Tongues, where he talks to writers and musicians about where they came from and how that influenced their voice. He also plays guitar, is into fitness, travel and loves to read. Oh, and he's got a wife and kids he likes.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:12:10 false 7 359 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author, songwriter, musician, and podcaster Aaron Palmer. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.   In their interview Mark and Aaron talk about:   Aaron being tested at an early age and it being determined that he had perfect pitch Picking up a guitar for the first time around 6th grade The first big concert he saw when he was in 5th grade was Van Halen - and he was convinced he wanted to do that A time in life when ambitions outweighed abilities How playing the guitar came pretty naturally to Aaron Being a pretty avid reader when he was growing up, consuming almost anything he could get his hands on The writing of Michael Crichton and the very cinematic way he had of writing prose Being in college and having a professor suggest he change his major to English Beginning to write short fiction shortly after that Aaron's podcast Native Tongues and the theme for the show Dealing with ADHD and also regularly multi-tasking How Aaron works through writing down log lines and concepts that are streaming through his mind to return to later to flesh out Finding out that Dave Grohl does something similar The initial concept of the podcast first coming out about five years ago, then beginning to develop the ideas for it in about August of 203 for a January 2024 launch Starting off with a concept or idea and then later fleshing out the characters and character development The idea of spending more time developing characters once you fully understand the world that they're in Reaching to the darker, more speculative or fantastical elements in storytelling out of a relatively mundane, safe, and normal existence Not taking himself very seriously as a writer or creative person Gravitating toward 12-year-old Bacoo rum Loving live music in multiple venues and forms How Aaron's podcast is helping to tie multiple creative aspects together And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on capturing the endless flow of ideas that can come to a creative person and the value of putting a creative work out into the world instead of just holding onto it.   Links of Interest: Native Tongues Podcast Apple Podbean Spotify Native Tongues Instagram EP 358 - The Way of the Parable Writer with Donn King EP 353 - Tao Wong on the Toronto Indie Author Conference EP 349 - Edward Willett of Shadowpaw Press Cruising Writers Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard     Aaron Palmer has been described as this generation's Ernest Hemingway. Not because he can write majestic prose, but because he equally loves to drink lots of rum. Aaron enjoys writing screenplays in the horror and thriller genres in which he has an encyclopedic knowledge of. He hosts the podcast Native Tongues, where he talks to writers and musicians about where they came from and how that influenced their voice. He also plays guitar, is into fitness, travel and loves to read. Oh, and he's got a wife and kids he likes.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    Mark interviews author, songwriter, musician, and podcaster Aaron Palmer. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.   In their interview Mark and Aaron talk about:   Aaron being tested at an early age and it being determined that he had perfect pitch Picking up a guitar for the first time around 6th grade The first big concert he saw when he was in 5th grade was Van Halen - and he was convinced he wanted to do that A time in life when ambitions outweighed abilities How playing the guitar came pretty naturally to Aaron Being a pretty avid reader when he was growing up, consuming almost anything he could get his hands on The writing of Michael Crichton and the very cinematic way he had of writing prose Being in college and having a professor suggest he change his major to English Beginning to write short fiction shortly after that Aaron's podcast Native Tongues and the theme for the show Dealing with ADHD and also regularly multi-tasking How Aaron works through writing down log lines and concepts that are streaming through his mind to return to later to flesh out Finding out that Dave Grohl does something similar The initial concept of the podcast first coming out about five years ago, then beginning to develop the ideas for it in about August of 203 for a January 2024 launch Starting off with a concept or idea and then later fleshing out the characters and character development The idea of spending more time developing characters once you fully understand the world that they're in Reaching to the darker, more speculative or fantastical elements in storytelling out of a relatively mundane, safe, and normal existence Not taking himself very seriously as a writer or creative person Gravitating toward 12-year-old Bacoo rum Loving live music in multiple venues and forms How Aaron's podcast is helping to tie multiple creative aspects together And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on capturing the endless flow of ideas that can come to a creative person and the value of putting a creative work out into the world instead of just holding onto it.   Links of Interest: Native Tongues Podcast Apple Podbean Spotify Native Tongues Instagram EP 358 - The Way of the Parable Writer with Donn King EP 353 - Tao Wong on the Toronto Indie Author Conference EP 349 - Edward Willett of Shadowpaw Press Cruising Writers Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard     Aaron Palmer has been described as this generation's Ernest Hemingway. Not because he can write majestic prose, but because he equally loves to drink lots of rum. Aaron enjoys writing screenplays in the horror and thriller genres in which he has an encyclopedic knowledge of. He hosts the podcast Native Tongues, where he talks to writers and musicians about where they came from and how that influenced their voice. He also plays guitar, is into fitness, travel and loves to read. Oh, and he's got a wife and kids he likes.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     EP 358 - The Way of the Parable Writer with Donn King The Way of the Parable Writer with Donn King Thu, 02 May 2024 22:20:47 +0000 Mark interviews professor, pastor, speaker, and author Donn King about writing, his podcast, and his books THE WAY OF THE THREE-YEAR-OLD WHY and MEDIUM WELL.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

 

In their interview Mark and Donn talk about:

  • Donn's gradual evolution into becoming a writer with starting work at a newspaper when he was 14 years old
  • An experience in sixth grade discovering science fiction novels in the library and realizing reading could be fun when you weren't being forced to do it
  • The first sci-fi novel Donn remembers reading: Robert A. Heinlein's HAVE SPACESUIT WILL TRAVEL
  • Donn's first foray into writing short fiction in a 3-ring binder with a pencil
  • Learning about his non-fiction writing from Bob Burg, co-author of THE GO-GIVER a bestselling business parable book
  • How elements from writing good fiction apply when writing a parable
  • Drawing upon autobiographical elements even when fictionalizing a parable
  • The difference between Writer's Block and The Well Going Dry
  • Donn's podcast, The Alignment Show
  • The Great Realignment and pausing to step back and consider what really brings value to you
  • Donn's book MEDIUM WELL: The Journey From Believing to Believing In
  • The beautifully inquisitive nature of 3-Year-Olds in Donn's THE WAY OF THE THREE-YEAR-OLD WHY
  • Principal Five - Without emotion, there is no motion
  • The challenges of booking live speaking events when caring for family members who require that additional compassion and care
  • The reality that none of us have any certainty - we merely live with the illusion of certainty
  • The concept of connection before content
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the topics that came up in their conversation.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Donn King is "The Confidence Cultivator," a professor, pastor, speaker, and author who lives in the mountains of East Tennessee. He also hosts "The Alignment Show," a podcast to support listeners in living their values so they can value their life. His book, "The Way of the Three-Year-Old Why," the first in the Sparklight Chronicles, came out in 2023, with "Medium Well," the second in the series, came out in early 2024

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews professor, pastor, speaker, and author Donn King about writing, his podcast, and his books THE WAY OF THE THREE-YEAR-OLD WHY and MEDIUM WELL.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In their interview Mark and Donn talk about:

  • Donn's gradual evolution into becoming a writer with starting work at a newspaper when he was 14 years old
  • An experience in sixth grade discovering science fiction novels in the library and realizing reading could be fun when you weren't being forced to do it
  • The first sci-fi novel Donn remembers reading: Robert A. Heinlein's HAVE SPACESUIT WILL TRAVEL
  • Donn's first foray into writing short fiction in a 3-ring binder with a pencil
  • Learning about his non-fiction writing from Bob Burg, co-author of THE GO-GIVER a bestselling business parable book
  • How elements from writing good fiction apply when writing a parable
  • Drawing upon autobiographical elements even when fictionalizing a parable
  • The difference between Writer's Block and The Well Going Dry
  • Donn's podcast, The Alignment Show
  • The Great Realignment and pausing to step back and consider what really brings value to you
  • Donn's book MEDIUM WELL: The Journey From Believing to Believing In
  • The beautifully inquisitive nature of 3-Year-Olds in Donn's THE WAY OF THE THREE-YEAR-OLD WHY
  • Principal Five - Without emotion, there is no motion
  • The challenges of booking live speaking events when caring for family members who require that additional compassion and care
  • The reality that none of us have any certainty - we merely live with the illusion of certainty
  • The concept of connection before content
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the topics that came up in their conversation.

Links of Interest:

Donn King is "The Confidence Cultivator," a professor, pastor, speaker, and author who lives in the mountains of East Tennessee. He also hosts "The Alignment Show," a podcast to support listeners in living their values so they can value their life. His book, "The Way of the Three-Year-Old Why," the first in the Sparklight Chronicles, came out in 2023, with "Medium Well," the second in the series, came out in early 2024

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 54:49 false 7 358 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews professor, pastor, speaker, and author Donn King about writing, his podcast, and his books THE WAY OF THE THREE-YEAR-OLD WHY and MEDIUM WELL. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.   In their interview Mark and Donn talk about: Donn's gradual evolution into becoming a writer with starting work at a newspaper when he was 14 years old An experience in sixth grade discovering science fiction novels in the library and realizing reading could be fun when you weren't being forced to do it The first sci-fi novel Donn remembers reading: Robert A. Heinlein's HAVE SPACESUIT WILL TRAVEL Donn's first foray into writing short fiction in a 3-ring binder with a pencil Learning about his non-fiction writing from Bob Burg, co-author of THE GO-GIVER a bestselling business parable book How elements from writing good fiction apply when writing a parable Drawing upon autobiographical elements even when fictionalizing a parable The difference between Writer's Block and The Well Going Dry Donn's podcast, The Alignment Show The Great Realignment and pausing to step back and consider what really brings value to you Donn's book MEDIUM WELL: The Journey From Believing to Believing In The beautifully inquisitive nature of 3-Year-Olds in Donn's THE WAY OF THE THREE-YEAR-OLD WHY Principal Five - Without emotion, there is no motion The challenges of booking live speaking events when caring for family members who require that additional compassion and care The reality that none of us have any certainty - we merely live with the illusion of certainty The concept of connection before content And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the topics that came up in their conversation.   Links of Interest: Donn King's Website Donn King's Books The Confidence Cultivators Podcast Mark's Guest Spot on Episode 54 YouTube Video of Episode 54 EP 357 - 50 Years of Short Stories with Kevin J. Anderson Kevin's Short Story Kickstarter EP 356 - The Midlist Indie Author Mindset with T. Thorn Coyle Thorn's Patreon Site Writers of the Future - Blog Post Announcing Mark as a Judge Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Donn King is "The Confidence Cultivator," a professor, pastor, speaker, and author who lives in the mountains of East Tennessee. He also hosts "The Alignment Show," a podcast to support listeners in living their values so they can value their life. His book, "The Way of the Three-Year-Old Why," the first in the Sparklight Chronicles, came out in 2023, with "Medium Well," the second in the series, came out in early 2024     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews professor, pastor, speaker, and author Donn King about writing, his podcast, and his books THE WAY OF THE THREE-YEAR-OLD WHY and MEDIUM WELL. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.   In their interview Mark and Donn talk about: Donn's gradual evolution into becoming a writer with starting work at a newspaper when he was 14 years old An experience in sixth grade discovering science fiction novels in the library and realizing reading could be fun when you weren't being forced to do it The first sci-fi novel Donn remembers reading: Robert A. Heinlein's HAVE SPACESUIT WILL TRAVEL Donn's first foray into writing short fiction in a 3-ring binder with a pencil Learning about his non-fiction writing from Bob Burg, co-author of THE GO-GIVER a bestselling business parable book How elements from writing good fiction apply when writing a parable Drawing upon autobiographical elements even when fictionalizing a parable The difference between Writer's Block and The Well Going Dry Donn's podcast, The Alignment Show The Great Realignment and pausing to step back and consider what really brings value to you Donn's book MEDIUM WELL: The Journey From Believing to Believing In The beautifully inquisitive nature of 3-Year-Olds in Donn's THE WAY OF THE THREE-YEAR-OLD WHY Principal Five - Without emotion, there is no motion The challenges of booking live speaking events when caring for family members who require that additional compassion and care The reality that none of us have any certainty - we merely live with the illusion of certainty The concept of connection before content And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the topics that came up in their conversation.   Links of Interest: Donn King's Website Donn King's Books The Confidence Cultivators Podcast Mark's Guest Spot on Episode 54 YouTube Video of Episode 54 EP 357 - 50 Years of Short Stories with Kevin J. Anderson Kevin's Short Story Kickstarter EP 356 - The Midlist Indie Author Mindset with T. Thorn Coyle Thorn's Patreon Site Writers of the Future - Blog Post Announcing Mark as a Judge Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Donn King is "The Confidence Cultivator," a professor, pastor, speaker, and author who lives in the mountains of East Tennessee. He also hosts "The Alignment Show," a podcast to support listeners in living their values so they can value their life. His book, "The Way of the Three-Year-Old Why," the first in the Sparklight Chronicles, came out in 2023, with "Medium Well," the second in the series, came out in early 2024     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 357 - 50 Years of Short Stories with Kevin J. Anderson EP 357 - 50 Years of Short Stories with Kevin J. Anderson Fri, 26 Apr 2024 04:00:00 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews Kevin J. Anderson about his writing and the new approach he is taking to incorporate Kickstarter into the launch strategies for some of his indie-published titles.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

 

In their interview Mark and Kevin talk about:

  • How Kickstarter has completely upended (in a good way), Kevin's book release strategies
  • Kevin's first novel coming out in 1988 and all the various publishers he has worked with over the years
  • The "Perfect Storm" that was brewing in the book industry when indie publishing became a realistic and viable option
  • Starting to publish his own books (mostly backlist titles he got the rights back to) in 2009 after founding WordFire Press with his wife Rebecca Moesta
  • Kevin's belief that this is the best time to be a writer
  • How Kevin does a little bit of everything. He has a New York literary agent, he works with several major publishers, he indie publishes, and he continues to explore new opportunities that digital publishing offer
  • The way that Kickstarter didn't just open a new door, it completely blew it down, along with a few walls too
  • Dean Wesley Smith's perspective that helped to change Kevin's mind about what Kickstarter was all about
  • Kevin's "Adams Family meets The Naked Gun" series of Dan Shamble Zombie PI novels, and the history of how it started off as a series with a major publisher, flopped, then Kevin got the rights back and did something truly stunning with it once he applied Kickstarter
  • Kevin's first Dan Shamble Kickstarter which brought in 23 times the intial amount he was asking for, and that it paid him more than 6 times the advance he'd rec'd from a major publisher for the last Dan Shamble book he'd done with them
  • The Dragon Business (The Princess Bride meets Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) Kickstarter that brought in 20 times what he'd been asking for
  • The Persephone Kickstarter that Kevin did with Writer/Director Jeffrey Morris
  • Kevin's latest Kickstarter which is a 7 Volume Set of over 130 of his published short stories published over 50 years
  • Writing his first short story when he was 8 years old
  • Publishing his very first short story when he was 14
  • The personal introductions that he wrote for every one of the stories in this 7 book collection
  • The various levels and Kickstarter rewards he is planning for this Kickstarter
  • The remarkable fact that, despite having published 180 novels with 58 of them being international bestsellers, no publisher would ever even consider publishing a 7 volume hardcover set of Kevin's complete short stories. That he can do this via Kickstarter is a significant paradigm shift
  • How Kickstarter can replace the old "advance" model from traditional publishing
  • The special thing Kevin is doing for all the backers of this latest Kickstarter
  • The Kickstarter will be going live on April 30th for 3 weeks and 2 days
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on Kevin's use of short, effective and very clear log lines to describe two of his series.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Kevin J. Anderson has published more than 180 books, 58 of which have been national or international bestsellers. He has written numerous novels in the Star Wars, X-Files, and Dune universes, as well as the unique Clockwork Angels steampunk trilogy with legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart. His original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series, the Wake the Dragon and Terra Incognita fantasy trilogies, and humorous Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series and The Dragon Business series.

He has edited numerous anthologies, written comics and games, and the lyrics to two rock CDs. Anderson is the director of the graduate program in Publishing at Western Colorado University, and he and his wife Rebecca Moesta are the publishers or WordFire Press.

He worked on the recent films Dune Part One and Part Two from Legendary Entertainment, as well as the forthcoming Dune TV series from MAX, and other films in development, including Persephone and Karousel.

He has 24 million copies in print in 34 languages. His most recent novels are Bats in the Belfry, Skeleton in the Closet, Persephone, and Princess of Dune (with Brian Herbert).

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode, Mark interviews Kevin J. Anderson about his writing and the new approach he is taking to incorporate Kickstarter into the launch strategies for some of his indie-published titles.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In their interview Mark and Kevin talk about:

  • How Kickstarter has completely upended (in a good way), Kevin's book release strategies
  • Kevin's first novel coming out in 1988 and all the various publishers he has worked with over the years
  • The "Perfect Storm" that was brewing in the book industry when indie publishing became a realistic and viable option
  • Starting to publish his own books (mostly backlist titles he got the rights back to) in 2009 after founding WordFire Press with his wife Rebecca Moesta
  • Kevin's belief that this is the best time to be a writer
  • How Kevin does a little bit of everything. He has a New York literary agent, he works with several major publishers, he indie publishes, and he continues to explore new opportunities that digital publishing offer
  • The way that Kickstarter didn't just open a new door, it completely blew it down, along with a few walls too
  • Dean Wesley Smith's perspective that helped to change Kevin's mind about what Kickstarter was all about
  • Kevin's "Adams Family meets The Naked Gun" series of Dan Shamble Zombie PI novels, and the history of how it started off as a series with a major publisher, flopped, then Kevin got the rights back and did something truly stunning with it once he applied Kickstarter
  • Kevin's first Dan Shamble Kickstarter which brought in 23 times the intial amount he was asking for, and that it paid him more than 6 times the advance he'd rec'd from a major publisher for the last Dan Shamble book he'd done with them
  • The Dragon Business (The Princess Bride meets Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) Kickstarter that brought in 20 times what he'd been asking for
  • The Persephone Kickstarter that Kevin did with Writer/Director Jeffrey Morris
  • Kevin's latest Kickstarter which is a 7 Volume Set of over 130 of his published short stories published over 50 years
  • Writing his first short story when he was 8 years old
  • Publishing his very first short story when he was 14
  • The personal introductions that he wrote for every one of the stories in this 7 book collection
  • The various levels and Kickstarter rewards he is planning for this Kickstarter
  • The remarkable fact that, despite having published 180 novels with 58 of them being international bestsellers, no publisher would ever even consider publishing a 7 volume hardcover set of Kevin's complete short stories. That he can do this via Kickstarter is a significant paradigm shift
  • How Kickstarter can replace the old "advance" model from traditional publishing
  • The special thing Kevin is doing for all the backers of this latest Kickstarter
  • The Kickstarter will be going live on April 30th for 3 weeks and 2 days
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on Kevin's use of short, effective and very clear log lines to describe two of his series.

Links of Interest:

Kevin J. Anderson has published more than 180 books, 58 of which have been national or international bestsellers. He has written numerous novels in the Star Wars, X-Files, and Dune universes, as well as the unique Clockwork Angels steampunk trilogy with legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart. His original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series, the Wake the Dragon and Terra Incognita fantasy trilogies, and humorous Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series and The Dragon Business series.

He has edited numerous anthologies, written comics and games, and the lyrics to two rock CDs. Anderson is the director of the graduate program in Publishing at Western Colorado University, and he and his wife Rebecca Moesta are the publishers or WordFire Press.

He worked on the recent films Dune Part One and Part Two from Legendary Entertainment, as well as the forthcoming Dune TV series from MAX, and other films in development, including Persephone and Karousel.

He has 24 million copies in print in 34 languages. His most recent novels are Bats in the Belfry, Skeleton in the Closet, Persephone, and Princess of Dune (with Brian Herbert).

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 49:40 false 7 357 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews Kevin J. Anderson about his writing and the new approach he is taking to incorporate Kickstarter into the launch strategies for some of his indie-published titles. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.   In their interview Mark and Kevin talk about: How Kickstarter has completely upended (in a good way), Kevin's book release strategies Kevin's first novel coming out in 1988 and all the various publishers he has worked with over the years The "Perfect Storm" that was brewing in the book industry when indie publishing became a realistic and viable option Starting to publish his own books (mostly backlist titles he got the rights back to) in 2009 after founding WordFire Press with his wife Rebecca Moesta Kevin's belief that this is the best time to be a writer How Kevin does a little bit of everything. He has a New York literary agent, he works with several major publishers, he indie publishes, and he continues to explore new opportunities that digital publishing offer The way that Kickstarter didn't just open a new door, it completely blew it down, along with a few walls too Dean Wesley Smith's perspective that helped to change Kevin's mind about what Kickstarter was all about Kevin's "Adams Family meets The Naked Gun" series of Dan Shamble Zombie PI novels, and the history of how it started off as a series with a major publisher, flopped, then Kevin got the rights back and did something truly stunning with it once he applied Kickstarter Kevin's first Dan Shamble Kickstarter which brought in 23 times the intial amount he was asking for, and that it paid him more than 6 times the advance he'd rec'd from a major publisher for the last Dan Shamble book he'd done with them The Dragon Business (The Princess Bride meets Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) Kickstarter that brought in 20 times what he'd been asking for The Persephone Kickstarter that Kevin did with Writer/Director Jeffrey Morris Kevin's latest Kickstarter which is a 7 Volume Set of over 130 of his published short stories published over 50 years Writing his first short story when he was 8 years old Publishing his very first short story when he was 14 The personal introductions that he wrote for every one of the stories in this 7 book collection The various levels and Kickstarter rewards he is planning for this Kickstarter The remarkable fact that, despite having published 180 novels with 58 of them being international bestsellers, no publisher would ever even consider publishing a 7 volume hardcover set of Kevin's complete short stories. That he can do this via Kickstarter is a significant paradigm shift How Kickstarter can replace the old "advance" model from traditional publishing The special thing Kevin is doing for all the backers of this latest Kickstarter The Kickstarter will be going live on April 30th for 3 weeks and 2 days And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on Kevin's use of short, effective and very clear log lines to describe two of his series.   Links of Interest: Kevin J. Anderson's Website Kevin's Short Story Kickstarter EP 130 - Grace Under Pressure with Kevin J. Anderson Mentions of Kevin in other podcast episodes EP 356 - The Midlist Indie Author Mindset with T. Thorn Coyle Thorn's Patreon Site EP 355 - Scribbling Pen Publishing with Melanie Gilbert and Heather Karn Writers of the Future - Blog Post Announcing Mark as a Judge Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Kevin J. Anderson has published more than 180 books, 58 of which have been national or international bestsellers. He has written numerous novels in the Star Wars, X-Files, and Dune universes, as well as the unique Clockwork Angels steampunk trilogy with legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart. His original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series, the Wake the Dragon and Terra Incognita fantasy trilogies, and humorous Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series and The Dragon Business series. He has edited numerous anthologies, written comics and games, and the lyrics to two rock CDs. Anderson is the director of the graduate program in Publishing at Western Colorado University, and he and his wife Rebecca Moesta are the publishers or WordFire Press. He worked on the recent films Dune Part One and Part Two from Legendary Entertainment, as well as the forthcoming Dune TV series from MAX, and other films in development, including Persephone and Karousel. He has 24 million copies in print in 34 languages. His most recent novels are Bats in the Belfry, Skeleton in the Closet, Persephone, and Princess of Dune (with Brian Herbert).     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode, Mark interviews Kevin J. Anderson about his writing and the new approach he is taking to incorporate Kickstarter into the launch strategies for some of his indie-published titles. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.   In their interview Mark and Kevin talk about: How Kickstarter has completely upended (in a good way), Kevin's book release strategies Kevin's first novel coming out in 1988 and all the various publishers he has worked with over the years The "Perfect Storm" that was brewing in the book industry when indie publishing became a realistic and viable option Starting to publish his own books (mostly backlist titles he got the rights back to) in 2009 after founding WordFire Press with his wife Rebecca Moesta Kevin's belief that this is the best time to be a writer How Kevin does a little bit of everything. He has a New York literary agent, he works with several major publishers, he indie publishes, and he continues to explore new opportunities that digital publishing offer The way that Kickstarter didn't just open a new door, it completely blew it down, along with a few walls too Dean Wesley Smith's perspective that helped to change Kevin's mind about what Kickstarter was all about Kevin's "Adams Family meets The Naked Gun" series of Dan Shamble Zombie PI novels, and the history of how it started off as a series with a major publisher, flopped, then Kevin got the rights back and did something truly stunning with it once he applied Kickstarter Kevin's first Dan Shamble Kickstarter which brought in 23 times the intial amount he was asking for, and that it paid him more than 6 times the advance he'd rec'd from a major publisher for the last Dan Shamble book he'd done with them The Dragon Business (The Princess Bride meets Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) Kickstarter that brought in 20 times what he'd been asking for The Persephone Kickstarter that Kevin did with Writer/Director Jeffrey Morris Kevin's latest Kickstarter which is a 7 Volume Set of over 130 of his published short stories published over 50 years Writing his first short story when he was 8 years old Publishing his very first short story when he was 14 The personal introductions that he wrote for every one of the stories in this 7 book collection The various levels and Kickstarter rewards he is planning for this Kickstarter The remarkable fact that, despite having published 180 novels with 58 of them being international bestsellers, no publisher would ever even consider publishing a 7 volume hardcover set of Kevin's complete short stories. That he can do this via Kickstarter is a significant paradigm shift How Kickstarter can replace the old "advance" model from traditional publishing The special thing Kevin is doing for all the backers of this latest Kickstarter The Kickstarter will be going live on April 30th for 3 weeks and 2 days And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on Kevin's use of short, effective and very clear log lines to describe two of his series.   Links of Interest: Kevin J. Anderson's Website Kevin's Short Story Kickstarter EP 130 - Grace Under Pressure with Kevin J. Anderson Mentions of Kevin in other podcast episodes EP 356 - The Midlist Indie Author Mindset with T. Thorn Coyle Thorn's Patreon Site EP 355 - Scribbling Pen Publishing with Melanie Gilbert and Heather Karn Writers of the Future - Blog Post Announcing Mark as a Judge Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Kevin J. Anderson has published more than 180 books, 58 of which have been national or international bestsellers. He has written numerous novels in the Star Wars, X-Files, and Dune universes, as well as the unique Clockwork Angels steampunk trilogy with legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart. His original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series, the Wake the Dragon and Terra Incognita fantasy trilogies, and humorous Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series and The Dragon Business series. He has edited numerous anthologies, written comics and games, and the lyrics to two rock CDs. Anderson is the director of the graduate program in Publishing at Western Colorado University, and he and his wife Rebecca Moesta are the publishers or WordFire Press. He worked on the recent films Dune Part One and Part Two from Legendary Entertainment, as well as the forthcoming Dune TV series from MAX, and other films in development, including Persephone and Karousel. He has 24 million copies in print in 34 languages. His most recent novels are Bats in the Belfry, Skeleton in the Closet, Persephone, and Princess of Dune (with Brian Herbert).     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 356 - The Midlist Indie Author Mindset with T. Thorn Coyle The Midlist Indie Author Mindset with T. Thorn Coyle Thu, 18 Apr 2024 22:51:00 +0000
 

Mark interviews T Thorn Coyle about writing, community, and their new book The Midlist Indie Author Mindset.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Cruising Writers - 7 Day Western Caribbean Cruise - Feb 22 to Mar 1, 2025

Featured Guest Speakers: Erin Wright and Mark Leslie Lefebvre

More details at: Cruising Writers

 

In the interview, Mark and Thorn talk about:

  • Getting into writing when they were 5 years old - and the variety of types of writing they did
  • Thorn jokingly torturing fiction and deciding to write non-fiction until a few characters showed up and knocked on their door
  • Writing mostly fantasy-tinged fiction
  • How most of Thorn's non-fiction guides have been about spiritual practice, but that this latest one is their first non-fiction business of writing book
  • Thorn's author tagline: "Magic is real. And justice is worth fighting for."
  • The way that Portland is such a fascinating city and how Thorn can find magic anywhere
  • An appreciation of Charles de Lint
  • Thorn's forthcoming book: The Midlist Author Mindset
  • The massive mindset shift that comes from being curious about business the way one is curious about writing
  • Value that came with learning what worked for Thorn, as opposed to things that work for other writers
  • The numerous streams of income that Thorn has been developing over the years
  • Looking at long-term sustainability by thinking of it like cultivating a garden instead of seeking out short-term dramatic spikes
  • Some of the roadblocks that Thorn encountered on the way to establishing the Midlist Author Mindset
  • Understanding that for Thorn marketing was about connection with readers
  • How asking "Does social media sell books?" is the wrong question to ask
  • The Kickstarter for the book and related materials and exclusive content that runs April 16, 2024 to May 7, 2024
  • A little bit about Thorn's fiction series books
  • Thoughts and current approach to audiobooks
  • Thorn's final words of advice that they would want to leave with writers
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview, Mark reflects on the concepts of sustainable, long-term, and burn-out as well as the important question of what is practical for you and your life and goals.

 

Links of Interest:

 

T. Thorn Coyle worked in many strange and diverse occupations before settling in to write full time. Buy them a cup of tea and perhaps they'll tell you about it.

Author of The Witches of Portland, the Seashell Cove Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, the Pride Street Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, The Steel Clan Saga, and The Panther Chronicles, Thorn's multiple non-fiction books include Sigil Magic for Writers, Artists & Other Creatives, Crafting a Daily Practice, Kissing the Limitless, and Evolutionary Witchcraft. Thorn's work also appears in many anthologies, magazines, and collections.

An interloper to the Pacific Northwest U.S., they pay proper tribute to all the neighborhood cats, and talk to crows, squirrels, and trees.

You can find them at thorncoyle.com.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews T Thorn Coyle about writing, community, and their new book The Midlist Indie Author Mindset.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Cruising Writers - 7 Day Western Caribbean Cruise - Feb 22 to Mar 1, 2025

Featured Guest Speakers: Erin Wright and Mark Leslie Lefebvre

More details at: Cruising Writers

In the interview, Mark and Thorn talk about:

  • Getting into writing when they were 5 years old - and the variety of types of writing they did
  • Thorn jokingly torturing fiction and deciding to write non-fiction until a few characters showed up and knocked on their door
  • Writing mostly fantasy-tinged fiction
  • How most of Thorn's non-fiction guides have been about spiritual practice, but that this latest one is their first non-fiction business of writing book
  • Thorn's author tagline: "Magic is real. And justice is worth fighting for."
  • The way that Portland is such a fascinating city and how Thorn can find magic anywhere
  • An appreciation of Charles de Lint
  • Thorn's forthcoming book: The Midlist Author Mindset
  • The massive mindset shift that comes from being curious about business the way one is curious about writing
  • Value that came with learning what worked for Thorn, as opposed to things that work for other writers
  • The numerous streams of income that Thorn has been developing over the years
  • Looking at long-term sustainability by thinking of it like cultivating a garden instead of seeking out short-term dramatic spikes
  • Some of the roadblocks that Thorn encountered on the way to establishing the Midlist Author Mindset
  • Understanding that for Thorn marketing was about connection with readers
  • How asking "Does social media sell books?" is the wrong question to ask
  • The Kickstarter for the book and related materials and exclusive content that runs April 16, 2024 to May 7, 2024
  • A little bit about Thorn's fiction series books
  • Thoughts and current approach to audiobooks
  • Thorn's final words of advice that they would want to leave with writers
  • And more . . .

After the interview, Mark reflects on the concepts of sustainable, long-term, and burn-out as well as the important question of what is practical for you and your life and goals.

Links of Interest:

T. Thorn Coyle worked in many strange and diverse occupations before settling in to write full time. Buy them a cup of tea and perhaps they'll tell you about it.

Author of The Witches of Portland, the Seashell Cove Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, the Pride Street Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, The Steel Clan Saga, and The Panther Chronicles, Thorn's multiple non-fiction books include Sigil Magic for Writers, Artists & Other Creatives, Crafting a Daily Practice, Kissing the Limitless, and Evolutionary Witchcraft. Thorn's work also appears in many anthologies, magazines, and collections.

An interloper to the Pacific Northwest U.S., they pay proper tribute to all the neighborhood cats, and talk to crows, squirrels, and trees.

You can find them at thorncoyle.com.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 49:50 false 7 356 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)  Mark interviews T Thorn Coyle about writing, community, and their new book The Midlist Indie Author Mindset. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. Cruising Writers - 7 Day Western Caribbean Cruise - Feb 22 to Mar 1, 2025 Featured Guest Speakers: Erin Wright and Mark Leslie Lefebvre More details at: Cruising Writers   In the interview, Mark and Thorn talk about: Getting into writing when they were 5 years old - and the variety of types of writing they did Thorn jokingly torturing fiction and deciding to write non-fiction until a few characters showed up and knocked on their door Writing mostly fantasy-tinged fiction How most of Thorn's non-fiction guides have been about spiritual practice, but that this latest one is their first non-fiction business of writing book Thorn's author tagline: "Magic is real. And justice is worth fighting for." The way that Portland is such a fascinating city and how Thorn can find magic anywhere An appreciation of Charles de Lint Thorn's forthcoming book: The Midlist Author Mindset The massive mindset shift that comes from being curious about business the way one is curious about writing Value that came with learning what worked for Thorn, as opposed to things that work for other writers The numerous streams of income that Thorn has been developing over the years Looking at long-term sustainability by thinking of it like cultivating a garden instead of seeking out short-term dramatic spikes Some of the roadblocks that Thorn encountered on the way to establishing the Midlist Author Mindset Understanding that for Thorn marketing was about connection with readers How asking "Does social media sell books?" is the wrong question to ask The Kickstarter for the book and related materials and exclusive content that runs April 16, 2024 to May 7, 2024 A little bit about Thorn's fiction series books Thoughts and current approach to audiobooks Thorn's final words of advice that they would want to leave with writers And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects on the concepts of sustainable, long-term, and burn-out as well as the important question of what is practical for you and your life and goals.   Links of Interest: T. Thorn Coyle's Website Kickstarter for The Midlist Indie Author Mindset Fiction Titles Non-Fiction Titles Thorn's Patreon Site Writers of the Future - Blog Post Announcing Mark as a Judge Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   T. Thorn Coyle worked in many strange and diverse occupations before settling in to write full time. Buy them a cup of tea and perhaps they'll tell you about it. Author of The Witches of Portland, the Seashell Cove Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, the Pride Street Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, The Steel Clan Saga, and The Panther Chronicles, Thorn's multiple non-fiction books include Sigil Magic for Writers, Artists & Other Creatives, Crafting a Daily Practice, Kissing the Limitless, and Evolutionary Witchcraft. Thorn's work also appears in many anthologies, magazines, and collections. An interloper to the Pacific Northwest U.S., they pay proper tribute to all the neighborhood cats, and talk to crows, squirrels, and trees. You can find them at thorncoyle.com.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark interviews T Thorn Coyle about writing, community, and their new book The Midlist Indie Author Mindset. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. Cruising Writers - 7 Day Western Caribbean Cruise - Feb 22 to Mar 1, 2025 Featured Guest Speakers: Erin Wright and Mark Leslie Lefebvre More details at: Cruising Writers   In the interview, Mark and Thorn talk about: Getting into writing when they were 5 years old - and the variety of types of writing they did Thorn jokingly torturing fiction and deciding to write non-fiction until a few characters showed up and knocked on their door Writing mostly fantasy-tinged fiction How most of Thorn's non-fiction guides have been about spiritual practice, but that this latest one is their first non-fiction business of writing book Thorn's author tagline: "Magic is real. And justice is worth fighting for." The way that Portland is such a fascinating city and how Thorn can find magic anywhere An appreciation of Charles de Lint Thorn's forthcoming book: The Midlist Author Mindset The massive mindset shift that comes from being curious about business the way one is curious about writing Value that came with learning what worked for Thorn, as opposed to things that work for other writers The numerous streams of income that Thorn has been developing over the years Looking at long-term sustainability by thinking of it like cultivating a garden instead of seeking out short-term dramatic spikes Some of the roadblocks that Thorn encountered on the way to establishing the Midlist Author Mindset Understanding that for Thorn marketing was about connection with readers How asking "Does social media sell books?" is the wrong question to ask The Kickstarter for the book and related materials and exclusive content that runs April 16, 2024 to May 7, 2024 A little bit about Thorn's fiction series books Thoughts and current approach to audiobooks Thorn's final words of advice that they would want to leave with writers And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects on the concepts of sustainable, long-term, and burn-out as well as the important question of what is practical for you and your life and goals.   Links of Interest: T. Thorn Coyle's Website Kickstarter for The Midlist Indie Author Mindset Fiction Titles Non-Fiction Titles Thorn's Patreon Site Writers of the Future - Blog Post Announcing Mark as a Judge Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   T. Thorn Coyle worked in many strange and diverse occupations before settling in to write full time. Buy them a cup of tea and perhaps they'll tell you about it. Author of The Witches of Portland, the Seashell Cove Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, the Pride Street Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, The Steel Clan Saga, and The Panther Chronicles, Thorn's multiple non-fiction books include Sigil Magic for Writers, Artists & Other Creatives, Crafting a Daily Practice, Kissing the Limitless, and Evolutionary Witchcraft. Thorn's work also appears in many anthologies, magazines, and collections. An interloper to the Pacific Northwest U.S., they pay proper tribute to all the neighborhood cats, and talk to crows, squirrels, and trees. You can find them at thorncoyle.com.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 355 - Scribbling Pen Publishing with Melanie Gilbert and Heather Karn Scribbling Pen Publishing with Melanie Gilbert and Heather Karn Thu, 11 Apr 2024 23:50:00 +0000 Mark interviews Melanie Gilbert and Heather Karn about their work writing and publishing together under the Scribbling Pen Publishing brand.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Cruising Writers - 7 Day Western Caribbean Cruise - Feb 22 to Mar 1, 2025

Featured Guest Speakers: Erin Wright and Mark Leslie Lefebvre

More details at: Cruising Writers

 

In the interview, Mark, Melanie, and Heather talk about:

  • How Heather got started in writing before Melanie, who started a year later
  • Writing independently for a while before they got into mutual support and collaboration
  • The two books they've published by doing round-robin style writing a couple of paragraphs at a time
  • The plotting VS pantsing struggle that they would sometimes find themselves in
  • The thrill of writing a book without knowing who the bad guy was the entire time until the idea of who it was struck both of them at the same time
  • The process they use when writing, editing, and re-writing
  • How the two of them think of the reader experience when the writer (as related to the Disney Customer Experience training)
  • Leveraging the cats that they made to draw people in which is a great ice-breaker getting them to the books
  • Thinking about the "writing companions" for the books
  • Leveraging crafted book bags in the same way to generate interest - ie "Where did you get that cool book bag?"
  • Determing what scented candle or wax melt varieties would go well with the different books
  • Something special they did to celebrate the "12 Days of Christmas" that they could provide to all of their fans - cover reveals, sample chapters, recipes, music, other books, etc
  • The benefit of personal touches in the newsletter including the fun that started with Griffin the furry manager
  • How their cats and dogs are the ones explaining what's going on in their writer newsletters and their website store
  • How their main goal isn't to sell books but to ensure that the people who visit their table are having a good time
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview, Mark reflects on the way the sisters leverage conversational items to draw people to their in person table, their focus on creating a genuinely memorable and entertaining experience (rather than focusing on selling books), and providing intriguing entertainment in their newsletter leveraging their pets' perspectives.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Melanie Gilbert and Heather Karn in their own words:

We grew up in the lovely state of Michigan. We lived in a small town in the country, one of those towns where everyone knows everyone. When we graduated from high school, we went to the same college along with our triplet sister. Our younger sister joined us a couple years later. We're all really close and that has influenced how we write characters who are siblings.

Somehow, we both ended up in Wisconsin a few miles from each other (and even our triplet sister). We now live together and it's a blast! Wisconsin isn't too different from where we grew up, so it hasn't been a big change to live here instead of in Michigan. The only down side to being here is the large lake between us and our family (and Melanie's in-laws). Going around the lake makes traveling longer, but at least we're not states away from family. Family is really important to us.

Scribbling Pen Publishing was originally Melanie's idea. Like Melanie's other idea about writing a co-written book, it took Heather some time to warm up to the idea. Heather is more of a "think it over" personality while Melanie is a "sounds good, let's do it" personality. Together, we balance each other out.

Working together has been amazing. We each have strengths where the other has a weakness. Together we accomplish more than we did apart. Our brands are so similar, it only made sense to combine the work to share our love of books with the world.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Melanie Gilbert and Heather Karn about their work writing and publishing together under the Scribbling Pen Publishing brand.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

Cruising Writers - 7 Day Western Caribbean Cruise - Feb 22 to Mar 1, 2025

Featured Guest Speakers: Erin Wright and Mark Leslie Lefebvre

More details at: Cruising Writers

In the interview, Mark, Melanie, and Heather talk about:

  • How Heather got started in writing before Melanie, who started a year later
  • Writing independently for a while before they got into mutual support and collaboration
  • The two books they've published by doing round-robin style writing a couple of paragraphs at a time
  • The plotting VS pantsing struggle that they would sometimes find themselves in
  • The thrill of writing a book without knowing who the bad guy was the entire time until the idea of who it was struck both of them at the same time
  • The process they use when writing, editing, and re-writing
  • How the two of them think of the reader experience when the writer (as related to the Disney Customer Experience training)
  • Leveraging the cats that they made to draw people in which is a great ice-breaker getting them to the books
  • Thinking about the "writing companions" for the books
  • Leveraging crafted book bags in the same way to generate interest - ie "Where did you get that cool book bag?"
  • Determing what scented candle or wax melt varieties would go well with the different books
  • Something special they did to celebrate the "12 Days of Christmas" that they could provide to all of their fans - cover reveals, sample chapters, recipes, music, other books, etc
  • The benefit of personal touches in the newsletter including the fun that started with Griffin the furry manager
  • How their cats and dogs are the ones explaining what's going on in their writer newsletters and their website store
  • How their main goal isn't to sell books but to ensure that the people who visit their table are having a good time
  • And more . . .

After the interview, Mark reflects on the way the sisters leverage conversational items to draw people to their in person table, their focus on creating a genuinely memorable and entertaining experience (rather than focusing on selling books), and providing intriguing entertainment in their newsletter leveraging their pets' perspectives.

Links of Interest:

Melanie Gilbert and Heather Karn in their own words:

We grew up in the lovely state of Michigan. We lived in a small town in the country, one of those towns where everyone knows everyone. When we graduated from high school, we went to the same college along with our triplet sister. Our younger sister joined us a couple years later. We're all really close and that has influenced how we write characters who are siblings.

Somehow, we both ended up in Wisconsin a few miles from each other (and even our triplet sister). We now live together and it's a blast! Wisconsin isn't too different from where we grew up, so it hasn't been a big change to live here instead of in Michigan. The only down side to being here is the large lake between us and our family (and Melanie's in-laws). Going around the lake makes traveling longer, but at least we're not states away from family. Family is really important to us.

Scribbling Pen Publishing was originally Melanie's idea. Like Melanie's other idea about writing a co-written book, it took Heather some time to warm up to the idea. Heather is more of a "think it over" personality while Melanie is a "sounds good, let's do it" personality. Together, we balance each other out.

Working together has been amazing. We each have strengths where the other has a weakness. Together we accomplish more than we did apart. Our brands are so similar, it only made sense to combine the work to share our love of books with the world.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:01:51 false 7 355 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Melanie Gilbert and Heather Karn about their work writing and publishing together under the Scribbling Pen Publishing brand. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Cruising Writers - 7 Day Western Caribbean Cruise - Feb 22 to Mar 1, 2025 Featured Guest Speakers: Erin Wright and Mark Leslie Lefebvre More details at: Cruising Writers   In the interview, Mark, Melanie, and Heather talk about: How Heather got started in writing before Melanie, who started a year later Writing independently for a while before they got into mutual support and collaboration The two books they've published by doing round-robin style writing a couple of paragraphs at a time The plotting VS pantsing struggle that they would sometimes find themselves in The thrill of writing a book without knowing who the bad guy was the entire time until the idea of who it was struck both of them at the same time The process they use when writing, editing, and re-writing How the two of them think of the reader experience when the writer (as related to the Disney Customer Experience training) Leveraging the cats that they made to draw people in which is a great ice-breaker getting them to the books Thinking about the "writing companions" for the books Leveraging crafted book bags in the same way to generate interest - ie "Where did you get that cool book bag?" Determing what scented candle or wax melt varieties would go well with the different books Something special they did to celebrate the "12 Days of Christmas" that they could provide to all of their fans - cover reveals, sample chapters, recipes, music, other books, etc The benefit of personal touches in the newsletter including the fun that started with Griffin the furry manager How their cats and dogs are the ones explaining what's going on in their writer newsletters and their website store How their main goal isn't to sell books but to ensure that the people who visit their table are having a good time And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects on the way the sisters leverage conversational items to draw people to their in person table, their focus on creating a genuinely memorable and entertaining experience (rather than focusing on selling books), and providing intriguing entertainment in their newsletter leveraging their pets' perspectives.   Links of Interest: Scribbling Pen Publishing Scribbling Pen Publishing - Instagram Cruising Writers Feb/Mar 2025 Cruise - Focus on Self Publishing The Uncollected Anthology Website Uncollected Anthology Live Author Chat (April 10, 2024 - YouTube) There Ain't No Cure For The Winter Wolf Blues 2024 The Write Stuff StoryBundle (Limited Time Offer) WMG Anthology Workshop August 2024 Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Melanie Gilbert and Heather Karn in their own words: We grew up in the lovely state of Michigan. We lived in a small town in the country, one of those towns where everyone knows everyone. When we graduated from high school, we went to the same college along with our triplet sister. Our younger sister joined us a couple years later. We're all really close and that has influenced how we write characters who are siblings. Somehow, we both ended up in Wisconsin a few miles from each other (and even our triplet sister). We now live together and it's a blast! Wisconsin isn't too different from where we grew up, so it hasn't been a big change to live here instead of in Michigan. The only down side to being here is the large lake between us and our family (and Melanie's in-laws). Going around the lake makes traveling longer, but at least we're not states away from family. Family is really important to us. Scribbling Pen Publishing was originally Melanie's idea. Like Melanie's other idea about writing a co-written book, it took Heather some time to warm up to the idea. Heather is more of a "think it over" personality while Melanie is a "sounds good, let's do it" personality. Together, we balance each other out. Working together has been amazing. We each have strengths where the other has a weakness. Together we accomplish more than we did apart. Our brands are so similar, it only made sense to combine the work to share our love of books with the world.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Melanie Gilbert and Heather Karn about their work writing and publishing together under the Scribbling Pen Publishing brand. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. Cruising Writers - 7 Day Western Caribbean Cruise - Feb 22 to Mar 1, 2025 Featured Guest Speakers: Erin Wright and Mark Leslie Lefebvre More details at: Cruising Writers   In the interview, Mark, Melanie, and Heather talk about: How Heather got started in writing before Melanie, who started a year later Writing independently for a while before they got into mutual support and collaboration The two books they've published by doing round-robin style writing a couple of paragraphs at a time The plotting VS pantsing struggle that they would sometimes find themselves in The thrill of writing a book without knowing who the bad guy was the entire time until the idea of who it was struck both of them at the same time The process they use when writing, editing, and re-writing How the two of them think of the reader experience when the writer (as related to the Disney Customer Experience training) Leveraging the cats that they made to draw people in which is a great ice-breaker getting them to the books Thinking about the "writing companions" for the books Leveraging crafted book bags in the same way to generate interest - ie "Where did you get that cool book bag?" Determing what scented candle or wax melt varieties would go well with the different books Something special they did to celebrate the "12 Days of Christmas" that they could provide to all of their fans - cover reveals, sample chapters, recipes, music, other books, etc The benefit of personal touches in the newsletter including the fun that started with Griffin the furry manager How their cats and dogs are the ones explaining what's going on in their writer newsletters and their website store How their main goal isn't to sell books but to ensure that the people who visit their table are having a good time And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects on the way the sisters leverage conversational items to draw people to their in person table, their focus on creating a genuinely memorable and entertaining experience (rather than focusing on selling books), and providing intriguing entertainment in their newsletter leveraging their pets' perspectives.   Links of Interest: Scribbling Pen Publishing Scribbling Pen Publishing - Instagram Cruising Writers Feb/Mar 2025 Cruise - Focus on Self Publishing The Uncollected Anthology Website Uncollected Anthology Live Author Chat (April 10, 2024 - YouTube) There Ain't No Cure For The Winter Wolf Blues 2024 The Write Stuff StoryBundle (Limited Time Offer) WMG Anthology Workshop August 2024 Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Melanie Gilbert and Heather Karn in their own words: We grew up in the lovely state of Michigan. We lived in a small town in the country, one of those towns where everyone knows everyone. When we graduated from high school, we went to the same college along with our triplet sister. Our younger sister joined us a couple years later. We're all really close and that has influenced how we write characters who are siblings. Somehow, we both ended up in Wisconsin a few miles from each other (and even our triplet sister). We now live together and it's a blast! Wisconsin isn't too different from where we grew up, so it hasn't been a big change to live here instead of in Michigan. The only down side to being here is the large lake between us and our family (and Melanie's in-laws). Going around the lake makes traveling longer, but at least we're not states away from family. Family is really important to us. Scribbling Pen Publishing was originally Melanie's idea. Like Melanie's other idea about writing a co-written book, it took Heather some time to warm up to the idea. Heather is more of a "think it over" personality while Melanie is a "sounds good, let's do it" personality. Together, we balance each other out. Working together has been amazing. We each have strengths where the other has a weakness. Together we accomplish more than we did apart. Our brands are so similar, it only made sense to combine the work to share our love of books with the world.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 354 - Lydia and David Sherrer on Power Couple Publishing Lydia and David Sherrer on Power Couple Publishing Fri, 05 Apr 2024 01:54:00 +0000 Mark interviews Lydia and David Sherrer about their company Chenoweth Press and the books and games they produce and publish collaboratively.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the awesome supporters of this podcast who provide their supprt via Patreon and Buy Me A Coffee.

With special thanks to Nikki Guerlain for the recent huge BUY ME A COFFEE donation.

In the interview, Mark talks to Lydia and David about:

  • How Lydia's role as a writing is part of a biological imperitive
  • Growing up reading everything in sight and also being into Lord of the Rings by the time she was five years old
  • Always telling herself stories and writing some of them down over the years
  • Finding out that what she studied in college wasn't a good career fit and then following her father's example of being an entrepreneur
  • Publishing her first two books around 2012/2013
  • Lydia and David setting a ten-year plan that by then David would be able to quit his full-time job
  • David enjoying playing Magic The Gathering card game when he was young
  • Getting invited to a gaming store that was in his town and becoming enamored with it
  • Opening up his own gaming store when he graduated from highschool
  • The technical engineering background that David had and how he applied those skills to ads and marketing
  • Getting frustrated with his job at about the time that Lydia was starting to earn good money from her writing
  • Deciding that he wanted to turn his gaming hobby into a career by starting with a spreadsheet
  • How playing cards are one of the easiest and most flexible mediums to make a game in
  • The game Cat Magic taking roughly twenty minutes of calculations and figuring to get the first draft of the game started
  • The catch-phrase for Love, Lies, and Magic
  • Book 8 in that series releasing March 1, 2024
  • How Cat Magic the novel was the best of Lydia's books that had an existing audience for creating the first game of David's game design career
  • David's role in being an alpha reader and providing Lydia with early feedback on her writing
  • The Kickstarter campaign they ran to get the Cat Magic game off the ground
  • The important Give 90% of the time, ask 10% of the time rule with communities you are engaged in
  • The years of behind the scenes hard work and constantly giving and sharing with the community that built up the success seen in recent Kickstarters
  • 80% of their sales coming from direct sales versus sales from retailers
  • Storing 15,000 copies of Lydia's books in their basement
  • Hiring a college student to help with some of the menial tasks like packaging up books for direct sale orders
  • The various logistics of their shipping operation
  • Hiring a nanny to keep their kids close and at home, but allowing them the freedom to get their work done during the day
  • Their five-year-old discovering capitalism, entrepreneurship, and wanting to become a part of their business
  • Advice that David and Lydia would offer to other couples interested in running a business like this
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview, Mark reflects on the concept of building the kind of life that you want as well as the community-giving focus as an authentic way to connect and offer something of value.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Lydia Sherrer is an award-winning and USA Today-bestselling author of snark-filled adventures creating stories you love to love, and hate to leave. She is the author of the bestselling urban fantasy Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus universe of books featuring several series, which have sold over half a million copies world-wide. Most recently she has released the TransDimensional Hunter series with NYT bestselling author John Ringo.
Lydia subsists on liberal amounts of dark chocolate and tea, and hates sleep because it keeps her from writing (though she needs it because she has kids to wrangle). Due to the tireless efforts of her game-designer husband and her fuzzy overlords—i.e. cats—she remains sane and even occasionally remembers to leave the house.

David Sherrer is a born storyteller and has been an obsessive gamer ever since he was seduced by Magic the Gathering at the tender age of fourteen. He has alternately owned a gaming store, street performed for a living, and survived eleven years in the soul crushing world of telecommunications. He lucked out by marrying a force of nature who was determined to making living off writing, and has since escaped his 9-5 to become the Marketing Director and Lead Game Designer of Chenoweth Press.

His most fond achievements include being Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006—there's a story there, just ask him—and that time he made his entire DnD party cry at the end of a campaign. In addition to his work, he wrangles his growing family and a herd of feline supervisors, while secretly plotting how to add to the mountain of board games that he swears to his wife he actually plays.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Lydia and David Sherrer about their company Chenoweth Press and the books and games they produce and publish collaboratively.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the awesome supporters of this podcast who provide their supprt via Patreon and Buy Me A Coffee.

With special thanks to Nikki Guerlain for the recent huge BUY ME A COFFEE donation.

In the interview, Mark talks to Lydia and David about:

  • How Lydia's role as a writing is part of a biological imperitive
  • Growing up reading everything in sight and also being into Lord of the Rings by the time she was five years old
  • Always telling herself stories and writing some of them down over the years
  • Finding out that what she studied in college wasn't a good career fit and then following her father's example of being an entrepreneur
  • Publishing her first two books around 2012/2013
  • Lydia and David setting a ten-year plan that by then David would be able to quit his full-time job
  • David enjoying playing Magic The Gathering card game when he was young
  • Getting invited to a gaming store that was in his town and becoming enamored with it
  • Opening up his own gaming store when he graduated from highschool
  • The technical engineering background that David had and how he applied those skills to ads and marketing
  • Getting frustrated with his job at about the time that Lydia was starting to earn good money from her writing
  • Deciding that he wanted to turn his gaming hobby into a career by starting with a spreadsheet
  • How playing cards are one of the easiest and most flexible mediums to make a game in
  • The game Cat Magic taking roughly twenty minutes of calculations and figuring to get the first draft of the game started
  • The catch-phrase for Love, Lies, and Magic
  • Book 8 in that series releasing March 1, 2024
  • How Cat Magic the novel was the best of Lydia's books that had an existing audience for creating the first game of David's game design career
  • David's role in being an alpha reader and providing Lydia with early feedback on her writing
  • The Kickstarter campaign they ran to get the Cat Magic game off the ground
  • The important Give 90% of the time, ask 10% of the time rule with communities you are engaged in
  • The years of behind the scenes hard work and constantly giving and sharing with the community that built up the success seen in recent Kickstarters
  • 80% of their sales coming from direct sales versus sales from retailers
  • Storing 15,000 copies of Lydia's books in their basement
  • Hiring a college student to help with some of the menial tasks like packaging up books for direct sale orders
  • The various logistics of their shipping operation
  • Hiring a nanny to keep their kids close and at home, but allowing them the freedom to get their work done during the day
  • Their five-year-old discovering capitalism, entrepreneurship, and wanting to become a part of their business
  • Advice that David and Lydia would offer to other couples interested in running a business like this
  • And more . . .

After the interview, Mark reflects on the concept of building the kind of life that you want as well as the community-giving focus as an authentic way to connect and offer something of value.

Links of Interest:

Lydia Sherrer is an award-winning and USA Today-bestselling author of snark-filled adventures creating stories you love to love, and hate to leave. She is the author of the bestselling urban fantasy Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus universe of books featuring several series, which have sold over half a million copies world-wide. Most recently she has released the TransDimensional Hunter series with NYT bestselling author John Ringo. Lydia subsists on liberal amounts of dark chocolate and tea, and hates sleep because it keeps her from writing (though she needs it because she has kids to wrangle). Due to the tireless efforts of her game-designer husband and her fuzzy overlords—i.e. cats—she remains sane and even occasionally remembers to leave the house.

David Sherrer is a born storyteller and has been an obsessive gamer ever since he was seduced by Magic the Gathering at the tender age of fourteen. He has alternately owned a gaming store, street performed for a living, and survived eleven years in the soul crushing world of telecommunications. He lucked out by marrying a force of nature who was determined to making living off writing, and has since escaped his 9-5 to become the Marketing Director and Lead Game Designer of Chenoweth Press.

His most fond achievements include being Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006—there's a story there, just ask him—and that time he made his entire DnD party cry at the end of a campaign. In addition to his work, he wrangles his growing family and a herd of feline supervisors, while secretly plotting how to add to the mountain of board games that he swears to his wife he actually plays.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 58:29 false 7 354 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Lydia and David Sherrer about their company Chenoweth Press and the books and games they produce and publish collaboratively. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the awesome supporters of this podcast who provide their supprt via Patreon and Buy Me A Coffee. With special thanks to Nikki Guerlain for the recent huge BUY ME A COFFEE donation. In the interview, Mark talks to Lydia and David about: How Lydia's role as a writing is part of a biological imperitive Growing up reading everything in sight and also being into Lord of the Rings by the time she was five years old Always telling herself stories and writing some of them down over the years Finding out that what she studied in college wasn't a good career fit and then following her father's example of being an entrepreneur Publishing her first two books around 2012/2013 Lydia and David setting a ten-year plan that by then David would be able to quit his full-time job David enjoying playing Magic The Gathering card game when he was young Getting invited to a gaming store that was in his town and becoming enamored with it Opening up his own gaming store when he graduated from highschool The technical engineering background that David had and how he applied those skills to ads and marketing Getting frustrated with his job at about the time that Lydia was starting to earn good money from her writing Deciding that he wanted to turn his gaming hobby into a career by starting with a spreadsheet How playing cards are one of the easiest and most flexible mediums to make a game in The game Cat Magic taking roughly twenty minutes of calculations and figuring to get the first draft of the game started The catch-phrase for Love, Lies, and Magic Book 8 in that series releasing March 1, 2024 How Cat Magic the novel was the best of Lydia's books that had an existing audience for creating the first game of David's game design career David's role in being an alpha reader and providing Lydia with early feedback on her writing The Kickstarter campaign they ran to get the Cat Magic game off the ground The important Give 90% of the time, ask 10% of the time rule with communities you are engaged in The years of behind the scenes hard work and constantly giving and sharing with the community that built up the success seen in recent Kickstarters 80% of their sales coming from direct sales versus sales from retailers Storing 15,000 copies of Lydia's books in their basement Hiring a college student to help with some of the menial tasks like packaging up books for direct sale orders The various logistics of their shipping operation Hiring a nanny to keep their kids close and at home, but allowing them the freedom to get their work done during the day Their five-year-old discovering capitalism, entrepreneurship, and wanting to become a part of their business Advice that David and Lydia would offer to other couples interested in running a business like this And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects on the concept of building the kind of life that you want as well as the community-giving focus as an authentic way to connect and offer something of value.   Links of Interest: Lydia Sherrer's Website Chenoweth Press Lydia Sherrer's Store EP 312 - The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now EP 266 - "Let's Talk Dialogue with Jeff Elkins," He Said Reflectively EP 157 - A Conversation with Jeff Elkins The Dialogue Doctor The Uncollected Anthology Website Uncollected Anthology Live Author Chat (April 10, 2024 - YouTube) There Ain't No Cure For The Winter Wolf Blues 2024 The Write Stuff StoryBundle (Limited Time Offer) WMG Anthology Workshop August 2024 Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Lydia Sherrer is an award-winning and USA Today-bestselling author of snark-filled adventures creating stories you love to love, and hate to leave. She is the author of the bestselling urban fantasy Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus universe of books featuring several series, which have sold over half a million copies world-wide. Most recently she has released the TransDimensional Hunter series with NYT bestselling author John Ringo. Lydia subsists on liberal amounts of dark chocolate and tea, and hates sleep because it keeps her from writing (though she needs it because she has kids to wrangle). Due to the tireless efforts of her game-designer husband and her fuzzy overlords—i.e. cats—she remains sane and even occasionally remembers to leave the house. David Sherrer is a born storyteller and has been an obsessive gamer ever since he was seduced by Magic the Gathering at the tender age of fourteen. He has alternately owned a gaming store, street performed for a living, and survived eleven years in the soul crushing world of telecommunications. He lucked out by marrying a force of nature who was determined to making living off writing, and has since escaped his 9-5 to become the Marketing Director and Lead Game Designer of Chenoweth Press. His most fond achievements include being Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006—there's a story there, just ask him—and that time he made his entire DnD party cry at the end of a campaign. In addition to his work, he wrangles his growing family and a herd of feline supervisors, while secretly plotting how to add to the mountain of board games that he swears to his wife he actually plays.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Lydia and David Sherrer about their company Chenoweth Press and the books and games they produce and publish collaboratively. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the awesome supporters of this podcast who provide their supprt via Patreon and Buy Me A Coffee. With special thanks to Nikki Guerlain for the recent huge BUY ME A COFFEE donation. In the interview, Mark talks to Lydia and David about: How Lydia's role as a writing is part of a biological imperitive Growing up reading everything in sight and also being into Lord of the Rings by the time she was five years old Always telling herself stories and writing some of them down over the years Finding out that what she studied in college wasn't a good career fit and then following her father's example of being an entrepreneur Publishing her first two books around 2012/2013 Lydia and David setting a ten-year plan that by then David would be able to quit his full-time job David enjoying playing Magic The Gathering card game when he was young Getting invited to a gaming store that was in his town and becoming enamored with it Opening up his own gaming store when he graduated from highschool The technical engineering background that David had and how he applied those skills to ads and marketing Getting frustrated with his job at about the time that Lydia was starting to earn good money from her writing Deciding that he wanted to turn his gaming hobby into a career by starting with a spreadsheet How playing cards are one of the easiest and most flexible mediums to make a game in The game Cat Magic taking roughly twenty minutes of calculations and figuring to get the first draft of the game started The catch-phrase for Love, Lies, and Magic Book 8 in that series releasing March 1, 2024 How Cat Magic the novel was the best of Lydia's books that had an existing audience for creating the first game of David's game design career David's role in being an alpha reader and providing Lydia with early feedback on her writing The Kickstarter campaign they ran to get the Cat Magic game off the ground The important Give 90% of the time, ask 10% of the time rule with communities you are engaged in The years of behind the scenes hard work and constantly giving and sharing with the community that built up the success seen in recent Kickstarters 80% of their sales coming from direct sales versus sales from retailers Storing 15,000 copies of Lydia's books in their basement Hiring a college student to help with some of the menial tasks like packaging up books for direct sale orders The various logistics of their shipping operation Hiring a nanny to keep their kids close and at home, but allowing them the freedom to get their work done during the day Their five-year-old discovering capitalism, entrepreneurship, and wanting to become a part of their business Advice that David and Lydia would offer to other couples interested in running a business like this And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects on the concept of building the kind of life that you want as well as the community-giving focus as an authentic way to connect and offer something of value.   Links of Interest: Lydia Sherrer's Website Chenoweth Press Lydia Sherrer's Store EP 312 - The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now EP 266 - "Let's Talk Dialogue with Jeff Elkins," He Said Reflectively EP 157 - A Conversation with Jeff Elkins The Dialogue Doctor The Uncollected Anthology Website Uncollected Anthology Live Author Chat (April 10, 2024 - YouTube) There Ain't No Cure For The Winter Wolf Blues 2024 The Write Stuff StoryBundle (Limited Time Offer) WMG Anthology Workshop August 2024 Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Lydia Sherrer is an award-winning and USA Today-bestselling author of snark-filled adventures creating stories you love to love, and hate to leave. She is the author of the bestselling urban fantasy Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus universe of books featuring several series, which have sold over half a million copies world-wide. Most recently she has released the TransDimensional Hunter series with NYT bestselling author John Ringo. Lydia subsists on liberal amounts of dark chocolate and tea, and hates sleep because it keeps her from writing (though she needs it because she has kids to wrangle). Due to the tireless efforts of her game-designer husband and her fuzzy overlords—i.e. cats—she remains sane and even occasionally remembers to leave the house. David Sherrer is a born storyteller and has been an obsessive gamer ever since he was seduced by Magic the Gathering at the tender age of fourteen. He has alternately owned a gaming store, street performed for a living, and survived eleven years in the soul crushing world of telecommunications. He lucked out by marrying a force of nature who was determined to making living off writing, and has since escaped his 9-5 to become the Marketing Director and Lead Game Designer of Chenoweth Press. His most fond achievements include being Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006—there's a story there, just ask him—and that time he made his entire DnD party cry at the end of a campaign. In addition to his work, he wrangles his growing family and a herd of feline supervisors, while secretly plotting how to add to the mountain of board games that he swears to his wife he actually plays.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 353 - Tao Wong on the Toronto Indie Author Conference Tao Wong on the Toronto Indie Author Conference Fri, 29 Mar 2024 02:23:00 +0000 Mark interviews Tao Wong about his writing, LitRPG, entrepreneurship, and the Toronto Indie Author Conference that is coming in May 2024.

Prior to the interview, Mark forgoes the usual brief personal update, or comments, and skips right to this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the Toronto Indie Author Conference.

 

The Toronto Indie Author Conference is a two-day event tailored exclusively for Canadian independent authors. Do you dream of transforming your passion for writing into a thriving author business? Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Canadian indie publishing's first author business conference.

www.torontoindieauthorcon.com

In their interview, Mark and Tao talk about:

  • How Tao has always been writing and telling stories, and how luck played a bit part in it
  • Starting off writing LitRPG when he was living in the Yukon when it was night/dark all the time
  • Writing a few novels and stories for fun, but then discovering Kristine Kathryn Rusch's blog about the business of publishing and how authors were beginning to leverage digital publishing to do it themselves
  • Learning about indie publishing industry, but not being in a place where he thought he would pursue traditional publishing
  • Beginning to put his LitRPG titles up on Amazon in 2017 at a time when it was just starting to become hot (He caught the 2nd wave of Western LitRPG authors)
  • Not having to do any marketing in those early days because he was still working a full-time job running a business, but still bringing in a hearty income from his self-published books
  • Tao's experience doing marketing in selling board games online
  • Flipping between the two hats he wears. 1) The writer hat of getting the book done and 2) the marketer hat of having to sell the things that are written
  • Realizing he was a "scenic route" author, according to Becca Syme's author structure talks and courses
  • Getting to a point where he started to hire staff to help him with some of the tasks
  • Being burnt out from the constant churn in hiring and training staff and them leaving within about two years
  • Joking that being an indy author is the "easy mode" of being an entrepreneur because the cost and minimum setup is a lot less than what he had to do for his business before
  • Laughing at the cost of a $200 cover design bill because not that long ago, he had a single bill from Canada Post that was over $100,000
  • Working with about 5 active co-authors but realizing that he didn't want to be a publisher
  • Starting the Toronto Indie Author Conference initially out of spite and to bring something useful to Canadian authors who might not be able to afford to travel so far to several US based conferences
  • The importance of not having only 6-figure authors doing the presentations at the Toronto Indie Author Conference
  • Some of the speakers who will be at the Toronto Indie Author Confernce and the various topics they'll be covering
  • The significant amount of time and energy Tao had to invest into this conference
  • The Kobo sponsorship of an accessibility fund for the conference where they'll be giving out 10 to 15 pre-paid seats
  • A discount code STARK10 that members can use to get $10 off their ticket registration for the conference
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of those people who see gaps and step up to make a difference. It's a common theme from the past several interview episodes. He also reflects on just how easy it can be for authors as entrepreneurs when you factor in just how little an author has to invest when it comes to money, to get started, particularly in a world that has so many great free resources.

Links of Interest:

 

Tao Wong is a full-time author in the scifi and fantasy genres, writing predominantly in the LitRPG and xianxia sub-genres. A multiple times international Amazon bestseller, he is best known for the System Apocalypse and A Thousand Li universes, with over 40 full-length novels and numerous shorter works published. Tao was a finalist for the Kindle Storyteller UK Award in 2021.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Tao Wong about his writing, LitRPG, entrepreneurship, and the Toronto Indie Author Conference that is coming in May 2024.

Prior to the interview, Mark forgoes the usual brief personal update, or comments, and skips right to this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the Toronto Indie Author Conference.

The Toronto Indie Author Conference is a two-day event tailored exclusively for Canadian independent authors. Do you dream of transforming your passion for writing into a thriving author business? Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Canadian indie publishing's first author business conference.

www.torontoindieauthorcon.com

In their interview, Mark and Tao talk about:

  • How Tao has always been writing and telling stories, and how luck played a bit part in it
  • Starting off writing LitRPG when he was living in the Yukon when it was night/dark all the time
  • Writing a few novels and stories for fun, but then discovering Kristine Kathryn Rusch's blog about the business of publishing and how authors were beginning to leverage digital publishing to do it themselves
  • Learning about indie publishing industry, but not being in a place where he thought he would pursue traditional publishing
  • Beginning to put his LitRPG titles up on Amazon in 2017 at a time when it was just starting to become hot (He caught the 2nd wave of Western LitRPG authors)
  • Not having to do any marketing in those early days because he was still working a full-time job running a business, but still bringing in a hearty income from his self-published books
  • Tao's experience doing marketing in selling board games online
  • Flipping between the two hats he wears. 1) The writer hat of getting the book done and 2) the marketer hat of having to sell the things that are written
  • Realizing he was a "scenic route" author, according to Becca Syme's author structure talks and courses
  • Getting to a point where he started to hire staff to help him with some of the tasks
  • Being burnt out from the constant churn in hiring and training staff and them leaving within about two years
  • Joking that being an indy author is the "easy mode" of being an entrepreneur because the cost and minimum setup is a lot less than what he had to do for his business before
  • Laughing at the cost of a $200 cover design bill because not that long ago, he had a single bill from Canada Post that was over $100,000
  • Working with about 5 active co-authors but realizing that he didn't want to be a publisher
  • Starting the Toronto Indie Author Conference initially out of spite and to bring something useful to Canadian authors who might not be able to afford to travel so far to several US based conferences
  • The importance of not having only 6-figure authors doing the presentations at the Toronto Indie Author Conference
  • Some of the speakers who will be at the Toronto Indie Author Confernce and the various topics they'll be covering
  • The significant amount of time and energy Tao had to invest into this conference
  • The Kobo sponsorship of an accessibility fund for the conference where they'll be giving out 10 to 15 pre-paid seats
  • A discount code STARK10 that members can use to get $10 off their ticket registration for the conference
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of those people who see gaps and step up to make a difference. It's a common theme from the past several interview episodes. He also reflects on just how easy it can be for authors as entrepreneurs when you factor in just how little an author has to invest when it comes to money, to get started, particularly in a world that has so many great free resources.

Links of Interest:

Tao Wong is a full-time author in the scifi and fantasy genres, writing predominantly in the LitRPG and xianxia sub-genres. A multiple times international Amazon bestseller, he is best known for the System Apocalypse and A Thousand Li universes, with over 40 full-length novels and numerous shorter works published. Tao was a finalist for the Kindle Storyteller UK Award in 2021.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 39:21 false 7 353 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Tao Wong about his writing, LitRPG, entrepreneurship, and the Toronto Indie Author Conference that is coming in May 2024. Prior to the interview, Mark forgoes the usual brief personal update, or comments, and skips right to this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the Toronto Indie Author Conference.   The Toronto Indie Author Conference is a two-day event tailored exclusively for Canadian independent authors. Do you dream of transforming your passion for writing into a thriving author business? Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Canadian indie publishing's first author business conference. www.torontoindieauthorcon.com In their interview, Mark and Tao talk about: How Tao has always been writing and telling stories, and how luck played a bit part in it Starting off writing LitRPG when he was living in the Yukon when it was night/dark all the time Writing a few novels and stories for fun, but then discovering Kristine Kathryn Rusch's blog about the business of publishing and how authors were beginning to leverage digital publishing to do it themselves Learning about indie publishing industry, but not being in a place where he thought he would pursue traditional publishing Beginning to put his LitRPG titles up on Amazon in 2017 at a time when it was just starting to become hot (He caught the 2nd wave of Western LitRPG authors) Not having to do any marketing in those early days because he was still working a full-time job running a business, but still bringing in a hearty income from his self-published books Tao's experience doing marketing in selling board games online Flipping between the two hats he wears. 1) The writer hat of getting the book done and 2) the marketer hat of having to sell the things that are written Realizing he was a "scenic route" author, according to Becca Syme's author structure talks and courses Getting to a point where he started to hire staff to help him with some of the tasks Being burnt out from the constant churn in hiring and training staff and them leaving within about two years Joking that being an indy author is the "easy mode" of being an entrepreneur because the cost and minimum setup is a lot less than what he had to do for his business before Laughing at the cost of a $200 cover design bill because not that long ago, he had a single bill from Canada Post that was over $100,000 Working with about 5 active co-authors but realizing that he didn't want to be a publisher Starting the Toronto Indie Author Conference initially out of spite and to bring something useful to Canadian authors who might not be able to afford to travel so far to several US based conferences The importance of not having only 6-figure authors doing the presentations at the Toronto Indie Author Conference Some of the speakers who will be at the Toronto Indie Author Confernce and the various topics they'll be covering The significant amount of time and energy Tao had to invest into this conference The Kobo sponsorship of an accessibility fund for the conference where they'll be giving out 10 to 15 pre-paid seats A discount code STARK10 that members can use to get $10 off their ticket registration for the conference And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of those people who see gaps and step up to make a difference. It's a common theme from the past several interview episodes. He also reflects on just how easy it can be for authors as entrepreneurs when you factor in just how little an author has to invest when it comes to money, to get started, particularly in a world that has so many great free resources. Links of Interest: Tao Wong's Author Website Tao Wong's Publisher Website Toronto Indie Author Conference Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency StoryGarden Summit (Virtual) - March 2024 ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Tao Wong is a full-time author in the scifi and fantasy genres, writing predominantly in the LitRPG and xianxia sub-genres. A multiple times international Amazon bestseller, he is best known for the System Apocalypse and A Thousand Li universes, with over 40 full-length novels and numerous shorter works published. Tao was a finalist for the Kindle Storyteller UK Award in 2021.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Tao Wong about his writing, LitRPG, entrepreneurship, and the Toronto Indie Author Conference that is coming in May 2024. Prior to the interview, Mark forgoes the usual brief personal update, or comments, and skips right to this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the Toronto Indie Author Conference.   The Toronto Indie Author Conference is a two-day event tailored exclusively for Canadian independent authors. Do you dream of transforming your passion for writing into a thriving author business? Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Canadian indie publishing's first author business conference. www.torontoindieauthorcon.com In their interview, Mark and Tao talk about: How Tao has always been writing and telling stories, and how luck played a bit part in it Starting off writing LitRPG when he was living in the Yukon when it was night/dark all the time Writing a few novels and stories for fun, but then discovering Kristine Kathryn Rusch's blog about the business of publishing and how authors were beginning to leverage digital publishing to do it themselves Learning about indie publishing industry, but not being in a place where he thought he would pursue traditional publishing Beginning to put his LitRPG titles up on Amazon in 2017 at a time when it was just starting to become hot (He caught the 2nd wave of Western LitRPG authors) Not having to do any marketing in those early days because he was still working a full-time job running a business, but still bringing in a hearty income from his self-published books Tao's experience doing marketing in selling board games online Flipping between the two hats he wears. 1) The writer hat of getting the book done and 2) the marketer hat of having to sell the things that are written Realizing he was a "scenic route" author, according to Becca Syme's author structure talks and courses Getting to a point where he started to hire staff to help him with some of the tasks Being burnt out from the constant churn in hiring and training staff and them leaving within about two years Joking that being an indy author is the "easy mode" of being an entrepreneur because the cost and minimum setup is a lot less than what he had to do for his business before Laughing at the cost of a $200 cover design bill because not that long ago, he had a single bill from Canada Post that was over $100,000 Working with about 5 active co-authors but realizing that he didn't want to be a publisher Starting the Toronto Indie Author Conference initially out of spite and to bring something useful to Canadian authors who might not be able to afford to travel so far to several US based conferences The importance of not having only 6-figure authors doing the presentations at the Toronto Indie Author Conference Some of the speakers who will be at the Toronto Indie Author Confernce and the various topics they'll be covering The significant amount of time and energy Tao had to invest into this conference The Kobo sponsorship of an accessibility fund for the conference where they'll be giving out 10 to 15 pre-paid seats A discount code STARK10 that members can use to get $10 off their ticket registration for the conference And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of those people who see gaps and step up to make a difference. It's a common theme from the past several interview episodes. He also reflects on just how easy it can be for authors as entrepreneurs when you factor in just how little an author has to invest when it comes to money, to get started, particularly in a world that has so many great free resources. Links of Interest: Tao Wong's Author Website Tao Wong's Publisher Website Toronto Indie Author Conference Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency StoryGarden Summit (Virtual) - March 2024 ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Tao Wong is a full-time author in the scifi and fantasy genres, writing predominantly in the LitRPG and xianxia sub-genres. A multiple times international Amazon bestseller, he is best known for the System Apocalypse and A Thousand Li universes, with over 40 full-length novels and numerous shorter works published. Tao was a finalist for the Kindle Storyteller UK Award in 2021.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 352 - Being The Hero of Your Own Story With No Margins Agency Being The Hero of Your Own Story With No Margins Agency Fri, 22 Mar 2024 18:04:00 +0000 Mark interviews Katie Nelson, Mari Dietz, and Brandon Winn about No Margins Agency, which offers stock photography of underrepresented and marginalized people.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, and then plays a few words about this episode's sponsor.

No Margins Agency offers stock photography of underrepresented and marginalized people, because everyone deserves to be the hero of their own story.

In the interview, Mark, Katie, Mari, and Brandon talk about:

  • Katie's background writing when young, then getting back into writing science fiction with queer characters later in life shortly after reading a traditionally published book that disappointed her
  • Meeting Mari at a conference in Fort Collins, Colorado and being introduced to Superstars Writing Seminars a little later
  • How Mari has wanted to write her whole life, and the way her mom used to type out her poems when she was very young and post them on cupboards and elsewhere in the house
  • Stopping writing for a while, but then picking it up again in 2011, with a focus on writing fiction that featured plus-size people
  • Brandon feeling isolated during the pandemic along with feeling like his voice and wanting to see characters that were more representative of his own experiences
  • Being aghast at what was available in typical stock image sites when searching for "plus size" models for example
  • The often overlooked value of having to meet people where they're at, rather than assuming everyone is in the same place. A rising tide can only float all boats if people are in boats to begin with
  • How not everyone has a visible marginalization or disability
  • Getting in contact with them via hello@nomarginsagency.com
  • Allowing models to bring and wear things that they are comfortable with and to be free with who they are
  • The unofficial mantra of the company being "take up as much space as you want"
  • How the galleries on their website is broken down
  • One of the biggest challenges is convincing people that they don't have to have the confidence or "look" of a "model" in order to model for No Margins Agency
  • Scheduling a photoshoot when they're together in Colorado Springs in Feb 2024 at Superstars Writing Seminars
  • How they are starting to do reviews of books by more diverse and marginalized authors
  • The way they are managing the overhead costs by doing things like scheduling only a single photo shoot per month
  • The value and importance of finding the right community that can be there for you and support you
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark shares a reflection about how this type of supportive community inspires him. He also makes an offer to listeners of the podcast (thanks to the help of those who support this podcast at patreon.com/starkreflections) with some of the services that No Margins Agency provides.

 

Links of Interest:

 

No Margins Agency is a company dedicated to helping marginalized people reach their audience, tell their stories, and drive sales.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Katie Nelson, Mari Dietz, and Brandon Winn about No Margins Agency, which offers stock photography of underrepresented and marginalized people.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, and then plays a few words about this episode's sponsor.

No Margins Agency offers stock photography of underrepresented and marginalized people, because everyone deserves to be the hero of their own story.

In the interview, Mark, Katie, Mari, and Brandon talk about:

  • Katie's background writing when young, then getting back into writing science fiction with queer characters later in life shortly after reading a traditionally published book that disappointed her
  • Meeting Mari at a conference in Fort Collins, Colorado and being introduced to Superstars Writing Seminars a little later
  • How Mari has wanted to write her whole life, and the way her mom used to type out her poems when she was very young and post them on cupboards and elsewhere in the house
  • Stopping writing for a while, but then picking it up again in 2011, with a focus on writing fiction that featured plus-size people
  • Brandon feeling isolated during the pandemic along with feeling like his voice and wanting to see characters that were more representative of his own experiences
  • Being aghast at what was available in typical stock image sites when searching for "plus size" models for example
  • The often overlooked value of having to meet people where they're at, rather than assuming everyone is in the same place. A rising tide can only float all boats if people are in boats to begin with
  • How not everyone has a visible marginalization or disability
  • Getting in contact with them via hello@nomarginsagency.com
  • Allowing models to bring and wear things that they are comfortable with and to be free with who they are
  • The unofficial mantra of the company being "take up as much space as you want"
  • How the galleries on their website is broken down
  • One of the biggest challenges is convincing people that they don't have to have the confidence or "look" of a "model" in order to model for No Margins Agency
  • Scheduling a photoshoot when they're together in Colorado Springs in Feb 2024 at Superstars Writing Seminars
  • How they are starting to do reviews of books by more diverse and marginalized authors
  • The way they are managing the overhead costs by doing things like scheduling only a single photo shoot per month
  • The value and importance of finding the right community that can be there for you and support you
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark shares a reflection about how this type of supportive community inspires him. He also makes an offer to listeners of the podcast (thanks to the help of those who support this podcast at patreon.com/starkreflections) with some of the services that No Margins Agency provides.

Links of Interest:

No Margins Agency is a company dedicated to helping marginalized people reach their audience, tell their stories, and drive sales.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 55:24 false 7 352 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Katie Nelson, Mari Dietz, and Brandon Winn about No Margins Agency, which offers stock photography of underrepresented and marginalized people. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, and then plays a few words about this episode's sponsor. No Margins Agency offers stock photography of underrepresented and marginalized people, because everyone deserves to be the hero of their own story. In the interview, Mark, Katie, Mari, and Brandon talk about: Katie's background writing when young, then getting back into writing science fiction with queer characters later in life shortly after reading a traditionally published book that disappointed her Meeting Mari at a conference in Fort Collins, Colorado and being introduced to Superstars Writing Seminars a little later How Mari has wanted to write her whole life, and the way her mom used to type out her poems when she was very young and post them on cupboards and elsewhere in the house Stopping writing for a while, but then picking it up again in 2011, with a focus on writing fiction that featured plus-size people Brandon feeling isolated during the pandemic along with feeling like his voice and wanting to see characters that were more representative of his own experiences Being aghast at what was available in typical stock image sites when searching for "plus size" models for example The often overlooked value of having to meet people where they're at, rather than assuming everyone is in the same place. A rising tide can only float all boats if people are in boats to begin with How not everyone has a visible marginalization or disability Getting in contact with them via hello@nomarginsagency.com Allowing models to bring and wear things that they are comfortable with and to be free with who they are The unofficial mantra of the company being "take up as much space as you want" How the galleries on their website is broken down One of the biggest challenges is convincing people that they don't have to have the confidence or "look" of a "model" in order to model for No Margins Agency Scheduling a photoshoot when they're together in Colorado Springs in Feb 2024 at Superstars Writing Seminars How they are starting to do reviews of books by more diverse and marginalized authors The way they are managing the overhead costs by doing things like scheduling only a single photo shoot per month The value and importance of finding the right community that can be there for you and support you And more . . .   After the interview Mark shares a reflection about how this type of supportive community inspires him. He also makes an offer to listeners of the podcast (thanks to the help of those who support this podcast at patreon.com/starkreflections) with some of the services that No Margins Agency provides.   Links of Interest: No Margins Agency Facebook Blog Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency StoryGarden Summit (Virtual) - March 2024 ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries Smashwords Link  (eBook 57% Off until end of Feb 2024) The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   No Margins Agency is a company dedicated to helping marginalized people reach their audience, tell their stories, and drive sales.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Katie Nelson, Mari Dietz, and Brandon Winn about No Margins Agency, which offers stock photography of underrepresented and marginalized people. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, and then plays a few words about this episode's sponsor. No Margins Agency offers stock photography of underrepresented and marginalized people, because everyone deserves to be the hero of their own story. In the interview, Mark, Katie, Mari, and Brandon talk about: Katie's background writing when young, then getting back into writing science fiction with queer characters later in life shortly after reading a traditionally published book that disappointed her Meeting Mari at a conference in Fort Collins, Colorado and being introduced to Superstars Writing Seminars a little later How Mari has wanted to write her whole life, and the way her mom used to type out her poems when she was very young and post them on cupboards and elsewhere in the house Stopping writing for a while, but then picking it up again in 2011, with a focus on writing fiction that featured plus-size people Brandon feeling isolated during the pandemic along with feeling like his voice and wanting to see characters that were more representative of his own experiences Being aghast at what was available in typical stock image sites when searching for "plus size" models for example The often overlooked value of having to meet people where they're at, rather than assuming everyone is in the same place. A rising tide can only float all boats if people are in boats to begin with How not everyone has a visible marginalization or disability Getting in contact with them via hello@nomarginsagency.com Allowing models to bring and wear things that they are comfortable with and to be free with who they are The unofficial mantra of the company being "take up as much space as you want" How the galleries on their website is broken down One of the biggest challenges is convincing people that they don't have to have the confidence or "look" of a "model" in order to model for No Margins Agency Scheduling a photoshoot when they're together in Colorado Springs in Feb 2024 at Superstars Writing Seminars How they are starting to do reviews of books by more diverse and marginalized authors The way they are managing the overhead costs by doing things like scheduling only a single photo shoot per month The value and importance of finding the right community that can be there for you and support you And more . . .   After the interview Mark shares a reflection about how this type of supportive community inspires him. He also makes an offer to listeners of the podcast (thanks to the help of those who support this podcast at patreon.com/starkreflections) with some of the services that No Margins Agency provides.   Links of Interest: No Margins Agency Facebook Blog Stark Publishing Support for Authors Via Margins Agency StoryGarden Summit (Virtual) - March 2024 ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries Smashwords Link  (eBook 57% Off until end of Feb 2024) The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   No Margins Agency is a company dedicated to helping marginalized people reach their audience, tell their stories, and drive sales.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 351 - Feverish Sore Throat Reflections EP 351 - Feverish Sore Throat Reflections Fri, 15 Mar 2024 21:38:00 +0000 In this brief solo episode Mark reflections on the importance of maintaining a streak - which is something he has done since first launching this podcast in January 2017.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this brief solo episode Mark reflections on the importance of maintaining a streak - which is something he has done since first launching this podcast in January 2017.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 16:53 false 7 351 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this brief solo episode Mark reflections on the importance of maintaining a streak - which is something he has done since first launching this podcast in January 2017.   Links of Interest: ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries Smashwords Link  (eBook 57% Off until end of Feb 2024) The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this brief solo episode Mark reflections on the importance of maintaining a streak - which is something he has done since first launching this podcast in January 2017.   Links of Interest: ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries Smashwords Link  (eBook 57% Off until end of Feb 2024) The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 350 - Infinite Resources with Jeff Krehmer EP 350 - Infinite Resources with Jeff Krehmer Fri, 08 Mar 2024 15:30:00 +0000 Mark interviews engineer and author Jeff Krehmer about his new book Infinite Resources: How to Sustainably Develop the Arctic, by Supplying Green Hydrogen, Fresh Water, and Healthy Food to the World.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

May be an image of text that says 'Internationàl Women's Day Happy International Women's Day #Inspirelnclusion #IWD2024'

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #InspireInclusion.

Learn more about International Women's Day and find resources at: InternationalWomensDay.com

 

In the interview, Mark and Jeff talk about:

  • Jeff's background in various disciplines, including mechanical engineering, project management, software, computer sales
  • Sitting on the vision for this current book project for more than ten years, and how having a heart attack two years ago prompted the idea that he should get that work out into the world
  • The basic premise of the book in that the arctic can create a sustainable solution if we leverage it in the right way
  • "If global warming is the problem, then shouldn't we be maximizing global cooling?"
  • The boiling temperature of different liquids, such as propane
  • Some of the coldest temperatures ever recorded on earth
  • How the book has numerous possible target audience readers, depending on which of the world's problems they are looking to solve (or the economics they want to reap benefits from)
  • What people can do to help
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the fact that, in the same way that humans have had an impact on the world, and Jeff is reminding us of the positive impact we can have if we learn and we act, we have an impact on one another. This is a reminder to authors of the powerful impact that they can have with the words they write and share.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Jeff Krehmer is a professional mechanical engineer and the author of "Infinite Resources." He is president and chief engineer at Big Time Engineering Corp.

During his engineering career, Jeff has worked as a salesperson, technical support technician, estimator, project manager, product designer and engineering manager. He has more than a decade of experience designing equipment for the oil and gas sector and is a Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP).

Jeff has volunteered with and received awards for his volunteer work with the Canadian Ski Patrol System, Big Brothers, Big Sisters and APEGA, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews engineer and author Jeff Krehmer about his new book Infinite Resources: How to Sustainably Develop the Arctic, by Supplying Green Hydrogen, Fresh Water, and Healthy Food to the World.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #InspireInclusion.

Learn more about International Women's Day and find resources at: InternationalWomensDay.com

In the interview, Mark and Jeff talk about:

  • Jeff's background in various disciplines, including mechanical engineering, project management, software, computer sales
  • Sitting on the vision for this current book project for more than ten years, and how having a heart attack two years ago prompted the idea that he should get that work out into the world
  • The basic premise of the book in that the arctic can create a sustainable solution if we leverage it in the right way
  • "If global warming is the problem, then shouldn't we be maximizing global cooling?"
  • The boiling temperature of different liquids, such as propane
  • Some of the coldest temperatures ever recorded on earth
  • How the book has numerous possible target audience readers, depending on which of the world's problems they are looking to solve (or the economics they want to reap benefits from)
  • What people can do to help
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the fact that, in the same way that humans have had an impact on the world, and Jeff is reminding us of the positive impact we can have if we learn and we act, we have an impact on one another. This is a reminder to authors of the powerful impact that they can have with the words they write and share.

Links of Interest:

Jeff Krehmer is a professional mechanical engineer and the author of "Infinite Resources." He is president and chief engineer at Big Time Engineering Corp.

During his engineering career, Jeff has worked as a salesperson, technical support technician, estimator, project manager, product designer and engineering manager. He has more than a decade of experience designing equipment for the oil and gas sector and is a Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP).

Jeff has volunteered with and received awards for his volunteer work with the Canadian Ski Patrol System, Big Brothers, Big Sisters and APEGA, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 40:40 false 7 350 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews engineer and author Jeff Krehmer about his new book Infinite Resources: How to Sustainably Develop the Arctic, by Supplying Green Hydrogen, Fresh Water, and Healthy Food to the World. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #InspireInclusion. Learn more about International Women's Day and find resources at: InternationalWomensDay.com   In the interview, Mark and Jeff talk about: Jeff's background in various disciplines, including mechanical engineering, project management, software, computer sales Sitting on the vision for this current book project for more than ten years, and how having a heart attack two years ago prompted the idea that he should get that work out into the world The basic premise of the book in that the arctic can create a sustainable solution if we leverage it in the right way "If global warming is the problem, then shouldn't we be maximizing global cooling?" The boiling temperature of different liquids, such as propane Some of the coldest temperatures ever recorded on earth How the book has numerous possible target audience readers, depending on which of the world's problems they are looking to solve (or the economics they want to reap benefits from) What people can do to help And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the fact that, in the same way that humans have had an impact on the world, and Jeff is reminding us of the positive impact we can have if we learn and we act, we have an impact on one another. This is a reminder to authors of the powerful impact that they can have with the words they write and share.   Links of Interest: Infinite Resources Website Jeff Krehmer on LinkedIn International Women's Day ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries Smashwords Link  (eBook 57% Off until end of Feb 2024) The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Jeff Krehmer is a professional mechanical engineer and the author of "Infinite Resources." He is president and chief engineer at Big Time Engineering Corp. During his engineering career, Jeff has worked as a salesperson, technical support technician, estimator, project manager, product designer and engineering manager. He has more than a decade of experience designing equipment for the oil and gas sector and is a Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP). Jeff has volunteered with and received awards for his volunteer work with the Canadian Ski Patrol System, Big Brothers, Big Sisters and APEGA, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews engineer and author Jeff Krehmer about his new book Infinite Resources: How to Sustainably Develop the Arctic, by Supplying Green Hydrogen, Fresh Water, and Healthy Food to the World. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #InspireInclusion. Learn more about International Women's Day and find resources at: InternationalWomensDay.com   In the interview, Mark and Jeff talk about: Jeff's background in various disciplines, including mechanical engineering, project management, software, computer sales Sitting on the vision for this current book project for more than ten years, and how having a heart attack two years ago prompted the idea that he should get that work out into the world The basic premise of the book in that the arctic can create a sustainable solution if we leverage it in the right way "If global warming is the problem, then shouldn't we be maximizing global cooling?" The boiling temperature of different liquids, such as propane Some of the coldest temperatures ever recorded on earth How the book has numerous possible target audience readers, depending on which of the world's problems they are looking to solve (or the economics they want to reap benefits from) What people can do to help And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the fact that, in the same way that humans have had an impact on the world, and Jeff is reminding us of the positive impact we can have if we learn and we act, we have an impact on one another. This is a reminder to authors of the powerful impact that they can have with the words they write and share.   Links of Interest: Infinite Resources Website Jeff Krehmer on LinkedIn International Women's Day ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries Smashwords Link  (eBook 57% Off until end of Feb 2024) The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Jeff Krehmer is a professional mechanical engineer and the author of "Infinite Resources." He is president and chief engineer at Big Time Engineering Corp. During his engineering career, Jeff has worked as a salesperson, technical support technician, estimator, project manager, product designer and engineering manager. He has more than a decade of experience designing equipment for the oil and gas sector and is a Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP). Jeff has volunteered with and received awards for his volunteer work with the Canadian Ski Patrol System, Big Brothers, Big Sisters and APEGA, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 349 - Edward Willett of Shadow Paw Press Edward Willett of Shadow Paw Press Fri, 01 Mar 2024 01:26:00 +0000 Mark interviews author, podcaster, and publisher Edward Willett about his writing, his podcast, Kickstarter campaigns, and some bold new ventures he is pursuing with his publishing company Shadow Paw Press.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface.

In the interview, Mark and Edward talk about:

  • The very first short story Edward wrote at the age of 11, "Caster Glaz, Hyper Ship Test Pilot"
  • Working as a newspaper reporter for about eight years while he continued to write
    - Selling his first short story
  • Making reference to Canadian historical figures like John Diefenbaker and The Arrogant Worms, which non-Canadians might not understand. (Thank goodness for Google)
  • Publishing a science fiction short story "Strange Harvest" in an agricultural magazine based on his reporting of oddly shaped plants. And how that story was adapted into a nationally broadcast CBC Radio drama and might just beward's most popular short story
  • Becoming a full-time freelance writer more than thirty years ago
  • The twelve novels that Edward has released with Daw Books
  • The radio broadcast work that he did for seventeen years as a freelancer
  • Why Edward started the Worldshapers Podcast
  • The anthologies Edward released that tie in with the novel as well as the Kickstarters Edward has run for them
  • The evolution and growth of Edward's Shadow Paw Press
  • How in 2024 Edward is taking on a huge number of new and innovative products, including books by notable Canadian authors like Dave Duncan and Robert J. Sawyer
  • Working with an actual sales force and distribution network like LitDistCo
  • The ins and outs of grant writing and investments involved in trying to get real distribution
  • Helping other authors with their self-publishing needs
  • Advice Edward has for authors thinking about being a publisher as well as for writers in general
  • And more....

Mark then reflects on the value of a publisher with actual distribution and the difference between that and what any indie author can do in digital publishing.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Edward Willett is an award-winning author of more than sixty books science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction for both children and adults. He's also host of the Aurora Award-winning podcast The Worldshapers: "Conversations with science fiction and fantasy authors about the creative process." (http://www.theworldshapers.com). He successfully Kickstarted and edited a new anthology, Shapers of Worlds, featuring authors who were guests during the first year of the podcast. 

Among his novels are twelve published by DAW Books, one of the premier publishers of science fiction and fantasy publishers: Lost in Translation, Marseguro (which won the 2009 Aurora Award for best English-language science fiction or fantasy book by a Canadian author), and its sequel Terra Insegura (a finalist for the 2010 Aurora Award); Magebane (written as Lee Arthur Chane); the Masks of Aygrima fantasy trilogy for DAW Books, written as E.C. Blake; the stand-alone science fiction novel The Cityborn. His Worldshapers series began with Worldshaper ("a rollicking contemporary fantasy," Publishers' Weekly said in a starred review), and continued with Master of the World and The Moonlit World. His latest is The Tangled Stars, a humorous far-future space-opera adventure. Willett is also the author of The Shards of Excalibur modern-day YA fantasy series for Coteau Books, I Tumble Through the Diamond Dust, a collection of science fiction and fantasy poetry published by Your Nickel's Worth Publishing, and Paths to the Stars, a collection of his short fiction; Blue Fire a YA fantasy written as E.C. Blake, and Star Song, a YA science fiction novel that was a finalist for the Aurora Award for Best Canadian YA Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel, all published by Shadowpaw Press

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews author, podcaster, and publisher Edward Willett about his writing, his podcast, Kickstarter campaigns, and some bold new ventures he is pursuing with his publishing company Shadow Paw Press.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface.

In the interview, Mark and Edward talk about:

  • The very first short story Edward wrote at the age of 11, "Caster Glaz, Hyper Ship Test Pilot"
  • Working as a newspaper reporter for about eight years while he continued to write - Selling his first short story
  • Making reference to Canadian historical figures like John Diefenbaker and The Arrogant Worms, which non-Canadians might not understand. (Thank goodness for Google)
  • Publishing a science fiction short story "Strange Harvest" in an agricultural magazine based on his reporting of oddly shaped plants. And how that story was adapted into a nationally broadcast CBC Radio drama and might just beward's most popular short story
  • Becoming a full-time freelance writer more than thirty years ago
  • The twelve novels that Edward has released with Daw Books
  • The radio broadcast work that he did for seventeen years as a freelancer
  • Why Edward started the Worldshapers Podcast
  • The anthologies Edward released that tie in with the novel as well as the Kickstarters Edward has run for them
  • The evolution and growth of Edward's Shadow Paw Press
  • How in 2024 Edward is taking on a huge number of new and innovative products, including books by notable Canadian authors like Dave Duncan and Robert J. Sawyer
  • Working with an actual sales force and distribution network like LitDistCo
  • The ins and outs of grant writing and investments involved in trying to get real distribution
  • Helping other authors with their self-publishing needs
  • Advice Edward has for authors thinking about being a publisher as well as for writers in general
  • And more....

Mark then reflects on the value of a publisher with actual distribution and the difference between that and what any indie author can do in digital publishing.

Links of Interest:

Edward Willett is an award-winning author of more than sixty books science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction for both children and adults. He's also host of the Aurora Award-winning podcast The Worldshapers: "Conversations with science fiction and fantasy authors about the creative process." (http://www.theworldshapers.com). He successfully Kickstarted and edited a new anthology, Shapers of Worlds, featuring authors who were guests during the first year of the podcast.

Among his novels are twelve published by DAW Books, one of the premier publishers of science fiction and fantasy publishers: Lost in Translation, Marseguro (which won the 2009 Aurora Award for best English-language science fiction or fantasy book by a Canadian author), and its sequel Terra Insegura (a finalist for the 2010 Aurora Award); Magebane (written as Lee Arthur Chane); the Masks of Aygrima fantasy trilogy for DAW Books, written as E.C. Blake; the stand-alone science fiction novel The Cityborn. His Worldshapers series began with Worldshaper ("a rollicking contemporary fantasy," Publishers' Weekly said in a starred review), and continued with Master of the World and The Moonlit World. His latest is The Tangled Stars, a humorous far-future space-opera adventure. Willett is also the author of The Shards of Excalibur modern-day YA fantasy series for Coteau Books, I Tumble Through the Diamond Dust, a collection of science fiction and fantasy poetry published by Your Nickel's Worth Publishing, and Paths to the Stars, a collection of his short fiction; Blue Fire a YA fantasy written as E.C. Blake, and Star Song, a YA science fiction novel that was a finalist for the Aurora Award for Best Canadian YA Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel, all published by Shadowpaw Press

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 56:26 false 7 349 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author, podcaster, and publisher Edward Willett about his writing, his podcast, Kickstarter campaigns, and some bold new ventures he is pursuing with his publishing company Shadow Paw Press. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface. In the interview, Mark and Edward talk about: The very first short story Edward wrote at the age of 11, "Caster Glaz, Hyper Ship Test Pilot" Working as a newspaper reporter for about eight years while he continued to write - Selling his first short story Making reference to Canadian historical figures like John Diefenbaker and The Arrogant Worms, which non-Canadians might not understand. (Thank goodness for Google) Publishing a science fiction short story "Strange Harvest" in an agricultural magazine based on his reporting of oddly shaped plants. And how that story was adapted into a nationally broadcast CBC Radio drama and might just beward's most popular short story Becoming a full-time freelance writer more than thirty years ago The twelve novels that Edward has released with Daw Books The radio broadcast work that he did for seventeen years as a freelancer Why Edward started the Worldshapers Podcast The anthologies Edward released that tie in with the novel as well as the Kickstarters Edward has run for them The evolution and growth of Edward's Shadow Paw Press How in 2024 Edward is taking on a huge number of new and innovative products, including books by notable Canadian authors like Dave Duncan and Robert J. Sawyer Working with an actual sales force and distribution network like LitDistCo The ins and outs of grant writing and investments involved in trying to get real distribution Helping other authors with their self-publishing needs Advice Edward has for authors thinking about being a publisher as well as for writers in general And more.... Mark then reflects on the value of a publisher with actual distribution and the difference between that and what any indie author can do in digital publishing.   Links of Interest: Edward Willett (Website) Shadow Paw Press The Worldshapers Podcast Endless Sky Books Crowdfundr For Shadow Paw Press ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) EP 348 - Amanda Byrd on Direct Sales and AuthorsGoDirect Coast to Coast AM with George Noory (Mark featured guest on March 1, 2024/March 2, 2024) Mark's Past Appearances on Coast to Coast AM Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries Smashwords Link  (eBook 57% Off until end of Feb 2024) The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Edward Willett is an award-winning author of more than sixty books science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction for both children and adults. He's also host of the Aurora Award-winning podcast The Worldshapers: "Conversations with science fiction and fantasy authors about the creative process." (http://www.theworldshapers.com). He successfully Kickstarted and edited a new anthology, Shapers of Worlds, featuring authors who were guests during the first year of the podcast.  Among his novels are twelve published by DAW Books, one of the premier publishers of science fiction and fantasy publishers: Lost in Translation, Marseguro (which won the 2009 Aurora Award for best English-language science fiction or fantasy book by a Canadian author), and its sequel Terra Insegura (a finalist for the 2010 Aurora Award); Magebane (written as Lee Arthur Chane); the Masks of Aygrima fantasy trilogy for DAW Books, written as E.C. Blake; the stand-alone science fiction novel The Cityborn. His Worldshapers series began with Worldshaper ("a rollicking contemporary fantasy," Publishers' Weekly said in a starred review), and continued with Master of the World and The Moonlit World. His latest is The Tangled Stars, a humorous far-future space-opera adventure. Willett is also the author of The Shards of Excalibur modern-day YA fantasy series for Coteau Books, I Tumble Through the Diamond Dust, a collection of science fiction and fantasy poetry published by Your Nickel's Worth Publishing, and Paths to the Stars, a collection of his short fiction; Blue Fire a YA fantasy written as E.C. Blake, and Star Song, a YA science fiction novel that was a finalist for the Aurora Award for Best Canadian YA Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel, all published by Shadowpaw Press   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews author, podcaster, and publisher Edward Willett about his writing, his podcast, Kickstarter campaigns, and some bold new ventures he is pursuing with his publishing company Shadow Paw Press. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface. In the interview, Mark and Edward talk about: The very first short story Edward wrote at the age of 11, "Caster Glaz, Hyper Ship Test Pilot" Working as a newspaper reporter for about eight years while he continued to write - Selling his first short story Making reference to Canadian historical figures like John Diefenbaker and The Arrogant Worms, which non-Canadians might not understand. (Thank goodness for Google) Publishing a science fiction short story "Strange Harvest" in an agricultural magazine based on his reporting of oddly shaped plants. And how that story was adapted into a nationally broadcast CBC Radio drama and might just beward's most popular short story Becoming a full-time freelance writer more than thirty years ago The twelve novels that Edward has released with Daw Books The radio broadcast work that he did for seventeen years as a freelancer Why Edward started the Worldshapers Podcast The anthologies Edward released that tie in with the novel as well as the Kickstarters Edward has run for them The evolution and growth of Edward's Shadow Paw Press How in 2024 Edward is taking on a huge number of new and innovative products, including books by notable Canadian authors like Dave Duncan and Robert J. Sawyer Working with an actual sales force and distribution network like LitDistCo The ins and outs of grant writing and investments involved in trying to get real distribution Helping other authors with their self-publishing needs Advice Edward has for authors thinking about being a publisher as well as for writers in general And more.... Mark then reflects on the value of a publisher with actual distribution and the difference between that and what any indie author can do in digital publishing.   Links of Interest: Edward Willett (Website) Shadow Paw Press The Worldshapers Podcast Endless Sky Books Crowdfundr For Shadow Paw Press ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) EP 348 - Amanda Byrd on Direct Sales and AuthorsGoDirect Coast to Coast AM with George Noory (Mark featured guest on March 1, 2024/March 2, 2024) Mark's Past Appearances on Coast to Coast AM Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries Smashwords Link  (eBook 57% Off until end of Feb 2024) The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Edward Willett is an award-winning author of more than sixty books science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction for both children and adults. He's also host of the Aurora Award-winning podcast The Worldshapers: "Conversations with science fiction and fantasy authors about the creative process." (http://www.theworldshapers.com). He successfully Kickstarted and edited a new anthology, Shapers of Worlds, featuring authors who were guests during the first year of the podcast.  Among his novels are twelve published by DAW Books, one of the premier publishers of science fiction and fantasy publishers: Lost in Translation, Marseguro (which won the 2009 Aurora Award for best English-language science fiction or fantasy book by a Canadian author), and its sequel Terra Insegura (a finalist for the 2010 Aurora Award); Magebane (written as Lee Arthur Chane); the Masks of Aygrima fantasy trilogy for DAW Books, written as E.C. Blake; the stand-alone science fiction novel The Cityborn. His Worldshapers series began with Worldshaper ("a rollicking contemporary fantasy," Publishers' Weekly said in a starred review), and continued with Master of the World and The Moonlit World. His latest is The Tangled Stars, a humorous far-future space-opera adventure. Willett is also the author of The Shards of Excalibur modern-day YA fantasy series for Coteau Books, I Tumble Through the Diamond Dust, a collection of science fiction and fantasy poetry published by Your Nickel's Worth Publishing, and Paths to the Stars, a collection of his short fiction; Blue Fire a YA fantasy written as E.C. Blake, and Star Song, a YA science fiction novel that was a finalist for the Aurora Award for Best Canadian YA Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel, all published by Shadowpaw Press   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 348 - Amanda Byrd on Direct Sales and AuthorsGoDirect Amanda Byrd on Direct Sales and AuthorsGoDirect Thu, 22 Feb 2024 23:07:00 +0000 Mark interviews Amanda Byrd about her writing, direct sales, and the new platform she has launched called AuthorsGoDirect.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, welcomes new patrons Rob Johnson, Jennifer Brinn, and Rasana Atreya and then shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface.

In the interview, Mark and Amanda talk about:

  • How Amanda started writing non-fiction as a kind of joke back in 2015
  • Writing in car journals since she'd spent much of her life around cars
  • Amanda's flagship female serial killer novels
  • The new series that'll feature taking different historic female public figures and turning them into serial killers - starting with Amelia Earheart
  • Describing her fiction as "Dexter meets American Psycho, but female"
  • Recognizing a hole in the industry related to author newsletters
  • Coming up with BooksGoDirect.com as a direct-sales only newsletter where the author provides the coupon code and the link
  • The importance of owning all the data related to your readers/customers
  • The ability for indie authors to add all kinds of bonus materials and direct-purchase swag related to their books
  • How BooksGoDirect is currently a weekly newsletter that will eventually evolve into a daily send to readers
  • The concern related to what happens with your writing when you spent so much time focusing on a tool that's helpful to writers
  • Advice Amanda would offer to authors interested in learning more about selling direct
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on authors who see a gap in the market or a hole that needs to be filled and, instead of sitting back, they step up and do something about it. He also reflects on a few other things that he can't remember as he's typing up these show notes. But that happens sometimes. He can't even remember what he had for breakfast earlier today. (Does anyone even read these shownotes anyway?)

Links of Interest:

 

Amanda Byrd is obsessed with fictional serial killers. From Patrick Bateman to Dr. Hannibal Lecter to Dexter Morgan and every butcher in between, Amanda loves figuring out what drives fiction's deadliest monsters. When she's not busy writing, Amanda can be found reading, playing video games, or watching shows and movies like Mindhunter, Hannibal, and Dexter. She lives in Florida with her bloodthirsty, flesh-eating cat.

BooksGoDirect is a new paid promo (think Free/Bargainbooksy or BookBub) for authors and their direct stores to reach readers who want/enjoy buying direct. Retailer links are not allowed and affiliate marketing is nonexistent. I put out all costs up-front and use the fees from authors for advertising/cost recoup (does this part matter so much? I wonder now that I put that in here lol) Readers never pay to sign up. Currently there are 6 available genres and 3 spots per genre that send out once weekly (with a resend to non-openers later in the week.) There's also a page on BooksGoDirect.com where This Week's Books can be found.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark interviews Amanda Byrd about her writing, direct sales, and the new platform she has launched called AuthorsGoDirect.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, welcomes new patrons Rob Johnson, Jennifer Brinn, and Rasana Atreya and then shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface.

In the interview, Mark and Amanda talk about:

  • How Amanda started writing non-fiction as a kind of joke back in 2015
  • Writing in car journals since she'd spent much of her life around cars
  • Amanda's flagship female serial killer novels
  • The new series that'll feature taking different historic female public figures and turning them into serial killers - starting with Amelia Earheart
  • Describing her fiction as "Dexter meets American Psycho, but female"
  • Recognizing a hole in the industry related to author newsletters
  • Coming up with BooksGoDirect.com as a direct-sales only newsletter where the author provides the coupon code and the link
  • The importance of owning all the data related to your readers/customers
  • The ability for indie authors to add all kinds of bonus materials and direct-purchase swag related to their books
  • How BooksGoDirect is currently a weekly newsletter that will eventually evolve into a daily send to readers
  • The concern related to what happens with your writing when you spent so much time focusing on a tool that's helpful to writers
  • Advice Amanda would offer to authors interested in learning more about selling direct
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on authors who see a gap in the market or a hole that needs to be filled and, instead of sitting back, they step up and do something about it. He also reflects on a few other things that he can't remember as he's typing up these show notes. But that happens sometimes. He can't even remember what he had for breakfast earlier today. (Does anyone even read these shownotes anyway?)

Links of Interest:

Amanda Byrd is obsessed with fictional serial killers. From Patrick Bateman to Dr. Hannibal Lecter to Dexter Morgan and every butcher in between, Amanda loves figuring out what drives fiction's deadliest monsters. When she's not busy writing, Amanda can be found reading, playing video games, or watching shows and movies like Mindhunter, Hannibal, and Dexter. She lives in Florida with her bloodthirsty, flesh-eating cat.

BooksGoDirect is a new paid promo (think Free/Bargainbooksy or BookBub) for authors and their direct stores to reach readers who want/enjoy buying direct. Retailer links are not allowed and affiliate marketing is nonexistent. I put out all costs up-front and use the fees from authors for advertising/cost recoup (does this part matter so much? I wonder now that I put that in here lol) Readers never pay to sign up. Currently there are 6 available genres and 3 spots per genre that send out once weekly (with a resend to non-openers later in the week.) There's also a page on BooksGoDirect.com where This Week's Books can be found.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 44:33 false 7 348 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Amanda Byrd about her writing, direct sales, and the new platform she has launched called AuthorsGoDirect. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, welcomes new patrons Rob Johnson, Jennifer Brinn, and Rasana Atreya and then shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface. In the interview, Mark and Amanda talk about: How Amanda started writing non-fiction as a kind of joke back in 2015 Writing in car journals since she'd spent much of her life around cars Amanda's flagship female serial killer novels The new series that'll feature taking different historic female public figures and turning them into serial killers - starting with Amelia Earheart Describing her fiction as "Dexter meets American Psycho, but female" Recognizing a hole in the industry related to author newsletters Coming up with BooksGoDirect.com as a direct-sales only newsletter where the author provides the coupon code and the link The importance of owning all the data related to your readers/customers The ability for indie authors to add all kinds of bonus materials and direct-purchase swag related to their books How BooksGoDirect is currently a weekly newsletter that will eventually evolve into a daily send to readers The concern related to what happens with your writing when you spent so much time focusing on a tool that's helpful to writers Advice Amanda would offer to authors interested in learning more about selling direct And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on authors who see a gap in the market or a hole that needs to be filled and, instead of sitting back, they step up and do something about it. He also reflects on a few other things that he can't remember as he's typing up these show notes. But that happens sometimes. He can't even remember what he had for breakfast earlier today. (Does anyone even read these shownotes anyway?) Links of Interest: Amanda Byrd BooksGoDirect.com IndieAudioBookDeals.com ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) EP 347 - Library Advocacy Support with John Chrastka of EveryLibrary Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries Smashwords Link  (eBook 57% Off until end of Feb 2024) The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Amanda Byrd is obsessed with fictional serial killers. From Patrick Bateman to Dr. Hannibal Lecter to Dexter Morgan and every butcher in between, Amanda loves figuring out what drives fiction's deadliest monsters. When she's not busy writing, Amanda can be found reading, playing video games, or watching shows and movies like Mindhunter, Hannibal, and Dexter. She lives in Florida with her bloodthirsty, flesh-eating cat. BooksGoDirect is a new paid promo (think Free/Bargainbooksy or BookBub) for authors and their direct stores to reach readers who want/enjoy buying direct. Retailer links are not allowed and affiliate marketing is nonexistent. I put out all costs up-front and use the fees from authors for advertising/cost recoup (does this part matter so much? I wonder now that I put that in here lol) Readers never pay to sign up. Currently there are 6 available genres and 3 spots per genre that send out once weekly (with a resend to non-openers later in the week.) There's also a page on BooksGoDirect.com where This Week's Books can be found.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark interviews Amanda Byrd about her writing, direct sales, and the new platform she has launched called AuthorsGoDirect. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, welcomes new patrons Rob Johnson, Jennifer Brinn, and Rasana Atreya and then shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface. In the interview, Mark and Amanda talk about: How Amanda started writing non-fiction as a kind of joke back in 2015 Writing in car journals since she'd spent much of her life around cars Amanda's flagship female serial killer novels The new series that'll feature taking different historic female public figures and turning them into serial killers - starting with Amelia Earheart Describing her fiction as "Dexter meets American Psycho, but female" Recognizing a hole in the industry related to author newsletters Coming up with BooksGoDirect.com as a direct-sales only newsletter where the author provides the coupon code and the link The importance of owning all the data related to your readers/customers The ability for indie authors to add all kinds of bonus materials and direct-purchase swag related to their books How BooksGoDirect is currently a weekly newsletter that will eventually evolve into a daily send to readers The concern related to what happens with your writing when you spent so much time focusing on a tool that's helpful to writers Advice Amanda would offer to authors interested in learning more about selling direct And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on authors who see a gap in the market or a hole that needs to be filled and, instead of sitting back, they step up and do something about it. He also reflects on a few other things that he can't remember as he's typing up these show notes. But that happens sometimes. He can't even remember what he had for breakfast earlier today. (Does anyone even read these shownotes anyway?) Links of Interest: Amanda Byrd BooksGoDirect.com IndieAudioBookDeals.com ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) EP 347 - Library Advocacy Support with John Chrastka of EveryLibrary Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries Smashwords Link  (eBook 57% Off until end of Feb 2024) The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Amanda Byrd is obsessed with fictional serial killers. From Patrick Bateman to Dr. Hannibal Lecter to Dexter Morgan and every butcher in between, Amanda loves figuring out what drives fiction's deadliest monsters. When she's not busy writing, Amanda can be found reading, playing video games, or watching shows and movies like Mindhunter, Hannibal, and Dexter. She lives in Florida with her bloodthirsty, flesh-eating cat. BooksGoDirect is a new paid promo (think Free/Bargainbooksy or BookBub) for authors and their direct stores to reach readers who want/enjoy buying direct. Retailer links are not allowed and affiliate marketing is nonexistent. I put out all costs up-front and use the fees from authors for advertising/cost recoup (does this part matter so much? I wonder now that I put that in here lol) Readers never pay to sign up. Currently there are 6 available genres and 3 spots per genre that send out once weekly (with a resend to non-openers later in the week.) There's also a page on BooksGoDirect.com where This Week's Books can be found.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 347 - Library Advocacy Support with John Chrastka of EveryLibrary Library Advocacy Support with John Chrastka of EveryLibrary Fri, 16 Feb 2024 02:25:00 +0000 Mark interviews John Chrastka, the executive director of EveryLibrary, the first nationwide political action committee for libraries, and the EveryLibrary Institute, a nonprofit research and training organization focused on the future of library funding. 

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads comments from recent episodes, and says a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores.

You can get the book online, order it through your local bookstore, or ask for it as your local library.

Universal Book Link

Smashwords Link (Coupon Discount for Feb/March 2024)

In the interview, Mark and John talk about:

  • John starting off his career in publishing as a bookseller in a small neighborhood Chicago community bookstore, and how that led to becoming a publishing sales rep
  • Migrating over to the Ed-Tech realm as the internet came around
  • Moving on over to The American Library Association from there
  • What EveryLibrary is: a 501(c)(4) organization that is a political action committee for libraries
  • How it's more of a network than a membership that is about 330,000 people strong
  • Telling stories about how libraries are solutions to problems for people and librarians as enactors of those solutions
  • In about 37 states, public libraries actually have to go to election days to get their funding secured
  • The four different ways that voters stratify:
    • Believers - People who love the library and have a relationship with their library (25%)
    • Questioners
    • Suspicious Voters
    • Never Gonna Vote for you Never (22 to 25%)
  • The answer for people who question the value of a local library because they "don't do books"
  • How the library as a source for reading grew from 19% to 24% during the pandemic and the way that percentage is continue to hold in 2024
  • The way that the isolating of society is not just a library issue but a public health issue
  • The popularity of book banning in the United States in recent years and the fact that it's easier to censor a book than it is to attack a person or a population
  • How this censorship and book banning isn't merely a matter of freedom of speech issue, but a matter of human rights
  • The pernicious nature of using the term "obscenity" and "obscene" to criminalize particular pupulations and to help skirt around First Amendment rights
  • How libraries are an affordable way to put tax dollars to good use in the way they provide so much to their local communities
  • The multiple pathways they have to help people move from "aware" to "active"
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on how books are being banned and censored as an underhanded way to strike at specific demographics and populations, and the value in focusing on the "Suspicious Voters" as a brilliant strategy.

Links of Interest:

 

John Chrastka is the executive director of EveryLibrary, the first nationwide political action committee for libraries, and the EveryLibrary Institute, a nonprofit research and training organization focused on the future of library funding. Since 2012, EveryLibrary has helped 133 library communities with ballot measures for funding, operations and buildings, winning over 80% and securing over $2.8 billion in funding on Election Days. Through its digital platforms, EveryLibrary provides advocacy support to state library associations for legislative issues and direct actions in support of school library program budgets. The EveryLibrary Institute supports the library funding ecosystem through its research, training, publishing, and programmatic agendas.

Mr. Chrastka is the co-author of Winning Elections and Influencing Politicians for Library Funding and Before the Ballot: Building Political Support for Library Funding with Patrick "PC" Sweeney (ALA / Neal Schuman). He has contributed chapters to Planning our future libraries: Blueprints for 2025 (2014), and Re-envisioning the MLS: Perspectives on the Future of Library and Information Science Education (2018). In 2015, he delivered the McKusker Memorial Lecture, "The Accidental Candidate: Updating Voter Nostalgia about Librarians and Libraries on the Campaign Trail" for Dominican University and has written for numerous trade publications and journals, including Library Journal and Library Quarterly. In 2018 he delivered the keynote "Advocacy and Activism" for CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, in Brighton, England, and in 2020 he was invited by EKZ Group in Hamburg, Germany to present a colloquy on advocacy for their members and the profession. He is a frequent keynoter and speaker at state and national library conferences in the United States and abroad, is a sought-after trainer for state libraries, and is a regular guest lecturer for MLS / MLIS programs where he speaks on the topic of "political literacy".

Prior to his work on EveryLibrary, Mr. Chrastka was a partner in AssociaDirect, a Chicago-based consultancy focused on supporting associations in membership recruitment, conference, and governance activities. He was Director for Membership Development at the American Library Association (ALA), was a principal in the education technology start-up ClassMap, and was the founder of the virtual publishers' sales rep group ReviewCopy, which focused on textbook adoption in the higher education market. In 2014 he was named a Mover & Shaker by Library Journal for his work with EveryLibrary. He was recognized by the Chicago Tribune in 2022 as a Chicagoan of the Year and by Publishers Weekly in 2023 as a Notable for his work opposing book bans and censorship.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews John Chrastka, the executive director of EveryLibrary, the first nationwide political action committee for libraries, and the EveryLibrary Institute, a nonprofit research and training organization focused on the future of library funding.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads comments from recent episodes, and says a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores.

You can get the book online, order it through your local bookstore, or ask for it as your local library.

Universal Book Link

Smashwords Link (Coupon Discount for Feb/March 2024)

In the interview, Mark and John talk about:

  • John starting off his career in publishing as a bookseller in a small neighborhood Chicago community bookstore, and how that led to becoming a publishing sales rep
  • Migrating over to the Ed-Tech realm as the internet came around
  • Moving on over to The American Library Association from there
  • What EveryLibrary is: a 501(c)(4) organization that is a political action committee for libraries
  • How it's more of a network than a membership that is about 330,000 people strong
  • Telling stories about how libraries are solutions to problems for people and librarians as enactors of those solutions
  • In about 37 states, public libraries actually have to go to election days to get their funding secured
  • The four different ways that voters stratify:
    • Believers - People who love the library and have a relationship with their library (25%)
    • Questioners
    • Suspicious Voters
    • Never Gonna Vote for you Never (22 to 25%)
  • The answer for people who question the value of a local library because they "don't do books"
  • How the library as a source for reading grew from 19% to 24% during the pandemic and the way that percentage is continue to hold in 2024
  • The way that the isolating of society is not just a library issue but a public health issue
  • The popularity of book banning in the United States in recent years and the fact that it's easier to censor a book than it is to attack a person or a population
  • How this censorship and book banning isn't merely a matter of freedom of speech issue, but a matter of human rights
  • The pernicious nature of using the term "obscenity" and "obscene" to criminalize particular pupulations and to help skirt around First Amendment rights
  • How libraries are an affordable way to put tax dollars to good use in the way they provide so much to their local communities
  • The multiple pathways they have to help people move from "aware" to "active"
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on how books are being banned and censored as an underhanded way to strike at specific demographics and populations, and the value in focusing on the "Suspicious Voters" as a brilliant strategy.

Links of Interest:

John Chrastka is the executive director of EveryLibrary, the first nationwide political action committee for libraries, and the EveryLibrary Institute, a nonprofit research and training organization focused on the future of library funding. Since 2012, EveryLibrary has helped 133 library communities with ballot measures for funding, operations and buildings, winning over 80% and securing over $2.8 billion in funding on Election Days. Through its digital platforms, EveryLibrary provides advocacy support to state library associations for legislative issues and direct actions in support of school library program budgets. The EveryLibrary Institute supports the library funding ecosystem through its research, training, publishing, and programmatic agendas.

Mr. Chrastka is the co-author of Winning Elections and Influencing Politicians for Library Funding and Before the Ballot: Building Political Support for Library Funding with Patrick "PC" Sweeney (ALA / Neal Schuman). He has contributed chapters to Planning our future libraries: Blueprints for 2025 (2014), and Re-envisioning the MLS: Perspectives on the Future of Library and Information Science Education (2018). In 2015, he delivered the McKusker Memorial Lecture, "The Accidental Candidate: Updating Voter Nostalgia about Librarians and Libraries on the Campaign Trail" for Dominican University and has written for numerous trade publications and journals, including Library Journal and Library Quarterly. In 2018 he delivered the keynote "Advocacy and Activism" for CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, in Brighton, England, and in 2020 he was invited by EKZ Group in Hamburg, Germany to present a colloquy on advocacy for their members and the profession. He is a frequent keynoter and speaker at state and national library conferences in the United States and abroad, is a sought-after trainer for state libraries, and is a regular guest lecturer for MLS / MLIS programs where he speaks on the topic of "political literacy".

Prior to his work on EveryLibrary, Mr. Chrastka was a partner in AssociaDirect, a Chicago-based consultancy focused on supporting associations in membership recruitment, conference, and governance activities. He was Director for Membership Development at the American Library Association (ALA), was a principal in the education technology start-up ClassMap, and was the founder of the virtual publishers' sales rep group ReviewCopy, which focused on textbook adoption in the higher education market. In 2014 he was named a Mover & Shaker by Library Journal for his work with EveryLibrary. He was recognized by the Chicago Tribune in 2022 as a Chicagoan of the Year and by Publishers Weekly in 2023 as a Notable for his work opposing book bans and censorship.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 56:27 false 7 347 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews John Chrastka, the executive director of EveryLibrary, the first nationwide political action committee for libraries, and the EveryLibrary Institute, a nonprofit research and training organization focused on the future of library funding.  Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads comments from recent episodes, and says a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores. You can get the book online, order it through your local bookstore, or ask for it as your local library. Universal Book Link Smashwords Link (Coupon Discount for Feb/March 2024) In the interview, Mark and John talk about: John starting off his career in publishing as a bookseller in a small neighborhood Chicago community bookstore, and how that led to becoming a publishing sales rep Migrating over to the Ed-Tech realm as the internet came around Moving on over to The American Library Association from there What EveryLibrary is: a 501(c)(4) organization that is a political action committee for libraries How it's more of a network than a membership that is about 330,000 people strong Telling stories about how libraries are solutions to problems for people and librarians as enactors of those solutions In about 37 states, public libraries actually have to go to election days to get their funding secured The four different ways that voters stratify: Believers - People who love the library and have a relationship with their library (25%) Questioners Suspicious Voters Never Gonna Vote for you Never (22 to 25%) The answer for people who question the value of a local library because they "don't do books" How the library as a source for reading grew from 19% to 24% during the pandemic and the way that percentage is continue to hold in 2024 The way that the isolating of society is not just a library issue but a public health issue The popularity of book banning in the United States in recent years and the fact that it's easier to censor a book than it is to attack a person or a population How this censorship and book banning isn't merely a matter of freedom of speech issue, but a matter of human rights The pernicious nature of using the term "obscenity" and "obscene" to criminalize particular pupulations and to help skirt around First Amendment rights How libraries are an affordable way to put tax dollars to good use in the way they provide so much to their local communities The multiple pathways they have to help people move from "aware" to "active" And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on how books are being banned and censored as an underhanded way to strike at specific demographics and populations, and the value in focusing on the "Suspicious Voters" as a brilliant strategy. Links of Interest: EveryLibrary fightforthefirst.org Canadian Federation of Library Associations Canadian Library Association Ontario Library Association Canadian Urban Libraries Council Superstars Writing Seminars Author, Author (Indie Bookseller - Laura Hayden) EP 167 - Author, Author, Give Me The News: Bookseller Insights with Laura Hayden Fantasy Island (TV Show) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries Smashwords Link (eBook 57% Off until end of Feb 2024) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Superstars Writing Seminars How to Write a Howling Good Story Smashwords link Patron Coupon for 75% off The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   John Chrastka is the executive director of EveryLibrary, the first nationwide political action committee for libraries, and the EveryLibrary Institute, a nonprofit research and training organization focused on the future of library funding. Since 2012, EveryLibrary has helped 133 library communities with ballot measures for funding, operations and buildings, winning over 80% and securing over $2.8 billion in funding on Election Days. Through its digital platforms, EveryLibrary provides advocacy support to state library associations for legislative issues and direct actions in support of school library program budgets. The EveryLibrary Institute supports the library funding ecosystem through its research, training, publishing, and programmatic agendas. Mr. Chrastka is the co-author of Winning Elections and Influencing Politicians for Library Funding and Before the Ballot: Building Political Support for Library Funding with Patrick "PC" Sweeney (ALA / Neal Schuman). He has contributed chapters to Planning our future libraries: Blueprints for 2025 (2014), and Re-envisioning the MLS: Perspectives on the Future of Library and Information Science Education (2018). In 2015, he delivered the McKusker Memorial Lecture, "The Accidental Candidate: Updating Voter Nostalgia about Librarians and Libraries on the Campaign Trail" for Dominican University and has written for numerous trade publications and journals, including Library Journal and Library Quarterly. In 2018 he delivered the keynote "Advocacy and Activism" for CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, in Brighton, England, and in 2020 he was invited by EKZ Group in Hamburg, Germany to present a colloquy on advocacy for their members and the profession. He is a frequent keynoter and speaker at state and national library conferences in the United States and abroad, is a sought-after trainer for state libraries, and is a regular guest lecturer for MLS / MLIS programs where he speaks on the topic of "political literacy". Prior to his work on EveryLibrary, Mr. Chrastka was a partner in AssociaDirect, a Chicago-based consultancy focused on supporting associations in membership recruitment, conference, and governance activities. He was Director for Membership Development at the American Library Association (ALA), was a principal in the education technology start-up ClassMap, and was the founder of the virtual publishers' sales rep group ReviewCopy, which focused on textbook adoption in the higher education market. In 2014 he was named a Mover & Shaker by Library Journal for his work with EveryLibrary. He was recognized by the Chicago Tribune in 2022 as a Chicagoan of the Year and by Publishers Weekly in 2023 as a Notable for his work opposing book bans and censorship.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews John Chrastka, the executive director of EveryLibrary, the first nationwide political action committee for libraries, and the EveryLibrary Institute, a nonprofit research and training organization focused on the future of library funding.  Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads comments from recent episodes, and says a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores. You can get the book online, order it through your local bookstore, or ask for it as your local library. Universal Book Link Smashwords Link (Coupon Discount for Feb/March 2024) In the interview, Mark and John talk about: John starting off his career in publishing as a bookseller in a small neighborhood Chicago community bookstore, and how that led to becoming a publishing sales rep Migrating over to the Ed-Tech realm as the internet came around Moving on over to The American Library Association from there What EveryLibrary is: a 501(c)(4) organization that is a political action committee for libraries How it's more of a network than a membership that is about 330,000 people strong Telling stories about how libraries are solutions to problems for people and librarians as enactors of those solutions In about 37 states, public libraries actually have to go to election days to get their funding secured The four different ways that voters stratify: Believers - People who love the library and have a relationship with their library (25%) Questioners Suspicious Voters Never Gonna Vote for you Never (22 to 25%) The answer for people who question the value of a local library because they "don't do books" How the library as a source for reading grew from 19% to 24% during the pandemic and the way that percentage is continue to hold in 2024 The way that the isolating of society is not just a library issue but a public health issue The popularity of book banning in the United States in recent years and the fact that it's easier to censor a book than it is to attack a person or a population How this censorship and book banning isn't merely a matter of freedom of speech issue, but a matter of human rights The pernicious nature of using the term "obscenity" and "obscene" to criminalize particular pupulations and to help skirt around First Amendment rights How libraries are an affordable way to put tax dollars to good use in the way they provide so much to their local communities The multiple pathways they have to help people move from "aware" to "active" And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on how books are being banned and censored as an underhanded way to strike at specific demographics and populations, and the value in focusing on the "Suspicious Voters" as a brilliant strategy. Links of Interest: EveryLibrary fightforthefirst.org Canadian Federation of Library Associations Canadian Library Association Ontario Library Association Canadian Urban Libraries Council Superstars Writing Seminars Author, Author (Indie Bookseller - Laura Hayden) EP 167 - Author, Author, Give Me The News: Bookseller Insights with Laura Hayden Fantasy Island (TV Show) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries Smashwords Link (eBook 57% Off until end of Feb 2024) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Superstars Writing Seminars How to Write a Howling Good Story Smashwords link Patron Coupon for 75% off The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   John Chrastka is the executive director of EveryLibrary, the first nationwide political action committee for libraries, and the EveryLibrary Institute, a nonprofit research and training organization focused on the future of library funding. Since 2012, EveryLibrary has helped 133 library communities with ballot measures for funding, operations and buildings, winning over 80% and securing over $2.8 billion in funding on Election Days. Through its digital platforms, EveryLibrary provides advocacy support to state library associations for legislative issues and direct actions in support of school library program budgets. The EveryLibrary Institute supports the library funding ecosystem through its research, training, publishing, and programmatic agendas. Mr. Chrastka is the co-author of Winning Elections and Influencing Politicians for Library Funding and Before the Ballot: Building Political Support for Library Funding with Patrick "PC" Sweeney (ALA / Neal Schuman). He has contributed chapters to Planning our future libraries: Blueprints for 2025 (2014), and Re-envisioning the MLS: Perspectives on the Future of Library and Information Science Education (2018). In 2015, he delivered the McKusker Memorial Lecture, "The Accidental Candidate: Updating Voter Nostalgia about Librarians and Libraries on the Campaign Trail" for Dominican University and has written for numerous trade publications and journals, including Library Journal and Library Quarterly. In 2018 he delivered the keynote "Advocacy and Activism" for CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, in Brighton, England, and in 2020 he was invited by EKZ Group in Hamburg, Germany to present a colloquy on advocacy for their members and the profession. He is a frequent keynoter and speaker at state and national library conferences in the United States and abroad, is a sought-after trainer for state libraries, and is a regular guest lecturer for MLS / MLIS programs where he speaks on the topic of "political literacy". Prior to his work on EveryLibrary, Mr. Chrastka was a partner in AssociaDirect, a Chicago-based consultancy focused on supporting associations in membership recruitment, conference, and governance activities. He was Director for Membership Development at the American Library Association (ALA), was a principal in the education technology start-up ClassMap, and was the founder of the virtual publishers' sales rep group ReviewCopy, which focused on textbook adoption in the higher education market. In 2014 he was named a Mover & Shaker by Library Journal for his work with EveryLibrary. He was recognized by the Chicago Tribune in 2022 as a Chicagoan of the Year and by Publishers Weekly in 2023 as a Notable for his work opposing book bans and censorship.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 346 - 4 More Publishing Pitfalls for Authors EP 346 - 4 More Publishing Pitfalls for Authors Fri, 09 Feb 2024 02:22:00 +0000 A solo episode where Mark shares an excerpt from four elements from his book PUBLISHING PITFALLS FOR AUTHORS.

  • PAST
  • PATRIARCHY
  • PAUSE
  • PAYING

 

The main content (those four points) are read by Mark's AI voice via Eleven Labs.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> A solo episode where Mark shares an excerpt from four elements from his book PUBLISHING PITFALLS FOR AUTHORS.

  • PAST
  • PATRIARCHY
  • PAUSE
  • PAYING

The main content (those four points) are read by Mark's AI voice via Eleven Labs.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 28:05 false 7 346 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)A solo episode where Mark shares an excerpt from four elements from his book PUBLISHING PITFALLS FOR AUTHORS. PAST PATRIARCHY PAUSE PAYING   The main content (those four points) are read by Mark's AI voice via Eleven Labs.   Links of Interest: EP 246 - Four of The Pitfalls of Publishing An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries Smashwords Link (eBook 57% Off until end of Feb 2024) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Superstars Writing Seminars How to Write a Howling Good Story Smashwords link Patron Coupon for 75% off The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0A solo episode where Mark shares an excerpt from four elements from his book PUBLISHING PITFALLS FOR AUTHORS. PAST PATRIARCHY PAUSE PAYING   The main content (those four points) are read by Mark's AI voice via Eleven Labs.   Links of Interest: EP 246 - Four of The Pitfalls of Publishing An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries Smashwords Link (eBook 57% Off until end of Feb 2024) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Superstars Writing Seminars How to Write a Howling Good Story Smashwords link Patron Coupon for 75% off The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 345 - The Art of Libromancy with Josh Cook The Art of Libromancy with Josh Cook Fri, 02 Feb 2024 00:08:00 +0000 Mark interviews Josh Cook, Josh Cook, an author, bookseller and the co-owner at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he has worked since 2004 about his writing, his book The Art of Libromancy and his life as a reader and writer.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, welcomes new patron Jennifer Brinn, thanks Buy Mark a Coffee patron Nikki Guerlain, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the books The Art of Libromancy and An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores.

Ask for these books via your local indie-owned bookstore or via your local community library.

In the interview, Mark and Josh talk about:

  • Josh's earliest days really getting into reading and how he had wanted to be a writer since about the age of 16
  • After post-secondary education, landing in Boston and deciding that working in a bookstore would be a good place for a writer to work
  • Discovering the "coming soon" and "help wanted" sign on a neighborhood bookstore: Porter Square Books
  • Continuing to build a freelance writing career, crafting articles, reviews, fiction, and poetry
  • Getting his first manuscript into the hands of a publisher that he knew well from his role in bookselling, which was the novel AN EXAGGERATED MURDER
  • The path, via roles such as Online Presence Manager (website and social media) and Marketing Director that led to eventually becoming a co-owner of Porter Square Books
  • The challenge of the most qualified people to take over owning and running a bookstore, the booksellers, often don't have the necessary money, funding, and resources to do so
  • The model that has become a bit more common recently that enables employees the option of becoming a vested co-owner or interest sharing participant in a bookstore
  • The genesis of the book THE ART OF LIBROMANCY
  • The major reckoning that many people had in 2016 when Donald Trump got elected at trying to understand their place in a world that would allow something like that to happen
  • The concept of how the book industry (publishing, bookselling) would continue to empower and legitimize the voices of misogyny, white supremacy, other bigoted ideas
  • How it all clicked after Josh had participated in a virtual event with Biblioasis author Jorge Carrion for the book AGAINST AMAZON AND OTHER ESSAYS
  • Pitching the book to Biblioasis and how the existing relationship and in-depth knowledge Josh had of their publishing house (and their editor's knowledge of Josh himself) led to an instant acceptance of his book proposal
  • The importance of relationships and recommendations from people that you already know, like, and trust - and how that plays a significant role in book projects
  • Elements of human curation that can happen in person within a community, particularly as something that Amazon can't do
  • The idea of a bookstore as a "third place" that is neither home nor work where someone can go and be a human being with other human beings
  • A few of the challenges, both expected and unexpected, that happened when Porter Square Books had to adapt into an online and curb-side order facility during the pandemic
  • How the learned skills of booksellers being able to absorb information and insights about books from publishers, colleagues, and customers, even if they haven't read them, is such an important aspect of a bookseller's role
  • ARCs (Advance Review Copies) as one of the primary ways Josh has of knowing what is on the way
  • Christopher Morley's THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP and the Melville House edition that Josh first discovered which is a love letter to the art of bookselling
  • How books are great ways to be safely uncomfortable
  • The paradox of tolerance, as expressed by Karl Popper in THE OPEN SOCIETY AND ITS ENEMIES: If you tolerate the intolerable, your space will eventually become intolerant
  • A bookseller's role within that paradox of allowing tolerance for voices that seek fresh voices, but prevent those voices whose mandate is to shut-down or not allow diverse voices the ability to be expressed
  • Josh's perspective of how publishers, authors, bookstores and others within the industry involved in this process are all teammates working together to get books to readers
  • Strategies authors can use to establish genuine relationships with their local community bookstores
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on walking away from fascinating conversations with a list of books to read, some of the parallels between Josh's journey into bookselling and his own, and how the employee-to-owner situation also parallels the change-of-ownerships of Words Worth Books, a local indie bookstore in Waterloo that Mark adores.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Josh Cook is a bookseller and co-owner at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he has worked since 2004. He is also author of the critically acclaimed postmodern detective novel An Exaggerated Murder and his fiction, criticism, and poetry have appeared in numerous leading literary publications. He grew up in Lewiston, Maine and lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Josh Cook, Josh Cook, an author, bookseller and the co-owner at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he has worked since 2004 about his writing, his book The Art of Libromancy and his life as a reader and writer.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, welcomes new patron Jennifer Brinn, thanks Buy Mark a Coffee patron Nikki Guerlain, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the books The Art of Libromancy and An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores.

Ask for these books via your local indie-owned bookstore or via your local community library.

In the interview, Mark and Josh talk about:

  • Josh's earliest days really getting into reading and how he had wanted to be a writer since about the age of 16
  • After post-secondary education, landing in Boston and deciding that working in a bookstore would be a good place for a writer to work
  • Discovering the "coming soon" and "help wanted" sign on a neighborhood bookstore: Porter Square Books
  • Continuing to build a freelance writing career, crafting articles, reviews, fiction, and poetry
  • Getting his first manuscript into the hands of a publisher that he knew well from his role in bookselling, which was the novel AN EXAGGERATED MURDER
  • The path, via roles such as Online Presence Manager (website and social media) and Marketing Director that led to eventually becoming a co-owner of Porter Square Books
  • The challenge of the most qualified people to take over owning and running a bookstore, the booksellers, often don't have the necessary money, funding, and resources to do so
  • The model that has become a bit more common recently that enables employees the option of becoming a vested co-owner or interest sharing participant in a bookstore
  • The genesis of the book THE ART OF LIBROMANCY
  • The major reckoning that many people had in 2016 when Donald Trump got elected at trying to understand their place in a world that would allow something like that to happen
  • The concept of how the book industry (publishing, bookselling) would continue to empower and legitimize the voices of misogyny, white supremacy, other bigoted ideas
  • How it all clicked after Josh had participated in a virtual event with Biblioasis author Jorge Carrion for the book AGAINST AMAZON AND OTHER ESSAYS
  • Pitching the book to Biblioasis and how the existing relationship and in-depth knowledge Josh had of their publishing house (and their editor's knowledge of Josh himself) led to an instant acceptance of his book proposal
  • The importance of relationships and recommendations from people that you already know, like, and trust - and how that plays a significant role in book projects
  • Elements of human curation that can happen in person within a community, particularly as something that Amazon can't do
  • The idea of a bookstore as a "third place" that is neither home nor work where someone can go and be a human being with other human beings
  • A few of the challenges, both expected and unexpected, that happened when Porter Square Books had to adapt into an online and curb-side order facility during the pandemic
  • How the learned skills of booksellers being able to absorb information and insights about books from publishers, colleagues, and customers, even if they haven't read them, is such an important aspect of a bookseller's role
  • ARCs (Advance Review Copies) as one of the primary ways Josh has of knowing what is on the way
  • Christopher Morley's THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP and the Melville House edition that Josh first discovered which is a love letter to the art of bookselling
  • How books are great ways to be safely uncomfortable
  • The paradox of tolerance, as expressed by Karl Popper in THE OPEN SOCIETY AND ITS ENEMIES: If you tolerate the intolerable, your space will eventually become intolerant
  • A bookseller's role within that paradox of allowing tolerance for voices that seek fresh voices, but prevent those voices whose mandate is to shut-down or not allow diverse voices the ability to be expressed
  • Josh's perspective of how publishers, authors, bookstores and others within the industry involved in this process are all teammates working together to get books to readers
  • Strategies authors can use to establish genuine relationships with their local community bookstores
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on walking away from fascinating conversations with a list of books to read, some of the parallels between Josh's journey into bookselling and his own, and how the employee-to-owner situation also parallels the change-of-ownerships of Words Worth Books, a local indie bookstore in Waterloo that Mark adores.

Links of Interest:

Josh Cook is a bookseller and co-owner at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he has worked since 2004. He is also author of the critically acclaimed postmodern detective novel An Exaggerated Murder and his fiction, criticism, and poetry have appeared in numerous leading literary publications. He grew up in Lewiston, Maine and lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:13:42 false 7 345 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Josh Cook, Josh Cook, an author, bookseller and the co-owner at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he has worked since 2004 about his writing, his book The Art of Libromancy and his life as a reader and writer. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, welcomes new patron Jennifer Brinn, thanks Buy Mark a Coffee patron Nikki Guerlain, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the books The Art of Libromancy and An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores. Ask for these books via your local indie-owned bookstore or via your local community library. In the interview, Mark and Josh talk about: Josh's earliest days really getting into reading and how he had wanted to be a writer since about the age of 16 After post-secondary education, landing in Boston and deciding that working in a bookstore would be a good place for a writer to work Discovering the "coming soon" and "help wanted" sign on a neighborhood bookstore: Porter Square Books Continuing to build a freelance writing career, crafting articles, reviews, fiction, and poetry Getting his first manuscript into the hands of a publisher that he knew well from his role in bookselling, which was the novel AN EXAGGERATED MURDER The path, via roles such as Online Presence Manager (website and social media) and Marketing Director that led to eventually becoming a co-owner of Porter Square Books The challenge of the most qualified people to take over owning and running a bookstore, the booksellers, often don't have the necessary money, funding, and resources to do so The model that has become a bit more common recently that enables employees the option of becoming a vested co-owner or interest sharing participant in a bookstore The genesis of the book THE ART OF LIBROMANCY The major reckoning that many people had in 2016 when Donald Trump got elected at trying to understand their place in a world that would allow something like that to happen The concept of how the book industry (publishing, bookselling) would continue to empower and legitimize the voices of misogyny, white supremacy, other bigoted ideas How it all clicked after Josh had participated in a virtual event with Biblioasis author Jorge Carrion for the book AGAINST AMAZON AND OTHER ESSAYS Pitching the book to Biblioasis and how the existing relationship and in-depth knowledge Josh had of their publishing house (and their editor's knowledge of Josh himself) led to an instant acceptance of his book proposal The importance of relationships and recommendations from people that you already know, like, and trust - and how that plays a significant role in book projects Elements of human curation that can happen in person within a community, particularly as something that Amazon can't do The idea of a bookstore as a "third place" that is neither home nor work where someone can go and be a human being with other human beings A few of the challenges, both expected and unexpected, that happened when Porter Square Books had to adapt into an online and curb-side order facility during the pandemic How the learned skills of booksellers being able to absorb information and insights about books from publishers, colleagues, and customers, even if they haven't read them, is such an important aspect of a bookseller's role ARCs (Advance Review Copies) as one of the primary ways Josh has of knowing what is on the way Christopher Morley's THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP and the Melville House edition that Josh first discovered which is a love letter to the art of bookselling How books are great ways to be safely uncomfortable The paradox of tolerance, as expressed by Karl Popper in THE OPEN SOCIETY AND ITS ENEMIES: If you tolerate the intolerable, your space will eventually become intolerant A bookseller's role within that paradox of allowing tolerance for voices that seek fresh voices, but prevent those voices whose mandate is to shut-down or not allow diverse voices the ability to be expressed Josh's perspective of how publishers, authors, bookstores and others within the industry involved in this process are all teammates working together to get books to readers Strategies authors can use to establish genuine relationships with their local community bookstores And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on walking away from fascinating conversations with a list of books to read, some of the parallels between Josh's journey into bookselling and his own, and how the employee-to-owner situation also parallels the change-of-ownerships of Words Worth Books, a local indie bookstore in Waterloo that Mark adores.   Links of Interest: Josh Cook on Social Media: BlueSky Social Instagram The Art of Libromancy (Biblioasis) An Exaggerated Murder Porter Square Books (Cambridge and Boston) Words Worth Books (Waterloo, ON) Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries Smashwords Link (eBook 57% Off until end of Feb 2024) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Superstars Writing Seminars How to Write a Howling Good Story Smashwords link Patron Coupon for 75% off The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Josh Cook is a bookseller and co-owner at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he has worked since 2004. He is also author of the critically acclaimed postmodern detective novel An Exaggerated Murder and his fiction, criticism, and poetry have appeared in numerous leading literary publications. He grew up in Lewiston, Maine and lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Josh Cook, Josh Cook, an author, bookseller and the co-owner at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he has worked since 2004 about his writing, his book The Art of Libromancy and his life as a reader and writer. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, welcomes new patron Jennifer Brinn, thanks Buy Mark a Coffee patron Nikki Guerlain, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the books The Art of Libromancy and An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores. Ask for these books via your local indie-owned bookstore or via your local community library. In the interview, Mark and Josh talk about: Josh's earliest days really getting into reading and how he had wanted to be a writer since about the age of 16 After post-secondary education, landing in Boston and deciding that working in a bookstore would be a good place for a writer to work Discovering the "coming soon" and "help wanted" sign on a neighborhood bookstore: Porter Square Books Continuing to build a freelance writing career, crafting articles, reviews, fiction, and poetry Getting his first manuscript into the hands of a publisher that he knew well from his role in bookselling, which was the novel AN EXAGGERATED MURDER The path, via roles such as Online Presence Manager (website and social media) and Marketing Director that led to eventually becoming a co-owner of Porter Square Books The challenge of the most qualified people to take over owning and running a bookstore, the booksellers, often don't have the necessary money, funding, and resources to do so The model that has become a bit more common recently that enables employees the option of becoming a vested co-owner or interest sharing participant in a bookstore The genesis of the book THE ART OF LIBROMANCY The major reckoning that many people had in 2016 when Donald Trump got elected at trying to understand their place in a world that would allow something like that to happen The concept of how the book industry (publishing, bookselling) would continue to empower and legitimize the voices of misogyny, white supremacy, other bigoted ideas How it all clicked after Josh had participated in a virtual event with Biblioasis author Jorge Carrion for the book AGAINST AMAZON AND OTHER ESSAYS Pitching the book to Biblioasis and how the existing relationship and in-depth knowledge Josh had of their publishing house (and their editor's knowledge of Josh himself) led to an instant acceptance of his book proposal The importance of relationships and recommendations from people that you already know, like, and trust - and how that plays a significant role in book projects Elements of human curation that can happen in person within a community, particularly as something that Amazon can't do The idea of a bookstore as a "third place" that is neither home nor work where someone can go and be a human being with other human beings A few of the challenges, both expected and unexpected, that happened when Porter Square Books had to adapt into an online and curb-side order facility during the pandemic How the learned skills of booksellers being able to absorb information and insights about books from publishers, colleagues, and customers, even if they haven't read them, is such an important aspect of a bookseller's role ARCs (Advance Review Copies) as one of the primary ways Josh has of knowing what is on the way Christopher Morley's THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP and the Melville House edition that Josh first discovered which is a love letter to the art of bookselling How books are great ways to be safely uncomfortable The paradox of tolerance, as expressed by Karl Popper in THE OPEN SOCIETY AND ITS ENEMIES: If you tolerate the intolerable, your space will eventually become intolerant A bookseller's role within that paradox of allowing tolerance for voices that seek fresh voices, but prevent those voices whose mandate is to shut-down or not allow diverse voices the ability to be expressed Josh's perspective of how publishers, authors, bookstores and others within the industry involved in this process are all teammates working together to get books to readers Strategies authors can use to establish genuine relationships with their local community bookstores And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on walking away from fascinating conversations with a list of books to read, some of the parallels between Josh's journey into bookselling and his own, and how the employee-to-owner situation also parallels the change-of-ownerships of Words Worth Books, a local indie bookstore in Waterloo that Mark adores.   Links of Interest: Josh Cook on Social Media: BlueSky Social Instagram The Art of Libromancy (Biblioasis) An Exaggerated Murder Porter Square Books (Cambridge and Boston) Words Worth Books (Waterloo, ON) Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries Smashwords Link (eBook 57% Off until end of Feb 2024) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Superstars Writing Seminars How to Write a Howling Good Story Smashwords link Patron Coupon for 75% off The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Josh Cook is a bookseller and co-owner at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he has worked since 2004. He is also author of the critically acclaimed postmodern detective novel An Exaggerated Murder and his fiction, criticism, and poetry have appeared in numerous leading literary publications. He grew up in Lewiston, Maine and lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 344 - Eric T. Knight on Fair Pay with StoryFair EP 344 - Eric T. Knight on Fair Pay with StoryFair Fri, 26 Jan 2024 00:34:00 +0000 Mark interviews author Eric T. Knight about his writing and about the origin of StoryFair. net a platform that seeks to pay authors the highest royalty of any other third party platform for their audiobook sales.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, welcomes new patron Rob Johnson, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface.

In the interview, Mark and Eric talk about:

  • Eric's youth being way off the grid and in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do, which made reading an important aspect
  • How reading became a gateway for access and connection to the rest of the world
  • Understanding that if he were to keep working at it, that he really could make it in writing some day
  • The long and arduous road of submissions of writing to publishers, finding an agent, and pursuing traditional publishing
  • The fantasy series that Erik had worked on starting back in the 80s
  • Deciding to put one of his fantasy novels up on Kindle just for fun and how that led to a colleague's wife discovering the book and loving it
  • Eric's mindset not changing until the year he decided to submit to a total of 50 agents
  • The power of being able to write the series exactly the way he wanted to
  • A bit about The Chaos Legacy universe and the various different linked series that take place within those books
  • The experience of getting his books into audio and beginning to understand some of the barriers that existed within that realm for authors
  • Beta launching StoryFair in the summer of 2023 and then making the site live in November 2023
  • How the payment to authors process at StoryFair works
  • Plans for an affiliate program for authors to send readers to this platform
  • The challenge of having to scale up their infrastructure so early in the process due to huge interest from some major players
  • How the StoryFair app is currently only available in the United States (at least for now until some of the legal stuff can be sorted out)
  • How to set up an account, load your book, and when the monthly payments to authors come in
  • The way that a good narrator can bring characters and stories to life in ways that you might not be able to imagine
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on that pioneering indie author spirit that leads to providing the market with elements that were previously missing but needed, as well as the value that a library brings to a community.

Links of Interest:

 

Eric T. Knight grew up on a working cattle ranch in the desert thirty miles from Wickenburg, Arizona, which at that time was exactly the middle of nowhere. Work, cactus and heat were plentiful, forms of recreation were not. The TV got two channels when it wanted to, and only in the evening after someone hand cranked the balky diesel generator to life. All of which meant that his primary form of escape was reading.

At 18 he escaped to Tucson where he attended the University of Arizona. A number of fruitless attempts at productive majors followed, none of which stuck. Discovering he liked writing, the author tried journalism two separate times, but had to drop it when he realized that he had no intention of conducting interviews with actual people but preferred simply making them up.

StoryFair is a platform with a mission: Put an end to author exploitation in the audiobook industry

There's a problem in the audiobook business. A MAJOR problem. Did you know that when you purchase an audiobook on Audible, Amazon keeps as much as 75% of the cover price of the book? The average price of a major publisher/new release audiobook is in the $24 range. That means Amazon keeps at least $18.00… after fees, it's actually a little bit more.

That leaves very little for the publisher, authors, and narrators to divvy up, and ultimately, it means that readers are by and large paying exorbitant audiobook prices to do one thing above all else… pad Amazon's pockets.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews author Eric T. Knight about his writing and about the origin of StoryFair. net a platform that seeks to pay authors the highest royalty of any other third party platform for their audiobook sales.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, welcomes new patron Rob Johnson, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface.

In the interview, Mark and Eric talk about:

  • Eric's youth being way off the grid and in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do, which made reading an important aspect
  • How reading became a gateway for access and connection to the rest of the world
  • Understanding that if he were to keep working at it, that he really could make it in writing some day
  • The long and arduous road of submissions of writing to publishers, finding an agent, and pursuing traditional publishing
  • The fantasy series that Erik had worked on starting back in the 80s
  • Deciding to put one of his fantasy novels up on Kindle just for fun and how that led to a colleague's wife discovering the book and loving it
  • Eric's mindset not changing until the year he decided to submit to a total of 50 agents
  • The power of being able to write the series exactly the way he wanted to
  • A bit about The Chaos Legacy universe and the various different linked series that take place within those books
  • The experience of getting his books into audio and beginning to understand some of the barriers that existed within that realm for authors
  • Beta launching StoryFair in the summer of 2023 and then making the site live in November 2023
  • How the payment to authors process at StoryFair works
  • Plans for an affiliate program for authors to send readers to this platform
  • The challenge of having to scale up their infrastructure so early in the process due to huge interest from some major players
  • How the StoryFair app is currently only available in the United States (at least for now until some of the legal stuff can be sorted out)
  • How to set up an account, load your book, and when the monthly payments to authors come in
  • The way that a good narrator can bring characters and stories to life in ways that you might not be able to imagine
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on that pioneering indie author spirit that leads to providing the market with elements that were previously missing but needed, as well as the value that a library brings to a community.

Links of Interest:

Eric T. Knight grew up on a working cattle ranch in the desert thirty miles from Wickenburg, Arizona, which at that time was exactly the middle of nowhere. Work, cactus and heat were plentiful, forms of recreation were not. The TV got two channels when it wanted to, and only in the evening after someone hand cranked the balky diesel generator to life. All of which meant that his primary form of escape was reading.

At 18 he escaped to Tucson where he attended the University of Arizona. A number of fruitless attempts at productive majors followed, none of which stuck. Discovering he liked writing, the author tried journalism two separate times, but had to drop it when he realized that he had no intention of conducting interviews with actual people but preferred simply making them up.

StoryFair is a platform with a mission: Put an end to author exploitation in the audiobook industry

There's a problem in the audiobook business. A MAJOR problem. Did you know that when you purchase an audiobook on Audible, Amazon keeps as much as 75% of the cover price of the book? The average price of a major publisher/new release audiobook is in the $24 range. That means Amazon keeps at least $18.00… after fees, it's actually a little bit more.

That leaves very little for the publisher, authors, and narrators to divvy up, and ultimately, it means that readers are by and large paying exorbitant audiobook prices to do one thing above all else… pad Amazon's pockets.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 56:46 false 7 344 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author Eric T. Knight about his writing and about the origin of StoryFair. net a platform that seeks to pay authors the highest royalty of any other third party platform for their audiobook sales. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, welcomes new patron Rob Johnson, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface. In the interview, Mark and Eric talk about: Eric's youth being way off the grid and in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do, which made reading an important aspect How reading became a gateway for access and connection to the rest of the world Understanding that if he were to keep working at it, that he really could make it in writing some day The long and arduous road of submissions of writing to publishers, finding an agent, and pursuing traditional publishing The fantasy series that Erik had worked on starting back in the 80s Deciding to put one of his fantasy novels up on Kindle just for fun and how that led to a colleague's wife discovering the book and loving it Eric's mindset not changing until the year he decided to submit to a total of 50 agents The power of being able to write the series exactly the way he wanted to A bit about The Chaos Legacy universe and the various different linked series that take place within those books The experience of getting his books into audio and beginning to understand some of the barriers that existed within that realm for authors Beta launching StoryFair in the summer of 2023 and then making the site live in November 2023 How the payment to authors process at StoryFair works Plans for an affiliate program for authors to send readers to this platform The challenge of having to scale up their infrastructure so early in the process due to huge interest from some major players How the StoryFair app is currently only available in the United States (at least for now until some of the legal stuff can be sorted out) How to set up an account, load your book, and when the monthly payments to authors come in The way that a good narrator can bring characters and stories to life in ways that you might not be able to imagine And more... After the interview Mark reflects on that pioneering indie author spirit that leads to providing the market with elements that were previously missing but needed, as well as the value that a library brings to a community. Links of Interest: StoryFair.net EricTKnight.com Eric's books at Amazon ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) The Author Wheel Podcast - Season 5 Episode 3 - Overcoming Self-Doubt and Mastering Book Marketing with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Feisty Familiars Anthology Draft2Digital Self-Publishing Insiders with Jeaniene Frost (Jan 25, 2024) Matty Dalrymple (Episode Links) EP 116 - Taking the Short Tack EP 216 - Podcasting for Authors EP 236 - Reflective Round Table Feb 2022 EP 245 - Reflective Round Table March 2022 EP 258 - Reflective Hangout Highights - June 2022 EP 300 - Celebrating 300 Episodes with Guest Reflections Episode that mentions license plate and skeleton thief: EP 330 - Book Indexing Made Simple with Stephen Ullstrum How to Write a Howling Good Story Smashwords link Patron Coupon for 75% off Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Eric T. Knight grew up on a working cattle ranch in the desert thirty miles from Wickenburg, Arizona, which at that time was exactly the middle of nowhere. Work, cactus and heat were plentiful, forms of recreation were not. The TV got two channels when it wanted to, and only in the evening after someone hand cranked the balky diesel generator to life. All of which meant that his primary form of escape was reading. At 18 he escaped to Tucson where he attended the University of Arizona. A number of fruitless attempts at productive majors followed, none of which stuck. Discovering he liked writing, the author tried journalism two separate times, but had to drop it when he realized that he had no intention of conducting interviews with actual people but preferred simply making them up. StoryFair is a platform with a mission: Put an end to author exploitation in the audiobook industry There's a problem in the audiobook business. A MAJOR problem. Did you know that when you purchase an audiobook on Audible, Amazon keeps as much as 75% of the cover price of the book? The average price of a major publisher/new release audiobook is in the $24 range. That means Amazon keeps at least $18.00… after fees, it's actually a little bit more. That leaves very little for the publisher, authors, and narrators to divvy up, and ultimately, it means that readers are by and large paying exorbitant audiobook prices to do one thing above all else… pad Amazon's pockets.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews author Eric T. Knight about his writing and about the origin of StoryFair. net a platform that seeks to pay authors the highest royalty of any other third party platform for their audiobook sales. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, welcomes new patron Rob Johnson, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface. In the interview, Mark and Eric talk about: Eric's youth being way off the grid and in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do, which made reading an important aspect How reading became a gateway for access and connection to the rest of the world Understanding that if he were to keep working at it, that he really could make it in writing some day The long and arduous road of submissions of writing to publishers, finding an agent, and pursuing traditional publishing The fantasy series that Erik had worked on starting back in the 80s Deciding to put one of his fantasy novels up on Kindle just for fun and how that led to a colleague's wife discovering the book and loving it Eric's mindset not changing until the year he decided to submit to a total of 50 agents The power of being able to write the series exactly the way he wanted to A bit about The Chaos Legacy universe and the various different linked series that take place within those books The experience of getting his books into audio and beginning to understand some of the barriers that existed within that realm for authors Beta launching StoryFair in the summer of 2023 and then making the site live in November 2023 How the payment to authors process at StoryFair works Plans for an affiliate program for authors to send readers to this platform The challenge of having to scale up their infrastructure so early in the process due to huge interest from some major players How the StoryFair app is currently only available in the United States (at least for now until some of the legal stuff can be sorted out) How to set up an account, load your book, and when the monthly payments to authors come in The way that a good narrator can bring characters and stories to life in ways that you might not be able to imagine And more... After the interview Mark reflects on that pioneering indie author spirit that leads to providing the market with elements that were previously missing but needed, as well as the value that a library brings to a community. Links of Interest: StoryFair.net EricTKnight.com Eric's books at Amazon ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) The Author Wheel Podcast - Season 5 Episode 3 - Overcoming Self-Doubt and Mastering Book Marketing with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Feisty Familiars Anthology Draft2Digital Self-Publishing Insiders with Jeaniene Frost (Jan 25, 2024) Matty Dalrymple (Episode Links) EP 116 - Taking the Short Tack EP 216 - Podcasting for Authors EP 236 - Reflective Round Table Feb 2022 EP 245 - Reflective Round Table March 2022 EP 258 - Reflective Hangout Highights - June 2022 EP 300 - Celebrating 300 Episodes with Guest Reflections Episode that mentions license plate and skeleton thief: EP 330 - Book Indexing Made Simple with Stephen Ullstrum How to Write a Howling Good Story Smashwords link Patron Coupon for 75% off Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Eric T. Knight grew up on a working cattle ranch in the desert thirty miles from Wickenburg, Arizona, which at that time was exactly the middle of nowhere. Work, cactus and heat were plentiful, forms of recreation were not. The TV got two channels when it wanted to, and only in the evening after someone hand cranked the balky diesel generator to life. All of which meant that his primary form of escape was reading. At 18 he escaped to Tucson where he attended the University of Arizona. A number of fruitless attempts at productive majors followed, none of which stuck. Discovering he liked writing, the author tried journalism two separate times, but had to drop it when he realized that he had no intention of conducting interviews with actual people but preferred simply making them up. StoryFair is a platform with a mission: Put an end to author exploitation in the audiobook industry There's a problem in the audiobook business. A MAJOR problem. Did you know that when you purchase an audiobook on Audible, Amazon keeps as much as 75% of the cover price of the book? The average price of a major publisher/new release audiobook is in the $24 range. That means Amazon keeps at least $18.00… after fees, it's actually a little bit more. That leaves very little for the publisher, authors, and narrators to divvy up, and ultimately, it means that readers are by and large paying exorbitant audiobook prices to do one thing above all else… pad Amazon's pockets.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 343 - Self-Publishing Lesbian Fiction (or Something Equally Non-Threatening) with Elizabeth Andre Self-Publishing Lesbian Fiction (or Something Equally Non-Threatening) with Elizabeth Andre Fri, 19 Jan 2024 14:49:00 +0000 Mark interviews Elizabeth Andre (AKA Karen and Victoria) about her/their journey through writing, collaboration, and the new book SELF-PUBLISHING LESBIAN FICTION.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface.

In their conversation, Karen, Victoria, and Mark talk about:

  • The background of how Karen and Victoria got started as writers, and then about how they met and why they started writing together
  • Karen's earliest memories coming up with playtime stories with her younger brother that took on a "soap opera" and "serialized" format
  • The concept of how to earn money that came down to one of two things: Sell drugs, or write porn
  • Researching the writing of gay male porn by getting magazines and reading through them
  • Coming up with numerous ephamisms for the male sex organ appendage
  • How Victoria comes from a long list of writers, including her father and how she wanted to be anything BUT a writer
  • The two of them each discovering the joy and the magical allure that is journalism
  • Being one of the many writers who was "Sherry Lovelace" for the UK edition of Penthouse Magazine
  • Meeting at a Gay Journalist Convention and clicking, but not really having that much in common
  • Discovering that, despite the "common wisdom" from traditional publishing, money could be made from writing lesbian fiction. That shift, of course, came from the rise of self-publishing
  • Who the readers of gay male fiction and lesbian fiction are
  • The origin of the pen name Elizabeth Andre
  • Some of the logistics of how the two write together
  • Who the book Self-Publishing Lesbian Fiction is for, with an analogy of an off-the-rack suit and a tailored suit
  • The tally of the $35 and $45 dollars owed from various publishers and platforms
  • The term and use of "Sapphic Fiction" and how it is more inclusive of lesbian, bi-sexual, trans, and non-binary
  • Some of the barriers that arise when writing lesbian fiction
  • How self-publishing can overcome so many of the barriers within traditional publishing
  • And more...

 

After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of topics brought up, specifically "serialized playtime stories" and the "tailored" work of writers.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Elizabeth Andre has been self-publishing lesbian fiction since 2014. She writes cozy paranormal mystery, lesbian romance, science fiction, and young adult stories. Before turning her hand to fiction, she was a newspaper reporter for many years, and she has the paper cuts to prove it. She has won many writing awards including a Goldie from the Golden Crown Literary Society for fiction and a Peter Lisagor Award from the Chicago Headline Club for journalism. Elizabeth Andre is actually two people, a married interracial same-sex couple (Karen and Victoria) living in the Midwest.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Elizabeth Andre (AKA Karen and Victoria) about her/their journey through writing, collaboration, and the new book SELF-PUBLISHING LESBIAN FICTION.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface.

In their conversation, Karen, Victoria, and Mark talk about:

  • The background of how Karen and Victoria got started as writers, and then about how they met and why they started writing together
  • Karen's earliest memories coming up with playtime stories with her younger brother that took on a "soap opera" and "serialized" format
  • The concept of how to earn money that came down to one of two things: Sell drugs, or write porn
  • Researching the writing of gay male porn by getting magazines and reading through them
  • Coming up with numerous ephamisms for the male sex organ appendage
  • How Victoria comes from a long list of writers, including her father and how she wanted to be anything BUT a writer
  • The two of them each discovering the joy and the magical allure that is journalism
  • Being one of the many writers who was "Sherry Lovelace" for the UK edition of Penthouse Magazine
  • Meeting at a Gay Journalist Convention and clicking, but not really having that much in common
  • Discovering that, despite the "common wisdom" from traditional publishing, money could be made from writing lesbian fiction. That shift, of course, came from the rise of self-publishing
  • Who the readers of gay male fiction and lesbian fiction are
  • The origin of the pen name Elizabeth Andre
  • Some of the logistics of how the two write together
  • Who the book Self-Publishing Lesbian Fiction is for, with an analogy of an off-the-rack suit and a tailored suit
  • The tally of the $35 and $45 dollars owed from various publishers and platforms
  • The term and use of "Sapphic Fiction" and how it is more inclusive of lesbian, bi-sexual, trans, and non-binary
  • Some of the barriers that arise when writing lesbian fiction
  • How self-publishing can overcome so many of the barriers within traditional publishing
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of topics brought up, specifically "serialized playtime stories" and the "tailored" work of writers.

Links of Interest:

Elizabeth Andre has been self-publishing lesbian fiction since 2014. She writes cozy paranormal mystery, lesbian romance, science fiction, and young adult stories. Before turning her hand to fiction, she was a newspaper reporter for many years, and she has the paper cuts to prove it. She has won many writing awards including a Goldie from the Golden Crown Literary Society for fiction and a Peter Lisagor Award from the Chicago Headline Club for journalism. Elizabeth Andre is actually two people, a married interracial same-sex couple (Karen and Victoria) living in the Midwest.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 56:17 false 7 343 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Elizabeth Andre (AKA Karen and Victoria) about her/their journey through writing, collaboration, and the new book SELF-PUBLISHING LESBIAN FICTION. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface. In their conversation, Karen, Victoria, and Mark talk about: The background of how Karen and Victoria got started as writers, and then about how they met and why they started writing together Karen's earliest memories coming up with playtime stories with her younger brother that took on a "soap opera" and "serialized" format The concept of how to earn money that came down to one of two things: Sell drugs, or write porn Researching the writing of gay male porn by getting magazines and reading through them Coming up with numerous ephamisms for the male sex organ appendage How Victoria comes from a long list of writers, including her father and how she wanted to be anything BUT a writer The two of them each discovering the joy and the magical allure that is journalism Being one of the many writers who was "Sherry Lovelace" for the UK edition of Penthouse Magazine Meeting at a Gay Journalist Convention and clicking, but not really having that much in common Discovering that, despite the "common wisdom" from traditional publishing, money could be made from writing lesbian fiction. That shift, of course, came from the rise of self-publishing Who the readers of gay male fiction and lesbian fiction are The origin of the pen name Elizabeth Andre Some of the logistics of how the two write together Who the book Self-Publishing Lesbian Fiction is for, with an analogy of an off-the-rack suit and a tailored suit The tally of the $35 and $45 dollars owed from various publishers and platforms The term and use of "Sapphic Fiction" and how it is more inclusive of lesbian, bi-sexual, trans, and non-binary Some of the barriers that arise when writing lesbian fiction How self-publishing can overcome so many of the barriers within traditional publishing And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of topics brought up, specifically "serialized playtime stories" and the "tailored" work of writers.   Links of Interest: https://www.tiktok.com/@elizabethandrelesfic https://www.instagram.com/elizabethandreauthor/ https://www.facebook.com/elizabethandreauthor https://twitter.com/Elizalesbian https://substack.com/@elizabethandre ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) How to Write a Howling Good Story Smashwords link Patron Coupon for 75% off EP 290 - Thanks for the Inspiration, Jim Turcott Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Elizabeth Andre has been self-publishing lesbian fiction since 2014. She writes cozy paranormal mystery, lesbian romance, science fiction, and young adult stories. Before turning her hand to fiction, she was a newspaper reporter for many years, and she has the paper cuts to prove it. She has won many writing awards including a Goldie from the Golden Crown Literary Society for fiction and a Peter Lisagor Award from the Chicago Headline Club for journalism. Elizabeth Andre is actually two people, a married interracial same-sex couple (Karen and Victoria) living in the Midwest.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Elizabeth Andre (AKA Karen and Victoria) about her/their journey through writing, collaboration, and the new book SELF-PUBLISHING LESBIAN FICTION. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount's handy all-in-one interface. In their conversation, Karen, Victoria, and Mark talk about: The background of how Karen and Victoria got started as writers, and then about how they met and why they started writing together Karen's earliest memories coming up with playtime stories with her younger brother that took on a "soap opera" and "serialized" format The concept of how to earn money that came down to one of two things: Sell drugs, or write porn Researching the writing of gay male porn by getting magazines and reading through them Coming up with numerous ephamisms for the male sex organ appendage How Victoria comes from a long list of writers, including her father and how she wanted to be anything BUT a writer The two of them each discovering the joy and the magical allure that is journalism Being one of the many writers who was "Sherry Lovelace" for the UK edition of Penthouse Magazine Meeting at a Gay Journalist Convention and clicking, but not really having that much in common Discovering that, despite the "common wisdom" from traditional publishing, money could be made from writing lesbian fiction. That shift, of course, came from the rise of self-publishing Who the readers of gay male fiction and lesbian fiction are The origin of the pen name Elizabeth Andre Some of the logistics of how the two write together Who the book Self-Publishing Lesbian Fiction is for, with an analogy of an off-the-rack suit and a tailored suit The tally of the $35 and $45 dollars owed from various publishers and platforms The term and use of "Sapphic Fiction" and how it is more inclusive of lesbian, bi-sexual, trans, and non-binary Some of the barriers that arise when writing lesbian fiction How self-publishing can overcome so many of the barriers within traditional publishing And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of topics brought up, specifically "serialized playtime stories" and the "tailored" work of writers.   Links of Interest: https://www.tiktok.com/@elizabethandrelesfic https://www.instagram.com/elizabethandreauthor/ https://www.facebook.com/elizabethandreauthor https://twitter.com/Elizalesbian https://substack.com/@elizabethandre ScribeCount (Mark's Affiliate Link) How to Write a Howling Good Story Smashwords link Patron Coupon for 75% off EP 290 - Thanks for the Inspiration, Jim Turcott Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections How to Access Patreon RSS Feeds Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Elizabeth Andre has been self-publishing lesbian fiction since 2014. She writes cozy paranormal mystery, lesbian romance, science fiction, and young adult stories. Before turning her hand to fiction, she was a newspaper reporter for many years, and she has the paper cuts to prove it. She has won many writing awards including a Goldie from the Golden Crown Literary Society for fiction and a Peter Lisagor Award from the Chicago Headline Club for journalism. Elizabeth Andre is actually two people, a married interracial same-sex couple (Karen and Victoria) living in the Midwest.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 342 - Publishing Trend Reflections for 2024 Publishing Trend Reflections for 2024 Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:16:00 +0000 In this special bonus solo episode, Mark shares some reflections about recent publishing trends.

Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patron Donn King, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor, the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this special bonus solo episode, Mark shares some reflections about recent publishing trends.

Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patron Donn King, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor, the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 25:37 false 7 342 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this special bonus solo episode, Mark shares some reflections about recent publishing trends. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patron Donn King, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor, the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Links of Interest: Written Word Media Publishing Trends Posts 2024 2023 2022 2020 How to Write a Howling Good Story Smashwords link Patron Coupon for 75% off EP 340 - Personality, Passion, Presentation, and Persistence with Todd Fahnestock EP 011 - The Power of Free With Musician and Composer Kevin MacLeod Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this special bonus solo episode, Mark shares some reflections about recent publishing trends. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patron Donn King, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor, the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Links of Interest: Written Word Media Publishing Trends Posts 2024 2023 2022 2020 How to Write a Howling Good Story Smashwords link Patron Coupon for 75% off EP 340 - Personality, Passion, Presentation, and Persistence with Todd Fahnestock EP 011 - The Power of Free With Musician and Composer Kevin MacLeod Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 341 - Howling It Forward With Wulf Moon Howling It Forward With Wulf Moon Fri, 12 Jan 2024 02:20:00 +0000 Mark interviews bestselling writer, editor, and writing instructor, Wulf Moon, who won the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards at the age of fifteen, and followed that with winning the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Contest, and Writers of the Future. He leads the Wulf Pack Writers group and is the author of The Illustrated Super Secrets of Writing and How to Write a Howling Good Story. 

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from previous episodes, shares a personal update, and then says a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the Stark Publishing book How to Write a Howling Good Story by Wulf Moon.

The book is 25% off at the Smashwords store until the end of Jan 2024.

Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast can get the book for 75% off until the end of Feb 2024.

In their conversation Mark and Moon talk about:

  • How Wulf Moon might not have been the name that he was born with and how the name "Moon" which he has been called most of his life came from his Ojibwe grandmother
  • Moonbeam Road, a local road his father named after him when he was growing up
  • Not having a father who was supportive of his writing, and even having to run away from home when he was younger
  • Finding an important positive voice as a youngster in a teacher
  • The additional lengths this one teacher went to support and encourage Moon in his writing
  • Winning the Scholastic Art and Writing Award at the age of 15, among so many other awards that this teacher helped him find
  • Getting beat up so often in high school that the only thing he could do was look down as he walked in the hallways - but how he found his power in writing
  • The importance of finding a way to be who you are and to not allow others to repress you from that
  • Starting up Wulf Moon's Super Secrets Writing Workshop right after winning Writers of the Future - and offering all this support to other writers for free
  • The repeated authors who have gone through Moon's teachings and then ended up winning Writers of the Future
  • The Wulf Pack Writers group that Moon manages
  • Following the concept of "how can I help you with what I know"
  • How writers don't understand proper Manuscript Format
  • The high ranking sales that HOW TO WRITE A HOWLING GOOD STORY has hit since its release in November 2023
  • Moon's concept of Heart's Desire as the most important principle in a story
  • Caring that happens in the heart of the reader, which can create the Reader/Hero bond
  • Getting to a point in his life that was so low that he took risks and was burning bridges behind him and not writing for 10 years
  • Realizing that he couldn't be happy and couldn't be fulfilled not being a writer
  • Moon's experience meeting Dean Wesley Smith at the Nebula Awards in Eugene Oregon
  • The importance of having both the fundamenals of writing and the belief in yourself
  • The mantra "belief determins reality" that Moon instructs his students to write down
  • The dedication in Moon's HOW TO WRITE A HOWLING GOOD STORY
  • Meeting other people "like me" at writer conferences, etc and the incredible value that can bring
  • Advice Moon would offer to newer writers
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of not denying who you are and not denying the things that bring you pleasure. He also reflects on the concept of finding your people, your Tribe, and the positive impact we can have on one another if we just take the time to listen, to reach out, to others.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Wulf Moon is a bestselling writer, editor, and writing instructor. At fifteen, Moon won the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, and followed that with winning the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Contest, and Writers of the Future. He leads the Wulf Pack Writers group. He's won both Best Author and Best Writers Workshop four years running in the Critters Readers' Choice Awards, and is the author of The Illustrated Super Secrets of Writing and How to Write a Howling Good Story. www.thesupersecrets.com

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews bestselling writer, editor, and writing instructor, Wulf Moon, who won the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards at the age of fifteen, and followed that with winning the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Contest, and Writers of the Future. He leads the Wulf Pack Writers group and is the author of The Illustrated Super Secrets of Writing and How to Write a Howling Good Story.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from previous episodes, shares a personal update, and then says a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the Stark Publishing book How to Write a Howling Good Story by Wulf Moon.

The book is 25% off at the Smashwords store until the end of Jan 2024.

Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast can get the book for 75% off until the end of Feb 2024.

In their conversation Mark and Moon talk about:

  • How Wulf Moon might not have been the name that he was born with and how the name "Moon" which he has been called most of his life came from his Ojibwe grandmother
  • Moonbeam Road, a local road his father named after him when he was growing up
  • Not having a father who was supportive of his writing, and even having to run away from home when he was younger
  • Finding an important positive voice as a youngster in a teacher
  • The additional lengths this one teacher went to support and encourage Moon in his writing
  • Winning the Scholastic Art and Writing Award at the age of 15, among so many other awards that this teacher helped him find
  • Getting beat up so often in high school that the only thing he could do was look down as he walked in the hallways - but how he found his power in writing
  • The importance of finding a way to be who you are and to not allow others to repress you from that
  • Starting up Wulf Moon's Super Secrets Writing Workshop right after winning Writers of the Future - and offering all this support to other writers for free
  • The repeated authors who have gone through Moon's teachings and then ended up winning Writers of the Future
  • The Wulf Pack Writers group that Moon manages
  • Following the concept of "how can I help you with what I know"
  • How writers don't understand proper Manuscript Format
  • The high ranking sales that HOW TO WRITE A HOWLING GOOD STORY has hit since its release in November 2023
  • Moon's concept of Heart's Desire as the most important principle in a story
  • Caring that happens in the heart of the reader, which can create the Reader/Hero bond
  • Getting to a point in his life that was so low that he took risks and was burning bridges behind him and not writing for 10 years
  • Realizing that he couldn't be happy and couldn't be fulfilled not being a writer
  • Moon's experience meeting Dean Wesley Smith at the Nebula Awards in Eugene Oregon
  • The importance of having both the fundamenals of writing and the belief in yourself
  • The mantra "belief determins reality" that Moon instructs his students to write down
  • The dedication in Moon's HOW TO WRITE A HOWLING GOOD STORY
  • Meeting other people "like me" at writer conferences, etc and the incredible value that can bring
  • Advice Moon would offer to newer writers
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of not denying who you are and not denying the things that bring you pleasure. He also reflects on the concept of finding your people, your Tribe, and the positive impact we can have on one another if we just take the time to listen, to reach out, to others.

Links of Interest:

Wulf Moon is a bestselling writer, editor, and writing instructor. At fifteen, Moon won the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, and followed that with winning the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Contest, and Writers of the Future. He leads the Wulf Pack Writers group. He's won both Best Author and Best Writers Workshop four years running in the Critters Readers' Choice Awards, and is the author of The Illustrated Super Secrets of Writing and How to Write a Howling Good Story. www.thesupersecrets.com

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:03:03 false 7 341 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews bestselling writer, editor, and writing instructor, Wulf Moon, who won the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards at the age of fifteen, and followed that with winning the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Contest, and Writers of the Future. He leads the Wulf Pack Writers group and is the author of The Illustrated Super Secrets of Writing and How to Write a Howling Good Story.  Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from previous episodes, shares a personal update, and then says a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the Stark Publishing book How to Write a Howling Good Story by Wulf Moon. The book is 25% off at the Smashwords store until the end of Jan 2024. Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast can get the book for 75% off until the end of Feb 2024. In their conversation Mark and Moon talk about: How Wulf Moon might not have been the name that he was born with and how the name "Moon" which he has been called most of his life came from his Ojibwe grandmother Moonbeam Road, a local road his father named after him when he was growing up Not having a father who was supportive of his writing, and even having to run away from home when he was younger Finding an important positive voice as a youngster in a teacher The additional lengths this one teacher went to support and encourage Moon in his writing Winning the Scholastic Art and Writing Award at the age of 15, among so many other awards that this teacher helped him find Getting beat up so often in high school that the only thing he could do was look down as he walked in the hallways - but how he found his power in writing The importance of finding a way to be who you are and to not allow others to repress you from that Starting up Wulf Moon's Super Secrets Writing Workshop right after winning Writers of the Future - and offering all this support to other writers for free The repeated authors who have gone through Moon's teachings and then ended up winning Writers of the Future The Wulf Pack Writers group that Moon manages Following the concept of "how can I help you with what I know" How writers don't understand proper Manuscript Format The high ranking sales that HOW TO WRITE A HOWLING GOOD STORY has hit since its release in November 2023 Moon's concept of Heart's Desire as the most important principle in a story Caring that happens in the heart of the reader, which can create the Reader/Hero bond Getting to a point in his life that was so low that he took risks and was burning bridges behind him and not writing for 10 years Realizing that he couldn't be happy and couldn't be fulfilled not being a writer Moon's experience meeting Dean Wesley Smith at the Nebula Awards in Eugene Oregon The importance of having both the fundamenals of writing and the belief in yourself The mantra "belief determins reality" that Moon instructs his students to write down The dedication in Moon's HOW TO WRITE A HOWLING GOOD STORY Meeting other people "like me" at writer conferences, etc and the incredible value that can bring Advice Moon would offer to newer writers And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of not denying who you are and not denying the things that bring you pleasure. He also reflects on the concept of finding your people, your Tribe, and the positive impact we can have on one another if we just take the time to listen, to reach out, to others.   Links of Interest: Wulf Moon's Website How to Write a Howling Good Story Smashwords link Patron Coupon for 75% off EP 340 - Personality, Passion, Presentation, and Persistence with Todd Fahnestock Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Wulf Moon is a bestselling writer, editor, and writing instructor. At fifteen, Moon won the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, and followed that with winning the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Contest, and Writers of the Future. He leads the Wulf Pack Writers group. He's won both Best Author and Best Writers Workshop four years running in the Critters Readers' Choice Awards, and is the author of The Illustrated Super Secrets of Writing and How to Write a Howling Good Story. www.thesupersecrets.com     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews bestselling writer, editor, and writing instructor, Wulf Moon, who won the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards at the age of fifteen, and followed that with winning the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Contest, and Writers of the Future. He leads the Wulf Pack Writers group and is the author of The Illustrated Super Secrets of Writing and How to Write a Howling Good Story.  Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from previous episodes, shares a personal update, and then says a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the Stark Publishing book How to Write a Howling Good Story by Wulf Moon. The book is 25% off at the Smashwords store until the end of Jan 2024. Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast can get the book for 75% off until the end of Feb 2024. In their conversation Mark and Moon talk about: How Wulf Moon might not have been the name that he was born with and how the name "Moon" which he has been called most of his life came from his Ojibwe grandmother Moonbeam Road, a local road his father named after him when he was growing up Not having a father who was supportive of his writing, and even having to run away from home when he was younger Finding an important positive voice as a youngster in a teacher The additional lengths this one teacher went to support and encourage Moon in his writing Winning the Scholastic Art and Writing Award at the age of 15, among so many other awards that this teacher helped him find Getting beat up so often in high school that the only thing he could do was look down as he walked in the hallways - but how he found his power in writing The importance of finding a way to be who you are and to not allow others to repress you from that Starting up Wulf Moon's Super Secrets Writing Workshop right after winning Writers of the Future - and offering all this support to other writers for free The repeated authors who have gone through Moon's teachings and then ended up winning Writers of the Future The Wulf Pack Writers group that Moon manages Following the concept of "how can I help you with what I know" How writers don't understand proper Manuscript Format The high ranking sales that HOW TO WRITE A HOWLING GOOD STORY has hit since its release in November 2023 Moon's concept of Heart's Desire as the most important principle in a story Caring that happens in the heart of the reader, which can create the Reader/Hero bond Getting to a point in his life that was so low that he took risks and was burning bridges behind him and not writing for 10 years Realizing that he couldn't be happy and couldn't be fulfilled not being a writer Moon's experience meeting Dean Wesley Smith at the Nebula Awards in Eugene Oregon The importance of having both the fundamenals of writing and the belief in yourself The mantra "belief determins reality" that Moon instructs his students to write down The dedication in Moon's HOW TO WRITE A HOWLING GOOD STORY Meeting other people "like me" at writer conferences, etc and the incredible value that can bring Advice Moon would offer to newer writers And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of not denying who you are and not denying the things that bring you pleasure. He also reflects on the concept of finding your people, your Tribe, and the positive impact we can have on one another if we just take the time to listen, to reach out, to others.   Links of Interest: Wulf Moon's Website How to Write a Howling Good Story Smashwords link Patron Coupon for 75% off EP 340 - Personality, Passion, Presentation, and Persistence with Todd Fahnestock Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Wulf Moon is a bestselling writer, editor, and writing instructor. At fifteen, Moon won the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, and followed that with winning the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Contest, and Writers of the Future. He leads the Wulf Pack Writers group. He's won both Best Author and Best Writers Workshop four years running in the Critters Readers' Choice Awards, and is the author of The Illustrated Super Secrets of Writing and How to Write a Howling Good Story. www.thesupersecrets.com     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 340 - Personality, Passion, Presentation, and Persistence with Todd Fahnestock EP 340 - Personality, Passion, Presentation, and Persistence with Todd Fahnestock Fri, 05 Jan 2024 03:21:00 +0000 Mark interviews award-winning, #1 bestselling fantasy author Todd Fahnestock about his journey through both traditional publishing and indie-publishing, focusing on the moments for learning, growth, and applying passion and persistence.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

Check out the WIDE FOR THE WIN community and resources.

In their conversation, Mark and Todd talk about:

  • Todd's first venture into writing back when he was 17 and in senior high school through a year-long IS (Independent Study) program
  • Thoughts about how it has only been the past six years or so where Todd has really taken his writing seriously, and how things might have been different if he'd done that back in 2003 when signing his first traditional publishing contract
  • How Todd had two big traditional publishing deals that turned into fantastic proven failures but how he attributes those flops into future successes
  • The Heartstone Trilogy that was first published with big fanfare in 2003 from Harper Collins
  • Parting amicably from being represented by Donald Maas
  •  Selling The Wishing World to Tom Dohorty of Tor Books being one of the highlights of Todd's career
  • Todd's pitch to the publisher that included being able to travel to 50 schools in order to promote this middle grade trilogy
  • Managing to hit a Colorado best-seller list by visiting 52 different schools in the state of Colorado in the promotion of this book
  • The concept that "success is the diploma, but failure is the classroom"
  • How subjective many of the measurements and opportunities in publishing can be
  • What isn't random is that readers that love what you do love what you do
  • The various layers that writers need to break-through in terms of getting a book published
  • The idea of thinking that just making a great product is our job as a writer, but recognizing that it isn't just a product - it's an entire experience
  • The opportunity that authors have to make their product synonymous with their "personality" and "presentation"
  • Going full-time as a writer in 2017 and hearing about the 20Booksto50K wave of rapid-release author success, but not being able to get on that wave
  • The sad reality of earning $1400 in that first year, when his plans were to earn $25,000 in that first 12 months
  • How Todd's incredibly supportive wife said something to him when he was haunted by the demons of this failed plan that helped turn things around for him
  • The experience of changing his attitude when it came to being stuck at a table with other Christmas craft vendors and making the best of it
  • How it is a ton of work, but the joy of knowing that it's something that is in his hands
  • More than 90% of Todd's sales being from in person bookselling rather than online sales  due to leveraging his persona as a storyteller
  • Todd's experience in 2021 of getting a double booth at Salt Lake City Comic Con
  • Hitting $5000 in sales at 3 different cons in 2023
  • The approach of always talking about BOOK ONE by default when doing his sales pitch at the table
  • A bit of a background on The Eldros Legacy
  • The pitch Todd uses for The Eldros Legacy
  • The "ten more pumps" water pump analogy from Jim Butcher
  • Advice Todd would offer to other writers
  • And more . . .

After the interview, Mark reflects on a few specific points that came up in the conversation.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Todd Fahnestock is an award-winning, #1 bestselling author of fantasy for all ages and winner of the New York Public Library's Books for the Teen Age Award. He is a founder of Eldros Legacy—a multi-author, shared-world epic fantasy series—two-time winner of the Colorado Authors League Award for Writing Excellence, and four-time finalist for the Colorado Book Award for Tower of the Four: The Champions Academy (2021), Khyven the Unkillable (2022), Lorelle of the Dark (2023), and Tower of the Four: The Dragon's War (2023). His passions are great stories and his quirky, fun-loving family. Visit Todd at toddfahnestock.com.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews award-winning, #1 bestselling fantasy author Todd Fahnestock about his journey through both traditional publishing and indie-publishing, focusing on the moments for learning, growth, and applying passion and persistence.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

Check out the WIDE FOR THE WIN community and resources.

In their conversation, Mark and Todd talk about:

  • Todd's first venture into writing back when he was 17 and in senior high school through a year-long IS (Independent Study) program
  • Thoughts about how it has only been the past six years or so where Todd has really taken his writing seriously, and how things might have been different if he'd done that back in 2003 when signing his first traditional publishing contract
  • How Todd had two big traditional publishing deals that turned into fantastic proven failures but how he attributes those flops into future successes
  • The Heartstone Trilogy that was first published with big fanfare in 2003 from Harper Collins
  • Parting amicably from being represented by Donald Maas
  • Selling The Wishing World to Tom Dohorty of Tor Books being one of the highlights of Todd's career
  • Todd's pitch to the publisher that included being able to travel to 50 schools in order to promote this middle grade trilogy
  • Managing to hit a Colorado best-seller list by visiting 52 different schools in the state of Colorado in the promotion of this book
  • The concept that "success is the diploma, but failure is the classroom"
  • How subjective many of the measurements and opportunities in publishing can be
  • What isn't random is that readers that love what you do love what you do
  • The various layers that writers need to break-through in terms of getting a book published
  • The idea of thinking that just making a great product is our job as a writer, but recognizing that it isn't just a product - it's an entire experience
  • The opportunity that authors have to make their product synonymous with their "personality" and "presentation"
  • Going full-time as a writer in 2017 and hearing about the 20Booksto50K wave of rapid-release author success, but not being able to get on that wave
  • The sad reality of earning $1400 in that first year, when his plans were to earn $25,000 in that first 12 months
  • How Todd's incredibly supportive wife said something to him when he was haunted by the demons of this failed plan that helped turn things around for him
  • The experience of changing his attitude when it came to being stuck at a table with other Christmas craft vendors and making the best of it
  • How it is a ton of work, but the joy of knowing that it's something that is in his hands
  • More than 90% of Todd's sales being from in person bookselling rather than online sales due to leveraging his persona as a storyteller
  • Todd's experience in 2021 of getting a double booth at Salt Lake City Comic Con
  • Hitting $5000 in sales at 3 different cons in 2023
  • The approach of always talking about BOOK ONE by default when doing his sales pitch at the table
  • A bit of a background on The Eldros Legacy
  • The pitch Todd uses for The Eldros Legacy
  • The "ten more pumps" water pump analogy from Jim Butcher
  • Advice Todd would offer to other writers
  • And more . . .

After the interview, Mark reflects on a few specific points that came up in the conversation.

Links of Interest:

Todd Fahnestock is an award-winning, #1 bestselling author of fantasy for all ages and winner of the New York Public Library's Books for the Teen Age Award. He is a founder of Eldros Legacy—a multi-author, shared-world epic fantasy series—two-time winner of the Colorado Authors League Award for Writing Excellence, and four-time finalist for the Colorado Book Award for Tower of the Four: The Champions Academy (2021), Khyven the Unkillable (2022), Lorelle of the Dark (2023), and Tower of the Four: The Dragon's War (2023). His passions are great stories and his quirky, fun-loving family. Visit Todd at toddfahnestock.com.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:12:33 false 7 340 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews award-winning, #1 bestselling fantasy author Todd Fahnestock about his journey through both traditional publishing and indie-publishing, focusing on the moments for learning, growth, and applying passion and persistence. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. Check out the WIDE FOR THE WIN community and resources. In their conversation, Mark and Todd talk about: Todd's first venture into writing back when he was 17 and in senior high school through a year-long IS (Independent Study) program Thoughts about how it has only been the past six years or so where Todd has really taken his writing seriously, and how things might have been different if he'd done that back in 2003 when signing his first traditional publishing contract How Todd had two big traditional publishing deals that turned into fantastic proven failures but how he attributes those flops into future successes The Heartstone Trilogy that was first published with big fanfare in 2003 from Harper Collins Parting amicably from being represented by Donald Maas  Selling The Wishing World to Tom Dohorty of Tor Books being one of the highlights of Todd's career Todd's pitch to the publisher that included being able to travel to 50 schools in order to promote this middle grade trilogy Managing to hit a Colorado best-seller list by visiting 52 different schools in the state of Colorado in the promotion of this book The concept that "success is the diploma, but failure is the classroom" How subjective many of the measurements and opportunities in publishing can be What isn't random is that readers that love what you do love what you do The various layers that writers need to break-through in terms of getting a book published The idea of thinking that just making a great product is our job as a writer, but recognizing that it isn't just a product - it's an entire experience The opportunity that authors have to make their product synonymous with their "personality" and "presentation" Going full-time as a writer in 2017 and hearing about the 20Booksto50K wave of rapid-release author success, but not being able to get on that wave The sad reality of earning $1400 in that first year, when his plans were to earn $25,000 in that first 12 months How Todd's incredibly supportive wife said something to him when he was haunted by the demons of this failed plan that helped turn things around for him The experience of changing his attitude when it came to being stuck at a table with other Christmas craft vendors and making the best of it How it is a ton of work, but the joy of knowing that it's something that is in his hands More than 90% of Todd's sales being from in person bookselling rather than online sales  due to leveraging his persona as a storyteller Todd's experience in 2021 of getting a double booth at Salt Lake City Comic Con Hitting $5000 in sales at 3 different cons in 2023 The approach of always talking about BOOK ONE by default when doing his sales pitch at the table A bit of a background on The Eldros Legacy The pitch Todd uses for The Eldros Legacy The "ten more pumps" water pump analogy from Jim Butcher Advice Todd would offer to other writers And more . . . After the interview, Mark reflects on a few specific points that came up in the conversation.   Links of Interest: Todd Fahnestock Website Eldros Legacy Episode 339 - Romancing The Writing Life With Bobby Hutchinson Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Todd Fahnestock is an award-winning, #1 bestselling author of fantasy for all ages and winner of the New York Public Library's Books for the Teen Age Award. He is a founder of Eldros Legacy—a multi-author, shared-world epic fantasy series—two-time winner of the Colorado Authors League Award for Writing Excellence, and four-time finalist for the Colorado Book Award for Tower of the Four: The Champions Academy (2021), Khyven the Unkillable (2022), Lorelle of the Dark (2023), and Tower of the Four: The Dragon's War (2023). His passions are great stories and his quirky, fun-loving family. Visit Todd at toddfahnestock.com.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews award-winning, #1 bestselling fantasy author Todd Fahnestock about his journey through both traditional publishing and indie-publishing, focusing on the moments for learning, growth, and applying passion and persistence. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. Check out the WIDE FOR THE WIN community and resources. In their conversation, Mark and Todd talk about: Todd's first venture into writing back when he was 17 and in senior high school through a year-long IS (Independent Study) program Thoughts about how it has only been the past six years or so where Todd has really taken his writing seriously, and how things might have been different if he'd done that back in 2003 when signing his first traditional publishing contract How Todd had two big traditional publishing deals that turned into fantastic proven failures but how he attributes those flops into future successes The Heartstone Trilogy that was first published with big fanfare in 2003 from Harper Collins Parting amicably from being represented by Donald Maas  Selling The Wishing World to Tom Dohorty of Tor Books being one of the highlights of Todd's career Todd's pitch to the publisher that included being able to travel to 50 schools in order to promote this middle grade trilogy Managing to hit a Colorado best-seller list by visiting 52 different schools in the state of Colorado in the promotion of this book The concept that "success is the diploma, but failure is the classroom" How subjective many of the measurements and opportunities in publishing can be What isn't random is that readers that love what you do love what you do The various layers that writers need to break-through in terms of getting a book published The idea of thinking that just making a great product is our job as a writer, but recognizing that it isn't just a product - it's an entire experience The opportunity that authors have to make their product synonymous with their "personality" and "presentation" Going full-time as a writer in 2017 and hearing about the 20Booksto50K wave of rapid-release author success, but not being able to get on that wave The sad reality of earning $1400 in that first year, when his plans were to earn $25,000 in that first 12 months How Todd's incredibly supportive wife said something to him when he was haunted by the demons of this failed plan that helped turn things around for him The experience of changing his attitude when it came to being stuck at a table with other Christmas craft vendors and making the best of it How it is a ton of work, but the joy of knowing that it's something that is in his hands More than 90% of Todd's sales being from in person bookselling rather than online sales  due to leveraging his persona as a storyteller Todd's experience in 2021 of getting a double booth at Salt Lake City Comic Con Hitting $5000 in sales at 3 different cons in 2023 The approach of always talking about BOOK ONE by default when doing his sales pitch at the table A bit of a background on The Eldros Legacy The pitch Todd uses for The Eldros Legacy The "ten more pumps" water pump analogy from Jim Butcher Advice Todd would offer to other writers And more . . . After the interview, Mark reflects on a few specific points that came up in the conversation.   Links of Interest: Todd Fahnestock Website Eldros Legacy Episode 339 - Romancing The Writing Life With Bobby Hutchinson Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Todd Fahnestock is an award-winning, #1 bestselling author of fantasy for all ages and winner of the New York Public Library's Books for the Teen Age Award. He is a founder of Eldros Legacy—a multi-author, shared-world epic fantasy series—two-time winner of the Colorado Authors League Award for Writing Excellence, and four-time finalist for the Colorado Book Award for Tower of the Four: The Champions Academy (2021), Khyven the Unkillable (2022), Lorelle of the Dark (2023), and Tower of the Four: The Dragon's War (2023). His passions are great stories and his quirky, fun-loving family. Visit Todd at toddfahnestock.com.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 339 - Romancing the Writing Life with Bobby Hutchinson EP 339 - Romancing the Writing Life with Bobby Hutchinson Thu, 28 Dec 2023 21:16:00 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews bestselling author Bobby Hutchinson about her unique journey through traditional publishing and self-publishing.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, welcomes new Patron Skye MacKinnon and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Learn more at:  https://www.patreon.com/starkreflections

In their conversation, Mark and Bobby talk about:

  • What prompted Bobby to start writing in 1980 at the age of 40
  • Leveraging her training for the Vancouver Marathon in order to use that time in her head to decide what to do
  • Her experience winning a Chatelaine short story writing contest
  • Researching which books were selling by purchasing and reading 100 Harlequin novels before sending her first manuscript in which sold right away
  • Selling 17 more of her books after those first two
  • Signing with a New York agent who was recommended to her by her agent
  • Writing and selling 40 more novels to Harlequin, and realizing that since she already had the relationship with them prior to signing with her agent, all her agent was doing for her was taking 10% of her cut of those sales
  • Realizing that her agent was more interested in selling myself than selling Bobby's novels
  • Giving up writing for a while to start a Bed and Breakfast in Vancouver - which led to a book she ended up writing called How Not to Run a B&B
  • Hiring a vanity publisher prior to exploring the possibility of DIY self-publishing
  • Getting the rights back to many of the novels she was written for Harlequin and self-publishing those books directly to Amazon
  • The importance of writing the stories that she was super-involved in and passionate about writing
  • "Going Wide" with her publishing through Smashwords in the beginning, but then being drawn into the world of Kindle Unlimited
  • Accidentally getting screwed over by Amazon and having all of her books taken down from the platform because of a lone title that was still published in some obscure country
  • Reading Mark's book WIDE FOR THE WIN about a year or so ago, at about the time her Amazon sales were starting to go down
  • Bobby's recommendation to not take all your books down from KDP Select/Kindle Unlimited overnight
  • Realizing that at an older age (Bobby is now 83), a person doesn't need nearly as much money as they used to
  • The Public Lending Right registration (for Canadian authors) that Bobby has registered for
  • The question, when re-publishing older books, on whether or not an author should update them to include more modern setting, such as adding cell phones, etc into them
  • Being excited about Artificial Intelligence as a marvelous tool that authors can use
  • How it's really hard to properly predict what is going to happen with a book when it is published
  • The way that Harlequin was a fantastic training ground for Bobby
  • Writing a book about living and traveling in a van (How Not to Vanagon)
  • Discovering her love of camping and the new memoir (Me and Calamity Jane)
  • Advice Bobby would offer to authors who want to get started
  • The value of pretending to be a famous writer in whatever genre you're writing
  • Why Bobby thinks that writing fast can make you a better writer
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in the conversation with Bobby.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Best-selling writer Bobby Hutchinson writes stories about almost everything, as long as everything involves romance, quirky people, outrageous kids, deafness, time travel, or medicine, most of which she's familiar with. (Well, maybe not time travel. But who knows?)

She started writing by making up a short story while training for the Vancouver marathon and reading a book called How To Write Short Stories.

She was celebrating being 50.

Chatelaine magazine was having a contest for the best short fiction in Canada, and she won first prize, $5000 for a 5000-word story called "Pheidippides Was Not A Family Man." She then wrote a romance for Harlequin Superromance, sold it and went on to write about 60 more.

With no real qualifications, she taught night school classes in Romance and Creativity at Okanagan College and a correspondence course at the University of Saskatchewan.

Bored with writing only for Harlequin, she wrote three long romantic comedies and sold them to Dorchester Publishing. She also sold romantic time travel to Avon.

In 2014, she began self-publishing, at first using a ridiculously expensive vanity service and then learning about Amazon.

If there's a mistake to be made in writing and publishing, Bobby has made it.

She published wide with Smashwords, and when KU started, she withdrew her wide books and became exclusive, accidentally leaving one solitary book up in maybe Angola. Amazon took all her books down. A begging letter to Jeff Bezos got them reinstated. She should have stopped while she was ahead and gone wide again.

A year ago, she came to her senses after reading Wide For The Win, took everything off of KU and began the tedious process of putting 50+ books up everywhere else.

She lives alone in a funky little cottage in Cranbrook, B.C., a small city in the Canadian Rockies. In the summer, she hauls her very small travel trailer, Calamity Jane, to campgrounds. In the winter, she hibernates.

She faints at the sight of blood, although her best-selling medical romance series, Emergency, does have the occasional scene involving bodily fluids.

These days, she still writes mostly romance, with a few short stories and memoirs tossed in for fun. How Not To Run A B&B, a memoir set in Vancouver, was chosen by the Kootenay Library Association as Best Book of the Year, and is now being made into a film. Slowly.

She lives in the land of possibility. And she's writing faster than ever because at 83, who knows when she'll head off to seek the Great Perhaps?

She needs to finish that last book on the last day; as any writer knows, that deadline's tricky!

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews bestselling author Bobby Hutchinson about her unique journey through traditional publishing and self-publishing.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, welcomes new Patron Skye MacKinnon and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Learn more at: https://www.patreon.com/starkreflections

In their conversation, Mark and Bobby talk about:

  • What prompted Bobby to start writing in 1980 at the age of 40
  • Leveraging her training for the Vancouver Marathon in order to use that time in her head to decide what to do
  • Her experience winning a Chatelaine short story writing contest
  • Researching which books were selling by purchasing and reading 100 Harlequin novels before sending her first manuscript in which sold right away
  • Selling 17 more of her books after those first two
  • Signing with a New York agent who was recommended to her by her agent
  • Writing and selling 40 more novels to Harlequin, and realizing that since she already had the relationship with them prior to signing with her agent, all her agent was doing for her was taking 10% of her cut of those sales
  • Realizing that her agent was more interested in selling myself than selling Bobby's novels
  • Giving up writing for a while to start a Bed and Breakfast in Vancouver - which led to a book she ended up writing called How Not to Run a B&B
  • Hiring a vanity publisher prior to exploring the possibility of DIY self-publishing
  • Getting the rights back to many of the novels she was written for Harlequin and self-publishing those books directly to Amazon
  • The importance of writing the stories that she was super-involved in and passionate about writing
  • "Going Wide" with her publishing through Smashwords in the beginning, but then being drawn into the world of Kindle Unlimited
  • Accidentally getting screwed over by Amazon and having all of her books taken down from the platform because of a lone title that was still published in some obscure country
  • Reading Mark's book WIDE FOR THE WIN about a year or so ago, at about the time her Amazon sales were starting to go down
  • Bobby's recommendation to not take all your books down from KDP Select/Kindle Unlimited overnight
  • Realizing that at an older age (Bobby is now 83), a person doesn't need nearly as much money as they used to
  • The Public Lending Right registration (for Canadian authors) that Bobby has registered for
  • The question, when re-publishing older books, on whether or not an author should update them to include more modern setting, such as adding cell phones, etc into them
  • Being excited about Artificial Intelligence as a marvelous tool that authors can use
  • How it's really hard to properly predict what is going to happen with a book when it is published
  • The way that Harlequin was a fantastic training ground for Bobby
  • Writing a book about living and traveling in a van (How Not to Vanagon)
  • Discovering her love of camping and the new memoir (Me and Calamity Jane)
  • Advice Bobby would offer to authors who want to get started
  • The value of pretending to be a famous writer in whatever genre you're writing
  • Why Bobby thinks that writing fast can make you a better writer
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in the conversation with Bobby.

Links of Interest:

Best-selling writer Bobby Hutchinson writes stories about almost everything, as long as everything involves romance, quirky people, outrageous kids, deafness, time travel, or medicine, most of which she's familiar with. (Well, maybe not time travel. But who knows?)

She started writing by making up a short story while training for the Vancouver marathon and reading a book called How To Write Short Stories.

She was celebrating being 50.

Chatelaine magazine was having a contest for the best short fiction in Canada, and she won first prize, $5000 for a 5000-word story called "Pheidippides Was Not A Family Man." She then wrote a romance for Harlequin Superromance, sold it and went on to write about 60 more.

With no real qualifications, she taught night school classes in Romance and Creativity at Okanagan College and a correspondence course at the University of Saskatchewan.

Bored with writing only for Harlequin, she wrote three long romantic comedies and sold them to Dorchester Publishing. She also sold romantic time travel to Avon.

In 2014, she began self-publishing, at first using a ridiculously expensive vanity service and then learning about Amazon.

If there's a mistake to be made in writing and publishing, Bobby has made it.

She published wide with Smashwords, and when KU started, she withdrew her wide books and became exclusive, accidentally leaving one solitary book up in maybe Angola. Amazon took all her books down. A begging letter to Jeff Bezos got them reinstated. She should have stopped while she was ahead and gone wide again.

A year ago, she came to her senses after reading Wide For The Win, took everything off of KU and began the tedious process of putting 50+ books up everywhere else.

She lives alone in a funky little cottage in Cranbrook, B.C., a small city in the Canadian Rockies. In the summer, she hauls her very small travel trailer, Calamity Jane, to campgrounds. In the winter, she hibernates.

She faints at the sight of blood, although her best-selling medical romance series, Emergency, does have the occasional scene involving bodily fluids.

These days, she still writes mostly romance, with a few short stories and memoirs tossed in for fun. How Not To Run A B&B, a memoir set in Vancouver, was chosen by the Kootenay Library Association as Best Book of the Year, and is now being made into a film. Slowly.

She lives in the land of possibility. And she's writing faster than ever because at 83, who knows when she'll head off to seek the Great Perhaps?

She needs to finish that last book on the last day; as any writer knows, that deadline's tricky!

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:00:32 false 6 339 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews bestselling author Bobby Hutchinson about her unique journey through traditional publishing and self-publishing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, welcomes new Patron Skye MacKinnon and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Learn more at:  https://www.patreon.com/starkreflections In their conversation, Mark and Bobby talk about: What prompted Bobby to start writing in 1980 at the age of 40 Leveraging her training for the Vancouver Marathon in order to use that time in her head to decide what to do Her experience winning a Chatelaine short story writing contest Researching which books were selling by purchasing and reading 100 Harlequin novels before sending her first manuscript in which sold right away Selling 17 more of her books after those first two Signing with a New York agent who was recommended to her by her agent Writing and selling 40 more novels to Harlequin, and realizing that since she already had the relationship with them prior to signing with her agent, all her agent was doing for her was taking 10% of her cut of those sales Realizing that her agent was more interested in selling myself than selling Bobby's novels Giving up writing for a while to start a Bed and Breakfast in Vancouver - which led to a book she ended up writing called How Not to Run a B&B Hiring a vanity publisher prior to exploring the possibility of DIY self-publishing Getting the rights back to many of the novels she was written for Harlequin and self-publishing those books directly to Amazon The importance of writing the stories that she was super-involved in and passionate about writing "Going Wide" with her publishing through Smashwords in the beginning, but then being drawn into the world of Kindle Unlimited Accidentally getting screwed over by Amazon and having all of her books taken down from the platform because of a lone title that was still published in some obscure country Reading Mark's book WIDE FOR THE WIN about a year or so ago, at about the time her Amazon sales were starting to go down Bobby's recommendation to not take all your books down from KDP Select/Kindle Unlimited overnight Realizing that at an older age (Bobby is now 83), a person doesn't need nearly as much money as they used to The Public Lending Right registration (for Canadian authors) that Bobby has registered for The question, when re-publishing older books, on whether or not an author should update them to include more modern setting, such as adding cell phones, etc into them Being excited about Artificial Intelligence as a marvelous tool that authors can use How it's really hard to properly predict what is going to happen with a book when it is published The way that Harlequin was a fantastic training ground for Bobby Writing a book about living and traveling in a van (How Not to Vanagon) Discovering her love of camping and the new memoir (Me and Calamity Jane) Advice Bobby would offer to authors who want to get started The value of pretending to be a famous writer in whatever genre you're writing Why Bobby thinks that writing fast can make you a better writer And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in the conversation with Bobby.   Links of Interest: Bobby Hutchinson's Website Episode 155 - Rebel Reflections with Guest Host Sacha Black Episode 336 - Coming Out of the Writer Closet with Bradley Charbonneau Episode 338 - An Amazing F*cking Pivot Into Sh*t-Tons of Money with James Fell Special Patron Coupon for getting Stark Publishing Solutions books for $0.99 Stark Publishing Solutions Books - 50% off in the Smashwords End of Year Sale Special Patron Only offer of $0.99 each for those books Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Best-selling writer Bobby Hutchinson writes stories about almost everything, as long as everything involves romance, quirky people, outrageous kids, deafness, time travel, or medicine, most of which she's familiar with. (Well, maybe not time travel. But who knows?) She started writing by making up a short story while training for the Vancouver marathon and reading a book called How To Write Short Stories. She was celebrating being 50. Chatelaine magazine was having a contest for the best short fiction in Canada, and she won first prize, $5000 for a 5000-word story called "Pheidippides Was Not A Family Man." She then wrote a romance for Harlequin Superromance, sold it and went on to write about 60 more. With no real qualifications, she taught night school classes in Romance and Creativity at Okanagan College and a correspondence course at the University of Saskatchewan. Bored with writing only for Harlequin, she wrote three long romantic comedies and sold them to Dorchester Publishing. She also sold romantic time travel to Avon. In 2014, she began self-publishing, at first using a ridiculously expensive vanity service and then learning about Amazon. If there's a mistake to be made in writing and publishing, Bobby has made it. She published wide with Smashwords, and when KU started, she withdrew her wide books and became exclusive, accidentally leaving one solitary book up in maybe Angola. Amazon took all her books down. A begging letter to Jeff Bezos got them reinstated. She should have stopped while she was ahead and gone wide again. A year ago, she came to her senses after reading Wide For The Win, took everything off of KU and began the tedious process of putting 50+ books up everywhere else. She lives alone in a funky little cottage in Cranbrook, B.C., a small city in the Canadian Rockies. In the summer, she hauls her very small travel trailer, Calamity Jane, to campgrounds. In the winter, she hibernates. She faints at the sight of blood, although her best-selling medical romance series, Emergency, does have the occasional scene involving bodily fluids. These days, she still writes mostly romance, with a few short stories and memoirs tossed in for fun. How Not To Run A B&B, a memoir set in Vancouver, was chosen by the Kootenay Library Association as Best Book of the Year, and is now being made into a film. Slowly. She lives in the land of possibility. And she's writing faster than ever because at 83, who knows when she'll head off to seek the Great Perhaps? She needs to finish that last book on the last day; as any writer knows, that deadline's tricky!     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews bestselling author Bobby Hutchinson about her unique journey through traditional publishing and self-publishing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, welcomes new Patron Skye MacKinnon and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Learn more at:  https://www.patreon.com/starkreflections In their conversation, Mark and Bobby talk about: What prompted Bobby to start writing in 1980 at the age of 40 Leveraging her training for the Vancouver Marathon in order to use that time in her head to decide what to do Her experience winning a Chatelaine short story writing contest Researching which books were selling by purchasing and reading 100 Harlequin novels before sending her first manuscript in which sold right away Selling 17 more of her books after those first two Signing with a New York agent who was recommended to her by her agent Writing and selling 40 more novels to Harlequin, and realizing that since she already had the relationship with them prior to signing with her agent, all her agent was doing for her was taking 10% of her cut of those sales Realizing that her agent was more interested in selling myself than selling Bobby's novels Giving up writing for a while to start a Bed and Breakfast in Vancouver - which led to a book she ended up writing called How Not to Run a B&B Hiring a vanity publisher prior to exploring the possibility of DIY self-publishing Getting the rights back to many of the novels she was written for Harlequin and self-publishing those books directly to Amazon The importance of writing the stories that she was super-involved in and passionate about writing "Going Wide" with her publishing through Smashwords in the beginning, but then being drawn into the world of Kindle Unlimited Accidentally getting screwed over by Amazon and having all of her books taken down from the platform because of a lone title that was still published in some obscure country Reading Mark's book WIDE FOR THE WIN about a year or so ago, at about the time her Amazon sales were starting to go down Bobby's recommendation to not take all your books down from KDP Select/Kindle Unlimited overnight Realizing that at an older age (Bobby is now 83), a person doesn't need nearly as much money as they used to The Public Lending Right registration (for Canadian authors) that Bobby has registered for The question, when re-publishing older books, on whether or not an author should update them to include more modern setting, such as adding cell phones, etc into them Being excited about Artificial Intelligence as a marvelous tool that authors can use How it's really hard to properly predict what is going to happen with a book when it is published The way that Harlequin was a fantastic training ground for Bobby Writing a book about living and traveling in a van (How Not to Vanagon) Discovering her love of camping and the new memoir (Me and Calamity Jane) Advice Bobby would offer to authors who want to get started The value of pretending to be a famous writer in whatever genre you're writing Why Bobby thinks that writing fast can make you a better writer And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in the conversation with Bobby.   Links of Interest: Bobby Hutchinson's Website Episode 155 - Rebel Reflections with Guest Host Sacha Black Episode 336 - Coming Out of the Writer Closet with Bradley Charbonneau Episode 338 - An Amazing F*cking Pivot Into Sh*t-Tons of Money with James Fell Special Patron Coupon for getting Stark Publishing Solutions books for $0.99 Stark Publishing Solutions Books - 50% off in the Smashwords End of Year Sale Special Patron Only offer of $0.99 each for those books Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Best-selling writer Bobby Hutchinson writes stories about almost everything, as long as everything involves romance, quirky people, outrageous kids, deafness, time travel, or medicine, most of which she's familiar with. (Well, maybe not time travel. But who knows?) She started writing by making up a short story while training for the Vancouver marathon and reading a book called How To Write Short Stories. She was celebrating being 50. Chatelaine magazine was having a contest for the best short fiction in Canada, and she won first prize, $5000 for a 5000-word story called "Pheidippides Was Not A Family Man." She then wrote a romance for Harlequin Superromance, sold it and went on to write about 60 more. With no real qualifications, she taught night school classes in Romance and Creativity at Okanagan College and a correspondence course at the University of Saskatchewan. Bored with writing only for Harlequin, she wrote three long romantic comedies and sold them to Dorchester Publishing. She also sold romantic time travel to Avon. In 2014, she began self-publishing, at first using a ridiculously expensive vanity service and then learning about Amazon. If there's a mistake to be made in writing and publishing, Bobby has made it. She published wide with Smashwords, and when KU started, she withdrew her wide books and became exclusive, accidentally leaving one solitary book up in maybe Angola. Amazon took all her books down. A begging letter to Jeff Bezos got them reinstated. She should have stopped while she was ahead and gone wide again. A year ago, she came to her senses after reading Wide For The Win, took everything off of KU and began the tedious process of putting 50+ books up everywhere else. She lives alone in a funky little cottage in Cranbrook, B.C., a small city in the Canadian Rockies. In the summer, she hauls her very small travel trailer, Calamity Jane, to campgrounds. In the winter, she hibernates. She faints at the sight of blood, although her best-selling medical romance series, Emergency, does have the occasional scene involving bodily fluids. These days, she still writes mostly romance, with a few short stories and memoirs tossed in for fun. How Not To Run A B&B, a memoir set in Vancouver, was chosen by the Kootenay Library Association as Best Book of the Year, and is now being made into a film. Slowly. She lives in the land of possibility. And she's writing faster than ever because at 83, who knows when she'll head off to seek the Great Perhaps? She needs to finish that last book on the last day; as any writer knows, that deadline's tricky!     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 338 - An Amazing F*cking Pivot into Sh!t-Tons of Money with James Fell EP 338 - An Amazing F*cking Pivot into Sh!t-Tons of Money with James Fell Fri, 22 Dec 2023 01:39:00 +0000 Mark interviews James Fell, the Sweary Historian, and bestselling author of ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY SH!T WENT DOWN.

Prior to the interview Mark warns listeners of the adult language used in this episode, reads comments from recent episodes, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

Mark's Stark Publishing Solutions books are 50% off in the Smashwords End of Year Sale. (Ends at the end of day Dec 31, 2023). Patrons will be getting a special coupon to get the titles for only $0.99. Offer good until Jan 31, 2024.

In the interview, Mark and James talk about:

  • How James is an author who "can't make up his F-ing mind"
  • Advice James was given regarding how hard it was to make it as a writer and that most science-fiction authors also had other jobs
  • Starting off writing health and fitness articles and getting columns at the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune as well as a few magazines
  • The idea of SERVICE vs PRODUCT income
  • Having the delusions of grandeur that he might one day have one of those books that would "blow up"
  • The initial Random House deal he got for one book, then, a few years later, a US deal from St Martins Press
  • How the publishers were interested in James' own platform for helping to sell the book
  • The way James was crestfallen with the sales results of his first two traditionally published books
  • Beginning to start a public speaking career just as Covid-19 hit the world
  • James' background in University studying history
  • The bike-riding epiphany that first popped into his head (a la the way he describes it in his book THE HOLY SH!T MOMENT) and the daily story about Mae West that was extremely popular and led to an even bigger "holy shit moment!"
  • Ensuring that he did not miss a single day in posting a well-researched and funny post for two years straight
  • James hiring a good copyeditor and also hiring Mark to help with his distribution strategy
  • The more than a million views of his column of articles
  • How most of the sales came from free daily stories on Facebook - and not really any other PR
  • James' Substack experience and how he was able to leverage that via paid subscription
  • The book sales taking off way beyond his expectations
  • How 90% of the sales of the two versions of ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY SH!T WENT DOWN have been in print rather than eBook
  • Receiving a respectable offer from a good mid-sized publisher about 14 months after the first volume was available for sale
  • His agent being able to leverage that offer to pitch the book to a number of larger publishers
  • The proposal that James wrote for this that was in the voice he used in the book (instead of in the standard recommended proposal format)
  • The unexpected bonus of the publisher who bought the rights allowing James to keep the existing books live for almost a full year before their version of the book came out
  • How James' career took off when he stopped giving a shit about "what the market wanted"
  • Hearing "the voice is a triumph" from his New York Publisher Editor before she then "ripped the shit out of it"
  • The pull quotes that were mostly selected from the interior book designer
  • The fact that James sold more than 52,000 print copies of the book in print when it was entirely self-published
  • The special arrangement that James had (and still has) with Calgary Indie Bookstore Owl's Nest for the procurement of signed copies
  • A powerful story about solidarity among writers
  • The 3 Rules of Marketing for Authors
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the unique method by which James gave away two of his books entirely for free, but in an inventive "self-promotional" way that was blatantly salesy, but also provided incredible entertainment and value.

Links of Interest:

 

 

My name is James Fell and I say "fuck" a lot.

Historically, I didn't write the word fuck that much, because the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, where I authored columns for several years, tend to frown upon such language. I also didn't swear in my 1996 history master's thesis, titled Rebellion and the Quest for Social Revolution in Latin America. In that academic work I did manage to get the message across that the CIA are fucking dicks without actually using the words "fucking dicks."

Anyway, in the spring of 2020, a year I refer to as a fucktacular shitnado of ass, I said what the fuck and began authoring a column titled "On This Day in History Shit Went Down." To my immense pleasure and no small amount of surprise it's proven quite popular, with several million readers each month. These columns were turned into two self-published volumes of the same name: On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down, and they sold so many copies that Bantam Books gave me an assload of money for the rights to republished them. The new and Big-Publishing-Company-improved version of Volume I is on sale now.

You can read free samples of my sweary history stories on my Facebook, and you should also subscribe to my Substack. You can get a free subscription or a paid one. I like it when people subscribe to the paid one.

I'm also on Twitter (blarf), and my TikTok channel is called Sweary Historian.

In a previous life I wrote about fitness and motivation. The cool and science-based kind of fitness writing, not the bullshit and/or fat shaming sort. Find my earlier published books here.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark interviews James Fell, the Sweary Historian, and bestselling author of ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY SH!T WENT DOWN.

Prior to the interview Mark warns listeners of the adult language used in this episode, reads comments from recent episodes, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

Mark's Stark Publishing Solutions books are 50% off in the Smashwords End of Year Sale. (Ends at the end of day Dec 31, 2023). Patrons will be getting a special coupon to get the titles for only $0.99. Offer good until Jan 31, 2024.

In the interview, Mark and James talk about:

  • How James is an author who "can't make up his F-ing mind"
  • Advice James was given regarding how hard it was to make it as a writer and that most science-fiction authors also had other jobs
  • Starting off writing health and fitness articles and getting columns at the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune as well as a few magazines
  • The idea of SERVICE vs PRODUCT income
  • Having the delusions of grandeur that he might one day have one of those books that would "blow up"
  • The initial Random House deal he got for one book, then, a few years later, a US deal from St Martins Press
  • How the publishers were interested in James' own platform for helping to sell the book
  • The way James was crestfallen with the sales results of his first two traditionally published books
  • Beginning to start a public speaking career just as Covid-19 hit the world
  • James' background in University studying history
  • The bike-riding epiphany that first popped into his head (a la the way he describes it in his book THE HOLY SH!T MOMENT) and the daily story about Mae West that was extremely popular and led to an even bigger "holy shit moment!"
  • Ensuring that he did not miss a single day in posting a well-researched and funny post for two years straight
  • James hiring a good copyeditor and also hiring Mark to help with his distribution strategy
  • The more than a million views of his column of articles
  • How most of the sales came from free daily stories on Facebook - and not really any other PR
  • James' Substack experience and how he was able to leverage that via paid subscription
  • The book sales taking off way beyond his expectations
  • How 90% of the sales of the two versions of ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY SH!T WENT DOWN have been in print rather than eBook
  • Receiving a respectable offer from a good mid-sized publisher about 14 months after the first volume was available for sale
  • His agent being able to leverage that offer to pitch the book to a number of larger publishers
  • The proposal that James wrote for this that was in the voice he used in the book (instead of in the standard recommended proposal format)
  • The unexpected bonus of the publisher who bought the rights allowing James to keep the existing books live for almost a full year before their version of the book came out
  • How James' career took off when he stopped giving a shit about "what the market wanted"
  • Hearing "the voice is a triumph" from his New York Publisher Editor before she then "ripped the shit out of it"
  • The pull quotes that were mostly selected from the interior book designer
  • The fact that James sold more than 52,000 print copies of the book in print when it was entirely self-published
  • The special arrangement that James had (and still has) with Calgary Indie Bookstore Owl's Nest for the procurement of signed copies
  • A powerful story about solidarity among writers
  • The 3 Rules of Marketing for Authors
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the unique method by which James gave away two of his books entirely for free, but in an inventive "self-promotional" way that was blatantly salesy, but also provided incredible entertainment and value.

Links of Interest:

My name is James Fell and I say "fuck" a lot.

Historically, I didn't write the word fuck that much, because the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, where I authored columns for several years, tend to frown upon such language. I also didn't swear in my 1996 history master's thesis, titled Rebellion and the Quest for Social Revolution in Latin America. In that academic work I did manage to get the message across that the CIA are fucking dicks without actually using the words "fucking dicks."

Anyway, in the spring of 2020, a year I refer to as a fucktacular shitnado of ass, I said what the fuck and began authoring a column titled "On This Day in History Shit Went Down." To my immense pleasure and no small amount of surprise it's proven quite popular, with several million readers each month. These columns were turned into two self-published volumes of the same name: On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down, and they sold so many copies that Bantam Books gave me an assload of money for the rights to republished them. The new and Big-Publishing-Company-improved version of Volume I is on sale now.

You can read free samples of my sweary history stories on my Facebook, and you should also subscribe to my Substack. You can get a free subscription or a paid one. I like it when people subscribe to the paid one.

I'm also on Twitter (blarf), and my TikTok channel is called Sweary Historian.

In a previous life I wrote about fitness and motivation. The cool and science-based kind of fitness writing, not the bullshit and/or fat shaming sort. Find my earlier published books here.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:29:52 true 6 338 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews James Fell, the Sweary Historian, and bestselling author of ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY SH!T WENT DOWN. Prior to the interview Mark warns listeners of the adult language used in this episode, reads comments from recent episodes, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. Mark's Stark Publishing Solutions books are 50% off in the Smashwords End of Year Sale. (Ends at the end of day Dec 31, 2023). Patrons will be getting a special coupon to get the titles for only $0.99. Offer good until Jan 31, 2024. In the interview, Mark and James talk about: How James is an author who "can't make up his F-ing mind" Advice James was given regarding how hard it was to make it as a writer and that most science-fiction authors also had other jobs Starting off writing health and fitness articles and getting columns at the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune as well as a few magazines The idea of SERVICE vs PRODUCT income Having the delusions of grandeur that he might one day have one of those books that would "blow up" The initial Random House deal he got for one book, then, a few years later, a US deal from St Martins Press How the publishers were interested in James' own platform for helping to sell the book The way James was crestfallen with the sales results of his first two traditionally published books Beginning to start a public speaking career just as Covid-19 hit the world James' background in University studying history The bike-riding epiphany that first popped into his head (a la the way he describes it in his book THE HOLY SH!T MOMENT) and the daily story about Mae West that was extremely popular and led to an even bigger "holy shit moment!" Ensuring that he did not miss a single day in posting a well-researched and funny post for two years straight James hiring a good copyeditor and also hiring Mark to help with his distribution strategy The more than a million views of his column of articles How most of the sales came from free daily stories on Facebook - and not really any other PR James' Substack experience and how he was able to leverage that via paid subscription The book sales taking off way beyond his expectations How 90% of the sales of the two versions of ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY SH!T WENT DOWN have been in print rather than eBook Receiving a respectable offer from a good mid-sized publisher about 14 months after the first volume was available for sale His agent being able to leverage that offer to pitch the book to a number of larger publishers The proposal that James wrote for this that was in the voice he used in the book (instead of in the standard recommended proposal format) The unexpected bonus of the publisher who bought the rights allowing James to keep the existing books live for almost a full year before their version of the book came out How James' career took off when he stopped giving a shit about "what the market wanted" Hearing "the voice is a triumph" from his New York Publisher Editor before she then "ripped the shit out of it" The pull quotes that were mostly selected from the interior book designer The fact that James sold more than 52,000 print copies of the book in print when it was entirely self-published The special arrangement that James had (and still has) with Calgary Indie Bookstore Owl's Nest for the procurement of signed copies A powerful story about solidarity among writers The 3 Rules of Marketing for Authors And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on the unique method by which James gave away two of his books entirely for free, but in an inventive "self-promotional" way that was blatantly salesy, but also provided incredible entertainment and value. Links of Interest: James Fell's Website Facebook Substack Episode 060 - The Holy Sh!t Moment with James Fell Episode 190 - The Episode Where Sh!t Went Down with James Fell, Sweary Historian Episode 316 - Free Your Inner Non-Fiction Writer with Johanna Rothman Episodes with Editors as Guests Episodes with or that mention Robert J. Sawyer Stark Publishing Solutions Books - 50% off in the Smashwords End of Year Sale Special Patron Only offer of $0.99 each for those books YouTube Video - Anatomy of an "Author Branding" Photo Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard     My name is James Fell and I say "fuck" a lot. Historically, I didn't write the word fuck that much, because the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, where I authored columns for several years, tend to frown upon such language. I also didn't swear in my 1996 history master's thesis, titled Rebellion and the Quest for Social Revolution in Latin America. In that academic work I did manage to get the message across that the CIA are fucking dicks without actually using the words "fucking dicks." Anyway, in the spring of 2020, a year I refer to as a fucktacular shitnado of ass, I said what the fuck and began authoring a column titled "On This Day in History Shit Went Down." To my immense pleasure and no small amount of surprise it's proven quite popular, with several million readers each month. These columns were turned into two self-published volumes of the same name: On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down, and they sold so many copies that Bantam Books gave me an assload of money for the rights to republished them. The new and Big-Publishing-Company-improved version of Volume I is on sale now. You can read free samples of my sweary history stories on my Facebook, and you should also subscribe to my Substack. You can get a free subscription or a paid one. I like it when people subscribe to the paid one. I'm also on Twitter (blarf), and my TikTok channel is called Sweary Historian. In a previous life I wrote about fitness and motivation. The cool and science-based kind of fitness writing, not the bullshit and/or fat shaming sort. Find my earlier published books here.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark interviews James Fell, the Sweary Historian, and bestselling author of ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY SH!T WENT DOWN. Prior to the interview Mark warns listeners of the adult language used in this episode, reads comments from recent episodes, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. Mark's Stark Publishing Solutions books are 50% off in the Smashwords End of Year Sale. (Ends at the end of day Dec 31, 2023). Patrons will be getting a special coupon to get the titles for only $0.99. Offer good until Jan 31, 2024. In the interview, Mark and James talk about: How James is an author who "can't make up his F-ing mind" Advice James was given regarding how hard it was to make it as a writer and that most science-fiction authors also had other jobs Starting off writing health and fitness articles and getting columns at the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune as well as a few magazines The idea of SERVICE vs PRODUCT income Having the delusions of grandeur that he might one day have one of those books that would "blow up" The initial Random House deal he got for one book, then, a few years later, a US deal from St Martins Press How the publishers were interested in James' own platform for helping to sell the book The way James was crestfallen with the sales results of his first two traditionally published books Beginning to start a public speaking career just as Covid-19 hit the world James' background in University studying history The bike-riding epiphany that first popped into his head (a la the way he describes it in his book THE HOLY SH!T MOMENT) and the daily story about Mae West that was extremely popular and led to an even bigger "holy shit moment!" Ensuring that he did not miss a single day in posting a well-researched and funny post for two years straight James hiring a good copyeditor and also hiring Mark to help with his distribution strategy The more than a million views of his column of articles How most of the sales came from free daily stories on Facebook - and not really any other PR James' Substack experience and how he was able to leverage that via paid subscription The book sales taking off way beyond his expectations How 90% of the sales of the two versions of ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY SH!T WENT DOWN have been in print rather than eBook Receiving a respectable offer from a good mid-sized publisher about 14 months after the first volume was available for sale His agent being able to leverage that offer to pitch the book to a number of larger publishers The proposal that James wrote for this that was in the voice he used in the book (instead of in the standard recommended proposal format) The unexpected bonus of the publisher who bought the rights allowing James to keep the existing books live for almost a full year before their version of the book came out How James' career took off when he stopped giving a shit about "what the market wanted" Hearing "the voice is a triumph" from his New York Publisher Editor before she then "ripped the shit out of it" The pull quotes that were mostly selected from the interior book designer The fact that James sold more than 52,000 print copies of the book in print when it was entirely self-published The special arrangement that James had (and still has) with Calgary Indie Bookstore Owl's Nest for the procurement of signed copies A powerful story about solidarity among writers The 3 Rules of Marketing for Authors And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on the unique method by which James gave away two of his books entirely for free, but in an inventive "self-promotional" way that was blatantly salesy, but also provided incredible entertainment and value. Links of Interest: James Fell's Website Facebook Substack Episode 060 - The Holy Sh!t Moment with James Fell Episode 190 - The Episode Where Sh!t Went Down with James Fell, Sweary Historian Episode 316 - Free Your Inner Non-Fiction Writer with Johanna Rothman Episodes with Editors as Guests Episodes with or that mention Robert J. Sawyer Stark Publishing Solutions Books - 50% off in the Smashwords End of Year Sale Special Patron Only offer of $0.99 each for those books YouTube Video - Anatomy of an "Author Branding" Photo Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard     My name is James Fell and I say "fuck" a lot. Historically, I didn't write the word fuck that much, because the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, where I authored columns for several years, tend to frown upon such language. I also didn't swear in my 1996 history master's thesis, titled Rebellion and the Quest for Social Revolution in Latin America. In that academic work I did manage to get the message across that the CIA are fucking dicks without actually using the words "fucking dicks." Anyway, in the spring of 2020, a year I refer to as a fucktacular shitnado of ass, I said what the fuck and began authoring a column titled "On This Day in History Shit Went Down." To my immense pleasure and no small amount of surprise it's proven quite popular, with several million readers each month. These columns were turned into two self-published volumes of the same name: On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down, and they sold so many copies that Bantam Books gave me an assload of money for the rights to republished them. The new and Big-Publishing-Company-improved version of Volume I is on sale now. You can read free samples of my sweary history stories on my Facebook, and you should also subscribe to my Substack. You can get a free subscription or a paid one. I like it when people subscribe to the paid one. I'm also on Twitter (blarf), and my TikTok channel is called Sweary Historian. In a previous life I wrote about fitness and motivation. The cool and science-based kind of fitness writing, not the bullshit and/or fat shaming sort. Find my earlier published books here.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 337 - Collaborative Editing with Erika Steeves EP 337 - Collaborative Editing with Erika Steeves Fri, 15 Dec 2023 00:35:00 +0000 Mark interviews editor Erika Steeves about her experiences in working with publishers and authors as an editor.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by HOW TO WRITE A HOWLING GOOD STORY by Wulf Moon

You can get this book in eBook, Trade Paperback, and Hardcover editions here.

Between Dec 15, 2023 and Jan 1, 2024, you can get the eBook for 50% off at Smashwords.

 

In their interview, Mark and Erika talk about:

  • Meeting at the Waterloo Book Festival
  • How Erika got involved in the world of writing and editing by starting off as an editorial internship at a regional Canadian publisher on Canada's East Coast
  • Deciding to become a freelance editor in 2012 taking on academic projects and some book projects
  • Pivoting over to do more editing on fiction in 2019/2020
  • Erika's experience reading the slushpile from a publisher and how that exposed her to great manuscripts that she loved but which weren't suited for that publisher's mandates
  • The difficult task of having to send rejection letters to authors
  • Being a member of two associations that have directories of editors
  • How Erika finds new writers to work with
  • The various types of editing work that Erika takes on
  • Contuinity editing and the style sheet that Erika likes so much
  • How the editor's "fresh eyes" can help detect some things that writers might no longer be able to detect in a manuscript that has been re-worked numerous times
  • Things Erika wished more authors knew about related to editors
  • How all edits are suggestions and that the writer can decided which suggestions to take, and which ones to ignore
  • Getting a sense of how many hours an editing project is going to take based on the sample edit that was done
  • Things that writers should "look out for" in an editor they're looking to work with
  • Why contracts are important for both parties
  • Types of writers that Erika is cautious about working with
  • Ideas for how a writer can find the right editor for them
  • The "House of Zolo" publishing company that Erika and a number of other writers and editors put together
  • Advice Erika would offer to writers
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on Erika's perspective related to things that empower and encourage writers.

Links of Interest:

 

Erika Steeves is a copyeditor and proofreader with a decade of experience editing fiction and nonfiction books. She started out as a publishing assistant for a traditional publisher, learning the ropes from the inside. After that, Erika started her freelance career and founded E.S. Editing! She also works as Editor-in-Chief of the HOZ Journal of Speculative Literature. 

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews editor Erika Steeves about her experiences in working with publishers and authors as an editor.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by HOW TO WRITE A HOWLING GOOD STORY by Wulf Moon

You can get this book in eBook, Trade Paperback, and Hardcover editions here.

Between Dec 15, 2023 and Jan 1, 2024, you can get the eBook for 50% off at Smashwords.

In their interview, Mark and Erika talk about:

  • Meeting at the Waterloo Book Festival
  • How Erika got involved in the world of writing and editing by starting off as an editorial internship at a regional Canadian publisher on Canada's East Coast
  • Deciding to become a freelance editor in 2012 taking on academic projects and some book projects
  • Pivoting over to do more editing on fiction in 2019/2020
  • Erika's experience reading the slushpile from a publisher and how that exposed her to great manuscripts that she loved but which weren't suited for that publisher's mandates
  • The difficult task of having to send rejection letters to authors
  • Being a member of two associations that have directories of editors
  • How Erika finds new writers to work with
  • The various types of editing work that Erika takes on
  • Contuinity editing and the style sheet that Erika likes so much
  • How the editor's "fresh eyes" can help detect some things that writers might no longer be able to detect in a manuscript that has been re-worked numerous times
  • Things Erika wished more authors knew about related to editors
  • How all edits are suggestions and that the writer can decided which suggestions to take, and which ones to ignore
  • Getting a sense of how many hours an editing project is going to take based on the sample edit that was done
  • Things that writers should "look out for" in an editor they're looking to work with
  • Why contracts are important for both parties
  • Types of writers that Erika is cautious about working with
  • Ideas for how a writer can find the right editor for them
  • The "House of Zolo" publishing company that Erika and a number of other writers and editors put together
  • Advice Erika would offer to writers
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on Erika's perspective related to things that empower and encourage writers.

Links of Interest:

Erika Steeves is a copyeditor and proofreader with a decade of experience editing fiction and nonfiction books. She started out as a publishing assistant for a traditional publisher, learning the ropes from the inside. After that, Erika started her freelance career and founded E.S. Editing! She also works as Editor-in-Chief of the HOZ Journal of Speculative Literature.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 48:15 false 6 337 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews editor Erika Steeves about her experiences in working with publishers and authors as an editor. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by HOW TO WRITE A HOWLING GOOD STORY by Wulf Moon You can get this book in eBook, Trade Paperback, and Hardcover editions here. Between Dec 15, 2023 and Jan 1, 2024, you can get the eBook for 50% off at Smashwords.   In their interview, Mark and Erika talk about: Meeting at the Waterloo Book Festival How Erika got involved in the world of writing and editing by starting off as an editorial internship at a regional Canadian publisher on Canada's East Coast Deciding to become a freelance editor in 2012 taking on academic projects and some book projects Pivoting over to do more editing on fiction in 2019/2020 Erika's experience reading the slushpile from a publisher and how that exposed her to great manuscripts that she loved but which weren't suited for that publisher's mandates The difficult task of having to send rejection letters to authors Being a member of two associations that have directories of editors How Erika finds new writers to work with The various types of editing work that Erika takes on Contuinity editing and the style sheet that Erika likes so much How the editor's "fresh eyes" can help detect some things that writers might no longer be able to detect in a manuscript that has been re-worked numerous times Things Erika wished more authors knew about related to editors How all edits are suggestions and that the writer can decided which suggestions to take, and which ones to ignore Getting a sense of how many hours an editing project is going to take based on the sample edit that was done Things that writers should "look out for" in an editor they're looking to work with Why contracts are important for both parties Types of writers that Erika is cautious about working with Ideas for how a writer can find the right editor for them The "House of Zolo" publishing company that Erika and a number of other writers and editors put together Advice Erika would offer to writers And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on Erika's perspective related to things that empower and encourage writers. Links of Interest: Erika Steeves' Website House of Zolo: Independent Publishers of Speculative Literature Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Erika Steeves is a copyeditor and proofreader with a decade of experience editing fiction and nonfiction books. She started out as a publishing assistant for a traditional publisher, learning the ropes from the inside. After that, Erika started her freelance career and founded E.S. Editing! She also works as Editor-in-Chief of the HOZ Journal of Speculative Literature.      The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews editor Erika Steeves about her experiences in working with publishers and authors as an editor. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by HOW TO WRITE A HOWLING GOOD STORY by Wulf Moon You can get this book in eBook, Trade Paperback, and Hardcover editions here. Between Dec 15, 2023 and Jan 1, 2024, you can get the eBook for 50% off at Smashwords.   In their interview, Mark and Erika talk about: Meeting at the Waterloo Book Festival How Erika got involved in the world of writing and editing by starting off as an editorial internship at a regional Canadian publisher on Canada's East Coast Deciding to become a freelance editor in 2012 taking on academic projects and some book projects Pivoting over to do more editing on fiction in 2019/2020 Erika's experience reading the slushpile from a publisher and how that exposed her to great manuscripts that she loved but which weren't suited for that publisher's mandates The difficult task of having to send rejection letters to authors Being a member of two associations that have directories of editors How Erika finds new writers to work with The various types of editing work that Erika takes on Contuinity editing and the style sheet that Erika likes so much How the editor's "fresh eyes" can help detect some things that writers might no longer be able to detect in a manuscript that has been re-worked numerous times Things Erika wished more authors knew about related to editors How all edits are suggestions and that the writer can decided which suggestions to take, and which ones to ignore Getting a sense of how many hours an editing project is going to take based on the sample edit that was done Things that writers should "look out for" in an editor they're looking to work with Why contracts are important for both parties Types of writers that Erika is cautious about working with Ideas for how a writer can find the right editor for them The "House of Zolo" publishing company that Erika and a number of other writers and editors put together Advice Erika would offer to writers And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on Erika's perspective related to things that empower and encourage writers. Links of Interest: Erika Steeves' Website House of Zolo: Independent Publishers of Speculative Literature Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Erika Steeves is a copyeditor and proofreader with a decade of experience editing fiction and nonfiction books. She started out as a publishing assistant for a traditional publisher, learning the ropes from the inside. After that, Erika started her freelance career and founded E.S. Editing! She also works as Editor-in-Chief of the HOZ Journal of Speculative Literature.      The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 336 - Coming Out of The Writer Closet with Bradley Charbonneau EP 336 - Coming Out of The Writer Closet with Bradley Charbonneau Fri, 08 Dec 2023 12:45:00 +0000 Mark interviews Bradley Charbonneau about his new book PROCRASTINATE and his new "Book in a Weekend" program for writers.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks Patrons, provides a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is findawayvoiceslogo.png

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In the interview, Mark and Bradley talk about:

  • Bradley's love of Europe and his first eye-opening experience at the age of fourteen with the continent
  • His early experience writing extremely long letters to his parents when, several years later, living in France
  • The importance of the "audience" being yourself when you write
  • The fact that on no calendar is there a day called SOMEDAY
  • The concept of Stubborn VS Determined
  • Bradley's first challenge of writing every single day for the month of November in 2012
  • A further challenge of posting a YouTube video every single day
  • The idea of "practice is perfect" (as opposed to "practice makes perfect")
  • The long-time streak of writing every single day for 2808 days in a row
  • Being painfully reminded of himself when he hears an author say that they have an idea for a book that they might write "some day"
  • Avoiding regret by taking action
  • Bradley's admiration for humor and improv
  • The program to get your "opposite" book written as a critical step to getting to that larger "massive" project that has always been kept at the horizon
  • How the humor aspect of writing your "opposite" book can help bring out new elements of creativity and how it can be therapeutic
  • Bradley's book PROCRASTINATE, which was his "opposite" book project
  • The "book in a weekend" program that Bradley is running to help other writers overcome the things he had to overcome on his own writing journey
  • The idea of writing a book every year as a way of creating a "timestamp" of who we are - the same way creating a photo album every year (which his mother used to do) works
  • The DIY option as well as the interactive "virtual" real-time and "real-life in person" and the "one-on-one" options Bradley is working on
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of adapting "the rules" into something that works in the ways that work for YOU rather than some pre-prescribed notion that doesn't fit. If you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet, maybe it's okay to break or shake up a few rules in order to pave your own path to success.

Links of Interest:

 

 

Before Bradley Charbonneau wrote his first book, he had written zero books. He spent years dreaming and wishing, chatting and hoping, but not actually writing. Finally, after years of procrastination, he wrote his first book. Since that first breakthrough, he's written 34 more. QUIZ: how many did Bradley write before his first book?

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Bradley Charbonneau about his new book PROCRASTINATE and his new "Book in a Weekend" program for writers.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks Patrons, provides a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In the interview, Mark and Bradley talk about:

  • Bradley's love of Europe and his first eye-opening experience at the age of fourteen with the continent
  • His early experience writing extremely long letters to his parents when, several years later, living in France
  • The importance of the "audience" being yourself when you write
  • The fact that on no calendar is there a day called SOMEDAY
  • The concept of Stubborn VS Determined
  • Bradley's first challenge of writing every single day for the month of November in 2012
  • A further challenge of posting a YouTube video every single day
  • The idea of "practice is perfect" (as opposed to "practice makes perfect")
  • The long-time streak of writing every single day for 2808 days in a row
  • Being painfully reminded of himself when he hears an author say that they have an idea for a book that they might write "some day"
  • Avoiding regret by taking action
  • Bradley's admiration for humor and improv
  • The program to get your "opposite" book written as a critical step to getting to that larger "massive" project that has always been kept at the horizon
  • How the humor aspect of writing your "opposite" book can help bring out new elements of creativity and how it can be therapeutic
  • Bradley's book PROCRASTINATE, which was his "opposite" book project
  • The "book in a weekend" program that Bradley is running to help other writers overcome the things he had to overcome on his own writing journey
  • The idea of writing a book every year as a way of creating a "timestamp" of who we are - the same way creating a photo album every year (which his mother used to do) works
  • The DIY option as well as the interactive "virtual" real-time and "real-life in person" and the "one-on-one" options Bradley is working on
  • And more . . .

After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of adapting "the rules" into something that works in the ways that work for YOU rather than some pre-prescribed notion that doesn't fit. If you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet, maybe it's okay to break or shake up a few rules in order to pave your own path to success.

Links of Interest:

Before Bradley Charbonneau wrote his first book, he had written zero books. He spent years dreaming and wishing, chatting and hoping, but not actually writing. Finally, after years of procrastination, he wrote his first book. Since that first breakthrough, he's written 34 more. QUIZ: how many did Bradley write before his first book?

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 58:03 false 6 336 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Bradley Charbonneau about his new book PROCRASTINATE and his new "Book in a Weekend" program for writers. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks Patrons, provides a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the interview, Mark and Bradley talk about: Bradley's love of Europe and his first eye-opening experience at the age of fourteen with the continent His early experience writing extremely long letters to his parents when, several years later, living in France The importance of the "audience" being yourself when you write The fact that on no calendar is there a day called SOMEDAY The concept of Stubborn VS Determined Bradley's first challenge of writing every single day for the month of November in 2012 A further challenge of posting a YouTube video every single day The idea of "practice is perfect" (as opposed to "practice makes perfect") The long-time streak of writing every single day for 2808 days in a row Being painfully reminded of himself when he hears an author say that they have an idea for a book that they might write "some day" Avoiding regret by taking action Bradley's admiration for humor and improv The program to get your "opposite" book written as a critical step to getting to that larger "massive" project that has always been kept at the horizon How the humor aspect of writing your "opposite" book can help bring out new elements of creativity and how it can be therapeutic Bradley's book PROCRASTINATE, which was his "opposite" book project The "book in a weekend" program that Bradley is running to help other writers overcome the things he had to overcome on his own writing journey The idea of writing a book every year as a way of creating a "timestamp" of who we are - the same way creating a photo album every year (which his mother used to do) works The DIY option as well as the interactive "virtual" real-time and "real-life in person" and the "one-on-one" options Bradley is working on And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of adapting "the rules" into something that works in the ways that work for YOU rather than some pre-prescribed notion that doesn't fit. If you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet, maybe it's okay to break or shake up a few rules in order to pave your own path to success. Links of Interest: Bradley's Website Mark's Affiliate link to get 25% off BOOK IN A WEEKEND EP 334 - Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse with Brittlestar EP 335 - So You've Failed NaNoWriMo Building Our Christmas Tree Built Out of Books Draft2Digital Blog: So You Didn't Win NaNoWriMo Harley Christensen on Twitter (Harley's Website) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard     Before Bradley Charbonneau wrote his first book, he had written zero books. He spent years dreaming and wishing, chatting and hoping, but not actually writing. Finally, after years of procrastination, he wrote his first book. Since that first breakthrough, he's written 34 more. QUIZ: how many did Bradley write before his first book?   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Bradley Charbonneau about his new book PROCRASTINATE and his new "Book in a Weekend" program for writers. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks Patrons, provides a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the interview, Mark and Bradley talk about: Bradley's love of Europe and his first eye-opening experience at the age of fourteen with the continent His early experience writing extremely long letters to his parents when, several years later, living in France The importance of the "audience" being yourself when you write The fact that on no calendar is there a day called SOMEDAY The concept of Stubborn VS Determined Bradley's first challenge of writing every single day for the month of November in 2012 A further challenge of posting a YouTube video every single day The idea of "practice is perfect" (as opposed to "practice makes perfect") The long-time streak of writing every single day for 2808 days in a row Being painfully reminded of himself when he hears an author say that they have an idea for a book that they might write "some day" Avoiding regret by taking action Bradley's admiration for humor and improv The program to get your "opposite" book written as a critical step to getting to that larger "massive" project that has always been kept at the horizon How the humor aspect of writing your "opposite" book can help bring out new elements of creativity and how it can be therapeutic Bradley's book PROCRASTINATE, which was his "opposite" book project The "book in a weekend" program that Bradley is running to help other writers overcome the things he had to overcome on his own writing journey The idea of writing a book every year as a way of creating a "timestamp" of who we are - the same way creating a photo album every year (which his mother used to do) works The DIY option as well as the interactive "virtual" real-time and "real-life in person" and the "one-on-one" options Bradley is working on And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of adapting "the rules" into something that works in the ways that work for YOU rather than some pre-prescribed notion that doesn't fit. If you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet, maybe it's okay to break or shake up a few rules in order to pave your own path to success. Links of Interest: Bradley's Website Mark's Affiliate link to get 25% off BOOK IN A WEEKEND EP 334 - Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse with Brittlestar EP 335 - So You've Failed NaNoWriMo Building Our Christmas Tree Built Out of Books Draft2Digital Blog: So You Didn't Win NaNoWriMo Harley Christensen on Twitter (Harley's Website) Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard     Before Bradley Charbonneau wrote his first book, he had written zero books. He spent years dreaming and wishing, chatting and hoping, but not actually writing. Finally, after years of procrastination, he wrote his first book. Since that first breakthrough, he's written 34 more. QUIZ: how many did Bradley write before his first book?   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 335 - So You Failed NaNoWriMo EP 335 - So You Failed NaNoWriMo Fri, 01 Dec 2023 02:36:00 +0000 So it's December 1st, and NaNoWriMo is over. And everywhere around you, fellow author friends are posting on social media that they made it, they did it. They wrote 50,000 words in a single month.

You're happy for them, of course.

But you didn't quite make it to that 50,000 word goal yourself.

So what do you do?

Do you hang your head in shame and despair?

I say: NO.

I might be one of those "the page is half full" kind of writers, but if you're in the same boat as me, as an author who didn't complete the 30-day 50K word challenge, let me take over the paddle for a while and share a different spin.

 

Prior to the main content of this solo episode, Mark shares a brief personal update (explaining why there's another solo episode) and a word from this episode's sponsor.

There are plenty of books and tips on writing faster, learning more marketing tactics and strategies, trying to maximize your ranking, hitting the top of the charts, judging the algorithms, and hacking different ad platforms. But not enough guides to help you take the pressure off your art and enjoy the creative journey. Return to the love that brought you to writing in the first place.

Check out The Relaxed Author in audio, print, or eBook format.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> So it's December 1st, and NaNoWriMo is over. And everywhere around you, fellow author friends are posting on social media that they made it, they did it. They wrote 50,000 words in a single month.

You're happy for them, of course.

But you didn't quite make it to that 50,000 word goal yourself.

So what do you do?

Do you hang your head in shame and despair?

I say: NO.

I might be one of those "the page is half full" kind of writers, but if you're in the same boat as me, as an author who didn't complete the 30-day 50K word challenge, let me take over the paddle for a while and share a different spin.

Prior to the main content of this solo episode, Mark shares a brief personal update (explaining why there's another solo episode) and a word from this episode's sponsor.

There are plenty of books and tips on writing faster, learning more marketing tactics and strategies, trying to maximize your ranking, hitting the top of the charts, judging the algorithms, and hacking different ad platforms. But not enough guides to help you take the pressure off your art and enjoy the creative journey. Return to the love that brought you to writing in the first place.

Check out The Relaxed Author in audio, print, or eBook format.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 29:18 false 6 355 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)So it's December 1st, and NaNoWriMo is over. And everywhere around you, fellow author friends are posting on social media that they made it, they did it. They wrote 50,000 words in a single month. You're happy for them, of course. But you didn't quite make it to that 50,000 word goal yourself. So what do you do? Do you hang your head in shame and despair? I say: NO. I might be one of those "the page is half full" kind of writers, but if you're in the same boat as me, as an author who didn't complete the 30-day 50K word challenge, let me take over the paddle for a while and share a different spin.   Prior to the main content of this solo episode, Mark shares a brief personal update (explaining why there's another solo episode) and a word from this episode's sponsor. There are plenty of books and tips on writing faster, learning more marketing tactics and strategies, trying to maximize your ranking, hitting the top of the charts, judging the algorithms, and hacking different ad platforms. But not enough guides to help you take the pressure off your art and enjoy the creative journey. Return to the love that brought you to writing in the first place. Check out The Relaxed Author in audio, print, or eBook format.   Links of Interest: EP 212 - A Conversation with Joanna Penn on Co-Authoring The Relaxed Author Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0So it's December 1st, and NaNoWriMo is over. And everywhere around you, fellow author friends are posting on social media that they made it, they did it. They wrote 50,000 words in a single month. You're happy for them, of course. But you didn't quite make it to that 50,000 word goal yourself. So what do you do? Do you hang your head in shame and despair? I say: NO. I might be one of those "the page is half full" kind of writers, but if you're in the same boat as me, as an author who didn't complete the 30-day 50K word challenge, let me take over the paddle for a while and share a different spin.   Prior to the main content of this solo episode, Mark shares a brief personal update (explaining why there's another solo episode) and a word from this episode's sponsor. There are plenty of books and tips on writing faster, learning more marketing tactics and strategies, trying to maximize your ranking, hitting the top of the charts, judging the algorithms, and hacking different ad platforms. But not enough guides to help you take the pressure off your art and enjoy the creative journey. Return to the love that brought you to writing in the first place. Check out The Relaxed Author in audio, print, or eBook format.   Links of Interest: EP 212 - A Conversation with Joanna Penn on Co-Authoring The Relaxed Author Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 334 - Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse with Brittlestar EP 334 - Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse with Brittlestar Thu, 23 Nov 2023 22:37:00 +0000

Mark interviews social media funny man Brittlestar (Stewart Reynolds) about his creative work and his new book Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse: Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon.

 

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes a new patron, and offers a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Mark's movie trivia guides to Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Die Hard.

In their conversation, Mark and Stewart talk about:

  • Where the name "Brittlestar" came from
  • Stewart's background as a musician and how he incorporates that into the parody music his does as part of his video skits
  • How the music he now does for social media posts has broadly opened up the various styles and genres he can play and play with
  • Stewart always writing stuff since he was a kid
  • The way the book came from a series of topics that he wanted to riff on but which might not work as well for a video
  • Being a fan of music and television and videos and trying to produce content from the perspective of the audience and of things he would like to see
  • Beginning to do social media content back in 2013
  • Some of the early viral videos including the "Put Your Finger on the Screen" series and "Summer is Not Over"
  • How Stewart, his wife Shannon, and their two sons were all involved in the creation of their social media content, and how Disney and that social media business came along in the nick of time to save them
  • The KFC-branded "Explaining Canada Day to Americans" video that rec'd more than 10 million views than that year's most popular Nike video
  • The process of how they create these videos, often based on a concept and a punch-line with a bit of winging it
  • Getting into writing specific scripts for these skits about five years ago, which led into the monologue-style videos
  • Why their living room is often dubbed the place where ideas go to die
  • The "The Morning Show Thing" show that Stewart and Shannon started in 2015 - which is returning again in a slightly differen format
  • Having to convince Shannon to come out in front of the camera
  • Stewart's new book WELCOME TO THE STUPIDPOCALYPSE: Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon
  • Some of the differences between writing essays that were 1000 words verses a one and a half minute video
  • The irreverence that Stewart was able to inject into the text of the book
  • Being contacted by a literary agency that asked if Stewart was interested in writing a book
  • The constant mistake humans make in compartmentalizing themselves into boxes such as "left wing" or "right wing" and how we get hung up on those things
  • The foreword (written by Ryan Reynolds), the middleword (written by Mary Trump) and the afterword (written by Colin Mochrie) which was partially inspired by something Eric Idle put on the cover of one of his books
  • Stewart's thoughts on the digital umbilical chord
  • A strategy for dealing with trolls online
  • The two times in the past ten years of being on social media where responding to negative comments actually worked out okay
  • Stewart's theory that Canadian cuisine is a defiance
  • Advice that Stewart would offer to other creatives: "Don't make art for artists."
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the unique opportunity to chat with someone who has inspired you and Stewart's advice about not making art for other artists, but rather for the specific consumers of your product.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Brittlestar, a.k.a. Stewart Reynolds, is a bespectacled every-dad who has become a popular online media personality over the past decade. Every week, hundreds of thousands of people watch his videos on various social media channels. Some of Brittlestar's followers include Henry Winkler, Ryan Reynolds, Ken Jeong, Rex Chapman, Yvette Nicole Brown, and many other politicians and journalists. Brittlestar videos have been viewed more than a combined 600 million times, allowing him to gain a global fanbase, attend speaking engagements all over North America, receive an invitation to the White House, and engage in collaborations with celebrities such as Gordon Ramsay, Alan Thicke, and the Property Brothers.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews social media funny man Brittlestar (Stewart Reynolds) about his creative work and his new book Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse: Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes a new patron, and offers a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Mark's movie trivia guides to Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Die Hard.

In their conversation, Mark and Stewart talk about:

  • Where the name "Brittlestar" came from
  • Stewart's background as a musician and how he incorporates that into the parody music his does as part of his video skits
  • How the music he now does for social media posts has broadly opened up the various styles and genres he can play and play with
  • Stewart always writing stuff since he was a kid
  • The way the book came from a series of topics that he wanted to riff on but which might not work as well for a video
  • Being a fan of music and television and videos and trying to produce content from the perspective of the audience and of things he would like to see
  • Beginning to do social media content back in 2013
  • Some of the early viral videos including the "Put Your Finger on the Screen" series and "Summer is Not Over"
  • How Stewart, his wife Shannon, and their two sons were all involved in the creation of their social media content, and how Disney and that social media business came along in the nick of time to save them
  • The KFC-branded "Explaining Canada Day to Americans" video that rec'd more than 10 million views than that year's most popular Nike video
  • The process of how they create these videos, often based on a concept and a punch-line with a bit of winging it
  • Getting into writing specific scripts for these skits about five years ago, which led into the monologue-style videos
  • Why their living room is often dubbed the place where ideas go to die
  • The "The Morning Show Thing" show that Stewart and Shannon started in 2015 - which is returning again in a slightly differen format
  • Having to convince Shannon to come out in front of the camera
  • Stewart's new book WELCOME TO THE STUPIDPOCALYPSE: Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon
  • Some of the differences between writing essays that were 1000 words verses a one and a half minute video
  • The irreverence that Stewart was able to inject into the text of the book
  • Being contacted by a literary agency that asked if Stewart was interested in writing a book
  • The constant mistake humans make in compartmentalizing themselves into boxes such as "left wing" or "right wing" and how we get hung up on those things
  • The foreword (written by Ryan Reynolds), the middleword (written by Mary Trump) and the afterword (written by Colin Mochrie) which was partially inspired by something Eric Idle put on the cover of one of his books
  • Stewart's thoughts on the digital umbilical chord
  • A strategy for dealing with trolls online
  • The two times in the past ten years of being on social media where responding to negative comments actually worked out okay
  • Stewart's theory that Canadian cuisine is a defiance
  • Advice that Stewart would offer to other creatives: "Don't make art for artists."
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the unique opportunity to chat with someone who has inspired you and Stewart's advice about not making art for other artists, but rather for the specific consumers of your product.

Links of Interest:

Brittlestar, a.k.a. Stewart Reynolds, is a bespectacled every-dad who has become a popular online media personality over the past decade. Every week, hundreds of thousands of people watch his videos on various social media channels. Some of Brittlestar's followers include Henry Winkler, Ryan Reynolds, Ken Jeong, Rex Chapman, Yvette Nicole Brown, and many other politicians and journalists. Brittlestar videos have been viewed more than a combined 600 million times, allowing him to gain a global fanbase, attend speaking engagements all over North America, receive an invitation to the White House, and engage in collaborations with celebrities such as Gordon Ramsay, Alan Thicke, and the Property Brothers.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 55:34 false 6 334 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews social media funny man Brittlestar (Stewart Reynolds) about his creative work and his new book Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse: Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon.   Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes a new patron, and offers a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Mark's movie trivia guides to Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Die Hard. In their conversation, Mark and Stewart talk about: Where the name "Brittlestar" came from Stewart's background as a musician and how he incorporates that into the parody music his does as part of his video skits How the music he now does for social media posts has broadly opened up the various styles and genres he can play and play with Stewart always writing stuff since he was a kid The way the book came from a series of topics that he wanted to riff on but which might not work as well for a video Being a fan of music and television and videos and trying to produce content from the perspective of the audience and of things he would like to see Beginning to do social media content back in 2013 Some of the early viral videos including the "Put Your Finger on the Screen" series and "Summer is Not Over" How Stewart, his wife Shannon, and their two sons were all involved in the creation of their social media content, and how Disney and that social media business came along in the nick of time to save them The KFC-branded "Explaining Canada Day to Americans" video that rec'd more than 10 million views than that year's most popular Nike video The process of how they create these videos, often based on a concept and a punch-line with a bit of winging it Getting into writing specific scripts for these skits about five years ago, which led into the monologue-style videos Why their living room is often dubbed the place where ideas go to die The "The Morning Show Thing" show that Stewart and Shannon started in 2015 - which is returning again in a slightly differen format Having to convince Shannon to come out in front of the camera Stewart's new book WELCOME TO THE STUPIDPOCALYPSE: Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon Some of the differences between writing essays that were 1000 words verses a one and a half minute video The irreverence that Stewart was able to inject into the text of the book Being contacted by a literary agency that asked if Stewart was interested in writing a book The constant mistake humans make in compartmentalizing themselves into boxes such as "left wing" or "right wing" and how we get hung up on those things The foreword (written by Ryan Reynolds), the middleword (written by Mary Trump) and the afterword (written by Colin Mochrie) which was partially inspired by something Eric Idle put on the cover of one of his books Stewart's thoughts on the digital umbilical chord A strategy for dealing with trolls online The two times in the past ten years of being on social media where responding to negative comments actually worked out okay Stewart's theory that Canadian cuisine is a defiance Advice that Stewart would offer to other creatives: "Don't make art for artists." And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the unique opportunity to chat with someone who has inspired you and Stewart's advice about not making art for other artists, but rather for the specific consumers of your product.   Links of Interest: Brittlestar's Website YouTube  Twitter Instagram TikTok Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse EP 333 - 10 Things You Likely Didn't Know About Draft2Digital Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Brittlestar, a.k.a. Stewart Reynolds, is a bespectacled every-dad who has become a popular online media personality over the past decade. Every week, hundreds of thousands of people watch his videos on various social media channels. Some of Brittlestar's followers include Henry Winkler, Ryan Reynolds, Ken Jeong, Rex Chapman, Yvette Nicole Brown, and many other politicians and journalists. Brittlestar videos have been viewed more than a combined 600 million times, allowing him to gain a global fanbase, attend speaking engagements all over North America, receive an invitation to the White House, and engage in collaborations with celebrities such as Gordon Ramsay, Alan Thicke, and the Property Brothers.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews social media funny man Brittlestar (Stewart Reynolds) about his creative work and his new book Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse: Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon.   Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes a new patron, and offers a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Mark's movie trivia guides to Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Die Hard. In their conversation, Mark and Stewart talk about: Where the name "Brittlestar" came from Stewart's background as a musician and how he incorporates that into the parody music his does as part of his video skits How the music he now does for social media posts has broadly opened up the various styles and genres he can play and play with Stewart always writing stuff since he was a kid The way the book came from a series of topics that he wanted to riff on but which might not work as well for a video Being a fan of music and television and videos and trying to produce content from the perspective of the audience and of things he would like to see Beginning to do social media content back in 2013 Some of the early viral videos including the "Put Your Finger on the Screen" series and "Summer is Not Over" How Stewart, his wife Shannon, and their two sons were all involved in the creation of their social media content, and how Disney and that social media business came along in the nick of time to save them The KFC-branded "Explaining Canada Day to Americans" video that rec'd more than 10 million views than that year's most popular Nike video The process of how they create these videos, often based on a concept and a punch-line with a bit of winging it Getting into writing specific scripts for these skits about five years ago, which led into the monologue-style videos Why their living room is often dubbed the place where ideas go to die The "The Morning Show Thing" show that Stewart and Shannon started in 2015 - which is returning again in a slightly differen format Having to convince Shannon to come out in front of the camera Stewart's new book WELCOME TO THE STUPIDPOCALYPSE: Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon Some of the differences between writing essays that were 1000 words verses a one and a half minute video The irreverence that Stewart was able to inject into the text of the book Being contacted by a literary agency that asked if Stewart was interested in writing a book The constant mistake humans make in compartmentalizing themselves into boxes such as "left wing" or "right wing" and how we get hung up on those things The foreword (written by Ryan Reynolds), the middleword (written by Mary Trump) and the afterword (written by Colin Mochrie) which was partially inspired by something Eric Idle put on the cover of one of his books Stewart's thoughts on the digital umbilical chord A strategy for dealing with trolls online The two times in the past ten years of being on social media where responding to negative comments actually worked out okay Stewart's theory that Canadian cuisine is a defiance Advice that Stewart would offer to other creatives: "Don't make art for artists." And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the unique opportunity to chat with someone who has inspired you and Stewart's advice about not making art for other artists, but rather for the specific consumers of your product.   Links of Interest: Brittlestar's Website YouTube  Twitter Instagram TikTok Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse EP 333 - 10 Things You Likely Didn't Know About Draft2Digital Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Brittlestar, a.k.a. Stewart Reynolds, is a bespectacled every-dad who has become a popular online media personality over the past decade. Every week, hundreds of thousands of people watch his videos on various social media channels. Some of Brittlestar's followers include Henry Winkler, Ryan Reynolds, Ken Jeong, Rex Chapman, Yvette Nicole Brown, and many other politicians and journalists. Brittlestar videos have been viewed more than a combined 600 million times, allowing him to gain a global fanbase, attend speaking engagements all over North America, receive an invitation to the White House, and engage in collaborations with celebrities such as Gordon Ramsay, Alan Thicke, and the Property Brothers.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 333 - 10 Things You Likely Didn't Know About Draft2Digital EP 333 - 10 Things You Likely Didn't Know About Draft2Digital Thu, 16 Nov 2023 21:31:00 +0000 Mark shares the audio from a presentation he gave in early November 2023 at 20BooksVegas called "10 Things You Likely Didn't Know About Draft2Digital."

This episode is sponsored by Mark's affiliate link to Draft2Digital.

Go to https://draft2digital.com/markleslie to sign up for a free Draft2Digital account.

The visuals and slides for this presentation can be downloaded here.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark shares the audio from a presentation he gave in early November 2023 at 20BooksVegas called "10 Things You Likely Didn't Know About Draft2Digital."

This episode is sponsored by Mark's affiliate link to Draft2Digital.

Go to https://draft2digital.com/markleslie to sign up for a free Draft2Digital account.

The visuals and slides for this presentation can be downloaded here.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 38:05 false 6 333 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark shares the audio from a presentation he gave in early November 2023 at 20BooksVegas called "10 Things You Likely Didn't Know About Draft2Digital." This episode is sponsored by Mark's affiliate link to Draft2Digital. Go to https://draft2digital.com/markleslie to sign up for a free Draft2Digital account. The visuals and slides for this presentation can be downloaded here.   Links of Interest: Visuals / Slides for this episode's presentation Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark shares the audio from a presentation he gave in early November 2023 at 20BooksVegas called "10 Things You Likely Didn't Know About Draft2Digital." This episode is sponsored by Mark's affiliate link to Draft2Digital. Go to https://draft2digital.com/markleslie to sign up for a free Draft2Digital account. The visuals and slides for this presentation can be downloaded here.   Links of Interest: Visuals / Slides for this episode's presentation Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 332 - The Art of Noticing with Johnny B. Truant The Art of Noticing with Johnny B. Truant Fri, 10 Nov 2023 08:34:00 +0000 Mark interviews Johnny B. Truant about his new THE ART OF NOTICING podcast.

Prior to the main content, Mark leverages his digital AI voice from Eleven Labs to offer a brief introduction as well as a word about this episode's sponsor, the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Johnny B. Truant is a bestselling full-time author with over a hundred books to his name. His best-known book is probably Fat Vampire, which was adapted by the SyFy Network as Reginald the Vampire. Some of his other big hits are Pretty Killer, The Beam, Pattern Black, Gore Point, Dead City, Invasion, and Unicorn Western.

 

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Johnny B. Truant about his new THE ART OF NOTICING podcast.

Prior to the main content, Mark leverages his digital AI voice from Eleven Labs to offer a brief introduction as well as a word about this episode's sponsor, the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Links of Interest:

Johnny B. Truant is a bestselling full-time author with over a hundred books to his name. His best-known book is probably Fat Vampire, which was adapted by the SyFy Network as Reginald the Vampire. Some of his other big hits are Pretty Killer, The Beam, Pattern Black, Gore Point, Dead City, Invasion, and Unicorn Western.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 20:05 false 6 332 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Johnny B. Truant about his new THE ART OF NOTICING podcast. Prior to the main content, Mark leverages his digital AI voice from Eleven Labs to offer a brief introduction as well as a word about this episode's sponsor, the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.   Links of Interest: Johnny B. Truant's Website Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Johnny B. Truant is a bestselling full-time author with over a hundred books to his name. His best-known book is probably Fat Vampire, which was adapted by the SyFy Network as Reginald the Vampire. Some of his other big hits are Pretty Killer, The Beam, Pattern Black, Gore Point, Dead City, Invasion, and Unicorn Western.       The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Johnny B. Truant about his new THE ART OF NOTICING podcast. Prior to the main content, Mark leverages his digital AI voice from Eleven Labs to offer a brief introduction as well as a word about this episode's sponsor, the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.   Links of Interest: Johnny B. Truant's Website Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Johnny B. Truant is a bestselling full-time author with over a hundred books to his name. His best-known book is probably Fat Vampire, which was adapted by the SyFy Network as Reginald the Vampire. Some of his other big hits are Pretty Killer, The Beam, Pattern Black, Gore Point, Dead City, Invasion, and Unicorn Western.       The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 331 - Self Publishing Made Simple with April M. Cox Self Publishing Made Simple with April M. Cox Thu, 02 Nov 2023 21:26:00 +0000 Mark interviews author, coach & CEO/Founder of Little Labradoodle Publishing April Cox.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal updates and a word about this episode's sponsor, the Authorpreneur Summit 2023.

Transform your passion to profit! Unveil the business behind the book and elevate your business acumen with 35+ industry-leading authorpreneurs at the Authorpreneur Summit.

 

During their interview Mark and April talk about:

  • April's background as a former IT consulting geek
  • Leaving that corporate world to assist authors with their publishing goals and helping to make their dreams come true
  • How her desire to write a story for her grandkids led to an entirely new and dynamic role and purpose
  • Recognizing how she could make a huge difference being there to help authors who would normally be easy targets for so many of the predatory outfits looking to take advantage of them
  • The origin of Little Labradoodle Publishing which was more of a legacy project
  • How the consultant, programmer, and project manager in April were applied to help authors with navigating the complex world of publishing books for younger readers
  • Why April puts so much free content on sites like her YouTube channel
  • April's 12-week course that takes authors through the process of getting a book ready for publishing
  • The importance of having a network of trusted professionals to work with
  • Wanting to create a summit that focused more on the business side of publishing, which became the Authorpreneur Summit
  • Some of the amazing interviews that have been lined up for this summit which takes place for free Dec 4 through Dec 8, 2023
  • The bonuses April will be releasing for those who sign up for the summit early
  • Advice April would offer to authors who are receiving numerous rejection letters from traditional publishing
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the value when an author combines their passion with filling in a hole within a particular market.

 

Links of Interest:

 

April Cox is an Author, Coach & CEO/Founder of Little Labradoodle Publishing. She has successfully guided over 1,500 authors from manuscript to a high-quality, self-published book through her 90-day signature program, Self-Publishing Made Simple.

April is a passionate teacher and speaker on publishing topics and has personally launched over 400 books.

 

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark interviews author, coach & CEO/Founder of Little Labradoodle Publishing April Cox.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal updates and a word about this episode's sponsor, the Authorpreneur Summit 2023.

Transform your passion to profit! Unveil the business behind the book and elevate your business acumen with 35+ industry-leading authorpreneurs at the Authorpreneur Summit.

During their interview Mark and April talk about:

  • April's background as a former IT consulting geek
  • Leaving that corporate world to assist authors with their publishing goals and helping to make their dreams come true
  • How her desire to write a story for her grandkids led to an entirely new and dynamic role and purpose
  • Recognizing how she could make a huge difference being there to help authors who would normally be easy targets for so many of the predatory outfits looking to take advantage of them
  • The origin of Little Labradoodle Publishing which was more of a legacy project
  • How the consultant, programmer, and project manager in April were applied to help authors with navigating the complex world of publishing books for younger readers
  • Why April puts so much free content on sites like her YouTube channel
  • April's 12-week course that takes authors through the process of getting a book ready for publishing
  • The importance of having a network of trusted professionals to work with
  • Wanting to create a summit that focused more on the business side of publishing, which became the Authorpreneur Summit
  • Some of the amazing interviews that have been lined up for this summit which takes place for free Dec 4 through Dec 8, 2023
  • The bonuses April will be releasing for those who sign up for the summit early
  • Advice April would offer to authors who are receiving numerous rejection letters from traditional publishing
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the value when an author combines their passion with filling in a hole within a particular market.

Links of Interest:

April Cox is an Author, Coach & CEO/Founder of Little Labradoodle Publishing. She has successfully guided over 1,500 authors from manuscript to a high-quality, self-published book through her 90-day signature program, Self-Publishing Made Simple.

April is a passionate teacher and speaker on publishing topics and has personally launched over 400 books.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 41:24 false 6 331 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author, coach & CEO/Founder of Little Labradoodle Publishing April Cox. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal updates and a word about this episode's sponsor, the Authorpreneur Summit 2023. Transform your passion to profit! Unveil the business behind the book and elevate your business acumen with 35+ industry-leading authorpreneurs at the Authorpreneur Summit.   During their interview Mark and April talk about: April's background as a former IT consulting geek Leaving that corporate world to assist authors with their publishing goals and helping to make their dreams come true How her desire to write a story for her grandkids led to an entirely new and dynamic role and purpose Recognizing how she could make a huge difference being there to help authors who would normally be easy targets for so many of the predatory outfits looking to take advantage of them The origin of Little Labradoodle Publishing which was more of a legacy project How the consultant, programmer, and project manager in April were applied to help authors with navigating the complex world of publishing books for younger readers Why April puts so much free content on sites like her YouTube channel April's 12-week course that takes authors through the process of getting a book ready for publishing The importance of having a network of trusted professionals to work with Wanting to create a summit that focused more on the business side of publishing, which became the Authorpreneur Summit Some of the amazing interviews that have been lined up for this summit which takes place for free Dec 4 through Dec 8, 2023 The bonuses April will be releasing for those who sign up for the summit early Advice April would offer to authors who are receiving numerous rejection letters from traditional publishing And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the value when an author combines their passion with filling in a hole within a particular market.   Links of Interest: April's Self Publishing Made Simple Website April's YouTube Channel Mark's Affiliate Link to the Authorpreneur Summit 2023 Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   April Cox is an Author, Coach & CEO/Founder of Little Labradoodle Publishing. She has successfully guided over 1,500 authors from manuscript to a high-quality, self-published book through her 90-day signature program, Self-Publishing Made Simple. April is a passionate teacher and speaker on publishing topics and has personally launched over 400 books.       The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark interviews author, coach & CEO/Founder of Little Labradoodle Publishing April Cox. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal updates and a word about this episode's sponsor, the Authorpreneur Summit 2023. Transform your passion to profit! Unveil the business behind the book and elevate your business acumen with 35+ industry-leading authorpreneurs at the Authorpreneur Summit.   During their interview Mark and April talk about: April's background as a former IT consulting geek Leaving that corporate world to assist authors with their publishing goals and helping to make their dreams come true How her desire to write a story for her grandkids led to an entirely new and dynamic role and purpose Recognizing how she could make a huge difference being there to help authors who would normally be easy targets for so many of the predatory outfits looking to take advantage of them The origin of Little Labradoodle Publishing which was more of a legacy project How the consultant, programmer, and project manager in April were applied to help authors with navigating the complex world of publishing books for younger readers Why April puts so much free content on sites like her YouTube channel April's 12-week course that takes authors through the process of getting a book ready for publishing The importance of having a network of trusted professionals to work with Wanting to create a summit that focused more on the business side of publishing, which became the Authorpreneur Summit Some of the amazing interviews that have been lined up for this summit which takes place for free Dec 4 through Dec 8, 2023 The bonuses April will be releasing for those who sign up for the summit early Advice April would offer to authors who are receiving numerous rejection letters from traditional publishing And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the value when an author combines their passion with filling in a hole within a particular market.   Links of Interest: April's Self Publishing Made Simple Website April's YouTube Channel Mark's Affiliate Link to the Authorpreneur Summit 2023 Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   April Cox is an Author, Coach & CEO/Founder of Little Labradoodle Publishing. She has successfully guided over 1,500 authors from manuscript to a high-quality, self-published book through her 90-day signature program, Self-Publishing Made Simple. April is a passionate teacher and speaker on publishing topics and has personally launched over 400 books.       The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 330 - Book Indexing with Stephen Ullstrom EP 330 - Book Indexing with Stephen Ullstrom Thu, 26 Oct 2023 22:47:00 +0000 Mark interviews writer and indexer Stephen Ullstrom about book indexing and his recent release BOOK INDEXING: A Step-by-Step Guide.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update about a skeleton and license plate theft, as well as word about this episode's sponsor, the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

 

In their conversation, Mark and Stephen talk about:

  • Stephen's long-time interest in writing
  • How his role working at UBC Press when he was attending university was his first exposure to indexing
  • Using freelancing doing indexing to help support his writing, but how that freelancing kind of took over much of his career
  • Still being interested in fiction, but how writing a book about indexing was a good full book-length project to complete
  • Stephen's book: BOOK INDEXING: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • His goal to make indexing simple and practical and more entry-level
  • Why authors should care about indexing
  • How indexing can become somewhat of a marketing tool
  • The way an index can bring more value to a book
  • The pros and cons of a keyword search (as opposed to an index, where the human filtering on what's relevant is being done for you)
  • How an index can be much more granular than even a layered/multi-leveled table of contents
  • The way an index works within an eBook
  • What an embedded index is
  • Cases where a fiction author might want to use indexing
  • Considerations on whether or not it's best to do your own index or to hire that work out to a professional indexer
  • The average length of time it would take Stephen to index a 200 page book (about 20 hours)
  • The typical price range an author can expect to pay for having a book indexed (For example a trade book that's about 200 pages could cost about $800 to $900 CAD - about $4.00 CAD per page. A scholary book is usually about $6.00 to $6.50 to $7.00 CAD per page)
  • The steps to go through when creating an index
  • Stephen's use of the indexing software called Cindex
  • Remembering that, ultimately, your index is for the READER
  • How to hire Stephen if you're interested in leveraging his indexing services\
  • A common misperception authors often have about indexing
  • And more

 

After the interview, Mark reflects on the value of indexing as it pertains to some of his non-fiction and even fiction titles.

 

 

Links of Interest:

 

Stephen Ullstrom is an award-winning professional indexer. He believes that the world is a better place with well-written indexes, and is passionate about helping authors, publishers, and the index-curious understand how indexing works.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews writer and indexer Stephen Ullstrom about book indexing and his recent release BOOK INDEXING: A Step-by-Step Guide.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update about a skeleton and license plate theft, as well as word about this episode's sponsor, the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

In their conversation, Mark and Stephen talk about:

  • Stephen's long-time interest in writing
  • How his role working at UBC Press when he was attending university was his first exposure to indexing
  • Using freelancing doing indexing to help support his writing, but how that freelancing kind of took over much of his career
  • Still being interested in fiction, but how writing a book about indexing was a good full book-length project to complete
  • Stephen's book: BOOK INDEXING: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • His goal to make indexing simple and practical and more entry-level
  • Why authors should care about indexing
  • How indexing can become somewhat of a marketing tool
  • The way an index can bring more value to a book
  • The pros and cons of a keyword search (as opposed to an index, where the human filtering on what's relevant is being done for you)
  • How an index can be much more granular than even a layered/multi-leveled table of contents
  • The way an index works within an eBook
  • What an embedded index is
  • Cases where a fiction author might want to use indexing
  • Considerations on whether or not it's best to do your own index or to hire that work out to a professional indexer
  • The average length of time it would take Stephen to index a 200 page book (about 20 hours)
  • The typical price range an author can expect to pay for having a book indexed (For example a trade book that's about 200 pages could cost about $800 to $900 CAD - about $4.00 CAD per page. A scholary book is usually about $6.00 to $6.50 to $7.00 CAD per page)
  • The steps to go through when creating an index
  • Stephen's use of the indexing software called Cindex
  • Remembering that, ultimately, your index is for the READER
  • How to hire Stephen if you're interested in leveraging his indexing services\
  • A common misperception authors often have about indexing
  • And more

After the interview, Mark reflects on the value of indexing as it pertains to some of his non-fiction and even fiction titles.

Links of Interest:

Stephen Ullstrom is an award-winning professional indexer. He believes that the world is a better place with well-written indexes, and is passionate about helping authors, publishers, and the index-curious understand how indexing works.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:01:54 false 6 330 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews writer and indexer Stephen Ullstrom about book indexing and his recent release BOOK INDEXING: A Step-by-Step Guide. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update about a skeleton and license plate theft, as well as word about this episode's sponsor, the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.   In their conversation, Mark and Stephen talk about: Stephen's long-time interest in writing How his role working at UBC Press when he was attending university was his first exposure to indexing Using freelancing doing indexing to help support his writing, but how that freelancing kind of took over much of his career Still being interested in fiction, but how writing a book about indexing was a good full book-length project to complete Stephen's book: BOOK INDEXING: A Step-by-Step Guide His goal to make indexing simple and practical and more entry-level Why authors should care about indexing How indexing can become somewhat of a marketing tool The way an index can bring more value to a book The pros and cons of a keyword search (as opposed to an index, where the human filtering on what's relevant is being done for you) How an index can be much more granular than even a layered/multi-leveled table of contents The way an index works within an eBook What an embedded index is Cases where a fiction author might want to use indexing Considerations on whether or not it's best to do your own index or to hire that work out to a professional indexer The average length of time it would take Stephen to index a 200 page book (about 20 hours) The typical price range an author can expect to pay for having a book indexed (For example a trade book that's about 200 pages could cost about $800 to $900 CAD - about $4.00 CAD per page. A scholary book is usually about $6.00 to $6.50 to $7.00 CAD per page) The steps to go through when creating an index Stephen's use of the indexing software called Cindex Remembering that, ultimately, your index is for the READER How to hire Stephen if you're interested in leveraging his indexing services\ A common misperception authors often have about indexing And more   After the interview, Mark reflects on the value of indexing as it pertains to some of his non-fiction and even fiction titles.     Links of Interest: Stephen Ullstrom's Website Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Stephen Ullstrom is an award-winning professional indexer. He believes that the world is a better place with well-written indexes, and is passionate about helping authors, publishers, and the index-curious understand how indexing works.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews writer and indexer Stephen Ullstrom about book indexing and his recent release BOOK INDEXING: A Step-by-Step Guide. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update about a skeleton and license plate theft, as well as word about this episode's sponsor, the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.   In their conversation, Mark and Stephen talk about: Stephen's long-time interest in writing How his role working at UBC Press when he was attending university was his first exposure to indexing Using freelancing doing indexing to help support his writing, but how that freelancing kind of took over much of his career Still being interested in fiction, but how writing a book about indexing was a good full book-length project to complete Stephen's book: BOOK INDEXING: A Step-by-Step Guide His goal to make indexing simple and practical and more entry-level Why authors should care about indexing How indexing can become somewhat of a marketing tool The way an index can bring more value to a book The pros and cons of a keyword search (as opposed to an index, where the human filtering on what's relevant is being done for you) How an index can be much more granular than even a layered/multi-leveled table of contents The way an index works within an eBook What an embedded index is Cases where a fiction author might want to use indexing Considerations on whether or not it's best to do your own index or to hire that work out to a professional indexer The average length of time it would take Stephen to index a 200 page book (about 20 hours) The typical price range an author can expect to pay for having a book indexed (For example a trade book that's about 200 pages could cost about $800 to $900 CAD - about $4.00 CAD per page. A scholary book is usually about $6.00 to $6.50 to $7.00 CAD per page) The steps to go through when creating an index Stephen's use of the indexing software called Cindex Remembering that, ultimately, your index is for the READER How to hire Stephen if you're interested in leveraging his indexing services\ A common misperception authors often have about indexing And more   After the interview, Mark reflects on the value of indexing as it pertains to some of his non-fiction and even fiction titles.     Links of Interest: Stephen Ullstrom's Website Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Stephen Ullstrom is an award-winning professional indexer. He believes that the world is a better place with well-written indexes, and is passionate about helping authors, publishers, and the index-curious understand how indexing works.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 329 - Laws of Tenacity with Eriq La Salle EP 329 - Laws of Tenacity with Eriq La Salle Thu, 19 Oct 2023 23:50:00 +0000 Mark interviews actor/director/producer/writer Eriq La Salle about his latest novel LAWS OF ANNIHILATION and his life-long passion for storytelling.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks Patrons, provides a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

 

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is findawayvoiceslogo.png

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Eriq talk about:

  • How Eriq had always wanted to be a writer
  • Joining the high school drama club in junior high with the idea that they'd be able to put on the plays that he would write
  • Being told by the drama teacher that he had to audition, and how that started the "acting bug" that took him through a multi-decade career acting, directing, and producing
  • The way the author desire resurfaced about a dozen years ago
  • The prequel story to The Martyr Maker series (which appears in the end of LAWS OF DEPRAVITY) and why Eriq wrote it
  • The concept behind The Martyr Maker franchise
  • Loving movies and television and being inspired by the storytelling conventions there
  • The way each of the three main characters leads a little bit more in the first three books in the series
  • Eriq's work as Executive Producer for several years on Chicago PD
  • Directing and Executive Producing Dick Wolf's first show launched into streaming on Amazon Prime
  • A minor character in the series (known as "The African") who was fashioned after the Luca Brasi character in The Godfather and who will return in a later book in the series
  • How it took 10 years to find a publisher, and Eriq's DIY experience self-publishing
  • The importance of understanding and participating in the grass-roots style marketing as an author
  • Having to do a lot of marketing work even when you're with a larger publisher
  • The way that the status of "celebrity" can sometimes work against you
  • Eriq's respect for each medium and how to re-think, and re-learn in his unique roles within them
  • The importance of humbling yourself
  • How the marketing person that Eriq had hired and worked with eventually became his agent
  • Feeling that he is a better writer of fiction novels than of screenplays, despite his years of experience as an actor, director, and producer
  • The intention cinematic writing that Eriq did when crafting The Martyr Maker series
  • Enjoying collecting "useless trivia" and how that can aid in the research aspect of writing a novel
  • Giving credit to the technical advisors Eriq has worked with on shows like ER and Chicago PD
  • The various first readers that Eriq works with
  • Being an old fashioned paper book reader
  • Eriq's great respect for librarians
  • The delightful feeling of seeing your book in various bookstores of all sizes, including indie bookstores, big box stores, and airport bookstores
  • Doing several events in New York for the week the book is launching, including a special "On the Couch with Eriq La Salle"
  • The importance of listening to the messaging
  • The understanding that "we are blue collar artists"
  • Advice Eriq would offer to writers who are working at it and haven't yet found their success
  • And more . . .

After the interview, Mark reflects on a few of the things Eriq talked about, as well as a subtle, but important way Eriq spoke about the "team" he works with as an author.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Actor/director/producer Eriq La Salle is best known to worldwide television audiences for his award-winning portrayal of the commanding Dr. Peter Benton on the critically acclaimed and history-making medical drama ER. Educated at Juilliard and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, his credits range from Broadway to film roles opposite Eddie Murphy in Coming to America and Robin Williams in One Hour Photo and Hugh Jackman in Logan. La Salle has maintained a prolific acting career while at the same time working steadily as a director, taking the helm for HBO, Showtime, NBC, Fox and CBS. He remains a valued member of the Dick Wolf Entertainment camp after 4 years as Executive Producer and director on Chicago PD in addition to directing episodes of Law & Order, and Law and Order Organized Crime.

As a writer, La Salle is the author of several critically acclaimed thrillers published in 2022 and 2023-Laws of Depravity, Laws of Wrath, and Laws of Annihilation. He has also written an episode of The Twilight Zone which made WGA's list of 101 Best Written TV Series. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark interviews actor/director/producer/writer Eriq La Salle about his latest novel LAWS OF ANNIHILATION and his life-long passion for storytelling.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks Patrons, provides a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Eriq talk about:

  • How Eriq had always wanted to be a writer
  • Joining the high school drama club in junior high with the idea that they'd be able to put on the plays that he would write
  • Being told by the drama teacher that he had to audition, and how that started the "acting bug" that took him through a multi-decade career acting, directing, and producing
  • The way the author desire resurfaced about a dozen years ago
  • The prequel story to The Martyr Maker series (which appears in the end of LAWS OF DEPRAVITY) and why Eriq wrote it
  • The concept behind The Martyr Maker franchise
  • Loving movies and television and being inspired by the storytelling conventions there
  • The way each of the three main characters leads a little bit more in the first three books in the series
  • Eriq's work as Executive Producer for several years on Chicago PD
  • Directing and Executive Producing Dick Wolf's first show launched into streaming on Amazon Prime
  • A minor character in the series (known as "The African") who was fashioned after the Luca Brasi character in The Godfather and who will return in a later book in the series
  • How it took 10 years to find a publisher, and Eriq's DIY experience self-publishing
  • The importance of understanding and participating in the grass-roots style marketing as an author
  • Having to do a lot of marketing work even when you're with a larger publisher
  • The way that the status of "celebrity" can sometimes work against you
  • Eriq's respect for each medium and how to re-think, and re-learn in his unique roles within them
  • The importance of humbling yourself
  • How the marketing person that Eriq had hired and worked with eventually became his agent
  • Feeling that he is a better writer of fiction novels than of screenplays, despite his years of experience as an actor, director, and producer
  • The intention cinematic writing that Eriq did when crafting The Martyr Maker series
  • Enjoying collecting "useless trivia" and how that can aid in the research aspect of writing a novel
  • Giving credit to the technical advisors Eriq has worked with on shows like ER and Chicago PD
  • The various first readers that Eriq works with
  • Being an old fashioned paper book reader
  • Eriq's great respect for librarians
  • The delightful feeling of seeing your book in various bookstores of all sizes, including indie bookstores, big box stores, and airport bookstores
  • Doing several events in New York for the week the book is launching, including a special "On the Couch with Eriq La Salle"
  • The importance of listening to the messaging
  • The understanding that "we are blue collar artists"
  • Advice Eriq would offer to writers who are working at it and haven't yet found their success
  • And more . . .

After the interview, Mark reflects on a few of the things Eriq talked about, as well as a subtle, but important way Eriq spoke about the "team" he works with as an author.

Links of Interest:

Actor/director/producer Eriq La Salle is best known to worldwide television audiences for his award-winning portrayal of the commanding Dr. Peter Benton on the critically acclaimed and history-making medical drama ER. Educated at Juilliard and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, his credits range from Broadway to film roles opposite Eddie Murphy in Coming to America and Robin Williams in One Hour Photo and Hugh Jackman in Logan. La Salle has maintained a prolific acting career while at the same time working steadily as a director, taking the helm for HBO, Showtime, NBC, Fox and CBS. He remains a valued member of the Dick Wolf Entertainment camp after 4 years as Executive Producer and director on Chicago PD in addition to directing episodes of Law & Order, and Law and Order Organized Crime.

As a writer, La Salle is the author of several critically acclaimed thrillers published in 2022 and 2023-Laws of Depravity, Laws of Wrath, and Laws of Annihilation. He has also written an episode of The Twilight Zone which made WGA's list of 101 Best Written TV Series. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:05:30 false 6 329 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews actor/director/producer/writer Eriq La Salle about his latest novel LAWS OF ANNIHILATION and his life-long passion for storytelling. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks Patrons, provides a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Eriq talk about: How Eriq had always wanted to be a writer Joining the high school drama club in junior high with the idea that they'd be able to put on the plays that he would write Being told by the drama teacher that he had to audition, and how that started the "acting bug" that took him through a multi-decade career acting, directing, and producing The way the author desire resurfaced about a dozen years ago The prequel story to The Martyr Maker series (which appears in the end of LAWS OF DEPRAVITY) and why Eriq wrote it The concept behind The Martyr Maker franchise Loving movies and television and being inspired by the storytelling conventions there The way each of the three main characters leads a little bit more in the first three books in the series Eriq's work as Executive Producer for several years on Chicago PD Directing and Executive Producing Dick Wolf's first show launched into streaming on Amazon Prime A minor character in the series (known as "The African") who was fashioned after the Luca Brasi character in The Godfather and who will return in a later book in the series How it took 10 years to find a publisher, and Eriq's DIY experience self-publishing The importance of understanding and participating in the grass-roots style marketing as an author Having to do a lot of marketing work even when you're with a larger publisher The way that the status of "celebrity" can sometimes work against you Eriq's respect for each medium and how to re-think, and re-learn in his unique roles within them The importance of humbling yourself How the marketing person that Eriq had hired and worked with eventually became his agent Feeling that he is a better writer of fiction novels than of screenplays, despite his years of experience as an actor, director, and producer The intention cinematic writing that Eriq did when crafting The Martyr Maker series Enjoying collecting "useless trivia" and how that can aid in the research aspect of writing a novel Giving credit to the technical advisors Eriq has worked with on shows like ER and Chicago PD The various first readers that Eriq works with Being an old fashioned paper book reader Eriq's great respect for librarians The delightful feeling of seeing your book in various bookstores of all sizes, including indie bookstores, big box stores, and airport bookstores Doing several events in New York for the week the book is launching, including a special "On the Couch with Eriq La Salle" The importance of listening to the messaging The understanding that "we are blue collar artists" Advice Eriq would offer to writers who are working at it and haven't yet found their success And more . . . After the interview, Mark reflects on a few of the things Eriq talked about, as well as a subtle, but important way Eriq spoke about the "team" he works with as an author.   Links of Interest: Eriq La Salle's Website Eriq on Instagram Eriq on Facebook Eriq on Twitter Eriq on TikTok Eriq La Salle's Books Sourcebooks Video of The Interview with Eriq (YouTube) EP 328 - Reflecting on a New Season with Terry Fallis EP 327 - Writing the Shadow with Joanna Penn EP 326 - Rebranding and Relaunching with E.L. Williams Port Dover: Friday the 13th Best Book Ever Podcast EP 154 - Mark Leslie Lefebvre on "The Best Laid Plans" by Terry Fallis EP 155 - Canada-Palooza with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Best Book Ever Pod Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Actor/director/producer Eriq La Salle is best known to worldwide television audiences for his award-winning portrayal of the commanding Dr. Peter Benton on the critically acclaimed and history-making medical drama ER. Educated at Juilliard and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, his credits range from Broadway to film roles opposite Eddie Murphy in Coming to America and Robin Williams in One Hour Photo and Hugh Jackman in Logan. La Salle has maintained a prolific acting career while at the same time working steadily as a director, taking the helm for HBO, Showtime, NBC, Fox and CBS. He remains a valued member of the Dick Wolf Entertainment camp after 4 years as Executive Producer and director on Chicago PD in addition to directing episodes of Law & Order, and Law and Order Organized Crime. As a writer, La Salle is the author of several critically acclaimed thrillers published in 2022 and 2023-Laws of Depravity, Laws of Wrath, and Laws of Annihilation. He has also written an episode of The Twilight Zone which made WGA's list of 101 Best Written TV Series. He lives in Los Angeles, California.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark interviews actor/director/producer/writer Eriq La Salle about his latest novel LAWS OF ANNIHILATION and his life-long passion for storytelling. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks Patrons, provides a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Eriq talk about: How Eriq had always wanted to be a writer Joining the high school drama club in junior high with the idea that they'd be able to put on the plays that he would write Being told by the drama teacher that he had to audition, and how that started the "acting bug" that took him through a multi-decade career acting, directing, and producing The way the author desire resurfaced about a dozen years ago The prequel story to The Martyr Maker series (which appears in the end of LAWS OF DEPRAVITY) and why Eriq wrote it The concept behind The Martyr Maker franchise Loving movies and television and being inspired by the storytelling conventions there The way each of the three main characters leads a little bit more in the first three books in the series Eriq's work as Executive Producer for several years on Chicago PD Directing and Executive Producing Dick Wolf's first show launched into streaming on Amazon Prime A minor character in the series (known as "The African") who was fashioned after the Luca Brasi character in The Godfather and who will return in a later book in the series How it took 10 years to find a publisher, and Eriq's DIY experience self-publishing The importance of understanding and participating in the grass-roots style marketing as an author Having to do a lot of marketing work even when you're with a larger publisher The way that the status of "celebrity" can sometimes work against you Eriq's respect for each medium and how to re-think, and re-learn in his unique roles within them The importance of humbling yourself How the marketing person that Eriq had hired and worked with eventually became his agent Feeling that he is a better writer of fiction novels than of screenplays, despite his years of experience as an actor, director, and producer The intention cinematic writing that Eriq did when crafting The Martyr Maker series Enjoying collecting "useless trivia" and how that can aid in the research aspect of writing a novel Giving credit to the technical advisors Eriq has worked with on shows like ER and Chicago PD The various first readers that Eriq works with Being an old fashioned paper book reader Eriq's great respect for librarians The delightful feeling of seeing your book in various bookstores of all sizes, including indie bookstores, big box stores, and airport bookstores Doing several events in New York for the week the book is launching, including a special "On the Couch with Eriq La Salle" The importance of listening to the messaging The understanding that "we are blue collar artists" Advice Eriq would offer to writers who are working at it and haven't yet found their success And more . . . After the interview, Mark reflects on a few of the things Eriq talked about, as well as a subtle, but important way Eriq spoke about the "team" he works with as an author.   Links of Interest: Eriq La Salle's Website Eriq on Instagram Eriq on Facebook Eriq on Twitter Eriq on TikTok Eriq La Salle's Books Sourcebooks Video of The Interview with Eriq (YouTube) EP 328 - Reflecting on a New Season with Terry Fallis EP 327 - Writing the Shadow with Joanna Penn EP 326 - Rebranding and Relaunching with E.L. Williams Port Dover: Friday the 13th Best Book Ever Podcast EP 154 - Mark Leslie Lefebvre on "The Best Laid Plans" by Terry Fallis EP 155 - Canada-Palooza with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Best Book Ever Pod Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Actor/director/producer Eriq La Salle is best known to worldwide television audiences for his award-winning portrayal of the commanding Dr. Peter Benton on the critically acclaimed and history-making medical drama ER. Educated at Juilliard and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, his credits range from Broadway to film roles opposite Eddie Murphy in Coming to America and Robin Williams in One Hour Photo and Hugh Jackman in Logan. La Salle has maintained a prolific acting career while at the same time working steadily as a director, taking the helm for HBO, Showtime, NBC, Fox and CBS. He remains a valued member of the Dick Wolf Entertainment camp after 4 years as Executive Producer and director on Chicago PD in addition to directing episodes of Law & Order, and Law and Order Organized Crime. As a writer, La Salle is the author of several critically acclaimed thrillers published in 2022 and 2023-Laws of Depravity, Laws of Wrath, and Laws of Annihilation. He has also written an episode of The Twilight Zone which made WGA's list of 101 Best Written TV Series. He lives in Los Angeles, California.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 328 - Reflections on A New Season with Terry Fallis EP 328 - Reflections on A New Season with Terry Fallis Thu, 12 Oct 2023 23:13:00 +0000 Mark interviews Terry Fallis about his latest novel, A New Season.

A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis is the author of nine novels, all of them national bestsellers—including six #1 bestsellers—and all published by McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes new Patron Nikki Guerlain, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is findawayvoiceslogo.png

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Terry talk about:

  • Terry's latest novel, A NEW SEASON, and the unique approach he took to his latest book
  • Retiring from his day job as a communications/public affairs consultant in March 2022
  • Having wanted to write full time since the release of his first novel fifteen years earlier
  • The precarious reality of the earnings an author is most likely to make, even if they are a successful author who regularly hits the bestseller lists in Canada
  • How the novel was derived from fears (something Terry was inspired by John Irving to consider), and from events that unfolded during the pandemic, and the way Terry had to evolve his writing from the usual "bend" of humor he employed in his previous books
  • Casting off the shackles/tyranny of humor
  • Some of the "trademark" self-depracating humor of Terry's narrators (Jack McMaster in this one, Daniel Addison in his first couple of novels)
  • Not being able to believe that he's currently 63 and the experience of writing a narrator (Jack) who is closer to Terry's own age
  • Terry's experiences playing ball hockey every week and how ball hockey can be a bit of a time machine
  • Writing the scenes from trying to speech French when in Paris from personal experience
  • Terry's friendship with Jim Cuddy (of Blue Rodeo fame) via his weekly ball-hockey and how the musician allowed Terry to write him into his novel
  • The examination of make friendship which is an important aspect of this novel
  • Terry's history of being a "closeted" singer-songwriter, which he's been doing since he was seventeen years old
  • The song "More Than The Game" which Terry wrote about the comradarie of his ball hockey league
  • Laying a few of Terry's songs into the audiobook produced by Penguin Random House
  • The 42-year-old love song that Terry wrote for his University girlfriend (who he has been married to for 36 wonderful years)
  • The long-time romantic tradition of Terry singing the love song to his wife on Christmas Eve
  • Terry's personal connection to Paris and how it, like ball hockey, is a kind of time machine
  • Writing a scene of the novel at the seat of Hemmingway's favorite table at a Paris cafe
  • Hailing from the "why use 6 words when 12 will do" school of writing
  • The saga of Constance Stanley's diaries becoming the final piece that Terry needed to complete the story
  • How the title A NEW SEASON refers to so many different elements from the novel
  • The next book that Terry has already started to work on, which has even more intrigue and suspense than two of his previous novels
  • Advice Terry would have for writers who have long wanted to do it, but haven't yet taken that step
  • And more...

 

After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of writing books from passion and intense interest. He then shares the name of the Patron winner of Joanna Penn's Writing the Shadow.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Terry Fallis about his latest novel, A New Season.

A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis is the author of nine novels, all of them national bestsellers—including six #1 bestsellers—and all published by McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes new Patron Nikki Guerlain, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Terry talk about:

  • Terry's latest novel, A NEW SEASON, and the unique approach he took to his latest book
  • Retiring from his day job as a communications/public affairs consultant in March 2022
  • Having wanted to write full time since the release of his first novel fifteen years earlier
  • The precarious reality of the earnings an author is most likely to make, even if they are a successful author who regularly hits the bestseller lists in Canada
  • How the novel was derived from fears (something Terry was inspired by John Irving to consider), and from events that unfolded during the pandemic, and the way Terry had to evolve his writing from the usual "bend" of humor he employed in his previous books
  • Casting off the shackles/tyranny of humor
  • Some of the "trademark" self-depracating humor of Terry's narrators (Jack McMaster in this one, Daniel Addison in his first couple of novels)
  • Not being able to believe that he's currently 63 and the experience of writing a narrator (Jack) who is closer to Terry's own age
  • Terry's experiences playing ball hockey every week and how ball hockey can be a bit of a time machine
  • Writing the scenes from trying to speech French when in Paris from personal experience
  • Terry's friendship with Jim Cuddy (of Blue Rodeo fame) via his weekly ball-hockey and how the musician allowed Terry to write him into his novel
  • The examination of make friendship which is an important aspect of this novel
  • Terry's history of being a "closeted" singer-songwriter, which he's been doing since he was seventeen years old
  • The song "More Than The Game" which Terry wrote about the comradarie of his ball hockey league
  • Laying a few of Terry's songs into the audiobook produced by Penguin Random House
  • The 42-year-old love song that Terry wrote for his University girlfriend (who he has been married to for 36 wonderful years)
  • The long-time romantic tradition of Terry singing the love song to his wife on Christmas Eve
  • Terry's personal connection to Paris and how it, like ball hockey, is a kind of time machine
  • Writing a scene of the novel at the seat of Hemmingway's favorite table at a Paris cafe
  • Hailing from the "why use 6 words when 12 will do" school of writing
  • The saga of Constance Stanley's diaries becoming the final piece that Terry needed to complete the story
  • How the title A NEW SEASON refers to so many different elements from the novel
  • The next book that Terry has already started to work on, which has even more intrigue and suspense than two of his previous novels
  • Advice Terry would have for writers who have long wanted to do it, but haven't yet taken that step
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of writing books from passion and intense interest. He then shares the name of the Patron winner of Joanna Penn's Writing the Shadow.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:16:48 false 6 328 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Terry Fallis about his latest novel, A New Season. A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis is the author of nine novels, all of them national bestsellers—including six #1 bestsellers—and all published by McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes new Patron Nikki Guerlain, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Terry talk about: Terry's latest novel, A NEW SEASON, and the unique approach he took to his latest book Retiring from his day job as a communications/public affairs consultant in March 2022 Having wanted to write full time since the release of his first novel fifteen years earlier The precarious reality of the earnings an author is most likely to make, even if they are a successful author who regularly hits the bestseller lists in Canada How the novel was derived from fears (something Terry was inspired by John Irving to consider), and from events that unfolded during the pandemic, and the way Terry had to evolve his writing from the usual "bend" of humor he employed in his previous books Casting off the shackles/tyranny of humor Some of the "trademark" self-depracating humor of Terry's narrators (Jack McMaster in this one, Daniel Addison in his first couple of novels) Not being able to believe that he's currently 63 and the experience of writing a narrator (Jack) who is closer to Terry's own age Terry's experiences playing ball hockey every week and how ball hockey can be a bit of a time machine Writing the scenes from trying to speech French when in Paris from personal experience Terry's friendship with Jim Cuddy (of Blue Rodeo fame) via his weekly ball-hockey and how the musician allowed Terry to write him into his novel The examination of make friendship which is an important aspect of this novel Terry's history of being a "closeted" singer-songwriter, which he's been doing since he was seventeen years old The song "More Than The Game" which Terry wrote about the comradarie of his ball hockey league Laying a few of Terry's songs into the audiobook produced by Penguin Random House The 42-year-old love song that Terry wrote for his University girlfriend (who he has been married to for 36 wonderful years) The long-time romantic tradition of Terry singing the love song to his wife on Christmas Eve Terry's personal connection to Paris and how it, like ball hockey, is a kind of time machine Writing a scene of the novel at the seat of Hemmingway's favorite table at a Paris cafe Hailing from the "why use 6 words when 12 will do" school of writing The saga of Constance Stanley's diaries becoming the final piece that Terry needed to complete the story How the title A NEW SEASON refers to so many different elements from the novel The next book that Terry has already started to work on, which has even more intrigue and suspense than two of his previous novels Advice Terry would have for writers who have long wanted to do it, but haven't yet taken that step And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of writing books from passion and intense interest. He then shares the name of the Patron winner of Joanna Penn's Writing the Shadow. Links of Interest: Terry's Website Terry's Substack A New Season (PRH Canada) Terry's previous guest appearances on this podcast: EP 029 - Terry Fallis on Writing with Authenthicity, Humor, and Passion Mentions of Terry on previous episodes: EP 189 - From Stage to Page and Back to Stage with Rod Carley EP 050 - 5 Things Learned in 50 Episodes EP 020 - Lessons Learned on My Writer Journey EP 146 - Finding Yourself in Our Song with Meaghan Smith EP 327 - Writing the Shadow with Joanna Penn EP 326 - Rebranding and Relaunching with E.L. Williams EP 325 - Reflecting Back: 3 Things That Are Wrong With Indie Publishing Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Terry Fallis about his latest novel, A New Season. A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis is the author of nine novels, all of them national bestsellers—including six #1 bestsellers—and all published by McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes new Patron Nikki Guerlain, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Terry talk about: Terry's latest novel, A NEW SEASON, and the unique approach he took to his latest book Retiring from his day job as a communications/public affairs consultant in March 2022 Having wanted to write full time since the release of his first novel fifteen years earlier The precarious reality of the earnings an author is most likely to make, even if they are a successful author who regularly hits the bestseller lists in Canada How the novel was derived from fears (something Terry was inspired by John Irving to consider), and from events that unfolded during the pandemic, and the way Terry had to evolve his writing from the usual "bend" of humor he employed in his previous books Casting off the shackles/tyranny of humor Some of the "trademark" self-depracating humor of Terry's narrators (Jack McMaster in this one, Daniel Addison in his first couple of novels) Not being able to believe that he's currently 63 and the experience of writing a narrator (Jack) who is closer to Terry's own age Terry's experiences playing ball hockey every week and how ball hockey can be a bit of a time machine Writing the scenes from trying to speech French when in Paris from personal experience Terry's friendship with Jim Cuddy (of Blue Rodeo fame) via his weekly ball-hockey and how the musician allowed Terry to write him into his novel The examination of make friendship which is an important aspect of this novel Terry's history of being a "closeted" singer-songwriter, which he's been doing since he was seventeen years old The song "More Than The Game" which Terry wrote about the comradarie of his ball hockey league Laying a few of Terry's songs into the audiobook produced by Penguin Random House The 42-year-old love song that Terry wrote for his University girlfriend (who he has been married to for 36 wonderful years) The long-time romantic tradition of Terry singing the love song to his wife on Christmas Eve Terry's personal connection to Paris and how it, like ball hockey, is a kind of time machine Writing a scene of the novel at the seat of Hemmingway's favorite table at a Paris cafe Hailing from the "why use 6 words when 12 will do" school of writing The saga of Constance Stanley's diaries becoming the final piece that Terry needed to complete the story How the title A NEW SEASON refers to so many different elements from the novel The next book that Terry has already started to work on, which has even more intrigue and suspense than two of his previous novels Advice Terry would have for writers who have long wanted to do it, but haven't yet taken that step And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of writing books from passion and intense interest. He then shares the name of the Patron winner of Joanna Penn's Writing the Shadow. Links of Interest: Terry's Website Terry's Substack A New Season (PRH Canada) Terry's previous guest appearances on this podcast: EP 029 - Terry Fallis on Writing with Authenthicity, Humor, and Passion Mentions of Terry on previous episodes: EP 189 - From Stage to Page and Back to Stage with Rod Carley EP 050 - 5 Things Learned in 50 Episodes EP 020 - Lessons Learned on My Writer Journey EP 146 - Finding Yourself in Our Song with Meaghan Smith EP 327 - Writing the Shadow with Joanna Penn EP 326 - Rebranding and Relaunching with E.L. Williams EP 325 - Reflecting Back: 3 Things That Are Wrong With Indie Publishing Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 327 - Writing the Shadow with Joanna Penn EP 327 - Writing the Shadow with Joanna Penn Tue, 10 Oct 2023 21:22:00 +0000

Mark interviews Joanna Penn about her new book Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness into Words, then associated Kickstarter she launched for it, plans she has to window its release, and much more.

Prior to the main content, Mark thanks Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

 

In their conversation, Mark and Joanna talk about:

  • How it has been a while since Joanna has been on Mark's podcast (she was in episode 212)
  • The number of years Joanna has been podcasting under The Creative Penn brand (March 2009)
  • How sometimes there's a book that you really want to write that you're not ready to write yet
  • The way we can often push the "shadows" down and repress them
  • The importance of writing the things that fascinate you
  • What happens when you push a balloon down underwater and try to hold it there
  • Plato's Chariot and the White and Dark horses and getting them to run together in harmony
  • The value of addressing what we're repressing and bringing it into the light particularly in your writing
  • How critical it is for successful fiction to have conflict, which is often derived from the shadow
  • The common themes in Joanna's writing about helping or saving the family or saving the world
  • The only way we're going to be able to stand out as human in a crowded market, and, in particular, a market with emerging AI-generated content
  • How Writing the Shadow and Pilgrimage are "mid-life" books for Joanna as she is addressing that part of her existence and Mememto Mori in those memoir-style books
  • Exploring how you're being held back by some of those things that you've allowed to be repressed
  • The shadows in both self-publishing and traditional publishing
  • How you don't need to be afraid to look into the shadow and perhaps find the gold in that shadow
  • The Kickstarter that Joanna has launched for Writing the Shadow
  • The way authors have long focused on the retail websites for sales but how that has slowly shifted into a new phase of direct selling and windowing strategies
  • Joanna's launch strategy for Writing the Shadow which starts with Kickstarter, migrates to direct selling on her personal websites, and then moves into broader retail and library distribution
  • The value of standing out as an author, particularly today
  • How Writing the Shadow is an optimistic book despite the topic and themes explored in it
  • Building a new author ecosystem and training existing and new readers to engage in that realm
  • The importance of remembering how the business model will keep changing but what doesn't change is writing the books of your heart and the books that will help you and others
  • Gifts of the shadow, finding the gold, and the idea of "after the curse comes the gift"
  • The spiral bound workbook
  • How thecreativepenn.com/shadowbook will redirect either to the Kickstarter or wherever the books are available in the future
  • The horror themed storybundle that Mark and Joanna are both in
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things from the conversation, announces a bonus for his patrons related to a reward from Joanna's Kickstarter, and invites listeners to share their own reflections on this topic.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Joanna Penn about her new book Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness into Words, then associated Kickstarter she launched for it, plans she has to window its release, and much more.

Prior to the main content, Mark thanks Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

In their conversation, Mark and Joanna talk about:

  • How it has been a while since Joanna has been on Mark's podcast (she was in episode 212)
  • The number of years Joanna has been podcasting under The Creative Penn brand (March 2009)
  • How sometimes there's a book that you really want to write that you're not ready to write yet
  • The way we can often push the "shadows" down and repress them
  • The importance of writing the things that fascinate you
  • What happens when you push a balloon down underwater and try to hold it there
  • Plato's Chariot and the White and Dark horses and getting them to run together in harmony
  • The value of addressing what we're repressing and bringing it into the light particularly in your writing
  • How critical it is for successful fiction to have conflict, which is often derived from the shadow
  • The common themes in Joanna's writing about helping or saving the family or saving the world
  • The only way we're going to be able to stand out as human in a crowded market, and, in particular, a market with emerging AI-generated content
  • How Writing the Shadow and Pilgrimage are "mid-life" books for Joanna as she is addressing that part of her existence and Mememto Mori in those memoir-style books
  • Exploring how you're being held back by some of those things that you've allowed to be repressed
  • The shadows in both self-publishing and traditional publishing
  • How you don't need to be afraid to look into the shadow and perhaps find the gold in that shadow
  • The Kickstarter that Joanna has launched for Writing the Shadow
  • The way authors have long focused on the retail websites for sales but how that has slowly shifted into a new phase of direct selling and windowing strategies
  • Joanna's launch strategy for Writing the Shadow which starts with Kickstarter, migrates to direct selling on her personal websites, and then moves into broader retail and library distribution
  • The value of standing out as an author, particularly today
  • How Writing the Shadow is an optimistic book despite the topic and themes explored in it
  • Building a new author ecosystem and training existing and new readers to engage in that realm
  • The importance of remembering how the business model will keep changing but what doesn't change is writing the books of your heart and the books that will help you and others
  • Gifts of the shadow, finding the gold, and the idea of "after the curse comes the gift"
  • The spiral bound workbook
  • How thecreativepenn.com/shadowbook will redirect either to the Kickstarter or wherever the books are available in the future
  • The horror themed storybundle that Mark and Joanna are both in
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things from the conversation, announces a bonus for his patrons related to a reward from Joanna's Kickstarter, and invites listeners to share their own reflections on this topic.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:00:28 false 6 327 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Joanna Penn about her new book Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness into Words, then associated Kickstarter she launched for it, plans she has to window its release, and much more. Prior to the main content, Mark thanks Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.   In their conversation, Mark and Joanna talk about: How it has been a while since Joanna has been on Mark's podcast (she was in episode 212) The number of years Joanna has been podcasting under The Creative Penn brand (March 2009) How sometimes there's a book that you really want to write that you're not ready to write yet The way we can often push the "shadows" down and repress them The importance of writing the things that fascinate you What happens when you push a balloon down underwater and try to hold it there Plato's Chariot and the White and Dark horses and getting them to run together in harmony The value of addressing what we're repressing and bringing it into the light particularly in your writing How critical it is for successful fiction to have conflict, which is often derived from the shadow The common themes in Joanna's writing about helping or saving the family or saving the world The only way we're going to be able to stand out as human in a crowded market, and, in particular, a market with emerging AI-generated content How Writing the Shadow and Pilgrimage are "mid-life" books for Joanna as she is addressing that part of her existence and Mememto Mori in those memoir-style books Exploring how you're being held back by some of those things that you've allowed to be repressed The shadows in both self-publishing and traditional publishing How you don't need to be afraid to look into the shadow and perhaps find the gold in that shadow The Kickstarter that Joanna has launched for Writing the Shadow The way authors have long focused on the retail websites for sales but how that has slowly shifted into a new phase of direct selling and windowing strategies Joanna's launch strategy for Writing the Shadow which starts with Kickstarter, migrates to direct selling on her personal websites, and then moves into broader retail and library distribution The value of standing out as an author, particularly today How Writing the Shadow is an optimistic book despite the topic and themes explored in it Building a new author ecosystem and training existing and new readers to engage in that realm The importance of remembering how the business model will keep changing but what doesn't change is writing the books of your heart and the books that will help you and others Gifts of the shadow, finding the gold, and the idea of "after the curse comes the gift" The spiral bound workbook How thecreativepenn.com/shadowbook will redirect either to the Kickstarter or wherever the books are available in the future The horror themed storybundle that Mark and Joanna are both in And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few things from the conversation, announces a bonus for his patrons related to a reward from Joanna's Kickstarter, and invites listeners to share their own reflections on this topic. Links of Interest: Joanna Penn's Main Website: The Creative Penn Writing the Shadow Halloween/Horror Storybundle (Ends after Oct 31, 2023) Joanna's Previous guest appearances on this podcast: EP 002 - Living the Healthy Writer's Life with Joanna Penn EP 148 - AI Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn EP 212 - A Conversation with Joanna Penn about Co-authoring The Relaxed Author SELECTED OTHER MENTIONS / Appearances EP 164 - Reflections on Other Podcasts: The Creative Penn Podcast Episode 517 EP 300 - Celebrating 300 Episodes with Guest Reflections Mark's YouTube Channel EP 324 - The Asset of Attention with Joe Solari EP 325 - Reflecting Back: Three Things That Are Wrong With Indie Publishing Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Joanna Penn about her new book Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness into Words, then associated Kickstarter she launched for it, plans she has to window its release, and much more. Prior to the main content, Mark thanks Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.   In their conversation, Mark and Joanna talk about: How it has been a while since Joanna has been on Mark's podcast (she was in episode 212) The number of years Joanna has been podcasting under The Creative Penn brand (March 2009) How sometimes there's a book that you really want to write that you're not ready to write yet The way we can often push the "shadows" down and repress them The importance of writing the things that fascinate you What happens when you push a balloon down underwater and try to hold it there Plato's Chariot and the White and Dark horses and getting them to run together in harmony The value of addressing what we're repressing and bringing it into the light particularly in your writing How critical it is for successful fiction to have conflict, which is often derived from the shadow The common themes in Joanna's writing about helping or saving the family or saving the world The only way we're going to be able to stand out as human in a crowded market, and, in particular, a market with emerging AI-generated content How Writing the Shadow and Pilgrimage are "mid-life" books for Joanna as she is addressing that part of her existence and Mememto Mori in those memoir-style books Exploring how you're being held back by some of those things that you've allowed to be repressed The shadows in both self-publishing and traditional publishing How you don't need to be afraid to look into the shadow and perhaps find the gold in that shadow The Kickstarter that Joanna has launched for Writing the Shadow The way authors have long focused on the retail websites for sales but how that has slowly shifted into a new phase of direct selling and windowing strategies Joanna's launch strategy for Writing the Shadow which starts with Kickstarter, migrates to direct selling on her personal websites, and then moves into broader retail and library distribution The value of standing out as an author, particularly today How Writing the Shadow is an optimistic book despite the topic and themes explored in it Building a new author ecosystem and training existing and new readers to engage in that realm The importance of remembering how the business model will keep changing but what doesn't change is writing the books of your heart and the books that will help you and others Gifts of the shadow, finding the gold, and the idea of "after the curse comes the gift" The spiral bound workbook How thecreativepenn.com/shadowbook will redirect either to the Kickstarter or wherever the books are available in the future The horror themed storybundle that Mark and Joanna are both in And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few things from the conversation, announces a bonus for his patrons related to a reward from Joanna's Kickstarter, and invites listeners to share their own reflections on this topic. Links of Interest: Joanna Penn's Main Website: The Creative Penn Writing the Shadow Halloween/Horror Storybundle (Ends after Oct 31, 2023) Joanna's Previous guest appearances on this podcast: EP 002 - Living the Healthy Writer's Life with Joanna Penn EP 148 - AI Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn EP 212 - A Conversation with Joanna Penn about Co-authoring The Relaxed Author SELECTED OTHER MENTIONS / Appearances EP 164 - Reflections on Other Podcasts: The Creative Penn Podcast Episode 517 EP 300 - Celebrating 300 Episodes with Guest Reflections Mark's YouTube Channel EP 324 - The Asset of Attention with Joe Solari EP 325 - Reflecting Back: Three Things That Are Wrong With Indie Publishing Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 326 - Rebranding and Relaunching with E.L. Williams EP 326 - Rebranding and Relaunching with E.L. Williams Thu, 05 Oct 2023 23:15:00 +0000 Mark interviews author E.L. Williams about her writing life, about her books, about rebranding one of the books in her series, and more.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes a brief personal update, welcomes new patron T. Thorn Coyle, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

 

In their conversation, Mark and Emma talk about:

  • How it took Emma about ten years to write her first book
  • Getting slightly "bullied" into going to a writer conference from a fellow author
  • Publishing her first book during Halloween season in 2020
  • How the global pandemic changed enough things with her day job that allowed her the opportunity to get the book finished and published
  • The "Murphy's Law" events that piled up with the launch of book two, which led to a signifcant health issue that had to be dealt with
  • The decision to change the title and cover for book two after realizing it wasn't hitting the market properly
  • Being a great believer in learning by doing
  • Rolling back on the unrealistic expectations Emma set herself up with and learning to enjoy the process and take a more relaxed approach
  • Emma's ideas involving merchandise in relation to her book and how that led to collaborating with Deadweight Brewing
  • The book "relaunch" party Emma planned out including the beer and book cakes
  • The social media "long shot" that Emma took on Instagram asking if the beer book branding thing had ever been done before
  • How social media can be a bit like marmite
  • Beginning to check out experimenting with TikTok by doing a video a day
  • Advice Emma has for other writers who haven't taken the plunge yet
  • And more....

After the interview, Mark reflects back on a couple of things his conversation with Emma made him think about.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews author E.L. Williams about her writing life, about her books, about rebranding one of the books in her series, and more.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes a brief personal update, welcomes new patron T. Thorn Coyle, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

In their conversation, Mark and Emma talk about:

  • How it took Emma about ten years to write her first book
  • Getting slightly "bullied" into going to a writer conference from a fellow author
  • Publishing her first book during Halloween season in 2020
  • How the global pandemic changed enough things with her day job that allowed her the opportunity to get the book finished and published
  • The "Murphy's Law" events that piled up with the launch of book two, which led to a signifcant health issue that had to be dealt with
  • The decision to change the title and cover for book two after realizing it wasn't hitting the market properly
  • Being a great believer in learning by doing
  • Rolling back on the unrealistic expectations Emma set herself up with and learning to enjoy the process and take a more relaxed approach
  • Emma's ideas involving merchandise in relation to her book and how that led to collaborating with Deadweight Brewing
  • The book "relaunch" party Emma planned out including the beer and book cakes
  • The social media "long shot" that Emma took on Instagram asking if the beer book branding thing had ever been done before
  • How social media can be a bit like marmite
  • Beginning to check out experimenting with TikTok by doing a video a day
  • Advice Emma has for other writers who haven't taken the plunge yet
  • And more....

After the interview, Mark reflects back on a couple of things his conversation with Emma made him think about.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 49:15 false 6 326 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author E.L. Williams about her writing life, about her books, about rebranding one of the books in her series, and more. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes a brief personal update, welcomes new patron T. Thorn Coyle, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.   In their conversation, Mark and Emma talk about: How it took Emma about ten years to write her first book Getting slightly "bullied" into going to a writer conference from a fellow author Publishing her first book during Halloween season in 2020 How the global pandemic changed enough things with her day job that allowed her the opportunity to get the book finished and published The "Murphy's Law" events that piled up with the launch of book two, which led to a signifcant health issue that had to be dealt with The decision to change the title and cover for book two after realizing it wasn't hitting the market properly Being a great believer in learning by doing Rolling back on the unrealistic expectations Emma set herself up with and learning to enjoy the process and take a more relaxed approach Emma's ideas involving merchandise in relation to her book and how that led to collaborating with Deadweight Brewing The book "relaunch" party Emma planned out including the beer and book cakes The social media "long shot" that Emma took on Instagram asking if the beer book branding thing had ever been done before How social media can be a bit like marmite Beginning to check out experimenting with TikTok by doing a video a day Advice Emma has for other writers who haven't taken the plunge yet And more.... After the interview, Mark reflects back on a couple of things his conversation with Emma made him think about. Links of Interest: E. L. WIlliams' Website Instagram Facebook TikTok Deadweight Brewing Company Mark's YouTube Channel EP 324 - The Asset of Attention with Joe Solari EP 325 - Reflecting Back: Three Things That Are Wrong With Indie Publishing Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreMark interviews author E.L. Williams about her writing life, about her books, about rebranding one of the books in her series, and more. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes a brief personal update, welcomes new patron T. Thorn Coyle, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.   In their conversation, Mark and Emma talk about: How it took Emma about ten years to write her first book Getting slightly "bullied" into going to a writer conference from a fellow author Publishing her first book during Halloween season in 2020 How the global pandemic changed enough things with her day job that allowed her the opportunity to get the book finished and published The "Murphy's Law" events that piled up with the launch of book two, which led to a signifcant health issue that had to be dealt with The decision to change the title and cover for book two after realizing it wasn't hitting the market properly Being a great believer in learning by doing Rolling back on the unrealistic expectations Emma set herself up with and learning to enjoy the process and take a more relaxed approach Emma's ideas involving merchandise in relation to her book and how that led to collaborating with Deadweight Brewing The book "relaunch" party Emma planned out including the beer and book cakes The social media "long shot" that Emma took on Instagram asking if the beer book branding thing had ever been done before How social media can be a bit like marmite Beginning to check out experimenting with TikTok by doing a video a day Advice Emma has for other writers who haven't taken the plunge yet And more.... After the interview, Mark reflects back on a couple of things his conversation with Emma made him think about. Links of Interest: E. L. WIlliams' Website Instagram Facebook TikTok Deadweight Brewing Company Mark's YouTube Channel EP 324 - The Asset of Attention with Joe Solari EP 325 - Reflecting Back: Three Things That Are Wrong With Indie Publishing Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 325 - Reflecting Back: 3 Things That Are Wrong With Indie Publishing EP 325 - Reflecting Back: 3 Things That Are Wrong With Indie Publishing Thu, 28 Sep 2023 22:12:00 +0000 In this episode Mark reflects back to Episode 6 of this podcast, which was released on Feb 6, 2018.

He shares clips from that episode, in which he outlined three of the things that bothered him about the indie publishing world.

Reflecting back, he comments on a few things that have changed, and what is consistent more than 5 years after the initial broadcast.

This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> In this episode Mark reflects back to Episode 6 of this podcast, which was released on Feb 6, 2018.

He shares clips from that episode, in which he outlined three of the things that bothered him about the indie publishing world.

Reflecting back, he comments on a few things that have changed, and what is consistent more than 5 years after the initial broadcast.

This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 50:12 false full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark reflects back to Episode 6 of this podcast, which was released on Feb 6, 2018. He shares clips from that episode, in which he outlined three of the things that bothered him about the indie publishing world. Reflecting back, he comments on a few things that have changed, and what is consistent more than 5 years after the initial broadcast. This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Links of Interest: Episode 6 - What's Wrong with Indie Publishing Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this episode Mark reflects back to Episode 6 of this podcast, which was released on Feb 6, 2018. He shares clips from that episode, in which he outlined three of the things that bothered him about the indie publishing world. Reflecting back, he comments on a few things that have changed, and what is consistent more than 5 years after the initial broadcast. This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Links of Interest: Episode 6 - What's Wrong with Indie Publishing Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 324 - The Asset of Attention with Joe Solari The Asset of Attention with Joe Solari Thu, 21 Sep 2023 20:04:00 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark interviews Joe Solari about his new book May I Have a Moment of Your Attention?

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and then reflects on the reasons why he canceled a trip he was supposed to take to Florida to attend NINC (Novelist's Inc.)

This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

 

In their conversation, Mark and Joe talk about:

  • Joe's winding experience path, the long journey he has been on, and how there's no way you could possibly train for the job that Joe does
  • The daily roadblocks that Joe had to overcome as he was beginning to learn about the complex writing and publishing business
  • The importance of not assuming that the person on stage actually knows what they're talking about
  • Also not assuming that what you "need" is what you're seeing presented on that "stage"
  • Joe's very first 20BooksVegas conference (which he has been to since the very beginning of it)
  • How Joe feels that we're still in the early stages of the entire self-publishing landscape
  • Understanding different formats, like audio, where the consumers aren't necessarily readers, but do enjoy story
  • The value of recognizing the assets in your business, which includes the asset of AUDIENCE and the related importance of DEMAND
  • How ads aren't scaleable, but that audiences are scaleable
  • Joe's latest book MAY I HAVE A MOMENT OF YOUR ATTENTION and how it's only available to buy direct from Joe
  • How the book was created, and how, in part of Joe building his brand is NOT just putting the book up everywhere
  • The audit statements in a survey that Joe asks readers of the book to complete
  • The way this survey and other assets help the reader get to "know, like, and trust" Joe and then be willing to purchase from him
  • How traffic to your Amazon page can be one of the worst things you do if that traffic doesn't convert to sales
  • The value of a customer retention system
  • The importance of feeling a special part of a brand's community
  • Focusing on serving your ideal reader rather than trying to sell more books
  • How author Chris Kennedy allows his fans to incorporate their own fan club about the worlds he has created and written
  • The way that people who spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on merchandise, cosplay, etc, are not even thinking about how much a book costs
  • Joe telling authors to try out his author marketing audit survey and to pay attention to it and see how they can steal his ideas for their own branding and marketing efforts
  • The free 20 minute calls that Joe offers
  • The critical importance of focusing on your audience, and not on what other authors are doing

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of the things Joe talked about, including the advice on assumptions made about the person "on stage" offering advice, and on the critical value of focusing on how you can serve your ideal reader rather than focusing on trying to sell more books.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode, Mark interviews Joe Solari about his new book May I Have a Moment of Your Attention?

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and then reflects on the reasons why he canceled a trip he was supposed to take to Florida to attend NINC (Novelist's Inc.)

This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

In their conversation, Mark and Joe talk about:

  • Joe's winding experience path, the long journey he has been on, and how there's no way you could possibly train for the job that Joe does
  • The daily roadblocks that Joe had to overcome as he was beginning to learn about the complex writing and publishing business
  • The importance of not assuming that the person on stage actually knows what they're talking about
  • Also not assuming that what you "need" is what you're seeing presented on that "stage"
  • Joe's very first 20BooksVegas conference (which he has been to since the very beginning of it)
  • How Joe feels that we're still in the early stages of the entire self-publishing landscape
  • Understanding different formats, like audio, where the consumers aren't necessarily readers, but do enjoy story
  • The value of recognizing the assets in your business, which includes the asset of AUDIENCE and the related importance of DEMAND
  • How ads aren't scaleable, but that audiences are scaleable
  • Joe's latest book MAY I HAVE A MOMENT OF YOUR ATTENTION and how it's only available to buy direct from Joe
  • How the book was created, and how, in part of Joe building his brand is NOT just putting the book up everywhere
  • The audit statements in a survey that Joe asks readers of the book to complete
  • The way this survey and other assets help the reader get to "know, like, and trust" Joe and then be willing to purchase from him
  • How traffic to your Amazon page can be one of the worst things you do if that traffic doesn't convert to sales
  • The value of a customer retention system
  • The importance of feeling a special part of a brand's community
  • Focusing on serving your ideal reader rather than trying to sell more books
  • How author Chris Kennedy allows his fans to incorporate their own fan club about the worlds he has created and written
  • The way that people who spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on merchandise, cosplay, etc, are not even thinking about how much a book costs
  • Joe telling authors to try out his author marketing audit survey and to pay attention to it and see how they can steal his ideas for their own branding and marketing efforts
  • The free 20 minute calls that Joe offers
  • The critical importance of focusing on your audience, and not on what other authors are doing

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of the things Joe talked about, including the advice on assumptions made about the person "on stage" offering advice, and on the critical value of focusing on how you can serve your ideal reader rather than focusing on trying to sell more books.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:03:59 false 6 324 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark interviews Joe Solari about his new book May I Have a Moment of Your Attention? Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and then reflects on the reasons why he canceled a trip he was supposed to take to Florida to attend NINC (Novelist's Inc.) This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.   In their conversation, Mark and Joe talk about: Joe's winding experience path, the long journey he has been on, and how there's no way you could possibly train for the job that Joe does The daily roadblocks that Joe had to overcome as he was beginning to learn about the complex writing and publishing business The importance of not assuming that the person on stage actually knows what they're talking about Also not assuming that what you "need" is what you're seeing presented on that "stage" Joe's very first 20BooksVegas conference (which he has been to since the very beginning of it) How Joe feels that we're still in the early stages of the entire self-publishing landscape Understanding different formats, like audio, where the consumers aren't necessarily readers, but do enjoy story The value of recognizing the assets in your business, which includes the asset of AUDIENCE and the related importance of DEMAND How ads aren't scaleable, but that audiences are scaleable Joe's latest book MAY I HAVE A MOMENT OF YOUR ATTENTION and how it's only available to buy direct from Joe How the book was created, and how, in part of Joe building his brand is NOT just putting the book up everywhere The audit statements in a survey that Joe asks readers of the book to complete The way this survey and other assets help the reader get to "know, like, and trust" Joe and then be willing to purchase from him How traffic to your Amazon page can be one of the worst things you do if that traffic doesn't convert to sales The value of a customer retention system The importance of feeling a special part of a brand's community Focusing on serving your ideal reader rather than trying to sell more books How author Chris Kennedy allows his fans to incorporate their own fan club about the worlds he has created and written The way that people who spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on merchandise, cosplay, etc, are not even thinking about how much a book costs Joe telling authors to try out his author marketing audit survey and to pay attention to it and see how they can steal his ideas for their own branding and marketing efforts The free 20 minute calls that Joe offers The critical importance of focusing on your audience, and not on what other authors are doing After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of the things Joe talked about, including the advice on assumptions made about the person "on stage" offering advice, and on the critical value of focusing on how you can serve your ideal reader rather than focusing on trying to sell more books.   Links of Interest: Joe Solari's Website Joe's Author Marketing Audit May I Have A Moment of Your Attention? (Book) EP 323 - Rambling Reflections From the Road: This Old House EP 096 - Focusing on and Delivering to Your Audience with Dale L. Roberts  EP 232 - From Script Writer to Novelist with David Boito Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode, Mark interviews Joe Solari about his new book May I Have a Moment of Your Attention? Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and then reflects on the reasons why he canceled a trip he was supposed to take to Florida to attend NINC (Novelist's Inc.) This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.   In their conversation, Mark and Joe talk about: Joe's winding experience path, the long journey he has been on, and how there's no way you could possibly train for the job that Joe does The daily roadblocks that Joe had to overcome as he was beginning to learn about the complex writing and publishing business The importance of not assuming that the person on stage actually knows what they're talking about Also not assuming that what you "need" is what you're seeing presented on that "stage" Joe's very first 20BooksVegas conference (which he has been to since the very beginning of it) How Joe feels that we're still in the early stages of the entire self-publishing landscape Understanding different formats, like audio, where the consumers aren't necessarily readers, but do enjoy story The value of recognizing the assets in your business, which includes the asset of AUDIENCE and the related importance of DEMAND How ads aren't scaleable, but that audiences are scaleable Joe's latest book MAY I HAVE A MOMENT OF YOUR ATTENTION and how it's only available to buy direct from Joe How the book was created, and how, in part of Joe building his brand is NOT just putting the book up everywhere The audit statements in a survey that Joe asks readers of the book to complete The way this survey and other assets help the reader get to "know, like, and trust" Joe and then be willing to purchase from him How traffic to your Amazon page can be one of the worst things you do if that traffic doesn't convert to sales The value of a customer retention system The importance of feeling a special part of a brand's community Focusing on serving your ideal reader rather than trying to sell more books How author Chris Kennedy allows his fans to incorporate their own fan club about the worlds he has created and written The way that people who spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on merchandise, cosplay, etc, are not even thinking about how much a book costs Joe telling authors to try out his author marketing audit survey and to pay attention to it and see how they can steal his ideas for their own branding and marketing efforts The free 20 minute calls that Joe offers The critical importance of focusing on your audience, and not on what other authors are doing After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of the things Joe talked about, including the advice on assumptions made about the person "on stage" offering advice, and on the critical value of focusing on how you can serve your ideal reader rather than focusing on trying to sell more books.   Links of Interest: Joe Solari's Website Joe's Author Marketing Audit May I Have A Moment of Your Attention? (Book) EP 323 - Rambling Reflections From the Road: This Old House EP 096 - Focusing on and Delivering to Your Audience with Dale L. Roberts  EP 232 - From Script Writer to Novelist with David Boito Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP - 323 - Rambling Reflections From The Road - This Old House EP - 323 - Rambling Reflections From The Road - This Old House Fri, 15 Sep 2023 00:06:00 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark reflects on his last few days in his old childhood home which has been in his family for three generations.

This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode, Mark reflects on his last few days in his old childhood home which has been in his family for three generations.

This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 36:37 false 6 323 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark reflects on his last few days in his old childhood home which has been in his family for three generations. This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Links of Interest: Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode, Mark reflects on his last few days in his old childhood home which has been in his family for three generations. This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Links of Interest: Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 322 - How to Write a Novel with Ricardo Fayet of Reedsy How to Write a Novel with Ricardo Fayet of Reedsy Thu, 07 Sep 2023 22:18:00 +0000

Mark interviews Ricardo Fayet of Reedsy about their new online course on How to Write a Novel.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares and reflects on a brief industry update related to Amazon's recent AI-related change, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor.

Reedsy contains an online listing of vetted professionals from across the industry, including editors, cover designers, and marketing experts. Get $20 off hiring a pro through Reedsy using Mark's Reedsy affiliate link.

In the interview, Mark and Ricardo talk about:

  • Ricardo's persona and image being directly attached to Reedsy
  • When Reedsy started and what the main idea behind it was, and the value proposition to authors
  • How only 3 to 5% of the professionals who apply to be on Reedsy actually make it through
  • The Reedsy online writing tool that you can use to write and export professional looking ePub and print-ready PDF files
  • Some of the future development plans for the Reedsy writing platform, including collaboration with an editor
  • Ricardo's HOW TO MARKET A BOOK, which is free in eBook edition
  • The 2nd book he wrote and released in Jan 2023 called AMAZON ADS FOR AUTHORS which is the 2nd book in the Reedsy Guides series
  • Some of the reasoning behind why one of the books is free in eBook and the other has a retail price associated with it (hint: it's a marketing tip)
  • Important marketing information that Ricardo would want authors to know
  • The new Reedsy course that runs 3 months and helps authors work through the first draft of their novel
  • The various ongoing cohorts for the course, including one that opens in Sept and another that starts Oct 30th, to co-incide with NaNoWriMo, then the next that'll start in January 2024
  • The term "Reedsian" which is used to denote Reedsy employees
  • Tom Bromley, the instructor they hired to teach the How to Write a Novel course
  • The intial launch price for the course, which is $1000 - and that it'll be going up shortly after the September launch
  • Ricardo's previous attempts to try to write a novel and how this course might be one that he himself can benefit from
  • Some of the things that surprised Ricardo about Reedsy since it's launch nearly 10 years ago
  • How to find Reedsy and Ricardo
  • What Ricardo is looking forward to about the future of our industry
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects the overall supportive nature of the publishing industry

 

Links of Interest:

 

Ricardo Fayet is one of the four founders of Reedsy, a marketplace connecting authors to the world's top publishing talent--from editors to cover designers, book marketers, or literary translators. He's the author of two books on marketing for authors, and a regular presenter at several prestigious writers' conferences: NINC, 20BooksVegas, and The Self Publishing Show Live, among others.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Ricardo Fayet of Reedsy about their new online course on How to Write a Novel.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares and reflects on a brief industry update related to Amazon's recent AI-related change, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor.

Reedsy contains an online listing of vetted professionals from across the industry, including editors, cover designers, and marketing experts. Get $20 off hiring a pro through Reedsy using Mark's Reedsy affiliate link.

In the interview, Mark and Ricardo talk about:

  • Ricardo's persona and image being directly attached to Reedsy
  • When Reedsy started and what the main idea behind it was, and the value proposition to authors
  • How only 3 to 5% of the professionals who apply to be on Reedsy actually make it through
  • The Reedsy online writing tool that you can use to write and export professional looking ePub and print-ready PDF files
  • Some of the future development plans for the Reedsy writing platform, including collaboration with an editor
  • Ricardo's HOW TO MARKET A BOOK, which is free in eBook edition
  • The 2nd book he wrote and released in Jan 2023 called AMAZON ADS FOR AUTHORS which is the 2nd book in the Reedsy Guides series
  • Some of the reasoning behind why one of the books is free in eBook and the other has a retail price associated with it (hint: it's a marketing tip)
  • Important marketing information that Ricardo would want authors to know
  • The new Reedsy course that runs 3 months and helps authors work through the first draft of their novel
  • The various ongoing cohorts for the course, including one that opens in Sept and another that starts Oct 30th, to co-incide with NaNoWriMo, then the next that'll start in January 2024
  • The term "Reedsian" which is used to denote Reedsy employees
  • Tom Bromley, the instructor they hired to teach the How to Write a Novel course
  • The intial launch price for the course, which is $1000 - and that it'll be going up shortly after the September launch
  • Ricardo's previous attempts to try to write a novel and how this course might be one that he himself can benefit from
  • Some of the things that surprised Ricardo about Reedsy since it's launch nearly 10 years ago
  • How to find Reedsy and Ricardo
  • What Ricardo is looking forward to about the future of our industry
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects the overall supportive nature of the publishing industry

Links of Interest:

Ricardo Fayet is one of the four founders of Reedsy, a marketplace connecting authors to the world's top publishing talent--from editors to cover designers, book marketers, or literary translators. He's the author of two books on marketing for authors, and a regular presenter at several prestigious writers' conferences: NINC, 20BooksVegas, and The Self Publishing Show Live, among others.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 57:51 false 6 322 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Ricardo Fayet of Reedsy about their new online course on How to Write a Novel. Prior to the interview, Mark shares and reflects on a brief industry update related to Amazon's recent AI-related change, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor. Reedsy contains an online listing of vetted professionals from across the industry, including editors, cover designers, and marketing experts. Get $20 off hiring a pro through Reedsy using Mark's Reedsy affiliate link. In the interview, Mark and Ricardo talk about: Ricardo's persona and image being directly attached to Reedsy When Reedsy started and what the main idea behind it was, and the value proposition to authors How only 3 to 5% of the professionals who apply to be on Reedsy actually make it through The Reedsy online writing tool that you can use to write and export professional looking ePub and print-ready PDF files Some of the future development plans for the Reedsy writing platform, including collaboration with an editor Ricardo's HOW TO MARKET A BOOK, which is free in eBook edition The 2nd book he wrote and released in Jan 2023 called AMAZON ADS FOR AUTHORS which is the 2nd book in the Reedsy Guides series Some of the reasoning behind why one of the books is free in eBook and the other has a retail price associated with it (hint: it's a marketing tip) Important marketing information that Ricardo would want authors to know The new Reedsy course that runs 3 months and helps authors work through the first draft of their novel The various ongoing cohorts for the course, including one that opens in Sept and another that starts Oct 30th, to co-incide with NaNoWriMo, then the next that'll start in January 2024 The term "Reedsian" which is used to denote Reedsy employees Tom Bromley, the instructor they hired to teach the How to Write a Novel course The intial launch price for the course, which is $1000 - and that it'll be going up shortly after the September launch Ricardo's previous attempts to try to write a novel and how this course might be one that he himself can benefit from Some of the things that surprised Ricardo about Reedsy since it's launch nearly 10 years ago How to find Reedsy and Ricardo What Ricardo is looking forward to about the future of our industry And more...   After the interview Mark reflects the overall supportive nature of the publishing industry   Links of Interest: Reedsy Reedsy's How to Market a Book Online Course Subscriptions for Authors Episode 018 - Finding The Right Professional with Ricardo from Reedsy Episode 006 - What's Wrong with Indie Publishing (Mark's "10-year-olds playing soccer" analogy) Mark's Wide for the Win Update Page YouTube Video: OH NO! Is Amazon Anti AI? Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Ricardo Fayet is one of the four founders of Reedsy, a marketplace connecting authors to the world's top publishing talent--from editors to cover designers, book marketers, or literary translators. He's the author of two books on marketing for authors, and a regular presenter at several prestigious writers' conferences: NINC, 20BooksVegas, and The Self Publishing Show Live, among others.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Ricardo Fayet of Reedsy about their new online course on How to Write a Novel. Prior to the interview, Mark shares and reflects on a brief industry update related to Amazon's recent AI-related change, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor. Reedsy contains an online listing of vetted professionals from across the industry, including editors, cover designers, and marketing experts. Get $20 off hiring a pro through Reedsy using Mark's Reedsy affiliate link. In the interview, Mark and Ricardo talk about: Ricardo's persona and image being directly attached to Reedsy When Reedsy started and what the main idea behind it was, and the value proposition to authors How only 3 to 5% of the professionals who apply to be on Reedsy actually make it through The Reedsy online writing tool that you can use to write and export professional looking ePub and print-ready PDF files Some of the future development plans for the Reedsy writing platform, including collaboration with an editor Ricardo's HOW TO MARKET A BOOK, which is free in eBook edition The 2nd book he wrote and released in Jan 2023 called AMAZON ADS FOR AUTHORS which is the 2nd book in the Reedsy Guides series Some of the reasoning behind why one of the books is free in eBook and the other has a retail price associated with it (hint: it's a marketing tip) Important marketing information that Ricardo would want authors to know The new Reedsy course that runs 3 months and helps authors work through the first draft of their novel The various ongoing cohorts for the course, including one that opens in Sept and another that starts Oct 30th, to co-incide with NaNoWriMo, then the next that'll start in January 2024 The term "Reedsian" which is used to denote Reedsy employees Tom Bromley, the instructor they hired to teach the How to Write a Novel course The intial launch price for the course, which is $1000 - and that it'll be going up shortly after the September launch Ricardo's previous attempts to try to write a novel and how this course might be one that he himself can benefit from Some of the things that surprised Ricardo about Reedsy since it's launch nearly 10 years ago How to find Reedsy and Ricardo What Ricardo is looking forward to about the future of our industry And more...   After the interview Mark reflects the overall supportive nature of the publishing industry   Links of Interest: Reedsy Reedsy's How to Market a Book Online Course Subscriptions for Authors Episode 018 - Finding The Right Professional with Ricardo from Reedsy Episode 006 - What's Wrong with Indie Publishing (Mark's "10-year-olds playing soccer" analogy) Mark's Wide for the Win Update Page YouTube Video: OH NO! Is Amazon Anti AI? Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Ricardo Fayet is one of the four founders of Reedsy, a marketplace connecting authors to the world's top publishing talent--from editors to cover designers, book marketers, or literary translators. He's the author of two books on marketing for authors, and a regular presenter at several prestigious writers' conferences: NINC, 20BooksVegas, and The Self Publishing Show Live, among others.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 321 - Capitalizing on the Creator Economy with Ream Stories EP 321 - Capitalizing on the Creator Economy with Ream Stories Thu, 31 Aug 2023 20:12:00 +0000 Mark interviews Emilia Rose and Michael Evans of Ream Stories, a subscription platform built by authors for authors.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is findawayvoiceslogo.png

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In the interview, Mark, Emilia, and Michael talk about:

  • Emilia's Wattpad experience which resulted in one of her books becoming very popular on that platform
  • Michael's love of distopian fiction and discovery of the magnitude of the indie author realm, and his interest in the creator economy
  • How Emilia and Michael first met
  • What Ream (which launched in May 2023) is and how it works
  • How authors can choose to make their book free or paid on Ream, and release it serialized or all at once
  • The purposeful lack of exclusivity and onerous contract terms that Ream offers
  • The fact that it's free for authors to use and Ream keeps 10% plus a credit card processing fee, resulting in authors keeping about 85% of the revenue
  • Taking all the aspects of the various reading and serialzied platforms and merging them together to create Ream
  • Creative things that authors have done that have surprised them since launching Ream
  • The popularity of "author notes" and asking readers questions along the way on Ream
  • Advice they would offer to other writers
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on a number of things, including how a small gesture can make a big difference, the value of bringing the best of the best of multiple platforms together into a single place, and the importance of treating readers like real people rather than objects to sell to.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Ream is the subscription platform by fiction authors for fiction authors.

The platform allows writers to build communities around their stories and charge a monthly fee that rewards your readers with early access to your stories, bonus content, access to new stories and your backlist, and even perks like signed books and merchandise.

Emilia Rose is a steamy romance author of 30 novels with over 30 million story reads online and six figures in annual subscription revenue. You can learn more about her here: https://www.emiliarosewriting.com/

Michael Evans is an author of 12 sci-fi thrillers + 2 nonfiction books for authors, serial creator economy founder, and a student at Harvard. You can learn more about him here: https://mevansinked.com/

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Emilia Rose and Michael Evans of Ream Stories, a subscription platform built by authors for authors.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In the interview, Mark, Emilia, and Michael talk about:

  • Emilia's Wattpad experience which resulted in one of her books becoming very popular on that platform
  • Michael's love of distopian fiction and discovery of the magnitude of the indie author realm, and his interest in the creator economy
  • How Emilia and Michael first met
  • What Ream (which launched in May 2023) is and how it works
  • How authors can choose to make their book free or paid on Ream, and release it serialized or all at once
  • The purposeful lack of exclusivity and onerous contract terms that Ream offers
  • The fact that it's free for authors to use and Ream keeps 10% plus a credit card processing fee, resulting in authors keeping about 85% of the revenue
  • Taking all the aspects of the various reading and serialzied platforms and merging them together to create Ream
  • Creative things that authors have done that have surprised them since launching Ream
  • The popularity of "author notes" and asking readers questions along the way on Ream
  • Advice they would offer to other writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a number of things, including how a small gesture can make a big difference, the value of bringing the best of the best of multiple platforms together into a single place, and the importance of treating readers like real people rather than objects to sell to.

Links of Interest:

Ream is the subscription platform by fiction authors for fiction authors.

The platform allows writers to build communities around their stories and charge a monthly fee that rewards your readers with early access to your stories, bonus content, access to new stories and your backlist, and even perks like signed books and merchandise.

Emilia Rose is a steamy romance author of 30 novels with over 30 million story reads online and six figures in annual subscription revenue. You can learn more about her here: https://www.emiliarosewriting.com/

Michael Evans is an author of 12 sci-fi thrillers + 2 nonfiction books for authors, serial creator economy founder, and a student at Harvard. You can learn more about him here: https://mevansinked.com/

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:04:09 false 6 321 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Emilia Rose and Michael Evans of Ream Stories, a subscription platform built by authors for authors. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the interview, Mark, Emilia, and Michael talk about: Emilia's Wattpad experience which resulted in one of her books becoming very popular on that platform Michael's love of distopian fiction and discovery of the magnitude of the indie author realm, and his interest in the creator economy How Emilia and Michael first met What Ream (which launched in May 2023) is and how it works How authors can choose to make their book free or paid on Ream, and release it serialized or all at once The purposeful lack of exclusivity and onerous contract terms that Ream offers The fact that it's free for authors to use and Ream keeps 10% plus a credit card processing fee, resulting in authors keeping about 85% of the revenue Taking all the aspects of the various reading and serialzied platforms and merging them together to create Ream Creative things that authors have done that have surprised them since launching Ream The popularity of "author notes" and asking readers questions along the way on Ream Advice they would offer to other writers And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on a number of things, including how a small gesture can make a big difference, the value of bringing the best of the best of multiple platforms together into a single place, and the importance of treating readers like real people rather than objects to sell to.   Links of Interest: Ream Stories Michael Evans Website Emilia Rose Website Subscriptions for Authors Free Audiobook: Subscriptions for Authors Self Publishing Insiders with Draft2Digital - Mark Interviews Daniel Willcocks on Overcoming Author Hurdles (YouTube) EP 320 - Maximizing Your Creative IP with Reenita Hora Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Ream is the subscription platform by fiction authors for fiction authors. The platform allows writers to build communities around their stories and charge a monthly fee that rewards your readers with early access to your stories, bonus content, access to new stories and your backlist, and even perks like signed books and merchandise. Emilia Rose is a steamy romance author of 30 novels with over 30 million story reads online and six figures in annual subscription revenue. You can learn more about her here: https://www.emiliarosewriting.com/ Michael Evans is an author of 12 sci-fi thrillers + 2 nonfiction books for authors, serial creator economy founder, and a student at Harvard. You can learn more about him here: https://mevansinked.com/   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Emilia Rose and Michael Evans of Ream Stories, a subscription platform built by authors for authors. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the interview, Mark, Emilia, and Michael talk about: Emilia's Wattpad experience which resulted in one of her books becoming very popular on that platform Michael's love of distopian fiction and discovery of the magnitude of the indie author realm, and his interest in the creator economy How Emilia and Michael first met What Ream (which launched in May 2023) is and how it works How authors can choose to make their book free or paid on Ream, and release it serialized or all at once The purposeful lack of exclusivity and onerous contract terms that Ream offers The fact that it's free for authors to use and Ream keeps 10% plus a credit card processing fee, resulting in authors keeping about 85% of the revenue Taking all the aspects of the various reading and serialzied platforms and merging them together to create Ream Creative things that authors have done that have surprised them since launching Ream The popularity of "author notes" and asking readers questions along the way on Ream Advice they would offer to other writers And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on a number of things, including how a small gesture can make a big difference, the value of bringing the best of the best of multiple platforms together into a single place, and the importance of treating readers like real people rather than objects to sell to.   Links of Interest: Ream Stories Michael Evans Website Emilia Rose Website Subscriptions for Authors Free Audiobook: Subscriptions for Authors Self Publishing Insiders with Draft2Digital - Mark Interviews Daniel Willcocks on Overcoming Author Hurdles (YouTube) EP 320 - Maximizing Your Creative IP with Reenita Hora Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Ream is the subscription platform by fiction authors for fiction authors. The platform allows writers to build communities around their stories and charge a monthly fee that rewards your readers with early access to your stories, bonus content, access to new stories and your backlist, and even perks like signed books and merchandise. Emilia Rose is a steamy romance author of 30 novels with over 30 million story reads online and six figures in annual subscription revenue. You can learn more about her here: https://www.emiliarosewriting.com/ Michael Evans is an author of 12 sci-fi thrillers + 2 nonfiction books for authors, serial creator economy founder, and a student at Harvard. You can learn more about him here: https://mevansinked.com/   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 320 - Maximizing Your Creative IP with Reenita Malhotra Hora Maximizing Your Creative IP with Reenita Malhotra Hora Thu, 24 Aug 2023 20:44:00 +0000 Mark interviews Reenita Malhotra Hora, an award-winning screenwriter, novelist and audio producer.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about SciFidea and the awesome Dyson Sphere Sci-Fi Writing Contest.

 

In the interview, Mark and Reenita talk about:

  • How Reenita has been writing her entire life and her love of storytelling in varous forms
  • The manner in which life can be more fun when we are creating and when we don't always take life so seriously
  • Focusing for a long time on how she could help her clients get THEIR stories out there
  • The decision, in mid-pandemic, to begin to take her writing career in her own hands and developing her own IP
  • The release of her book OPERATION MOM, which was released by Harper Collins India initially in 2011
  • Buying the rights back for the book in the rest of the world (ie, outside India), as well as for the subsidiary rights for film, TV, etc
  • The publisher's belief that the Western world isn't at all interested in reading a book set in Mumbai
  • Reenita's own screenplay adaptation of the novel (written in the last year) which she decided to set in Hoboken, New Jersey
  • How the story and the comedy in the screenplay remains the same but how the specific details and specific jokes have been modified and adjusted for the different market
  • Just how much Reenita has been learning about publishing in the past few years
  • The way that working with a smaller, boutique publisher can be a good experience, but how an author self-publishing it can potentially work a bit better because of the control they have
  • Winning the Santa Barbara International Screenplay Award and being a finalist for the New York International Screenplay Award
  • The unique approach Reenita took with her newer book Shadow Realms and the multiple formats she has created it in
  • The importance of understanding the business of storytelling
  • The two active podcasts Reenita has created, including the True Fiction Project, which explores the journey of story from non-fiction to fiction
  • The different opportunities for various sponsorships in these two different podcasts
  • Diversity being so important, but the fact that it has become such a recent "buzzword"
  • The interesting compromise of the diversity of a community like Hoboken (which has shades of similarity to Mumbai and offers a window into the Indian-American community)
  • How it can be fun to play with stereotypes and tropes and to turn them around
  • Reenita's passion about bringing the experience of South-Asians to an American audience
  • Describing her experiences as being akin to a street-food in Mumbai
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things from the conversation, including the narrow way many New York publishers look at setting in a novel, which hasn't changed all that much since the early 1990s, and the dynamic way Reenita has explored storytelling in creative ways, while patiently learning more about the industry.

Links of Interest:

 

Reenita Malhotra Hora is an award-winning screenwriter, novelist and audio producer. Based partly in San Francisco and partly in Los Angeles, her experiences are akin to 'Bhel Puri,' the street food of Mumbai, her native place — a delectable mix of tastes (and preferences), meshed together with a bug or two for good measure. Passionate about storytelling the Indian narrative, Reenita writes characters and themes that reflect the South Asian experience whether set in South Asia or in the Western world.

As a writer she has contributed to Reuters, South China Morning Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN, Times of India, Rolling Stone, National Geographic Kids, Cartoon Network Asia, Disney and more. As an on-air news reporter, writer, and producer, she has contributed to Bloomberg, RTHK Radio 3, Monocle Radio and the BBC. She has two active podcasts - 'Shadow Realm' (narrative fantasy fiction) and the 'True Fiction Project' (unscripted to scripted).

Her female-driven comedy, 'Operation Mom' is a Santa Barbara Screenplay Awards winner, a Chanticleer International Book Awards GrandPrize winner and an Eric Hoffer Book Award Grand Prize winner. Her YA fantasy screenplay, 'Shadow Realm' is a Script2Comic and Launchpad Prose finalist, a Screencraft quarterfinalist, and a selected nominee for the New Media Film Festival.

She is a limited partner in the How Women Invest fund which specifically invests in women owned companies. She is working on her next novel and has recently launched Chapter by episode, a digital publishing platform for immersive chat fiction stories with diverse themes.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Reenita Malhotra Hora, an award-winning screenwriter, novelist and audio producer.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

Learn more about SciFidea and the awesome Dyson Sphere Sci-Fi Writing Contest.

In the interview, Mark and Reenita talk about:

  • How Reenita has been writing her entire life and her love of storytelling in varous forms
  • The manner in which life can be more fun when we are creating and when we don't always take life so seriously
  • Focusing for a long time on how she could help her clients get THEIR stories out there
  • The decision, in mid-pandemic, to begin to take her writing career in her own hands and developing her own IP
  • The release of her book OPERATION MOM, which was released by Harper Collins India initially in 2011
  • Buying the rights back for the book in the rest of the world (ie, outside India), as well as for the subsidiary rights for film, TV, etc
  • The publisher's belief that the Western world isn't at all interested in reading a book set in Mumbai
  • Reenita's own screenplay adaptation of the novel (written in the last year) which she decided to set in Hoboken, New Jersey
  • How the story and the comedy in the screenplay remains the same but how the specific details and specific jokes have been modified and adjusted for the different market
  • Just how much Reenita has been learning about publishing in the past few years
  • The way that working with a smaller, boutique publisher can be a good experience, but how an author self-publishing it can potentially work a bit better because of the control they have
  • Winning the Santa Barbara International Screenplay Award and being a finalist for the New York International Screenplay Award
  • The unique approach Reenita took with her newer book Shadow Realms and the multiple formats she has created it in
  • The importance of understanding the business of storytelling
  • The two active podcasts Reenita has created, including the True Fiction Project, which explores the journey of story from non-fiction to fiction
  • The different opportunities for various sponsorships in these two different podcasts
  • Diversity being so important, but the fact that it has become such a recent "buzzword"
  • The interesting compromise of the diversity of a community like Hoboken (which has shades of similarity to Mumbai and offers a window into the Indian-American community)
  • How it can be fun to play with stereotypes and tropes and to turn them around
  • Reenita's passion about bringing the experience of South-Asians to an American audience
  • Describing her experiences as being akin to a street-food in Mumbai
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things from the conversation, including the narrow way many New York publishers look at setting in a novel, which hasn't changed all that much since the early 1990s, and the dynamic way Reenita has explored storytelling in creative ways, while patiently learning more about the industry.

Links of Interest:

Reenita Malhotra Hora is an award-winning screenwriter, novelist and audio producer. Based partly in San Francisco and partly in Los Angeles, her experiences are akin to 'Bhel Puri,' the street food of Mumbai, her native place — a delectable mix of tastes (and preferences), meshed together with a bug or two for good measure. Passionate about storytelling the Indian narrative, Reenita writes characters and themes that reflect the South Asian experience whether set in South Asia or in the Western world.

As a writer she has contributed to Reuters, South China Morning Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN, Times of India, Rolling Stone, National Geographic Kids, Cartoon Network Asia, Disney and more. As an on-air news reporter, writer, and producer, she has contributed to Bloomberg, RTHK Radio 3, Monocle Radio and the BBC. She has two active podcasts - 'Shadow Realm' (narrative fantasy fiction) and the 'True Fiction Project' (unscripted to scripted).

Her female-driven comedy, 'Operation Mom' is a Santa Barbara Screenplay Awards winner, a Chanticleer International Book Awards GrandPrize winner and an Eric Hoffer Book Award Grand Prize winner. Her YA fantasy screenplay, 'Shadow Realm' is a Script2Comic and Launchpad Prose finalist, a Screencraft quarterfinalist, and a selected nominee for the New Media Film Festival.

She is a limited partner in the How Women Invest fund which specifically invests in women owned companies. She is working on her next novel and has recently launched Chapter by episode, a digital publishing platform for immersive chat fiction stories with diverse themes.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:04:49 false 6 320 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Reenita Malhotra Hora, an award-winning screenwriter, novelist and audio producer. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. Learn more about SciFidea and the awesome Dyson Sphere Sci-Fi Writing Contest.   In the interview, Mark and Reenita talk about: How Reenita has been writing her entire life and her love of storytelling in varous forms The manner in which life can be more fun when we are creating and when we don't always take life so seriously Focusing for a long time on how she could help her clients get THEIR stories out there The decision, in mid-pandemic, to begin to take her writing career in her own hands and developing her own IP The release of her book OPERATION MOM, which was released by Harper Collins India initially in 2011 Buying the rights back for the book in the rest of the world (ie, outside India), as well as for the subsidiary rights for film, TV, etc The publisher's belief that the Western world isn't at all interested in reading a book set in Mumbai Reenita's own screenplay adaptation of the novel (written in the last year) which she decided to set in Hoboken, New Jersey How the story and the comedy in the screenplay remains the same but how the specific details and specific jokes have been modified and adjusted for the different market Just how much Reenita has been learning about publishing in the past few years The way that working with a smaller, boutique publisher can be a good experience, but how an author self-publishing it can potentially work a bit better because of the control they have Winning the Santa Barbara International Screenplay Award and being a finalist for the New York International Screenplay Award The unique approach Reenita took with her newer book Shadow Realms and the multiple formats she has created it in The importance of understanding the business of storytelling The two active podcasts Reenita has created, including the True Fiction Project, which explores the journey of story from non-fiction to fiction The different opportunities for various sponsorships in these two different podcasts Diversity being so important, but the fact that it has become such a recent "buzzword" The interesting compromise of the diversity of a community like Hoboken (which has shades of similarity to Mumbai and offers a window into the Indian-American community) How it can be fun to play with stereotypes and tropes and to turn them around Reenita's passion about bringing the experience of South-Asians to an American audience Describing her experiences as being akin to a street-food in Mumbai And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few things from the conversation, including the narrow way many New York publishers look at setting in a novel, which hasn't changed all that much since the early 1990s, and the dynamic way Reenita has explored storytelling in creative ways, while patiently learning more about the industry. Links of Interest: Reenita's Website Operation Mom Reenita's Podcasts Screenplays The 2023 Aurora Awards (YouTube) 2023 Aurora Awards Opening Schtick (YouTube) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Reenita Malhotra Hora is an award-winning screenwriter, novelist and audio producer. Based partly in San Francisco and partly in Los Angeles, her experiences are akin to 'Bhel Puri,' the street food of Mumbai, her native place — a delectable mix of tastes (and preferences), meshed together with a bug or two for good measure. Passionate about storytelling the Indian narrative, Reenita writes characters and themes that reflect the South Asian experience whether set in South Asia or in the Western world. As a writer she has contributed to Reuters, South China Morning Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN, Times of India, Rolling Stone, National Geographic Kids, Cartoon Network Asia, Disney and more. As an on-air news reporter, writer, and producer, she has contributed to Bloomberg, RTHK Radio 3, Monocle Radio and the BBC. She has two active podcasts - 'Shadow Realm' (narrative fantasy fiction) and the 'True Fiction Project' (unscripted to scripted). Her female-driven comedy, 'Operation Mom' is a Santa Barbara Screenplay Awards winner, a Chanticleer International Book Awards GrandPrize winner and an Eric Hoffer Book Award Grand Prize winner. Her YA fantasy screenplay, 'Shadow Realm' is a Script2Comic and Launchpad Prose finalist, a Screencraft quarterfinalist, and a selected nominee for the New Media Film Festival. She is a limited partner in the How Women Invest fund which specifically invests in women owned companies. She is working on her next novel and has recently launched Chapter by episode, a digital publishing platform for immersive chat fiction stories with diverse themes.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Reenita Malhotra Hora, an award-winning screenwriter, novelist and audio producer. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. Learn more about SciFidea and the awesome Dyson Sphere Sci-Fi Writing Contest.   In the interview, Mark and Reenita talk about: How Reenita has been writing her entire life and her love of storytelling in varous forms The manner in which life can be more fun when we are creating and when we don't always take life so seriously Focusing for a long time on how she could help her clients get THEIR stories out there The decision, in mid-pandemic, to begin to take her writing career in her own hands and developing her own IP The release of her book OPERATION MOM, which was released by Harper Collins India initially in 2011 Buying the rights back for the book in the rest of the world (ie, outside India), as well as for the subsidiary rights for film, TV, etc The publisher's belief that the Western world isn't at all interested in reading a book set in Mumbai Reenita's own screenplay adaptation of the novel (written in the last year) which she decided to set in Hoboken, New Jersey How the story and the comedy in the screenplay remains the same but how the specific details and specific jokes have been modified and adjusted for the different market Just how much Reenita has been learning about publishing in the past few years The way that working with a smaller, boutique publisher can be a good experience, but how an author self-publishing it can potentially work a bit better because of the control they have Winning the Santa Barbara International Screenplay Award and being a finalist for the New York International Screenplay Award The unique approach Reenita took with her newer book Shadow Realms and the multiple formats she has created it in The importance of understanding the business of storytelling The two active podcasts Reenita has created, including the True Fiction Project, which explores the journey of story from non-fiction to fiction The different opportunities for various sponsorships in these two different podcasts Diversity being so important, but the fact that it has become such a recent "buzzword" The interesting compromise of the diversity of a community like Hoboken (which has shades of similarity to Mumbai and offers a window into the Indian-American community) How it can be fun to play with stereotypes and tropes and to turn them around Reenita's passion about bringing the experience of South-Asians to an American audience Describing her experiences as being akin to a street-food in Mumbai And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few things from the conversation, including the narrow way many New York publishers look at setting in a novel, which hasn't changed all that much since the early 1990s, and the dynamic way Reenita has explored storytelling in creative ways, while patiently learning more about the industry. Links of Interest: Reenita's Website Operation Mom Reenita's Podcasts Screenplays The 2023 Aurora Awards (YouTube) 2023 Aurora Awards Opening Schtick (YouTube) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Reenita Malhotra Hora is an award-winning screenwriter, novelist and audio producer. Based partly in San Francisco and partly in Los Angeles, her experiences are akin to 'Bhel Puri,' the street food of Mumbai, her native place — a delectable mix of tastes (and preferences), meshed together with a bug or two for good measure. Passionate about storytelling the Indian narrative, Reenita writes characters and themes that reflect the South Asian experience whether set in South Asia or in the Western world. As a writer she has contributed to Reuters, South China Morning Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN, Times of India, Rolling Stone, National Geographic Kids, Cartoon Network Asia, Disney and more. As an on-air news reporter, writer, and producer, she has contributed to Bloomberg, RTHK Radio 3, Monocle Radio and the BBC. She has two active podcasts - 'Shadow Realm' (narrative fantasy fiction) and the 'True Fiction Project' (unscripted to scripted). Her female-driven comedy, 'Operation Mom' is a Santa Barbara Screenplay Awards winner, a Chanticleer International Book Awards GrandPrize winner and an Eric Hoffer Book Award Grand Prize winner. Her YA fantasy screenplay, 'Shadow Realm' is a Script2Comic and Launchpad Prose finalist, a Screencraft quarterfinalist, and a selected nominee for the New Media Film Festival. She is a limited partner in the How Women Invest fund which specifically invests in women owned companies. She is working on her next novel and has recently launched Chapter by episode, a digital publishing platform for immersive chat fiction stories with diverse themes.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 319 - Father and Daughter Collaborations with Ron and Brigid Collins Father and Daughter Collaborations with Ron and Brigid Collins Thu, 17 Aug 2023 22:00:00 +0000 Mark interviews the creative daughter/father team of Brigid Collins and Ron Collins about their collaborative writing.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is findawayvoiceslogo.png

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In the interview, Mark, Brigid and Ron talk about:

  • The last time they saw one another (Feb 2020, just prior to the world "shutting down" for the pandemic)
  • Ron's entry into the world of professional speculative fiction writing in the mid 1990s
  • Why Ron feels that non-fiction can be a lot of fun to write
  • Ron's latest book On Creating (And Celebrating!) Characters
  • Brigid growing up and being witness to the dedication her father Ron had for his pursuit of writing
  • Singer, the first book Brigid wrote, which evolved into the four books of The Songbird River Chronicles in response to her father's prompting
  • Brigid's appreciation of having good parents at all the various stages of her youth and adulthood
  • The importance of being able to accept the other person's methods and style of writing as well as their ideas which can be totally different
  • Learning one's own writing styles from engaging with the other person's work
  • The incredible amount of fun that can happen with the right collaborations
  • The logistics of how they co-author together, for both short stories as well as a newco-authored book project
  • Finding the middle-ground between planning and discovery writing
  • Merging the worlds of the fairie realm with the baseball world based on the idea of a baseball diamond being built on top of a fairie ring
  • The fun of merging the tropes of these two types of worlds
  • The way the split of writing has evolved and gotten more complicated as part of writing the next books in the series
  • Leveraging Google doc and folders for the collaborations
  • Using Draft2Digital's payment splitting option for publishing
  • A collaboration that Ron is doing with his brother merging science fiction and the world of music
  • Advice they would offer to writers interested in getting into writing collaborations
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the "2+2 equally more than 4" awesomeness that can happen in a powerful collaboration.

Links of Interest:

 

Brigid Collins is a fantasy and science fiction writer living in Michigan with her wonderful wife and her irritating cats. (Just kidding, the cats are pretty wonderful, too.)
Her fantasy series The Songbird River Chronicles and Winter's Consort, her fun middle grade hijinks series The Sugimori Sisters, and her dark fairy tale novella Thorn and Thimble are available wherever books are sold. Her short stories have appeared in Fiction River, Feyland Tales, and Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar anthologies.

Ron Collins is a best-selling Science Fiction and Dark Fantasy author who writes across the spectrum of speculative fiction. With his daughter, Brigid, he edited the anthology Face the Strange.
His short fiction has received a Writers of the Future prize. His short story "The White Game" was nominated for the Short Mystery Fiction Society's 2016 Derringer Award.
He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and has worked to develop avionics systems, electronics, and information technology before chucking it all to write full-time.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews the creative daughter/father team of Brigid Collins and Ron Collins about their collaborative writing.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In the interview, Mark, Brigid and Ron talk about:

  • The last time they saw one another (Feb 2020, just prior to the world "shutting down" for the pandemic)
  • Ron's entry into the world of professional speculative fiction writing in the mid 1990s
  • Why Ron feels that non-fiction can be a lot of fun to write
  • Ron's latest book On Creating (And Celebrating!) Characters
  • Brigid growing up and being witness to the dedication her father Ron had for his pursuit of writing
  • Singer, the first book Brigid wrote, which evolved into the four books of The Songbird River Chronicles in response to her father's prompting
  • Brigid's appreciation of having good parents at all the various stages of her youth and adulthood
  • The importance of being able to accept the other person's methods and style of writing as well as their ideas which can be totally different
  • Learning one's own writing styles from engaging with the other person's work
  • The incredible amount of fun that can happen with the right collaborations
  • The logistics of how they co-author together, for both short stories as well as a newco-authored book project
  • Finding the middle-ground between planning and discovery writing
  • Merging the worlds of the fairie realm with the baseball world based on the idea of a baseball diamond being built on top of a fairie ring
  • The fun of merging the tropes of these two types of worlds
  • The way the split of writing has evolved and gotten more complicated as part of writing the next books in the series
  • Leveraging Google doc and folders for the collaborations
  • Using Draft2Digital's payment splitting option for publishing
  • A collaboration that Ron is doing with his brother merging science fiction and the world of music
  • Advice they would offer to writers interested in getting into writing collaborations
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the "2+2 equally more than 4" awesomeness that can happen in a powerful collaboration.

Links of Interest:

Brigid Collins is a fantasy and science fiction writer living in Michigan with her wonderful wife and her irritating cats. (Just kidding, the cats are pretty wonderful, too.) Her fantasy series The Songbird River Chronicles and Winter's Consort, her fun middle grade hijinks series The Sugimori Sisters, and her dark fairy tale novella Thorn and Thimble are available wherever books are sold. Her short stories have appeared in Fiction River, Feyland Tales, and Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar anthologies.

Ron Collins is a best-selling Science Fiction and Dark Fantasy author who writes across the spectrum of speculative fiction. With his daughter, Brigid, he edited the anthology Face the Strange. His short fiction has received a Writers of the Future prize. His short story "The White Game" was nominated for the Short Mystery Fiction Society's 2016 Derringer Award. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and has worked to develop avionics systems, electronics, and information technology before chucking it all to write full-time.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:06:14 false 6 319 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews the creative daughter/father team of Brigid Collins and Ron Collins about their collaborative writing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the interview, Mark, Brigid and Ron talk about: The last time they saw one another (Feb 2020, just prior to the world "shutting down" for the pandemic) Ron's entry into the world of professional speculative fiction writing in the mid 1990s Why Ron feels that non-fiction can be a lot of fun to write Ron's latest book On Creating (And Celebrating!) Characters Brigid growing up and being witness to the dedication her father Ron had for his pursuit of writing Singer, the first book Brigid wrote, which evolved into the four books of The Songbird River Chronicles in response to her father's prompting Brigid's appreciation of having good parents at all the various stages of her youth and adulthood The importance of being able to accept the other person's methods and style of writing as well as their ideas which can be totally different Learning one's own writing styles from engaging with the other person's work The incredible amount of fun that can happen with the right collaborations The logistics of how they co-author together, for both short stories as well as a newco-authored book project Finding the middle-ground between planning and discovery writing Merging the worlds of the fairie realm with the baseball world based on the idea of a baseball diamond being built on top of a fairie ring The fun of merging the tropes of these two types of worlds The way the split of writing has evolved and gotten more complicated as part of writing the next books in the series Leveraging Google doc and folders for the collaborations Using Draft2Digital's payment splitting option for publishing A collaboration that Ron is doing with his brother merging science fiction and the world of music Advice they would offer to writers interested in getting into writing collaborations And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the "2+2 equally more than 4" awesomeness that can happen in a powerful collaboration. Links of Interest: Brigid's Website The Songbird River Chronicles (and more) Ron's Website On Creating (And Celebrating!) Characters Home Run Enchanted (Faires and Fastballs Book 1) Abridged (half-hour) Keynote on Embracing Technology for AuthorTube Writing Conference Unabridged FULL HOUR Keynote (Patreon link) Wine Country Writer's Festival EP 250 - Typewriters, Nature, and Fatherhood with E S Curry EP 314 - Defeating Writer's Block Using Penspyre EP 317 - Rambling Reflections from the Road - Part 2 EP 318 - Rambling Reflections from the Road - Part 3 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Brigid Collins is a fantasy and science fiction writer living in Michigan with her wonderful wife and her irritating cats. (Just kidding, the cats are pretty wonderful, too.) Her fantasy series The Songbird River Chronicles and Winter's Consort, her fun middle grade hijinks series The Sugimori Sisters, and her dark fairy tale novella Thorn and Thimble are available wherever books are sold. Her short stories have appeared in Fiction River, Feyland Tales, and Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar anthologies. Ron Collins is a best-selling Science Fiction and Dark Fantasy author who writes across the spectrum of speculative fiction. With his daughter, Brigid, he edited the anthology Face the Strange. His short fiction has received a Writers of the Future prize. His short story "The White Game" was nominated for the Short Mystery Fiction Society's 2016 Derringer Award. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and has worked to develop avionics systems, electronics, and information technology before chucking it all to write full-time.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews the creative daughter/father team of Brigid Collins and Ron Collins about their collaborative writing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the interview, Mark, Brigid and Ron talk about: The last time they saw one another (Feb 2020, just prior to the world "shutting down" for the pandemic) Ron's entry into the world of professional speculative fiction writing in the mid 1990s Why Ron feels that non-fiction can be a lot of fun to write Ron's latest book On Creating (And Celebrating!) Characters Brigid growing up and being witness to the dedication her father Ron had for his pursuit of writing Singer, the first book Brigid wrote, which evolved into the four books of The Songbird River Chronicles in response to her father's prompting Brigid's appreciation of having good parents at all the various stages of her youth and adulthood The importance of being able to accept the other person's methods and style of writing as well as their ideas which can be totally different Learning one's own writing styles from engaging with the other person's work The incredible amount of fun that can happen with the right collaborations The logistics of how they co-author together, for both short stories as well as a newco-authored book project Finding the middle-ground between planning and discovery writing Merging the worlds of the fairie realm with the baseball world based on the idea of a baseball diamond being built on top of a fairie ring The fun of merging the tropes of these two types of worlds The way the split of writing has evolved and gotten more complicated as part of writing the next books in the series Leveraging Google doc and folders for the collaborations Using Draft2Digital's payment splitting option for publishing A collaboration that Ron is doing with his brother merging science fiction and the world of music Advice they would offer to writers interested in getting into writing collaborations And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the "2+2 equally more than 4" awesomeness that can happen in a powerful collaboration. Links of Interest: Brigid's Website The Songbird River Chronicles (and more) Ron's Website On Creating (And Celebrating!) Characters Home Run Enchanted (Faires and Fastballs Book 1) Abridged (half-hour) Keynote on Embracing Technology for AuthorTube Writing Conference Unabridged FULL HOUR Keynote (Patreon link) Wine Country Writer's Festival EP 250 - Typewriters, Nature, and Fatherhood with E S Curry EP 314 - Defeating Writer's Block Using Penspyre EP 317 - Rambling Reflections from the Road - Part 2 EP 318 - Rambling Reflections from the Road - Part 3 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Brigid Collins is a fantasy and science fiction writer living in Michigan with her wonderful wife and her irritating cats. (Just kidding, the cats are pretty wonderful, too.) Her fantasy series The Songbird River Chronicles and Winter's Consort, her fun middle grade hijinks series The Sugimori Sisters, and her dark fairy tale novella Thorn and Thimble are available wherever books are sold. Her short stories have appeared in Fiction River, Feyland Tales, and Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar anthologies. Ron Collins is a best-selling Science Fiction and Dark Fantasy author who writes across the spectrum of speculative fiction. With his daughter, Brigid, he edited the anthology Face the Strange. His short fiction has received a Writers of the Future prize. His short story "The White Game" was nominated for the Short Mystery Fiction Society's 2016 Derringer Award. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and has worked to develop avionics systems, electronics, and information technology before chucking it all to write full-time.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 318 - Rambling Reflections from the Road - Part 3 Rambling Reflections from the Road - Part 3 Fri, 11 Aug 2023 09:41:00 +0000 In this solo episode Mark reflects on the value authors can have for libraries, exhaustion of being on the road for several weeks in a row and too many commitments, and the feeling of "coming home."

This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode Mark reflects on the value authors can have for libraries, exhaustion of being on the road for several weeks in a row and too many commitments, and the feeling of "coming home."

This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 32:08 false 6 318 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark reflects on the value authors can have for libraries, exhaustion of being on the road for several weeks in a row and too many commitments, and the feeling of "coming home." This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Links of Interest: Digipalooza Mark Leslie's Books via OverDrive Mark Leslie Lefebvre's Books via OverDrive Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode Mark reflects on the value authors can have for libraries, exhaustion of being on the road for several weeks in a row and too many commitments, and the feeling of "coming home." This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Links of Interest: Digipalooza Mark Leslie's Books via OverDrive Mark Leslie Lefebvre's Books via OverDrive Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 317 - Rambling Reflections from the Road - Part 2 Rambling Reflections from the Road - Part 2 Thu, 03 Aug 2023 22:30:00 +0000 In this solo episode Mark reflects on a few of the things he has learned from a couple of the craft talks given at his intense residency week in the Masters in Creative Writing program at Western Colorado University.

This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> In this solo episode Mark reflects on a few of the things he has learned from a couple of the craft talks given at his intense residency week in the Masters in Creative Writing program at Western Colorado University.

This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 17:08 false 6 317 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark reflects on a few of the things he has learned from a couple of the craft talks given at his intense residency week in the Masters in Creative Writing program at Western Colorado University. This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Links of Interest: Graduate Program in Creative Writing at WCU Steve Coughlin (Professor of English) Maya Jewel Zeller (Nature Writing and Poetry Faculty) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this solo episode Mark reflects on a few of the things he has learned from a couple of the craft talks given at his intense residency week in the Masters in Creative Writing program at Western Colorado University. This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Links of Interest: Graduate Program in Creative Writing at WCU Steve Coughlin (Professor of English) Maya Jewel Zeller (Nature Writing and Poetry Faculty) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 316 - Free Your Inner Non-Fiction Writer with Johanna Rothman Free Your Inner Non-Fiction Writer with Johanna Rothman Thu, 27 Jul 2023 20:12:00 +0000 Mark interviews Johanna Rothman about her latest book FREE YOUR INNER NON-FICTION WRITER.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Mark's new book Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard.

In the interview, Mark and Johanna talk about:

  • Why Johanna is often called The Pragmatic Manager
  • The thirty-years of consulting that Johanna has experience with
  • The fact that she is not a "natural writer"
  • Beginning to write in 1997 because she realized that speaking only wasn't a great way to market her business as a consultant
  • Advice Johanna received from Gerald Weinberg
  • How Johanna began to write short fiction in 2016
  • Being involved in the early days of "Agile" development
  • Why Johanna recommends writing in 15 minute chunks for non-fiction
  • Who the idea reader is for Johanna's book FREE YOUR INNER NONFICTION WRITER
  • How to keep a business-related blog interesting
  • How writing non-fiction includes universal story elements: "a person in a situation with a problem"
  • The "write fast to write well" concept
  • The importance of maintaining your voice
  • Why Johanna writes a question of the week on her blog
  • The book Obliquity by John Kay and how detours might help us better in the long run
  • Advice Johanna would offer to writers for getting better at their own non-fiction writing
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of your author voice as well as the divergent ways you sometimes find your way to your destination.

Links of Interest:

 

Johanna Rothman, known as the "Pragmatic Manager," offers frank advice for your complex problems. She helps leaders and teams learn to see practical alternatives that help them achieve more agility in their work. With that knowledge, they can choose what—and how—to adapt their product development.

For almost three decades, Johanna has helped her clients experiment with agile and lean alternatives for every piece of their product development. As a result, her clients create more management agility which translates to better business results.

A prolific writer, Johanna is the author of 18 books and hundreds of articles about many aspects of product development. She uses her trademark practicality and humor to focus on what people can do—and not take herself too seriously.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Johanna Rothman about her latest book FREE YOUR INNER NON-FICTION WRITER.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Mark's new book Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard.

In the interview, Mark and Johanna talk about:

  • Why Johanna is often called The Pragmatic Manager
  • The thirty-years of consulting that Johanna has experience with
  • The fact that she is not a "natural writer"
  • Beginning to write in 1997 because she realized that speaking only wasn't a great way to market her business as a consultant
  • Advice Johanna received from Gerald Weinberg
  • How Johanna began to write short fiction in 2016
  • Being involved in the early days of "Agile" development
  • Why Johanna recommends writing in 15 minute chunks for non-fiction
  • Who the idea reader is for Johanna's book FREE YOUR INNER NONFICTION WRITER
  • How to keep a business-related blog interesting
  • How writing non-fiction includes universal story elements: "a person in a situation with a problem"
  • The "write fast to write well" concept
  • The importance of maintaining your voice
  • Why Johanna writes a question of the week on her blog
  • The book Obliquity by John Kay and how detours might help us better in the long run
  • Advice Johanna would offer to writers for getting better at their own non-fiction writing
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of your author voice as well as the divergent ways you sometimes find your way to your destination.

Links of Interest:

Johanna Rothman, known as the "Pragmatic Manager," offers frank advice for your complex problems. She helps leaders and teams learn to see practical alternatives that help them achieve more agility in their work. With that knowledge, they can choose what—and how—to adapt their product development.

For almost three decades, Johanna has helped her clients experiment with agile and lean alternatives for every piece of their product development. As a result, her clients create more management agility which translates to better business results.

A prolific writer, Johanna is the author of 18 books and hundreds of articles about many aspects of product development. She uses her trademark practicality and humor to focus on what people can do—and not take herself too seriously.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 49:29 false 6 316 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Johanna Rothman about her latest book FREE YOUR INNER NON-FICTION WRITER. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor This episode is sponsored by Mark's new book Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard. In the interview, Mark and Johanna talk about: Why Johanna is often called The Pragmatic Manager The thirty-years of consulting that Johanna has experience with The fact that she is not a "natural writer" Beginning to write in 1997 because she realized that speaking only wasn't a great way to market her business as a consultant Advice Johanna received from Gerald Weinberg How Johanna began to write short fiction in 2016 Being involved in the early days of "Agile" development Why Johanna recommends writing in 15 minute chunks for non-fiction Who the idea reader is for Johanna's book FREE YOUR INNER NONFICTION WRITER How to keep a business-related blog interesting How writing non-fiction includes universal story elements: "a person in a situation with a problem" The "write fast to write well" concept The importance of maintaining your voice Why Johanna writes a question of the week on her blog The book Obliquity by John Kay and how detours might help us better in the long run Advice Johanna would offer to writers for getting better at their own non-fiction writing And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of your author voice as well as the divergent ways you sometimes find your way to your destination. Links of Interest: Johanna Rothman's Website Create an Adaptable Life Free Your Inner Non-Fiction Writer Lou J. Berger (IMDB) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Johanna Rothman, known as the "Pragmatic Manager," offers frank advice for your complex problems. She helps leaders and teams learn to see practical alternatives that help them achieve more agility in their work. With that knowledge, they can choose what—and how—to adapt their product development. For almost three decades, Johanna has helped her clients experiment with agile and lean alternatives for every piece of their product development. As a result, her clients create more management agility which translates to better business results. A prolific writer, Johanna is the author of 18 books and hundreds of articles about many aspects of product development. She uses her trademark practicality and humor to focus on what people can do—and not take herself too seriously.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Johanna Rothman about her latest book FREE YOUR INNER NON-FICTION WRITER. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor This episode is sponsored by Mark's new book Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard. In the interview, Mark and Johanna talk about: Why Johanna is often called The Pragmatic Manager The thirty-years of consulting that Johanna has experience with The fact that she is not a "natural writer" Beginning to write in 1997 because she realized that speaking only wasn't a great way to market her business as a consultant Advice Johanna received from Gerald Weinberg How Johanna began to write short fiction in 2016 Being involved in the early days of "Agile" development Why Johanna recommends writing in 15 minute chunks for non-fiction Who the idea reader is for Johanna's book FREE YOUR INNER NONFICTION WRITER How to keep a business-related blog interesting How writing non-fiction includes universal story elements: "a person in a situation with a problem" The "write fast to write well" concept The importance of maintaining your voice Why Johanna writes a question of the week on her blog The book Obliquity by John Kay and how detours might help us better in the long run Advice Johanna would offer to writers for getting better at their own non-fiction writing And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of your author voice as well as the divergent ways you sometimes find your way to your destination. Links of Interest: Johanna Rothman's Website Create an Adaptable Life Free Your Inner Non-Fiction Writer Lou J. Berger (IMDB) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   Johanna Rothman, known as the "Pragmatic Manager," offers frank advice for your complex problems. She helps leaders and teams learn to see practical alternatives that help them achieve more agility in their work. With that knowledge, they can choose what—and how—to adapt their product development. For almost three decades, Johanna has helped her clients experiment with agile and lean alternatives for every piece of their product development. As a result, her clients create more management agility which translates to better business results. A prolific writer, Johanna is the author of 18 books and hundreds of articles about many aspects of product development. She uses her trademark practicality and humor to focus on what people can do—and not take herself too seriously.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 315 - Rambling Reflections from the Road - Part 1 EP 315 - Rambling Reflections from the Road - Part 1 Fri, 21 Jul 2023 03:09:00 +0000 In this solo episode Mark reflects on being overly stressed about having too much on his plate, and what seemed to have helped him deal with that.

This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode Mark reflects on being overly stressed about having too much on his plate, and what seemed to have helped him deal with that.

This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 48:09 false 6 315 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark reflects on being overly stressed about having too much on his plate, and what seemed to have helped him deal with that. This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Links of Interest: Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode Mark reflects on being overly stressed about having too much on his plate, and what seemed to have helped him deal with that. This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Links of Interest: Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 314 - Defeating Writer's Block Using Penspyre with David Olive Jr. Defeating Writer's Block Using Penspyre with David Olive Jr. Thu, 13 Jul 2023 20:53:00 +0000 Mark interviews David Olive, Jr (AKA David Grimdark) author and one of the engineers behind Penspyre a tool to help writers tackle writer's block and productivity.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is findawayvoiceslogo.png

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In the interview, Mark and David talk about:

  • David's love of reading as a young child and his love of fantasy novels
  • Begining to read eBooks on a dedicated reader, and reading Webnovels
  • Starting to write when interning in University
  • Putting some of his work up on Wattpad
  • The Systems Design Engineering program David recently graduated from at University of Waterloo
  • The final year project that David and his fellow engineering students put together, which resulted in Penspyre
  • The procedural documentation of identifying problems related to the writing process
  • Reaching out to local writers from the Cambridge Writer's Group as part of their research and investigation
  • Learning the Google Spring method
  • How Pensypre offers up AI-generated writing prompts to help a writer with their productivity
  • The research they'd done with writers leading them to believe they didn't want a tool that would give them something they'd take word for word but that they needed something to help "get the ball rolling."
  • The metrics they looked at for their research with how writers engaged with the tool
  • Their study's results showing that writers typically wrote 15% more in a 20 minute writing sprint using the tool than when not using the tool
  • How Pensyre is a tool David wanted to make as much for himself as for other writers
  • The "Continue the Story" option where you can focus on action, dialogue, or inner thoughts of the characters with various styles or moods
  • The "Link the story" feature for briding two different scenes or moments or actions together
  • The "Describe" function that allows you to draw upon one or more of the five senses
  • Penspyre's availability as a Google Docs extension
  • How writers during the test kept the prompts unedited about 15% of the time
  • The element of the software that suggests the level of "originality" score to the prompt
  • Advice David would offer to beginning writers
  • David's thoughts on why writers shouldn't be afraid of this new technology

 

After the interview Mark shares a few of his own reflections, thanks Patrons for their support and reminds them there'll be a video walk-thru of Penspyre available for them at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

 

Links of Interest:

 

David Olive Jr is a recent graduate from the University of Waterloo, Canada who has a passion for reading and writing fiction. As an aspiring writer he and some classmates decided to try and tackle writing productivity as their final year design project. The result was Penspyre, a tool that utilizes AI to give the writer contextualized writing prompts and help them be more productive.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews David Olive, Jr (AKA David Grimdark) author and one of the engineers behind Penspyre a tool to help writers tackle writer's block and productivity.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In the interview, Mark and David talk about:

  • David's love of reading as a young child and his love of fantasy novels
  • Begining to read eBooks on a dedicated reader, and reading Webnovels
  • Starting to write when interning in University
  • Putting some of his work up on Wattpad
  • The Systems Design Engineering program David recently graduated from at University of Waterloo
  • The final year project that David and his fellow engineering students put together, which resulted in Penspyre
  • The procedural documentation of identifying problems related to the writing process
  • Reaching out to local writers from the Cambridge Writer's Group as part of their research and investigation
  • Learning the Google Spring method
  • How Pensypre offers up AI-generated writing prompts to help a writer with their productivity
  • The research they'd done with writers leading them to believe they didn't want a tool that would give them something they'd take word for word but that they needed something to help "get the ball rolling."
  • The metrics they looked at for their research with how writers engaged with the tool
  • Their study's results showing that writers typically wrote 15% more in a 20 minute writing sprint using the tool than when not using the tool
  • How Pensyre is a tool David wanted to make as much for himself as for other writers
  • The "Continue the Story" option where you can focus on action, dialogue, or inner thoughts of the characters with various styles or moods
  • The "Link the story" feature for briding two different scenes or moments or actions together
  • The "Describe" function that allows you to draw upon one or more of the five senses
  • Penspyre's availability as a Google Docs extension
  • How writers during the test kept the prompts unedited about 15% of the time
  • The element of the software that suggests the level of "originality" score to the prompt
  • Advice David would offer to beginning writers
  • David's thoughts on why writers shouldn't be afraid of this new technology

After the interview Mark shares a few of his own reflections, thanks Patrons for their support and reminds them there'll be a video walk-thru of Penspyre available for them at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

Links of Interest:

David Olive Jr is a recent graduate from the University of Waterloo, Canada who has a passion for reading and writing fiction. As an aspiring writer he and some classmates decided to try and tackle writing productivity as their final year design project. The result was Penspyre, a tool that utilizes AI to give the writer contextualized writing prompts and help them be more productive.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 50:55 false 6 314 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews David Olive, Jr (AKA David Grimdark) author and one of the engineers behind Penspyre a tool to help writers tackle writer's block and productivity. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the interview, Mark and David talk about: David's love of reading as a young child and his love of fantasy novels Begining to read eBooks on a dedicated reader, and reading Webnovels Starting to write when interning in University Putting some of his work up on Wattpad The Systems Design Engineering program David recently graduated from at University of Waterloo The final year project that David and his fellow engineering students put together, which resulted in Penspyre The procedural documentation of identifying problems related to the writing process Reaching out to local writers from the Cambridge Writer's Group as part of their research and investigation Learning the Google Spring method How Pensypre offers up AI-generated writing prompts to help a writer with their productivity The research they'd done with writers leading them to believe they didn't want a tool that would give them something they'd take word for word but that they needed something to help "get the ball rolling." The metrics they looked at for their research with how writers engaged with the tool Their study's results showing that writers typically wrote 15% more in a 20 minute writing sprint using the tool than when not using the tool How Pensyre is a tool David wanted to make as much for himself as for other writers The "Continue the Story" option where you can focus on action, dialogue, or inner thoughts of the characters with various styles or moods The "Link the story" feature for briding two different scenes or moments or actions together The "Describe" function that allows you to draw upon one or more of the five senses Penspyre's availability as a Google Docs extension How writers during the test kept the prompts unedited about 15% of the time The element of the software that suggests the level of "originality" score to the prompt Advice David would offer to beginning writers David's thoughts on why writers shouldn't be afraid of this new technology   After the interview Mark shares a few of his own reflections, thanks Patrons for their support and reminds them there'll be a video walk-thru of Penspyre available for them at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.   Links of Interest: David's Author Website Penspyre Website Penspyre Extension on Google Chrome Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   David Olive Jr is a recent graduate from the University of Waterloo, Canada who has a passion for reading and writing fiction. As an aspiring writer he and some classmates decided to try and tackle writing productivity as their final year design project. The result was Penspyre, a tool that utilizes AI to give the writer contextualized writing prompts and help them be more productive.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews David Olive, Jr (AKA David Grimdark) author and one of the engineers behind Penspyre a tool to help writers tackle writer's block and productivity. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the interview, Mark and David talk about: David's love of reading as a young child and his love of fantasy novels Begining to read eBooks on a dedicated reader, and reading Webnovels Starting to write when interning in University Putting some of his work up on Wattpad The Systems Design Engineering program David recently graduated from at University of Waterloo The final year project that David and his fellow engineering students put together, which resulted in Penspyre The procedural documentation of identifying problems related to the writing process Reaching out to local writers from the Cambridge Writer's Group as part of their research and investigation Learning the Google Spring method How Pensypre offers up AI-generated writing prompts to help a writer with their productivity The research they'd done with writers leading them to believe they didn't want a tool that would give them something they'd take word for word but that they needed something to help "get the ball rolling." The metrics they looked at for their research with how writers engaged with the tool Their study's results showing that writers typically wrote 15% more in a 20 minute writing sprint using the tool than when not using the tool How Pensyre is a tool David wanted to make as much for himself as for other writers The "Continue the Story" option where you can focus on action, dialogue, or inner thoughts of the characters with various styles or moods The "Link the story" feature for briding two different scenes or moments or actions together The "Describe" function that allows you to draw upon one or more of the five senses Penspyre's availability as a Google Docs extension How writers during the test kept the prompts unedited about 15% of the time The element of the software that suggests the level of "originality" score to the prompt Advice David would offer to beginning writers David's thoughts on why writers shouldn't be afraid of this new technology   After the interview Mark shares a few of his own reflections, thanks Patrons for their support and reminds them there'll be a video walk-thru of Penspyre available for them at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.   Links of Interest: David's Author Website Penspyre Website Penspyre Extension on Google Chrome Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard   David Olive Jr is a recent graduate from the University of Waterloo, Canada who has a passion for reading and writing fiction. As an aspiring writer he and some classmates decided to try and tackle writing productivity as their final year design project. The result was Penspyre, a tool that utilizes AI to give the writer contextualized writing prompts and help them be more productive.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 313 - Pioneering In Digital Indie Publishing with Peter M. Ball EP 313 - Pioneering In Digital Indie Publishing with Peter M. Ball Thu, 06 Jul 2023 23:07:00 +0000 Mark interviews author, publisher and RPG gamer Peter M. Ball who has been engaged in experimental and digital publishing since the very beginning of its appearance in the book industry.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is findawayvoiceslogo.png

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In the interview, Mark and Peter talk about:

  • Peter being a night owl who is most comfortable starting to write at about 10 PM at night and working through the night
  • How, through necessity with a regular life schedule, Peter will get the writing done first thing in the morning
  • Peter having wanted to be a writer since he was quite young
  • The way that most of the work he has taken on in his life has been somehow affiliated with the writing world
  • Describing the Gold Coast of Australia as Miami with slightly less charm
  • The undergraduate degree focus which mostly avoided genre fiction
  • How you can never escape poetry once you've done it, even years later being introgued as "Peter the Poet"
  • How in the early 2000s Dungeons and Dragons open-sourced their rules, allowing people to provide material within their realm
  • Getting involved in DriveThruFiction back in 2005
  • The hunger for content that came out in that time period
  • How changes in the RPG industry that happened were later echoed a few years later in the eBook fiction publishing space
  • The issues Peter recognized in 2006 in creating role playing game material where somebody else held the licensce for it
  • Challenges of submitting fiction to markets from a country like Australia
  • Spending six weeks at an Australian branch of the Clarion Writers Workshop and how that dramatically changed the perspective forced on him from his university education
  • Continuing to submit his fiction to the traditional markets but paying attention to what was going on in the self-publishing, digital publishing, and indie publishing space
  • Launching Brain Jar Press in 2017 largely as a vehicle for publishing his backlist
  • Why cutting your teeth in short fiction can be great
  • Having a plan to indie publish his own books for about ten years, make all the mistake on his own books, rather than someone elses, and getting solid learning and experience from it to benefit his press
  • Working with Kathleen Jennings on a poetry collection right at about the time her first book with Tor went huge
  • The idea for a series of short chapbooks with four or five essays per writer in order to bring these remarkable articles the authors had already written back into availability
  • Borrowing the cultural capital of all the people they're publishing so that they can grow and eventually launch new writers
  • How Peter fell in love with print quite accidentally
  • The requirement of having to have an online store for the press
  • The joke that it's cheaper to get things to Narnia than it is to get them to Australia
  • The thought exercise Peter does regarding how many books he has to sell to make it to $100
  • Understanding the market base that you're likely selling to as a small specialized indie press
  • Peter's impatience for just replicating what midlist are publishing is doing in the face of such wonderful, free, and dynamic digital tools when one can be breaking the model, expanding, and forming new ideas and new products
  • ether Peter has been doing much of his own writing since launching Brain Jar Press 2.0
  • The flash fiction writing Peter has been able to do during a few 8 minute breaks at work
  • What Peter is most optimistic about with what's happening in the publishing world now
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on Peter working in publishing and writing related realms, the value of connecting with others in the industry, and Peter's thirst for innovation and experimentation within digital publishing.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Peter M. Ball is an author, publisher, and RPG gamer whose love of speculative fiction emerged after exposure to The Hobbit, Star Wars, David Lynch's Dune, and far too many games of Dungeons and Dragons before the age of 7. He's spent the bulk of his life working as a creative writing tutor, with brief stints as a performance poet, gaming convention organiser, online content developer, non-profit arts manager, and d20 RPG publisher.

Peter's three biggest passions are fiction, gaming, and honing the way aspiring writers think about the business and craft of writing, which led to a five-year period working for Queensland Writers Centre as manager of the Australian Writers Marketplace and convenor of the GenreCon writing conference. He is now pursuing a PhD in Writing at the University of Queensland, exploring the poetics of series fiction and their response to emerging publishing technologies.

He's the author of the Miriam Aster series and the Keith Murphy Urban Fantasy Thrillers, three short story collections, and more stories, articles, poems, and RPG material than he'd care to count. He's one-half of Brain Jar Press with his partner, Sarah, publishes his own work under the Eclectic Projects imprint, and resides in Brisbane, Australia, with his wife and two very affectionate cats.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews author, publisher and RPG gamer Peter M. Ball who has been engaged in experimental and digital publishing since the very beginning of its appearance in the book industry.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In the interview, Mark and Peter talk about:

  • Peter being a night owl who is most comfortable starting to write at about 10 PM at night and working through the night
  • How, through necessity with a regular life schedule, Peter will get the writing done first thing in the morning
  • Peter having wanted to be a writer since he was quite young
  • The way that most of the work he has taken on in his life has been somehow affiliated with the writing world
  • Describing the Gold Coast of Australia as Miami with slightly less charm
  • The undergraduate degree focus which mostly avoided genre fiction
  • How you can never escape poetry once you've done it, even years later being introgued as "Peter the Poet"
  • How in the early 2000s Dungeons and Dragons open-sourced their rules, allowing people to provide material within their realm
  • Getting involved in DriveThruFiction back in 2005
  • The hunger for content that came out in that time period
  • How changes in the RPG industry that happened were later echoed a few years later in the eBook fiction publishing space
  • The issues Peter recognized in 2006 in creating role playing game material where somebody else held the licensce for it
  • Challenges of submitting fiction to markets from a country like Australia
  • Spending six weeks at an Australian branch of the Clarion Writers Workshop and how that dramatically changed the perspective forced on him from his university education
  • Continuing to submit his fiction to the traditional markets but paying attention to what was going on in the self-publishing, digital publishing, and indie publishing space
  • Launching Brain Jar Press in 2017 largely as a vehicle for publishing his backlist
  • Why cutting your teeth in short fiction can be great
  • Having a plan to indie publish his own books for about ten years, make all the mistake on his own books, rather than someone elses, and getting solid learning and experience from it to benefit his press
  • Working with Kathleen Jennings on a poetry collection right at about the time her first book with Tor went huge
  • The idea for a series of short chapbooks with four or five essays per writer in order to bring these remarkable articles the authors had already written back into availability
  • Borrowing the cultural capital of all the people they're publishing so that they can grow and eventually launch new writers
  • How Peter fell in love with print quite accidentally
  • The requirement of having to have an online store for the press
  • The joke that it's cheaper to get things to Narnia than it is to get them to Australia
  • The thought exercise Peter does regarding how many books he has to sell to make it to $100
  • Understanding the market base that you're likely selling to as a small specialized indie press
  • Peter's impatience for just replicating what midlist are publishing is doing in the face of such wonderful, free, and dynamic digital tools when one can be breaking the model, expanding, and forming new ideas and new products
  • ether Peter has been doing much of his own writing since launching Brain Jar Press 2.0
  • The flash fiction writing Peter has been able to do during a few 8 minute breaks at work
  • What Peter is most optimistic about with what's happening in the publishing world now
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on Peter working in publishing and writing related realms, the value of connecting with others in the industry, and Peter's thirst for innovation and experimentation within digital publishing.

Links of Interest:

Peter M. Ball is an author, publisher, and RPG gamer whose love of speculative fiction emerged after exposure to The Hobbit, Star Wars, David Lynch's Dune, and far too many games of Dungeons and Dragons before the age of 7. He's spent the bulk of his life working as a creative writing tutor, with brief stints as a performance poet, gaming convention organiser, online content developer, non-profit arts manager, and d20 RPG publisher.

Peter's three biggest passions are fiction, gaming, and honing the way aspiring writers think about the business and craft of writing, which led to a five-year period working for Queensland Writers Centre as manager of the Australian Writers Marketplace and convenor of the GenreCon writing conference. He is now pursuing a PhD in Writing at the University of Queensland, exploring the poetics of series fiction and their response to emerging publishing technologies.

He's the author of the Miriam Aster series and the Keith Murphy Urban Fantasy Thrillers, three short story collections, and more stories, articles, poems, and RPG material than he'd care to count. He's one-half of Brain Jar Press with his partner, Sarah, publishes his own work under the Eclectic Projects imprint, and resides in Brisbane, Australia, with his wife and two very affectionate cats.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:00:09 false 6 313 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author, publisher and RPG gamer Peter M. Ball who has been engaged in experimental and digital publishing since the very beginning of its appearance in the book industry. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the interview, Mark and Peter talk about: Peter being a night owl who is most comfortable starting to write at about 10 PM at night and working through the night How, through necessity with a regular life schedule, Peter will get the writing done first thing in the morning Peter having wanted to be a writer since he was quite young The way that most of the work he has taken on in his life has been somehow affiliated with the writing world Describing the Gold Coast of Australia as Miami with slightly less charm The undergraduate degree focus which mostly avoided genre fiction How you can never escape poetry once you've done it, even years later being introgued as "Peter the Poet" How in the early 2000s Dungeons and Dragons open-sourced their rules, allowing people to provide material within their realm Getting involved in DriveThruFiction back in 2005 The hunger for content that came out in that time period How changes in the RPG industry that happened were later echoed a few years later in the eBook fiction publishing space The issues Peter recognized in 2006 in creating role playing game material where somebody else held the licensce for it Challenges of submitting fiction to markets from a country like Australia Spending six weeks at an Australian branch of the Clarion Writers Workshop and how that dramatically changed the perspective forced on him from his university education Continuing to submit his fiction to the traditional markets but paying attention to what was going on in the self-publishing, digital publishing, and indie publishing space Launching Brain Jar Press in 2017 largely as a vehicle for publishing his backlist Why cutting your teeth in short fiction can be great Having a plan to indie publish his own books for about ten years, make all the mistake on his own books, rather than someone elses, and getting solid learning and experience from it to benefit his press Working with Kathleen Jennings on a poetry collection right at about the time her first book with Tor went huge The idea for a series of short chapbooks with four or five essays per writer in order to bring these remarkable articles the authors had already written back into availability Borrowing the cultural capital of all the people they're publishing so that they can grow and eventually launch new writers How Peter fell in love with print quite accidentally The requirement of having to have an online store for the press The joke that it's cheaper to get things to Narnia than it is to get them to Australia The thought exercise Peter does regarding how many books he has to sell to make it to $100 Understanding the market base that you're likely selling to as a small specialized indie press Peter's impatience for just replicating what midlist are publishing is doing in the face of such wonderful, free, and dynamic digital tools when one can be breaking the model, expanding, and forming new ideas and new products ether Peter has been doing much of his own writing since launching Brain Jar Press 2.0 The flash fiction writing Peter has been able to do during a few 8 minute breaks at work What Peter is most optimistic about with what's happening in the publishing world now And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on Peter working in publishing and writing related realms, the value of connecting with others in the industry, and Peter's thirst for innovation and experimentation within digital publishing.   Links of Interest: Peter M. Ball's Website Brain Jar Press Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Peter M. Ball is an author, publisher, and RPG gamer whose love of speculative fiction emerged after exposure to The Hobbit, Star Wars, David Lynch's Dune, and far too many games of Dungeons and Dragons before the age of 7. He's spent the bulk of his life working as a creative writing tutor, with brief stints as a performance poet, gaming convention organiser, online content developer, non-profit arts manager, and d20 RPG publisher. Peter's three biggest passions are fiction, gaming, and honing the way aspiring writers think about the business and craft of writing, which led to a five-year period working for Queensland Writers Centre as manager of the Australian Writers Marketplace and convenor of the GenreCon writing conference. He is now pursuing a PhD in Writing at the University of Queensland, exploring the poetics of series fiction and their response to emerging publishing technologies. He's the author of the Miriam Aster series and the Keith Murphy Urban Fantasy Thrillers, three short story collections, and more stories, articles, poems, and RPG material than he'd care to count. He's one-half of Brain Jar Press with his partner, Sarah, publishes his own work under the Eclectic Projects imprint, and resides in Brisbane, Australia, with his wife and two very affectionate cats.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews author, publisher and RPG gamer Peter M. Ball who has been engaged in experimental and digital publishing since the very beginning of its appearance in the book industry. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the interview, Mark and Peter talk about: Peter being a night owl who is most comfortable starting to write at about 10 PM at night and working through the night How, through necessity with a regular life schedule, Peter will get the writing done first thing in the morning Peter having wanted to be a writer since he was quite young The way that most of the work he has taken on in his life has been somehow affiliated with the writing world Describing the Gold Coast of Australia as Miami with slightly less charm The undergraduate degree focus which mostly avoided genre fiction How you can never escape poetry once you've done it, even years later being introgued as "Peter the Poet" How in the early 2000s Dungeons and Dragons open-sourced their rules, allowing people to provide material within their realm Getting involved in DriveThruFiction back in 2005 The hunger for content that came out in that time period How changes in the RPG industry that happened were later echoed a few years later in the eBook fiction publishing space The issues Peter recognized in 2006 in creating role playing game material where somebody else held the licensce for it Challenges of submitting fiction to markets from a country like Australia Spending six weeks at an Australian branch of the Clarion Writers Workshop and how that dramatically changed the perspective forced on him from his university education Continuing to submit his fiction to the traditional markets but paying attention to what was going on in the self-publishing, digital publishing, and indie publishing space Launching Brain Jar Press in 2017 largely as a vehicle for publishing his backlist Why cutting your teeth in short fiction can be great Having a plan to indie publish his own books for about ten years, make all the mistake on his own books, rather than someone elses, and getting solid learning and experience from it to benefit his press Working with Kathleen Jennings on a poetry collection right at about the time her first book with Tor went huge The idea for a series of short chapbooks with four or five essays per writer in order to bring these remarkable articles the authors had already written back into availability Borrowing the cultural capital of all the people they're publishing so that they can grow and eventually launch new writers How Peter fell in love with print quite accidentally The requirement of having to have an online store for the press The joke that it's cheaper to get things to Narnia than it is to get them to Australia The thought exercise Peter does regarding how many books he has to sell to make it to $100 Understanding the market base that you're likely selling to as a small specialized indie press Peter's impatience for just replicating what midlist are publishing is doing in the face of such wonderful, free, and dynamic digital tools when one can be breaking the model, expanding, and forming new ideas and new products ether Peter has been doing much of his own writing since launching Brain Jar Press 2.0 The flash fiction writing Peter has been able to do during a few 8 minute breaks at work What Peter is most optimistic about with what's happening in the publishing world now And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on Peter working in publishing and writing related realms, the value of connecting with others in the industry, and Peter's thirst for innovation and experimentation within digital publishing.   Links of Interest: Peter M. Ball's Website Brain Jar Press Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Peter M. Ball is an author, publisher, and RPG gamer whose love of speculative fiction emerged after exposure to The Hobbit, Star Wars, David Lynch's Dune, and far too many games of Dungeons and Dragons before the age of 7. He's spent the bulk of his life working as a creative writing tutor, with brief stints as a performance poet, gaming convention organiser, online content developer, non-profit arts manager, and d20 RPG publisher. Peter's three biggest passions are fiction, gaming, and honing the way aspiring writers think about the business and craft of writing, which led to a five-year period working for Queensland Writers Centre as manager of the Australian Writers Marketplace and convenor of the GenreCon writing conference. He is now pursuing a PhD in Writing at the University of Queensland, exploring the poetics of series fiction and their response to emerging publishing technologies. He's the author of the Miriam Aster series and the Keith Murphy Urban Fantasy Thrillers, three short story collections, and more stories, articles, poems, and RPG material than he'd care to count. He's one-half of Brain Jar Press with his partner, Sarah, publishes his own work under the Eclectic Projects imprint, and resides in Brisbane, Australia, with his wife and two very affectionate cats.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 312 - The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Know With Jeff Elkins The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Know With Jeff Elkins Fri, 30 Jun 2023 14:17:00 +0000 Mark interviews Jeff Elkins about his writing, about dialogue and character voice, about his new book The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now, and more . . .

Prior to the interview, Mark shares the winners of the complimentary tickets to BookMARCon, the surprise winners of complimentary pizza, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is findawayvoiceslogo.png

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and Jeff talk about:

  • Jeff's "nickname" as "The Dialogue Doctor" as well as his background as a writer
  • What Jeff has seen in the past eight years that he has been involved in the indie author space
  • The latest novel Jeff released in March 2023 co-authored with J.P. Rindfleisch called NRDS: National Recently Deceased Services which is described as "Ghostbusters meets The Office"
  • The first collaboration Jeff had done with his best friend years ago
  • Wanting to reengage in and looking for a way to give back to the author community in 2020
  • Adapting what he does professionally, training professionals in difficult conversations, and leveraging that to help authors apply those skills to their writing
  • Doing more than 200 1:1 sessions since 2020 with authors to help them with their dialogue
  • Liking helping writers perhaps more than he even likes writing
  • The Dialogue Doctor community that seems to operate as a problem-solving community
  • Jeff's book The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now, coming July 1, 2023
  • The structure of the book, which is hear the problem, learn the philosophy and the strategy for fixing it, then do a reading challenge, then a writing challenge
  • The emotional journey a character goes on and the emotional shape of stories
  • How you can have all the right plot points but not have the right emotional journey and the reader will disconnect from it
  • Replacing the words hero, alley, and villain with terms like vehicle (the point of view character), the engines (characters who help move them forward), the anchors (those who weigh the vehicle down or bring out the worst versions of the vehicle)
  • If you need the character to struggle, put them in scenes with their anchor
  • If you want a big emotional moment where the character has to make an emotional choice, have the character enacting upon the influence of the anchor, then introduce the engine into that scene
  • How when we talk about dialogue we're really talking about overall character interaction
  • Building a character voice and ways of building a dynamic cast around a character where they can all build upon one another
  • The difference between segments and scenes
  • Jeff's "Apple a day" style advice for writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on dialogue being one important aspect of overall character interaction, the readers emotional journey, and the value in helping other authors.

Links of Interest:

 

Jeff Elkins coaches authors and podcasts as the Dialogue Doctor. Since launching the Dialogue Doctor in 2020, he's held over 200 1-on-1 coaching sessions with authors focused on helping them improved their dialogue. In addition to 12 novels, Jeff is the author of The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now: How to Write Dialogue and Characters Readers Will Love -- a primer on how to write great dialogue, dynamic character voices, and powerful casts of characters.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Jeff Elkins about his writing, about dialogue and character voice, about his new book The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now, and more . . .

Prior to the interview, Mark shares the winners of the complimentary tickets to BookMARCon, the surprise winners of complimentary pizza, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and Jeff talk about:

  • Jeff's "nickname" as "The Dialogue Doctor" as well as his background as a writer
  • What Jeff has seen in the past eight years that he has been involved in the indie author space
  • The latest novel Jeff released in March 2023 co-authored with J.P. Rindfleisch called NRDS: National Recently Deceased Services which is described as "Ghostbusters meets The Office"
  • The first collaboration Jeff had done with his best friend years ago
  • Wanting to reengage in and looking for a way to give back to the author community in 2020
  • Adapting what he does professionally, training professionals in difficult conversations, and leveraging that to help authors apply those skills to their writing
  • Doing more than 200 1:1 sessions since 2020 with authors to help them with their dialogue
  • Liking helping writers perhaps more than he even likes writing
  • The Dialogue Doctor community that seems to operate as a problem-solving community
  • Jeff's book The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now, coming July 1, 2023
  • The structure of the book, which is hear the problem, learn the philosophy and the strategy for fixing it, then do a reading challenge, then a writing challenge
  • The emotional journey a character goes on and the emotional shape of stories
  • How you can have all the right plot points but not have the right emotional journey and the reader will disconnect from it
  • Replacing the words hero, alley, and villain with terms like vehicle (the point of view character), the engines (characters who help move them forward), the anchors (those who weigh the vehicle down or bring out the worst versions of the vehicle)
  • If you need the character to struggle, put them in scenes with their anchor
  • If you want a big emotional moment where the character has to make an emotional choice, have the character enacting upon the influence of the anchor, then introduce the engine into that scene
  • How when we talk about dialogue we're really talking about overall character interaction
  • Building a character voice and ways of building a dynamic cast around a character where they can all build upon one another
  • The difference between segments and scenes
  • Jeff's "Apple a day" style advice for writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on dialogue being one important aspect of overall character interaction, the readers emotional journey, and the value in helping other authors.

Links of Interest:

Jeff Elkins coaches authors and podcasts as the Dialogue Doctor. Since launching the Dialogue Doctor in 2020, he's held over 200 1-on-1 coaching sessions with authors focused on helping them improved their dialogue. In addition to 12 novels, Jeff is the author of The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now: How to Write Dialogue and Characters Readers Will Love -- a primer on how to write great dialogue, dynamic character voices, and powerful casts of characters.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:05:03 false 6 312 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Jeff Elkins about his writing, about dialogue and character voice, about his new book The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now, and more . . . Prior to the interview, Mark shares the winners of the complimentary tickets to BookMARCon, the surprise winners of complimentary pizza, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and Jeff talk about: Jeff's "nickname" as "The Dialogue Doctor" as well as his background as a writer What Jeff has seen in the past eight years that he has been involved in the indie author space The latest novel Jeff released in March 2023 co-authored with J.P. Rindfleisch called NRDS: National Recently Deceased Services which is described as "Ghostbusters meets The Office" The first collaboration Jeff had done with his best friend years ago Wanting to reengage in and looking for a way to give back to the author community in 2020 Adapting what he does professionally, training professionals in difficult conversations, and leveraging that to help authors apply those skills to their writing Doing more than 200 1:1 sessions since 2020 with authors to help them with their dialogue Liking helping writers perhaps more than he even likes writing The Dialogue Doctor community that seems to operate as a problem-solving community Jeff's book The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now, coming July 1, 2023 The structure of the book, which is hear the problem, learn the philosophy and the strategy for fixing it, then do a reading challenge, then a writing challenge The emotional journey a character goes on and the emotional shape of stories How you can have all the right plot points but not have the right emotional journey and the reader will disconnect from it Replacing the words hero, alley, and villain with terms like vehicle (the point of view character), the engines (characters who help move them forward), the anchors (those who weigh the vehicle down or bring out the worst versions of the vehicle) If you need the character to struggle, put them in scenes with their anchor If you want a big emotional moment where the character has to make an emotional choice, have the character enacting upon the influence of the anchor, then introduce the engine into that scene How when we talk about dialogue we're really talking about overall character interaction Building a character voice and ways of building a dynamic cast around a character where they can all build upon one another The difference between segments and scenes Jeff's "Apple a day" style advice for writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on dialogue being one important aspect of overall character interaction, the readers emotional journey, and the value in helping other authors. Links of Interest: Jeff Elkins Website The Dialogue Doctor Website Kurt Vonnegut on the Shape of Stories (YouTube) Full Kurt Vonnegut Lecture (YouTube) Findaway Voices Spotify Royalty Increase (Findaway Blog) Converting Your Audiobook From Exclusive to Non-Exclusive (Findaway Blog) BookBub Blog: Promoting Your Audiobook For Skyrocketing Sales Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Jeff Elkins coaches authors and podcasts as the Dialogue Doctor. Since launching the Dialogue Doctor in 2020, he's held over 200 1-on-1 coaching sessions with authors focused on helping them improved their dialogue. In addition to 12 novels, Jeff is the author of The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now: How to Write Dialogue and Characters Readers Will Love -- a primer on how to write great dialogue, dynamic character voices, and powerful casts of characters.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Jeff Elkins about his writing, about dialogue and character voice, about his new book The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now, and more . . . Prior to the interview, Mark shares the winners of the complimentary tickets to BookMARCon, the surprise winners of complimentary pizza, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and Jeff talk about: Jeff's "nickname" as "The Dialogue Doctor" as well as his background as a writer What Jeff has seen in the past eight years that he has been involved in the indie author space The latest novel Jeff released in March 2023 co-authored with J.P. Rindfleisch called NRDS: National Recently Deceased Services which is described as "Ghostbusters meets The Office" The first collaboration Jeff had done with his best friend years ago Wanting to reengage in and looking for a way to give back to the author community in 2020 Adapting what he does professionally, training professionals in difficult conversations, and leveraging that to help authors apply those skills to their writing Doing more than 200 1:1 sessions since 2020 with authors to help them with their dialogue Liking helping writers perhaps more than he even likes writing The Dialogue Doctor community that seems to operate as a problem-solving community Jeff's book The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now, coming July 1, 2023 The structure of the book, which is hear the problem, learn the philosophy and the strategy for fixing it, then do a reading challenge, then a writing challenge The emotional journey a character goes on and the emotional shape of stories How you can have all the right plot points but not have the right emotional journey and the reader will disconnect from it Replacing the words hero, alley, and villain with terms like vehicle (the point of view character), the engines (characters who help move them forward), the anchors (those who weigh the vehicle down or bring out the worst versions of the vehicle) If you need the character to struggle, put them in scenes with their anchor If you want a big emotional moment where the character has to make an emotional choice, have the character enacting upon the influence of the anchor, then introduce the engine into that scene How when we talk about dialogue we're really talking about overall character interaction Building a character voice and ways of building a dynamic cast around a character where they can all build upon one another The difference between segments and scenes Jeff's "Apple a day" style advice for writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on dialogue being one important aspect of overall character interaction, the readers emotional journey, and the value in helping other authors. Links of Interest: Jeff Elkins Website The Dialogue Doctor Website Kurt Vonnegut on the Shape of Stories (YouTube) Full Kurt Vonnegut Lecture (YouTube) Findaway Voices Spotify Royalty Increase (Findaway Blog) Converting Your Audiobook From Exclusive to Non-Exclusive (Findaway Blog) BookBub Blog: Promoting Your Audiobook For Skyrocketing Sales Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Jeff Elkins coaches authors and podcasts as the Dialogue Doctor. Since launching the Dialogue Doctor in 2020, he's held over 200 1-on-1 coaching sessions with authors focused on helping them improved their dialogue. In addition to 12 novels, Jeff is the author of The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now: How to Write Dialogue and Characters Readers Will Love -- a primer on how to write great dialogue, dynamic character voices, and powerful casts of characters.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 311 - Being A Career Self-Publishing Author with Lindsay Buroker EP 311 - Being A Career Self-Publishing Author with Lindsay Buroker Thu, 22 Jun 2023 22:00:00 +0000 Mark interviews Lindsay Buroker, a full-time independent fantasy and science fiction author who has written over a hundred novels, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list, and has been twice nominated for a Goodreads Readers' Choice Award.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares an extremely short personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is findawayvoiceslogo.png

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and Lindsay talk about:

  • Lindsay's first appearance on the Stark Reflections Podcast, back in December 2018
  • The last time they saw one another in person, back in Vegas at 20BooksVegas a few months prior to the global pandemic
  • Lindsay's start in self-publishing, which started just prior to Christmas in 2010
  • How she had been about to hit the publishing button for her first book when she received an offer back from an agent - and she decided to just go ahead and hit that "publish" button
  • Using Podiobooks to release the first three books in audio for free
  • Doing a Kickstarter to pay for the audiobook production back in 2012
  • What it was like self-publishing back in 2010 through 2013
  • Writing in different genres, the various experiences of doing that, and the surprising number of readers who willingly follow her on this journey
  • Listening to her fans, but actually responding more to sales than to requests from her readers
  • The writing, editing, proofreading, betareading, publishing process Lindsay loops through
  • Always being aware of the possibility that the sales and consistent income might not always be there
  • Launching books to her fans "direct" via Patreon prior to pushing them into KDP Select
  • How an introvert like Lindsay can deal with being in such high demand from the author community and the reader community
  • Pseudo-retiring the weekly schedule of The Six Figure Author Podcast and considering doing an episode once every quarter
  • Books that Lindsay would recommend new readers might want to start with
  • Advice Lindsay has for authors who prefer to "follow the muse"
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things about Lindsay's unique journey as well as how much he enjoyed returning to her books as a reader.

Links of Interest:

 

Lindsay Buroker is a full-time independent fantasy and science fiction author who loves travel, hiking, tennis, and vizslas. She's written over a hundred novels, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list, and has been twice nominated for a Goodreads Readers' Choice Award.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Lindsay Buroker, a full-time independent fantasy and science fiction author who has written over a hundred novels, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list, and has been twice nominated for a Goodreads Readers' Choice Award.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares an extremely short personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and Lindsay talk about:

  • Lindsay's first appearance on the Stark Reflections Podcast, back in December 2018
  • The last time they saw one another in person, back in Vegas at 20BooksVegas a few months prior to the global pandemic
  • Lindsay's start in self-publishing, which started just prior to Christmas in 2010
  • How she had been about to hit the publishing button for her first book when she received an offer back from an agent - and she decided to just go ahead and hit that "publish" button
  • Using Podiobooks to release the first three books in audio for free
  • Doing a Kickstarter to pay for the audiobook production back in 2012
  • What it was like self-publishing back in 2010 through 2013
  • Writing in different genres, the various experiences of doing that, and the surprising number of readers who willingly follow her on this journey
  • Listening to her fans, but actually responding more to sales than to requests from her readers
  • The writing, editing, proofreading, betareading, publishing process Lindsay loops through
  • Always being aware of the possibility that the sales and consistent income might not always be there
  • Launching books to her fans "direct" via Patreon prior to pushing them into KDP Select
  • How an introvert like Lindsay can deal with being in such high demand from the author community and the reader community
  • Pseudo-retiring the weekly schedule of The Six Figure Author Podcast and considering doing an episode once every quarter
  • Books that Lindsay would recommend new readers might want to start with
  • Advice Lindsay has for authors who prefer to "follow the muse"
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things about Lindsay's unique journey as well as how much he enjoyed returning to her books as a reader.

Links of Interest:

Lindsay Buroker is a full-time independent fantasy and science fiction author who loves travel, hiking, tennis, and vizslas. She's written over a hundred novels, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list, and has been twice nominated for a Goodreads Readers' Choice Award.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 47:23 false 6 311 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Lindsay Buroker, a full-time independent fantasy and science fiction author who has written over a hundred novels, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list, and has been twice nominated for a Goodreads Readers' Choice Award. Prior to the interview, Mark shares an extremely short personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and Lindsay talk about: Lindsay's first appearance on the Stark Reflections Podcast, back in December 2018 The last time they saw one another in person, back in Vegas at 20BooksVegas a few months prior to the global pandemic Lindsay's start in self-publishing, which started just prior to Christmas in 2010 How she had been about to hit the publishing button for her first book when she received an offer back from an agent - and she decided to just go ahead and hit that "publish" button Using Podiobooks to release the first three books in audio for free Doing a Kickstarter to pay for the audiobook production back in 2012 What it was like self-publishing back in 2010 through 2013 Writing in different genres, the various experiences of doing that, and the surprising number of readers who willingly follow her on this journey Listening to her fans, but actually responding more to sales than to requests from her readers The writing, editing, proofreading, betareading, publishing process Lindsay loops through Always being aware of the possibility that the sales and consistent income might not always be there Launching books to her fans "direct" via Patreon prior to pushing them into KDP Select How an introvert like Lindsay can deal with being in such high demand from the author community and the reader community Pseudo-retiring the weekly schedule of The Six Figure Author Podcast and considering doing an episode once every quarter Books that Lindsay would recommend new readers might want to start with Advice Lindsay has for authors who prefer to "follow the muse" And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few things about Lindsay's unique journey as well as how much he enjoyed returning to her books as a reader. Links of Interest: Lindsay Buroker's Website Lindsay on Twitter Lindsay on Facebook Sinister Magic (Book 1 in Death Before Dragons) 6 Figure Authors Podcast (new episode June 20, 2023) Episode 54 - Personable Publishing with Lindsay Buroker Mentions/apperances of Lindsay on Stark Reflections Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Lindsay Buroker is a full-time independent fantasy and science fiction author who loves travel, hiking, tennis, and vizslas. She's written over a hundred novels, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list, and has been twice nominated for a Goodreads Readers' Choice Award.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Lindsay Buroker, a full-time independent fantasy and science fiction author who has written over a hundred novels, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list, and has been twice nominated for a Goodreads Readers' Choice Award. Prior to the interview, Mark shares an extremely short personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and Lindsay talk about: Lindsay's first appearance on the Stark Reflections Podcast, back in December 2018 The last time they saw one another in person, back in Vegas at 20BooksVegas a few months prior to the global pandemic Lindsay's start in self-publishing, which started just prior to Christmas in 2010 How she had been about to hit the publishing button for her first book when she received an offer back from an agent - and she decided to just go ahead and hit that "publish" button Using Podiobooks to release the first three books in audio for free Doing a Kickstarter to pay for the audiobook production back in 2012 What it was like self-publishing back in 2010 through 2013 Writing in different genres, the various experiences of doing that, and the surprising number of readers who willingly follow her on this journey Listening to her fans, but actually responding more to sales than to requests from her readers The writing, editing, proofreading, betareading, publishing process Lindsay loops through Always being aware of the possibility that the sales and consistent income might not always be there Launching books to her fans "direct" via Patreon prior to pushing them into KDP Select How an introvert like Lindsay can deal with being in such high demand from the author community and the reader community Pseudo-retiring the weekly schedule of The Six Figure Author Podcast and considering doing an episode once every quarter Books that Lindsay would recommend new readers might want to start with Advice Lindsay has for authors who prefer to "follow the muse" And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few things about Lindsay's unique journey as well as how much he enjoyed returning to her books as a reader. Links of Interest: Lindsay Buroker's Website Lindsay on Twitter Lindsay on Facebook Sinister Magic (Book 1 in Death Before Dragons) 6 Figure Authors Podcast (new episode June 20, 2023) Episode 54 - Personable Publishing with Lindsay Buroker Mentions/apperances of Lindsay on Stark Reflections Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Lindsay Buroker is a full-time independent fantasy and science fiction author who loves travel, hiking, tennis, and vizslas. She's written over a hundred novels, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list, and has been twice nominated for a Goodreads Readers' Choice Award.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 310 - Book Marketing and BookMARCon with Dana Claire Book Marketing and BookMARCon with Dana Claire Thu, 15 Jun 2023 23:35:00 +0000 Mark interviews Dana Claire, an award-winning author and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Book Brush about her writing, about Book Brush, and about the virtual BookMARCon conference.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor.

 

You can find out more about BookMARCon at https://bookbrush.com/bookmarcon/

During their conversation, Mark and Dana talk about:

  • Dana's background as a creative person as a writer, including the influence of her mother, an English teacher, and her college experience
  • Joining forces with her mother who wanted to write a children's book, and Dana who wanted to write an adult book - and the resulting young adult book they decided upon
  • Losing her mother unexpectedly, and then honoring her mother's memory by releasing the book the had planned on
  • Some of the issues and errors Dana made when publishing her first book (The Connection)
  • Dana's experience and background doing marketing and promotions for major companies
  • Being an author who has both traditionally published and self-published
  • Dana's belief in conferences and how important that has been to her author career
  • Pitching her novel to fourteen different publishers at a conference, and how it got picked up because of this
  • What Book Brush is - online software to make promotional images for books, including 3D versions of the books, within thousands of images that place it in specific settings and environments
  • How Book Brush is updated weekly and there's always something new available for writers to take advantage of
  • The way Book Brush can be very community driven so that authors don't feel so lonely
  • What BookMARCon is (a three day virtual event - August 11 through 13, 2023), the origin of it, and how that MAR stands for MARKETING. (Book Marketing Con)
  • The agent pitches that will be a part of this virtual conference
  • The importance of the "personality fit" that can happen between authors and agents
  • Self-publishing a book that her agent didn't want to pick up, and how that led to it winning an award and also being involved in a few things Dana isn't yet able to publicly talk about
  • Her novel Sideliners being optioned for TV because Hunterland was optioned for television
  • How self-published titles can help sell more of an author's traditionally published titles and vice versa
  • More about the various topics that'll be covered during BookMARCon
  • Heart-felt advice that Dana received from an agent during a meeting where the book she'd pitched was rejected and how that stayed with her and kept her motivated
  • The $199 USD registration fee for this conference
  • The Early Bird special registrants can get at the price of $149 until the end of July
  • How you can get $50 off the conference registration using code MARK50
  • Advice that Dana would offer to other writers
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of conferences to a writer's career, particularly from the networking and connections made there, Dana's great advice for writers, and the unique way that Dana signs her emails to authors as the company's COO.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

Dana Claire is an award-winning author and also serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Book Brush, overseeing the company's daily operations, spearheading strategic initiatives, and expanding the platform's offerings. With her experience as an author, Dana brings a unique perspective to Book Brush, enabling her to empathize with the needs of the community and provide tailored solutions. With nearly two decades of experience in marketing and sales, she is well-equipped to bridge the gap between traditional marketing and the literary world. Dana currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, California with her biggest fan, her husband.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Dana Claire, an award-winning author and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Book Brush about her writing, about Book Brush, and about the virtual BookMARCon conference.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can find out more about BookMARCon at https://bookbrush.com/bookmarcon/

During their conversation, Mark and Dana talk about:

  • Dana's background as a creative person as a writer, including the influence of her mother, an English teacher, and her college experience
  • Joining forces with her mother who wanted to write a children's book, and Dana who wanted to write an adult book - and the resulting young adult book they decided upon
  • Losing her mother unexpectedly, and then honoring her mother's memory by releasing the book the had planned on
  • Some of the issues and errors Dana made when publishing her first book (The Connection)
  • Dana's experience and background doing marketing and promotions for major companies
  • Being an author who has both traditionally published and self-published
  • Dana's belief in conferences and how important that has been to her author career
  • Pitching her novel to fourteen different publishers at a conference, and how it got picked up because of this
  • What Book Brush is - online software to make promotional images for books, including 3D versions of the books, within thousands of images that place it in specific settings and environments
  • How Book Brush is updated weekly and there's always something new available for writers to take advantage of
  • The way Book Brush can be very community driven so that authors don't feel so lonely
  • What BookMARCon is (a three day virtual event - August 11 through 13, 2023), the origin of it, and how that MAR stands for MARKETING. (Book Marketing Con)
  • The agent pitches that will be a part of this virtual conference
  • The importance of the "personality fit" that can happen between authors and agents
  • Self-publishing a book that her agent didn't want to pick up, and how that led to it winning an award and also being involved in a few things Dana isn't yet able to publicly talk about
  • Her novel Sideliners being optioned for TV because Hunterland was optioned for television
  • How self-published titles can help sell more of an author's traditionally published titles and vice versa
  • More about the various topics that'll be covered during BookMARCon
  • Heart-felt advice that Dana received from an agent during a meeting where the book she'd pitched was rejected and how that stayed with her and kept her motivated
  • The $199 USD registration fee for this conference
  • The Early Bird special registrants can get at the price of $149 until the end of July
  • How you can get $50 off the conference registration using code MARK50
  • Advice that Dana would offer to other writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of conferences to a writer's career, particularly from the networking and connections made there, Dana's great advice for writers, and the unique way that Dana signs her emails to authors as the company's COO.

Links of Interest:

Dana Claire is an award-winning author and also serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Book Brush, overseeing the company's daily operations, spearheading strategic initiatives, and expanding the platform's offerings. With her experience as an author, Dana brings a unique perspective to Book Brush, enabling her to empathize with the needs of the community and provide tailored solutions. With nearly two decades of experience in marketing and sales, she is well-equipped to bridge the gap between traditional marketing and the literary world. Dana currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, California with her biggest fan, her husband.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 57:08 false 6 310 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Dana Claire, an award-winning author and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Book Brush about her writing, about Book Brush, and about the virtual BookMARCon conference. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor.   You can find out more about BookMARCon at https://bookbrush.com/bookmarcon/ During their conversation, Mark and Dana talk about: Dana's background as a creative person as a writer, including the influence of her mother, an English teacher, and her college experience Joining forces with her mother who wanted to write a children's book, and Dana who wanted to write an adult book - and the resulting young adult book they decided upon Losing her mother unexpectedly, and then honoring her mother's memory by releasing the book the had planned on Some of the issues and errors Dana made when publishing her first book (The Connection) Dana's experience and background doing marketing and promotions for major companies Being an author who has both traditionally published and self-published Dana's belief in conferences and how important that has been to her author career Pitching her novel to fourteen different publishers at a conference, and how it got picked up because of this What Book Brush is - online software to make promotional images for books, including 3D versions of the books, within thousands of images that place it in specific settings and environments How Book Brush is updated weekly and there's always something new available for writers to take advantage of The way Book Brush can be very community driven so that authors don't feel so lonely What BookMARCon is (a three day virtual event - August 11 through 13, 2023), the origin of it, and how that MAR stands for MARKETING. (Book Marketing Con) The agent pitches that will be a part of this virtual conference The importance of the "personality fit" that can happen between authors and agents Self-publishing a book that her agent didn't want to pick up, and how that led to it winning an award and also being involved in a few things Dana isn't yet able to publicly talk about Her novel Sideliners being optioned for TV because Hunterland was optioned for television How self-published titles can help sell more of an author's traditionally published titles and vice versa More about the various topics that'll be covered during BookMARCon Heart-felt advice that Dana received from an agent during a meeting where the book she'd pitched was rejected and how that stayed with her and kept her motivated The $199 USD registration fee for this conference The Early Bird special registrants can get at the price of $149 until the end of July How you can get $50 off the conference registration using code MARK50 Advice that Dana would offer to other writers And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of conferences to a writer's career, particularly from the networking and connections made there, Dana's great advice for writers, and the unique way that Dana signs her emails to authors as the company's COO.   Links of Interest:   Dana Claire's Website Book Brush BookMARCon Episode 209 - From Zero to Four Figures with Paul Austin Ardoin Episode 284 - Collaborations in AI with Elizabeth Ann West Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Dana Claire is an award-winning author and also serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Book Brush, overseeing the company's daily operations, spearheading strategic initiatives, and expanding the platform's offerings. With her experience as an author, Dana brings a unique perspective to Book Brush, enabling her to empathize with the needs of the community and provide tailored solutions. With nearly two decades of experience in marketing and sales, she is well-equipped to bridge the gap between traditional marketing and the literary world. Dana currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, California with her biggest fan, her husband.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Dana Claire, an award-winning author and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Book Brush about her writing, about Book Brush, and about the virtual BookMARCon conference. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor.   You can find out more about BookMARCon at https://bookbrush.com/bookmarcon/ During their conversation, Mark and Dana talk about: Dana's background as a creative person as a writer, including the influence of her mother, an English teacher, and her college experience Joining forces with her mother who wanted to write a children's book, and Dana who wanted to write an adult book - and the resulting young adult book they decided upon Losing her mother unexpectedly, and then honoring her mother's memory by releasing the book the had planned on Some of the issues and errors Dana made when publishing her first book (The Connection) Dana's experience and background doing marketing and promotions for major companies Being an author who has both traditionally published and self-published Dana's belief in conferences and how important that has been to her author career Pitching her novel to fourteen different publishers at a conference, and how it got picked up because of this What Book Brush is - online software to make promotional images for books, including 3D versions of the books, within thousands of images that place it in specific settings and environments How Book Brush is updated weekly and there's always something new available for writers to take advantage of The way Book Brush can be very community driven so that authors don't feel so lonely What BookMARCon is (a three day virtual event - August 11 through 13, 2023), the origin of it, and how that MAR stands for MARKETING. (Book Marketing Con) The agent pitches that will be a part of this virtual conference The importance of the "personality fit" that can happen between authors and agents Self-publishing a book that her agent didn't want to pick up, and how that led to it winning an award and also being involved in a few things Dana isn't yet able to publicly talk about Her novel Sideliners being optioned for TV because Hunterland was optioned for television How self-published titles can help sell more of an author's traditionally published titles and vice versa More about the various topics that'll be covered during BookMARCon Heart-felt advice that Dana received from an agent during a meeting where the book she'd pitched was rejected and how that stayed with her and kept her motivated The $199 USD registration fee for this conference The Early Bird special registrants can get at the price of $149 until the end of July How you can get $50 off the conference registration using code MARK50 Advice that Dana would offer to other writers And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of conferences to a writer's career, particularly from the networking and connections made there, Dana's great advice for writers, and the unique way that Dana signs her emails to authors as the company's COO.   Links of Interest:   Dana Claire's Website Book Brush BookMARCon Episode 209 - From Zero to Four Figures with Paul Austin Ardoin Episode 284 - Collaborations in AI with Elizabeth Ann West Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Dana Claire is an award-winning author and also serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Book Brush, overseeing the company's daily operations, spearheading strategic initiatives, and expanding the platform's offerings. With her experience as an author, Dana brings a unique perspective to Book Brush, enabling her to empathize with the needs of the community and provide tailored solutions. With nearly two decades of experience in marketing and sales, she is well-equipped to bridge the gap between traditional marketing and the literary world. Dana currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, California with her biggest fan, her husband.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 309 - From Zero to Four Figures with Paul Austin Ardoin EP 309 - From Zero to Four Figures with Paul Austin Ardoin Thu, 08 Jun 2023 22:53:00 +0000 Mark interviews Paul Austin Ardoin about his new book From Zero to Four Figures: Making $1,000 a Month Self-Publishing Fiction.

Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patrons, shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is findawayvoiceslogo.png

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and Paul talk about:

  • How Paul has wanted to be a novelist since he was six years old
  • University being all about literary fiction, and never finishing that "great American novel" he kept trying to write
  • The way that writing a genre he was passionate about (mystery) was what made the major difference for Paul
  • Paul's wife giving him a great idea for a main character, a former nurse who becomes a county coroner
  • The fact that there are distinct seasons in Milwaukee
  • Paul being a pantser, or discovery writer
  • How literary fiction didn't gell with Paul's writing style
  • What is really meant by the "write what you know" advice from writing
  • Some mistakes that can be made related to missing some of the important tropes in one's writing
  • How Paul always approaches writing mysteries as a "pantser" or "discovery writer"
  • One of the pitfalls of "pantsing" a mystery novel
  • Making a lot of mistakes in the past five years, and being sure to include that in his new book for writers
  • The definite plan that Paul believes that many authors can put into place to get to $1000 a month
  • How Paul approached writing this book as something that just didn't seem to exist for writers, offering them a way they could approach it, including an important mindset shift
  • The value of series to a reader not having to go through the process of "finding something to read next"
  • The importance of setting a more reachable goal such as $1000 a month rather than the commonly shared much higher revenue goals often pushed on writers
  • Reader expectations and why it's such an important element for writers to pay attention to
  • The marketing pitfall authors can fall into when they believe their book is unique and "defies" genre
  • Sharing the many mistakes Paul has made as an author in this book
  • The important question about how readers are going to find your books
  • Paul's "Costco" analogy of book marketing
  • Focusing on the entry point novel
  • How the "freebee seekers" are a part of the business
  • The timeline that Paul lays out for this author journey
  • Thinking about your first book as an advertisement rather than as your baby
  • A few of the elements that are a part of this book that are mostly lacking in many of the books out there for writers
  • The power of being able to make changes
  • Advice Paul wish he'd had when he was first starting out
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about things that came up in the conversation.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

Paul Austin Ardoin is the USA TODAY bestselling indie author of The Fenway Stevenson Mysteries and The Woodhead & Becker Mysteries. He holds a B.A. in creative writing from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an M.B.A. in marketing from the University of Phoenix. His book Zero to Four Figures: Making $1,000 a Month Self-Publishing Fiction was published in June 2023.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Paul Austin Ardoin about his new book From Zero to Four Figures: Making $1,000 a Month Self-Publishing Fiction.

Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patrons, shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and Paul talk about:

  • How Paul has wanted to be a novelist since he was six years old
  • University being all about literary fiction, and never finishing that "great American novel" he kept trying to write
  • The way that writing a genre he was passionate about (mystery) was what made the major difference for Paul
  • Paul's wife giving him a great idea for a main character, a former nurse who becomes a county coroner
  • The fact that there are distinct seasons in Milwaukee
  • Paul being a pantser, or discovery writer
  • How literary fiction didn't gell with Paul's writing style
  • What is really meant by the "write what you know" advice from writing
  • Some mistakes that can be made related to missing some of the important tropes in one's writing
  • How Paul always approaches writing mysteries as a "pantser" or "discovery writer"
  • One of the pitfalls of "pantsing" a mystery novel
  • Making a lot of mistakes in the past five years, and being sure to include that in his new book for writers
  • The definite plan that Paul believes that many authors can put into place to get to $1000 a month
  • How Paul approached writing this book as something that just didn't seem to exist for writers, offering them a way they could approach it, including an important mindset shift
  • The value of series to a reader not having to go through the process of "finding something to read next"
  • The importance of setting a more reachable goal such as $1000 a month rather than the commonly shared much higher revenue goals often pushed on writers
  • Reader expectations and why it's such an important element for writers to pay attention to
  • The marketing pitfall authors can fall into when they believe their book is unique and "defies" genre
  • Sharing the many mistakes Paul has made as an author in this book
  • The important question about how readers are going to find your books
  • Paul's "Costco" analogy of book marketing
  • Focusing on the entry point novel
  • How the "freebee seekers" are a part of the business
  • The timeline that Paul lays out for this author journey
  • Thinking about your first book as an advertisement rather than as your baby
  • A few of the elements that are a part of this book that are mostly lacking in many of the books out there for writers
  • The power of being able to make changes
  • Advice Paul wish he'd had when he was first starting out
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about things that came up in the conversation.

Links of Interest:

Paul Austin Ardoin is the USA TODAY bestselling indie author of The Fenway Stevenson Mysteries and The Woodhead & Becker Mysteries. He holds a B.A. in creative writing from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an M.B.A. in marketing from the University of Phoenix. His book Zero to Four Figures: Making $1,000 a Month Self-Publishing Fiction was published in June 2023.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 57:03 false 6 309 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Paul Austin Ardoin about his new book From Zero to Four Figures: Making $1,000 a Month Self-Publishing Fiction. Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patrons, shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and Paul talk about: How Paul has wanted to be a novelist since he was six years old University being all about literary fiction, and never finishing that "great American novel" he kept trying to write The way that writing a genre he was passionate about (mystery) was what made the major difference for Paul Paul's wife giving him a great idea for a main character, a former nurse who becomes a county coroner The fact that there are distinct seasons in Milwaukee Paul being a pantser, or discovery writer How literary fiction didn't gell with Paul's writing style What is really meant by the "write what you know" advice from writing Some mistakes that can be made related to missing some of the important tropes in one's writing How Paul always approaches writing mysteries as a "pantser" or "discovery writer" One of the pitfalls of "pantsing" a mystery novel Making a lot of mistakes in the past five years, and being sure to include that in his new book for writers The definite plan that Paul believes that many authors can put into place to get to $1000 a month How Paul approached writing this book as something that just didn't seem to exist for writers, offering them a way they could approach it, including an important mindset shift The value of series to a reader not having to go through the process of "finding something to read next" The importance of setting a more reachable goal such as $1000 a month rather than the commonly shared much higher revenue goals often pushed on writers Reader expectations and why it's such an important element for writers to pay attention to The marketing pitfall authors can fall into when they believe their book is unique and "defies" genre Sharing the many mistakes Paul has made as an author in this book The important question about how readers are going to find your books Paul's "Costco" analogy of book marketing Focusing on the entry point novel How the "freebee seekers" are a part of the business The timeline that Paul lays out for this author journey Thinking about your first book as an advertisement rather than as your baby A few of the elements that are a part of this book that are mostly lacking in many of the books out there for writers The power of being able to make changes Advice Paul wish he'd had when he was first starting out And more . . . After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about things that came up in the conversation.   Links of Interest:   Paul Austin Ardoin's Website From Zero to Four Figures Episode 300 - Celebrating 300 Episodes with Guest Reflections Episode 301 - Procrastinating Partners Collaborating with Liz Anderson Episode 166 - Wording Around with Kathy Mac Other episodes with Kathy Mac Episode 280 - The Jozie Planner The 12 Hour Walk (Audio for Patrons) and Blog Post Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Paul Austin Ardoin is the USA TODAY bestselling indie author of The Fenway Stevenson Mysteries and The Woodhead & Becker Mysteries. He holds a B.A. in creative writing from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an M.B.A. in marketing from the University of Phoenix. His book Zero to Four Figures: Making $1,000 a Month Self-Publishing Fiction was published in June 2023.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Paul Austin Ardoin about his new book From Zero to Four Figures: Making $1,000 a Month Self-Publishing Fiction. Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patrons, shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and Paul talk about: How Paul has wanted to be a novelist since he was six years old University being all about literary fiction, and never finishing that "great American novel" he kept trying to write The way that writing a genre he was passionate about (mystery) was what made the major difference for Paul Paul's wife giving him a great idea for a main character, a former nurse who becomes a county coroner The fact that there are distinct seasons in Milwaukee Paul being a pantser, or discovery writer How literary fiction didn't gell with Paul's writing style What is really meant by the "write what you know" advice from writing Some mistakes that can be made related to missing some of the important tropes in one's writing How Paul always approaches writing mysteries as a "pantser" or "discovery writer" One of the pitfalls of "pantsing" a mystery novel Making a lot of mistakes in the past five years, and being sure to include that in his new book for writers The definite plan that Paul believes that many authors can put into place to get to $1000 a month How Paul approached writing this book as something that just didn't seem to exist for writers, offering them a way they could approach it, including an important mindset shift The value of series to a reader not having to go through the process of "finding something to read next" The importance of setting a more reachable goal such as $1000 a month rather than the commonly shared much higher revenue goals often pushed on writers Reader expectations and why it's such an important element for writers to pay attention to The marketing pitfall authors can fall into when they believe their book is unique and "defies" genre Sharing the many mistakes Paul has made as an author in this book The important question about how readers are going to find your books Paul's "Costco" analogy of book marketing Focusing on the entry point novel How the "freebee seekers" are a part of the business The timeline that Paul lays out for this author journey Thinking about your first book as an advertisement rather than as your baby A few of the elements that are a part of this book that are mostly lacking in many of the books out there for writers The power of being able to make changes Advice Paul wish he'd had when he was first starting out And more . . . After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about things that came up in the conversation.   Links of Interest:   Paul Austin Ardoin's Website From Zero to Four Figures Episode 300 - Celebrating 300 Episodes with Guest Reflections Episode 301 - Procrastinating Partners Collaborating with Liz Anderson Episode 166 - Wording Around with Kathy Mac Other episodes with Kathy Mac Episode 280 - The Jozie Planner The 12 Hour Walk (Audio for Patrons) and Blog Post Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Paul Austin Ardoin is the USA TODAY bestselling indie author of The Fenway Stevenson Mysteries and The Woodhead & Becker Mysteries. He holds a B.A. in creative writing from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an M.B.A. in marketing from the University of Phoenix. His book Zero to Four Figures: Making $1,000 a Month Self-Publishing Fiction was published in June 2023.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 308 - Historical Fiction Inspired by Real People with C. C. Humphreys Historical Fiction Inspired by Real People with C. C. Humphreys Tue, 06 Jun 2023 21:03:00 +0000 Mark interviews, actor and writer C. C. Humphreys about his new novel Some Day I'll Find You.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is findawayvoiceslogo.png

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During the interview Mark and Chris talk about:

  • Chris's new epic romance saga novel Some Day I'll Find You and how it's partly based on his own parents
  • Having to imagine his parents in their early 20s in the precarious situations they found themselves in
  • How this novel related to Chris's previous historical novel from the same era, Chasing the Wind
  • The common theme of "characters in peril" in Chris's novels
  • The consistent question of "what would I have done" during this significant era of history as well as in situations taking place around the world even today
  • How the spark for a novel always begins with story and characters
  • The various ways that Chris conducts research for different historical periods that he writes about
  • The book All the Fine Young Eagles: In the Cockpit with Canada's Second World War Fighter Pilots by David L Bashow which contained beautiful details about Canadian fighter pilots
  • The playlist Chris compiled related to songs that were a part of the research he did into that era
  • The book launches Chris will be doing when in Toronto (June 7th at Noonan's Pub) and Perth (June 9th at 7 PM at The Book Nook), then at Book Warehouse (Vancouver) on the 14th, as well as the free stage show in Toronto
  • Tips Chris would provide for authors who are preparing to do a reading of their work
  • How Chris enjoys doing launches at pubs and the live reading Chris did from the 5th oldest pub in England in the summer of 2022
  • A potential additional novel idea set in this same universe that Chris has been noodling over
  • Chris's fascination with the ambiguity of war
  • Advice that Chris would offer to beginning writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on those historic moments when people had to take a stand, as well as the idea of hosting a book-related event at a pub or other typically non-bookish locale.

Links of Interest:

 

 

Chris (C.C.) Humphreys - born in Toronto, raised in London - has played Hamlet in Calgary, a gladiator in Tunisia, waltzed in London's West End, conned the landlord of the Rovers Return in Coronation Street, patrolled the Sun Hill beat in The Bill, commanded a starfleet in Andromeda, voiced Salem the cat in the original Sabrina, and is a dead immortal in Highlander. He is also a playwright, audiobook narrator, creative writing teacher and award-winning author of historical fiction and fantasy. He has written twenty two novels including The French Executioner, The Jack Absolute Trilogy, Vlad-The Last Confession, A Place Called Armageddon, Shakespeare's Rebel, Chasing the Wind and his recent modern thriller, One London Day. Plague won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel. He has been translated into thirteen languages. His fantasy work includes The Runestone Saga and the recently published high epic series Immortals' Blood beginning with Smoke in the Glass. His other fantasy series, The Tapestry Trilogy, has just been re-launched beginning with The Hunt of the Unicorn. This Summer sees the publication of his WW2 thriller, Someday I'll Find You. He lives on Salt Spring Island, BC. Visit him at: https://www.authorchrishumphreys.com/

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews, actor and writer C. C. Humphreys about his new novel Some Day I'll Find You.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During the interview Mark and Chris talk about:

  • Chris's new epic romance saga novel Some Day I'll Find You and how it's partly based on his own parents
  • Having to imagine his parents in their early 20s in the precarious situations they found themselves in
  • How this novel related to Chris's previous historical novel from the same era, Chasing the Wind
  • The common theme of "characters in peril" in Chris's novels
  • The consistent question of "what would I have done" during this significant era of history as well as in situations taking place around the world even today
  • How the spark for a novel always begins with story and characters
  • The various ways that Chris conducts research for different historical periods that he writes about
  • The book All the Fine Young Eagles: In the Cockpit with Canada's Second World War Fighter Pilots by David L Bashow which contained beautiful details about Canadian fighter pilots
  • The playlist Chris compiled related to songs that were a part of the research he did into that era
  • The book launches Chris will be doing when in Toronto (June 7th at Noonan's Pub) and Perth (June 9th at 7 PM at The Book Nook), then at Book Warehouse (Vancouver) on the 14th, as well as the free stage show in Toronto
  • Tips Chris would provide for authors who are preparing to do a reading of their work
  • How Chris enjoys doing launches at pubs and the live reading Chris did from the 5th oldest pub in England in the summer of 2022
  • A potential additional novel idea set in this same universe that Chris has been noodling over
  • Chris's fascination with the ambiguity of war
  • Advice that Chris would offer to beginning writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on those historic moments when people had to take a stand, as well as the idea of hosting a book-related event at a pub or other typically non-bookish locale.

Links of Interest:

Chris (C.C.) Humphreys - born in Toronto, raised in London - has played Hamlet in Calgary, a gladiator in Tunisia, waltzed in London's West End, conned the landlord of the Rovers Return in Coronation Street, patrolled the Sun Hill beat in The Bill, commanded a starfleet in Andromeda, voiced Salem the cat in the original Sabrina, and is a dead immortal in Highlander. He is also a playwright, audiobook narrator, creative writing teacher and award-winning author of historical fiction and fantasy. He has written twenty two novels including The French Executioner, The Jack Absolute Trilogy, Vlad-The Last Confession, A Place Called Armageddon, Shakespeare's Rebel, Chasing the Wind and his recent modern thriller, One London Day. Plague won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel. He has been translated into thirteen languages. His fantasy work includes The Runestone Saga and the recently published high epic series Immortals' Blood beginning with Smoke in the Glass. His other fantasy series, The Tapestry Trilogy, has just been re-launched beginning with The Hunt of the Unicorn. This Summer sees the publication of his WW2 thriller, Someday I'll Find You. He lives on Salt Spring Island, BC. Visit him at: https://www.authorchrishumphreys.com/

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 53:51 false 6 308 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews, actor and writer C. C. Humphreys about his new novel Some Day I'll Find You. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During the interview Mark and Chris talk about: Chris's new epic romance saga novel Some Day I'll Find You and how it's partly based on his own parents Having to imagine his parents in their early 20s in the precarious situations they found themselves in How this novel related to Chris's previous historical novel from the same era, Chasing the Wind The common theme of "characters in peril" in Chris's novels The consistent question of "what would I have done" during this significant era of history as well as in situations taking place around the world even today How the spark for a novel always begins with story and characters The various ways that Chris conducts research for different historical periods that he writes about The book All the Fine Young Eagles: In the Cockpit with Canada's Second World War Fighter Pilots by David L Bashow which contained beautiful details about Canadian fighter pilots The playlist Chris compiled related to songs that were a part of the research he did into that era The book launches Chris will be doing when in Toronto (June 7th at Noonan's Pub) and Perth (June 9th at 7 PM at The Book Nook), then at Book Warehouse (Vancouver) on the 14th, as well as the free stage show in Toronto Tips Chris would provide for authors who are preparing to do a reading of their work How Chris enjoys doing launches at pubs and the live reading Chris did from the 5th oldest pub in England in the summer of 2022 A potential additional novel idea set in this same universe that Chris has been noodling over Chris's fascination with the ambiguity of war Advice that Chris would offer to beginning writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on those historic moments when people had to take a stand, as well as the idea of hosting a book-related event at a pub or other typically non-bookish locale. Links of Interest:   C.C. Humphrey's Website Some Day I'll Find You (Penguin Random House) Noonan's Pub The Book Nook Perth Episode 32 - Hubrid Publishing with C.C. Humphreys Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Chris (C.C.) Humphreys - born in Toronto, raised in London - has played Hamlet in Calgary, a gladiator in Tunisia, waltzed in London's West End, conned the landlord of the Rovers Return in Coronation Street, patrolled the Sun Hill beat in The Bill, commanded a starfleet in Andromeda, voiced Salem the cat in the original Sabrina, and is a dead immortal in Highlander. He is also a playwright, audiobook narrator, creative writing teacher and award-winning author of historical fiction and fantasy. He has written twenty two novels including The French Executioner, The Jack Absolute Trilogy, Vlad-The Last Confession, A Place Called Armageddon, Shakespeare's Rebel, Chasing the Wind and his recent modern thriller, One London Day. Plague won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel. He has been translated into thirteen languages. His fantasy work includes The Runestone Saga and the recently published high epic series Immortals' Blood beginning with Smoke in the Glass. His other fantasy series, The Tapestry Trilogy, has just been re-launched beginning with The Hunt of the Unicorn. This Summer sees the publication of his WW2 thriller, Someday I'll Find You. He lives on Salt Spring Island, BC. Visit him at: https://www.authorchrishumphreys.com/   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews, actor and writer C. C. Humphreys about his new novel Some Day I'll Find You. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During the interview Mark and Chris talk about: Chris's new epic romance saga novel Some Day I'll Find You and how it's partly based on his own parents Having to imagine his parents in their early 20s in the precarious situations they found themselves in How this novel related to Chris's previous historical novel from the same era, Chasing the Wind The common theme of "characters in peril" in Chris's novels The consistent question of "what would I have done" during this significant era of history as well as in situations taking place around the world even today How the spark for a novel always begins with story and characters The various ways that Chris conducts research for different historical periods that he writes about The book All the Fine Young Eagles: In the Cockpit with Canada's Second World War Fighter Pilots by David L Bashow which contained beautiful details about Canadian fighter pilots The playlist Chris compiled related to songs that were a part of the research he did into that era The book launches Chris will be doing when in Toronto (June 7th at Noonan's Pub) and Perth (June 9th at 7 PM at The Book Nook), then at Book Warehouse (Vancouver) on the 14th, as well as the free stage show in Toronto Tips Chris would provide for authors who are preparing to do a reading of their work How Chris enjoys doing launches at pubs and the live reading Chris did from the 5th oldest pub in England in the summer of 2022 A potential additional novel idea set in this same universe that Chris has been noodling over Chris's fascination with the ambiguity of war Advice that Chris would offer to beginning writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on those historic moments when people had to take a stand, as well as the idea of hosting a book-related event at a pub or other typically non-bookish locale. Links of Interest:   C.C. Humphrey's Website Some Day I'll Find You (Penguin Random House) Noonan's Pub The Book Nook Perth Episode 32 - Hubrid Publishing with C.C. Humphreys Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Chris (C.C.) Humphreys - born in Toronto, raised in London - has played Hamlet in Calgary, a gladiator in Tunisia, waltzed in London's West End, conned the landlord of the Rovers Return in Coronation Street, patrolled the Sun Hill beat in The Bill, commanded a starfleet in Andromeda, voiced Salem the cat in the original Sabrina, and is a dead immortal in Highlander. He is also a playwright, audiobook narrator, creative writing teacher and award-winning author of historical fiction and fantasy. He has written twenty two novels including The French Executioner, The Jack Absolute Trilogy, Vlad-The Last Confession, A Place Called Armageddon, Shakespeare's Rebel, Chasing the Wind and his recent modern thriller, One London Day. Plague won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel. He has been translated into thirteen languages. His fantasy work includes The Runestone Saga and the recently published high epic series Immortals' Blood beginning with Smoke in the Glass. His other fantasy series, The Tapestry Trilogy, has just been re-launched beginning with The Hunt of the Unicorn. This Summer sees the publication of his WW2 thriller, Someday I'll Find You. He lives on Salt Spring Island, BC. Visit him at: https://www.authorchrishumphreys.com/   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 307 - Autism, ADHD, Neurodiversity, and Divergent Realms with Ridley Odell EP 307 - Autism, ADHD, Neurodiversity, and Divergent Realms with Ridley Odell Fri, 02 Jun 2023 00:50:00 +0000 Mark interviews Riley Odell, an autistic writer of horror, humor, and bizarro stories. As an autism/neurodiversity advocate, Riley is working on a speculative fiction anthology about neurodiverse characters written by neurodiverse writers called Divergent Realms: Speculative Stories About Neurodiversity.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is findawayvoiceslogo.png

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Riley talk about:

  • How Riley first started off writing by creating silly comic strips back in the third grade, moving to prose fiction by the time he was about twelve years old, and has pretty much been writing ever since
  • Years of working on various unfinished projects, but having found a groove just a few years ago
  • The ways in which his wife has helped Riley with his writing
  • Riley's two short story collections (Vile Visions and Odd Ordeals) and his novella entitled My Weird Nightmare Baby
  • How landing on the title Vile Visions felt perfect
  • Being drawing to writing speculative fiction because Riley has long been a reader of those genres
  • Inspiration from the world for writing horror and the types of horror that appear in Vile Visions
  • How comedy and horror work on two different sides of the same coin
  • The anthology Riley is reading for and publishing, Divergent Realms, and how it was inspired
  • Why a call for neuro-divergent writers only is important
  • The honor system for submissions that include a cover letter explaining how neurodiversion applies to them
  • The types of stories Riley is hoping to receive for the anthology
  • The submission window (June 1, 2023 until the last day of August 2023), the story length requested (2000 to 5000 words)
  • Where, online more can be found out about this anthology (horrortree.com) and the email to send submissions to (divergentrealmsanthology@gmail.com) and what payment will be offered for submissions
  • Riley's connection to the Odell Brewery in Fort Collins, CO (which Mark nerds out on)
  • How Riley will be doing a bit of work with Melissa Dalton-Martinez of The Book Break
  • The expected timeline for the release of the anthology, which is spring 2024
  • How writing with Autism and ADHD is never made easier, but can sometimes be made easier, including strategies like taking a lot of basic writing advice with a grain of salt
  • How forcing yourself to write when you're not ready to write can create a negative association with writing which makes things worse
  • Advice Riley would offer to other writers
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on Riley taking a solid DIY ethic to fix a hole in the publishing world, as well as the importance of adapting advice into something that works best for YOU in your particular situation.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

RIley Odell is an autistic writer of horror, humor, bizarro and stories about autism. He is the author of the books Vile Visions, Odd Ordeals and My Weird Nightmare Baby. As an autism/neurodiversity advocate, Riley is working on a speculative fiction anthology about neurodiverse characters written by neurodiverse writers called Divergent Realms: Speculative Stories About Neurodiversity.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

 

 

]]> Mark interviews Riley Odell, an autistic writer of horror, humor, and bizarro stories. As an autism/neurodiversity advocate, Riley is working on a speculative fiction anthology about neurodiverse characters written by neurodiverse writers called Divergent Realms: Speculative Stories About Neurodiversity.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Riley talk about:

  • How Riley first started off writing by creating silly comic strips back in the third grade, moving to prose fiction by the time he was about twelve years old, and has pretty much been writing ever since
  • Years of working on various unfinished projects, but having found a groove just a few years ago
  • The ways in which his wife has helped Riley with his writing
  • Riley's two short story collections (Vile Visions and Odd Ordeals) and his novella entitled My Weird Nightmare Baby
  • How landing on the title Vile Visions felt perfect
  • Being drawing to writing speculative fiction because Riley has long been a reader of those genres
  • Inspiration from the world for writing horror and the types of horror that appear in Vile Visions
  • How comedy and horror work on two different sides of the same coin
  • The anthology Riley is reading for and publishing, Divergent Realms, and how it was inspired
  • Why a call for neuro-divergent writers only is important
  • The honor system for submissions that include a cover letter explaining how neurodiversion applies to them
  • The types of stories Riley is hoping to receive for the anthology
  • The submission window (June 1, 2023 until the last day of August 2023), the story length requested (2000 to 5000 words)
  • Where, online more can be found out about this anthology (horrortree.com) and the email to send submissions to (divergentrealmsanthology@gmail.com) and what payment will be offered for submissions
  • Riley's connection to the Odell Brewery in Fort Collins, CO (which Mark nerds out on)
  • How Riley will be doing a bit of work with Melissa Dalton-Martinez of The Book Break
  • The expected timeline for the release of the anthology, which is spring 2024
  • How writing with Autism and ADHD is never made easier, but can sometimes be made easier, including strategies like taking a lot of basic writing advice with a grain of salt
  • How forcing yourself to write when you're not ready to write can create a negative association with writing which makes things worse
  • Advice Riley would offer to other writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on Riley taking a solid DIY ethic to fix a hole in the publishing world, as well as the importance of adapting advice into something that works best for YOU in your particular situation.

Links of Interest:

RIley Odell is an autistic writer of horror, humor, bizarro and stories about autism. He is the author of the books Vile Visions, Odd Ordeals and My Weird Nightmare Baby. As an autism/neurodiversity advocate, Riley is working on a speculative fiction anthology about neurodiverse characters written by neurodiverse writers called Divergent Realms: Speculative Stories About Neurodiversity.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 47:40 false 6 307 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Riley Odell, an autistic writer of horror, humor, and bizarro stories. As an autism/neurodiversity advocate, Riley is working on a speculative fiction anthology about neurodiverse characters written by neurodiverse writers called Divergent Realms: Speculative Stories About Neurodiversity. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Riley talk about: How Riley first started off writing by creating silly comic strips back in the third grade, moving to prose fiction by the time he was about twelve years old, and has pretty much been writing ever since Years of working on various unfinished projects, but having found a groove just a few years ago The ways in which his wife has helped Riley with his writing Riley's two short story collections (Vile Visions and Odd Ordeals) and his novella entitled My Weird Nightmare Baby How landing on the title Vile Visions felt perfect Being drawing to writing speculative fiction because Riley has long been a reader of those genres Inspiration from the world for writing horror and the types of horror that appear in Vile Visions How comedy and horror work on two different sides of the same coin The anthology Riley is reading for and publishing, Divergent Realms, and how it was inspired Why a call for neuro-divergent writers only is important The honor system for submissions that include a cover letter explaining how neurodiversion applies to them The types of stories Riley is hoping to receive for the anthology The submission window (June 1, 2023 until the last day of August 2023), the story length requested (2000 to 5000 words) Where, online more can be found out about this anthology (horrortree.com) and the email to send submissions to (divergentrealmsanthology@gmail.com) and what payment will be offered for submissions Riley's connection to the Odell Brewery in Fort Collins, CO (which Mark nerds out on) How Riley will be doing a bit of work with Melissa Dalton-Martinez of The Book Break The expected timeline for the release of the anthology, which is spring 2024 How writing with Autism and ADHD is never made easier, but can sometimes be made easier, including strategies like taking a lot of basic writing advice with a grain of salt How forcing yourself to write when you're not ready to write can create a negative association with writing which makes things worse Advice Riley would offer to other writers And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on Riley taking a solid DIY ethic to fix a hole in the publishing world, as well as the importance of adapting advice into something that works best for YOU in your particular situation.   Links of Interest:   Riley Odell's Website Riley Odell's Facebook Page Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   RIley Odell is an autistic writer of horror, humor, bizarro and stories about autism. He is the author of the books Vile Visions, Odd Ordeals and My Weird Nightmare Baby. As an autism/neurodiversity advocate, Riley is working on a speculative fiction anthology about neurodiverse characters written by neurodiverse writers called Divergent Realms: Speculative Stories About Neurodiversity.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Mark interviews Riley Odell, an autistic writer of horror, humor, and bizarro stories. As an autism/neurodiversity advocate, Riley is working on a speculative fiction anthology about neurodiverse characters written by neurodiverse writers called Divergent Realms: Speculative Stories About Neurodiversity. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Riley talk about: How Riley first started off writing by creating silly comic strips back in the third grade, moving to prose fiction by the time he was about twelve years old, and has pretty much been writing ever since Years of working on various unfinished projects, but having found a groove just a few years ago The ways in which his wife has helped Riley with his writing Riley's two short story collections (Vile Visions and Odd Ordeals) and his novella entitled My Weird Nightmare Baby How landing on the title Vile Visions felt perfect Being drawing to writing speculative fiction because Riley has long been a reader of those genres Inspiration from the world for writing horror and the types of horror that appear in Vile Visions How comedy and horror work on two different sides of the same coin The anthology Riley is reading for and publishing, Divergent Realms, and how it was inspired Why a call for neuro-divergent writers only is important The honor system for submissions that include a cover letter explaining how neurodiversion applies to them The types of stories Riley is hoping to receive for the anthology The submission window (June 1, 2023 until the last day of August 2023), the story length requested (2000 to 5000 words) Where, online more can be found out about this anthology (horrortree.com) and the email to send submissions to (divergentrealmsanthology@gmail.com) and what payment will be offered for submissions Riley's connection to the Odell Brewery in Fort Collins, CO (which Mark nerds out on) How Riley will be doing a bit of work with Melissa Dalton-Martinez of The Book Break The expected timeline for the release of the anthology, which is spring 2024 How writing with Autism and ADHD is never made easier, but can sometimes be made easier, including strategies like taking a lot of basic writing advice with a grain of salt How forcing yourself to write when you're not ready to write can create a negative association with writing which makes things worse Advice Riley would offer to other writers And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on Riley taking a solid DIY ethic to fix a hole in the publishing world, as well as the importance of adapting advice into something that works best for YOU in your particular situation.   Links of Interest:   Riley Odell's Website Riley Odell's Facebook Page Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   RIley Odell is an autistic writer of horror, humor, bizarro and stories about autism. He is the author of the books Vile Visions, Odd Ordeals and My Weird Nightmare Baby. As an autism/neurodiversity advocate, Riley is working on a speculative fiction anthology about neurodiverse characters written by neurodiverse writers called Divergent Realms: Speculative Stories About Neurodiversity.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0      EP 306 - Finding Markets for Short Fiction with Angelique Fawns Finding Markets for Short Fiction with Angelique Fawns Thu, 25 May 2023 22:00:00 +0000 Mark interviews Angelique Fawns about her writing as well as the intel she provides on short fiction markets for other writers.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is findawayvoiceslogo.png

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their discussion, Mark and Angelique talk about:

  • Angelique's background in freelance writing, journalism and her 25 years working in corporate television
  • What Global TV is, for the benefit of non-Canadians
  • Her preference for not having to be constrained by the truth, which led to her passion for fiction over non-fiction/journalism
  • Some of the logistics of doing promotional short videos for Global TV
  • The silver lining of shattering her ankle and how it led to finally sitting down and writing fiction
  • Entering the fiction world in 2018 and not being able to find markets for selling short fiction
  • Writing in active present tense because of her background in broadcast
  • The work Angelique does finding and sharing information about markets for short fiction for other writers
  • The Guide of All Guides market listing that Angelique has published based on the research she has done
  • "Re-printing" her short fiction via her "Read me a Nightmare" podcast
  • How working with an editor (Scott from DreamForge) helped Angelique revise a good story into a great story
  • Balancing working a full time job, managing a farm, and having an active family life along with writing
  • Not buying the idea that there's no money in short fiction
  • The fickleness of luck in a writer's life and how the harder you work and the more lightning rods you plant, the more likely the right luck will happen
  • The consistent message of "I think I'm successful because I didn't give up" from many of the world's most known and successful writers
  • How what looks like success often doesn't show the numerous rejections and failures behind the scenes
  • What Angelqique would advise to writers who are frightened of rejection
  • A true and very cautionary tale about a writer who had impressed a series of editors and quit just when he was at the verge of that "breakthrough" submission
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things Angelique spoke about, as well as the way she has adapted her "day job" skills into her writing.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

Angelique Fawns is a journalist and speculative fiction writer. She began her career writing articles about naked cave dwellers in Tenerife, Canary Islands, and hosting a radio show in Mooloolaba, Australia. Now she works full-time making television commercials for Global TV in Toronto. She writes fiction for fun and uses her journalism skills to promote editors, publishers and authors. She has her own podcast, Read Me A NIghtmare where she features short, dark stories and interviews creators in the industry. She lives on a farm north of the city with her husband, daughter, horses, cows, far too many cats, and a Potcake rescue dog. Her very first sale was to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. You can find her work in DreamForge, Allegory, The School Magazine, and two Third Flatiron anthologies. "The Last of the Gen Xers" is a 2022 Tangent Online Recommended Read. Her writing groups include the Wulf Pack and The Dreamcasters.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Angelique Fawns about her writing as well as the intel she provides on short fiction markets for other writers.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their discussion, Mark and Angelique talk about:

  • Angelique's background in freelance writing, journalism and her 25 years working in corporate television
  • What Global TV is, for the benefit of non-Canadians
  • Her preference for not having to be constrained by the truth, which led to her passion for fiction over non-fiction/journalism
  • Some of the logistics of doing promotional short videos for Global TV
  • The silver lining of shattering her ankle and how it led to finally sitting down and writing fiction
  • Entering the fiction world in 2018 and not being able to find markets for selling short fiction
  • Writing in active present tense because of her background in broadcast
  • The work Angelique does finding and sharing information about markets for short fiction for other writers
  • The Guide of All Guides market listing that Angelique has published based on the research she has done
  • "Re-printing" her short fiction via her "Read me a Nightmare" podcast
  • How working with an editor (Scott from DreamForge) helped Angelique revise a good story into a great story
  • Balancing working a full time job, managing a farm, and having an active family life along with writing
  • Not buying the idea that there's no money in short fiction
  • The fickleness of luck in a writer's life and how the harder you work and the more lightning rods you plant, the more likely the right luck will happen
  • The consistent message of "I think I'm successful because I didn't give up" from many of the world's most known and successful writers
  • How what looks like success often doesn't show the numerous rejections and failures behind the scenes
  • What Angelqique would advise to writers who are frightened of rejection
  • A true and very cautionary tale about a writer who had impressed a series of editors and quit just when he was at the verge of that "breakthrough" submission
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things Angelique spoke about, as well as the way she has adapted her "day job" skills into her writing.

Links of Interest:

Angelique Fawns is a journalist and speculative fiction writer. She began her career writing articles about naked cave dwellers in Tenerife, Canary Islands, and hosting a radio show in Mooloolaba, Australia. Now she works full-time making television commercials for Global TV in Toronto. She writes fiction for fun and uses her journalism skills to promote editors, publishers and authors. She has her own podcast, Read Me A NIghtmare where she features short, dark stories and interviews creators in the industry. She lives on a farm north of the city with her husband, daughter, horses, cows, far too many cats, and a Potcake rescue dog. Her very first sale was to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. You can find her work in DreamForge, Allegory, The School Magazine, and two Third Flatiron anthologies. "The Last of the Gen Xers" is a 2022 Tangent Online Recommended Read. Her writing groups include the Wulf Pack and The Dreamcasters.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 56:42 false 6 305 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Angelique Fawns about her writing as well as the intel she provides on short fiction markets for other writers. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their discussion, Mark and Angelique talk about: Angelique's background in freelance writing, journalism and her 25 years working in corporate television What Global TV is, for the benefit of non-Canadians Her preference for not having to be constrained by the truth, which led to her passion for fiction over non-fiction/journalism Some of the logistics of doing promotional short videos for Global TV The silver lining of shattering her ankle and how it led to finally sitting down and writing fiction Entering the fiction world in 2018 and not being able to find markets for selling short fiction Writing in active present tense because of her background in broadcast The work Angelique does finding and sharing information about markets for short fiction for other writers The Guide of All Guides market listing that Angelique has published based on the research she has done "Re-printing" her short fiction via her "Read me a Nightmare" podcast How working with an editor (Scott from DreamForge) helped Angelique revise a good story into a great story Balancing working a full time job, managing a farm, and having an active family life along with writing Not buying the idea that there's no money in short fiction The fickleness of luck in a writer's life and how the harder you work and the more lightning rods you plant, the more likely the right luck will happen The consistent message of "I think I'm successful because I didn't give up" from many of the world's most known and successful writers How what looks like success often doesn't show the numerous rejections and failures behind the scenes What Angelqique would advise to writers who are frightened of rejection A true and very cautionary tale about a writer who had impressed a series of editors and quit just when he was at the verge of that "breakthrough" submission And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things Angelique spoke about, as well as the way she has adapted her "day job" skills into her writing.   Links of Interest:   Angelique Fawns Website Read Me a Nightmare Podcast EP 33 - Browsers & Interview with Mark Leslie Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Angelique Fawns is a journalist and speculative fiction writer. She began her career writing articles about naked cave dwellers in Tenerife, Canary Islands, and hosting a radio show in Mooloolaba, Australia. Now she works full-time making television commercials for Global TV in Toronto. She writes fiction for fun and uses her journalism skills to promote editors, publishers and authors. She has her own podcast, Read Me A NIghtmare where she features short, dark stories and interviews creators in the industry. She lives on a farm north of the city with her husband, daughter, horses, cows, far too many cats, and a Potcake rescue dog. Her very first sale was to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. You can find her work in DreamForge, Allegory, The School Magazine, and two Third Flatiron anthologies. "The Last of the Gen Xers" is a 2022 Tangent Online Recommended Read. Her writing groups include the Wulf Pack and The Dreamcasters.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Angelique Fawns about her writing as well as the intel she provides on short fiction markets for other writers. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their discussion, Mark and Angelique talk about: Angelique's background in freelance writing, journalism and her 25 years working in corporate television What Global TV is, for the benefit of non-Canadians Her preference for not having to be constrained by the truth, which led to her passion for fiction over non-fiction/journalism Some of the logistics of doing promotional short videos for Global TV The silver lining of shattering her ankle and how it led to finally sitting down and writing fiction Entering the fiction world in 2018 and not being able to find markets for selling short fiction Writing in active present tense because of her background in broadcast The work Angelique does finding and sharing information about markets for short fiction for other writers The Guide of All Guides market listing that Angelique has published based on the research she has done "Re-printing" her short fiction via her "Read me a Nightmare" podcast How working with an editor (Scott from DreamForge) helped Angelique revise a good story into a great story Balancing working a full time job, managing a farm, and having an active family life along with writing Not buying the idea that there's no money in short fiction The fickleness of luck in a writer's life and how the harder you work and the more lightning rods you plant, the more likely the right luck will happen The consistent message of "I think I'm successful because I didn't give up" from many of the world's most known and successful writers How what looks like success often doesn't show the numerous rejections and failures behind the scenes What Angelqique would advise to writers who are frightened of rejection A true and very cautionary tale about a writer who had impressed a series of editors and quit just when he was at the verge of that "breakthrough" submission And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things Angelique spoke about, as well as the way she has adapted her "day job" skills into her writing.   Links of Interest:   Angelique Fawns Website Read Me a Nightmare Podcast EP 33 - Browsers & Interview with Mark Leslie Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Angelique Fawns is a journalist and speculative fiction writer. She began her career writing articles about naked cave dwellers in Tenerife, Canary Islands, and hosting a radio show in Mooloolaba, Australia. Now she works full-time making television commercials for Global TV in Toronto. She writes fiction for fun and uses her journalism skills to promote editors, publishers and authors. She has her own podcast, Read Me A NIghtmare where she features short, dark stories and interviews creators in the industry. She lives on a farm north of the city with her husband, daughter, horses, cows, far too many cats, and a Potcake rescue dog. Her very first sale was to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. You can find her work in DreamForge, Allegory, The School Magazine, and two Third Flatiron anthologies. "The Last of the Gen Xers" is a 2022 Tangent Online Recommended Read. Her writing groups include the Wulf Pack and The Dreamcasters.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 305 - Rising Action Publishing with Alexandria Brown EP 305 - Rising Action Publishing with Alexandria Brown Thu, 18 May 2023 22:00:00 +0000 Mark interviews Alexandria Brown from Rising Action Publishing about her role in acquisitions and works with sub-agents on subsidiary rights.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is findawayvoiceslogo.png

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their discussion, Mark and Alex talk about:

  • Alexandria starting off doing lifestyle and other non-fiction publications such as Thought Catalog from New York
  • Her first two books that focus on dating and romance, and mental health and traveling the world
  • Getting her PhD at the University of Gloucestershire
  • The focus on how to write trauma in fiction in Alex's PhD (How cross-cultural characters and trauma can impact fiction and bind people together)
  • How Alex got involved in starting up Rising Action Publishing with a co-owner she met in Humber College
  • The tremendous value, uniqueness, and diversity that independent publishers can bring to the market that traditional publishes often aren't able to
  • Their partnership with Black Bird Books from South Africa
  • Why it's really important for independent publishers to be part of a supportive and collaborative community
  • How Alex and Tina did a lot of freelance editing in order to generate enough capital to get their publishing business started
  • Leveraging subsidiary rights for things like audio rights to help bring in money for publishing expenses
  • How the publishing partnership between Alex and Tina is very much like a marriage
  • The types of fiction and non-fiction that Rising Action Publishing is looking to acquire
  • The difference between domestic suspense and thrillers
  • The wonderful challenge and problem of getting so many great submissions as a publisher
  • Some of the errors that some writers have made when making submissions
  • A few of the books that Rising Action will be releasing
  • Advice that Alexandria would offer to writers near the beginning of their journey
  • And more...

 

After the interview, Mark reflects on a few of the things that Alexandria talked about and goes into detail explaining how the big traditional publishers of today have a lot more in common with indie authors than at first meets the eye.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

Alex Brown has over ten years of experience in marketing and creative writing. Alex has a Bachelor's in Communications with a major in Public Relations, a Master of Fine Arts - Creative Writing from the University of Gloucestershire, and is a Creative Writing Ph.D. Candidate currently at the University of Gloucestershire. She has two traditionally published nonfiction books. She's a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association. Alex's primary role is acquisitions and marketing as well as working with sub-agents on subsidiary rights.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Alexandria Brown from Rising Action Publishing about her role in acquisitions and works with sub-agents on subsidiary rights.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their discussion, Mark and Alex talk about:

  • Alexandria starting off doing lifestyle and other non-fiction publications such as Thought Catalog from New York
  • Her first two books that focus on dating and romance, and mental health and traveling the world
  • Getting her PhD at the University of Gloucestershire
  • The focus on how to write trauma in fiction in Alex's PhD (How cross-cultural characters and trauma can impact fiction and bind people together)
  • How Alex got involved in starting up Rising Action Publishing with a co-owner she met in Humber College
  • The tremendous value, uniqueness, and diversity that independent publishers can bring to the market that traditional publishes often aren't able to
  • Their partnership with Black Bird Books from South Africa
  • Why it's really important for independent publishers to be part of a supportive and collaborative community
  • How Alex and Tina did a lot of freelance editing in order to generate enough capital to get their publishing business started
  • Leveraging subsidiary rights for things like audio rights to help bring in money for publishing expenses
  • How the publishing partnership between Alex and Tina is very much like a marriage
  • The types of fiction and non-fiction that Rising Action Publishing is looking to acquire
  • The difference between domestic suspense and thrillers
  • The wonderful challenge and problem of getting so many great submissions as a publisher
  • Some of the errors that some writers have made when making submissions
  • A few of the books that Rising Action will be releasing
  • Advice that Alexandria would offer to writers near the beginning of their journey
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on a few of the things that Alexandria talked about and goes into detail explaining how the big traditional publishers of today have a lot more in common with indie authors than at first meets the eye.

Links of Interest:

Alex Brown has over ten years of experience in marketing and creative writing. Alex has a Bachelor's in Communications with a major in Public Relations, a Master of Fine Arts - Creative Writing from the University of Gloucestershire, and is a Creative Writing Ph.D. Candidate currently at the University of Gloucestershire. She has two traditionally published nonfiction books. She's a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association. Alex's primary role is acquisitions and marketing as well as working with sub-agents on subsidiary rights.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 59:38 false 6 305 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Alexandria Brown from Rising Action Publishing about her role in acquisitions and works with sub-agents on subsidiary rights. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their discussion, Mark and Alex talk about: Alexandria starting off doing lifestyle and other non-fiction publications such as Thought Catalog from New York Her first two books that focus on dating and romance, and mental health and traveling the world Getting her PhD at the University of Gloucestershire The focus on how to write trauma in fiction in Alex's PhD (How cross-cultural characters and trauma can impact fiction and bind people together) How Alex got involved in starting up Rising Action Publishing with a co-owner she met in Humber College The tremendous value, uniqueness, and diversity that independent publishers can bring to the market that traditional publishes often aren't able to Their partnership with Black Bird Books from South Africa Why it's really important for independent publishers to be part of a supportive and collaborative community How Alex and Tina did a lot of freelance editing in order to generate enough capital to get their publishing business started Leveraging subsidiary rights for things like audio rights to help bring in money for publishing expenses How the publishing partnership between Alex and Tina is very much like a marriage The types of fiction and non-fiction that Rising Action Publishing is looking to acquire The difference between domestic suspense and thrillers The wonderful challenge and problem of getting so many great submissions as a publisher Some of the errors that some writers have made when making submissions A few of the books that Rising Action will be releasing Advice that Alexandria would offer to writers near the beginning of their journey And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on a few of the things that Alexandria talked about and goes into detail explaining how the big traditional publishers of today have a lot more in common with indie authors than at first meets the eye.   Links of Interest:   Rising Action Publishing Submissions Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Alex Brown has over ten years of experience in marketing and creative writing. Alex has a Bachelor's in Communications with a major in Public Relations, a Master of Fine Arts - Creative Writing from the University of Gloucestershire, and is a Creative Writing Ph.D. Candidate currently at the University of Gloucestershire. She has two traditionally published nonfiction books. She's a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association. Alex's primary role is acquisitions and marketing as well as working with sub-agents on subsidiary rights.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Alexandria Brown from Rising Action Publishing about her role in acquisitions and works with sub-agents on subsidiary rights. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their discussion, Mark and Alex talk about: Alexandria starting off doing lifestyle and other non-fiction publications such as Thought Catalog from New York Her first two books that focus on dating and romance, and mental health and traveling the world Getting her PhD at the University of Gloucestershire The focus on how to write trauma in fiction in Alex's PhD (How cross-cultural characters and trauma can impact fiction and bind people together) How Alex got involved in starting up Rising Action Publishing with a co-owner she met in Humber College The tremendous value, uniqueness, and diversity that independent publishers can bring to the market that traditional publishes often aren't able to Their partnership with Black Bird Books from South Africa Why it's really important for independent publishers to be part of a supportive and collaborative community How Alex and Tina did a lot of freelance editing in order to generate enough capital to get their publishing business started Leveraging subsidiary rights for things like audio rights to help bring in money for publishing expenses How the publishing partnership between Alex and Tina is very much like a marriage The types of fiction and non-fiction that Rising Action Publishing is looking to acquire The difference between domestic suspense and thrillers The wonderful challenge and problem of getting so many great submissions as a publisher Some of the errors that some writers have made when making submissions A few of the books that Rising Action will be releasing Advice that Alexandria would offer to writers near the beginning of their journey And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on a few of the things that Alexandria talked about and goes into detail explaining how the big traditional publishers of today have a lot more in common with indie authors than at first meets the eye.   Links of Interest:   Rising Action Publishing Submissions Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Alex Brown has over ten years of experience in marketing and creative writing. Alex has a Bachelor's in Communications with a major in Public Relations, a Master of Fine Arts - Creative Writing from the University of Gloucestershire, and is a Creative Writing Ph.D. Candidate currently at the University of Gloucestershire. She has two traditionally published nonfiction books. She's a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association. Alex's primary role is acquisitions and marketing as well as working with sub-agents on subsidiary rights.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 304 - Narrative Transportation with Denise Baden Narrative Transportation with Denise Baden Fri, 12 May 2023 00:11:00 +0000 Mark interviews Denise Baden, Professor of Sustainable Practice at the University of Southampton, UK, about her eco-themed writing, and the Green Writing Project which she initially set up in 2018.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is findawayvoiceslogo.png

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Denise talk about:

  • Denise's varied background in a number of different areas, including being a sales rep for cookbooks
  • How a work of fiction (the satirical thriller STARK by Ben Elton) was what inspired Denise to become a "Greeny"
  • Teaching in the area of sustainability and how Denise's nature is not necessarily suited to academia
  • How "narrative transporation" allows a reader, when immersed in a story to take on the thoughts and feelings of a character
  • The way that talking about catasotrophy and spreading fear doesn't necessarily inspire people into positive behaviors
  • Studies of how people react to negative/distopian fiction pieces as opposed to ones that focus on positive action or behavior
  • Denise's worry about eco-anxiety
  • The books that Denise has written that include elements of climate solutions
  • How almost 90% of readers adopted at least one of the solutions that were presented through character behavior in the stories
  • The Green Stories Project that Denise first set up in 2018 and the various prizes associated with the free contest
  • Being approached by Herculean Climate Solutions to produce an anthology collaboratively (No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet)
  • Natural Burial, why it's important and a bit about how it works
  • Looking at existing properties, such as comparing James Bond to Jack Reacher, and the way the two characters behave in significantly different ways in relation to sustainability and high or low carbon behavior
  • How it's not policy or govertment mandates that will get us out of this ecological mess, but that it's the culture and behavior of the average person that will
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the power of fiction to change the world, and shares a personal story of how reading two different novels dramatically changed and impacted his own life.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

Denise Baden is a Professor of Sustainable Practice at the University of Southampton, UK. She has published widely in the academic realm and also in fiction. Her eco-themed rom-com 'Habitat Man' was published in 2021, followed by 'the Assassin' and 'No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet' in 2022. Her most recent research explores the use of storytelling to promote green behaviours, looking at how readers respond to eco-themed stories. In 2018, Denise set up the Green Stories Writing project that challenges writers to embed green solutions in their stories via a series of free writing competitions. These are open to all, and 17 competitions have been run so far, which have resulted in several publications. Denise is listed on the Forbes list of Climate Leaders Changing the Film and TV industry and speaks regularly on how to write for a cause.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Denise Baden, Professor of Sustainable Practice at the University of Southampton, UK, about her eco-themed writing, and the Green Writing Project which she initially set up in 2018.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Denise talk about:

  • Denise's varied background in a number of different areas, including being a sales rep for cookbooks
  • How a work of fiction (the satirical thriller STARK by Ben Elton) was what inspired Denise to become a "Greeny"
  • Teaching in the area of sustainability and how Denise's nature is not necessarily suited to academia
  • How "narrative transporation" allows a reader, when immersed in a story to take on the thoughts and feelings of a character
  • The way that talking about catasotrophy and spreading fear doesn't necessarily inspire people into positive behaviors
  • Studies of how people react to negative/distopian fiction pieces as opposed to ones that focus on positive action or behavior
  • Denise's worry about eco-anxiety
  • The books that Denise has written that include elements of climate solutions
  • How almost 90% of readers adopted at least one of the solutions that were presented through character behavior in the stories
  • The Green Stories Project that Denise first set up in 2018 and the various prizes associated with the free contest
  • Being approached by Herculean Climate Solutions to produce an anthology collaboratively (No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet)
  • Natural Burial, why it's important and a bit about how it works
  • Looking at existing properties, such as comparing James Bond to Jack Reacher, and the way the two characters behave in significantly different ways in relation to sustainability and high or low carbon behavior
  • How it's not policy or govertment mandates that will get us out of this ecological mess, but that it's the culture and behavior of the average person that will
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the power of fiction to change the world, and shares a personal story of how reading two different novels dramatically changed and impacted his own life.

Links of Interest:

Denise Baden is a Professor of Sustainable Practice at the University of Southampton, UK. She has published widely in the academic realm and also in fiction. Her eco-themed rom-com 'Habitat Man' was published in 2021, followed by 'the Assassin' and 'No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet' in 2022. Her most recent research explores the use of storytelling to promote green behaviours, looking at how readers respond to eco-themed stories. In 2018, Denise set up the Green Stories Writing project that challenges writers to embed green solutions in their stories via a series of free writing competitions. These are open to all, and 17 competitions have been run so far, which have resulted in several publications. Denise is listed on the Forbes list of Climate Leaders Changing the Film and TV industry and speaks regularly on how to write for a cause.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 57:10 false 6 304 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Denise Baden, Professor of Sustainable Practice at the University of Southampton, UK, about her eco-themed writing, and the Green Writing Project which she initially set up in 2018. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Denise talk about: Denise's varied background in a number of different areas, including being a sales rep for cookbooks How a work of fiction (the satirical thriller STARK by Ben Elton) was what inspired Denise to become a "Greeny" Teaching in the area of sustainability and how Denise's nature is not necessarily suited to academia How "narrative transporation" allows a reader, when immersed in a story to take on the thoughts and feelings of a character The way that talking about catasotrophy and spreading fear doesn't necessarily inspire people into positive behaviors Studies of how people react to negative/distopian fiction pieces as opposed to ones that focus on positive action or behavior Denise's worry about eco-anxiety The books that Denise has written that include elements of climate solutions How almost 90% of readers adopted at least one of the solutions that were presented through character behavior in the stories The Green Stories Project that Denise first set up in 2018 and the various prizes associated with the free contest Being approached by Herculean Climate Solutions to produce an anthology collaboratively (No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet) Natural Burial, why it's important and a bit about how it works Looking at existing properties, such as comparing James Bond to Jack Reacher, and the way the two characters behave in significantly different ways in relation to sustainability and high or low carbon behavior How it's not policy or govertment mandates that will get us out of this ecological mess, but that it's the culture and behavior of the average person that will And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the power of fiction to change the world, and shares a personal story of how reading two different novels dramatically changed and impacted his own life.   Links of Interest:   Denise Baden's Website The Green Stories Project Herculean Climate Solutions Snap! The Power (Original Video) Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Denise Baden is a Professor of Sustainable Practice at the University of Southampton, UK. She has published widely in the academic realm and also in fiction. Her eco-themed rom-com 'Habitat Man' was published in 2021, followed by 'the Assassin' and 'No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet' in 2022. Her most recent research explores the use of storytelling to promote green behaviours, looking at how readers respond to eco-themed stories. In 2018, Denise set up the Green Stories Writing project that challenges writers to embed green solutions in their stories via a series of free writing competitions. These are open to all, and 17 competitions have been run so far, which have resulted in several publications. Denise is listed on the Forbes list of Climate Leaders Changing the Film and TV industry and speaks regularly on how to write for a cause.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Denise Baden, Professor of Sustainable Practice at the University of Southampton, UK, about her eco-themed writing, and the Green Writing Project which she initially set up in 2018. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Denise talk about: Denise's varied background in a number of different areas, including being a sales rep for cookbooks How a work of fiction (the satirical thriller STARK by Ben Elton) was what inspired Denise to become a "Greeny" Teaching in the area of sustainability and how Denise's nature is not necessarily suited to academia How "narrative transporation" allows a reader, when immersed in a story to take on the thoughts and feelings of a character The way that talking about catasotrophy and spreading fear doesn't necessarily inspire people into positive behaviors Studies of how people react to negative/distopian fiction pieces as opposed to ones that focus on positive action or behavior Denise's worry about eco-anxiety The books that Denise has written that include elements of climate solutions How almost 90% of readers adopted at least one of the solutions that were presented through character behavior in the stories The Green Stories Project that Denise first set up in 2018 and the various prizes associated with the free contest Being approached by Herculean Climate Solutions to produce an anthology collaboratively (No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet) Natural Burial, why it's important and a bit about how it works Looking at existing properties, such as comparing James Bond to Jack Reacher, and the way the two characters behave in significantly different ways in relation to sustainability and high or low carbon behavior How it's not policy or govertment mandates that will get us out of this ecological mess, but that it's the culture and behavior of the average person that will And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the power of fiction to change the world, and shares a personal story of how reading two different novels dramatically changed and impacted his own life.   Links of Interest:   Denise Baden's Website The Green Stories Project Herculean Climate Solutions Snap! The Power (Original Video) Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Denise Baden is a Professor of Sustainable Practice at the University of Southampton, UK. She has published widely in the academic realm and also in fiction. Her eco-themed rom-com 'Habitat Man' was published in 2021, followed by 'the Assassin' and 'No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet' in 2022. Her most recent research explores the use of storytelling to promote green behaviours, looking at how readers respond to eco-themed stories. In 2018, Denise set up the Green Stories Writing project that challenges writers to embed green solutions in their stories via a series of free writing competitions. These are open to all, and 17 competitions have been run so far, which have resulted in several publications. Denise is listed on the Forbes list of Climate Leaders Changing the Film and TV industry and speaks regularly on how to write for a cause.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 303 - Writing as a Second Career with Lisa M. Lilly Writing as a Second Career with Lisa M. Lilly Fri, 05 May 2023 11:00:00 +0000 Mark interviews Lisa M. Lilly, writer, attorney, and podcaster about story structure and the idea that writers don't need to make full time writing a priority or goal.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a thank you to those who support this podcast at patreon.com/starkreflections

During their conversation, Mark and Lisa talk about:

  • The mysteries and supernatural thrillers that Lisa writes, the non-fiction books for authors, and the podcast that she hosts
  • How Lisa continues to practice Law, but is no longer doing it full time
  • Writing not having to be a full-time thing, and Lisa's latest book "Fiction Writing as Your Second Career"
  • The kind of Law that Lisa practices
  • The "floating around" that Lisa did when she had too much free time when completely away from the responsibilities of the "day job"
  • Lisa's "Awakening" series which is described as a cross between Rosemary's Baby and The Davinci Code
  • How sometimes a small plot or story idea might be inspired by a real-life case Lisa has worked on or heard about
  • Lisa's book "Super Simple Story Structure" and how it related to her passion and knowledge of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and that led to the basis for her podcast
  • Things Lisa learned about doing the podcast weekly the first year, then every second week during the second year
  • The decision of whether to quit doing a thing or to try doing it a different way
  • Considering your writing as a 2nd career rather than as a "hobby"
  • The powerful impact of allowing yourself to "daydream"
  • Advice that Lisa would offer to authors who is balancing their full time work, a busy personal life and their writing
  • If you can't set a habit by day or time, then add some other sort of habit to help trigger your brain that it's "time to write"
  • What's next for Lisa
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the important perspective that not all writers need to aspire to writing full time, as well as the passion behind creative projects (which seems to be a recent common theme in his world).

Links of Interest:

 

 

An author, attorney, and podcaster, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the Q.C. Davis mysteries and the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series. Writing as L. M. Lilly, her books on writing include The One-Year Novelist: A Week-By-Week Guide To Writing Your Novel In One Year, Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide To Plotting & Writing Your Novel; and Fiction Writing As Your Second Career. She also hosts the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

 

]]> Mark interviews Lisa M. Lilly, writer, attorney, and podcaster about story structure and the idea that writers don't need to make full time writing a priority or goal.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a thank you to those who support this podcast at patreon.com/starkreflections

During their conversation, Mark and Lisa talk about:

  • The mysteries and supernatural thrillers that Lisa writes, the non-fiction books for authors, and the podcast that she hosts
  • How Lisa continues to practice Law, but is no longer doing it full time
  • Writing not having to be a full-time thing, and Lisa's latest book "Fiction Writing as Your Second Career"
  • The kind of Law that Lisa practices
  • The "floating around" that Lisa did when she had too much free time when completely away from the responsibilities of the "day job"
  • Lisa's "Awakening" series which is described as a cross between Rosemary's Baby and The Davinci Code
  • How sometimes a small plot or story idea might be inspired by a real-life case Lisa has worked on or heard about
  • Lisa's book "Super Simple Story Structure" and how it related to her passion and knowledge of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and that led to the basis for her podcast
  • Things Lisa learned about doing the podcast weekly the first year, then every second week during the second year
  • The decision of whether to quit doing a thing or to try doing it a different way
  • Considering your writing as a 2nd career rather than as a "hobby"
  • The powerful impact of allowing yourself to "daydream"
  • Advice that Lisa would offer to authors who is balancing their full time work, a busy personal life and their writing
  • If you can't set a habit by day or time, then add some other sort of habit to help trigger your brain that it's "time to write"
  • What's next for Lisa
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the important perspective that not all writers need to aspire to writing full time, as well as the passion behind creative projects (which seems to be a recent common theme in his world).

Links of Interest:

An author, attorney, and podcaster, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the Q.C. Davis mysteries and the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series. Writing as L. M. Lilly, her books on writing include The One-Year Novelist: A Week-By-Week Guide To Writing Your Novel In One Year, Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide To Plotting & Writing Your Novel; and Fiction Writing As Your Second Career. She also hosts the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:01:44 false 6 303 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Lisa M. Lilly, writer, attorney, and podcaster about story structure and the idea that writers don't need to make full time writing a priority or goal. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a thank you to those who support this podcast at patreon.com/starkreflections During their conversation, Mark and Lisa talk about: The mysteries and supernatural thrillers that Lisa writes, the non-fiction books for authors, and the podcast that she hosts How Lisa continues to practice Law, but is no longer doing it full time Writing not having to be a full-time thing, and Lisa's latest book "Fiction Writing as Your Second Career" The kind of Law that Lisa practices The "floating around" that Lisa did when she had too much free time when completely away from the responsibilities of the "day job" Lisa's "Awakening" series which is described as a cross between Rosemary's Baby and The Davinci Code How sometimes a small plot or story idea might be inspired by a real-life case Lisa has worked on or heard about Lisa's book "Super Simple Story Structure" and how it related to her passion and knowledge of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and that led to the basis for her podcast Things Lisa learned about doing the podcast weekly the first year, then every second week during the second year The decision of whether to quit doing a thing or to try doing it a different way Considering your writing as a 2nd career rather than as a "hobby" The powerful impact of allowing yourself to "daydream" Advice that Lisa would offer to authors who is balancing their full time work, a busy personal life and their writing If you can't set a habit by day or time, then add some other sort of habit to help trigger your brain that it's "time to write" What's next for Lisa And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the important perspective that not all writers need to aspire to writing full time, as well as the passion behind creative projects (which seems to be a recent common theme in his world). Links of Interest:   Lisa M. Lilly's Website Buffy and the Art of Story Podcast Writing as a Second Career (Website) Book: Fiction Writing as a Second Career Book: Super Simple Story Structure Book: Buffy and the Art of Story (Season One) Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   An author, attorney, and podcaster, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the Q.C. Davis mysteries and the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series. Writing as L. M. Lilly, her books on writing include The One-Year Novelist: A Week-By-Week Guide To Writing Your Novel In One Year, Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide To Plotting & Writing Your Novel; and Fiction Writing As Your Second Career. She also hosts the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   Mark interviews Lisa M. Lilly, writer, attorney, and podcaster about story structure and the idea that writers don't need to make full time writing a priority or goal. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a thank you to those who support this podcast at patreon.com/starkreflections During their conversation, Mark and Lisa talk about: The mysteries and supernatural thrillers that Lisa writes, the non-fiction books for authors, and the podcast that she hosts How Lisa continues to practice Law, but is no longer doing it full time Writing not having to be a full-time thing, and Lisa's latest book "Fiction Writing as Your Second Career" The kind of Law that Lisa practices The "floating around" that Lisa did when she had too much free time when completely away from the responsibilities of the "day job" Lisa's "Awakening" series which is described as a cross between Rosemary's Baby and The Davinci Code How sometimes a small plot or story idea might be inspired by a real-life case Lisa has worked on or heard about Lisa's book "Super Simple Story Structure" and how it related to her passion and knowledge of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and that led to the basis for her podcast Things Lisa learned about doing the podcast weekly the first year, then every second week during the second year The decision of whether to quit doing a thing or to try doing it a different way Considering your writing as a 2nd career rather than as a "hobby" The powerful impact of allowing yourself to "daydream" Advice that Lisa would offer to authors who is balancing their full time work, a busy personal life and their writing If you can't set a habit by day or time, then add some other sort of habit to help trigger your brain that it's "time to write" What's next for Lisa And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the important perspective that not all writers need to aspire to writing full time, as well as the passion behind creative projects (which seems to be a recent common theme in his world). Links of Interest:   Lisa M. Lilly's Website Buffy and the Art of Story Podcast Writing as a Second Career (Website) Book: Fiction Writing as a Second Career Book: Super Simple Story Structure Book: Buffy and the Art of Story (Season One) Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   An author, attorney, and podcaster, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the Q.C. Davis mysteries and the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series. Writing as L. M. Lilly, her books on writing include The One-Year Novelist: A Week-By-Week Guide To Writing Your Novel In One Year, Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide To Plotting & Writing Your Novel; and Fiction Writing As Your Second Career. She also hosts the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    EP 302 - Fat Vampires, Storytelling, and Empathy with Johnny B. Truant EP 302 - Fat Vampires, Storytelling, and Empathy with Johnny B. Truant Wed, 03 May 2023 22:48:00 +0000 Mark interviews Johnny B. Truant, the author of the Fat Vampire novels adapted by SyFy as "Reginald the Vampire" starring Spider-Man's Jacob Batalon.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During the interview Mark and Johnny talk about:

  • How Mark and Johnny have known one another for more than 10 years
  • Young Johnny who had always wanted to be a writer and convinced his high school newspaper to allow him to write a column for them
  • Orbiting the same circles as Sean Platt and how the two met via working via places like Copyblogger and the Blog World Conference
  • How The Self Publishing Podcast came from Johnny wanting to interview (and talk and learn from) Sean Platt and David Wright about the co-authoring and self-publishing they were doing
  • Where the spark for the idea of "Fat Vampire" came from (the old "after-show" podcast they did called "Better Off Undead" for horror fans
  • Johnny wanting to explore the "sameness taken to the extreme" in Reginald, the fat vampire
  • How not being exclusive to Amazon actually led to Johnny selling the option and license for FAT VAMPIRE to become the TV show "Reginald the Vampire"
  • The expression "enthusiasm is free"
  • What it was like watching the TV show "Reginald the Vampire" based on Johnny's novels
  • Prepping for releasing a companion podcast to the TV series
  • Spending three days on the set of the recording of the television program
  • Johnny's views on the power of story and how they can help break through those psychological walls and the blocks that someone might put up to a different perspective by introducing readers to a "maybe they're just like me" train of thought
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of storytelling in creating connections between people and empathy, sharing a few quotes from an articile in Discovery magazine, as well as the reality of when an author's work is adapated for media.

Links of Interest:

 

 

Johnny B. Truant is the bestselling author of Fat Vampire, adapted by SyFy as "Reginald the Vampire" starring Spider-Man's Jacob Batalon. His other books include Pretty Killer, Pattern Black, Invasion, The Beam, Dead City, and over 100 other titles across many genres.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Johnny B. Truant, the author of the Fat Vampire novels adapted by SyFy as "Reginald the Vampire" starring Spider-Man's Jacob Batalon.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During the interview Mark and Johnny talk about:

  • How Mark and Johnny have known one another for more than 10 years
  • Young Johnny who had always wanted to be a writer and convinced his high school newspaper to allow him to write a column for them
  • Orbiting the same circles as Sean Platt and how the two met via working via places like Copyblogger and the Blog World Conference
  • How The Self Publishing Podcast came from Johnny wanting to interview (and talk and learn from) Sean Platt and David Wright about the co-authoring and self-publishing they were doing
  • Where the spark for the idea of "Fat Vampire" came from (the old "after-show" podcast they did called "Better Off Undead" for horror fans
  • Johnny wanting to explore the "sameness taken to the extreme" in Reginald, the fat vampire
  • How not being exclusive to Amazon actually led to Johnny selling the option and license for FAT VAMPIRE to become the TV show "Reginald the Vampire"
  • The expression "enthusiasm is free"
  • What it was like watching the TV show "Reginald the Vampire" based on Johnny's novels
  • Prepping for releasing a companion podcast to the TV series
  • Spending three days on the set of the recording of the television program
  • Johnny's views on the power of story and how they can help break through those psychological walls and the blocks that someone might put up to a different perspective by introducing readers to a "maybe they're just like me" train of thought
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of storytelling in creating connections between people and empathy, sharing a few quotes from an articile in Discovery magazine, as well as the reality of when an author's work is adapated for media.

Links of Interest:

Johnny B. Truant is the bestselling author of Fat Vampire, adapted by SyFy as "Reginald the Vampire" starring Spider-Man's Jacob Batalon. His other books include Pretty Killer, Pattern Black, Invasion, The Beam, Dead City, and over 100 other titles across many genres.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 57:21 false 6 302 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Johnny B. Truant, the author of the Fat Vampire novels adapted by SyFy as "Reginald the Vampire" starring Spider-Man's Jacob Batalon. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During the interview Mark and Johnny talk about: How Mark and Johnny have known one another for more than 10 years Young Johnny who had always wanted to be a writer and convinced his high school newspaper to allow him to write a column for them Orbiting the same circles as Sean Platt and how the two met via working via places like Copyblogger and the Blog World Conference How The Self Publishing Podcast came from Johnny wanting to interview (and talk and learn from) Sean Platt and David Wright about the co-authoring and self-publishing they were doing Where the spark for the idea of "Fat Vampire" came from (the old "after-show" podcast they did called "Better Off Undead" for horror fans Johnny wanting to explore the "sameness taken to the extreme" in Reginald, the fat vampire How not being exclusive to Amazon actually led to Johnny selling the option and license for FAT VAMPIRE to become the TV show "Reginald the Vampire" The expression "enthusiasm is free" What it was like watching the TV show "Reginald the Vampire" based on Johnny's novels Prepping for releasing a companion podcast to the TV series Spending three days on the set of the recording of the television program Johnny's views on the power of story and how they can help break through those psychological walls and the blocks that someone might put up to a different perspective by introducing readers to a "maybe they're just like me" train of thought And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of storytelling in creating connections between people and empathy, sharing a few quotes from an articile in Discovery magazine, as well as the reality of when an author's work is adapated for media. Links of Interest:   Johnny B. Truant's Website Fat Vampire to Reginald the Vampire: The Journey so Far Sterling and Stone Website Discover Magazine Article: How Reading Fiction Increases Empathy... Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Johnny B. Truant is the bestselling author of Fat Vampire, adapted by SyFy as "Reginald the Vampire" starring Spider-Man's Jacob Batalon. His other books include Pretty Killer, Pattern Black, Invasion, The Beam, Dead City, and over 100 other titles across many genres.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Johnny B. Truant, the author of the Fat Vampire novels adapted by SyFy as "Reginald the Vampire" starring Spider-Man's Jacob Batalon. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During the interview Mark and Johnny talk about: How Mark and Johnny have known one another for more than 10 years Young Johnny who had always wanted to be a writer and convinced his high school newspaper to allow him to write a column for them Orbiting the same circles as Sean Platt and how the two met via working via places like Copyblogger and the Blog World Conference How The Self Publishing Podcast came from Johnny wanting to interview (and talk and learn from) Sean Platt and David Wright about the co-authoring and self-publishing they were doing Where the spark for the idea of "Fat Vampire" came from (the old "after-show" podcast they did called "Better Off Undead" for horror fans Johnny wanting to explore the "sameness taken to the extreme" in Reginald, the fat vampire How not being exclusive to Amazon actually led to Johnny selling the option and license for FAT VAMPIRE to become the TV show "Reginald the Vampire" The expression "enthusiasm is free" What it was like watching the TV show "Reginald the Vampire" based on Johnny's novels Prepping for releasing a companion podcast to the TV series Spending three days on the set of the recording of the television program Johnny's views on the power of story and how they can help break through those psychological walls and the blocks that someone might put up to a different perspective by introducing readers to a "maybe they're just like me" train of thought And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of storytelling in creating connections between people and empathy, sharing a few quotes from an articile in Discovery magazine, as well as the reality of when an author's work is adapated for media. Links of Interest:   Johnny B. Truant's Website Fat Vampire to Reginald the Vampire: The Journey so Far Sterling and Stone Website Discover Magazine Article: How Reading Fiction Increases Empathy... Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Johnny B. Truant is the bestselling author of Fat Vampire, adapted by SyFy as "Reginald the Vampire" starring Spider-Man's Jacob Batalon. His other books include Pretty Killer, Pattern Black, Invasion, The Beam, Dead City, and over 100 other titles across many genres.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 301 - Procrastinating Partners Collaborating with Liz Anderson Procrastinating Partners Collaborating with Liz Anderson Thu, 27 Apr 2023 20:20:00 +0000 Mark interviews his partner Liz Anderson about her work as a Principal within education, as the better half of a writer, and also as a fellow procrastinator and creative collaborator.

This episode is sponsored by the awesome Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast who support this podcast and receive additional audio, video, and text content.

 

During the interview, Mark and Liz talk about:

  • The elements of procrastination that bond the two of them together
  • How Liz has learned to embrace procastination as a way to get the creativity flowing
  • Liz's long-time practice of producing videos and short movies
  • The "Last Minute Productions" Liz makes, leveraging the "L" and "A" of her initials into the branding
  • The "show" (Isolation Station) that Liz started for the staff at her school during the pandemic and how that evolved into "Distance Daily"
  • How these virtual shows allowed the staff to connect in a way that they never had been able to do before
  • Mark's participation in Liz's "Distance Daily" show for a while during the time when she was without a Vice Principal
  • The ongoing daily "Flair Fun" video announcements segment that initiated during the pandemic but continue to this day at Liz's school
  • The value of the particupation from the entire school community in these daily videos that allows for a deeper sense of connection and being seen and heard and part of something bigger
  • The way Liz practices the role of being an elementary school Principal
  • The important revelation during a Grade 8 graduation that was an eye-opening moment for Liz
  • The difference between being an auditory learner and a visual learner
  • What it's like for Liz living with Mark the writer
  • The "spies" Liz has watching for Mark to not engage in particular activities on social media
  • How while Liz had long been creative and producing vidoes, it was a long time before she felt comfortable getting in front of a camera
  • Mark and Liz's first creative collaboration, doing the "Stuck in This House Here with You" parody of the Steelers Wheel song "Stuck in the Middle with You"
  • The way that we "paint" and fill spaces with things that tell a story or prompt people to see a space differently
  • The decision fatigue that can happen for a reader and how Liz appreciates being able to just keep reading the next book in a series
  • Liz's love of Joanna Penn's J.F. Penn thrillers and Kevin J. Anderson's "Dan Shamble" zombie P.I. novels
  • Some of the creative endeavors Liz is interested in exploring this coming summer

Then Liz turns the tables on Mark and asks him some reflective questions.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews his partner Liz Anderson about her work as a Principal within education, as the better half of a writer, and also as a fellow procrastinator and creative collaborator.

This episode is sponsored by the awesome Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast who support this podcast and receive additional audio, video, and text content.

During the interview, Mark and Liz talk about:

  • The elements of procrastination that bond the two of them together
  • How Liz has learned to embrace procastination as a way to get the creativity flowing
  • Liz's long-time practice of producing videos and short movies
  • The "Last Minute Productions" Liz makes, leveraging the "L" and "A" of her initials into the branding
  • The "show" (Isolation Station) that Liz started for the staff at her school during the pandemic and how that evolved into "Distance Daily"
  • How these virtual shows allowed the staff to connect in a way that they never had been able to do before
  • Mark's participation in Liz's "Distance Daily" show for a while during the time when she was without a Vice Principal
  • The ongoing daily "Flair Fun" video announcements segment that initiated during the pandemic but continue to this day at Liz's school
  • The value of the particupation from the entire school community in these daily videos that allows for a deeper sense of connection and being seen and heard and part of something bigger
  • The way Liz practices the role of being an elementary school Principal
  • The important revelation during a Grade 8 graduation that was an eye-opening moment for Liz
  • The difference between being an auditory learner and a visual learner
  • What it's like for Liz living with Mark the writer
  • The "spies" Liz has watching for Mark to not engage in particular activities on social media
  • How while Liz had long been creative and producing vidoes, it was a long time before she felt comfortable getting in front of a camera
  • Mark and Liz's first creative collaboration, doing the "Stuck in This House Here with You" parody of the Steelers Wheel song "Stuck in the Middle with You"
  • The way that we "paint" and fill spaces with things that tell a story or prompt people to see a space differently
  • The decision fatigue that can happen for a reader and how Liz appreciates being able to just keep reading the next book in a series
  • Liz's love of Joanna Penn's J.F. Penn thrillers and Kevin J. Anderson's "Dan Shamble" zombie P.I. novels
  • Some of the creative endeavors Liz is interested in exploring this coming summer

Then Liz turns the tables on Mark and asks him some reflective questions.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:10:54 false 6 301 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews his partner Liz Anderson about her work as a Principal within education, as the better half of a writer, and also as a fellow procrastinator and creative collaborator. This episode is sponsored by the awesome Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast who support this podcast and receive additional audio, video, and text content.   During the interview, Mark and Liz talk about: The elements of procrastination that bond the two of them together How Liz has learned to embrace procastination as a way to get the creativity flowing Liz's long-time practice of producing videos and short movies The "Last Minute Productions" Liz makes, leveraging the "L" and "A" of her initials into the branding The "show" (Isolation Station) that Liz started for the staff at her school during the pandemic and how that evolved into "Distance Daily" How these virtual shows allowed the staff to connect in a way that they never had been able to do before Mark's participation in Liz's "Distance Daily" show for a while during the time when she was without a Vice Principal The ongoing daily "Flair Fun" video announcements segment that initiated during the pandemic but continue to this day at Liz's school The value of the particupation from the entire school community in these daily videos that allows for a deeper sense of connection and being seen and heard and part of something bigger The way Liz practices the role of being an elementary school Principal The important revelation during a Grade 8 graduation that was an eye-opening moment for Liz The difference between being an auditory learner and a visual learner What it's like for Liz living with Mark the writer The "spies" Liz has watching for Mark to not engage in particular activities on social media How while Liz had long been creative and producing vidoes, it was a long time before she felt comfortable getting in front of a camera Mark and Liz's first creative collaboration, doing the "Stuck in This House Here with You" parody of the Steelers Wheel song "Stuck in the Middle with You" The way that we "paint" and fill spaces with things that tell a story or prompt people to see a space differently The decision fatigue that can happen for a reader and how Liz appreciates being able to just keep reading the next book in a series Liz's love of Joanna Penn's J.F. Penn thrillers and Kevin J. Anderson's "Dan Shamble" zombie P.I. novels Some of the creative endeavors Liz is interested in exploring this coming summer Then Liz turns the tables on Mark and asks him some reflective questions.   Links of Interest: Parody Videos Stuck In This House Here With You (Parody Music Video with Liz) Kay-Tell Presents: Isolation Parody Songs (Parody Music Video with Liz) The 2022 Aurora Awards Opening Sequence (Hosted by Liz and Mark) The Full 2022 Aurora Awards Ceremony Mark's Tavern: Where Everybody Shares Your Name - Pilot (Cheers Parody) Mark's Tavern: Dad Jokes Matter Mark's Tavern: Tension Mark's Tavern: Mister Bright Side Mark's Tavern: Death by Coffee Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews his partner Liz Anderson about her work as a Principal within education, as the better half of a writer, and also as a fellow procrastinator and creative collaborator. This episode is sponsored by the awesome Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast who support this podcast and receive additional audio, video, and text content.   During the interview, Mark and Liz talk about: The elements of procrastination that bond the two of them together How Liz has learned to embrace procastination as a way to get the creativity flowing Liz's long-time practice of producing videos and short movies The "Last Minute Productions" Liz makes, leveraging the "L" and "A" of her initials into the branding The "show" (Isolation Station) that Liz started for the staff at her school during the pandemic and how that evolved into "Distance Daily" How these virtual shows allowed the staff to connect in a way that they never had been able to do before Mark's participation in Liz's "Distance Daily" show for a while during the time when she was without a Vice Principal The ongoing daily "Flair Fun" video announcements segment that initiated during the pandemic but continue to this day at Liz's school The value of the particupation from the entire school community in these daily videos that allows for a deeper sense of connection and being seen and heard and part of something bigger The way Liz practices the role of being an elementary school Principal The important revelation during a Grade 8 graduation that was an eye-opening moment for Liz The difference between being an auditory learner and a visual learner What it's like for Liz living with Mark the writer The "spies" Liz has watching for Mark to not engage in particular activities on social media How while Liz had long been creative and producing vidoes, it was a long time before she felt comfortable getting in front of a camera Mark and Liz's first creative collaboration, doing the "Stuck in This House Here with You" parody of the Steelers Wheel song "Stuck in the Middle with You" The way that we "paint" and fill spaces with things that tell a story or prompt people to see a space differently The decision fatigue that can happen for a reader and how Liz appreciates being able to just keep reading the next book in a series Liz's love of Joanna Penn's J.F. Penn thrillers and Kevin J. Anderson's "Dan Shamble" zombie P.I. novels Some of the creative endeavors Liz is interested in exploring this coming summer Then Liz turns the tables on Mark and asks him some reflective questions.   Links of Interest: Parody Videos Stuck In This House Here With You (Parody Music Video with Liz) Kay-Tell Presents: Isolation Parody Songs (Parody Music Video with Liz) The 2022 Aurora Awards Opening Sequence (Hosted by Liz and Mark) The Full 2022 Aurora Awards Ceremony Mark's Tavern: Where Everybody Shares Your Name - Pilot (Cheers Parody) Mark's Tavern: Dad Jokes Matter Mark's Tavern: Tension Mark's Tavern: Mister Bright Side Mark's Tavern: Death by Coffee Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 300 - Celebrating 300 Episodes with Guest Reflections Celebrating 300 Episodes with Guest Reflections Thu, 20 Apr 2023 23:17:58 +0000 Mark celebrates the 300th episode by sharing reflections from listeners, past guests, and other podcast hosts.

The guest reflections, in order and with links:

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark celebrates the 300th episode by sharing reflections from listeners, past guests, and other podcast hosts.

The guest reflections, in order and with links:

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 58:50 false 6 300 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark celebrates the 300th episode by sharing reflections from listeners, past guests, and other podcast hosts. The guest reflections, in order and with links: Edwin Downward Edwin's website Stanley B. Trice Stanley's website Sacha Black The Rebel Author Podcast EP 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel EP 155 - Rebellious Reflections with Guest Host Sacha Black Johnny B Truant Sean Platt Sterling and Stone Reginald the Vampire (Fat Vampire) Honoree Corder Honoree's Website EP 198 - Multiple Prosperous Wins in Marketing and Publishing Connor Whitely Connor's Website Brian Cohen & H. Claire Taylor Sell More Books Show Podcast EP 240 - Character, Story, and Industry Alignment with Claire Taylor EP 241 - Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem EP 254 - Best Pages, Ads, and Newsletters with Bryan Cohen Kevin J Anderson & Rebecca Moesta WordFire Press Superstars Writing Seminars EP - Writing Through Change, Tragedy, and Trauma with Kevin J. Anderson Joanna Penn The Creative Penn EP 2 - Living the Health Writer's Life with Joanna Penn EP 148 - A Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn EP 212 - A Conversation with Joanna Penn on Co-Authoring The Relaxed Author J. Thorn J. Thorn's Website EP 21 - Real-World Connections in a Digital World with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon Kaye Booth Writing to be Read EP 277- Live Chat with Ask the Authors 2022 Kevin Tumlinson Kevin's Website EP 15 - The Process of a Writer's Life EP 82 - D2D Ask Us Anything - Part 1 of 2 EP 83 - D2D Ask Us Anything - Part 2 of 2 EP 86 - D2D Marketing Questions EP 93 - D2D Ask Us Anything Aug 2019 Matty Dalrymple The Indy Author EP 116 - Taking the Short Tack EP 216 - Podcasting for Authors EP 226 - Reflective Round Table - Dec 2021 EP 231 - Reflective Round Table - Questions that Should be in a Writing Course EP 258 - Reflective Hangout Highlights Lindsay Buroker Lindsay's Website 6 Figure Authors Podcast Ron Collins Ron Collins Julie Strauss Julie's Website Best Book Ever Podcast RSS Feed   Links of Interest: Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark celebrates the 300th episode by sharing reflections from listeners, past guests, and other podcast hosts. The guest reflections, in order and with links: Edwin Downward Edwin's website Stanley B. Trice Stanley's website Sacha Black The Rebel Author Podcast EP 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel EP 155 - Rebellious Reflections with Guest Host Sacha Black Johnny B Truant Sean Platt Sterling and Stone Reginald the Vampire (Fat Vampire) Honoree Corder Honoree's Website EP 198 - Multiple Prosperous Wins in Marketing and Publishing Connor Whitely Connor's Website Brian Cohen & H. Claire Taylor Sell More Books Show Podcast EP 240 - Character, Story, and Industry Alignment with Claire Taylor EP 241 - Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem EP 254 - Best Pages, Ads, and Newsletters with Bryan Cohen Kevin J Anderson & Rebecca Moesta WordFire Press Superstars Writing Seminars EP - Writing Through Change, Tragedy, and Trauma with Kevin J. Anderson Joanna Penn The Creative Penn EP 2 - Living the Health Writer's Life with Joanna Penn EP 148 - A Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn EP 212 - A Conversation with Joanna Penn on Co-Authoring The Relaxed Author J. Thorn J. Thorn's Website EP 21 - Real-World Connections in a Digital World with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon Kaye Booth Writing to be Read EP 277- Live Chat with Ask the Authors 2022 Kevin Tumlinson Kevin's Website EP 15 - The Process of a Writer's Life EP 82 - D2D Ask Us Anything - Part 1 of 2 EP 83 - D2D Ask Us Anything - Part 2 of 2 EP 86 - D2D Marketing Questions EP 93 - D2D Ask Us Anything Aug 2019 Matty Dalrymple The Indy Author EP 116 - Taking the Short Tack EP 216 - Podcasting for Authors EP 226 - Reflective Round Table - Dec 2021 EP 231 - Reflective Round Table - Questions that Should be in a Writing Course EP 258 - Reflective Hangout Highlights Lindsay Buroker Lindsay's Website 6 Figure Authors Podcast Ron Collins Ron Collins Julie Strauss Julie's Website Best Book Ever Podcast RSS Feed   Links of Interest: Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 299 - Marketing and Promo Stacking with CraveBooks Marketing and Promo Stacking with CraveBooks Thu, 13 Apr 2023 20:20:03 +0000 Mark interviews Kerrie Flanagan and Cary Bergeron from CraveBooks.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During the interview, Mark, Kerrie and Cary talk about:

  • A bit of a background about Kerrie's writing, publishing, and industry experience, including her multiple previous appearances on the Stark Reflections podcast
  • Cary's experience running a marketing agency and how CraveBooks was initially a side project that grew into something bigger
  • The challenge with many of the promo sites and the fact they don't "save" or "keep" the details from an author of previous promotions
  • What CraveBooks.com is and how it works as a marketing platform tool for authors
  • How CraveBooks owns and operates about eight of those sites, but also has connections via third party promotion sites
  • How Kerrie and Cary met and started working together
  • Where Mark and Kerrie first met
  • The "Version 2" of CraveBooks, AKA, CraveBooks 2.0 and the bells and whistles that will be included in that
  • How you have a free author profile on CraveBooks
  • vice about marketing in general
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of different things from the conversation.

Links of Interest:

 

Crave Books is a full-service eBook site and daily email service that gives readers free and bargain eBooks and connects readers and writers. The site also offers a variety of book promotional opportunities and service for authors to raise their profiles and reach new readers.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Kerrie Flanagan and Cary Bergeron from CraveBooks.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During the interview, Mark, Kerrie and Cary talk about:

  • A bit of a background about Kerrie's writing, publishing, and industry experience, including her multiple previous appearances on the Stark Reflections podcast
  • Cary's experience running a marketing agency and how CraveBooks was initially a side project that grew into something bigger
  • The challenge with many of the promo sites and the fact they don't "save" or "keep" the details from an author of previous promotions
  • What CraveBooks.com is and how it works as a marketing platform tool for authors
  • How CraveBooks owns and operates about eight of those sites, but also has connections via third party promotion sites
  • How Kerrie and Cary met and started working together
  • Where Mark and Kerrie first met
  • The "Version 2" of CraveBooks, AKA, CraveBooks 2.0 and the bells and whistles that will be included in that
  • How you have a free author profile on CraveBooks
  • vice about marketing in general
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of different things from the conversation.

Links of Interest:

Crave Books is a full-service eBook site and daily email service that gives readers free and bargain eBooks and connects readers and writers. The site also offers a variety of book promotional opportunities and service for authors to raise their profiles and reach new readers.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 46:15 false 6 299 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Kerrie Flanagan and Cary Bergeron from CraveBooks. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During the interview, Mark, Kerrie and Cary talk about: A bit of a background about Kerrie's writing, publishing, and industry experience, including her multiple previous appearances on the Stark Reflections podcast Cary's experience running a marketing agency and how CraveBooks was initially a side project that grew into something bigger The challenge with many of the promo sites and the fact they don't "save" or "keep" the details from an author of previous promotions What CraveBooks.com is and how it works as a marketing platform tool for authors How CraveBooks owns and operates about eight of those sites, but also has connections via third party promotion sites How Kerrie and Cary met and started working together Where Mark and Kerrie first met The "Version 2" of CraveBooks, AKA, CraveBooks 2.0 and the bells and whistles that will be included in that How you have a free author profile on CraveBooks vice about marketing in general And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of different things from the conversation. Links of Interest: CraveBooks (affiliate link) Other episodes featuring Kerrie Flanagan EP 209 - Growing Sales, Subscribers, and Twitch Marketing with Kerrie Flanagan & Chuck Harrelson EP 117 - Multi-Layered Collaboration with Kerrie Flanagan, Chuck Harrelson, and MacLeod Andrews EP 45 - Co-Authoring with the Writers Behind C. K. Wiles EP 31 - Writing and Selling Magazine Articles with Kerrie Flanagan Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Crave Books is a full-service eBook site and daily email service that gives readers free and bargain eBooks and connects readers and writers. The site also offers a variety of book promotional opportunities and service for authors to raise their profiles and reach new readers.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Kerrie Flanagan and Cary Bergeron from CraveBooks. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During the interview, Mark, Kerrie and Cary talk about: A bit of a background about Kerrie's writing, publishing, and industry experience, including her multiple previous appearances on the Stark Reflections podcast Cary's experience running a marketing agency and how CraveBooks was initially a side project that grew into something bigger The challenge with many of the promo sites and the fact they don't "save" or "keep" the details from an author of previous promotions What CraveBooks.com is and how it works as a marketing platform tool for authors How CraveBooks owns and operates about eight of those sites, but also has connections via third party promotion sites How Kerrie and Cary met and started working together Where Mark and Kerrie first met The "Version 2" of CraveBooks, AKA, CraveBooks 2.0 and the bells and whistles that will be included in that How you have a free author profile on CraveBooks vice about marketing in general And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of different things from the conversation. Links of Interest: CraveBooks (affiliate link) Other episodes featuring Kerrie Flanagan EP 209 - Growing Sales, Subscribers, and Twitch Marketing with Kerrie Flanagan & Chuck Harrelson EP 117 - Multi-Layered Collaboration with Kerrie Flanagan, Chuck Harrelson, and MacLeod Andrews EP 45 - Co-Authoring with the Writers Behind C. K. Wiles EP 31 - Writing and Selling Magazine Articles with Kerrie Flanagan Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Crave Books is a full-service eBook site and daily email service that gives readers free and bargain eBooks and connects readers and writers. The site also offers a variety of book promotional opportunities and service for authors to raise their profiles and reach new readers.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 298 - Honesty, Humor, Poetry, Essays, and Disability with Matthew Del Papa and Vera Constantineau Honesty, Humor, Poetry, Essays, and Disability with Matthew Del Papa and Vera Constantineau Thu, 06 Apr 2023 22:59:58 +0000 Mark interviews Sudbury area writers Matthew Del Papa and Vera Constantineau.


Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few listener comments reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During the interview, Mark, Mat and Vera talk about:

  • Vera and Mat's backgrounds as writers
  • How humor is always going to show up in almost anything that Vera writes
  • Haibun Poetry, which is a form that combines haiku and with prose poem
  • Mat's very first book of "railroad stories" and how a lot of his work is focused on his home town of Capreol, Ontario
  • What's funny about disability?
  • How humor can be a coping mechanism for dealing with frustration
  • Vera's love of poetry and fascination with Japanese forms of writing
  • How poetry is a way of giving the shortest word picture imaginable
  • The uniqueness of Latitude 46 Publishing, the publisher releasing both of these books in the spring of 2023
  • The way large publishers commonly make "we just published a book like that" restrictions
  • Mat and Vera billing themselves as the "Rolling Writers" when promoting these books
  • How small presses can be a really great resource for writers
  • A focus on what is unique about writers from Northern Ontario and the mutual respect and understanding in the local writing community
  • The benefits and drawbacks of being a writer in a northern community as opposed to a larger city
  • A bit about Sudbury Wordstock, a fantastic literary festival that is celebrating its 10th year in 2023
  • A look at the geography and physical breadth of Canada and how one has to really hustle and really "want it" in order to be successful as a performer in Canada
  • The term "criplit," the divisiveness in the use of the term among disabled writers and why that writing is important
  • How the use of Zoom during the pandemic has been a boon for folks who have mobility issues and difficulty getting out and about
  • Dealing with the inability to travel for book promotions
  • Vera becoming a Poet Laureate of Greater Sudbury the day the pandemic started, but how that helped her bring Sudbury to the world
  • How the pandemic taught a lot of able bodied people the concept of "not being able to do something you want to be able to do"
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the important of community, the uniqueness of the Sudbury writing community, and an element from Mat's email signature that he finds inspiring.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Matthew Del Papa lives in Capreol. He joined the Sudbury Writers' Guild in 2009 and served two years as president. A voracious reader, Matthew has written for local newspapers and websites, contributed to magazines, and together with Lisa Coleman-Brown co-authored a fund-raising novella entitled Nightmare at the North Pole for the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum & Heritage Centre (Greater Sudbury's #3 tourist attraction).

Having self-published ten titles, either as author or editor (and sometimes both), Matthew always has a project or two on the go. The majority of his work is humorous and focused on Northern Ontario, specifically his home town.

His titles include: The Legend of Capreol Red: And Other Stories From a Railroad Town; Nursing Doubts: The Miss Hattie Mysteries; Green Eyes Through Capreol: More Stories From a Railroad Town; Creepy Capreol: Chilling Tales From a Railroad Town; Captivating Capreol: Thoughts From a Railroad Town; Creepy Capreol, Jr.: Chilling Tales From—and For—Young Minds; Capreol At Bat: The Fastball Years; Creepy Capreol, Jr. 2: Too Many Zombies; and Merry Capreol: Christmas Stories From a Railroad Town.

Matthew's first essay collection, Jerry Lewis Told Me I Was Going to Die, is being released May 6th, 2023 by Latitude 46 Publishing.

 

Vera Constantineau lives in Copper Cliff, ON. She served a two-year term (2020-2022) as poet laureate of Greater Sudbury. The pandemic arrived on the scene the day her appointment was affirmed forcing her to rethink the role, which was very community oriented. She spent a good part of her two years on zoom and travelled around the world to workshops and poetry events. Her podcast, The PL Pod, gathered a following that included regular listeners in the UK, Ireland, Japan, Sweden and Australia as well as the US and Canada. Her poetic focus is the Japanese forms of haiku, senryu, tanka and haibun.

In addition to her interest in poetry, Vera writes both fiction and nonfiction. In 2019 her essay Options was included in an anthology, Against Death—35 Essays on Living, published by Anvil Press of Vancouver. In 2020 her haiku placed third in the Martin Lucas Award for Haiku in England. Vera's early writing coered a ten year span as a humour columnist. Her weekly column appeared in several Northern Ontario Community newspapers.

Vera is the author of Daisy Chained, a collection of short fiction, three lines at a time, a chapbook of haiku that has gotten excellent reviews.

Vera is the Haiku Canada Regional Representative for Ontario and a member of the Haiku Society of America, a member and past president of the Sudbury Writers' Guild as well as a member of NOWW Thunder Bay.

Her poetry collection, Enlightened By Defilement was published in April of 2023 through Latitude46 Publishing of Greater Sudbury.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Sudbury area writers Matthew Del Papa and Vera Constantineau.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few listener comments reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During the interview, Mark, Mat and Vera talk about:

  • Vera and Mat's backgrounds as writers
  • How humor is always going to show up in almost anything that Vera writes
  • Haibun Poetry, which is a form that combines haiku and with prose poem
  • Mat's very first book of "railroad stories" and how a lot of his work is focused on his home town of Capreol, Ontario
  • What's funny about disability?
  • How humor can be a coping mechanism for dealing with frustration
  • Vera's love of poetry and fascination with Japanese forms of writing
  • How poetry is a way of giving the shortest word picture imaginable
  • The uniqueness of Latitude 46 Publishing, the publisher releasing both of these books in the spring of 2023
  • The way large publishers commonly make "we just published a book like that" restrictions
  • Mat and Vera billing themselves as the "Rolling Writers" when promoting these books
  • How small presses can be a really great resource for writers
  • A focus on what is unique about writers from Northern Ontario and the mutual respect and understanding in the local writing community
  • The benefits and drawbacks of being a writer in a northern community as opposed to a larger city
  • A bit about Sudbury Wordstock, a fantastic literary festival that is celebrating its 10th year in 2023
  • A look at the geography and physical breadth of Canada and how one has to really hustle and really "want it" in order to be successful as a performer in Canada
  • The term "criplit," the divisiveness in the use of the term among disabled writers and why that writing is important
  • How the use of Zoom during the pandemic has been a boon for folks who have mobility issues and difficulty getting out and about
  • Dealing with the inability to travel for book promotions
  • Vera becoming a Poet Laureate of Greater Sudbury the day the pandemic started, but how that helped her bring Sudbury to the world
  • How the pandemic taught a lot of able bodied people the concept of "not being able to do something you want to be able to do"
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the important of community, the uniqueness of the Sudbury writing community, and an element from Mat's email signature that he finds inspiring.

Links of Interest:

Matthew Del Papa lives in Capreol. He joined the Sudbury Writers' Guild in 2009 and served two years as president. A voracious reader, Matthew has written for local newspapers and websites, contributed to magazines, and together with Lisa Coleman-Brown co-authored a fund-raising novella entitled Nightmare at the North Pole for the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum & Heritage Centre (Greater Sudbury's #3 tourist attraction).

Having self-published ten titles, either as author or editor (and sometimes both), Matthew always has a project or two on the go. The majority of his work is humorous and focused on Northern Ontario, specifically his home town.

His titles include: The Legend of Capreol Red: And Other Stories From a Railroad Town; Nursing Doubts: The Miss Hattie Mysteries; Green Eyes Through Capreol: More Stories From a Railroad Town; Creepy Capreol: Chilling Tales From a Railroad Town; Captivating Capreol: Thoughts From a Railroad Town; Creepy Capreol, Jr.: Chilling Tales From—and For—Young Minds; Capreol At Bat: The Fastball Years; Creepy Capreol, Jr. 2: Too Many Zombies; and Merry Capreol: Christmas Stories From a Railroad Town.

Matthew's first essay collection, Jerry Lewis Told Me I Was Going to Die, is being released May 6th, 2023 by Latitude 46 Publishing.

Vera Constantineau lives in Copper Cliff, ON. She served a two-year term (2020-2022) as poet laureate of Greater Sudbury. The pandemic arrived on the scene the day her appointment was affirmed forcing her to rethink the role, which was very community oriented. She spent a good part of her two years on zoom and travelled around the world to workshops and poetry events. Her podcast, The PL Pod, gathered a following that included regular listeners in the UK, Ireland, Japan, Sweden and Australia as well as the US and Canada. Her poetic focus is the Japanese forms of haiku, senryu, tanka and haibun.

In addition to her interest in poetry, Vera writes both fiction and nonfiction. In 2019 her essay Options was included in an anthology, Against Death—35 Essays on Living, published by Anvil Press of Vancouver. In 2020 her haiku placed third in the Martin Lucas Award for Haiku in England. Vera's early writing coered a ten year span as a humour columnist. Her weekly column appeared in several Northern Ontario Community newspapers.

Vera is the author of Daisy Chained, a collection of short fiction, three lines at a time, a chapbook of haiku that has gotten excellent reviews.

Vera is the Haiku Canada Regional Representative for Ontario and a member of the Haiku Society of America, a member and past president of the Sudbury Writers' Guild as well as a member of NOWW Thunder Bay.

Her poetry collection, Enlightened By Defilement was published in April of 2023 through Latitude46 Publishing of Greater Sudbury.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:05:00 false 6 298 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Sudbury area writers Matthew Del Papa and Vera Constantineau. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few listener comments reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During the interview, Mark, Mat and Vera talk about: Vera and Mat's backgrounds as writers How humor is always going to show up in almost anything that Vera writes Haibun Poetry, which is a form that combines haiku and with prose poem Mat's very first book of "railroad stories" and how a lot of his work is focused on his home town of Capreol, Ontario What's funny about disability? How humor can be a coping mechanism for dealing with frustration Vera's love of poetry and fascination with Japanese forms of writing How poetry is a way of giving the shortest word picture imaginable The uniqueness of Latitude 46 Publishing, the publisher releasing both of these books in the spring of 2023 The way large publishers commonly make "we just published a book like that" restrictions Mat and Vera billing themselves as the "Rolling Writers" when promoting these books How small presses can be a really great resource for writers A focus on what is unique about writers from Northern Ontario and the mutual respect and understanding in the local writing community The benefits and drawbacks of being a writer in a northern community as opposed to a larger city A bit about Sudbury Wordstock, a fantastic literary festival that is celebrating its 10th year in 2023 A look at the geography and physical breadth of Canada and how one has to really hustle and really "want it" in order to be successful as a performer in Canada The term "criplit," the divisiveness in the use of the term among disabled writers and why that writing is important How the use of Zoom during the pandemic has been a boon for folks who have mobility issues and difficulty getting out and about Dealing with the inability to travel for book promotions Vera becoming a Poet Laureate of Greater Sudbury the day the pandemic started, but how that helped her bring Sudbury to the world How the pandemic taught a lot of able bodied people the concept of "not being able to do something you want to be able to do" And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the important of community, the uniqueness of the Sudbury writing community, and an element from Mat's email signature that he finds inspiring.   Links of Interest: Matthew Del Papa's Website Vera Constantineau's Website Latitude 46 Publishing EP 224 - Being an Independent Publisher and Bookseller with Heather Campbell EP 189 - From Stage to Page and Back to Stage with Rod Carley Sudbury Writers Guild Findaway Voices Submit YOUR reflections for Episode 300 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Matthew Del Papa lives in Capreol. He joined the Sudbury Writers' Guild in 2009 and served two years as president. A voracious reader, Matthew has written for local newspapers and websites, contributed to magazines, and together with Lisa Coleman-Brown co-authored a fund-raising novella entitled Nightmare at the North Pole for the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum & Heritage Centre (Greater Sudbury's #3 tourist attraction). Having self-published ten titles, either as author or editor (and sometimes both), Matthew always has a project or two on the go. The majority of his work is humorous and focused on Northern Ontario, specifically his home town. His titles include: The Legend of Capreol Red: And Other Stories From a Railroad Town; Nursing Doubts: The Miss Hattie Mysteries; Green Eyes Through Capreol: More Stories From a Railroad Town; Creepy Capreol: Chilling Tales From a Railroad Town; Captivating Capreol: Thoughts From a Railroad Town; Creepy Capreol, Jr.: Chilling Tales From—and For—Young Minds; Capreol At Bat: The Fastball Years; Creepy Capreol, Jr. 2: Too Many Zombies; and Merry Capreol: Christmas Stories From a Railroad Town. Matthew's first essay collection, Jerry Lewis Told Me I Was Going to Die, is being released May 6th, 2023 by Latitude 46 Publishing.   Vera Constantineau lives in Copper Cliff, ON. She served a two-year term (2020-2022) as poet laureate of Greater Sudbury. The pandemic arrived on the scene the day her appointment was affirmed forcing her to rethink the role, which was very community oriented. She spent a good part of her two years on zoom and travelled around the world to workshops and poetry events. Her podcast, The PL Pod, gathered a following that included regular listeners in the UK, Ireland, Japan, Sweden and Australia as well as the US and Canada. Her poetic focus is the Japanese forms of haiku, senryu, tanka and haibun. In addition to her interest in poetry, Vera writes both fiction and nonfiction. In 2019 her essay Options was included in an anthology, Against Death—35 Essays on Living, published by Anvil Press of Vancouver. In 2020 her haiku placed third in the Martin Lucas Award for Haiku in England. Vera's early writing coered a ten year span as a humour columnist. Her weekly column appeared in several Northern Ontario Community newspapers. Vera is the author of Daisy Chained, a collection of short fiction, three lines at a time, a chapbook of haiku that has gotten excellent reviews. Vera is the Haiku Canada Regional Representative for Ontario and a member of the Haiku Society of America, a member and past president of the Sudbury Writers' Guild as well as a member of NOWW Thunder Bay. Her poetry collection, Enlightened By Defilement was published in April of 2023 through Latitude46 Publishing of Greater Sudbury. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Sudbury area writers Matthew Del Papa and Vera Constantineau. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few listener comments reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During the interview, Mark, Mat and Vera talk about: Vera and Mat's backgrounds as writers How humor is always going to show up in almost anything that Vera writes Haibun Poetry, which is a form that combines haiku and with prose poem Mat's very first book of "railroad stories" and how a lot of his work is focused on his home town of Capreol, Ontario What's funny about disability? How humor can be a coping mechanism for dealing with frustration Vera's love of poetry and fascination with Japanese forms of writing How poetry is a way of giving the shortest word picture imaginable The uniqueness of Latitude 46 Publishing, the publisher releasing both of these books in the spring of 2023 The way large publishers commonly make "we just published a book like that" restrictions Mat and Vera billing themselves as the "Rolling Writers" when promoting these books How small presses can be a really great resource for writers A focus on what is unique about writers from Northern Ontario and the mutual respect and understanding in the local writing community The benefits and drawbacks of being a writer in a northern community as opposed to a larger city A bit about Sudbury Wordstock, a fantastic literary festival that is celebrating its 10th year in 2023 A look at the geography and physical breadth of Canada and how one has to really hustle and really "want it" in order to be successful as a performer in Canada The term "criplit," the divisiveness in the use of the term among disabled writers and why that writing is important How the use of Zoom during the pandemic has been a boon for folks who have mobility issues and difficulty getting out and about Dealing with the inability to travel for book promotions Vera becoming a Poet Laureate of Greater Sudbury the day the pandemic started, but how that helped her bring Sudbury to the world How the pandemic taught a lot of able bodied people the concept of "not being able to do something you want to be able to do" And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the important of community, the uniqueness of the Sudbury writing community, and an element from Mat's email signature that he finds inspiring.   Links of Interest: Matthew Del Papa's Website Vera Constantineau's Website Latitude 46 Publishing EP 224 - Being an Independent Publisher and Bookseller with Heather Campbell EP 189 - From Stage to Page and Back to Stage with Rod Carley Sudbury Writers Guild Findaway Voices Submit YOUR reflections for Episode 300 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Matthew Del Papa lives in Capreol. He joined the Sudbury Writers' Guild in 2009 and served two years as president. A voracious reader, Matthew has written for local newspapers and websites, contributed to magazines, and together with Lisa Coleman-Brown co-authored a fund-raising novella entitled Nightmare at the North Pole for the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum & Heritage Centre (Greater Sudbury's #3 tourist attraction). Having self-published ten titles, either as author or editor (and sometimes both), Matthew always has a project or two on the go. The majority of his work is humorous and focused on Northern Ontario, specifically his home town. His titles include: The Legend of Capreol Red: And Other Stories From a Railroad Town; Nursing Doubts: The Miss Hattie Mysteries; Green Eyes Through Capreol: More Stories From a Railroad Town; Creepy Capreol: Chilling Tales From a Railroad Town; Captivating Capreol: Thoughts From a Railroad Town; Creepy Capreol, Jr.: Chilling Tales From—and For—Young Minds; Capreol At Bat: The Fastball Years; Creepy Capreol, Jr. 2: Too Many Zombies; and Merry Capreol: Christmas Stories From a Railroad Town. Matthew's first essay collection, Jerry Lewis Told Me I Was Going to Die, is being released May 6th, 2023 by Latitude 46 Publishing.   Vera Constantineau lives in Copper Cliff, ON. She served a two-year term (2020-2022) as poet laureate of Greater Sudbury. The pandemic arrived on the scene the day her appointment was affirmed forcing her to rethink the role, which was very community oriented. She spent a good part of her two years on zoom and travelled around the world to workshops and poetry events. Her podcast, The PL Pod, gathered a following that included regular listeners in the UK, Ireland, Japan, Sweden and Australia as well as the US and Canada. Her poetic focus is the Japanese forms of haiku, senryu, tanka and haibun. In addition to her interest in poetry, Vera writes both fiction and nonfiction. In 2019 her essay Options was included in an anthology, Against Death—35 Essays on Living, published by Anvil Press of Vancouver. In 2020 her haiku placed third in the Martin Lucas Award for Haiku in England. Vera's early writing coered a ten year span as a humour columnist. Her weekly column appeared in several Northern Ontario Community newspapers. Vera is the author of Daisy Chained, a collection of short fiction, three lines at a time, a chapbook of haiku that has gotten excellent reviews. Vera is the Haiku Canada Regional Representative for Ontario and a member of the Haiku Society of America, a member and past president of the Sudbury Writers' Guild as well as a member of NOWW Thunder Bay. Her poetry collection, Enlightened By Defilement was published in April of 2023 through Latitude46 Publishing of Greater Sudbury. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 297 - Enthusiasm, Encouragement and Alchemy for Authors with Jo Buer Enthusiasm, Encouragement and Alchemy for Authors with Jo Buer Thu, 30 Mar 2023 22:38:09 +0000 Mark interviews Jo Buer, a gothic suspense and literary fiction author from New Zealand who describes herself as a sucker for the supernatural, time travel, and all things woo-woo. 

Prior to the interview, Mark reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

 

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

In their conversation, Mark and Jo talk about:

  • The many different ways that Jo is "bookish"
  • Being able to go back all the way to when she was five years old, and how Jo fell in love with her school's library
  • Writing about a gift she was given when she was six years old and the belief she had, even then, that her writing was stellar and would capture the attention and praise of her teacher
  • The devastation and determination that early experience left her with as an author
  • Publishing her first book, a collection of short stories in 2020
  • Finding herself in a really dark place with a significantly negative impact on her self esteem, and how that determined voice of herself at 6 years old kicked in
  • Being too hard on herself by trying to measure up to the productivity of a full time author while being a part-time author with another full time job
  • Jo's podcast Alchemy for Authors
  • Her role as a teacher and how that might tie back to her own experience having her enthusiasm squashed as a six year old
  • The challenge of hosting a podcast while being such an introverted person
  • How overthinking and looking for the "perfect" solution can often get in an author's way
  • Jo's experience working at Chapters and Indigo when she lived in Canada
  • One of the most heart-breaking and frustrating things about seeing how bookstores deal with mass market paperback returns
  • Her experience working in a library, including speaking to the various people who came in there
  • How, if you're an introvert, for example, you've sometimes got to "fake it"
  • Advice that Jo would give to her younger self
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the "fake it" approach as well as Jo's advice about leveraging a photo of your younger self.

Links of Interest:

 

Joe Buer is a gothic suspense and literary fiction author living in New Zealand. She is a sucker for the supernatural, time travel, and all things woo-woo. From an early age she came to realize that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

She lives in an ordinary house in an ordinary town with her husband and feline familiars, Atlas, Gaia, Zeus, and Hades. When not doting on her cats, devouring self-help books or gorging on chocolate, she writes slightly dark, sometimes scary, often ghostly stories with a smattering of romance.

Jo is also the host of the Alchemy for Authors podcast - a podcast to transform and supercharge your writing life.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Jo Buer, a gothic suspense and literary fiction author from New Zealand who describes herself as a sucker for the supernatural, time travel, and all things woo-woo.

Prior to the interview, Mark reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Jo talk about:

  • The many different ways that Jo is "bookish"
  • Being able to go back all the way to when she was five years old, and how Jo fell in love with her school's library
  • Writing about a gift she was given when she was six years old and the belief she had, even then, that her writing was stellar and would capture the attention and praise of her teacher
  • The devastation and determination that early experience left her with as an author
  • Publishing her first book, a collection of short stories in 2020
  • Finding herself in a really dark place with a significantly negative impact on her self esteem, and how that determined voice of herself at 6 years old kicked in
  • Being too hard on herself by trying to measure up to the productivity of a full time author while being a part-time author with another full time job
  • Jo's podcast Alchemy for Authors
  • Her role as a teacher and how that might tie back to her own experience having her enthusiasm squashed as a six year old
  • The challenge of hosting a podcast while being such an introverted person
  • How overthinking and looking for the "perfect" solution can often get in an author's way
  • Jo's experience working at Chapters and Indigo when she lived in Canada
  • One of the most heart-breaking and frustrating things about seeing how bookstores deal with mass market paperback returns
  • Her experience working in a library, including speaking to the various people who came in there
  • How, if you're an introvert, for example, you've sometimes got to "fake it"
  • Advice that Jo would give to her younger self
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the "fake it" approach as well as Jo's advice about leveraging a photo of your younger self.

Links of Interest:

Joe Buer is a gothic suspense and literary fiction author living in New Zealand. She is a sucker for the supernatural, time travel, and all things woo-woo. From an early age she came to realize that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

She lives in an ordinary house in an ordinary town with her husband and feline familiars, Atlas, Gaia, Zeus, and Hades. When not doting on her cats, devouring self-help books or gorging on chocolate, she writes slightly dark, sometimes scary, often ghostly stories with a smattering of romance.

Jo is also the host of the Alchemy for Authors podcast - a podcast to transform and supercharge your writing life.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 55:42 false 6 297 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Jo Buer, a gothic suspense and literary fiction author from New Zealand who describes herself as a sucker for the supernatural, time travel, and all things woo-woo.  Prior to the interview, Mark reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Jo talk about: The many different ways that Jo is "bookish" Being able to go back all the way to when she was five years old, and how Jo fell in love with her school's library Writing about a gift she was given when she was six years old and the belief she had, even then, that her writing was stellar and would capture the attention and praise of her teacher The devastation and determination that early experience left her with as an author Publishing her first book, a collection of short stories in 2020 Finding herself in a really dark place with a significantly negative impact on her self esteem, and how that determined voice of herself at 6 years old kicked in Being too hard on herself by trying to measure up to the productivity of a full time author while being a part-time author with another full time job Jo's podcast Alchemy for Authors Her role as a teacher and how that might tie back to her own experience having her enthusiasm squashed as a six year old The challenge of hosting a podcast while being such an introverted person How overthinking and looking for the "perfect" solution can often get in an author's way Jo's experience working at Chapters and Indigo when she lived in Canada One of the most heart-breaking and frustrating things about seeing how bookstores deal with mass market paperback returns Her experience working in a library, including speaking to the various people who came in there How, if you're an introvert, for example, you've sometimes got to "fake it" Advice that Jo would give to her younger self And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the "fake it" approach as well as Jo's advice about leveraging a photo of your younger self. Links of Interest: Jo Buer Website Instagram Facebook Jo's Podcast: Alchemy for Authors Instagram Alchemy for Authors Newsletter Brandon Sanderson's Response to WIRED article Mark's Patron Post with audio of that article and his reflection Findaway Voices Submit YOUR reflections for Episode 300 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Joe Buer is a gothic suspense and literary fiction author living in New Zealand. She is a sucker for the supernatural, time travel, and all things woo-woo. From an early age she came to realize that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. She lives in an ordinary house in an ordinary town with her husband and feline familiars, Atlas, Gaia, Zeus, and Hades. When not doting on her cats, devouring self-help books or gorging on chocolate, she writes slightly dark, sometimes scary, often ghostly stories with a smattering of romance. Jo is also the host of the Alchemy for Authors podcast - a podcast to transform and supercharge your writing life.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Jo Buer, a gothic suspense and literary fiction author from New Zealand who describes herself as a sucker for the supernatural, time travel, and all things woo-woo.  Prior to the interview, Mark reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Jo talk about: The many different ways that Jo is "bookish" Being able to go back all the way to when she was five years old, and how Jo fell in love with her school's library Writing about a gift she was given when she was six years old and the belief she had, even then, that her writing was stellar and would capture the attention and praise of her teacher The devastation and determination that early experience left her with as an author Publishing her first book, a collection of short stories in 2020 Finding herself in a really dark place with a significantly negative impact on her self esteem, and how that determined voice of herself at 6 years old kicked in Being too hard on herself by trying to measure up to the productivity of a full time author while being a part-time author with another full time job Jo's podcast Alchemy for Authors Her role as a teacher and how that might tie back to her own experience having her enthusiasm squashed as a six year old The challenge of hosting a podcast while being such an introverted person How overthinking and looking for the "perfect" solution can often get in an author's way Jo's experience working at Chapters and Indigo when she lived in Canada One of the most heart-breaking and frustrating things about seeing how bookstores deal with mass market paperback returns Her experience working in a library, including speaking to the various people who came in there How, if you're an introvert, for example, you've sometimes got to "fake it" Advice that Jo would give to her younger self And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the "fake it" approach as well as Jo's advice about leveraging a photo of your younger self. Links of Interest: Jo Buer Website Instagram Facebook Jo's Podcast: Alchemy for Authors Instagram Alchemy for Authors Newsletter Brandon Sanderson's Response to WIRED article Mark's Patron Post with audio of that article and his reflection Findaway Voices Submit YOUR reflections for Episode 300 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Joe Buer is a gothic suspense and literary fiction author living in New Zealand. She is a sucker for the supernatural, time travel, and all things woo-woo. From an early age she came to realize that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. She lives in an ordinary house in an ordinary town with her husband and feline familiars, Atlas, Gaia, Zeus, and Hades. When not doting on her cats, devouring self-help books or gorging on chocolate, she writes slightly dark, sometimes scary, often ghostly stories with a smattering of romance. Jo is also the host of the Alchemy for Authors podcast - a podcast to transform and supercharge your writing life.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 296 - Powerful in Person Print Book Marketing with Richard H. Stephens Powerful in Person Print Book Marketing with Richard H. Stephens Thu, 23 Mar 2023 21:49:42 +0000 Mark interviews Canadian Epic Fantasy author Richard H. Stephens about finally realizing a life-long dream of writing, about how his fourteen book fantasy series was inspired by hearing an Iron Maiden song in 1982, and about selling print books at in person events.

Prior to the interview, Mark reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

 

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

In their conversation, Mark and Richard talk about:

  • Richard's epic fantasy writing, which is told in trilogy batches, all within the same universe
  • How the song "Run to the Hills" from Iron Maiden in the early 1980s put the story that became his first trilogy into his head, but also how Richard's serious start in writing didn't start until 2017
  • How his first novel was called "The River Styx" for the first 33 years that he kept it kicking around in his head
  • Pitching his first novel to an agent, and then realizing this was something he could do for himself
  • Publishing 14 books in the "Soul Forge" universe since 2018
  • A bit of a background on the reasoning behind retiring from Waterloo Police Service, and how that allowed him to be able to write
  • Richard's analogy of being the race car driver with a fantastic pit crew (his wife, family, and the professionals he works with) that helps him look good
  • Why Richard invests so much into in person and print selling
  • Meeting David M. Kelly at GraphicCon in Sudbury, ON and how Richard learned a lot from David in that type of environment
  • How 2020 was supposed to be their "breakthrough" year
  • The value of what happens when a person browsing at Richard's table realizing they're actually talking to an author
  • The epic-fantasy themed costumes that Richard will sometimes wear when doing an event in person
  • The trilogy discount promotional pricing that Richard can offer
  • Ordering print copies from a local printer (in Toronto) rather than having them shipped from Amazon
  • The trailer Richard has for doing in person events with the book covers on it
  • Richard's advice on not being afraid to engage with people, and don't be shy about sharing the fact that you are the author
  • How, even with a sign that has your photo on them and a "meet the author today" people still don't "get it" that the author is right there
  • The importance of trying different ways and approaches to see what works best for you
  • Making someone's day by offering a woman who was having a bad day the opportunity to name a dragon in one of his books
  • How Richard decides which in person book events are worth it and which ones aren't
  • Advice Richard would give to his younger 1982 self
  • And more...

 

After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of making it clear, despite when things seem like they're already overtly obvious, as well as how we all tend to focus on our "one star" elements rather than our "five star" ones.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Richard H. Stephens began writing circa 1974; a bored child looking for something to do. A trip to a local bookstore saw the proprietor introduce him to the works of Terry Brooks and Stephen R. Donaldson and his writing life was forever changed.

Richard worked in a warehouse for 22 years, before going back to school. Graduating with honours, he joined the local Police Service.
In 2017, Richard resigned from the Police Service to pursue writing full-time. With the support of his family, he has finally realized his boyhood dream.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Canadian Epic Fantasy author Richard H. Stephens about finally realizing a life-long dream of writing, about how his fourteen book fantasy series was inspired by hearing an Iron Maiden song in 1982, and about selling print books at in person events.

Prior to the interview, Mark reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Richard talk about:

  • Richard's epic fantasy writing, which is told in trilogy batches, all within the same universe
  • How the song "Run to the Hills" from Iron Maiden in the early 1980s put the story that became his first trilogy into his head, but also how Richard's serious start in writing didn't start until 2017
  • How his first novel was called "The River Styx" for the first 33 years that he kept it kicking around in his head
  • Pitching his first novel to an agent, and then realizing this was something he could do for himself
  • Publishing 14 books in the "Soul Forge" universe since 2018
  • A bit of a background on the reasoning behind retiring from Waterloo Police Service, and how that allowed him to be able to write
  • Richard's analogy of being the race car driver with a fantastic pit crew (his wife, family, and the professionals he works with) that helps him look good
  • Why Richard invests so much into in person and print selling
  • Meeting David M. Kelly at GraphicCon in Sudbury, ON and how Richard learned a lot from David in that type of environment
  • How 2020 was supposed to be their "breakthrough" year
  • The value of what happens when a person browsing at Richard's table realizing they're actually talking to an author
  • The epic-fantasy themed costumes that Richard will sometimes wear when doing an event in person
  • The trilogy discount promotional pricing that Richard can offer
  • Ordering print copies from a local printer (in Toronto) rather than having them shipped from Amazon
  • The trailer Richard has for doing in person events with the book covers on it
  • Richard's advice on not being afraid to engage with people, and don't be shy about sharing the fact that you are the author
  • How, even with a sign that has your photo on them and a "meet the author today" people still don't "get it" that the author is right there
  • The importance of trying different ways and approaches to see what works best for you
  • Making someone's day by offering a woman who was having a bad day the opportunity to name a dragon in one of his books
  • How Richard decides which in person book events are worth it and which ones aren't
  • Advice Richard would give to his younger 1982 self
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of making it clear, despite when things seem like they're already overtly obvious, as well as how we all tend to focus on our "one star" elements rather than our "five star" ones.

Links of Interest:

Richard H. Stephens began writing circa 1974; a bored child looking for something to do. A trip to a local bookstore saw the proprietor introduce him to the works of Terry Brooks and Stephen R. Donaldson and his writing life was forever changed.

Richard worked in a warehouse for 22 years, before going back to school. Graduating with honours, he joined the local Police Service. In 2017, Richard resigned from the Police Service to pursue writing full-time. With the support of his family, he has finally realized his boyhood dream.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 59:08 false 6 296 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Canadian Epic Fantasy author Richard H. Stephens about finally realizing a life-long dream of writing, about how his fourteen book fantasy series was inspired by hearing an Iron Maiden song in 1982, and about selling print books at in person events. Prior to the interview, Mark reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Richard talk about: Richard's epic fantasy writing, which is told in trilogy batches, all within the same universe How the song "Run to the Hills" from Iron Maiden in the early 1980s put the story that became his first trilogy into his head, but also how Richard's serious start in writing didn't start until 2017 How his first novel was called "The River Styx" for the first 33 years that he kept it kicking around in his head Pitching his first novel to an agent, and then realizing this was something he could do for himself Publishing 14 books in the "Soul Forge" universe since 2018 A bit of a background on the reasoning behind retiring from Waterloo Police Service, and how that allowed him to be able to write Richard's analogy of being the race car driver with a fantastic pit crew (his wife, family, and the professionals he works with) that helps him look good Why Richard invests so much into in person and print selling Meeting David M. Kelly at GraphicCon in Sudbury, ON and how Richard learned a lot from David in that type of environment How 2020 was supposed to be their "breakthrough" year The value of what happens when a person browsing at Richard's table realizing they're actually talking to an author The epic-fantasy themed costumes that Richard will sometimes wear when doing an event in person The trilogy discount promotional pricing that Richard can offer Ordering print copies from a local printer (in Toronto) rather than having them shipped from Amazon The trailer Richard has for doing in person events with the book covers on it Richard's advice on not being afraid to engage with people, and don't be shy about sharing the fact that you are the author How, even with a sign that has your photo on them and a "meet the author today" people still don't "get it" that the author is right there The importance of trying different ways and approaches to see what works best for you Making someone's day by offering a woman who was having a bad day the opportunity to name a dragon in one of his books How Richard decides which in person book events are worth it and which ones aren't Advice Richard would give to his younger 1982 self And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of making it clear, despite when things seem like they're already overtly obvious, as well as how we all tend to focus on our "one star" elements rather than our "five star" ones.   Links of Interest: Richard H. Stephens Printing Legacy (Toronto area Printer) Findaway Voices Submit YOUR reflections for Episode 300 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Richard H. Stephens began writing circa 1974; a bored child looking for something to do. A trip to a local bookstore saw the proprietor introduce him to the works of Terry Brooks and Stephen R. Donaldson and his writing life was forever changed. Richard worked in a warehouse for 22 years, before going back to school. Graduating with honours, he joined the local Police Service. In 2017, Richard resigned from the Police Service to pursue writing full-time. With the support of his family, he has finally realized his boyhood dream.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Canadian Epic Fantasy author Richard H. Stephens about finally realizing a life-long dream of writing, about how his fourteen book fantasy series was inspired by hearing an Iron Maiden song in 1982, and about selling print books at in person events. Prior to the interview, Mark reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Richard talk about: Richard's epic fantasy writing, which is told in trilogy batches, all within the same universe How the song "Run to the Hills" from Iron Maiden in the early 1980s put the story that became his first trilogy into his head, but also how Richard's serious start in writing didn't start until 2017 How his first novel was called "The River Styx" for the first 33 years that he kept it kicking around in his head Pitching his first novel to an agent, and then realizing this was something he could do for himself Publishing 14 books in the "Soul Forge" universe since 2018 A bit of a background on the reasoning behind retiring from Waterloo Police Service, and how that allowed him to be able to write Richard's analogy of being the race car driver with a fantastic pit crew (his wife, family, and the professionals he works with) that helps him look good Why Richard invests so much into in person and print selling Meeting David M. Kelly at GraphicCon in Sudbury, ON and how Richard learned a lot from David in that type of environment How 2020 was supposed to be their "breakthrough" year The value of what happens when a person browsing at Richard's table realizing they're actually talking to an author The epic-fantasy themed costumes that Richard will sometimes wear when doing an event in person The trilogy discount promotional pricing that Richard can offer Ordering print copies from a local printer (in Toronto) rather than having them shipped from Amazon The trailer Richard has for doing in person events with the book covers on it Richard's advice on not being afraid to engage with people, and don't be shy about sharing the fact that you are the author How, even with a sign that has your photo on them and a "meet the author today" people still don't "get it" that the author is right there The importance of trying different ways and approaches to see what works best for you Making someone's day by offering a woman who was having a bad day the opportunity to name a dragon in one of his books How Richard decides which in person book events are worth it and which ones aren't Advice Richard would give to his younger 1982 self And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of making it clear, despite when things seem like they're already overtly obvious, as well as how we all tend to focus on our "one star" elements rather than our "five star" ones.   Links of Interest: Richard H. Stephens Printing Legacy (Toronto area Printer) Findaway Voices Submit YOUR reflections for Episode 300 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Richard H. Stephens began writing circa 1974; a bored child looking for something to do. A trip to a local bookstore saw the proprietor introduce him to the works of Terry Brooks and Stephen R. Donaldson and his writing life was forever changed. Richard worked in a warehouse for 22 years, before going back to school. Graduating with honours, he joined the local Police Service. In 2017, Richard resigned from the Police Service to pursue writing full-time. With the support of his family, he has finally realized his boyhood dream.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 295 - Body Brokers, Vital Organs, and Selling Direct with Dharma Kelleher Body Brokers, Vital Organs, and Selling Direct with Dharma Kelleher Thu, 16 Mar 2023 22:28:05 +0000 Mark chats with Dharma Kelleher who writes action-driven thrillers that explore the complexities of social and criminal justice in a world that favors the privileged. She is one of the only openly transgender authors in the crime fiction genre. They talk about that and a lot more.

Prior to the interview, Mark reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

 

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

In their conversation, Mark and Dharma talk about

  • Dharma's "long, torrid" life-long affair with writing, and beginning to write on a manual typewriter in their teenage years
  • What happened in the intervening years, including getting a degree in journalism
  • Coming out as transgender, initially to self in college, and then later on. And the challenges of doing that in the deep south of the US
  • Celebrating 25 years of marriage in 2023
  • Falling back in love with writing in 2007 thanks to NaNoWriMo
  • Spending eight years focusing mostly on the craft of writing
  • Pitching to 90 agents and then landing a deal with a New York publisher
  • Coming to the realization that the trad pub model wasn't going to work (due to the publisher requiring print book rights even though they weren't planning on publishing beyond eBook)
  • Getting tired of hearing the "we already had a transgender author book this year" from publishers
  • Red Market's release in February 2023 and how Dharma is selling it directly before doing a wide publishing release
  • How you get it early and get more when you buy it direct from the author
  • Switching from a WooCommerce to a Shopify website for direct sales
  • Doing the best they can to deliver their books to any customer wherever they are on the planet
  • Being the first person in Arizona to donate a kidney to a stranger and how that was part of the inspiration for Red Market
  • The Jinx Ballou Crime Thriller series and how crime thrillers, mysteries, etc are often about "justice"
  • Some of the things writers can get wrong when they include transgender characters in their fiction
  • Disclosure (Netflix) - that takes a deep dive into those tropes
  • The importance of giving transgender characters agency in fiction
  • How the tropes can cause real harm, not just hurt feelings
  • Dharma's love of numbers and love of writing being among their biggest passions
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on two of the things that came up in their discussion.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Dharma Kelleher writes action-driven thrillers that explore the complexities of social and criminal justice in a world that favors the privileged. She is one of the only openly transgender authors in the crime fiction genre. Dharma lives in Arizona with her wife and a black cat named Mouse. 

Learn more about Dharma and her work at https://dharmakelleher.com.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark chats with Dharma Kelleher who writes action-driven thrillers that explore the complexities of social and criminal justice in a world that favors the privileged. She is one of the only openly transgender authors in the crime fiction genre. They talk about that and a lot more.

Prior to the interview, Mark reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Dharma talk about

  • Dharma's "long, torrid" life-long affair with writing, and beginning to write on a manual typewriter in their teenage years
  • What happened in the intervening years, including getting a degree in journalism
  • Coming out as transgender, initially to self in college, and then later on. And the challenges of doing that in the deep south of the US
  • Celebrating 25 years of marriage in 2023
  • Falling back in love with writing in 2007 thanks to NaNoWriMo
  • Spending eight years focusing mostly on the craft of writing
  • Pitching to 90 agents and then landing a deal with a New York publisher
  • Coming to the realization that the trad pub model wasn't going to work (due to the publisher requiring print book rights even though they weren't planning on publishing beyond eBook)
  • Getting tired of hearing the "we already had a transgender author book this year" from publishers
  • Red Market's release in February 2023 and how Dharma is selling it directly before doing a wide publishing release
  • How you get it early and get more when you buy it direct from the author
  • Switching from a WooCommerce to a Shopify website for direct sales
  • Doing the best they can to deliver their books to any customer wherever they are on the planet
  • Being the first person in Arizona to donate a kidney to a stranger and how that was part of the inspiration for Red Market
  • The Jinx Ballou Crime Thriller series and how crime thrillers, mysteries, etc are often about "justice"
  • Some of the things writers can get wrong when they include transgender characters in their fiction
  • Disclosure (Netflix) - that takes a deep dive into those tropes
  • The importance of giving transgender characters agency in fiction
  • How the tropes can cause real harm, not just hurt feelings
  • Dharma's love of numbers and love of writing being among their biggest passions
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on two of the things that came up in their discussion.

Links of Interest:

Dharma Kelleher writes action-driven thrillers that explore the complexities of social and criminal justice in a world that favors the privileged. She is one of the only openly transgender authors in the crime fiction genre. Dharma lives in Arizona with her wife and a black cat named Mouse. Learn more about Dharma and her work at https://dharmakelleher.com.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:03:14 false 6 295 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark chats with Dharma Kelleher who writes action-driven thrillers that explore the complexities of social and criminal justice in a world that favors the privileged. She is one of the only openly transgender authors in the crime fiction genre. They talk about that and a lot more. Prior to the interview, Mark reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Dharma talk about Dharma's "long, torrid" life-long affair with writing, and beginning to write on a manual typewriter in their teenage years What happened in the intervening years, including getting a degree in journalism Coming out as transgender, initially to self in college, and then later on. And the challenges of doing that in the deep south of the US Celebrating 25 years of marriage in 2023 Falling back in love with writing in 2007 thanks to NaNoWriMo Spending eight years focusing mostly on the craft of writing Pitching to 90 agents and then landing a deal with a New York publisher Coming to the realization that the trad pub model wasn't going to work (due to the publisher requiring print book rights even though they weren't planning on publishing beyond eBook) Getting tired of hearing the "we already had a transgender author book this year" from publishers Red Market's release in February 2023 and how Dharma is selling it directly before doing a wide publishing release How you get it early and get more when you buy it direct from the author Switching from a WooCommerce to a Shopify website for direct sales Doing the best they can to deliver their books to any customer wherever they are on the planet Being the first person in Arizona to donate a kidney to a stranger and how that was part of the inspiration for Red Market The Jinx Ballou Crime Thriller series and how crime thrillers, mysteries, etc are often about "justice" Some of the things writers can get wrong when they include transgender characters in their fiction Disclosure (Netflix) - that takes a deep dive into those tropes The importance of giving transgender characters agency in fiction How the tropes can cause real harm, not just hurt feelings Dharma's love of numbers and love of writing being among their biggest passions And more... After the interview Mark reflects on two of the things that came up in their discussion.   Links of Interest: Dharma's Website Queer Women Kick Ass (dot com) Red Market (direct sales link) Trailer for Disclosure (Netflix) Lambda Literary: Three Transgender Crime Writers (Dharma, Robyn Gigl, Renee James) Talk Thrills and Challenges of Writing in the Genre Epic Reads: YA Fiction with Transgender and Non-Binary Characters Goodreads: Novels of Trans Protagonists by Trans authors Findaway Voices Submit YOUR reflections for Episode 300 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Dharma Kelleher writes action-driven thrillers that explore the complexities of social and criminal justice in a world that favors the privileged. She is one of the only openly transgender authors in the crime fiction genre. Dharma lives in Arizona with her wife and a black cat named Mouse. 

Learn more about Dharma and her work at https://dharmakelleher.com.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark chats with Dharma Kelleher who writes action-driven thrillers that explore the complexities of social and criminal justice in a world that favors the privileged. She is one of the only openly transgender authors in the crime fiction genre. They talk about that and a lot more. Prior to the interview, Mark reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Dharma talk about Dharma's "long, torrid" life-long affair with writing, and beginning to write on a manual typewriter in their teenage years What happened in the intervening years, including getting a degree in journalism Coming out as transgender, initially to self in college, and then later on. And the challenges of doing that in the deep south of the US Celebrating 25 years of marriage in 2023 Falling back in love with writing in 2007 thanks to NaNoWriMo Spending eight years focusing mostly on the craft of writing Pitching to 90 agents and then landing a deal with a New York publisher Coming to the realization that the trad pub model wasn't going to work (due to the publisher requiring print book rights even though they weren't planning on publishing beyond eBook) Getting tired of hearing the "we already had a transgender author book this year" from publishers Red Market's release in February 2023 and how Dharma is selling it directly before doing a wide publishing release How you get it early and get more when you buy it direct from the author Switching from a WooCommerce to a Shopify website for direct sales Doing the best they can to deliver their books to any customer wherever they are on the planet Being the first person in Arizona to donate a kidney to a stranger and how that was part of the inspiration for Red Market The Jinx Ballou Crime Thriller series and how crime thrillers, mysteries, etc are often about "justice" Some of the things writers can get wrong when they include transgender characters in their fiction Disclosure (Netflix) - that takes a deep dive into those tropes The importance of giving transgender characters agency in fiction How the tropes can cause real harm, not just hurt feelings Dharma's love of numbers and love of writing being among their biggest passions And more... After the interview Mark reflects on two of the things that came up in their discussion.   Links of Interest: Dharma's Website Queer Women Kick Ass (dot com) Red Market (direct sales link) Trailer for Disclosure (Netflix) Lambda Literary: Three Transgender Crime Writers (Dharma, Robyn Gigl, Renee James) Talk Thrills and Challenges of Writing in the Genre Epic Reads: YA Fiction with Transgender and Non-Binary Characters Goodreads: Novels of Trans Protagonists by Trans authors Findaway Voices Submit YOUR reflections for Episode 300 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Dharma Kelleher writes action-driven thrillers that explore the complexities of social and criminal justice in a world that favors the privileged. She is one of the only openly transgender authors in the crime fiction genre. Dharma lives in Arizona with her wife and a black cat named Mouse. 

Learn more about Dharma and her work at https://dharmakelleher.com.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 294 - Content for Everyone with Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini Content for Everyone with Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini Thu, 09 Mar 2023 23:00:00 +0000 Mark interviews Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini about their new book, CONTENT FOR EVERYONE: A Practical Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs to Produce Accessible and Usable Web Content.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

 

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

In their conversation, Mark, Jeff, and Michele talk about:

  • Their new book, released March 1, 2023 entitled CONTENT FOR EVERYONE and who the book is for
  • Their backgrounds working at Useablenet and how it relates to this new release
  • Jeff's Big Gay Fiction Podcast, which has been going on for eight years now
  • Pioneering digital accessibility with UseableNet
  • Thinking about accessibility as an opportunity or a basic expectation
  • It being hard for Jeff and Michele to not notice accessibility issues out there on the net
  • The genesis of the book and how it became a collaborative effort between the two of them
  • Conveying a message in the widest way possible so that the widest number of people can consume it
  • The importance of color contrast for people with low vision
  • Considering the different ways different users interact with a web page
  • A good rule is "do not rely on a single sense when you communicate"
  • A theme running through the entire book: Being true believers in that if you know WHY you have to do something, you'll be a lot more committed in doing it
  • An approach to consider if it feels too overwhelming to take on the task of making one's work more accessible
  • Accessibility is about reaching as many potential customers as possible
  • All of the conditions that might be creating a temporary disability
  • How the only wrong thing to do is to do nothing
  • The oddness of the situation where someone who requests something in a more accessible format is asking a favor rather than just laying out a fundamental expectation
  • The idea of thinking of an accessible format as an "extra task" rather than a basic and fundamental task
  • The importance of progress over perfection
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few specific learnings he took away from it and ways he can grow and improve/expand upon his mindset related to accessibility.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Jeff Adams is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. As the Accessibility Operations Director for UsableNet, a company focused on making the digital world more accessible and usable, he consults with clients around the world about digital accessibility. In addition, Jeff's a creative entrepreneur as an author of queer romance and queer young adult fiction and co-host of the Big Gay Fiction Podcast.


Michele Lucchini is the Vice President of Delivery and Accessibility Operations for UsableNet and oversees the teams responsible for ensuring client's success in their digital accessibility program. Michele's background is rooted in software development first and moving to team and operation management later. Thanks to experience gathered in over two decades, Michele is an expert and helping companies, from the largest to the smallest, making their digital experiences accessible.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini about their new book, CONTENT FOR EVERYONE: A Practical Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs to Produce Accessible and Usable Web Content.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark, Jeff, and Michele talk about:

  • Their new book, released March 1, 2023 entitled CONTENT FOR EVERYONE and who the book is for
  • Their backgrounds working at Useablenet and how it relates to this new release
  • Jeff's Big Gay Fiction Podcast, which has been going on for eight years now
  • Pioneering digital accessibility with UseableNet
  • Thinking about accessibility as an opportunity or a basic expectation
  • It being hard for Jeff and Michele to not notice accessibility issues out there on the net
  • The genesis of the book and how it became a collaborative effort between the two of them
  • Conveying a message in the widest way possible so that the widest number of people can consume it
  • The importance of color contrast for people with low vision
  • Considering the different ways different users interact with a web page
  • A good rule is "do not rely on a single sense when you communicate"
  • A theme running through the entire book: Being true believers in that if you know WHY you have to do something, you'll be a lot more committed in doing it
  • An approach to consider if it feels too overwhelming to take on the task of making one's work more accessible
  • Accessibility is about reaching as many potential customers as possible
  • All of the conditions that might be creating a temporary disability
  • How the only wrong thing to do is to do nothing
  • The oddness of the situation where someone who requests something in a more accessible format is asking a favor rather than just laying out a fundamental expectation
  • The idea of thinking of an accessible format as an "extra task" rather than a basic and fundamental task
  • The importance of progress over perfection
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few specific learnings he took away from it and ways he can grow and improve/expand upon his mindset related to accessibility.

Links of Interest:

Jeff Adams is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. As the Accessibility Operations Director for UsableNet, a company focused on making the digital world more accessible and usable, he consults with clients around the world about digital accessibility. In addition, Jeff's a creative entrepreneur as an author of queer romance and queer young adult fiction and co-host of the Big Gay Fiction Podcast.

Michele Lucchini is the Vice President of Delivery and Accessibility Operations for UsableNet and oversees the teams responsible for ensuring client's success in their digital accessibility program. Michele's background is rooted in software development first and moving to team and operation management later. Thanks to experience gathered in over two decades, Michele is an expert and helping companies, from the largest to the smallest, making their digital experiences accessible.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 59:30 false 6 294 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini about their new book, CONTENT FOR EVERYONE: A Practical Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs to Produce Accessible and Usable Web Content. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark, Jeff, and Michele talk about: Their new book, released March 1, 2023 entitled CONTENT FOR EVERYONE and who the book is for Their backgrounds working at Useablenet and how it relates to this new release Jeff's Big Gay Fiction Podcast, which has been going on for eight years now Pioneering digital accessibility with UseableNet Thinking about accessibility as an opportunity or a basic expectation It being hard for Jeff and Michele to not notice accessibility issues out there on the net The genesis of the book and how it became a collaborative effort between the two of them Conveying a message in the widest way possible so that the widest number of people can consume it The importance of color contrast for people with low vision Considering the different ways different users interact with a web page A good rule is "do not rely on a single sense when you communicate" A theme running through the entire book: Being true believers in that if you know WHY you have to do something, you'll be a lot more committed in doing it An approach to consider if it feels too overwhelming to take on the task of making one's work more accessible Accessibility is about reaching as many potential customers as possible All of the conditions that might be creating a temporary disability How the only wrong thing to do is to do nothing The oddness of the situation where someone who requests something in a more accessible format is asking a favor rather than just laying out a fundamental expectation The idea of thinking of an accessible format as an "extra task" rather than a basic and fundamental task The importance of progress over perfection And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few specific learnings he took away from it and ways he can grow and improve/expand upon his mindset related to accessibility.   Links of Interest: Content for Everyone UseableNet WebAIM's Contrast Checker Jeff Adams (& Will Knauss)- Big Gay Author Podcast Jeff & Will on Draft2Digital Self-Publishing Insiders Live (Blog)(YouTube) Episode 293 - The Capacity to Unlearn and Relearn with Diane Devenyi Findaway Voices Submit YOUR reflections for Episode 300 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Jeff Adams is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. As the Accessibility Operations Director for UsableNet, a company focused on making the digital world more accessible and usable, he consults with clients around the world about digital accessibility. In addition, Jeff's a creative entrepreneur as an author of queer romance and queer young adult fiction and co-host of the Big Gay Fiction Podcast. Michele Lucchini is the Vice President of Delivery and Accessibility Operations for UsableNet and oversees the teams responsible for ensuring client's success in their digital accessibility program. Michele's background is rooted in software development first and moving to team and operation management later. Thanks to experience gathered in over two decades, Michele is an expert and helping companies, from the largest to the smallest, making their digital experiences accessible.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini about their new book, CONTENT FOR EVERYONE: A Practical Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs to Produce Accessible and Usable Web Content. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark, Jeff, and Michele talk about: Their new book, released March 1, 2023 entitled CONTENT FOR EVERYONE and who the book is for Their backgrounds working at Useablenet and how it relates to this new release Jeff's Big Gay Fiction Podcast, which has been going on for eight years now Pioneering digital accessibility with UseableNet Thinking about accessibility as an opportunity or a basic expectation It being hard for Jeff and Michele to not notice accessibility issues out there on the net The genesis of the book and how it became a collaborative effort between the two of them Conveying a message in the widest way possible so that the widest number of people can consume it The importance of color contrast for people with low vision Considering the different ways different users interact with a web page A good rule is "do not rely on a single sense when you communicate" A theme running through the entire book: Being true believers in that if you know WHY you have to do something, you'll be a lot more committed in doing it An approach to consider if it feels too overwhelming to take on the task of making one's work more accessible Accessibility is about reaching as many potential customers as possible All of the conditions that might be creating a temporary disability How the only wrong thing to do is to do nothing The oddness of the situation where someone who requests something in a more accessible format is asking a favor rather than just laying out a fundamental expectation The idea of thinking of an accessible format as an "extra task" rather than a basic and fundamental task The importance of progress over perfection And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few specific learnings he took away from it and ways he can grow and improve/expand upon his mindset related to accessibility.   Links of Interest: Content for Everyone UseableNet WebAIM's Contrast Checker Jeff Adams (& Will Knauss)- Big Gay Author Podcast Jeff & Will on Draft2Digital Self-Publishing Insiders Live (Blog)(YouTube) Episode 293 - The Capacity to Unlearn and Relearn with Diane Devenyi Findaway Voices Submit YOUR reflections for Episode 300 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Jeff Adams is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. As the Accessibility Operations Director for UsableNet, a company focused on making the digital world more accessible and usable, he consults with clients around the world about digital accessibility. In addition, Jeff's a creative entrepreneur as an author of queer romance and queer young adult fiction and co-host of the Big Gay Fiction Podcast. Michele Lucchini is the Vice President of Delivery and Accessibility Operations for UsableNet and oversees the teams responsible for ensuring client's success in their digital accessibility program. Michele's background is rooted in software development first and moving to team and operation management later. Thanks to experience gathered in over two decades, Michele is an expert and helping companies, from the largest to the smallest, making their digital experiences accessible.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 293 - The Capacity to Unlearn and Relearn with Diane Devenyi The Capacity to Unlearn and Relearn with Diane Devenyi Thu, 02 Mar 2023 22:41:54 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Diane Devenyi, a former tax lawyer who shifted her focus to education reform, and her new book Dear Genius, Harness the Hidden Power in your ABCs.

Prior to the main segment, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, invites listeners to submit reflections for forthcoming episode 300 welcomes new patrons and shares a few words about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Diane talk about:

  • Diane's start in a non-creative realm, with the belief she was going to be a tax lawyer
  • Publicly announcing at an educational meeting that she was there to re-vamp education on the planet back in 1999
  • Universal design: AKA "Learning for everyone"
  • How the current education system was built to support an earlier century of humans -- ie, creating workers rather than thinkers
  • The Alvin Toffler Quote: "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."
  • Working on ways to shift things when it comes to education
  • How easy it is to resolve some issues when you know what underlying element you're looking for
  • The way Diane's book "Dear Genius" helps
  • How to make Diane's method work in larger sized classroom settings, including doing it with 80 campers at one time in a summer camp setting
  • Going to get her Masters of Education and how that led to having to put the summer camp on hold
  • The concept of having families experience this together in an immersive setting
  • Part of the process of actually learning/relearning the letters of the alphabet using clay
  • Deciding to take on partner dancing later in life and how that completely changed her life
  • A Grade 4 experience that taught Diane that they don't want to know what her best is, but they wanted her to be the best at what they wanted her to do
  • Why, even if a person uses a typewriter and never hand-writes letters, how going back to the foundation of properly printing letters can make a significant difference
  • From your hand, through your heart, and into your head
  • Gaining a sense of resilience from unlearning and relearning something
  • The March 2023 2-Day Boot Camps Diane is running online
  • When your curiosity in life gets a kickstart
  • And more...

After the episode Mark reflects on the importance of unlearning and relearning regardless of your age or how much you believe you might already have learned, and how he is planning on doing that to continue to grow as a writer and a person.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Diane Devenyi, LLB, MEd, is a former tax lawyer who shifted her focus to education reform when she became deeply troubled by learning struggles she observed in her children's classrooms. This has become her life-long passion. With more than 20 years in the field, she is sharing her observations about literacy and learning in a "Dear Genius" series of books, with "Harness the Hidden Power in Your ABCs!" being the first. Her hope is that children and adults everywhere can finally find relief and the freedom to soar in their own zone of genius.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Diane Devenyi, a former tax lawyer who shifted her focus to education reform, and her new book Dear Genius, Harness the Hidden Power in your ABCs.

Prior to the main segment, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, invites listeners to submit reflections for forthcoming episode 300 welcomes new patrons and shares a few words about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Diane talk about:

  • Diane's start in a non-creative realm, with the belief she was going to be a tax lawyer
  • Publicly announcing at an educational meeting that she was there to re-vamp education on the planet back in 1999
  • Universal design: AKA "Learning for everyone"
  • How the current education system was built to support an earlier century of humans -- ie, creating workers rather than thinkers
  • The Alvin Toffler Quote: "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."
  • Working on ways to shift things when it comes to education
  • How easy it is to resolve some issues when you know what underlying element you're looking for
  • The way Diane's book "Dear Genius" helps
  • How to make Diane's method work in larger sized classroom settings, including doing it with 80 campers at one time in a summer camp setting
  • Going to get her Masters of Education and how that led to having to put the summer camp on hold
  • The concept of having families experience this together in an immersive setting
  • Part of the process of actually learning/relearning the letters of the alphabet using clay
  • Deciding to take on partner dancing later in life and how that completely changed her life
  • A Grade 4 experience that taught Diane that they don't want to know what her best is, but they wanted her to be the best at what they wanted her to do
  • Why, even if a person uses a typewriter and never hand-writes letters, how going back to the foundation of properly printing letters can make a significant difference
  • From your hand, through your heart, and into your head
  • Gaining a sense of resilience from unlearning and relearning something
  • The March 2023 2-Day Boot Camps Diane is running online
  • When your curiosity in life gets a kickstart
  • And more...

After the episode Mark reflects on the importance of unlearning and relearning regardless of your age or how much you believe you might already have learned, and how he is planning on doing that to continue to grow as a writer and a person.

Links of Interest:

Diane Devenyi, LLB, MEd, is a former tax lawyer who shifted her focus to education reform when she became deeply troubled by learning struggles she observed in her children's classrooms. This has become her life-long passion. With more than 20 years in the field, she is sharing her observations about literacy and learning in a "Dear Genius" series of books, with "Harness the Hidden Power in Your ABCs!" being the first. Her hope is that children and adults everywhere can finally find relief and the freedom to soar in their own zone of genius.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 54:13 false 6 293 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Diane Devenyi, a former tax lawyer who shifted her focus to education reform, and her new book Dear Genius, Harness the Hidden Power in your ABCs. Prior to the main segment, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, invites listeners to submit reflections for forthcoming episode 300 welcomes new patrons and shares a few words about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Diane talk about: Diane's start in a non-creative realm, with the belief she was going to be a tax lawyer Publicly announcing at an educational meeting that she was there to re-vamp education on the planet back in 1999 Universal design: AKA "Learning for everyone" How the current education system was built to support an earlier century of humans -- ie, creating workers rather than thinkers The Alvin Toffler Quote: "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." Working on ways to shift things when it comes to education How easy it is to resolve some issues when you know what underlying element you're looking for The way Diane's book "Dear Genius" helps How to make Diane's method work in larger sized classroom settings, including doing it with 80 campers at one time in a summer camp setting Going to get her Masters of Education and how that led to having to put the summer camp on hold The concept of having families experience this together in an immersive setting Part of the process of actually learning/relearning the letters of the alphabet using clay Deciding to take on partner dancing later in life and how that completely changed her life A Grade 4 experience that taught Diane that they don't want to know what her best is, but they wanted her to be the best at what they wanted her to do Why, even if a person uses a typewriter and never hand-writes letters, how going back to the foundation of properly printing letters can make a significant difference From your hand, through your heart, and into your head Gaining a sense of resilience from unlearning and relearning something The March 2023 2-Day Boot Camps Diane is running online When your curiosity in life gets a kickstart And more... After the episode Mark reflects on the importance of unlearning and relearning regardless of your age or how much you believe you might already have learned, and how he is planning on doing that to continue to grow as a writer and a person.   Links of Interest: The Learning Force (Diane's website) 7 Figures Podcast - How to Successfully Sell Wide (beyond Amazon) with Mark Lefebvre (YouTube) The Creative Penn - Global Wide Self-Publishing with Mark Leslie Lefebvre (YouTube) BookBub Blog - 10 Tips for Growing a Wide Global Audience Findaway Voices Submit YOUR reflections for Episode 300 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Diane Devenyi, LLB, MEd, is a former tax lawyer who shifted her focus to education reform when she became deeply troubled by learning struggles she observed in her children's classrooms. This has become her life-long passion. With more than 20 years in the field, she is sharing her observations about literacy and learning in a "Dear Genius" series of books, with "Harness the Hidden Power in Your ABCs!" being the first. Her hope is that children and adults everywhere can finally find relief and the freedom to soar in their own zone of genius.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 In this episode Mark interviews Diane Devenyi, a former tax lawyer who shifted her focus to education reform, and her new book Dear Genius, Harness the Hidden Power in your ABCs. Prior to the main segment, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, invites listeners to submit reflections for forthcoming episode 300 welcomes new patrons and shares a few words about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Diane talk about: Diane's start in a non-creative realm, with the belief she was going to be a tax lawyer Publicly announcing at an educational meeting that she was there to re-vamp education on the planet back in 1999 Universal design: AKA "Learning for everyone" How the current education system was built to support an earlier century of humans -- ie, creating workers rather than thinkers The Alvin Toffler Quote: "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." Working on ways to shift things when it comes to education How easy it is to resolve some issues when you know what underlying element you're looking for The way Diane's book "Dear Genius" helps How to make Diane's method work in larger sized classroom settings, including doing it with 80 campers at one time in a summer camp setting Going to get her Masters of Education and how that led to having to put the summer camp on hold The concept of having families experience this together in an immersive setting Part of the process of actually learning/relearning the letters of the alphabet using clay Deciding to take on partner dancing later in life and how that completely changed her life A Grade 4 experience that taught Diane that they don't want to know what her best is, but they wanted her to be the best at what they wanted her to do Why, even if a person uses a typewriter and never hand-writes letters, how going back to the foundation of properly printing letters can make a significant difference From your hand, through your heart, and into your head Gaining a sense of resilience from unlearning and relearning something The March 2023 2-Day Boot Camps Diane is running online When your curiosity in life gets a kickstart And more... After the episode Mark reflects on the importance of unlearning and relearning regardless of your age or how much you believe you might already have learned, and how he is planning on doing that to continue to grow as a writer and a person.   Links of Interest: The Learning Force (Diane's website) 7 Figures Podcast - How to Successfully Sell Wide (beyond Amazon) with Mark Lefebvre (YouTube) The Creative Penn - Global Wide Self-Publishing with Mark Leslie Lefebvre (YouTube) BookBub Blog - 10 Tips for Growing a Wide Global Audience Findaway Voices Submit YOUR reflections for Episode 300 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Diane Devenyi, LLB, MEd, is a former tax lawyer who shifted her focus to education reform when she became deeply troubled by learning struggles she observed in her children's classrooms. This has become her life-long passion. With more than 20 years in the field, she is sharing her observations about literacy and learning in a "Dear Genius" series of books, with "Harness the Hidden Power in Your ABCs!" being the first. Her hope is that children and adults everywhere can finally find relief and the freedom to soar in their own zone of genius.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 292 - Learning by Doing and Baptism by Pyromancy with Oskar Söderberg Learning by Doing and Baptism by Pyromancy with Oskar Söderberg Fri, 24 Feb 2023 16:47:08 +0000 Mark interviews Oskar Söderberg, a thirty-five year old husband, father of two, and full-time IT employee about his writing life and the process leading up to publishing his debut novel, The Broken Pyromancer, coming in March 2023.

Prior to the main segment, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a few words about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Oskar talk about:

  • Oksar's long-held perspective of how cool writers were, with the romanticized images he always had
  • Writing and self-publishing a book back in 2017, which did not work out well, and which he ended up taking down
  • His main takeaway from that experience
  • His first novel, which is with an editor as the interview was being conducted and is coming out in 2023
  • What the Sweden Amazon site is like
  • How Kindle Unlimited is not available in Sweden
  • What platforms are not available to authors in Sweden
  • The different genre Oskar is writing in for this new book
  • Teaching himself programming in order to build a game for IOS and Android that is like a "choose your own adventure" interactive horror adventure (Gray Sojourn: Wandering Souls)
  • Learning more about the world of self-publishing from listening to a number of podcasts (especially The 6 Figure Author Podcast)
  • The expected/planned release date of the new novel, entitled The Broken Pyromancer
  • Why Oskar decided to publish his books wide, and his understanding that the process can take a lot of time
  • A look at the similarities and differences of advice for an author from Sweden versus an author in the US
  • How eBooks aren't really a thing for readers in Sweden
  • Oksar being the only person he knows who owns an eBook reader
  • The popularity of audiobook apps and platforms like Storytel
  • Oskar's learning about the reader magnet process and how it helped him go through the process and learning all the pieces of it, including testing the waters
  • The proliferation of rookie mistakes that are so easy to find, despite all the great content, information, and resources for writers

After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Oskar mentioned and thanks Patrons of the podcast.

 

 

Links of Interest:

 

Working full time in IT, Oksar Söderberg is a 35 year old father of two tiny terrorizing girls trying to squeeze enough time in to become an author by any means necessary's. He is a reader, writer, and lover of fantasy (and some horror), with debut novel, The Broken Pyromancer, coming early 2023. Stay tuned!

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Oskar Söderberg, a thirty-five year old husband, father of two, and full-time IT employee about his writing life and the process leading up to publishing his debut novel, The Broken Pyromancer, coming in March 2023.

Prior to the main segment, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a few words about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Oskar talk about:

  • Oksar's long-held perspective of how cool writers were, with the romanticized images he always had
  • Writing and self-publishing a book back in 2017, which did not work out well, and which he ended up taking down
  • His main takeaway from that experience
  • His first novel, which is with an editor as the interview was being conducted and is coming out in 2023
  • What the Sweden Amazon site is like
  • How Kindle Unlimited is not available in Sweden
  • What platforms are not available to authors in Sweden
  • The different genre Oskar is writing in for this new book
  • Teaching himself programming in order to build a game for IOS and Android that is like a "choose your own adventure" interactive horror adventure (Gray Sojourn: Wandering Souls)
  • Learning more about the world of self-publishing from listening to a number of podcasts (especially The 6 Figure Author Podcast)
  • The expected/planned release date of the new novel, entitled The Broken Pyromancer
  • Why Oskar decided to publish his books wide, and his understanding that the process can take a lot of time
  • A look at the similarities and differences of advice for an author from Sweden versus an author in the US
  • How eBooks aren't really a thing for readers in Sweden
  • Oksar being the only person he knows who owns an eBook reader
  • The popularity of audiobook apps and platforms like Storytel
  • Oskar's learning about the reader magnet process and how it helped him go through the process and learning all the pieces of it, including testing the waters
  • The proliferation of rookie mistakes that are so easy to find, despite all the great content, information, and resources for writers

After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Oskar mentioned and thanks Patrons of the podcast.

Links of Interest:

Working full time in IT, Oksar Söderberg is a 35 year old father of two tiny terrorizing girls trying to squeeze enough time in to become an author by any means necessary's. He is a reader, writer, and lover of fantasy (and some horror), with debut novel, The Broken Pyromancer, coming early 2023. Stay tuned!

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 57:13 false 6 292 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Oskar Söderberg, a thirty-five year old husband, father of two, and full-time IT employee about his writing life and the process leading up to publishing his debut novel, The Broken Pyromancer, coming in March 2023. Prior to the main segment, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a few words about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Oskar talk about: Oksar's long-held perspective of how cool writers were, with the romanticized images he always had Writing and self-publishing a book back in 2017, which did not work out well, and which he ended up taking down His main takeaway from that experience His first novel, which is with an editor as the interview was being conducted and is coming out in 2023 What the Sweden Amazon site is like How Kindle Unlimited is not available in Sweden What platforms are not available to authors in Sweden The different genre Oskar is writing in for this new book Teaching himself programming in order to build a game for IOS and Android that is like a "choose your own adventure" interactive horror adventure (Gray Sojourn: Wandering Souls) Learning more about the world of self-publishing from listening to a number of podcasts (especially The 6 Figure Author Podcast) The expected/planned release date of the new novel, entitled The Broken Pyromancer Why Oskar decided to publish his books wide, and his understanding that the process can take a lot of time A look at the similarities and differences of advice for an author from Sweden versus an author in the US How eBooks aren't really a thing for readers in Sweden Oksar being the only person he knows who owns an eBook reader The popularity of audiobook apps and platforms like Storytel Oskar's learning about the reader magnet process and how it helped him go through the process and learning all the pieces of it, including testing the waters The proliferation of rookie mistakes that are so easy to find, despite all the great content, information, and resources for writers After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Oskar mentioned and thanks Patrons of the podcast.     Links of Interest: Oskar's Website Novella: Eldspark Academy The Game 6 Figure Authors Podcast EP 291 - The Importance of a Hero Who Looks Like You with Alicia Mccalla BookBub Blog - 10 Tips for Growing a Wide Global Audience Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Working full time in IT, Oksar Söderberg is a 35 year old father of two tiny terrorizing girls trying to squeeze enough time in to become an author by any means necessary's. He is a reader, writer, and lover of fantasy (and some horror), with debut novel, The Broken Pyromancer, coming early 2023. Stay tuned!   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Oskar Söderberg, a thirty-five year old husband, father of two, and full-time IT employee about his writing life and the process leading up to publishing his debut novel, The Broken Pyromancer, coming in March 2023. Prior to the main segment, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a few words about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Oskar talk about: Oksar's long-held perspective of how cool writers were, with the romanticized images he always had Writing and self-publishing a book back in 2017, which did not work out well, and which he ended up taking down His main takeaway from that experience His first novel, which is with an editor as the interview was being conducted and is coming out in 2023 What the Sweden Amazon site is like How Kindle Unlimited is not available in Sweden What platforms are not available to authors in Sweden The different genre Oskar is writing in for this new book Teaching himself programming in order to build a game for IOS and Android that is like a "choose your own adventure" interactive horror adventure (Gray Sojourn: Wandering Souls) Learning more about the world of self-publishing from listening to a number of podcasts (especially The 6 Figure Author Podcast) The expected/planned release date of the new novel, entitled The Broken Pyromancer Why Oskar decided to publish his books wide, and his understanding that the process can take a lot of time A look at the similarities and differences of advice for an author from Sweden versus an author in the US How eBooks aren't really a thing for readers in Sweden Oksar being the only person he knows who owns an eBook reader The popularity of audiobook apps and platforms like Storytel Oskar's learning about the reader magnet process and how it helped him go through the process and learning all the pieces of it, including testing the waters The proliferation of rookie mistakes that are so easy to find, despite all the great content, information, and resources for writers After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Oskar mentioned and thanks Patrons of the podcast.     Links of Interest: Oskar's Website Novella: Eldspark Academy The Game 6 Figure Authors Podcast EP 291 - The Importance of a Hero Who Looks Like You with Alicia Mccalla BookBub Blog - 10 Tips for Growing a Wide Global Audience Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Working full time in IT, Oksar Söderberg is a 35 year old father of two tiny terrorizing girls trying to squeeze enough time in to become an author by any means necessary's. He is a reader, writer, and lover of fantasy (and some horror), with debut novel, The Broken Pyromancer, coming early 2023. Stay tuned!   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 291 - The Importance of A Hero Who Looks Like You With Alicia McCalla The Importance of A Hero Who Looks Like You With Alicia McCalla Fri, 17 Feb 2023 00:23:13 +0000 Mark interviews writer, narrator, and creative Alicia McCalla about her work creating thrilling stories of courage, bravery and strength featuring kick-ass Black women leads in SciFi, Fantasy & Romance.

Prior to the main segment, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, thanks new Patrons, shares a personal update, and a few words about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Alicia talk about:

  • How Alicia is two different versions of a superwoman and the way her brand is quite powerful
  • Courage, bravery, and strength
  • The strong women in Alicia's life, and her legacy
  • Sharing badass, strong, and powerful black women who use their spunkiness, brains, and abilities
  • Recognizing the power of a black Star Trek captain
  • Dressing up in cosplay as a Starfleet captain when going to get a Covid booster shot
  • How ground-breaking Nichelle Nichols' role in the original Star Trek was, and what happened when she wanted to quit
  • The importance of having a superhero who looks like you, and Alicia's husband's experience with wanting to go to school for Halloween as Spider-Man, but being told by another child he couldn't be Spider-Man because he was black
  • How the Civil Rights Movement could really be understood as a Women's movement
  • Some of the differences between White Feminism and the approach to feminism taken by Black women
  • The difference between Feminism and Female Empowerment
  • The Miles Morales Into the Spiderverse movie
  • The toxicity and racism that exists within science-fiction fandom
  • Alicia's experience sitting on a panel at Dragon Con with a white male participant who claimed they didn't "see" the differences between white and black people and that "race" doesn't matter
  • Crying unabashedly when seeing the Black Futurism in the movie Black Panther
  • The experience of Alicia and her husband giving away their Black Panther and Wonder Woman watches to children in Ghana
  • How selling direct can be both empowering and terrifying
  • The exclusive audio available only via Alicia's website for those dedicated fans who really want it
  • Having an international audience of readers all over the world and how the public library of South Africa is a place that many readers seem to be consumed her books
  • Not being able to finish a book project because of a character who was deeply based on her grandfather who Alicia lost
  • Narrating under the pen name Alicia Speaks

 

After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of understanding how something that seems normal or just "fits" for one person, might not be experienced in the same way for another. Case in point: Both Mark and Alicia's husband dressed up as Spider-Man when they were children, but Mark wasn't told that he couldn't because of the color of his skin.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Alicia McCalla is a creative entrepreneur who writes, narrates and creates merchandise for readers and customers who love thrilling stories of courage, bravery and strength featuring badass, spunky and smart Black women main characters. If you are a Blerd or Nerd who loves talking about strong Black women and female empowerment in  SciFi, Fantasy, Romance and sometimes Horror then join in on Alicia's blog discussions or follow her on social media.

Alicia began writing and self-publishing professionally in 2012. In the beginning, she wrote part-time while she worked full-time as a School Media Specialist. Tragedy struck and her only child, an officer in the US Navy was lost at sea. This single event changed everything. With the overwhelming intensity of her grief brain, she had to re-learn how to live fully while honoring her son's legacy (he was one of her largest supporters and champions. He even produced a theme song for her work). She often takes the time to acknowledge her grief journey in her blog posts.

Now, Alicia is a full-time writer, audiobook narrator & merchandiser sharing stories and products of courageous, brave and strong Black women warriors.  She enjoys writing kick-ass sistas with skills, swords & superpowers. Alicia is Black Girl Nerd and regularly Cosplays strong female superheroes, warriors and maybe even a fairy. Because of her love of fan merchandise and desire to see Black women represented in SciFi and Fantasy Merchandise, she launched her shop  Alicia McCalla's Emporium featuring superheroines, vigilantes, huntresses and much more. 

Alicia's influences include Octavia Butler, LA Banks, Faith Hunter, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Patricia Briggs.

She is an activist in the movement towards diversifying Science fiction and Fantasy (#diversityinSFF). She created the first "State of Black Science Fiction 2012" blog tour, is an active member in the State of Black Science Fiction FaceBook group and has a Pinterest account where she actively curates topics related to Black Warrior Women, Black Science Fiction, Fantasy and more.

Alicia writes for adults with her brand of Black superheroes, dark fantasy, Urban Fantasy, paranormal, and horror.  She is a former Women Marine-Reservist and a decorated war veteran. Alicia is a native Detroiter who currently resides in metro Atlanta with her loving husband and many nieces and nephews. Sign-up  on www.aliciamccalla.com for free reads, updates, sneak peeks, and merchandise coupons.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

 

]]> Mark interviews writer, narrator, and creative Alicia McCalla about her work creating thrilling stories of courage, bravery and strength featuring kick-ass Black women leads in SciFi, Fantasy & Romance.

Prior to the main segment, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, thanks new Patrons, shares a personal update, and a few words about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Alicia talk about:

  • How Alicia is two different versions of a superwoman and the way her brand is quite powerful
  • Courage, bravery, and strength
  • The strong women in Alicia's life, and her legacy
  • Sharing badass, strong, and powerful black women who use their spunkiness, brains, and abilities
  • Recognizing the power of a black Star Trek captain
  • Dressing up in cosplay as a Starfleet captain when going to get a Covid booster shot
  • How ground-breaking Nichelle Nichols' role in the original Star Trek was, and what happened when she wanted to quit
  • The importance of having a superhero who looks like you, and Alicia's husband's experience with wanting to go to school for Halloween as Spider-Man, but being told by another child he couldn't be Spider-Man because he was black
  • How the Civil Rights Movement could really be understood as a Women's movement
  • Some of the differences between White Feminism and the approach to feminism taken by Black women
  • The difference between Feminism and Female Empowerment
  • The Miles Morales Into the Spiderverse movie
  • The toxicity and racism that exists within science-fiction fandom
  • Alicia's experience sitting on a panel at Dragon Con with a white male participant who claimed they didn't "see" the differences between white and black people and that "race" doesn't matter
  • Crying unabashedly when seeing the Black Futurism in the movie Black Panther
  • The experience of Alicia and her husband giving away their Black Panther and Wonder Woman watches to children in Ghana
  • How selling direct can be both empowering and terrifying
  • The exclusive audio available only via Alicia's website for those dedicated fans who really want it
  • Having an international audience of readers all over the world and how the public library of South Africa is a place that many readers seem to be consumed her books
  • Not being able to finish a book project because of a character who was deeply based on her grandfather who Alicia lost
  • Narrating under the pen name Alicia Speaks

After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of understanding how something that seems normal or just "fits" for one person, might not be experienced in the same way for another. Case in point: Both Mark and Alicia's husband dressed up as Spider-Man when they were children, but Mark wasn't told that he couldn't because of the color of his skin.

Links of Interest:

Alicia McCalla is a creative entrepreneur who writes, narrates and creates merchandise for readers and customers who love thrilling stories of courage, bravery and strength featuring badass, spunky and smart Black women main characters. If you are a Blerd or Nerd who loves talking about strong Black women and female empowerment in SciFi, Fantasy, Romance and sometimes Horror then join in on Alicia's blog discussions or follow her on social media.

Alicia began writing and self-publishing professionally in 2012. In the beginning, she wrote part-time while she worked full-time as a School Media Specialist. Tragedy struck and her only child, an officer in the US Navy was lost at sea. This single event changed everything. With the overwhelming intensity of her grief brain, she had to re-learn how to live fully while honoring her son's legacy (he was one of her largest supporters and champions. He even produced a theme song for her work). She often takes the time to acknowledge her grief journey in her blog posts.

Now, Alicia is a full-time writer, audiobook narrator & merchandiser sharing stories and products of courageous, brave and strong Black women warriors. She enjoys writing kick-ass sistas with skills, swords & superpowers. Alicia is Black Girl Nerd and regularly Cosplays strong female superheroes, warriors and maybe even a fairy. Because of her love of fan merchandise and desire to see Black women represented in SciFi and Fantasy Merchandise, she launched her shop Alicia McCalla's Emporium featuring superheroines, vigilantes, huntresses and much more.

Alicia's influences include Octavia Butler, LA Banks, Faith Hunter, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Patricia Briggs.

She is an activist in the movement towards diversifying Science fiction and Fantasy (#diversityinSFF). She created the first "State of Black Science Fiction 2012" blog tour, is an active member in the State of Black Science Fiction FaceBook group and has a Pinterest account where she actively curates topics related to Black Warrior Women, Black Science Fiction, Fantasy and more.

Alicia writes for adults with her brand of Black superheroes, dark fantasy, Urban Fantasy, paranormal, and horror. She is a former Women Marine-Reservist and a decorated war veteran. Alicia is a native Detroiter who currently resides in metro Atlanta with her loving husband and many nieces and nephews. Sign-up on www.aliciamccalla.com for free reads, updates, sneak peeks, and merchandise coupons.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:02:32 false 6 291 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews writer, narrator, and creative Alicia McCalla about her work creating thrilling stories of courage, bravery and strength featuring kick-ass Black women leads in SciFi, Fantasy & Romance. Prior to the main segment, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, thanks new Patrons, shares a personal update, and a few words about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Alicia talk about: How Alicia is two different versions of a superwoman and the way her brand is quite powerful Courage, bravery, and strength The strong women in Alicia's life, and her legacy Sharing badass, strong, and powerful black women who use their spunkiness, brains, and abilities Recognizing the power of a black Star Trek captain Dressing up in cosplay as a Starfleet captain when going to get a Covid booster shot How ground-breaking Nichelle Nichols' role in the original Star Trek was, and what happened when she wanted to quit The importance of having a superhero who looks like you, and Alicia's husband's experience with wanting to go to school for Halloween as Spider-Man, but being told by another child he couldn't be Spider-Man because he was black How the Civil Rights Movement could really be understood as a Women's movement Some of the differences between White Feminism and the approach to feminism taken by Black women The difference between Feminism and Female Empowerment The Miles Morales Into the Spiderverse movie The toxicity and racism that exists within science-fiction fandom Alicia's experience sitting on a panel at Dragon Con with a white male participant who claimed they didn't "see" the differences between white and black people and that "race" doesn't matter Crying unabashedly when seeing the Black Futurism in the movie Black Panther The experience of Alicia and her husband giving away their Black Panther and Wonder Woman watches to children in Ghana How selling direct can be both empowering and terrifying The exclusive audio available only via Alicia's website for those dedicated fans who really want it Having an international audience of readers all over the world and how the public library of South Africa is a place that many readers seem to be consumed her books Not being able to finish a book project because of a character who was deeply based on her grandfather who Alicia lost Narrating under the pen name Alicia Speaks   After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of understanding how something that seems normal or just "fits" for one person, might not be experienced in the same way for another. Case in point: Both Mark and Alicia's husband dressed up as Spider-Man when they were children, but Mark wasn't told that he couldn't because of the color of his skin.   Links of Interest: Alicia McCalla's Website The Publishing Blues Brothers (YouTube) Weird Al's Song "One More Minute" (YouTube) Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Alicia McCalla is a creative entrepreneur who writes, narrates and creates merchandise for readers and customers who love thrilling stories of courage, bravery and strength featuring badass, spunky and smart Black women main characters. If you are a Blerd or Nerd who loves talking about strong Black women and female empowerment in  SciFi, Fantasy, Romance and sometimes Horror then join in on Alicia's blog discussions or follow her on social media. Alicia began writing and self-publishing professionally in 2012. In the beginning, she wrote part-time while she worked full-time as a School Media Specialist. Tragedy struck and her only child, an officer in the US Navy was lost at sea. This single event changed everything. With the overwhelming intensity of her grief brain, she had to re-learn how to live fully while honoring her son's legacy (he was one of her largest supporters and champions. He even produced a theme song for her work). She often takes the time to acknowledge her grief journey in her blog posts. Now, Alicia is a full-time writer, audiobook narrator & merchandiser sharing stories and products of courageous, brave and strong Black women warriors.  She enjoys writing kick-ass sistas with skills, swords & superpowers. Alicia is Black Girl Nerd and regularly Cosplays strong female superheroes, warriors and maybe even a fairy. Because of her love of fan merchandise and desire to see Black women represented in SciFi and Fantasy Merchandise, she launched her shop  Alicia McCalla's Emporium featuring superheroines, vigilantes, huntresses and much more.  Alicia's influences include Octavia Butler, LA Banks, Faith Hunter, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Patricia Briggs. She is an activist in the movement towards diversifying Science fiction and Fantasy (#diversityinSFF). She created the first "State of Black Science Fiction 2012" blog tour, is an active member in the State of Black Science Fiction FaceBook group and has a Pinterest account where she actively curates topics related to Black Warrior Women, Black Science Fiction, Fantasy and more. Alicia writes for adults with her brand of Black superheroes, dark fantasy, Urban Fantasy, paranormal, and horror.  She is a former Women Marine-Reservist and a decorated war veteran. Alicia is a native Detroiter who currently resides in metro Atlanta with her loving husband and many nieces and nephews. Sign-up  on www.aliciamccalla.com for free reads, updates, sneak peeks, and merchandise coupons.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   Mark interviews writer, narrator, and creative Alicia McCalla about her work creating thrilling stories of courage, bravery and strength featuring kick-ass Black women leads in SciFi, Fantasy & Romance. Prior to the main segment, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, thanks new Patrons, shares a personal update, and a few words about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Alicia talk about: How Alicia is two different versions of a superwoman and the way her brand is quite powerful Courage, bravery, and strength The strong women in Alicia's life, and her legacy Sharing badass, strong, and powerful black women who use their spunkiness, brains, and abilities Recognizing the power of a black Star Trek captain Dressing up in cosplay as a Starfleet captain when going to get a Covid booster shot How ground-breaking Nichelle Nichols' role in the original Star Trek was, and what happened when she wanted to quit The importance of having a superhero who looks like you, and Alicia's husband's experience with wanting to go to school for Halloween as Spider-Man, but being told by another child he couldn't be Spider-Man because he was black How the Civil Rights Movement could really be understood as a Women's movement Some of the differences between White Feminism and the approach to feminism taken by Black women The difference between Feminism and Female Empowerment The Miles Morales Into the Spiderverse movie The toxicity and racism that exists within science-fiction fandom Alicia's experience sitting on a panel at Dragon Con with a white male participant who claimed they didn't "see" the differences between white and black people and that "race" doesn't matter Crying unabashedly when seeing the Black Futurism in the movie Black Panther The experience of Alicia and her husband giving away their Black Panther and Wonder Woman watches to children in Ghana How selling direct can be both empowering and terrifying The exclusive audio available only via Alicia's website for those dedicated fans who really want it Having an international audience of readers all over the world and how the public library of South Africa is a place that many readers seem to be consumed her books Not being able to finish a book project because of a character who was deeply based on her grandfather who Alicia lost Narrating under the pen name Alicia Speaks   After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of understanding how something that seems normal or just "fits" for one person, might not be experienced in the same way for another. Case in point: Both Mark and Alicia's husband dressed up as Spider-Man when they were children, but Mark wasn't told that he couldn't because of the color of his skin.   Links of Interest: Alicia McCalla's Website The Publishing Blues Brothers (YouTube) Weird Al's Song "One More Minute" (YouTube) Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Alicia McCalla is a creative entrepreneur who writes, narrates and creates merchandise for readers and customers who love thrilling stories of courage, bravery and strength featuring badass, spunky and smart Black women main characters. If you are a Blerd or Nerd who loves talking about strong Black women and female empowerment in  SciFi, Fantasy, Romance and sometimes Horror then join in on Alicia's blog discussions or follow her on social media. Alicia began writing and self-publishing professionally in 2012. In the beginning, she wrote part-time while she worked full-time as a School Media Specialist. Tragedy struck and her only child, an officer in the US Navy was lost at sea. This single event changed everything. With the overwhelming intensity of her grief brain, she had to re-learn how to live fully while honoring her son's legacy (he was one of her largest supporters and champions. He even produced a theme song for her work). She often takes the time to acknowledge her grief journey in her blog posts. Now, Alicia is a full-time writer, audiobook narrator & merchandiser sharing stories and products of courageous, brave and strong Black women warriors.  She enjoys writing kick-ass sistas with skills, swords & superpowers. Alicia is Black Girl Nerd and regularly Cosplays strong female superheroes, warriors and maybe even a fairy. Because of her love of fan merchandise and desire to see Black women represented in SciFi and Fantasy Merchandise, she launched her shop  Alicia McCalla's Emporium featuring superheroines, vigilantes, huntresses and much more.  Alicia's influences include Octavia Butler, LA Banks, Faith Hunter, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Patricia Briggs. She is an activist in the movement towards diversifying Science fiction and Fantasy (#diversityinSFF). She created the first "State of Black Science Fiction 2012" blog tour, is an active member in the State of Black Science Fiction FaceBook group and has a Pinterest account where she actively curates topics related to Black Warrior Women, Black Science Fiction, Fantasy and more. Alicia writes for adults with her brand of Black superheroes, dark fantasy, Urban Fantasy, paranormal, and horror.  She is a former Women Marine-Reservist and a decorated war veteran. Alicia is a native Detroiter who currently resides in metro Atlanta with her loving husband and many nieces and nephews. Sign-up  on www.aliciamccalla.com for free reads, updates, sneak peeks, and merchandise coupons.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    EP 290 - Thanks for the Inspiration, Jim Turcott Thanks for the Inspiration Jim Turcott Thu, 09 Feb 2023 23:00:00 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark reflects on how continues to be inspired by teacher, mentor, and friend Jim Turcott.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor segment.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> In this solo episode, Mark reflects on how continues to be inspired by teacher, mentor, and friend Jim Turcott.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor segment.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 47:01 false 6 290 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark reflects on how continues to be inspired by teacher, mentor, and friend Jim Turcott. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor segment. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 In this solo episode, Mark reflects on how continues to be inspired by teacher, mentor, and friend Jim Turcott. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor segment. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 289 - Accountable Author Journey with Malcolm Coon - Part I Accountable Author Journey with Malcolm Coon - Part I Thu, 02 Feb 2023 23:30:00 +0000 Mark interviews Malcolm Coon about his plans for overcoming the "back-burner" state of his writing projects, why he doesn't plan on giving up should his writing income ever get to "that" level, his goal of completing a short story every month this year, and more.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update inside of the word about this episode's sponsor segment.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Malcolm talk about:

  • Malcolm's full time work in tech while simultaneously having wanted to write since 1997
  • A falling out Malcolm had with a partner in his tech business and how that led to working on a tech thriller that he worked on, but abandoned after about a month
  • His long-time love of reading fantasy, which led to deciding to write fantasy
  • Getting serious about his writing in about 2011, discovering various writing podcasts, and realizing that this was something he could do
  • How the writing would regularly go on hold because of the fluctuations of the work-life
  • Changing his tact a little and deciding to write a short story every month in order to create a story collection that would act like a prelude to the unfinished trilogy he'd been working on
  • The challenge of being an entrepreneur in tech while also balancing being an authorpreneur
  • The strategy of doing the writing first thing early in the morning for about thirty minutes BEFORE opening the email browser, which usually leads to getting sucked into work for the entire day
  • Attempting to do a little bit, no matter how small, every day, because once he misses a day it's easy to miss a second day
  • How the process of just trying to cram a large word count out with inserted notes about research to do for later insertion can often lead to a section of bad writing with additional work to do on it
  • The way his current writing are based upon a world that Malcolm and his brother created when they were teenagers playing Dungeons & Dragons
  • The parable storybook Malcolm created called The Greatest Writer in the World (in the style of "The Greatest Salesman in the World) that he published to Amazon, but then took down after a year upon realizing he hadn't invested the proper time in polishing and editing it
  • Malcolm's goal of ultimately wanting to make a living of his writing, but to never give up the entrepreneurial tech business work that he loves
  • Becoming less concerned with words per minute than with creating quality
  • How Malcolm has found it far more difficult to manage himself in the writing roadmap plan compared to the way he very effectively manages developers for his entrepreneurial work
  • The idea of that breakthrough moment of what it will take to get over that hurdle of getting the books done and published
  • The importance of figuring out what works for us as writers, which is always going to be unique
  • How the 25 words a day goal can be like a "just one more potato chip" methodology
  • Malcolm's overall plan for getting this writing project back on track
  • Mark's threat of holding Malcolm accountable for his stated goals by having him return to the podcast to share an update

After the interview, Mark reflects on false starts in writing, the importance of reasonable goals, and adapting the advice offered into one's own unique circumstances and preferences.

Links of Interest:

 

 

Malcolm Coon is an author who works in tech full time as an entrepreneur. He doesn't yet have a website, and Malcolm will be returning to future episodes.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Malcolm Coon about his plans for overcoming the "back-burner" state of his writing projects, why he doesn't plan on giving up should his writing income ever get to "that" level, his goal of completing a short story every month this year, and more.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update inside of the word about this episode's sponsor segment.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Malcolm talk about:

  • Malcolm's full time work in tech while simultaneously having wanted to write since 1997
  • A falling out Malcolm had with a partner in his tech business and how that led to working on a tech thriller that he worked on, but abandoned after about a month
  • His long-time love of reading fantasy, which led to deciding to write fantasy
  • Getting serious about his writing in about 2011, discovering various writing podcasts, and realizing that this was something he could do
  • How the writing would regularly go on hold because of the fluctuations of the work-life
  • Changing his tact a little and deciding to write a short story every month in order to create a story collection that would act like a prelude to the unfinished trilogy he'd been working on
  • The challenge of being an entrepreneur in tech while also balancing being an authorpreneur
  • The strategy of doing the writing first thing early in the morning for about thirty minutes BEFORE opening the email browser, which usually leads to getting sucked into work for the entire day
  • Attempting to do a little bit, no matter how small, every day, because once he misses a day it's easy to miss a second day
  • How the process of just trying to cram a large word count out with inserted notes about research to do for later insertion can often lead to a section of bad writing with additional work to do on it
  • The way his current writing are based upon a world that Malcolm and his brother created when they were teenagers playing Dungeons & Dragons
  • The parable storybook Malcolm created called The Greatest Writer in the World (in the style of "The Greatest Salesman in the World) that he published to Amazon, but then took down after a year upon realizing he hadn't invested the proper time in polishing and editing it
  • Malcolm's goal of ultimately wanting to make a living of his writing, but to never give up the entrepreneurial tech business work that he loves
  • Becoming less concerned with words per minute than with creating quality
  • How Malcolm has found it far more difficult to manage himself in the writing roadmap plan compared to the way he very effectively manages developers for his entrepreneurial work
  • The idea of that breakthrough moment of what it will take to get over that hurdle of getting the books done and published
  • The importance of figuring out what works for us as writers, which is always going to be unique
  • How the 25 words a day goal can be like a "just one more potato chip" methodology
  • Malcolm's overall plan for getting this writing project back on track
  • Mark's threat of holding Malcolm accountable for his stated goals by having him return to the podcast to share an update

After the interview, Mark reflects on false starts in writing, the importance of reasonable goals, and adapting the advice offered into one's own unique circumstances and preferences.

Links of Interest:

Malcolm Coon is an author who works in tech full time as an entrepreneur. He doesn't yet have a website, and Malcolm will be returning to future episodes.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 52:06 false 6 289 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Malcolm Coon about his plans for overcoming the "back-burner" state of his writing projects, why he doesn't plan on giving up should his writing income ever get to "that" level, his goal of completing a short story every month this year, and more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update inside of the word about this episode's sponsor segment. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Malcolm talk about: Malcolm's full time work in tech while simultaneously having wanted to write since 1997 A falling out Malcolm had with a partner in his tech business and how that led to working on a tech thriller that he worked on, but abandoned after about a month His long-time love of reading fantasy, which led to deciding to write fantasy Getting serious about his writing in about 2011, discovering various writing podcasts, and realizing that this was something he could do How the writing would regularly go on hold because of the fluctuations of the work-life Changing his tact a little and deciding to write a short story every month in order to create a story collection that would act like a prelude to the unfinished trilogy he'd been working on The challenge of being an entrepreneur in tech while also balancing being an authorpreneur The strategy of doing the writing first thing early in the morning for about thirty minutes BEFORE opening the email browser, which usually leads to getting sucked into work for the entire day Attempting to do a little bit, no matter how small, every day, because once he misses a day it's easy to miss a second day How the process of just trying to cram a large word count out with inserted notes about research to do for later insertion can often lead to a section of bad writing with additional work to do on it The way his current writing are based upon a world that Malcolm and his brother created when they were teenagers playing Dungeons & Dragons The parable storybook Malcolm created called The Greatest Writer in the World (in the style of "The Greatest Salesman in the World) that he published to Amazon, but then took down after a year upon realizing he hadn't invested the proper time in polishing and editing it Malcolm's goal of ultimately wanting to make a living of his writing, but to never give up the entrepreneurial tech business work that he loves Becoming less concerned with words per minute than with creating quality How Malcolm has found it far more difficult to manage himself in the writing roadmap plan compared to the way he very effectively manages developers for his entrepreneurial work The idea of that breakthrough moment of what it will take to get over that hurdle of getting the books done and published The importance of figuring out what works for us as writers, which is always going to be unique How the 25 words a day goal can be like a "just one more potato chip" methodology Malcolm's overall plan for getting this writing project back on track Mark's threat of holding Malcolm accountable for his stated goals by having him return to the podcast to share an update After the interview, Mark reflects on false starts in writing, the importance of reasonable goals, and adapting the advice offered into one's own unique circumstances and preferences. Links of Interest:   The Writing Show Podcast (Apple) - "Getting Published with Mark Leslie" Series Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Episode 8 Episode 9 Episode 10 Episode 11   Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Malcolm Coon is an author who works in tech full time as an entrepreneur. He doesn't yet have a website, and Malcolm will be returning to future episodes.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Malcolm Coon about his plans for overcoming the "back-burner" state of his writing projects, why he doesn't plan on giving up should his writing income ever get to "that" level, his goal of completing a short story every month this year, and more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update inside of the word about this episode's sponsor segment. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Malcolm talk about: Malcolm's full time work in tech while simultaneously having wanted to write since 1997 A falling out Malcolm had with a partner in his tech business and how that led to working on a tech thriller that he worked on, but abandoned after about a month His long-time love of reading fantasy, which led to deciding to write fantasy Getting serious about his writing in about 2011, discovering various writing podcasts, and realizing that this was something he could do How the writing would regularly go on hold because of the fluctuations of the work-life Changing his tact a little and deciding to write a short story every month in order to create a story collection that would act like a prelude to the unfinished trilogy he'd been working on The challenge of being an entrepreneur in tech while also balancing being an authorpreneur The strategy of doing the writing first thing early in the morning for about thirty minutes BEFORE opening the email browser, which usually leads to getting sucked into work for the entire day Attempting to do a little bit, no matter how small, every day, because once he misses a day it's easy to miss a second day How the process of just trying to cram a large word count out with inserted notes about research to do for later insertion can often lead to a section of bad writing with additional work to do on it The way his current writing are based upon a world that Malcolm and his brother created when they were teenagers playing Dungeons & Dragons The parable storybook Malcolm created called The Greatest Writer in the World (in the style of "The Greatest Salesman in the World) that he published to Amazon, but then took down after a year upon realizing he hadn't invested the proper time in polishing and editing it Malcolm's goal of ultimately wanting to make a living of his writing, but to never give up the entrepreneurial tech business work that he loves Becoming less concerned with words per minute than with creating quality How Malcolm has found it far more difficult to manage himself in the writing roadmap plan compared to the way he very effectively manages developers for his entrepreneurial work The idea of that breakthrough moment of what it will take to get over that hurdle of getting the books done and published The importance of figuring out what works for us as writers, which is always going to be unique How the 25 words a day goal can be like a "just one more potato chip" methodology Malcolm's overall plan for getting this writing project back on track Mark's threat of holding Malcolm accountable for his stated goals by having him return to the podcast to share an update After the interview, Mark reflects on false starts in writing, the importance of reasonable goals, and adapting the advice offered into one's own unique circumstances and preferences. Links of Interest:   The Writing Show Podcast (Apple) - "Getting Published with Mark Leslie" Series Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Episode 8 Episode 9 Episode 10 Episode 11   Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Malcolm Coon is an author who works in tech full time as an entrepreneur. He doesn't yet have a website, and Malcolm will be returning to future episodes.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 288 - Edo van Belkom on Re-Adapting and Re-Inventing Your Writer Self Edo van Belkom on Re-Adapting and Re-Inventing Your Writer Self Thu, 26 Jan 2023 22:28:21 +0000 Mark interviews Canadian author Edo van Belkom about his life in writing, and the January 2023 the Paramount+ TV series adaptation of his Silver Birch Award-Winning Novel WOLF PACK by Jeff Davis and starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a brief personal update, welcomes new Patron Dharma Kelleher, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Edo talk about:

  • An old picture of the two of them at a "Sci-Fi Saturday" multi-author event from the late 90s where Mark was one of the managers (Attendees were David Shrogryn, Edo van Belkom, Carolyn Clink, Robert J. Sawyer, Douglas Smith, Andrew Weiner, Mark Leslie, Sally Tomasevic, Marcel Gagne)
  • Edo's journey as a writer, beginning with his first published short story being published in an annual "Year's Best" anthology
  • Writing about six or seven novels before his first one sold, and writing books that weren't published until more than twenty-five years later
  • Working on gaming-tie-in related novels
  • Landing his agent after having a short story appear in one of Jeff Gelb's "Hot Blood" anthologies
  • Following his wife's advice to write a YA novel, which became the award-winning novel Wolf Pack and how that book was sold over a telephone pitch/proposal
  • Having a couple of his mass market paperback novels (Scream Queen and Blood Road) be optioned for films
  • Some of the silly things that writers hear when speaking to non-writers at parties such as "why don't you write a bestseller?"
  • What being nominated for the Silver Birch Award did for that book
  • Winning the Silverbirch Award
  • Going from selling 10,000 copies of the first book in the series to only about 1,000 or so copies of the 2nd and 3rd books in that series
  • How the greatest part of winning the Silver Biirch Award was the live event at a small stadium in downtown Toronto, Ontario
  • Winning the Bram Stoker Award for a short story ("Rat Food") that he co-authored with David Nickle
  • What it was like co-authoring a story well before the days of the internet
  • Edo's short story collection Death Drives a Semi and how, when looking for places to market it, he found a trucker magazine that he ended up writing a series of stories in for fifteen years
  • The "Mark Dalton: Owner, Operator" series of stories
  • Converting a one-day workshop for truckers about fuel efficient driving practices into a novel
  • Details and experiences related to the ice roads in Canada's Northwest Territories. (Ice roads are seasonal winter roads built over frozen bodies of water. The ice roads in Canada are about 400 KM (250 miles) long and are built over 64 frozen lakes
  • The story behind how Wolf Pack got turned into a new Paramount+ television series
  • What it was like seeing a teaser trailer for "Wolf Pack" after a year of hearing nothing about the option deal that had been signed
  • How the book "Wolf Pack" got into the hands of Jeff Davis
  • What it was like to be in Los Angeles for the premiere of the series, including walking the red carpet
  • Seeing his name in the show's opening credits "Based on the novels by Edo van Belkom"
  • Some of what's planned for the home-town showing of the first episode in the series in Brampton, Ontario
  • Why, if he can help it, Edo plans on not doing any more soul-crushing in store book signings any longer
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on three different things.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

 

Edo van Belkom, a former reporter on the sports and police beats for newspapers in and around Toronto, arrived on the horror scene in 1990. His first short story sale, Baseball Memories, was selected for the prestigious Year's Best Horror Stories edited by Karl Edward Wagner. The story was also nominated for Canada's prestigious Aurora Award and appeared side-by-side with work by authors such as Mordecai Richler and W. P. Kinsella in The Grand Slam Book of Canadian Baseball Writing.

Van Belkom hasn't looked back since. Some 150 short stories have sold to a variety of top magazines and anthologies in the sf, fantasy, horror and mystery genres. He has twice won the Aurora Award, taken home the Bram Stoker Award and his YA novel WOLF PACK won Ontario's prestigious Silver Birch Award.

In January 2023, that same 2004 novel and the other three books in the series was adapted into an American supernatural teen drama on Paramount+ starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and produced by Jeff Davis, known for creating the drama series Criminal Minds and the TV series "Teen Wolf."

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

 

 

]]> Mark interviews Canadian author Edo van Belkom about his life in writing, and the January 2023 the Paramount+ TV series adaptation of his Silver Birch Award-Winning Novel WOLF PACK by Jeff Davis and starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a brief personal update, welcomes new Patron Dharma Kelleher, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Edo talk about:

  • An old picture of the two of them at a "Sci-Fi Saturday" multi-author event from the late 90s where Mark was one of the managers (Attendees were David Shrogryn, Edo van Belkom, Carolyn Clink, Robert J. Sawyer, Douglas Smith, Andrew Weiner, Mark Leslie, Sally Tomasevic, Marcel Gagne)
  • Edo's journey as a writer, beginning with his first published short story being published in an annual "Year's Best" anthology
  • Writing about six or seven novels before his first one sold, and writing books that weren't published until more than twenty-five years later
  • Working on gaming-tie-in related novels
  • Landing his agent after having a short story appear in one of Jeff Gelb's "Hot Blood" anthologies
  • Following his wife's advice to write a YA novel, which became the award-winning novel Wolf Pack and how that book was sold over a telephone pitch/proposal
  • Having a couple of his mass market paperback novels (Scream Queen and Blood Road) be optioned for films
  • Some of the silly things that writers hear when speaking to non-writers at parties such as "why don't you write a bestseller?"
  • What being nominated for the Silver Birch Award did for that book
  • Winning the Silverbirch Award
  • Going from selling 10,000 copies of the first book in the series to only about 1,000 or so copies of the 2nd and 3rd books in that series
  • How the greatest part of winning the Silver Biirch Award was the live event at a small stadium in downtown Toronto, Ontario
  • Winning the Bram Stoker Award for a short story ("Rat Food") that he co-authored with David Nickle
  • What it was like co-authoring a story well before the days of the internet
  • Edo's short story collection Death Drives a Semi and how, when looking for places to market it, he found a trucker magazine that he ended up writing a series of stories in for fifteen years
  • The "Mark Dalton: Owner, Operator" series of stories
  • Converting a one-day workshop for truckers about fuel efficient driving practices into a novel
  • Details and experiences related to the ice roads in Canada's Northwest Territories. (Ice roads are seasonal winter roads built over frozen bodies of water. The ice roads in Canada are about 400 KM (250 miles) long and are built over 64 frozen lakes
  • The story behind how Wolf Pack got turned into a new Paramount+ television series
  • What it was like seeing a teaser trailer for "Wolf Pack" after a year of hearing nothing about the option deal that had been signed
  • How the book "Wolf Pack" got into the hands of Jeff Davis
  • What it was like to be in Los Angeles for the premiere of the series, including walking the red carpet
  • Seeing his name in the show's opening credits "Based on the novels by Edo van Belkom"
  • Some of what's planned for the home-town showing of the first episode in the series in Brampton, Ontario
  • Why, if he can help it, Edo plans on not doing any more soul-crushing in store book signings any longer
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on three different things.

Links of Interest:

Edo van Belkom, a former reporter on the sports and police beats for newspapers in and around Toronto, arrived on the horror scene in 1990. His first short story sale, Baseball Memories, was selected for the prestigious Year's Best Horror Stories edited by Karl Edward Wagner. The story was also nominated for Canada's prestigious Aurora Award and appeared side-by-side with work by authors such as Mordecai Richler and W. P. Kinsella in The Grand Slam Book of Canadian Baseball Writing.

Van Belkom hasn't looked back since. Some 150 short stories have sold to a variety of top magazines and anthologies in the sf, fantasy, horror and mystery genres. He has twice won the Aurora Award, taken home the Bram Stoker Award and his YA novel WOLF PACK won Ontario's prestigious Silver Birch Award.

In January 2023, that same 2004 novel and the other three books in the series was adapted into an American supernatural teen drama on Paramount+ starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and produced by Jeff Davis, known for creating the drama series Criminal Minds and the TV series "Teen Wolf."

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:04:43 false 6 288 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Canadian author Edo van Belkom about his life in writing, and the January 2023 the Paramount+ TV series adaptation of his Silver Birch Award-Winning Novel WOLF PACK by Jeff Davis and starring Sarah Michelle Gellar. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a brief personal update, welcomes new Patron Dharma Kelleher, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Edo talk about: An old picture of the two of them at a "Sci-Fi Saturday" multi-author event from the late 90s where Mark was one of the managers (Attendees were David Shrogryn, Edo van Belkom, Carolyn Clink, Robert J. Sawyer, Douglas Smith, Andrew Weiner, Mark Leslie, Sally Tomasevic, Marcel Gagne) Edo's journey as a writer, beginning with his first published short story being published in an annual "Year's Best" anthology Writing about six or seven novels before his first one sold, and writing books that weren't published until more than twenty-five years later Working on gaming-tie-in related novels Landing his agent after having a short story appear in one of Jeff Gelb's "Hot Blood" anthologies Following his wife's advice to write a YA novel, which became the award-winning novel Wolf Pack and how that book was sold over a telephone pitch/proposal Having a couple of his mass market paperback novels (Scream Queen and Blood Road) be optioned for films Some of the silly things that writers hear when speaking to non-writers at parties such as "why don't you write a bestseller?" What being nominated for the Silver Birch Award did for that book Winning the Silverbirch Award Going from selling 10,000 copies of the first book in the series to only about 1,000 or so copies of the 2nd and 3rd books in that series How the greatest part of winning the Silver Biirch Award was the live event at a small stadium in downtown Toronto, Ontario Winning the Bram Stoker Award for a short story ("Rat Food") that he co-authored with David Nickle What it was like co-authoring a story well before the days of the internet Edo's short story collection Death Drives a Semi and how, when looking for places to market it, he found a trucker magazine that he ended up writing a series of stories in for fifteen years The "Mark Dalton: Owner, Operator" series of stories Converting a one-day workshop for truckers about fuel efficient driving practices into a novel Details and experiences related to the ice roads in Canada's Northwest Territories. (Ice roads are seasonal winter roads built over frozen bodies of water. The ice roads in Canada are about 400 KM (250 miles) long and are built over 64 frozen lakes The story behind how Wolf Pack got turned into a new Paramount+ television series What it was like seeing a teaser trailer for "Wolf Pack" after a year of hearing nothing about the option deal that had been signed How the book "Wolf Pack" got into the hands of Jeff Davis What it was like to be in Los Angeles for the premiere of the series, including walking the red carpet Seeing his name in the show's opening credits "Based on the novels by Edo van Belkom" Some of what's planned for the home-town showing of the first episode in the series in Brampton, Ontario Why, if he can help it, Edo plans on not doing any more soul-crushing in store book signings any longer And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on three different things.   Links of Interest:   Edo van Belkom (At Jabberwocky Literary Agency) Edo on Twitter Edo on Facebook Edo on TikTok Wolf Pack on Paramount+ Wolf Pack TV Series - IMDB Wolf Pack TV Series - Wikipedia Be a guest on the Stark Reflections Podcast Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles     Edo van Belkom, a former reporter on the sports and police beats for newspapers in and around Toronto, arrived on the horror scene in 1990. His first short story sale, Baseball Memories, was selected for the prestigious Year's Best Horror Stories edited by Karl Edward Wagner. The story was also nominated for Canada's prestigious Aurora Award and appeared side-by-side with work by authors such as Mordecai Richler and W. P. Kinsella in The Grand Slam Book of Canadian Baseball Writing. Van Belkom hasn't looked back since. Some 150 short stories have sold to a variety of top magazines and anthologies in the sf, fantasy, horror and mystery genres. He has twice won the Aurora Award, taken home the Bram Stoker Award and his YA novel WOLF PACK won Ontario's prestigious Silver Birch Award. In January 2023, that same 2004 novel and the other three books in the series was adapted into an American supernatural teen drama on Paramount+ starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and produced by Jeff Davis, known for creating the drama series Criminal Minds and the TV series "Teen Wolf."     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Mark interviews Canadian author Edo van Belkom about his life in writing, and the January 2023 the Paramount+ TV series adaptation of his Silver Birch Award-Winning Novel WOLF PACK by Jeff Davis and starring Sarah Michelle Gellar. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a brief personal update, welcomes new Patron Dharma Kelleher, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Edo talk about: An old picture of the two of them at a "Sci-Fi Saturday" multi-author event from the late 90s where Mark was one of the managers (Attendees were David Shrogryn, Edo van Belkom, Carolyn Clink, Robert J. Sawyer, Douglas Smith, Andrew Weiner, Mark Leslie, Sally Tomasevic, Marcel Gagne) Edo's journey as a writer, beginning with his first published short story being published in an annual "Year's Best" anthology Writing about six or seven novels before his first one sold, and writing books that weren't published until more than twenty-five years later Working on gaming-tie-in related novels Landing his agent after having a short story appear in one of Jeff Gelb's "Hot Blood" anthologies Following his wife's advice to write a YA novel, which became the award-winning novel Wolf Pack and how that book was sold over a telephone pitch/proposal Having a couple of his mass market paperback novels (Scream Queen and Blood Road) be optioned for films Some of the silly things that writers hear when speaking to non-writers at parties such as "why don't you write a bestseller?" What being nominated for the Silver Birch Award did for that book Winning the Silverbirch Award Going from selling 10,000 copies of the first book in the series to only about 1,000 or so copies of the 2nd and 3rd books in that series How the greatest part of winning the Silver Biirch Award was the live event at a small stadium in downtown Toronto, Ontario Winning the Bram Stoker Award for a short story ("Rat Food") that he co-authored with David Nickle What it was like co-authoring a story well before the days of the internet Edo's short story collection Death Drives a Semi and how, when looking for places to market it, he found a trucker magazine that he ended up writing a series of stories in for fifteen years The "Mark Dalton: Owner, Operator" series of stories Converting a one-day workshop for truckers about fuel efficient driving practices into a novel Details and experiences related to the ice roads in Canada's Northwest Territories. (Ice roads are seasonal winter roads built over frozen bodies of water. The ice roads in Canada are about 400 KM (250 miles) long and are built over 64 frozen lakes The story behind how Wolf Pack got turned into a new Paramount+ television series What it was like seeing a teaser trailer for "Wolf Pack" after a year of hearing nothing about the option deal that had been signed How the book "Wolf Pack" got into the hands of Jeff Davis What it was like to be in Los Angeles for the premiere of the series, including walking the red carpet Seeing his name in the show's opening credits "Based on the novels by Edo van Belkom" Some of what's planned for the home-town showing of the first episode in the series in Brampton, Ontario Why, if he can help it, Edo plans on not doing any more soul-crushing in store book signings any longer And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on three different things.   Links of Interest:   Edo van Belkom (At Jabberwocky Literary Agency) Edo on Twitter Edo on Facebook Edo on TikTok Wolf Pack on Paramount+ Wolf Pack TV Series - IMDB Wolf Pack TV Series - Wikipedia Be a guest on the Stark Reflections Podcast Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles     Edo van Belkom, a former reporter on the sports and police beats for newspapers in and around Toronto, arrived on the horror scene in 1990. His first short story sale, Baseball Memories, was selected for the prestigious Year's Best Horror Stories edited by Karl Edward Wagner. The story was also nominated for Canada's prestigious Aurora Award and appeared side-by-side with work by authors such as Mordecai Richler and W. P. Kinsella in The Grand Slam Book of Canadian Baseball Writing. Van Belkom hasn't looked back since. Some 150 short stories have sold to a variety of top magazines and anthologies in the sf, fantasy, horror and mystery genres. He has twice won the Aurora Award, taken home the Bram Stoker Award and his YA novel WOLF PACK won Ontario's prestigious Silver Birch Award. In January 2023, that same 2004 novel and the other three books in the series was adapted into an American supernatural teen drama on Paramount+ starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and produced by Jeff Davis, known for creating the drama series Criminal Minds and the TV series "Teen Wolf."     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0      EP 287 - Vulnerability in Writing, Performance Art, and Tarot Readings with Liz Worth Vulnerability in Writing, Performance Art, and Tarot Readings with Liz Worth Thu, 19 Jan 2023 23:36:02 +0000 Mark interviews Liz Worth, a professional tarot reader, a poet and author.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their chat, Mark and Liz talk about:

  • The many things that Liz "slings"
  • Satisfying that craving Liz and her husband have to be surrounded by "vintage things" via owning an antique shop
  • The importance of helping take something inherited off someone's hands in a meaningful way and to someone that will find use in it
  • How Tarot, the occult, and writing have always been a part of Liz's life, and her mother's influence in this area
  • Growing up going to psychic fairs, learning astrology and card reading
  • Being draw to punk and goth culture in the 90s in high school
  • Making her own goth zine (Last Breath Escapes), photocopying it, and making it available through a local record store
  • Doing something similar for her poetry
  • How zines were a precursor to the niche market ability of eBook digital publishing nowadays
  • The first book projects Liz worked on
  • How "Punk" is an entire ecosystem of creativity and not just a style of music and dress
  • Liz's work not only doing Tarot readings but teaching others how to do a Tarot reading
  • The things Liz would do during her performance poetry that she would never do in other professional aspects of her life
  • How, logically, Tarot is a thing that shouldn't work
  • The vulnerability and expectations that a person has going into a Tarot reading
  • How you're always going out on a limb when you're interpreting and giving a Tarot reading
  • Looking for narratives and story in the images and how do things make sense
  • Some of the intangible things about Tarot that are difficult to explain
  • Things that Hollywood, Television, and writers often get wrong about Tarot readings
  • The importance of running with something in a creative way rather than feeling like everything had to be so "tamped down"
  • Liz's latest vampire novel, The Mouth is a Coven
  • And more...

 

After the interview, Mark reflects on that importance of letting one's creative license work its magic.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

 

Liz Worth is the author of eight books. Her newest novel is called The Mouth is a Coven, published through Manta Press. She has been nominated twice for the ReLit Award for Poetry, and her writing has also appeared in FLARE Magazine, Chatelaine, and the Globe and Mail. She works as a professional tarot reader by day.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Liz Worth, a professional tarot reader, a poet and author.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their chat, Mark and Liz talk about:

  • The many things that Liz "slings"
  • Satisfying that craving Liz and her husband have to be surrounded by "vintage things" via owning an antique shop
  • The importance of helping take something inherited off someone's hands in a meaningful way and to someone that will find use in it
  • How Tarot, the occult, and writing have always been a part of Liz's life, and her mother's influence in this area
  • Growing up going to psychic fairs, learning astrology and card reading
  • Being draw to punk and goth culture in the 90s in high school
  • Making her own goth zine (Last Breath Escapes), photocopying it, and making it available through a local record store
  • Doing something similar for her poetry
  • How zines were a precursor to the niche market ability of eBook digital publishing nowadays
  • The first book projects Liz worked on
  • How "Punk" is an entire ecosystem of creativity and not just a style of music and dress
  • Liz's work not only doing Tarot readings but teaching others how to do a Tarot reading
  • The things Liz would do during her performance poetry that she would never do in other professional aspects of her life
  • How, logically, Tarot is a thing that shouldn't work
  • The vulnerability and expectations that a person has going into a Tarot reading
  • How you're always going out on a limb when you're interpreting and giving a Tarot reading
  • Looking for narratives and story in the images and how do things make sense
  • Some of the intangible things about Tarot that are difficult to explain
  • Things that Hollywood, Television, and writers often get wrong about Tarot readings
  • The importance of running with something in a creative way rather than feeling like everything had to be so "tamped down"
  • Liz's latest vampire novel, The Mouth is a Coven
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on that importance of letting one's creative license work its magic.

Links of Interest:

Liz Worth is the author of eight books. Her newest novel is called The Mouth is a Coven, published through Manta Press. She has been nominated twice for the ReLit Award for Poetry, and her writing has also appeared in FLARE Magazine, Chatelaine, and the Globe and Mail. She works as a professional tarot reader by day.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 59:01 false 6 287 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Liz Worth, a professional tarot reader, a poet and author. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their chat, Mark and Liz talk about: The many things that Liz "slings" Satisfying that craving Liz and her husband have to be surrounded by "vintage things" via owning an antique shop The importance of helping take something inherited off someone's hands in a meaningful way and to someone that will find use in it How Tarot, the occult, and writing have always been a part of Liz's life, and her mother's influence in this area Growing up going to psychic fairs, learning astrology and card reading Being draw to punk and goth culture in the 90s in high school Making her own goth zine (Last Breath Escapes), photocopying it, and making it available through a local record store Doing something similar for her poetry How zines were a precursor to the niche market ability of eBook digital publishing nowadays The first book projects Liz worked on How "Punk" is an entire ecosystem of creativity and not just a style of music and dress Liz's work not only doing Tarot readings but teaching others how to do a Tarot reading The things Liz would do during her performance poetry that she would never do in other professional aspects of her life How, logically, Tarot is a thing that shouldn't work The vulnerability and expectations that a person has going into a Tarot reading How you're always going out on a limb when you're interpreting and giving a Tarot reading Looking for narratives and story in the images and how do things make sense Some of the intangible things about Tarot that are difficult to explain Things that Hollywood, Television, and writers often get wrong about Tarot readings The importance of running with something in a creative way rather than feeling like everything had to be so "tamped down" Liz's latest vampire novel, The Mouth is a Coven And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on that importance of letting one's creative license work its magic.   Links of Interest:   Liz Worth's Author Website Liz on Instagram Liz's Books Liz Worth's Tarot Website Episodes with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor Be a guest on the Stark Reflections Podcast Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles     Liz Worth is the author of eight books. Her newest novel is called The Mouth is a Coven, published through Manta Press. She has been nominated twice for the ReLit Award for Poetry, and her writing has also appeared in FLARE Magazine, Chatelaine, and the Globe and Mail. She works as a professional tarot reader by day.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Liz Worth, a professional tarot reader, a poet and author. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their chat, Mark and Liz talk about: The many things that Liz "slings" Satisfying that craving Liz and her husband have to be surrounded by "vintage things" via owning an antique shop The importance of helping take something inherited off someone's hands in a meaningful way and to someone that will find use in it How Tarot, the occult, and writing have always been a part of Liz's life, and her mother's influence in this area Growing up going to psychic fairs, learning astrology and card reading Being draw to punk and goth culture in the 90s in high school Making her own goth zine (Last Breath Escapes), photocopying it, and making it available through a local record store Doing something similar for her poetry How zines were a precursor to the niche market ability of eBook digital publishing nowadays The first book projects Liz worked on How "Punk" is an entire ecosystem of creativity and not just a style of music and dress Liz's work not only doing Tarot readings but teaching others how to do a Tarot reading The things Liz would do during her performance poetry that she would never do in other professional aspects of her life How, logically, Tarot is a thing that shouldn't work The vulnerability and expectations that a person has going into a Tarot reading How you're always going out on a limb when you're interpreting and giving a Tarot reading Looking for narratives and story in the images and how do things make sense Some of the intangible things about Tarot that are difficult to explain Things that Hollywood, Television, and writers often get wrong about Tarot readings The importance of running with something in a creative way rather than feeling like everything had to be so "tamped down" Liz's latest vampire novel, The Mouth is a Coven And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on that importance of letting one's creative license work its magic.   Links of Interest:   Liz Worth's Author Website Liz on Instagram Liz's Books Liz Worth's Tarot Website Episodes with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor Be a guest on the Stark Reflections Podcast Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles     Liz Worth is the author of eight books. Her newest novel is called The Mouth is a Coven, published through Manta Press. She has been nominated twice for the ReLit Award for Poetry, and her writing has also appeared in FLARE Magazine, Chatelaine, and the Globe and Mail. She works as a professional tarot reader by day.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 286 - Investment, Compromise, and Evolution with Juliette N. Banks Investment, Compromise, and Evolution with Juliette N. Banks Thu, 12 Jan 2023 22:16:26 +0000 Mark interviews Juliette N. Banks, a bestselling, wide author who writes steamy contemporary and paranormal page-turning romances.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares recent comments, welcomes new patron Dharma Kelleher, and shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

In their conversation, Mark and Juliette talk about:

  • Juliette always believing that some day she would be a published author, but it was something she never chased
  • Juliette's marketing background at a book she wrote in 2012 that was published by Random House in 2013
  • The significant and tight Covid related lock-downs in New Zealand
  • Juliette's adaptation to reading a lot of eBooks during the pandemic
  • The incredibly expensive cost of print books in New Zealand
  • Writing an archangel series and a vampire series
  • Launching her books and reader magnet in Jan and March of 2021
  • Working a full time job squeezed into 4 work days per week while writing all these novels
  • The roughly 200 people Juliette was sharing her works with for free before she even published her first book (and how they've maintained their loyalty as readers to this day)
  • Launching a new contemporary billionaire romance series at the beginning of 2022
  • The parallel between the vampire characters and the billionaire characters
  • Training herself to think very American in terms of her largest readership base
  • Calculating the value of going to book signings, particular in the cost of flying from New Zealand to somewhere in the US
  • The process Juliette works on with editing and publishing
  • Having had five BookBubs in 2022
  • The steady stream of releases and the stress that comes from that, particularly when illness like Covid occurs to throw a monkey wrench into it
  • Where Juliette has been focusing in her initial goal to get to the 5 figures she needed in order to quit her corporate job
  • Spending time on learning what she has to do to make her books "BookBub Worthy"
  • Why she doesn't separate "indie" and "traditional" - you're competing in a store with suppliers of all sizes
  • The pricing strategy that Juliette uses
  • How only 10 of her books are creating income right now. The other 10 are things like reader magnets
  • The way Juliette plans and maps out her writing business
  • The importance of knowing what your skills and abilities and weaknesses are
  • The value of professional coaches and taking some action upon those meetings/sessions
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the investment Juliette made by engaging for a long period and in detail with a group of 200 readers.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

 

Juliette N. Banks is a bestselling, wide author who writes steamy contemporary and paranormal page-turning romances with alpha heroes who fall for sassy heroines and a healthy dose of action and suspense.

Juliette has a vast background in consumer marketing and previously published with Random House. She lives in Auckland, New Zealand with Tilly, her Maine Coon kitty, and is now a full-time author.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Juliette N. Banks, a bestselling, wide author who writes steamy contemporary and paranormal page-turning romances.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares recent comments, welcomes new patron Dharma Kelleher, and shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Juliette talk about:

  • Juliette always believing that some day she would be a published author, but it was something she never chased
  • Juliette's marketing background at a book she wrote in 2012 that was published by Random House in 2013
  • The significant and tight Covid related lock-downs in New Zealand
  • Juliette's adaptation to reading a lot of eBooks during the pandemic
  • The incredibly expensive cost of print books in New Zealand
  • Writing an archangel series and a vampire series
  • Launching her books and reader magnet in Jan and March of 2021
  • Working a full time job squeezed into 4 work days per week while writing all these novels
  • The roughly 200 people Juliette was sharing her works with for free before she even published her first book (and how they've maintained their loyalty as readers to this day)
  • Launching a new contemporary billionaire romance series at the beginning of 2022
  • The parallel between the vampire characters and the billionaire characters
  • Training herself to think very American in terms of her largest readership base
  • Calculating the value of going to book signings, particular in the cost of flying from New Zealand to somewhere in the US
  • The process Juliette works on with editing and publishing
  • Having had five BookBubs in 2022
  • The steady stream of releases and the stress that comes from that, particularly when illness like Covid occurs to throw a monkey wrench into it
  • Where Juliette has been focusing in her initial goal to get to the 5 figures she needed in order to quit her corporate job
  • Spending time on learning what she has to do to make her books "BookBub Worthy"
  • Why she doesn't separate "indie" and "traditional" - you're competing in a store with suppliers of all sizes
  • The pricing strategy that Juliette uses
  • How only 10 of her books are creating income right now. The other 10 are things like reader magnets
  • The way Juliette plans and maps out her writing business
  • The importance of knowing what your skills and abilities and weaknesses are
  • The value of professional coaches and taking some action upon those meetings/sessions
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the investment Juliette made by engaging for a long period and in detail with a group of 200 readers.

Links of Interest:

Juliette N. Banks is a bestselling, wide author who writes steamy contemporary and paranormal page-turning romances with alpha heroes who fall for sassy heroines and a healthy dose of action and suspense.

Juliette has a vast background in consumer marketing and previously published with Random House. She lives in Auckland, New Zealand with Tilly, her Maine Coon kitty, and is now a full-time author.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:09:19 false 6 286 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Juliette N. Banks, a bestselling, wide author who writes steamy contemporary and paranormal page-turning romances. Prior to the interview, Mark shares recent comments, welcomes new patron Dharma Kelleher, and shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Juliette talk about: Juliette always believing that some day she would be a published author, but it was something she never chased Juliette's marketing background at a book she wrote in 2012 that was published by Random House in 2013 The significant and tight Covid related lock-downs in New Zealand Juliette's adaptation to reading a lot of eBooks during the pandemic The incredibly expensive cost of print books in New Zealand Writing an archangel series and a vampire series Launching her books and reader magnet in Jan and March of 2021 Working a full time job squeezed into 4 work days per week while writing all these novels The roughly 200 people Juliette was sharing her works with for free before she even published her first book (and how they've maintained their loyalty as readers to this day) Launching a new contemporary billionaire romance series at the beginning of 2022 The parallel between the vampire characters and the billionaire characters Training herself to think very American in terms of her largest readership base Calculating the value of going to book signings, particular in the cost of flying from New Zealand to somewhere in the US The process Juliette works on with editing and publishing Having had five BookBubs in 2022 The steady stream of releases and the stress that comes from that, particularly when illness like Covid occurs to throw a monkey wrench into it Where Juliette has been focusing in her initial goal to get to the 5 figures she needed in order to quit her corporate job Spending time on learning what she has to do to make her books "BookBub Worthy" Why she doesn't separate "indie" and "traditional" - you're competing in a store with suppliers of all sizes The pricing strategy that Juliette uses How only 10 of her books are creating income right now. The other 10 are things like reader magnets The way Juliette plans and maps out her writing business The importance of knowing what your skills and abilities and weaknesses are The value of professional coaches and taking some action upon those meetings/sessions And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the investment Juliette made by engaging for a long period and in detail with a group of 200 readers.   Links of Interest:   Juliette N. Banks Website BookBub Article: How I Maximized my First BookBub Deal EP 285 - Written Word Media's Top 10 Publishing Trends for 2023 EP 284 - Collaborations in AI with Elizabeth Ann West Walk Thru of Sudowrite with Elizabeth Ann West (Patreon) EP 280 - J.C. McKenzie & Jo-Ann Carson on the 2023 Jozie Planner for Authors Be a guest on the Stark Reflections Podcast Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles     Juliette N. Banks is a bestselling, wide author who writes steamy contemporary and paranormal page-turning romances with alpha heroes who fall for sassy heroines and a healthy dose of action and suspense. Juliette has a vast background in consumer marketing and previously published with Random House. She lives in Auckland, New Zealand with Tilly, her Maine Coon kitty, and is now a full-time author.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Juliette N. Banks, a bestselling, wide author who writes steamy contemporary and paranormal page-turning romances. Prior to the interview, Mark shares recent comments, welcomes new patron Dharma Kelleher, and shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Juliette talk about: Juliette always believing that some day she would be a published author, but it was something she never chased Juliette's marketing background at a book she wrote in 2012 that was published by Random House in 2013 The significant and tight Covid related lock-downs in New Zealand Juliette's adaptation to reading a lot of eBooks during the pandemic The incredibly expensive cost of print books in New Zealand Writing an archangel series and a vampire series Launching her books and reader magnet in Jan and March of 2021 Working a full time job squeezed into 4 work days per week while writing all these novels The roughly 200 people Juliette was sharing her works with for free before she even published her first book (and how they've maintained their loyalty as readers to this day) Launching a new contemporary billionaire romance series at the beginning of 2022 The parallel between the vampire characters and the billionaire characters Training herself to think very American in terms of her largest readership base Calculating the value of going to book signings, particular in the cost of flying from New Zealand to somewhere in the US The process Juliette works on with editing and publishing Having had five BookBubs in 2022 The steady stream of releases and the stress that comes from that, particularly when illness like Covid occurs to throw a monkey wrench into it Where Juliette has been focusing in her initial goal to get to the 5 figures she needed in order to quit her corporate job Spending time on learning what she has to do to make her books "BookBub Worthy" Why she doesn't separate "indie" and "traditional" - you're competing in a store with suppliers of all sizes The pricing strategy that Juliette uses How only 10 of her books are creating income right now. The other 10 are things like reader magnets The way Juliette plans and maps out her writing business The importance of knowing what your skills and abilities and weaknesses are The value of professional coaches and taking some action upon those meetings/sessions And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the investment Juliette made by engaging for a long period and in detail with a group of 200 readers.   Links of Interest:   Juliette N. Banks Website BookBub Article: How I Maximized my First BookBub Deal EP 285 - Written Word Media's Top 10 Publishing Trends for 2023 EP 284 - Collaborations in AI with Elizabeth Ann West Walk Thru of Sudowrite with Elizabeth Ann West (Patreon) EP 280 - J.C. McKenzie & Jo-Ann Carson on the 2023 Jozie Planner for Authors Be a guest on the Stark Reflections Podcast Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles     Juliette N. Banks is a bestselling, wide author who writes steamy contemporary and paranormal page-turning romances with alpha heroes who fall for sassy heroines and a healthy dose of action and suspense. Juliette has a vast background in consumer marketing and previously published with Random House. She lives in Auckland, New Zealand with Tilly, her Maine Coon kitty, and is now a full-time author.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 285 - Written Word Media's Top 10 Publishing Trends for 2023 Written Word Media's Top 10 Publishing Trends for 2023 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 23:00:00 +0000 To kick off the new year, Mark shares a Jan 3, 2023 article from the Written Word Media blog on the Top 10 Publishing Trends for 2023.

Prior to the main content, Mark share a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> To kick off the new year, Mark shares a Jan 3, 2023 article from the Written Word Media blog on the Top 10 Publishing Trends for 2023.

Prior to the main content, Mark share a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 39:40 false 6 285 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)To kick off the new year, Mark shares a Jan 3, 2023 article from the Written Word Media blog on the Top 10 Publishing Trends for 2023. Prior to the main content, Mark share a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest:   Written Word Media: Top 10 Publishing Trends for 2023 Join Written Word Media as an Author Be a guest on the Stark Reflections Podcast Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 To kick off the new year, Mark shares a Jan 3, 2023 article from the Written Word Media blog on the Top 10 Publishing Trends for 2023. Prior to the main content, Mark share a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest:   Written Word Media: Top 10 Publishing Trends for 2023 Join Written Word Media as an Author Be a guest on the Stark Reflections Podcast Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 284 - Collaborations in AI with Elizabeth Ann West Collaborations in AI with Elizabeth Ann West Fri, 30 Dec 2022 00:59:15 +0000 Mark talks with Elizabeth Ann West about her writing and using AI tools such as Sudowrite for intriguing new types of collaborations.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and Elizabeth talk about:

  • Elizabeth's start in indie publishing back in the "early days" of self-publishing
  • The Jane Austin Fan Fiction that Elizabeth writes for a living
  • The panic in the writing community with the dropping of chatGPT (GPT = Generative Pre-trained Transformer)
  • What Public Domain content is and a look at the grey area of AI generated content and copyright
  • Changes to Public Domain and copyright law related to Disney and Mickey Mouse
  • How Public Domain is really important to culture
  • Some of the areas where AI has already been integrated into the tools we use as writers and just in general
  • AI as a robotic co-writer that you can lean on as an author
  • Sudowrite and how it's based on a UNIX command called "Super Do" and not "pseudo" making you the super user
  • How as the human in this equation, you are the "creative director" still responsible for all of the final writing, the research, the voice, etc
  • How prompts work within Sudowrite and the way authors can be very specific with them
  • The importance of authors being unique and creative when creating their prompts
  • How the AI works within the context of the most recent segment of the document an author is working within
  • The idea that's in development of performing something like a "fine tune"
  • A bit of the tech about how "tokens" work within the technology
  • Playing within "Open AI Playground"
  • How much time a tool like Sudowrite can help writers with outlining and summarizing a chapter
  • Simulating readers reacting to a piece of writing
  • The process of interviewing an AI character
  • The cost structure for using Sudowrite
  • How Elizabeth has written and released three books since Nov 2021 with the assistance of AI
  • The re-write function in Sudowrite that performs a "show, don't tell" on a sentence
  • Feeling like a writer with super-powers by having access to these types of tools
  • How Elizabeth teachers her online classes for learning how to collaborate with AI
  • The $99 fee that gives people access to all of Elizabeth's "Learning AI" classes and recorded live sessions past, present, and future
  • Elizabeth's thoughts for writers who are nervous, anxious, or worried about the disruption that AI will bring to writing
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Elizabeth said. He then shares his own recent experiment with creating a book description using chatGBT.

Links of Interest:

 

 

A Jane-of-all-trades, mistress to none! Elizabeth Ann West is the author of 12 novels and 11 novellas, 22 of which are story variations of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice. Her books have won reader conference awards and hit the Historical Bestseller lists on Amazon, Kobo, and the iBooks stores multiple times. A lover of all things geeky, Elizabeth codes websites, dabbles in graphic design, and is always looking for new technology to learn and master. She teaches authors at conferences like 20Booksto50KVegas, RWA Nationals, on topics of technology and business in the digital publishing world.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark talks with Elizabeth Ann West about her writing and using AI tools such as Sudowrite for intriguing new types of collaborations.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and Elizabeth talk about:

  • Elizabeth's start in indie publishing back in the "early days" of self-publishing
  • The Jane Austin Fan Fiction that Elizabeth writes for a living
  • The panic in the writing community with the dropping of chatGPT (GPT = Generative Pre-trained Transformer)
  • What Public Domain content is and a look at the grey area of AI generated content and copyright
  • Changes to Public Domain and copyright law related to Disney and Mickey Mouse
  • How Public Domain is really important to culture
  • Some of the areas where AI has already been integrated into the tools we use as writers and just in general
  • AI as a robotic co-writer that you can lean on as an author
  • Sudowrite and how it's based on a UNIX command called "Super Do" and not "pseudo" making you the super user
  • How as the human in this equation, you are the "creative director" still responsible for all of the final writing, the research, the voice, etc
  • How prompts work within Sudowrite and the way authors can be very specific with them
  • The importance of authors being unique and creative when creating their prompts
  • How the AI works within the context of the most recent segment of the document an author is working within
  • The idea that's in development of performing something like a "fine tune"
  • A bit of the tech about how "tokens" work within the technology
  • Playing within "Open AI Playground"
  • How much time a tool like Sudowrite can help writers with outlining and summarizing a chapter
  • Simulating readers reacting to a piece of writing
  • The process of interviewing an AI character
  • The cost structure for using Sudowrite
  • How Elizabeth has written and released three books since Nov 2021 with the assistance of AI
  • The re-write function in Sudowrite that performs a "show, don't tell" on a sentence
  • Feeling like a writer with super-powers by having access to these types of tools
  • How Elizabeth teachers her online classes for learning how to collaborate with AI
  • The $99 fee that gives people access to all of Elizabeth's "Learning AI" classes and recorded live sessions past, present, and future
  • Elizabeth's thoughts for writers who are nervous, anxious, or worried about the disruption that AI will bring to writing
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Elizabeth said. He then shares his own recent experiment with creating a book description using chatGBT.

Links of Interest:

A Jane-of-all-trades, mistress to none! Elizabeth Ann West is the author of 12 novels and 11 novellas, 22 of which are story variations of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice. Her books have won reader conference awards and hit the Historical Bestseller lists on Amazon, Kobo, and the iBooks stores multiple times. A lover of all things geeky, Elizabeth codes websites, dabbles in graphic design, and is always looking for new technology to learn and master. She teaches authors at conferences like 20Booksto50KVegas, RWA Nationals, on topics of technology and business in the digital publishing world.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:10:40 false 5 284 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark talks with Elizabeth Ann West about her writing and using AI tools such as Sudowrite for intriguing new types of collaborations. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and Elizabeth talk about: Elizabeth's start in indie publishing back in the "early days" of self-publishing The Jane Austin Fan Fiction that Elizabeth writes for a living The panic in the writing community with the dropping of chatGPT (GPT = Generative Pre-trained Transformer) What Public Domain content is and a look at the grey area of AI generated content and copyright Changes to Public Domain and copyright law related to Disney and Mickey Mouse How Public Domain is really important to culture Some of the areas where AI has already been integrated into the tools we use as writers and just in general AI as a robotic co-writer that you can lean on as an author Sudowrite and how it's based on a UNIX command called "Super Do" and not "pseudo" making you the super user How as the human in this equation, you are the "creative director" still responsible for all of the final writing, the research, the voice, etc How prompts work within Sudowrite and the way authors can be very specific with them The importance of authors being unique and creative when creating their prompts How the AI works within the context of the most recent segment of the document an author is working within The idea that's in development of performing something like a "fine tune" A bit of the tech about how "tokens" work within the technology Playing within "Open AI Playground" How much time a tool like Sudowrite can help writers with outlining and summarizing a chapter Simulating readers reacting to a piece of writing The process of interviewing an AI character The cost structure for using Sudowrite How Elizabeth has written and released three books since Nov 2021 with the assistance of AI The re-write function in Sudowrite that performs a "show, don't tell" on a sentence Feeling like a writer with super-powers by having access to these types of tools How Elizabeth teachers her online classes for learning how to collaborate with AI The $99 fee that gives people access to all of Elizabeth's "Learning AI" classes and recorded live sessions past, present, and future Elizabeth's thoughts for writers who are nervous, anxious, or worried about the disruption that AI will bring to writing And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Elizabeth said. He then shares his own recent experiment with creating a book description using chatGBT. Links of Interest:   Elizabeth Ann West's Website Elizabeth's Courses & Coaching Intro to Collaborate With AI Tools - Outlining, Prose, & Editing (Affiliate Link) 1:1 AI Consultation with Elizabeth Ann West (Affiliate Link) AI COMMUNITY #WANTK (Affiliate Link) Elizabeth's Short Walk-Thru with Mark of Sudowrite YouTube Interview/Walk-Thru about AI / Sudowrite with Joe Solari Elizabeth's 20BooksVegas Presentation - "Selling Mr. Darcy" EP 265 - Elizabeth Ann West and Randall Wood from Scribecount EP283 - Doing LSB with Amy S. Peele Sanderson Takes on Audible Apple Digital Narration Be a guest on the Stark Reflections Podcast Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   A Jane-of-all-trades, mistress to none! Elizabeth Ann West is the author of 12 novels and 11 novellas, 22 of which are story variations of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice. Her books have won reader conference awards and hit the Historical Bestseller lists on Amazon, Kobo, and the iBooks stores multiple times. A lover of all things geeky, Elizabeth codes websites, dabbles in graphic design, and is always looking for new technology to learn and master. She teaches authors at conferences like 20Booksto50KVegas, RWA Nationals, on topics of technology and business in the digital publishing world.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark talks with Elizabeth Ann West about her writing and using AI tools such as Sudowrite for intriguing new types of collaborations. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and Elizabeth talk about: Elizabeth's start in indie publishing back in the "early days" of self-publishing The Jane Austin Fan Fiction that Elizabeth writes for a living The panic in the writing community with the dropping of chatGPT (GPT = Generative Pre-trained Transformer) What Public Domain content is and a look at the grey area of AI generated content and copyright Changes to Public Domain and copyright law related to Disney and Mickey Mouse How Public Domain is really important to culture Some of the areas where AI has already been integrated into the tools we use as writers and just in general AI as a robotic co-writer that you can lean on as an author Sudowrite and how it's based on a UNIX command called "Super Do" and not "pseudo" making you the super user How as the human in this equation, you are the "creative director" still responsible for all of the final writing, the research, the voice, etc How prompts work within Sudowrite and the way authors can be very specific with them The importance of authors being unique and creative when creating their prompts How the AI works within the context of the most recent segment of the document an author is working within The idea that's in development of performing something like a "fine tune" A bit of the tech about how "tokens" work within the technology Playing within "Open AI Playground" How much time a tool like Sudowrite can help writers with outlining and summarizing a chapter Simulating readers reacting to a piece of writing The process of interviewing an AI character The cost structure for using Sudowrite How Elizabeth has written and released three books since Nov 2021 with the assistance of AI The re-write function in Sudowrite that performs a "show, don't tell" on a sentence Feeling like a writer with super-powers by having access to these types of tools How Elizabeth teachers her online classes for learning how to collaborate with AI The $99 fee that gives people access to all of Elizabeth's "Learning AI" classes and recorded live sessions past, present, and future Elizabeth's thoughts for writers who are nervous, anxious, or worried about the disruption that AI will bring to writing And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Elizabeth said. He then shares his own recent experiment with creating a book description using chatGBT. Links of Interest:   Elizabeth Ann West's Website Elizabeth's Courses & Coaching Intro to Collaborate With AI Tools - Outlining, Prose, & Editing (Affiliate Link) 1:1 AI Consultation with Elizabeth Ann West (Affiliate Link) AI COMMUNITY #WANTK (Affiliate Link) Elizabeth's Short Walk-Thru with Mark of Sudowrite YouTube Interview/Walk-Thru about AI / Sudowrite with Joe Solari Elizabeth's 20BooksVegas Presentation - "Selling Mr. Darcy" EP 265 - Elizabeth Ann West and Randall Wood from Scribecount EP283 - Doing LSB with Amy S. Peele Sanderson Takes on Audible Apple Digital Narration Be a guest on the Stark Reflections Podcast Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   A Jane-of-all-trades, mistress to none! Elizabeth Ann West is the author of 12 novels and 11 novellas, 22 of which are story variations of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice. Her books have won reader conference awards and hit the Historical Bestseller lists on Amazon, Kobo, and the iBooks stores multiple times. A lover of all things geeky, Elizabeth codes websites, dabbles in graphic design, and is always looking for new technology to learn and master. She teaches authors at conferences like 20Booksto50KVegas, RWA Nationals, on topics of technology and business in the digital publishing world.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 283 - Doing LSB (Laughter, Stretch, and Breathe) with Amy S. Peele Doing LSB (Laughter, Stretch, and Breathe) with Amy S. Peele Fri, 23 Dec 2022 01:44:23 +0000 Mark has a chat with Amy S. Peele, an Amazon best-selling and award-winning author. They discuss her medical mystery series, her healthcare background, comedy, laughing yoga, and so much more.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a question from recent a episodes, an update regarding looking for guests (especially newer writers) for the podcast, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Amy talk about:

  • Having been an RN since 1974 and the life-long friends she has maintained her entire life
  • Leveraging the "two best friends" theme in her mystery series as the two main protagonists
  • Spending thirty-five years in organ transplants
  • Deciding to kill people she didn't like in real life as fictional characters in her novels
  • Writing the three murder mysteries after she retired in 2014 because she still had "transplants" that she needed to get out of her system
  • The next book she is working on, a romantic comedy
  • Amy's training with Second City Player's Workshop in Chicago because of her need to have some levity outside her day job work
  • How Amy got started with where and how to publish her first mystery novel and how she found her agent
  • The importance of relationships in the publishing world
  • Why Amy values local independent bookstores, including her local bookstore, Book Passage
  • The process of getting her books made into audio
  • Self-care for writers and why it's important
  • Laughter yoga and hand yoga
  • How, especially lately, we've been in fight or flight mode and the fact that people are not breathing
  • L.S.B. (Laughter, Stretch, and Breath)
  • Why deep breathing and laughter is so valuable
  • Advice Amy would offer to beginning writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark shares a reflection.

He then welcomes new patrons Lizbeth Meredith, Stephanie Tallent, and Angela Grit Landau and thanks all patrons.

Links of Interest:

 

 

Amy S. Peele was born and raised in the Chicago area. Having graduated from South Chicago School of Nursing (SCCH) in 1974, Amy discovered her passion for organ donation and transplantation when she started as a transplant coordinator at the University of Chicago in 1976. She enjoyed a 35-year career in Transplantation retiring from University of California San Francisco in 2014. As President of the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization (NATCO), she was a guest on the Phil Donahue talk show as well as national and local radio stations, discussing the National Organ Transplant Act, which was passed in 1984.

Amy has a love for comedy and improv and graduated from Second City Players Workshop in 1985 in Chicago. She has also studied Improv at BATS (Bay Area Theatre Sports) in San Francisco. Amy's sense of humor comes through in all her writing.

Amy met her architect husband, Mark Schatz, through his mother who was her student at a transplant coordinator course. They were married in 1987 and have two children. Gracie is a butcher, fishmonger, and chef living in Eugene Oregon. Bennett works in the digital sound industry in San Francisco, enjoys building bikes, and playing music.

Amy now lives in Marin County where she has been writing creatively since 1988. With CUT, Amy infuses her passion for transplantation into her murder mysteries and brings a fresh, knowledgeable, and humorous new voice into the world of mystery novels.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark has a chat with Amy S. Peele, an Amazon best-selling and award-winning author. They discuss her medical mystery series, her healthcare background, comedy, laughing yoga, and so much more.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a question from recent a episodes, an update regarding looking for guests (especially newer writers) for the podcast, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Amy talk about:

  • Having been an RN since 1974 and the life-long friends she has maintained her entire life
  • Leveraging the "two best friends" theme in her mystery series as the two main protagonists
  • Spending thirty-five years in organ transplants
  • Deciding to kill people she didn't like in real life as fictional characters in her novels
  • Writing the three murder mysteries after she retired in 2014 because she still had "transplants" that she needed to get out of her system
  • The next book she is working on, a romantic comedy
  • Amy's training with Second City Player's Workshop in Chicago because of her need to have some levity outside her day job work
  • How Amy got started with where and how to publish her first mystery novel and how she found her agent
  • The importance of relationships in the publishing world
  • Why Amy values local independent bookstores, including her local bookstore, Book Passage
  • The process of getting her books made into audio
  • Self-care for writers and why it's important
  • Laughter yoga and hand yoga
  • How, especially lately, we've been in fight or flight mode and the fact that people are not breathing
  • L.S.B. (Laughter, Stretch, and Breath)
  • Why deep breathing and laughter is so valuable
  • Advice Amy would offer to beginning writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark shares a reflection.

He then welcomes new patrons Lizbeth Meredith, Stephanie Tallent, and Angela Grit Landau and thanks all patrons.

Links of Interest:

Amy S. Peele was born and raised in the Chicago area. Having graduated from South Chicago School of Nursing (SCCH) in 1974, Amy discovered her passion for organ donation and transplantation when she started as a transplant coordinator at the University of Chicago in 1976. She enjoyed a 35-year career in Transplantation retiring from University of California San Francisco in 2014. As President of the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization (NATCO), she was a guest on the Phil Donahue talk show as well as national and local radio stations, discussing the National Organ Transplant Act, which was passed in 1984.

Amy has a love for comedy and improv and graduated from Second City Players Workshop in 1985 in Chicago. She has also studied Improv at BATS (Bay Area Theatre Sports) in San Francisco. Amy's sense of humor comes through in all her writing.

Amy met her architect husband, Mark Schatz, through his mother who was her student at a transplant coordinator course. They were married in 1987 and have two children. Gracie is a butcher, fishmonger, and chef living in Eugene Oregon. Bennett works in the digital sound industry in San Francisco, enjoys building bikes, and playing music.

Amy now lives in Marin County where she has been writing creatively since 1988. With CUT, Amy infuses her passion for transplantation into her murder mysteries and brings a fresh, knowledgeable, and humorous new voice into the world of mystery novels.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 59:32 false 5 283 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark has a chat with Amy S. Peele, an Amazon best-selling and award-winning author. They discuss her medical mystery series, her healthcare background, comedy, laughing yoga, and so much more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a question from recent a episodes, an update regarding looking for guests (especially newer writers) for the podcast, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Amy talk about: Having been an RN since 1974 and the life-long friends she has maintained her entire life Leveraging the "two best friends" theme in her mystery series as the two main protagonists Spending thirty-five years in organ transplants Deciding to kill people she didn't like in real life as fictional characters in her novels Writing the three murder mysteries after she retired in 2014 because she still had "transplants" that she needed to get out of her system The next book she is working on, a romantic comedy Amy's training with Second City Player's Workshop in Chicago because of her need to have some levity outside her day job work How Amy got started with where and how to publish her first mystery novel and how she found her agent The importance of relationships in the publishing world Why Amy values local independent bookstores, including her local bookstore, Book Passage The process of getting her books made into audio Self-care for writers and why it's important Laughter yoga and hand yoga How, especially lately, we've been in fight or flight mode and the fact that people are not breathing L.S.B. (Laughter, Stretch, and Breath) Why deep breathing and laughter is so valuable Advice Amy would offer to beginning writers And more... After the interview Mark shares a reflection. He then welcomes new patrons Lizbeth Meredith, Stephanie Tallent, and Angela Grit Landau and thanks all patrons. Links of Interest:   Amy S. Peele's website Amy's Hand Yoga Video Be a guest on the Stark Reflections Podcast Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Amy S. Peele was born and raised in the Chicago area. Having graduated from South Chicago School of Nursing (SCCH) in 1974, Amy discovered her passion for organ donation and transplantation when she started as a transplant coordinator at the University of Chicago in 1976. She enjoyed a 35-year career in Transplantation retiring from University of California San Francisco in 2014. As President of the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization (NATCO), she was a guest on the Phil Donahue talk show as well as national and local radio stations, discussing the National Organ Transplant Act, which was passed in 1984. Amy has a love for comedy and improv and graduated from Second City Players Workshop in 1985 in Chicago. She has also studied Improv at BATS (Bay Area Theatre Sports) in San Francisco. Amy's sense of humor comes through in all her writing. Amy met her architect husband, Mark Schatz, through his mother who was her student at a transplant coordinator course. They were married in 1987 and have two children. Gracie is a butcher, fishmonger, and chef living in Eugene Oregon. Bennett works in the digital sound industry in San Francisco, enjoys building bikes, and playing music. Amy now lives in Marin County where she has been writing creatively since 1988. With CUT, Amy infuses her passion for transplantation into her murder mysteries and brings a fresh, knowledgeable, and humorous new voice into the world of mystery novels.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark has a chat with Amy S. Peele, an Amazon best-selling and award-winning author. They discuss her medical mystery series, her healthcare background, comedy, laughing yoga, and so much more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a question from recent a episodes, an update regarding looking for guests (especially newer writers) for the podcast, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Amy talk about: Having been an RN since 1974 and the life-long friends she has maintained her entire life Leveraging the "two best friends" theme in her mystery series as the two main protagonists Spending thirty-five years in organ transplants Deciding to kill people she didn't like in real life as fictional characters in her novels Writing the three murder mysteries after she retired in 2014 because she still had "transplants" that she needed to get out of her system The next book she is working on, a romantic comedy Amy's training with Second City Player's Workshop in Chicago because of her need to have some levity outside her day job work How Amy got started with where and how to publish her first mystery novel and how she found her agent The importance of relationships in the publishing world Why Amy values local independent bookstores, including her local bookstore, Book Passage The process of getting her books made into audio Self-care for writers and why it's important Laughter yoga and hand yoga How, especially lately, we've been in fight or flight mode and the fact that people are not breathing L.S.B. (Laughter, Stretch, and Breath) Why deep breathing and laughter is so valuable Advice Amy would offer to beginning writers And more... After the interview Mark shares a reflection. He then welcomes new patrons Lizbeth Meredith, Stephanie Tallent, and Angela Grit Landau and thanks all patrons. Links of Interest:   Amy S. Peele's website Amy's Hand Yoga Video Be a guest on the Stark Reflections Podcast Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Amy S. Peele was born and raised in the Chicago area. Having graduated from South Chicago School of Nursing (SCCH) in 1974, Amy discovered her passion for organ donation and transplantation when she started as a transplant coordinator at the University of Chicago in 1976. She enjoyed a 35-year career in Transplantation retiring from University of California San Francisco in 2014. As President of the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization (NATCO), she was a guest on the Phil Donahue talk show as well as national and local radio stations, discussing the National Organ Transplant Act, which was passed in 1984. Amy has a love for comedy and improv and graduated from Second City Players Workshop in 1985 in Chicago. She has also studied Improv at BATS (Bay Area Theatre Sports) in San Francisco. Amy's sense of humor comes through in all her writing. Amy met her architect husband, Mark Schatz, through his mother who was her student at a transplant coordinator course. They were married in 1987 and have two children. Gracie is a butcher, fishmonger, and chef living in Eugene Oregon. Bennett works in the digital sound industry in San Francisco, enjoys building bikes, and playing music. Amy now lives in Marin County where she has been writing creatively since 1988. With CUT, Amy infuses her passion for transplantation into her murder mysteries and brings a fresh, knowledgeable, and humorous new voice into the world of mystery novels.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 282 - Random Reflections Random Reflections Fri, 16 Dec 2022 02:21:44 +0000 In this solo episode Mark reflections on a couple of topics: AI in creativity and writing to market with passion.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes and patreon, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> In this solo episode Mark reflections on a couple of topics: AI in creativity and writing to market with passion.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes and patreon, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 34:43 false 5 282 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark reflections on a couple of topics: AI in creativity and writing to market with passion. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes and patreon, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest:   EP 280 - The Jozie Planner with Jo-Ann Carson and J.C. McKenzie EP 86 of the Fantastic Comic Fan Podcast (with guest Mark Leslie) EP 453 of Sell More Books Show Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 In this solo episode Mark reflections on a couple of topics: AI in creativity and writing to market with passion. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes and patreon, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest:   EP 280 - The Jozie Planner with Jo-Ann Carson and J.C. McKenzie EP 86 of the Fantastic Comic Fan Podcast (with guest Mark Leslie) EP 453 of Sell More Books Show Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 281 - Reflection on Other Podcasts: Stop Making Yourself Miserable Reflection on Other Podcasts: Stop Making Yourself Miserable Tue, 13 Dec 2022 17:16:17 +0000 In this extra, slightly shorter episode sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast, Mark reflects on an episode of David Richman's Stop Making Yourself Miserable podcast where he discusses the power of crowds.

David's Podcast, Stop Making Yourself Miserable is a series of short (usually 15 minute) episodes where David shares an insight and reflects on what we can learn from it, or how we can grow.

Links of Interest:

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> In this extra, slightly shorter episode sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast, Mark reflects on an episode of David Richman's Stop Making Yourself Miserable podcast where he discusses the power of crowds.

David's Podcast, Stop Making Yourself Miserable is a series of short (usually 15 minute) episodes where David shares an insight and reflects on what we can learn from it, or how we can grow.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 21:15 false 5 281 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this extra, slightly shorter episode sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast, Mark reflects on an episode of David Richman's Stop Making Yourself Miserable podcast where he discusses the power of crowds. David's Podcast, Stop Making Yourself Miserable is a series of short (usually 15 minute) episodes where David shares an insight and reflects on what we can learn from it, or how we can grow. Links of Interest:   David Richman's Website David Richman's Podcast (Stop Making Yourself Miserable) Episode 54 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 In this extra, slightly shorter episode sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast, Mark reflects on an episode of David Richman's Stop Making Yourself Miserable podcast where he discusses the power of crowds. David's Podcast, Stop Making Yourself Miserable is a series of short (usually 15 minute) episodes where David shares an insight and reflects on what we can learn from it, or how we can grow. Links of Interest:   David Richman's Website David Richman's Podcast (Stop Making Yourself Miserable) Episode 54 Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 280 - J.C. McKenzie and Jo-Ann Carson on the 2023 JoZie Planner for Authors J.C. McKenzie and Jo-Ann Carson on the 2023 JoZie Planner for Authors Thu, 08 Dec 2022 22:26:42 +0000 Mark interviews J.C. McKenzie and Jo-Ann Carson, a mother and daughter team of Vancouver Island authors who share a strong desire to organize their hectic writing lives and have created the JoZie Planner for Authors by Authors.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes and patreon, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark, J.C. and Jo-Ann talk about:

  • How J.C. was indoctinated into the writing world via her mother, Jo-Ann being a creative person and writer
  • Returning to Canada from New Zealand and how a combination of reading a lot and some vivid dreams led to the first book she wrote
  • Looking at the first two books she wrote which she considers were a "hot mess"
  • SHIFT HAPPENS, J.C.'s third book, and first published book, and the other 6 books that were published by The Wild Rose Press
  • Jo-Ann's initiation into the world of writing, how she didn't start taking writing seriously until she retired, and the long-term view she has taken for her writing career
  • How storytelling has always been important to Jo-Ann her entire life.
  • J.C. writing locations that she doesn't often see represented, as well as the way she likes to drift back to urban fantasy with her writing
  • Jo-Ann also enjoying writing about witches and vampires, and having a good time injecting more humor into her fiction
  • Despite writing in similar genres, and critiquing one anothers' work, the fact they have not collaborated on any fiction projects yet
  • The JoZie 2023 Planner, and how the name was created from a combination of their two names
  • About the planner itself, and the binding (spiral bound) which allows it to lay flat
  • Where this idea came from and why they feel this planner is important to writers and a writer's needs
  • Their desire for more feedback to continue to improve the planner for 2024
  • The option of hole-punching the pages from the binder each year and keeping previous year pages in a binder
  • The current floral pattern of the planner, and their interest in looking at different styles for future years
  • Tips for writers who have never actually used a planner before
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark shares a couple of reflections, Mark welcomes new patrons and reminds them of their chance to indicate their interest in winning one of four copies of the 2023 JoZie Planner for Authors.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

J.C. McKenzie and Jo-Ann Carson are a mother and daughter team of Vancouver Island authors who share a strong desire to organize their hectic writing lives. Some would call it an obsession. Together they've created the JoZie Planner for Authors by Authors.

J.C. McKenzie is a book loving, gumboot-wearing, unapologetic science geek. She predominantly writes urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic dystopian fantasy with strong romantic elements. When she's not spinning tales, she's in the classroom sharing her passion for science and mathematics while secretly warping the young impressionable minds of our future to carry out her evil plans for world domination. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family.

Jo-Ann Carson is an award-winning Fantasy author of 31 books who loves the magic of storytelling. She places unique characters, in fast-paced plots, to tell tales about love, friendship, and family. Recently a critic likened one of her main characters to, "… Stephanie Plum with magic."Jo-Ann's last four series are the Dial Witch trilogy, Perfect Brew trilogy, Ghost & Abby Mysteries, and Gambling Ghosts novellas. Buy links for all her books can be found on her website.

A firm believer in the magic of our everyday lives, Jo-Ann loves watching sunrises, walking beaches near her home in the Pacific Northwest and reading by a crackling wood fire.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

 

]]> Mark interviews J.C. McKenzie and Jo-Ann Carson, a mother and daughter team of Vancouver Island authors who share a strong desire to organize their hectic writing lives and have created the JoZie Planner for Authors by Authors.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes and patreon, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark, J.C. and Jo-Ann talk about:

  • How J.C. was indoctinated into the writing world via her mother, Jo-Ann being a creative person and writer
  • Returning to Canada from New Zealand and how a combination of reading a lot and some vivid dreams led to the first book she wrote
  • Looking at the first two books she wrote which she considers were a "hot mess"
  • SHIFT HAPPENS, J.C.'s third book, and first published book, and the other 6 books that were published by The Wild Rose Press
  • Jo-Ann's initiation into the world of writing, how she didn't start taking writing seriously until she retired, and the long-term view she has taken for her writing career
  • How storytelling has always been important to Jo-Ann her entire life.
  • J.C. writing locations that she doesn't often see represented, as well as the way she likes to drift back to urban fantasy with her writing
  • Jo-Ann also enjoying writing about witches and vampires, and having a good time injecting more humor into her fiction
  • Despite writing in similar genres, and critiquing one anothers' work, the fact they have not collaborated on any fiction projects yet
  • The JoZie 2023 Planner, and how the name was created from a combination of their two names
  • About the planner itself, and the binding (spiral bound) which allows it to lay flat
  • Where this idea came from and why they feel this planner is important to writers and a writer's needs
  • Their desire for more feedback to continue to improve the planner for 2024
  • The option of hole-punching the pages from the binder each year and keeping previous year pages in a binder
  • The current floral pattern of the planner, and their interest in looking at different styles for future years
  • Tips for writers who have never actually used a planner before
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark shares a couple of reflections, Mark welcomes new patrons and reminds them of their chance to indicate their interest in winning one of four copies of the 2023 JoZie Planner for Authors.

Links of Interest:

J.C. McKenzie and Jo-Ann Carson are a mother and daughter team of Vancouver Island authors who share a strong desire to organize their hectic writing lives. Some would call it an obsession. Together they've created the JoZie Planner for Authors by Authors.

J.C. McKenzie is a book loving, gumboot-wearing, unapologetic science geek. She predominantly writes urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic dystopian fantasy with strong romantic elements. When she's not spinning tales, she's in the classroom sharing her passion for science and mathematics while secretly warping the young impressionable minds of our future to carry out her evil plans for world domination. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family.

Jo-Ann Carson is an award-winning Fantasy author of 31 books who loves the magic of storytelling. She places unique characters, in fast-paced plots, to tell tales about love, friendship, and family. Recently a critic likened one of her main characters to, "… Stephanie Plum with magic."Jo-Ann's last four series are the Dial Witch trilogy, Perfect Brew trilogy, Ghost & Abby Mysteries, and Gambling Ghosts novellas. Buy links for all her books can be found on her website.

A firm believer in the magic of our everyday lives, Jo-Ann loves watching sunrises, walking beaches near her home in the Pacific Northwest and reading by a crackling wood fire.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:08:57 false 5 280 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews J.C. McKenzie and Jo-Ann Carson, a mother and daughter team of Vancouver Island authors who share a strong desire to organize their hectic writing lives and have created the JoZie Planner for Authors by Authors. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes and patreon, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark, J.C. and Jo-Ann talk about: How J.C. was indoctinated into the writing world via her mother, Jo-Ann being a creative person and writer Returning to Canada from New Zealand and how a combination of reading a lot and some vivid dreams led to the first book she wrote Looking at the first two books she wrote which she considers were a "hot mess" SHIFT HAPPENS, J.C.'s third book, and first published book, and the other 6 books that were published by The Wild Rose Press Jo-Ann's initiation into the world of writing, how she didn't start taking writing seriously until she retired, and the long-term view she has taken for her writing career How storytelling has always been important to Jo-Ann her entire life. J.C. writing locations that she doesn't often see represented, as well as the way she likes to drift back to urban fantasy with her writing Jo-Ann also enjoying writing about witches and vampires, and having a good time injecting more humor into her fiction Despite writing in similar genres, and critiquing one anothers' work, the fact they have not collaborated on any fiction projects yet The JoZie 2023 Planner, and how the name was created from a combination of their two names About the planner itself, and the binding (spiral bound) which allows it to lay flat Where this idea came from and why they feel this planner is important to writers and a writer's needs Their desire for more feedback to continue to improve the planner for 2024 The option of hole-punching the pages from the binder each year and keeping previous year pages in a binder The current floral pattern of the planner, and their interest in looking at different styles for future years Tips for writers who have never actually used a planner before And more... After the interview, Mark shares a couple of reflections, Mark welcomes new patrons and reminds them of their chance to indicate their interest in winning one of four copies of the 2023 JoZie Planner for Authors.   Links of Interest:   J.C. McKenzie Website Blog Facebook Twitter Goodreads Amazon Newsletter BookTok Jo-Ann Carson Website BookBub Facebook Goodreads Amazon Pinterest JoZie Planner (Vervante) JoZie Planner (Amazon CA) JoZie Planner (Amazon US) Episode 253 - Survival, Resilience, Grace, and Persistence with Lizbeth Meredith Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   J.C. McKenzie and Jo-Ann Carson are a mother and daughter team of Vancouver Island authors who share a strong desire to organize their hectic writing lives. Some would call it an obsession. Together they've created the JoZie Planner for Authors by Authors. J.C. McKenzie is a book loving, gumboot-wearing, unapologetic science geek. She predominantly writes urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic dystopian fantasy with strong romantic elements. When she's not spinning tales, she's in the classroom sharing her passion for science and mathematics while secretly warping the young impressionable minds of our future to carry out her evil plans for world domination. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. Jo-Ann Carson is an award-winning Fantasy author of 31 books who loves the magic of storytelling. She places unique characters, in fast-paced plots, to tell tales about love, friendship, and family. Recently a critic likened one of her main characters to, "… Stephanie Plum with magic."Jo-Ann's last four series are the Dial Witch trilogy, Perfect Brew trilogy, Ghost & Abby Mysteries, and Gambling Ghosts novellas. Buy links for all her books can be found on her website. A firm believer in the magic of our everyday lives, Jo-Ann loves watching sunrises, walking beaches near her home in the Pacific Northwest and reading by a crackling wood fire.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   Mark interviews J.C. McKenzie and Jo-Ann Carson, a mother and daughter team of Vancouver Island authors who share a strong desire to organize their hectic writing lives and have created the JoZie Planner for Authors by Authors. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes and patreon, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark, J.C. and Jo-Ann talk about: How J.C. was indoctinated into the writing world via her mother, Jo-Ann being a creative person and writer Returning to Canada from New Zealand and how a combination of reading a lot and some vivid dreams led to the first book she wrote Looking at the first two books she wrote which she considers were a "hot mess" SHIFT HAPPENS, J.C.'s third book, and first published book, and the other 6 books that were published by The Wild Rose Press Jo-Ann's initiation into the world of writing, how she didn't start taking writing seriously until she retired, and the long-term view she has taken for her writing career How storytelling has always been important to Jo-Ann her entire life. J.C. writing locations that she doesn't often see represented, as well as the way she likes to drift back to urban fantasy with her writing Jo-Ann also enjoying writing about witches and vampires, and having a good time injecting more humor into her fiction Despite writing in similar genres, and critiquing one anothers' work, the fact they have not collaborated on any fiction projects yet The JoZie 2023 Planner, and how the name was created from a combination of their two names About the planner itself, and the binding (spiral bound) which allows it to lay flat Where this idea came from and why they feel this planner is important to writers and a writer's needs Their desire for more feedback to continue to improve the planner for 2024 The option of hole-punching the pages from the binder each year and keeping previous year pages in a binder The current floral pattern of the planner, and their interest in looking at different styles for future years Tips for writers who have never actually used a planner before And more... After the interview, Mark shares a couple of reflections, Mark welcomes new patrons and reminds them of their chance to indicate their interest in winning one of four copies of the 2023 JoZie Planner for Authors.   Links of Interest:   J.C. McKenzie Website Blog Facebook Twitter Goodreads Amazon Newsletter BookTok Jo-Ann Carson Website BookBub Facebook Goodreads Amazon Pinterest JoZie Planner (Vervante) JoZie Planner (Amazon CA) JoZie Planner (Amazon US) Episode 253 - Survival, Resilience, Grace, and Persistence with Lizbeth Meredith Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   J.C. McKenzie and Jo-Ann Carson are a mother and daughter team of Vancouver Island authors who share a strong desire to organize their hectic writing lives. Some would call it an obsession. Together they've created the JoZie Planner for Authors by Authors. J.C. McKenzie is a book loving, gumboot-wearing, unapologetic science geek. She predominantly writes urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic dystopian fantasy with strong romantic elements. When she's not spinning tales, she's in the classroom sharing her passion for science and mathematics while secretly warping the young impressionable minds of our future to carry out her evil plans for world domination. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. Jo-Ann Carson is an award-winning Fantasy author of 31 books who loves the magic of storytelling. She places unique characters, in fast-paced plots, to tell tales about love, friendship, and family. Recently a critic likened one of her main characters to, "… Stephanie Plum with magic."Jo-Ann's last four series are the Dial Witch trilogy, Perfect Brew trilogy, Ghost & Abby Mysteries, and Gambling Ghosts novellas. Buy links for all her books can be found on her website. A firm believer in the magic of our everyday lives, Jo-Ann loves watching sunrises, walking beaches near her home in the Pacific Northwest and reading by a crackling wood fire.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    EP 279 - The Writer's Manifesto With Michael La Ronn The Writer's Manifest With Michael La Ronn Thu, 01 Dec 2022 23:03:01 +0000 Mark interviews Michael La Ronn, the author of over 80 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Michael talk about:

  • How long it has been since Mark and Michael saw one another
  • Michael getting back on the travel circuit and being one of the guest speakers for Superstars Writing Seminars in Feb 2023
  • How Michael got extremely ill in 2012 with an extreme case of food poisoning combined with a hospital infection he acquired, and how that laid him up for a full month
  • Taking the time to realize, while he was stuck in the hospital how he'd been working in a dead-end job and not being the writer he wanted to be
  • Having a beautiful vision of being a successful published writer, and the feeling of happiness that came from that
  • Learning about self-publishing from the Alliance of Independent Authors and The Creative Penn
  • The more than 80 books Michael has written while working full-time, raising a family, and going to law school at night
  • The "secret weapons" that Michael relies on for his writing goals
  • Writing using Scrivener on the MAC and the Scrivener app on his iPhone as well as using dictation
  • Getting writing done using dictation while walking the dog
  • Being a pantser (or "discovery writer")
  • Michael's writer manifesto
  • The different pseudonyms Michael uses for fiction VS his books for writers
  • Michael's role as ALLI's outreach manager
  • The two estate planning books Michael has. One for writers and the other for a writer's heirs
  • Loving his day job and not wanting to give it up despite how successful and prolific his writing career has been
  • The enjoyment of challenging himself
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the prioritizing of finding every available small moment for getting just a few extra words in and how that all adds up. He also considers Michael's thoughts on "balance."

Links of Interest:

 

 

Michael La Ronn is the author of over 80 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has managed to write while raising a family, working a full-time job, and even attending law school classes in the evenings. You can find his fiction at www.michaellaronn.com and his videos and books for writers at www.authorlevelup.com.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Michael La Ronn, the author of over 80 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Michael talk about:

  • How long it has been since Mark and Michael saw one another
  • Michael getting back on the travel circuit and being one of the guest speakers for Superstars Writing Seminars in Feb 2023
  • How Michael got extremely ill in 2012 with an extreme case of food poisoning combined with a hospital infection he acquired, and how that laid him up for a full month
  • Taking the time to realize, while he was stuck in the hospital how he'd been working in a dead-end job and not being the writer he wanted to be
  • Having a beautiful vision of being a successful published writer, and the feeling of happiness that came from that
  • Learning about self-publishing from the Alliance of Independent Authors and The Creative Penn
  • The more than 80 books Michael has written while working full-time, raising a family, and going to law school at night
  • The "secret weapons" that Michael relies on for his writing goals
  • Writing using Scrivener on the MAC and the Scrivener app on his iPhone as well as using dictation
  • Getting writing done using dictation while walking the dog
  • Being a pantser (or "discovery writer")
  • Michael's writer manifesto
  • The different pseudonyms Michael uses for fiction VS his books for writers
  • Michael's role as ALLI's outreach manager
  • The two estate planning books Michael has. One for writers and the other for a writer's heirs
  • Loving his day job and not wanting to give it up despite how successful and prolific his writing career has been
  • The enjoyment of challenging himself
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the prioritizing of finding every available small moment for getting just a few extra words in and how that all adds up. He also considers Michael's thoughts on "balance."

Links of Interest:

Michael La Ronn is the author of over 80 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has managed to write while raising a family, working a full-time job, and even attending law school classes in the evenings. You can find his fiction at www.michaellaronn.com and his videos and books for writers at www.authorlevelup.com.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 46:27 false 5 279 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Michael La Ronn, the author of over 80 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Michael talk about: How long it has been since Mark and Michael saw one another Michael getting back on the travel circuit and being one of the guest speakers for Superstars Writing Seminars in Feb 2023 How Michael got extremely ill in 2012 with an extreme case of food poisoning combined with a hospital infection he acquired, and how that laid him up for a full month Taking the time to realize, while he was stuck in the hospital how he'd been working in a dead-end job and not being the writer he wanted to be Having a beautiful vision of being a successful published writer, and the feeling of happiness that came from that Learning about self-publishing from the Alliance of Independent Authors and The Creative Penn The more than 80 books Michael has written while working full-time, raising a family, and going to law school at night The "secret weapons" that Michael relies on for his writing goals Writing using Scrivener on the MAC and the Scrivener app on his iPhone as well as using dictation Getting writing done using dictation while walking the dog Being a pantser (or "discovery writer") Michael's writer manifesto The different pseudonyms Michael uses for fiction VS his books for writers Michael's role as ALLI's outreach manager The two estate planning books Michael has. One for writers and the other for a writer's heirs Loving his day job and not wanting to give it up despite how successful and prolific his writing career has been The enjoyment of challenging himself And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the prioritizing of finding every available small moment for getting just a few extra words in and how that all adds up. He also considers Michael's thoughts on "balance." Links of Interest:   Michael's Author Website Author Level Up Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Michael La Ronn is the author of over 80 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has managed to write while raising a family, working a full-time job, and even attending law school classes in the evenings. You can find his fiction at www.michaellaronn.com and his videos and books for writers at www.authorlevelup.com.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Michael La Ronn, the author of over 80 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Michael talk about: How long it has been since Mark and Michael saw one another Michael getting back on the travel circuit and being one of the guest speakers for Superstars Writing Seminars in Feb 2023 How Michael got extremely ill in 2012 with an extreme case of food poisoning combined with a hospital infection he acquired, and how that laid him up for a full month Taking the time to realize, while he was stuck in the hospital how he'd been working in a dead-end job and not being the writer he wanted to be Having a beautiful vision of being a successful published writer, and the feeling of happiness that came from that Learning about self-publishing from the Alliance of Independent Authors and The Creative Penn The more than 80 books Michael has written while working full-time, raising a family, and going to law school at night The "secret weapons" that Michael relies on for his writing goals Writing using Scrivener on the MAC and the Scrivener app on his iPhone as well as using dictation Getting writing done using dictation while walking the dog Being a pantser (or "discovery writer") Michael's writer manifesto The different pseudonyms Michael uses for fiction VS his books for writers Michael's role as ALLI's outreach manager The two estate planning books Michael has. One for writers and the other for a writer's heirs Loving his day job and not wanting to give it up despite how successful and prolific his writing career has been The enjoyment of challenging himself And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the prioritizing of finding every available small moment for getting just a few extra words in and how that all adds up. He also considers Michael's thoughts on "balance." Links of Interest:   Michael's Author Website Author Level Up Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Michael La Ronn is the author of over 80 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has managed to write while raising a family, working a full-time job, and even attending law school classes in the evenings. You can find his fiction at www.michaellaronn.com and his videos and books for writers at www.authorlevelup.com.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 278 - So I Married a Thrill-Seeker with Danielle Kaplan So I Married a Thrill-Seeker with Danielle Kaplan Thu, 24 Nov 2022 23:49:37 +0000 Mark interviews Danielle Kaplan about her new book I Married a Thrill-Seeker.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Danielle talk about:

  • Danielle's background before she decided to write her new book
  • The irony of doing a thesis in brain-injury, with most of them involving motorcycle accidents
  • How Danielle, who was considered a moderate who "followed the rules" first met her "wild and crazy" husband Steve back in university
  • Moving to Toronto, Canada to start her life with him and continuing her career in the medical field
  • Having written for medical publications prior to this first book
  • Steve's life as an adventure rider on his Harley Davidson motorcycle when on a trip in the Yukon
  • Keeping all her correspondence and personal journals during the tragic events following her husband's accident
  • Showing the original manuscript to a good friend who is a script/screen-play writer who asked her if this was going to be a personal document for her family, or for public consumption and how that question changed everything
  • The dramatic lows and highs that Steve went through since the accident
  • The various audiences that the book is likely to appeal to
  • Where Danielle found support through this entire journey
  • Working with Rebecca at re:books on the release of the book in Nov 2022
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on how Danielle was able to use all the details she recorded and stored, not because she was going to write a book about it, but for other reasons.

Links of Interest:

 

 

Danielle Kaplan is a speech-language pathologist and movement specialist. She grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa and holds a master's degree in Speech Pathology.

She and her husband Steve emigrated to Canada, where she spent twenty years working in acute teaching hospitals, in Neurology, Neurosurgery, and spinal injury.

Danielle gained a certification in Pilates and then went on to train further in movement while achieving her Personal Training certification (CanfitPro), Ballet Barre for fitness training and then received her Rehab Exercise Specialization Certification.

The mother of two, she lives with her husband Steve and their two fur babies in Toronto, Ontario. I Married A Thrill-Seeker is her first book.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Danielle Kaplan about her new book I Married a Thrill-Seeker.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Danielle talk about:

  • Danielle's background before she decided to write her new book
  • The irony of doing a thesis in brain-injury, with most of them involving motorcycle accidents
  • How Danielle, who was considered a moderate who "followed the rules" first met her "wild and crazy" husband Steve back in university
  • Moving to Toronto, Canada to start her life with him and continuing her career in the medical field
  • Having written for medical publications prior to this first book
  • Steve's life as an adventure rider on his Harley Davidson motorcycle when on a trip in the Yukon
  • Keeping all her correspondence and personal journals during the tragic events following her husband's accident
  • Showing the original manuscript to a good friend who is a script/screen-play writer who asked her if this was going to be a personal document for her family, or for public consumption and how that question changed everything
  • The dramatic lows and highs that Steve went through since the accident
  • The various audiences that the book is likely to appeal to
  • Where Danielle found support through this entire journey
  • Working with Rebecca at re:books on the release of the book in Nov 2022
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on how Danielle was able to use all the details she recorded and stored, not because she was going to write a book about it, but for other reasons.

Links of Interest:

Danielle Kaplan is a speech-language pathologist and movement specialist. She grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa and holds a master's degree in Speech Pathology.

She and her husband Steve emigrated to Canada, where she spent twenty years working in acute teaching hospitals, in Neurology, Neurosurgery, and spinal injury.

Danielle gained a certification in Pilates and then went on to train further in movement while achieving her Personal Training certification (CanfitPro), Ballet Barre for fitness training and then received her Rehab Exercise Specialization Certification.

The mother of two, she lives with her husband Steve and their two fur babies in Toronto, Ontario. I Married A Thrill-Seeker is her first book.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 48:39 false 5 278 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Danielle Kaplan about her new book I Married a Thrill-Seeker. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Danielle talk about: Danielle's background before she decided to write her new book The irony of doing a thesis in brain-injury, with most of them involving motorcycle accidents How Danielle, who was considered a moderate who "followed the rules" first met her "wild and crazy" husband Steve back in university Moving to Toronto, Canada to start her life with him and continuing her career in the medical field Having written for medical publications prior to this first book Steve's life as an adventure rider on his Harley Davidson motorcycle when on a trip in the Yukon Keeping all her correspondence and personal journals during the tragic events following her husband's accident Showing the original manuscript to a good friend who is a script/screen-play writer who asked her if this was going to be a personal document for her family, or for public consumption and how that question changed everything The dramatic lows and highs that Steve went through since the accident The various audiences that the book is likely to appeal to Where Danielle found support through this entire journey Working with Rebecca at re:books on the release of the book in Nov 2022 And more... After the interview Mark reflects on how Danielle was able to use all the details she recorded and stored, not because she was going to write a book about it, but for other reasons. Links of Interest:   Danielle's Book on Amazon EP 267 - Why Publishing Needs a Makeover with Rebecca Eckler Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Danielle Kaplan is a speech-language pathologist and movement specialist. She grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa and holds a master's degree in Speech Pathology. She and her husband Steve emigrated to Canada, where she spent twenty years working in acute teaching hospitals, in Neurology, Neurosurgery, and spinal injury. Danielle gained a certification in Pilates and then went on to train further in movement while achieving her Personal Training certification (CanfitPro), Ballet Barre for fitness training and then received her Rehab Exercise Specialization Certification. The mother of two, she lives with her husband Steve and their two fur babies in Toronto, Ontario. I Married A Thrill-Seeker is her first book.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Danielle Kaplan about her new book I Married a Thrill-Seeker. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Danielle talk about: Danielle's background before she decided to write her new book The irony of doing a thesis in brain-injury, with most of them involving motorcycle accidents How Danielle, who was considered a moderate who "followed the rules" first met her "wild and crazy" husband Steve back in university Moving to Toronto, Canada to start her life with him and continuing her career in the medical field Having written for medical publications prior to this first book Steve's life as an adventure rider on his Harley Davidson motorcycle when on a trip in the Yukon Keeping all her correspondence and personal journals during the tragic events following her husband's accident Showing the original manuscript to a good friend who is a script/screen-play writer who asked her if this was going to be a personal document for her family, or for public consumption and how that question changed everything The dramatic lows and highs that Steve went through since the accident The various audiences that the book is likely to appeal to Where Danielle found support through this entire journey Working with Rebecca at re:books on the release of the book in Nov 2022 And more... After the interview Mark reflects on how Danielle was able to use all the details she recorded and stored, not because she was going to write a book about it, but for other reasons. Links of Interest:   Danielle's Book on Amazon EP 267 - Why Publishing Needs a Makeover with Rebecca Eckler Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Danielle Kaplan is a speech-language pathologist and movement specialist. She grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa and holds a master's degree in Speech Pathology. She and her husband Steve emigrated to Canada, where she spent twenty years working in acute teaching hospitals, in Neurology, Neurosurgery, and spinal injury. Danielle gained a certification in Pilates and then went on to train further in movement while achieving her Personal Training certification (CanfitPro), Ballet Barre for fitness training and then received her Rehab Exercise Specialization Certification. The mother of two, she lives with her husband Steve and their two fur babies in Toronto, Ontario. I Married A Thrill-Seeker is her first book.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 277 - Live Chat with Ask The Authors 2022 Live Chat with Ask The Authors 2022 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 23:00:00 +0000 Mark has a chat with several authors from the ASK THE AUTHORS 2022 book edited by Kaye Booth.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark has a chat with several authors from the ASK THE AUTHORS 2022 book edited by Kaye Booth.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:12:03 false 5 277 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark has a chat with several authors from the ASK THE AUTHORS 2022 book edited by Kaye Booth. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest: The Writers Career Toolkit StoryBundle Writer Beware Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark has a chat with several authors from the ASK THE AUTHORS 2022 book edited by Kaye Booth. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest: The Writers Career Toolkit StoryBundle Writer Beware Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 276 - Embracing Imagination with Diane Floyd Boehm Embracing Imagination with Diane Floyd Boehm Fri, 11 Nov 2022 00:16:20 +0000 Mark interviews Diann Floyd Boehm, an award-winning author of children's books who writes stories to inspire readers to be kind, like themselves, and Embrace Imagination!

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, recent comments and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Diann talk about:

  • How Diane started off as a teacher - from 4 year olds all the way up to 8th grade
  • Becoming one of the self-taught tech-knowledgable teachers in the system early on, falling in love with computers, and realizing how much she could help students
  • Enjoying and preferring writing long-hand despite being comfortable with and adept at using a computer
  • The process of developing and writing children's books and the parallel inspiration for both children and adults that can exist within them
  • The beauty of what can happen when people open their minds, expand their horizons and learn and work together
  • The power of stories in sharing ideas and preventing people from putting up walls
  • The hybrid publisher (OC Publishing) that Diane uses
  • Diane's new book CHARLIE AND THE TIRE SWING
  • Recognizing that we're all storytellers, even if we've never written anything, and exercises Diane likes to share to help people realize this
  • The online story garden that Diane created on YouTube, creating safe, clean-cut and wholesome stories for families
  • What Diann wish she'd known when she first started out
  • Diann's publicist, Mickey Mikkelson of The Creative Edge
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the innate creativity we all have, and then talks in detail about the idea of "hybrid" publishing companies, and his default suspicion about them. He then goes to explain why OC Publishing is a legitimate business with very transparent and clear business practices and why a company like that which is honest and demonstrates integrity might be a good fit for some authors.

Links of Interest:

 

Diann Floyd Boehm is an award-winning international author of children's books and has published a young adult historical fiction. In addition, Diann writes books to inspire readers to be kind, like themselves, and Embrace Imagination! You can find all her books on Amazon.

Diann's Story Garden YouTube Channel lets children hear different children's authors read their stories.

Diann continues to be involved in various humanitarian projects with multiple organizations.

Diann was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to the parents of George M. Floyd and Mabel Adella Harris Floyd. She moved to Texas at about 18 months and her two brothers. Over time the Floyd family grew, and Diann had five brothers, Chris, Danny, Mike, Larry, and Bryan. Diann is a wife and mother of three grown children and one grandson. She has traveled extensively to many parts of the world and has lived in the Philippines and Dubai. She and her husband now reside in Austin, Texas.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Diann Floyd Boehm, an award-winning author of children's books who writes stories to inspire readers to be kind, like themselves, and Embrace Imagination!

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, recent comments and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Diann talk about:

  • How Diane started off as a teacher - from 4 year olds all the way up to 8th grade
  • Becoming one of the self-taught tech-knowledgable teachers in the system early on, falling in love with computers, and realizing how much she could help students
  • Enjoying and preferring writing long-hand despite being comfortable with and adept at using a computer
  • The process of developing and writing children's books and the parallel inspiration for both children and adults that can exist within them
  • The beauty of what can happen when people open their minds, expand their horizons and learn and work together
  • The power of stories in sharing ideas and preventing people from putting up walls
  • The hybrid publisher (OC Publishing) that Diane uses
  • Diane's new book CHARLIE AND THE TIRE SWING
  • Recognizing that we're all storytellers, even if we've never written anything, and exercises Diane likes to share to help people realize this
  • The online story garden that Diane created on YouTube, creating safe, clean-cut and wholesome stories for families
  • What Diann wish she'd known when she first started out
  • Diann's publicist, Mickey Mikkelson of The Creative Edge
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the innate creativity we all have, and then talks in detail about the idea of "hybrid" publishing companies, and his default suspicion about them. He then goes to explain why OC Publishing is a legitimate business with very transparent and clear business practices and why a company like that which is honest and demonstrates integrity might be a good fit for some authors.

Links of Interest:

Diann Floyd Boehm is an award-winning international author of children's books and has published a young adult historical fiction. In addition, Diann writes books to inspire readers to be kind, like themselves, and Embrace Imagination! You can find all her books on Amazon.

Diann's Story Garden YouTube Channel lets children hear different children's authors read their stories.

Diann continues to be involved in various humanitarian projects with multiple organizations.

Diann was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to the parents of George M. Floyd and Mabel Adella Harris Floyd. She moved to Texas at about 18 months and her two brothers. Over time the Floyd family grew, and Diann had five brothers, Chris, Danny, Mike, Larry, and Bryan. Diann is a wife and mother of three grown children and one grandson. She has traveled extensively to many parts of the world and has lived in the Philippines and Dubai. She and her husband now reside in Austin, Texas.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 58:45 false 5 276 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Diann Floyd Boehm, an award-winning author of children's books who writes stories to inspire readers to be kind, like themselves, and Embrace Imagination! Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, recent comments and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Diann talk about: How Diane started off as a teacher - from 4 year olds all the way up to 8th grade Becoming one of the self-taught tech-knowledgable teachers in the system early on, falling in love with computers, and realizing how much she could help students Enjoying and preferring writing long-hand despite being comfortable with and adept at using a computer The process of developing and writing children's books and the parallel inspiration for both children and adults that can exist within them The beauty of what can happen when people open their minds, expand their horizons and learn and work together The power of stories in sharing ideas and preventing people from putting up walls The hybrid publisher (OC Publishing) that Diane uses Diane's new book CHARLIE AND THE TIRE SWING Recognizing that we're all storytellers, even if we've never written anything, and exercises Diane likes to share to help people realize this The online story garden that Diane created on YouTube, creating safe, clean-cut and wholesome stories for families What Diann wish she'd known when she first started out Diann's publicist, Mickey Mikkelson of The Creative Edge And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the innate creativity we all have, and then talks in detail about the idea of "hybrid" publishing companies, and his default suspicion about them. He then goes to explain why OC Publishing is a legitimate business with very transparent and clear business practices and why a company like that which is honest and demonstrates integrity might be a good fit for some authors. Links of Interest: Diann Floyd Boehm's Website Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Pinterest Diann's Story Garden OC Publishing Writer Beware Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Diann Floyd Boehm is an award-winning international author of children's books and has published a young adult historical fiction. In addition, Diann writes books to inspire readers to be kind, like themselves, and Embrace Imagination! You can find all her books on Amazon. Diann's Story Garden YouTube Channel lets children hear different children's authors read their stories. Diann continues to be involved in various humanitarian projects with multiple organizations. Diann was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to the parents of George M. Floyd and Mabel Adella Harris Floyd. She moved to Texas at about 18 months and her two brothers. Over time the Floyd family grew, and Diann had five brothers, Chris, Danny, Mike, Larry, and Bryan. Diann is a wife and mother of three grown children and one grandson. She has traveled extensively to many parts of the world and has lived in the Philippines and Dubai. She and her husband now reside in Austin, Texas.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Diann Floyd Boehm, an award-winning author of children's books who writes stories to inspire readers to be kind, like themselves, and Embrace Imagination! Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, recent comments and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Diann talk about: How Diane started off as a teacher - from 4 year olds all the way up to 8th grade Becoming one of the self-taught tech-knowledgable teachers in the system early on, falling in love with computers, and realizing how much she could help students Enjoying and preferring writing long-hand despite being comfortable with and adept at using a computer The process of developing and writing children's books and the parallel inspiration for both children and adults that can exist within them The beauty of what can happen when people open their minds, expand their horizons and learn and work together The power of stories in sharing ideas and preventing people from putting up walls The hybrid publisher (OC Publishing) that Diane uses Diane's new book CHARLIE AND THE TIRE SWING Recognizing that we're all storytellers, even if we've never written anything, and exercises Diane likes to share to help people realize this The online story garden that Diane created on YouTube, creating safe, clean-cut and wholesome stories for families What Diann wish she'd known when she first started out Diann's publicist, Mickey Mikkelson of The Creative Edge And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the innate creativity we all have, and then talks in detail about the idea of "hybrid" publishing companies, and his default suspicion about them. He then goes to explain why OC Publishing is a legitimate business with very transparent and clear business practices and why a company like that which is honest and demonstrates integrity might be a good fit for some authors. Links of Interest: Diann Floyd Boehm's Website Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Pinterest Diann's Story Garden OC Publishing Writer Beware Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Diann Floyd Boehm is an award-winning international author of children's books and has published a young adult historical fiction. In addition, Diann writes books to inspire readers to be kind, like themselves, and Embrace Imagination! You can find all her books on Amazon. Diann's Story Garden YouTube Channel lets children hear different children's authors read their stories. Diann continues to be involved in various humanitarian projects with multiple organizations. Diann was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to the parents of George M. Floyd and Mabel Adella Harris Floyd. She moved to Texas at about 18 months and her two brothers. Over time the Floyd family grew, and Diann had five brothers, Chris, Danny, Mike, Larry, and Bryan. Diann is a wife and mother of three grown children and one grandson. She has traveled extensively to many parts of the world and has lived in the Philippines and Dubai. She and her husband now reside in Austin, Texas.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 275 - Samantha M. Bailey on Unreliable Narrators and Unrelenting Authorship Unreliable Narrators and Unrelenting Authorship Fri, 04 Nov 2022 00:41:56 +0000 Mark interviews Samantha M. Bailey, the author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE, a USA TODAY and #1 national bestseller, and WATCH OUT FOR HER, an instant #1 national bestseller about her twenty-year writing journey.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Samantha talk about:

  • How long Mark and Samantha have known one another and how long it has been since they've chatted, and Samantha's previous guest spot on this podcast
  • Samantha's latest thriller WATCH OUT FOR HER and the 13 weeks it spent on the Globe and Mail bestseller list in Canada
  • The book's presence on numerous indie and chain bookstores as well as non-bookstore locations across Canada including Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, and Costco, where it was a buyer's pick
  • How everyone in the retail space was so good to Samantha
  • The twenty years Samantha worked at writing before this huge wave of success
  • Her previous book (Woman on the Edge) being released just prior to the pandemic starting
  • Samantha's rock star agent, Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency and how Samantha found her twenty years earlier
  • Nita Prose, author of The Maid, a New York Times bestseller, who is the editor of both Samantha's novels
  • Getting her first rejection for a story that she wrote and submitted to a publisher at the age of ten
  • Being able to wallpaper her house with the amount of rejections she has received for her books over the years
  • Why Samantha never gave up after collecting enough rejection slips to wallpaper her entire neighborhood
  • The common "yellow raincoat" motif that appears on both of her books despite them being stand-alone novels completely unrelated by anything except the genre and the author
  • Why Samantha loves the concept of an unreliable narrator
  • How, when reading a thriller, Samantha never trusts anyone at all, ever
  • The two performers who read the audiobook version of WATCH OUT FOR HER
  • Being a very visual person, particularly as a reader
  • What Samantha tries to do with every book she writes, and a little bit about the book she is working on now
  • Advice Samantha would have given to her younger self
  • The various genres and types of book she has loved reading and writing over the years
  • Taking all the risks in writing while taking very few risks in life
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the concept of unreliable narrators and the idea of letting fear hold you back.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Samantha M. Bailey is the author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE, a USA TODAY and #1 national bestseller; her second novel, WATCH OUT FOR HER, was an instant #1 national bestseller. Her books have sold in eleven countries to date. Samantha is a journalist and freelance editor; her writing has appeared in NOW MAGAZINE, THE VILLAGE POST, THE THRILL BEGINS, and THE CRIME HUB, among other publications. She lives in Toronto, where she can usually be found tapping away at her computer or curled up on her couch with a book.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Samantha M. Bailey, the author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE, a USA TODAY and #1 national bestseller, and WATCH OUT FOR HER, an instant #1 national bestseller about her twenty-year writing journey.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Samantha talk about:

  • How long Mark and Samantha have known one another and how long it has been since they've chatted, and Samantha's previous guest spot on this podcast
  • Samantha's latest thriller WATCH OUT FOR HER and the 13 weeks it spent on the Globe and Mail bestseller list in Canada
  • The book's presence on numerous indie and chain bookstores as well as non-bookstore locations across Canada including Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, and Costco, where it was a buyer's pick
  • How everyone in the retail space was so good to Samantha
  • The twenty years Samantha worked at writing before this huge wave of success
  • Her previous book (Woman on the Edge) being released just prior to the pandemic starting
  • Samantha's rock star agent, Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency and how Samantha found her twenty years earlier
  • Nita Prose, author of The Maid, a New York Times bestseller, who is the editor of both Samantha's novels
  • Getting her first rejection for a story that she wrote and submitted to a publisher at the age of ten
  • Being able to wallpaper her house with the amount of rejections she has received for her books over the years
  • Why Samantha never gave up after collecting enough rejection slips to wallpaper her entire neighborhood
  • The common "yellow raincoat" motif that appears on both of her books despite them being stand-alone novels completely unrelated by anything except the genre and the author
  • Why Samantha loves the concept of an unreliable narrator
  • How, when reading a thriller, Samantha never trusts anyone at all, ever
  • The two performers who read the audiobook version of WATCH OUT FOR HER
  • Being a very visual person, particularly as a reader
  • What Samantha tries to do with every book she writes, and a little bit about the book she is working on now
  • Advice Samantha would have given to her younger self
  • The various genres and types of book she has loved reading and writing over the years
  • Taking all the risks in writing while taking very few risks in life
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the concept of unreliable narrators and the idea of letting fear hold you back.

Links of Interest:

Samantha M. Bailey is the author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE, a USA TODAY and #1 national bestseller; her second novel, WATCH OUT FOR HER, was an instant #1 national bestseller. Her books have sold in eleven countries to date. Samantha is a journalist and freelance editor; her writing has appeared in NOW MAGAZINE, THE VILLAGE POST, THE THRILL BEGINS, and THE CRIME HUB, among other publications. She lives in Toronto, where she can usually be found tapping away at her computer or curled up on her couch with a book.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:01:58 false 5 275 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Samantha M. Bailey, the author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE, a USA TODAY and #1 national bestseller, and WATCH OUT FOR HER, an instant #1 national bestseller about her twenty-year writing journey. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Samantha talk about: How long Mark and Samantha have known one another and how long it has been since they've chatted, and Samantha's previous guest spot on this podcast Samantha's latest thriller WATCH OUT FOR HER and the 13 weeks it spent on the Globe and Mail bestseller list in Canada The book's presence on numerous indie and chain bookstores as well as non-bookstore locations across Canada including Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, and Costco, where it was a buyer's pick How everyone in the retail space was so good to Samantha The twenty years Samantha worked at writing before this huge wave of success Her previous book (Woman on the Edge) being released just prior to the pandemic starting Samantha's rock star agent, Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency and how Samantha found her twenty years earlier Nita Prose, author of The Maid, a New York Times bestseller, who is the editor of both Samantha's novels Getting her first rejection for a story that she wrote and submitted to a publisher at the age of ten Being able to wallpaper her house with the amount of rejections she has received for her books over the years Why Samantha never gave up after collecting enough rejection slips to wallpaper her entire neighborhood The common "yellow raincoat" motif that appears on both of her books despite them being stand-alone novels completely unrelated by anything except the genre and the author Why Samantha loves the concept of an unreliable narrator How, when reading a thriller, Samantha never trusts anyone at all, ever The two performers who read the audiobook version of WATCH OUT FOR HER Being a very visual person, particularly as a reader What Samantha tries to do with every book she writes, and a little bit about the book she is working on now Advice Samantha would have given to her younger self The various genres and types of book she has loved reading and writing over the years Taking all the risks in writing while taking very few risks in life And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the concept of unreliable narrators and the idea of letting fear hold you back.   Links of Interest: Samantha M. Bailey Website Woman on the Edge Watch out for Her EP 107 - Samantha M. Bailey, Woman on the Edge Sarah Sampino Interview (via Draft2Digital) The Bent Agency (Sam's Agent Jenny Bent) Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Samantha M. Bailey is the author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE, a USA TODAY and #1 national bestseller; her second novel, WATCH OUT FOR HER, was an instant #1 national bestseller. Her books have sold in eleven countries to date. Samantha is a journalist and freelance editor; her writing has appeared in NOW MAGAZINE, THE VILLAGE POST, THE THRILL BEGINS, and THE CRIME HUB, among other publications. She lives in Toronto, where she can usually be found tapping away at her computer or curled up on her couch with a book.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Samantha M. Bailey, the author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE, a USA TODAY and #1 national bestseller, and WATCH OUT FOR HER, an instant #1 national bestseller about her twenty-year writing journey. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Samantha talk about: How long Mark and Samantha have known one another and how long it has been since they've chatted, and Samantha's previous guest spot on this podcast Samantha's latest thriller WATCH OUT FOR HER and the 13 weeks it spent on the Globe and Mail bestseller list in Canada The book's presence on numerous indie and chain bookstores as well as non-bookstore locations across Canada including Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, and Costco, where it was a buyer's pick How everyone in the retail space was so good to Samantha The twenty years Samantha worked at writing before this huge wave of success Her previous book (Woman on the Edge) being released just prior to the pandemic starting Samantha's rock star agent, Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency and how Samantha found her twenty years earlier Nita Prose, author of The Maid, a New York Times bestseller, who is the editor of both Samantha's novels Getting her first rejection for a story that she wrote and submitted to a publisher at the age of ten Being able to wallpaper her house with the amount of rejections she has received for her books over the years Why Samantha never gave up after collecting enough rejection slips to wallpaper her entire neighborhood The common "yellow raincoat" motif that appears on both of her books despite them being stand-alone novels completely unrelated by anything except the genre and the author Why Samantha loves the concept of an unreliable narrator How, when reading a thriller, Samantha never trusts anyone at all, ever The two performers who read the audiobook version of WATCH OUT FOR HER Being a very visual person, particularly as a reader What Samantha tries to do with every book she writes, and a little bit about the book she is working on now Advice Samantha would have given to her younger self The various genres and types of book she has loved reading and writing over the years Taking all the risks in writing while taking very few risks in life And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the concept of unreliable narrators and the idea of letting fear hold you back.   Links of Interest: Samantha M. Bailey Website Woman on the Edge Watch out for Her EP 107 - Samantha M. Bailey, Woman on the Edge Sarah Sampino Interview (via Draft2Digital) The Bent Agency (Sam's Agent Jenny Bent) Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Samantha M. Bailey is the author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE, a USA TODAY and #1 national bestseller; her second novel, WATCH OUT FOR HER, was an instant #1 national bestseller. Her books have sold in eleven countries to date. Samantha is a journalist and freelance editor; her writing has appeared in NOW MAGAZINE, THE VILLAGE POST, THE THRILL BEGINS, and THE CRIME HUB, among other publications. She lives in Toronto, where she can usually be found tapping away at her computer or curled up on her couch with a book.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 274 - The 42 Minute Hour with Michelle Oucharek-Deo The 42 Minute Hour with Michelle Oucharek-Deo Fri, 28 Oct 2022 00:59:39 +0000 Mark interviews Michelle Oucharek-Deo, a writer, speaker and art therapist about her fiction writing journey, creative therapy, and her time management philosophy of the 42 Minute Hour.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Michelle talk about:

  • How Michelle became an art therapist 28 years ago, working with people from 3 to 103 years old
  • Using art and the process of art-making as a process for healing
  • A memory from Grade One involving being in the library and dreaming of one day being a writer
  • Being a creative writing major in university and how that didn't align with Michelle's vision
  • Sitting down to do some writing in her mid-30s and then again in her 40s; then diving in to engage in fiction writing
  • Michelle's first fiction and how it relates back to her life as a therapist
  • The journey towards self-discovery and being accountable for one's past and one's trauma
  • Her "Wine, Love, and Friendship" trilogy
  • Michelle's belief that there should be a "men's fiction" genre
  • The benefit of writing about important and sensitive subjects within a fictional setting
  • The colleague of Michelle's who read her first book and had it hit so close to home that she had to put the book aside for a while to process it in her mind
  • All the different types of creative and nature therapies that exist and which can cross-over
  • Michelle's thumbnail version of what art therapy is, as well as what it isn't
  • Using the ceremony of the art-making and the experience as a way of allowing someone the opportunity to effectively "say goodbye" to a cherished family pet
  • The 42 minute hour and how it relates to the tremendous amount of time so many of us seem to be "losing" lately
  • Finding and leveraging the time that exists as opposed to letting it sift away
  • Michelle's 42 Minute Club on Facebook
  • How we all have different and unique tools in our own baskets.
  • Advice Michelle has for dealing with writer's block or being stuck
  • And much more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of lost time as well as the concept of the different tools that we all possess and the way they work for us at different times.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Michelle Oucharek-Deo is a writer, speaker and art therapist who has dedicated herself to living her life on the sparkly side of the street. She spent 28 years with a paintbrush in her hand walking with people through their emotional journeys.

Several years ago she stepped outside of the counseling office to create her first fictional series about a woman pushing past her fear and looking at who she really wants to become. During the process of Michelle's emerging writing career, managing her counseling business and motherhood, she created a new and exciting way to manage her time.

Michelle looks forward to sharing stories about her fiction writing journey and how her time management philosophy of the 42 Minute Hour allowed her to lay the foundation to running two parallel careers, baking muffins for her son, planting her garden and still staying sane.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Michelle Oucharek-Deo, a writer, speaker and art therapist about her fiction writing journey, creative therapy, and her time management philosophy of the 42 Minute Hour.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Michelle talk about:

  • How Michelle became an art therapist 28 years ago, working with people from 3 to 103 years old
  • Using art and the process of art-making as a process for healing
  • A memory from Grade One involving being in the library and dreaming of one day being a writer
  • Being a creative writing major in university and how that didn't align with Michelle's vision
  • Sitting down to do some writing in her mid-30s and then again in her 40s; then diving in to engage in fiction writing
  • Michelle's first fiction and how it relates back to her life as a therapist
  • The journey towards self-discovery and being accountable for one's past and one's trauma
  • Her "Wine, Love, and Friendship" trilogy
  • Michelle's belief that there should be a "men's fiction" genre
  • The benefit of writing about important and sensitive subjects within a fictional setting
  • The colleague of Michelle's who read her first book and had it hit so close to home that she had to put the book aside for a while to process it in her mind
  • All the different types of creative and nature therapies that exist and which can cross-over
  • Michelle's thumbnail version of what art therapy is, as well as what it isn't
  • Using the ceremony of the art-making and the experience as a way of allowing someone the opportunity to effectively "say goodbye" to a cherished family pet
  • The 42 minute hour and how it relates to the tremendous amount of time so many of us seem to be "losing" lately
  • Finding and leveraging the time that exists as opposed to letting it sift away
  • Michelle's 42 Minute Club on Facebook
  • How we all have different and unique tools in our own baskets.
  • Advice Michelle has for dealing with writer's block or being stuck
  • And much more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of lost time as well as the concept of the different tools that we all possess and the way they work for us at different times.

Links of Interest:

Michelle Oucharek-Deo is a writer, speaker and art therapist who has dedicated herself to living her life on the sparkly side of the street. She spent 28 years with a paintbrush in her hand walking with people through their emotional journeys.

Several years ago she stepped outside of the counseling office to create her first fictional series about a woman pushing past her fear and looking at who she really wants to become. During the process of Michelle's emerging writing career, managing her counseling business and motherhood, she created a new and exciting way to manage her time.

Michelle looks forward to sharing stories about her fiction writing journey and how her time management philosophy of the 42 Minute Hour allowed her to lay the foundation to running two parallel careers, baking muffins for her son, planting her garden and still staying sane.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 53:55 false 5 274 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Michelle Oucharek-Deo, a writer, speaker and art therapist about her fiction writing journey, creative therapy, and her time management philosophy of the 42 Minute Hour. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Michelle talk about: How Michelle became an art therapist 28 years ago, working with people from 3 to 103 years old Using art and the process of art-making as a process for healing A memory from Grade One involving being in the library and dreaming of one day being a writer Being a creative writing major in university and how that didn't align with Michelle's vision Sitting down to do some writing in her mid-30s and then again in her 40s; then diving in to engage in fiction writing Michelle's first fiction and how it relates back to her life as a therapist The journey towards self-discovery and being accountable for one's past and one's trauma Her "Wine, Love, and Friendship" trilogy Michelle's belief that there should be a "men's fiction" genre The benefit of writing about important and sensitive subjects within a fictional setting The colleague of Michelle's who read her first book and had it hit so close to home that she had to put the book aside for a while to process it in her mind All the different types of creative and nature therapies that exist and which can cross-over Michelle's thumbnail version of what art therapy is, as well as what it isn't Using the ceremony of the art-making and the experience as a way of allowing someone the opportunity to effectively "say goodbye" to a cherished family pet The 42 minute hour and how it relates to the tremendous amount of time so many of us seem to be "losing" lately Finding and leveraging the time that exists as opposed to letting it sift away Michelle's 42 Minute Club on Facebook How we all have different and unique tools in our own baskets. Advice Michelle has for dealing with writer's block or being stuck And much more... After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of lost time as well as the concept of the different tools that we all possess and the way they work for us at different times.   Links of Interest: Michelle Oucharek-Deo Website The Girl in the Peach Tree Barefoot in the Dirt Untangled Vines The 42 Minute Club: Time With Intention (Facebook Group) EP 273 - Deep and Meaningful Music Connections with Jennifer Buchanan Findaway Voices Blog - Merchandising Call for Entries The Canadian Mounted Spotify Playlist The Official Lover's Moon Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Michelle Oucharek-Deo is a writer, speaker and art therapist who has dedicated herself to living her life on the sparkly side of the street. She spent 28 years with a paintbrush in her hand walking with people through their emotional journeys. Several years ago she stepped outside of the counseling office to create her first fictional series about a woman pushing past her fear and looking at who she really wants to become. During the process of Michelle's emerging writing career, managing her counseling business and motherhood, she created a new and exciting way to manage her time. Michelle looks forward to sharing stories about her fiction writing journey and how her time management philosophy of the 42 Minute Hour allowed her to lay the foundation to running two parallel careers, baking muffins for her son, planting her garden and still staying sane.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Michelle Oucharek-Deo, a writer, speaker and art therapist about her fiction writing journey, creative therapy, and her time management philosophy of the 42 Minute Hour. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Michelle talk about: How Michelle became an art therapist 28 years ago, working with people from 3 to 103 years old Using art and the process of art-making as a process for healing A memory from Grade One involving being in the library and dreaming of one day being a writer Being a creative writing major in university and how that didn't align with Michelle's vision Sitting down to do some writing in her mid-30s and then again in her 40s; then diving in to engage in fiction writing Michelle's first fiction and how it relates back to her life as a therapist The journey towards self-discovery and being accountable for one's past and one's trauma Her "Wine, Love, and Friendship" trilogy Michelle's belief that there should be a "men's fiction" genre The benefit of writing about important and sensitive subjects within a fictional setting The colleague of Michelle's who read her first book and had it hit so close to home that she had to put the book aside for a while to process it in her mind All the different types of creative and nature therapies that exist and which can cross-over Michelle's thumbnail version of what art therapy is, as well as what it isn't Using the ceremony of the art-making and the experience as a way of allowing someone the opportunity to effectively "say goodbye" to a cherished family pet The 42 minute hour and how it relates to the tremendous amount of time so many of us seem to be "losing" lately Finding and leveraging the time that exists as opposed to letting it sift away Michelle's 42 Minute Club on Facebook How we all have different and unique tools in our own baskets. Advice Michelle has for dealing with writer's block or being stuck And much more... After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of lost time as well as the concept of the different tools that we all possess and the way they work for us at different times.   Links of Interest: Michelle Oucharek-Deo Website The Girl in the Peach Tree Barefoot in the Dirt Untangled Vines The 42 Minute Club: Time With Intention (Facebook Group) EP 273 - Deep and Meaningful Music Connections with Jennifer Buchanan Findaway Voices Blog - Merchandising Call for Entries The Canadian Mounted Spotify Playlist The Official Lover's Moon Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Michelle Oucharek-Deo is a writer, speaker and art therapist who has dedicated herself to living her life on the sparkly side of the street. She spent 28 years with a paintbrush in her hand walking with people through their emotional journeys. Several years ago she stepped outside of the counseling office to create her first fictional series about a woman pushing past her fear and looking at who she really wants to become. During the process of Michelle's emerging writing career, managing her counseling business and motherhood, she created a new and exciting way to manage her time. Michelle looks forward to sharing stories about her fiction writing journey and how her time management philosophy of the 42 Minute Hour allowed her to lay the foundation to running two parallel careers, baking muffins for her son, planting her garden and still staying sane.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 273 - Deep and Meaningful Connections via Music with Jennifer Buchanan Deep and Meaningful Connections via Music with Jennifer Buchanan Thu, 20 Oct 2022 22:30:00 +0000 Mark interviews Jennifer Buchanan, a musician, author, entrepreneur, music therapist, and two-time award-winning author about her more than thirty years of experience helping people connect using music.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal reflective update and a word about this episode's sponsor that's also filled with a few reflections.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Jennifer talk about:

  • When Mark and Jennifer had last spoken and how much Jennifer enjoyed the conversation
  • How Jennifer has been a health entrepreneur who has been running her music therapy business for 31 years
  • Her youngest client is 2 months old, and her eldest is 104
  • Becoming an author and how that has been such a pleasure
  • Being passionate about music therapy and the good it can do
  • Reminding people of their innate humanness and the strengths that still exist inside them
  • Mark's unique music-related connection with his best-friend
  • The reason why Jennifer has "written another book"
  • Even though they can be short/small connections, music connections can be really meaningful and deep and lasting
  • Jennifer's re-released children's book (My Body is Special, Especially for Me) inspired by a group of children she had worked with and a song she wrote for them
  • Remembering that a song is never just a song, and that a playlist is never just a playlist
  • Finding out what your anchor songs are
  • How Jennifer's Book Tune In was meant to be her first and last book on the topic of music therapy. But that she loved it so much she fell back in love with the topic
  • The importance of never underestimating luck
  • Listening to the clues given by your body and your health
  • Getting out and doing movement and weight training
  • Missing just getting her guitar out and playing it and singing
  • And much more...

After the interview Mark reflects on three different things that the conversation made him think about.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Jennifer Buchanan first witnessed the power of music as a young teen when her Grandad had his second stroke leaving him unable to speak or walk and living in long term care. It was Granny who asked her the simple question…"Jenny would you bring your guitar next week and sing your Grandad's favorite song?"

As she sang, Jennifer would witness the face of the grumpy old man she thought she knew, turn into the tears of a man who wanted a more meaningful connection.

Today Jennifer Buchanan is the Founder of JB Music Therapy (JBMT), a company that has been instrumental in the implementation of hundreds of music therapy programs throughout Canada for more than 30 years and has been thrice nominated for the Community Impact Award by her local Chamber of Commerce. JB Music Therapy employs a specialized team of 18 Certified Music Therapists (MTAs) serving infants to elders in medical, education and community wellness settings.

As the author of two award-winning books and the current Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Music Therapists Jennifer is recognized as a trusted source for television and print media throughout North America on the topics of music, mental health and the power of a playlist.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Jennifer Buchanan, a musician, author, entrepreneur, music therapist, and two-time award-winning author about her more than thirty years of experience helping people connect using music.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal reflective update and a word about this episode's sponsor that's also filled with a few reflections.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Jennifer talk about:

  • When Mark and Jennifer had last spoken and how much Jennifer enjoyed the conversation
  • How Jennifer has been a health entrepreneur who has been running her music therapy business for 31 years
  • Her youngest client is 2 months old, and her eldest is 104
  • Becoming an author and how that has been such a pleasure
  • Being passionate about music therapy and the good it can do
  • Reminding people of their innate humanness and the strengths that still exist inside them
  • Mark's unique music-related connection with his best-friend
  • The reason why Jennifer has "written another book"
  • Even though they can be short/small connections, music connections can be really meaningful and deep and lasting
  • Jennifer's re-released children's book (My Body is Special, Especially for Me) inspired by a group of children she had worked with and a song she wrote for them
  • Remembering that a song is never just a song, and that a playlist is never just a playlist
  • Finding out what your anchor songs are
  • How Jennifer's Book Tune In was meant to be her first and last book on the topic of music therapy. But that she loved it so much she fell back in love with the topic
  • The importance of never underestimating luck
  • Listening to the clues given by your body and your health
  • Getting out and doing movement and weight training
  • Missing just getting her guitar out and playing it and singing
  • And much more...

After the interview Mark reflects on three different things that the conversation made him think about.

Links of Interest:

Jennifer Buchanan first witnessed the power of music as a young teen when her Grandad had his second stroke leaving him unable to speak or walk and living in long term care. It was Granny who asked her the simple question…"Jenny would you bring your guitar next week and sing your Grandad's favorite song?"

As she sang, Jennifer would witness the face of the grumpy old man she thought she knew, turn into the tears of a man who wanted a more meaningful connection.

Today Jennifer Buchanan is the Founder of JB Music Therapy (JBMT), a company that has been instrumental in the implementation of hundreds of music therapy programs throughout Canada for more than 30 years and has been thrice nominated for the Community Impact Award by her local Chamber of Commerce. JB Music Therapy employs a specialized team of 18 Certified Music Therapists (MTAs) serving infants to elders in medical, education and community wellness settings.

As the author of two award-winning books and the current Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Music Therapists Jennifer is recognized as a trusted source for television and print media throughout North America on the topics of music, mental health and the power of a playlist.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:03:53 false 5 273 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Jennifer Buchanan, a musician, author, entrepreneur, music therapist, and two-time award-winning author about her more than thirty years of experience helping people connect using music. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal reflective update and a word about this episode's sponsor that's also filled with a few reflections. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Jennifer talk about: When Mark and Jennifer had last spoken and how much Jennifer enjoyed the conversation How Jennifer has been a health entrepreneur who has been running her music therapy business for 31 years Her youngest client is 2 months old, and her eldest is 104 Becoming an author and how that has been such a pleasure Being passionate about music therapy and the good it can do Reminding people of their innate humanness and the strengths that still exist inside them Mark's unique music-related connection with his best-friend The reason why Jennifer has "written another book" Even though they can be short/small connections, music connections can be really meaningful and deep and lasting Jennifer's re-released children's book (My Body is Special, Especially for Me) inspired by a group of children she had worked with and a song she wrote for them Remembering that a song is never just a song, and that a playlist is never just a playlist Finding out what your anchor songs are How Jennifer's Book Tune In was meant to be her first and last book on the topic of music therapy. But that she loved it so much she fell back in love with the topic The importance of never underestimating luck Listening to the clues given by your body and your health Getting out and doing movement and weight training Missing just getting her guitar out and playing it and singing And much more... After the interview Mark reflects on three different things that the conversation made him think about.   Links of Interest: JB Music Therapy Jennifer Buchanan Website EP 151 - Wellness, Well Played with Jennifer Buchanan The Canadian Mounted Spotify Playlist The Official Lover's Moon Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Jennifer Buchanan first witnessed the power of music as a young teen when her Grandad had his second stroke leaving him unable to speak or walk and living in long term care. It was Granny who asked her the simple question…"Jenny would you bring your guitar next week and sing your Grandad's favorite song?" As she sang, Jennifer would witness the face of the grumpy old man she thought she knew, turn into the tears of a man who wanted a more meaningful connection. Today Jennifer Buchanan is the Founder of JB Music Therapy (JBMT), a company that has been instrumental in the implementation of hundreds of music therapy programs throughout Canada for more than 30 years and has been thrice nominated for the Community Impact Award by her local Chamber of Commerce. JB Music Therapy employs a specialized team of 18 Certified Music Therapists (MTAs) serving infants to elders in medical, education and community wellness settings. As the author of two award-winning books and the current Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Music Therapists Jennifer is recognized as a trusted source for television and print media throughout North America on the topics of music, mental health and the power of a playlist.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Jennifer Buchanan, a musician, author, entrepreneur, music therapist, and two-time award-winning author about her more than thirty years of experience helping people connect using music. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal reflective update and a word about this episode's sponsor that's also filled with a few reflections. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Jennifer talk about: When Mark and Jennifer had last spoken and how much Jennifer enjoyed the conversation How Jennifer has been a health entrepreneur who has been running her music therapy business for 31 years Her youngest client is 2 months old, and her eldest is 104 Becoming an author and how that has been such a pleasure Being passionate about music therapy and the good it can do Reminding people of their innate humanness and the strengths that still exist inside them Mark's unique music-related connection with his best-friend The reason why Jennifer has "written another book" Even though they can be short/small connections, music connections can be really meaningful and deep and lasting Jennifer's re-released children's book (My Body is Special, Especially for Me) inspired by a group of children she had worked with and a song she wrote for them Remembering that a song is never just a song, and that a playlist is never just a playlist Finding out what your anchor songs are How Jennifer's Book Tune In was meant to be her first and last book on the topic of music therapy. But that she loved it so much she fell back in love with the topic The importance of never underestimating luck Listening to the clues given by your body and your health Getting out and doing movement and weight training Missing just getting her guitar out and playing it and singing And much more... After the interview Mark reflects on three different things that the conversation made him think about.   Links of Interest: JB Music Therapy Jennifer Buchanan Website EP 151 - Wellness, Well Played with Jennifer Buchanan The Canadian Mounted Spotify Playlist The Official Lover's Moon Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Jennifer Buchanan first witnessed the power of music as a young teen when her Grandad had his second stroke leaving him unable to speak or walk and living in long term care. It was Granny who asked her the simple question…"Jenny would you bring your guitar next week and sing your Grandad's favorite song?" As she sang, Jennifer would witness the face of the grumpy old man she thought she knew, turn into the tears of a man who wanted a more meaningful connection. Today Jennifer Buchanan is the Founder of JB Music Therapy (JBMT), a company that has been instrumental in the implementation of hundreds of music therapy programs throughout Canada for more than 30 years and has been thrice nominated for the Community Impact Award by her local Chamber of Commerce. JB Music Therapy employs a specialized team of 18 Certified Music Therapists (MTAs) serving infants to elders in medical, education and community wellness settings. As the author of two award-winning books and the current Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Music Therapists Jennifer is recognized as a trusted source for television and print media throughout North America on the topics of music, mental health and the power of a playlist.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 272 - Camouflaged Sisters with Lila Holley camouflaged sisters, lila holley, service, miliary, civilian life, memoir Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:26:55 +0000 Mark interviews Lila Holley, a US Army combat Veteran, and the multiple award-winning author behind the Camouflaged Sisters brand.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Lila talk about:

  • Lila's life of more than two decades in the army, then transitioning into creating a platform allowing veteran women to share their stories
  • Trying to find her place in high school, but enjoying writing and getting excellent feedback and encouragement from a teacher
  • The difficulty of the transition of leaving the military and then re-creating that civilian life
  • Returning to journalling as an outlet in that transition
  • Sharing her experiences in order to help other veterans
  • Realizing how important to would be to help so many others share their own stories
  • How Lila works with veterans to help them share their experiences, reminding them that everyone has a story
  • The way Lila's first book eventually lead to an entire Camouflaged Sisters movement
  • The themes of the three different Camouflaged sisters books as well as the behind-the-rank series
  • Being the only female and the only black person in the room for parts of her career in the military service
  • Feeling like she had to work longer hours and keep proving herself, and how that pressure can often come from an internal place
  • The equal pay nature of the military service
  • Sharing your ugly truth and the lessons learned
  • How the military is a reflection of society
  • The importance of not feeling alone
  • The online community of Camouflaged Sisters and how people can be a part of it
  • Involvement of military family perspectives that are included in the community, the stories, and the books
  • The monthly safe space sisterhood chat that focuses on self-care
  • Why Lila decided to work towards her Masters in Publishing
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the power of writing, the power of story, of sharing one's story, of helping others share their story, and of ensuring that people realize they are not alone.

Links of Interest:

 

Lila Holley is a US Army combat Veteran. She is the multiple award-winning, Amazon bestselling visionary author behind the Camouflaged Sisters brand. This retired US Army Warrant Officer has published 9 total books, including 8 anthology books with 143 coauthors and has additional projects scheduled with the launch of her Camouflaged Sisters Publishing company.

Camouflaged Sisters empowers military women and women Veterans to take back the narrative and ownership of their stories. Lila believes there is no one better to tell these stories than those who lived them. She is creating an amazing platform that celebrates military women and women Veterans with her online community, virtual and live events, retreats and getaways, and workshops. Through this community military women connect with each other, access resources, and share their stories. Camouflaged Sisters is more than just books—it's a movement!

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Lila Holley, a US Army combat Veteran, and the multiple award-winning author behind the Camouflaged Sisters brand.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Lila talk about:

  • Lila's life of more than two decades in the army, then transitioning into creating a platform allowing veteran women to share their stories
  • Trying to find her place in high school, but enjoying writing and getting excellent feedback and encouragement from a teacher
  • The difficulty of the transition of leaving the military and then re-creating that civilian life
  • Returning to journalling as an outlet in that transition
  • Sharing her experiences in order to help other veterans
  • Realizing how important to would be to help so many others share their own stories
  • How Lila works with veterans to help them share their experiences, reminding them that everyone has a story
  • The way Lila's first book eventually lead to an entire Camouflaged Sisters movement
  • The themes of the three different Camouflaged sisters books as well as the behind-the-rank series
  • Being the only female and the only black person in the room for parts of her career in the military service
  • Feeling like she had to work longer hours and keep proving herself, and how that pressure can often come from an internal place
  • The equal pay nature of the military service
  • Sharing your ugly truth and the lessons learned
  • How the military is a reflection of society
  • The importance of not feeling alone
  • The online community of Camouflaged Sisters and how people can be a part of it
  • Involvement of military family perspectives that are included in the community, the stories, and the books
  • The monthly safe space sisterhood chat that focuses on self-care
  • Why Lila decided to work towards her Masters in Publishing
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the power of writing, the power of story, of sharing one's story, of helping others share their story, and of ensuring that people realize they are not alone.

Links of Interest:

Lila Holley is a US Army combat Veteran. She is the multiple award-winning, Amazon bestselling visionary author behind the Camouflaged Sisters brand. This retired US Army Warrant Officer has published 9 total books, including 8 anthology books with 143 coauthors and has additional projects scheduled with the launch of her Camouflaged Sisters Publishing company.

Camouflaged Sisters empowers military women and women Veterans to take back the narrative and ownership of their stories. Lila believes there is no one better to tell these stories than those who lived them. She is creating an amazing platform that celebrates military women and women Veterans with her online community, virtual and live events, retreats and getaways, and workshops. Through this community military women connect with each other, access resources, and share their stories. Camouflaged Sisters is more than just books—it's a movement!

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 48:51 false 5 272 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Lila Holley, a US Army combat Veteran, and the multiple award-winning author behind the Camouflaged Sisters brand. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Lila talk about: Lila's life of more than two decades in the army, then transitioning into creating a platform allowing veteran women to share their stories Trying to find her place in high school, but enjoying writing and getting excellent feedback and encouragement from a teacher The difficulty of the transition of leaving the military and then re-creating that civilian life Returning to journalling as an outlet in that transition Sharing her experiences in order to help other veterans Realizing how important to would be to help so many others share their own stories How Lila works with veterans to help them share their experiences, reminding them that everyone has a story The way Lila's first book eventually lead to an entire Camouflaged Sisters movement The themes of the three different Camouflaged sisters books as well as the behind-the-rank series Being the only female and the only black person in the room for parts of her career in the military service Feeling like she had to work longer hours and keep proving herself, and how that pressure can often come from an internal place The equal pay nature of the military service Sharing your ugly truth and the lessons learned How the military is a reflection of society The importance of not feeling alone The online community of Camouflaged Sisters and how people can be a part of it Involvement of military family perspectives that are included in the community, the stories, and the books The monthly safe space sisterhood chat that focuses on self-care Why Lila decided to work towards her Masters in Publishing And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the power of writing, the power of story, of sharing one's story, of helping others share their story, and of ensuring that people realize they are not alone. Links of Interest: Camouflaged Sisters Website EP 271 - Story Nerd Podcast with Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill EP 268 - Neurodivergence and the Creative Process with October K. Santerelli Draft2Digital Blog Post on Industry Insights for Q1 & Q2 of 2022 The Official LOVER'S MOON Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Lila Holley is a US Army combat Veteran. She is the multiple award-winning, Amazon bestselling visionary author behind the Camouflaged Sisters brand. This retired US Army Warrant Officer has published 9 total books, including 8 anthology books with 143 coauthors and has additional projects scheduled with the launch of her Camouflaged Sisters Publishing company. Camouflaged Sisters empowers military women and women Veterans to take back the narrative and ownership of their stories. Lila believes there is no one better to tell these stories than those who lived them. She is creating an amazing platform that celebrates military women and women Veterans with her online community, virtual and live events, retreats and getaways, and workshops. Through this community military women connect with each other, access resources, and share their stories. Camouflaged Sisters is more than just books—it's a movement!   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Lila Holley, a US Army combat Veteran, and the multiple award-winning author behind the Camouflaged Sisters brand. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Lila talk about: Lila's life of more than two decades in the army, then transitioning into creating a platform allowing veteran women to share their stories Trying to find her place in high school, but enjoying writing and getting excellent feedback and encouragement from a teacher The difficulty of the transition of leaving the military and then re-creating that civilian life Returning to journalling as an outlet in that transition Sharing her experiences in order to help other veterans Realizing how important to would be to help so many others share their own stories How Lila works with veterans to help them share their experiences, reminding them that everyone has a story The way Lila's first book eventually lead to an entire Camouflaged Sisters movement The themes of the three different Camouflaged sisters books as well as the behind-the-rank series Being the only female and the only black person in the room for parts of her career in the military service Feeling like she had to work longer hours and keep proving herself, and how that pressure can often come from an internal place The equal pay nature of the military service Sharing your ugly truth and the lessons learned How the military is a reflection of society The importance of not feeling alone The online community of Camouflaged Sisters and how people can be a part of it Involvement of military family perspectives that are included in the community, the stories, and the books The monthly safe space sisterhood chat that focuses on self-care Why Lila decided to work towards her Masters in Publishing And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the power of writing, the power of story, of sharing one's story, of helping others share their story, and of ensuring that people realize they are not alone. Links of Interest: Camouflaged Sisters Website EP 271 - Story Nerd Podcast with Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill EP 268 - Neurodivergence and the Creative Process with October K. Santerelli Draft2Digital Blog Post on Industry Insights for Q1 & Q2 of 2022 The Official LOVER'S MOON Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Lila Holley is a US Army combat Veteran. She is the multiple award-winning, Amazon bestselling visionary author behind the Camouflaged Sisters brand. This retired US Army Warrant Officer has published 9 total books, including 8 anthology books with 143 coauthors and has additional projects scheduled with the launch of her Camouflaged Sisters Publishing company. Camouflaged Sisters empowers military women and women Veterans to take back the narrative and ownership of their stories. Lila believes there is no one better to tell these stories than those who lived them. She is creating an amazing platform that celebrates military women and women Veterans with her online community, virtual and live events, retreats and getaways, and workshops. Through this community military women connect with each other, access resources, and share their stories. Camouflaged Sisters is more than just books—it's a movement!   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 271 - Story Nerd Podcast with Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill Story Nerd Podcast with Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill Thu, 06 Oct 2022 23:43:24 +0000 Mark interviews Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill of the Story Nerd Podcast. The Story Nerd Podcast demystifies story theory so writers spend less time studying and more time writing. Literary editors and writers, Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill, analyze a film a week as an example of a storytelling principle.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark, Valerie, and Melanie talk about:

  • How long it took for the three of them to coordinate the interview (2 months) and a bit of banter about time zones and Melanie being so further in the "future" than Valerie and Mark
  • Mark's nerding out on how the Y2K bug wasn't solved, it was just pushed back to 2050
  • Mal's background as a poet and her passion for writing poetry and how much passion could be conveyed in such a "small" piece
  • Loving poetry that has artwork or imagery with it
  • The real art that is involved in writing books that engage children
  • The point at which Valerie's day job got on her nerves enough and how she'd always enjoyed being creative via music and writing
  • Keeping track of how many words Valerie had written for and discarded from her novel Immortal
  • How Valerie and Melanie met
  • Applying story theory to their own manuscripts
  • Being an extrovert in an introvert's job
  • Learning something new with every single episode they produce
  • Doing things that are a bit fearful so that you can grow and improve
  • How their "hourly" recording session usually takes 3 hours because they're having so much fun and such insightful story discussion
  • It doesn't matter what genre one writes in, one can learn from reading all genres
  • How the concepts that they talk about on the podcast that relate to film can be applied to novel writing, because the story structure elements are all the same
  • Comparing walking, running, and running a marathon to the various steps on the writer journey
  • The way the podcast is broken down into seasons and the themes they are exploring
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on how Valerie and Melanie make story theory so easy by providing clear examples in a way that's easy and fun to digest, and recommends listeners go check out an episode or two starting with movies they're familiar with.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill of the Story Nerd Podcast. The Story Nerd Podcast demystifies story theory so writers spend less time studying and more time writing. Literary editors and writers, Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill, analyze a film a week as an example of a storytelling principle.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark, Valerie, and Melanie talk about:

  • How long it took for the three of them to coordinate the interview (2 months) and a bit of banter about time zones and Melanie being so further in the "future" than Valerie and Mark
  • Mark's nerding out on how the Y2K bug wasn't solved, it was just pushed back to 2050
  • Mal's background as a poet and her passion for writing poetry and how much passion could be conveyed in such a "small" piece
  • Loving poetry that has artwork or imagery with it
  • The real art that is involved in writing books that engage children
  • The point at which Valerie's day job got on her nerves enough and how she'd always enjoyed being creative via music and writing
  • Keeping track of how many words Valerie had written for and discarded from her novel Immortal
  • How Valerie and Melanie met
  • Applying story theory to their own manuscripts
  • Being an extrovert in an introvert's job
  • Learning something new with every single episode they produce
  • Doing things that are a bit fearful so that you can grow and improve
  • How their "hourly" recording session usually takes 3 hours because they're having so much fun and such insightful story discussion
  • It doesn't matter what genre one writes in, one can learn from reading all genres
  • How the concepts that they talk about on the podcast that relate to film can be applied to novel writing, because the story structure elements are all the same
  • Comparing walking, running, and running a marathon to the various steps on the writer journey
  • The way the podcast is broken down into seasons and the themes they are exploring
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on how Valerie and Melanie make story theory so easy by providing clear examples in a way that's easy and fun to digest, and recommends listeners go check out an episode or two starting with movies they're familiar with.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:09:26 false 5 271 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill of the Story Nerd Podcast. The Story Nerd Podcast demystifies story theory so writers spend less time studying and more time writing. Literary editors and writers, Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill, analyze a film a week as an example of a storytelling principle. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark, Valerie, and Melanie talk about: How long it took for the three of them to coordinate the interview (2 months) and a bit of banter about time zones and Melanie being so further in the "future" than Valerie and Mark Mark's nerding out on how the Y2K bug wasn't solved, it was just pushed back to 2050 Mal's background as a poet and her passion for writing poetry and how much passion could be conveyed in such a "small" piece Loving poetry that has artwork or imagery with it The real art that is involved in writing books that engage children The point at which Valerie's day job got on her nerves enough and how she'd always enjoyed being creative via music and writing Keeping track of how many words Valerie had written for and discarded from her novel Immortal How Valerie and Melanie met Applying story theory to their own manuscripts Being an extrovert in an introvert's job Learning something new with every single episode they produce Doing things that are a bit fearful so that you can grow and improve How their "hourly" recording session usually takes 3 hours because they're having so much fun and such insightful story discussion It doesn't matter what genre one writes in, one can learn from reading all genres How the concepts that they talk about on the podcast that relate to film can be applied to novel writing, because the story structure elements are all the same Comparing walking, running, and running a marathon to the various steps on the writer journey The way the podcast is broken down into seasons and the themes they are exploring And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on how Valerie and Melanie make story theory so easy by providing clear examples in a way that's easy and fun to digest, and recommends listeners go check out an episode or two starting with movies they're familiar with. Links of Interest: Story Nerd Podcast EP 213 - Putting Story Theory Into Practice with Valerie Francis EP 104 - Living the Writing & Editing Life with Valerie Francis EP 270 - Reflections from the NINC 2022 Conference EP 269 - Dreaming a Writer's Dream Straight on Until Morning with Gama Ray Martinez EP 268 - Neurodivergence and the Creative Process with October K. Santerelli EP 266 - "Let's Talk Dialogue with Jeff Elkins," He Said Reflectively EP 263 - Terry Brooks and Susanna Kearsley When Words Collide Keynotes The Official LOVER'S MOON Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) Thrifty Tips for Authors (Facebook Group) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill of the Story Nerd Podcast. The Story Nerd Podcast demystifies story theory so writers spend less time studying and more time writing. Literary editors and writers, Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill, analyze a film a week as an example of a storytelling principle. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark, Valerie, and Melanie talk about: How long it took for the three of them to coordinate the interview (2 months) and a bit of banter about time zones and Melanie being so further in the "future" than Valerie and Mark Mark's nerding out on how the Y2K bug wasn't solved, it was just pushed back to 2050 Mal's background as a poet and her passion for writing poetry and how much passion could be conveyed in such a "small" piece Loving poetry that has artwork or imagery with it The real art that is involved in writing books that engage children The point at which Valerie's day job got on her nerves enough and how she'd always enjoyed being creative via music and writing Keeping track of how many words Valerie had written for and discarded from her novel Immortal How Valerie and Melanie met Applying story theory to their own manuscripts Being an extrovert in an introvert's job Learning something new with every single episode they produce Doing things that are a bit fearful so that you can grow and improve How their "hourly" recording session usually takes 3 hours because they're having so much fun and such insightful story discussion It doesn't matter what genre one writes in, one can learn from reading all genres How the concepts that they talk about on the podcast that relate to film can be applied to novel writing, because the story structure elements are all the same Comparing walking, running, and running a marathon to the various steps on the writer journey The way the podcast is broken down into seasons and the themes they are exploring And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on how Valerie and Melanie make story theory so easy by providing clear examples in a way that's easy and fun to digest, and recommends listeners go check out an episode or two starting with movies they're familiar with. Links of Interest: Story Nerd Podcast EP 213 - Putting Story Theory Into Practice with Valerie Francis EP 104 - Living the Writing & Editing Life with Valerie Francis EP 270 - Reflections from the NINC 2022 Conference EP 269 - Dreaming a Writer's Dream Straight on Until Morning with Gama Ray Martinez EP 268 - Neurodivergence and the Creative Process with October K. Santerelli EP 266 - "Let's Talk Dialogue with Jeff Elkins," He Said Reflectively EP 263 - Terry Brooks and Susanna Kearsley When Words Collide Keynotes The Official LOVER'S MOON Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) Thrifty Tips for Authors (Facebook Group) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 270 - Reflections from the NINC 2022 Conference Mark Leslie Lefebvre Fri, 30 Sep 2022 00:13:42 +0000 This year's NINC (Novelist's Inc) Conference was themed "Work Smarter." Mark shares reflections based on the notes he took when at NINC the previous week (Sept 19 thru 25).

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> This year's NINC (Novelist's Inc) Conference was themed "Work Smarter." Mark shares reflections based on the notes he took when at NINC the previous week (Sept 19 thru 25).

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 33:36 false 5 270 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This year's NINC (Novelist's Inc) Conference was themed "Work Smarter." Mark shares reflections based on the notes he took when at NINC the previous week (Sept 19 thru 25). Prior to the main segment, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest: NINC NINC Author Membership Requirements About the NINC Conference EP 28 - Reflections on the Power of Moments The Official LOVER'S MOON Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) Thrifty Tips for Authors (Facebook Group) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 This year's NINC (Novelist's Inc) Conference was themed "Work Smarter." Mark shares reflections based on the notes he took when at NINC the previous week (Sept 19 thru 25). Prior to the main segment, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest: NINC NINC Author Membership Requirements About the NINC Conference EP 28 - Reflections on the Power of Moments The Official LOVER'S MOON Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) Thrifty Tips for Authors (Facebook Group) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 269 - Dreaming a Writer's Reality Straight on Until Morning with Gama Ray Martinez Dreaming a Writer's Reality Straight on Until Morning with Gama Ray Martinez Fri, 23 Sep 2022 04:01:00 +0000 Mark interviews Gama Ray Martinez about his recent novel GOD OF NEVERLAND, his writing life, and more.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and Gama talk about:

  • How Mark and Gama normally only see one another once per year at Superstars Writing Seminars in Colorado in Feb each year
  • Gama always wanting to be a writer, and in school turning in stories instead of descriptive essays
  • The first story that Gama sold, which won 2nd place in a David Farland anthology
  • Taking several of David Farland's workshops
  • Writing a "purple unicorn" story involving a potato based on a parody cover James A. Owen had crafted
  • The background of the "purple unicorn" story
  • Value that can come, both professionally and personally, from attending in person conferences like Superstars Writing Seminars
  • The inspiration for writing God of Neverland which came from the epilogue of the original story of Peter Pan
  • Embracing both traditional publishing and indie publishing
  • Having support from both family and close friends
  • The audiobook version, which took home an audio award
  • The forthcoming sequel, Queens of Wonderland, which ties in to the classic Lewis Carroll book
  • The GamaVerse of this series and how it will connect even more classic texts
  • Writing with something on the TV in the background, but it having to be something that he has seen countless times
  • Advice Gama would offer to other writers and beginning writers
  • How Gama shoots for one plot point per 1000 words when greating a rough outline for a writing project
  • Gama's goal to do a half-marathon in every state, and the Disney marathons he has participated in
  • The feeling of walking into a bookstore such as Barnes and Noble and seeing your books on display
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the years of hard work and investment Gama put into his writing to get to where he is today and the important of getting that first draft DONE.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Gama Ray Martinez lives near Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife and kids. He moved there solely because he likes mountains. He collects weapons in case he ever needs to supply a medieval battalion, and he greatly resents when work or other real-life things get in the way of writing. He secretly hopes to one day slay a dragon in single combat and doesn't believe in letting pesky little things like reality stand in the way of dreams.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Gama Ray Martinez about his recent novel GOD OF NEVERLAND, his writing life, and more.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and Gama talk about:

  • How Mark and Gama normally only see one another once per year at Superstars Writing Seminars in Colorado in Feb each year
  • Gama always wanting to be a writer, and in school turning in stories instead of descriptive essays
  • The first story that Gama sold, which won 2nd place in a David Farland anthology
  • Taking several of David Farland's workshops
  • Writing a "purple unicorn" story involving a potato based on a parody cover James A. Owen had crafted
  • The background of the "purple unicorn" story
  • Value that can come, both professionally and personally, from attending in person conferences like Superstars Writing Seminars
  • The inspiration for writing God of Neverland which came from the epilogue of the original story of Peter Pan
  • Embracing both traditional publishing and indie publishing
  • Having support from both family and close friends
  • The audiobook version, which took home an audio award
  • The forthcoming sequel, Queens of Wonderland, which ties in to the classic Lewis Carroll book
  • The GamaVerse of this series and how it will connect even more classic texts
  • Writing with something on the TV in the background, but it having to be something that he has seen countless times
  • Advice Gama would offer to other writers and beginning writers
  • How Gama shoots for one plot point per 1000 words when greating a rough outline for a writing project
  • Gama's goal to do a half-marathon in every state, and the Disney marathons he has participated in
  • The feeling of walking into a bookstore such as Barnes and Noble and seeing your books on display
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the years of hard work and investment Gama put into his writing to get to where he is today and the important of getting that first draft DONE.

Links of Interest:

Gama Ray Martinez lives near Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife and kids. He moved there solely because he likes mountains. He collects weapons in case he ever needs to supply a medieval battalion, and he greatly resents when work or other real-life things get in the way of writing. He secretly hopes to one day slay a dragon in single combat and doesn't believe in letting pesky little things like reality stand in the way of dreams.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 42:12 false 5 269 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Gama Ray Martinez about his recent novel GOD OF NEVERLAND, his writing life, and more. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and Gama talk about: How Mark and Gama normally only see one another once per year at Superstars Writing Seminars in Colorado in Feb each year Gama always wanting to be a writer, and in school turning in stories instead of descriptive essays The first story that Gama sold, which won 2nd place in a David Farland anthology Taking several of David Farland's workshops Writing a "purple unicorn" story involving a potato based on a parody cover James A. Owen had crafted The background of the "purple unicorn" story Value that can come, both professionally and personally, from attending in person conferences like Superstars Writing Seminars The inspiration for writing God of Neverland which came from the epilogue of the original story of Peter Pan Embracing both traditional publishing and indie publishing Having support from both family and close friends The audiobook version, which took home an audio award The forthcoming sequel, Queens of Wonderland, which ties in to the classic Lewis Carroll book The GamaVerse of this series and how it will connect even more classic texts Writing with something on the TV in the background, but it having to be something that he has seen countless times Advice Gama would offer to other writers and beginning writers How Gama shoots for one plot point per 1000 words when greating a rough outline for a writing project Gama's goal to do a half-marathon in every state, and the Disney marathons he has participated in The feeling of walking into a bookstore such as Barnes and Noble and seeing your books on display And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the years of hard work and investment Gama put into his writing to get to where he is today and the important of getting that first draft DONE.   Links of Interest: Gama Ray Martinez Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Gama Ray Martinez lives near Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife and kids. He moved there solely because he likes mountains. He collects weapons in case he ever needs to supply a medieval battalion, and he greatly resents when work or other real-life things get in the way of writing. He secretly hopes to one day slay a dragon in single combat and doesn't believe in letting pesky little things like reality stand in the way of dreams.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Gama Ray Martinez about his recent novel GOD OF NEVERLAND, his writing life, and more. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and Gama talk about: How Mark and Gama normally only see one another once per year at Superstars Writing Seminars in Colorado in Feb each year Gama always wanting to be a writer, and in school turning in stories instead of descriptive essays The first story that Gama sold, which won 2nd place in a David Farland anthology Taking several of David Farland's workshops Writing a "purple unicorn" story involving a potato based on a parody cover James A. Owen had crafted The background of the "purple unicorn" story Value that can come, both professionally and personally, from attending in person conferences like Superstars Writing Seminars The inspiration for writing God of Neverland which came from the epilogue of the original story of Peter Pan Embracing both traditional publishing and indie publishing Having support from both family and close friends The audiobook version, which took home an audio award The forthcoming sequel, Queens of Wonderland, which ties in to the classic Lewis Carroll book The GamaVerse of this series and how it will connect even more classic texts Writing with something on the TV in the background, but it having to be something that he has seen countless times Advice Gama would offer to other writers and beginning writers How Gama shoots for one plot point per 1000 words when greating a rough outline for a writing project Gama's goal to do a half-marathon in every state, and the Disney marathons he has participated in The feeling of walking into a bookstore such as Barnes and Noble and seeing your books on display And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the years of hard work and investment Gama put into his writing to get to where he is today and the important of getting that first draft DONE.   Links of Interest: Gama Ray Martinez Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Gama Ray Martinez lives near Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife and kids. He moved there solely because he likes mountains. He collects weapons in case he ever needs to supply a medieval battalion, and he greatly resents when work or other real-life things get in the way of writing. He secretly hopes to one day slay a dragon in single combat and doesn't believe in letting pesky little things like reality stand in the way of dreams.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 268 - Neurodivergence and the Creative Process with October K. Santerelli Neurodivergence and the Creative Process with October K. Santerelli Thu, 15 Sep 2022 22:16:10 +0000 Mark interviews October K. Santerelli about neurodivergence as it relates to the writing life.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and October talk about:

  • October's start with writing during a 7th Grade poetry unit project receiving an A+
  • Dedicating his first book to that teacher who was so inspiring and supportive
  • Getting a publishing deal offer at the age of sixteen
  • Doing a lot of fantasy writing (that got finished) as well as Queer fiction (that never got finished)- Loving the act of "spite writing"
  • The terms of Neurotypical, Neurodivergent, and their understanding within the writer's life
  • How ADHD and Autism spectrum can have really powerful effects on your writing career
  • The way that many of the "rules" for writers don't align with a brain that isn't neurotypical
  • Giving a general guideline on how something might feel - ie, the results rather than the strict processes
  • October creating mini "celebrations" to accompany completely particular small victories
  • Showing how he re-frames some of the standard bits of advice that work well for him
  • The useful and valuable tool of doing writing sprints and how it creates a short and very immediate deadline
  • And more...

After the interview Mark shares a few reflections and reminds authors that not all "how to" and recommended processes are a "fit all" option. Adaptation into one's own manners and systems is important.

Links of Interest:

 

October K Santerelli is a fantasy author from the mountains of Denver, Colorado, USA. He is an LGBTQ+ writer and sensitivity reader, as well as a public speaker on disability, neurodivergency, and Own Voices writing in the publishing industry.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews October K. Santerelli about neurodivergence as it relates to the writing life.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and October talk about:

  • October's start with writing during a 7th Grade poetry unit project receiving an A+
  • Dedicating his first book to that teacher who was so inspiring and supportive
  • Getting a publishing deal offer at the age of sixteen
  • Doing a lot of fantasy writing (that got finished) as well as Queer fiction (that never got finished)- Loving the act of "spite writing"
  • The terms of Neurotypical, Neurodivergent, and their understanding within the writer's life
  • How ADHD and Autism spectrum can have really powerful effects on your writing career
  • The way that many of the "rules" for writers don't align with a brain that isn't neurotypical
  • Giving a general guideline on how something might feel - ie, the results rather than the strict processes
  • October creating mini "celebrations" to accompany completely particular small victories
  • Showing how he re-frames some of the standard bits of advice that work well for him
  • The useful and valuable tool of doing writing sprints and how it creates a short and very immediate deadline
  • And more...

After the interview Mark shares a few reflections and reminds authors that not all "how to" and recommended processes are a "fit all" option. Adaptation into one's own manners and systems is important.

Links of Interest:

October K Santerelli is a fantasy author from the mountains of Denver, Colorado, USA. He is an LGBTQ+ writer and sensitivity reader, as well as a public speaker on disability, neurodivergency, and Own Voices writing in the publishing industry.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 46:27 false 5 268 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews October K. Santerelli about neurodivergence as it relates to the writing life. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and October talk about: October's start with writing during a 7th Grade poetry unit project receiving an A+ Dedicating his first book to that teacher who was so inspiring and supportive Getting a publishing deal offer at the age of sixteen Doing a lot of fantasy writing (that got finished) as well as Queer fiction (that never got finished)- Loving the act of "spite writing" The terms of Neurotypical, Neurodivergent, and their understanding within the writer's life How ADHD and Autism spectrum can have really powerful effects on your writing career The way that many of the "rules" for writers don't align with a brain that isn't neurotypical Giving a general guideline on how something might feel - ie, the results rather than the strict processes October creating mini "celebrations" to accompany completely particular small victories Showing how he re-frames some of the standard bits of advice that work well for him The useful and valuable tool of doing writing sprints and how it creates a short and very immediate deadline And more... After the interview Mark shares a few reflections and reminds authors that not all "how to" and recommended processes are a "fit all" option. Adaptation into one's own manners and systems is important. Links of Interest: October K. Santerelli Website October on TikTok October's Course on Neurodiversity for Creatives Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   October K Santerelli is a fantasy author from the mountains of Denver, Colorado, USA. He is an LGBTQ+ writer and sensitivity reader, as well as a public speaker on disability, neurodivergency, and Own Voices writing in the publishing industry.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews October K. Santerelli about neurodivergence as it relates to the writing life. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and October talk about: October's start with writing during a 7th Grade poetry unit project receiving an A+ Dedicating his first book to that teacher who was so inspiring and supportive Getting a publishing deal offer at the age of sixteen Doing a lot of fantasy writing (that got finished) as well as Queer fiction (that never got finished)- Loving the act of "spite writing" The terms of Neurotypical, Neurodivergent, and their understanding within the writer's life How ADHD and Autism spectrum can have really powerful effects on your writing career The way that many of the "rules" for writers don't align with a brain that isn't neurotypical Giving a general guideline on how something might feel - ie, the results rather than the strict processes October creating mini "celebrations" to accompany completely particular small victories Showing how he re-frames some of the standard bits of advice that work well for him The useful and valuable tool of doing writing sprints and how it creates a short and very immediate deadline And more... After the interview Mark shares a few reflections and reminds authors that not all "how to" and recommended processes are a "fit all" option. Adaptation into one's own manners and systems is important. Links of Interest: October K. Santerelli Website October on TikTok October's Course on Neurodiversity for Creatives Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   October K Santerelli is a fantasy author from the mountains of Denver, Colorado, USA. He is an LGBTQ+ writer and sensitivity reader, as well as a public speaker on disability, neurodivergency, and Own Voices writing in the publishing industry.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 267 - Why Publishing Needs a Makeover with Rebecca Eckler Why Publishing Needs a Makeover with Rebecca Eckler Thu, 08 Sep 2022 22:00:00 +0000 Mark interviews Rebecca Eckler, journalist, bestselling author and the founder of RE: Books.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, reads listener comments, and announces the patron winner of the Dialogue Doctor Masterclass

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and Rebecca talk about about:

  • The concept of retirement when it relates to writing
  • Feeling "done" after publishing 10 books with the big publishing houses
  • The concept of helping younger aspiring female authors
  • Haters being a person's best motivator
  • While Rebecca believes that publishing needs a makeover
  • Spending an afternoon outside a bookstore in order to better understand why people purchased the books they picked up that day
  • The pathetically low average advances that are being offered by publishers and how Rebecca is using a different model
  • The features that Rebecca includes on her blog/newsletter
  • Rebecca's focus on wanting to help prop up Canadian female authors
  • Hosting the annual #writeaway summer contest
  • How most traditional publishers do all the work preparing a book but only publicize a handful of their books
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on Rebecca's focus on readers and propping up Canadian female authors, and the fixin' that is needed in the publishing industry.

Links of Interest:

 

In addition to being one of Canada's most well-known journalists, Rebecca Eckler is an international bestselling author. She's penned 10 books, including the famous Knocked Up: Confessions of a Hip Mother-to-Be, Wiped! Life with a Pint-Sized Dictator, Toddlers Gone Wild, How to Raise a Boyfriend, Mommy Mob, and her most recent success, Blissfully Blended Bullsh*t.

Eckler lives in Toronto with her two kids: Rowan and Holt. When she's not writing or working on re:books, you can find her sharing her brutally honest opinions on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Rebecca Eckler, journalist, bestselling author and the founder of RE: Books.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, reads listener comments, and announces the patron winner of the Dialogue Doctor Masterclass

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and Rebecca talk about about:

  • The concept of retirement when it relates to writing
  • Feeling "done" after publishing 10 books with the big publishing houses
  • The concept of helping younger aspiring female authors
  • Haters being a person's best motivator
  • While Rebecca believes that publishing needs a makeover
  • Spending an afternoon outside a bookstore in order to better understand why people purchased the books they picked up that day
  • The pathetically low average advances that are being offered by publishers and how Rebecca is using a different model
  • The features that Rebecca includes on her blog/newsletter
  • Rebecca's focus on wanting to help prop up Canadian female authors
  • Hosting the annual #writeaway summer contest
  • How most traditional publishers do all the work preparing a book but only publicize a handful of their books
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on Rebecca's focus on readers and propping up Canadian female authors, and the fixin' that is needed in the publishing industry.

Links of Interest:

In addition to being one of Canada's most well-known journalists, Rebecca Eckler is an international bestselling author. She's penned 10 books, including the famous Knocked Up: Confessions of a Hip Mother-to-Be, Wiped! Life with a Pint-Sized Dictator, Toddlers Gone Wild, How to Raise a Boyfriend, Mommy Mob, and her most recent success, Blissfully Blended Bullsh*t.

Eckler lives in Toronto with her two kids: Rowan and Holt. When she's not writing or working on re:books, you can find her sharing her brutally honest opinions on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:02:53 false 5 267 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Rebecca Eckler, journalist, bestselling author and the founder of RE: Books. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, reads listener comments, and announces the patron winner of the Dialogue Doctor Masterclass You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and Rebecca talk about about: The concept of retirement when it relates to writing Feeling "done" after publishing 10 books with the big publishing houses The concept of helping younger aspiring female authors Haters being a person's best motivator While Rebecca believes that publishing needs a makeover Spending an afternoon outside a bookstore in order to better understand why people purchased the books they picked up that day The pathetically low average advances that are being offered by publishers and how Rebecca is using a different model The features that Rebecca includes on her blog/newsletter Rebecca's focus on wanting to help prop up Canadian female authors Hosting the annual #writeaway summer contest How most traditional publishers do all the work preparing a book but only publicize a handful of their books And more... After the interview Mark reflects on Rebecca's focus on readers and propping up Canadian female authors, and the fixin' that is needed in the publishing industry. Links of Interest: Rebecca's Website Rebecca - Facebook Rebecca - Twitter The Dialogue Doctor Sept 10, 2022 - Dialogue MasterClass EP 266 - "Let's Talk Dialogue With Jeff Elkins," He Said Reflectively EP 262 - Rambling Hometown Reflections Buy Mark a Coffee Sell More Books Show - EP 439 (Mark as guest co-host) Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   In addition to being one of Canada's most well-known journalists, Rebecca Eckler is an international bestselling author. She's penned 10 books, including the famous Knocked Up: Confessions of a Hip Mother-to-Be, Wiped! Life with a Pint-Sized Dictator, Toddlers Gone Wild, How to Raise a Boyfriend, Mommy Mob, and her most recent success, Blissfully Blended Bullsh*t. Eckler lives in Toronto with her two kids: Rowan and Holt. When she's not writing or working on re:books, you can find her sharing her brutally honest opinions on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Rebecca Eckler, journalist, bestselling author and the founder of RE: Books. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, reads listener comments, and announces the patron winner of the Dialogue Doctor Masterclass You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and Rebecca talk about about: The concept of retirement when it relates to writing Feeling "done" after publishing 10 books with the big publishing houses The concept of helping younger aspiring female authors Haters being a person's best motivator While Rebecca believes that publishing needs a makeover Spending an afternoon outside a bookstore in order to better understand why people purchased the books they picked up that day The pathetically low average advances that are being offered by publishers and how Rebecca is using a different model The features that Rebecca includes on her blog/newsletter Rebecca's focus on wanting to help prop up Canadian female authors Hosting the annual #writeaway summer contest How most traditional publishers do all the work preparing a book but only publicize a handful of their books And more... After the interview Mark reflects on Rebecca's focus on readers and propping up Canadian female authors, and the fixin' that is needed in the publishing industry. Links of Interest: Rebecca's Website Rebecca - Facebook Rebecca - Twitter The Dialogue Doctor Sept 10, 2022 - Dialogue MasterClass EP 266 - "Let's Talk Dialogue With Jeff Elkins," He Said Reflectively EP 262 - Rambling Hometown Reflections Buy Mark a Coffee Sell More Books Show - EP 439 (Mark as guest co-host) Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   In addition to being one of Canada's most well-known journalists, Rebecca Eckler is an international bestselling author. She's penned 10 books, including the famous Knocked Up: Confessions of a Hip Mother-to-Be, Wiped! Life with a Pint-Sized Dictator, Toddlers Gone Wild, How to Raise a Boyfriend, Mommy Mob, and her most recent success, Blissfully Blended Bullsh*t. Eckler lives in Toronto with her two kids: Rowan and Holt. When she's not writing or working on re:books, you can find her sharing her brutally honest opinions on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 266 - "Let's Talk Dialogue with Jeff Elkins," He Said Reflectively "Let's Talk Dialogue with Jeff Elkins," He Said Reflectively Thu, 01 Sep 2022 22:21:42 +0000 Mark has a conversation with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor.

Prior to the main segment, Mark explains his goof-up that led to releasing this particular episode and then shares a few words about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and Jeff speak, chat, discuss, converse, reflect, consider, chew on, and talk about about:

  • How a book that is 160 K can read like it's so much shorter because it's 95% dialogue
  • Remembering that dialogue is just another tool that we, as writers can use - and how can it help impact the emotional resonance of your story
  • The distance skyline of NYC versus the details of a narrow street as a parallel for two types of writing (prose and dialogue)
  • The energy-building dialogue of Aaron Sorkin in shows like The West Wing
  • Dialogue in action scenes
  • The love/hate relationship writers can have with dialogue tags
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on one of the things he is going to try in his own writing to help improve his dialogue.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Jeff Elkins writes stories about outsiders who fight for outcasts, rejects, and the oppressed. He is the author of more than ten novels, a Certified Three Story Method Editor, and the host of the Dialogue Doctor podcast. During the day, he leads the writing team for a training company that simulates difficult conversations. He lives north of Baltimore, Maryland with his wife of twenty-years and his five kids.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

 

]]> Mark has a conversation with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor.

Prior to the main segment, Mark explains his goof-up that led to releasing this particular episode and then shares a few words about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and Jeff speak, chat, discuss, converse, reflect, consider, chew on, and talk about about:

  • How a book that is 160 K can read like it's so much shorter because it's 95% dialogue
  • Remembering that dialogue is just another tool that we, as writers can use - and how can it help impact the emotional resonance of your story
  • The distance skyline of NYC versus the details of a narrow street as a parallel for two types of writing (prose and dialogue)
  • The energy-building dialogue of Aaron Sorkin in shows like The West Wing
  • Dialogue in action scenes
  • The love/hate relationship writers can have with dialogue tags
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on one of the things he is going to try in his own writing to help improve his dialogue.

Links of Interest:

Jeff Elkins writes stories about outsiders who fight for outcasts, rejects, and the oppressed. He is the author of more than ten novels, a Certified Three Story Method Editor, and the host of the Dialogue Doctor podcast. During the day, he leads the writing team for a training company that simulates difficult conversations. He lives north of Baltimore, Maryland with his wife of twenty-years and his five kids.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 39:34 false 5 266 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark has a conversation with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor. Prior to the main segment, Mark explains his goof-up that led to releasing this particular episode and then shares a few words about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and Jeff speak, chat, discuss, converse, reflect, consider, chew on, and talk about about: How a book that is 160 K can read like it's so much shorter because it's 95% dialogue Remembering that dialogue is just another tool that we, as writers can use - and how can it help impact the emotional resonance of your story The distance skyline of NYC versus the details of a narrow street as a parallel for two types of writing (prose and dialogue) The energy-building dialogue of Aaron Sorkin in shows like The West Wing Dialogue in action scenes The love/hate relationship writers can have with dialogue tags And more... After the interview Mark reflects on one of the things he is going to try in his own writing to help improve his dialogue.   Links of Interest: Jeff Elkins' Website The Dialogue Doctor Sept 10, 2022 - Dialogue MasterClass Draft2Digital LIVE (Self-Publishing Insiders) - Sept 1, 2022 - The Dialogue Doctor with Jeff Elkins (FULL INTERVIEW) Episode 157 - A Conversation with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor Episode 172 - Understanding and Navigating Gender Episode 226 - Reflective Round Table December 2021 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Jeff Elkins writes stories about outsiders who fight for outcasts, rejects, and the oppressed. He is the author of more than ten novels, a Certified Three Story Method Editor, and the host of the Dialogue Doctor podcast. During the day, he leads the writing team for a training company that simulates difficult conversations. He lives north of Baltimore, Maryland with his wife of twenty-years and his five kids.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   Mark has a conversation with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor. Prior to the main segment, Mark explains his goof-up that led to releasing this particular episode and then shares a few words about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and Jeff speak, chat, discuss, converse, reflect, consider, chew on, and talk about about: How a book that is 160 K can read like it's so much shorter because it's 95% dialogue Remembering that dialogue is just another tool that we, as writers can use - and how can it help impact the emotional resonance of your story The distance skyline of NYC versus the details of a narrow street as a parallel for two types of writing (prose and dialogue) The energy-building dialogue of Aaron Sorkin in shows like The West Wing Dialogue in action scenes The love/hate relationship writers can have with dialogue tags And more... After the interview Mark reflects on one of the things he is going to try in his own writing to help improve his dialogue.   Links of Interest: Jeff Elkins' Website The Dialogue Doctor Sept 10, 2022 - Dialogue MasterClass Draft2Digital LIVE (Self-Publishing Insiders) - Sept 1, 2022 - The Dialogue Doctor with Jeff Elkins (FULL INTERVIEW) Episode 157 - A Conversation with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor Episode 172 - Understanding and Navigating Gender Episode 226 - Reflective Round Table December 2021 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Jeff Elkins writes stories about outsiders who fight for outcasts, rejects, and the oppressed. He is the author of more than ten novels, a Certified Three Story Method Editor, and the host of the Dialogue Doctor podcast. During the day, he leads the writing team for a training company that simulates difficult conversations. He lives north of Baltimore, Maryland with his wife of twenty-years and his five kids.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    EP 265 - Elizabeth Ann West and Randall Wood of Scribecount Elizabeth Ann West and Randall Wood of Scribecount Fri, 26 Aug 2022 04:01:00 +0000 Mark has a chat with Elizabeth Ann West and Randall Wood.

Elizabeth Ann West is not only the public face of ScribeCount but is also an author whose books have hit the bestseller lists on all major vendors, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, Google Play, and Kobo.

Randall Wood is the author of the bestselling Jack Randall thrillers and co-founder of ScribeCount a platform with the desire to be the preeminent author service platform, offering services every author needs.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares recent comments, a personal update, and a few words about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark, Elizabeth and Randall talk about:

  • Elizabeth's new role at Scribecount
  • Why Elizabeth goes to conferences with two notebooks
  • The origin of ScribeCount in the back of a room and on cocktail napkins at NINC (Novelist's Inc) in Florida
  • Randall and Elizabeth's background as writers
  • The decision Randall made related to signing a deal with Tor versus indie publishing
  • Elizabeth's earliest entrepreneur activities which involved killing her mother's rubber tree plant at the age of eight
  • The thrill of landing on writing "Jane Austin fan fiction" style historical romance
  • Why Elizabeth sells her eBooks at $9.99
  • An overview of what ScribeCount is and how it helps authors understand their sales data from numerous sources
  • The complications that come with understanding advertising and marketing expenditures related to sales campaign
  • The difference of earnings in a month (live reporting) versus payments in a month (usually delayed 30 to 90 days)
  • "Get off the spreadsheet, get on the Sunburst!"
  • How ScribeCount is free to use until an author earns more than $999/month
  • Launching Ingram Spark into the platform (which did happen roughly half way through August 2022)
  • The very clear privacy policy that ScribeCount has, preserving data for ONLY each author account - it is never merged with other data
  • The learning library that Elizabeth is working on to help mid-list authors learn how to leverage the data and the tools ScribeCount has
  • Some of the conferences that Elizabeth and Randall will be at over the next little while
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the author-centric nature of ScribeCount and why that is so important. He also shares his thoughts on Elizabeth's $9.99 price point for her novels.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark has a chat with Elizabeth Ann West and Randall Wood.

Elizabeth Ann West is not only the public face of ScribeCount but is also an author whose books have hit the bestseller lists on all major vendors, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, Google Play, and Kobo.

Randall Wood is the author of the bestselling Jack Randall thrillers and co-founder of ScribeCount a platform with the desire to be the preeminent author service platform, offering services every author needs.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares recent comments, a personal update, and a few words about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark, Elizabeth and Randall talk about:

  • Elizabeth's new role at Scribecount
  • Why Elizabeth goes to conferences with two notebooks
  • The origin of ScribeCount in the back of a room and on cocktail napkins at NINC (Novelist's Inc) in Florida
  • Randall and Elizabeth's background as writers
  • The decision Randall made related to signing a deal with Tor versus indie publishing
  • Elizabeth's earliest entrepreneur activities which involved killing her mother's rubber tree plant at the age of eight
  • The thrill of landing on writing "Jane Austin fan fiction" style historical romance
  • Why Elizabeth sells her eBooks at $9.99
  • An overview of what ScribeCount is and how it helps authors understand their sales data from numerous sources
  • The complications that come with understanding advertising and marketing expenditures related to sales campaign
  • The difference of earnings in a month (live reporting) versus payments in a month (usually delayed 30 to 90 days)
  • "Get off the spreadsheet, get on the Sunburst!"
  • How ScribeCount is free to use until an author earns more than $999/month
  • Launching Ingram Spark into the platform (which did happen roughly half way through August 2022)
  • The very clear privacy policy that ScribeCount has, preserving data for ONLY each author account - it is never merged with other data
  • The learning library that Elizabeth is working on to help mid-list authors learn how to leverage the data and the tools ScribeCount has
  • Some of the conferences that Elizabeth and Randall will be at over the next little while
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the author-centric nature of ScribeCount and why that is so important. He also shares his thoughts on Elizabeth's $9.99 price point for her novels.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:02:02 false 5 265 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark has a chat with Elizabeth Ann West and Randall Wood. Elizabeth Ann West is not only the public face of ScribeCount but is also an author whose books have hit the bestseller lists on all major vendors, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, Google Play, and Kobo. Randall Wood is the author of the bestselling Jack Randall thrillers and co-founder of ScribeCount a platform with the desire to be the preeminent author service platform, offering services every author needs. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares recent comments, a personal update, and a few words about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark, Elizabeth and Randall talk about: Elizabeth's new role at Scribecount Why Elizabeth goes to conferences with two notebooks The origin of ScribeCount in the back of a room and on cocktail napkins at NINC (Novelist's Inc) in Florida Randall and Elizabeth's background as writers The decision Randall made related to signing a deal with Tor versus indie publishing Elizabeth's earliest entrepreneur activities which involved killing her mother's rubber tree plant at the age of eight The thrill of landing on writing "Jane Austin fan fiction" style historical romance Why Elizabeth sells her eBooks at $9.99 An overview of what ScribeCount is and how it helps authors understand their sales data from numerous sources The complications that come with understanding advertising and marketing expenditures related to sales campaign The difference of earnings in a month (live reporting) versus payments in a month (usually delayed 30 to 90 days) "Get off the spreadsheet, get on the Sunburst!" How ScribeCount is free to use until an author earns more than $999/month Launching Ingram Spark into the platform (which did happen roughly half way through August 2022) The very clear privacy policy that ScribeCount has, preserving data for ONLY each author account - it is never merged with other data The learning library that Elizabeth is working on to help mid-list authors learn how to leverage the data and the tools ScribeCount has Some of the conferences that Elizabeth and Randall will be at over the next little while And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the author-centric nature of ScribeCount and why that is so important. He also shares his thoughts on Elizabeth's $9.99 price point for her novels. Links of Interest: ScribeCount (Mark's affiliate link) Elizabeth Ann West Randal Wood EP 263 - Terry Brooks & Susanna Kearsley - WWC Keynotes Part 1 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark has a chat with Elizabeth Ann West and Randall Wood. Elizabeth Ann West is not only the public face of ScribeCount but is also an author whose books have hit the bestseller lists on all major vendors, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, Google Play, and Kobo. Randall Wood is the author of the bestselling Jack Randall thrillers and co-founder of ScribeCount a platform with the desire to be the preeminent author service platform, offering services every author needs. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares recent comments, a personal update, and a few words about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark, Elizabeth and Randall talk about: Elizabeth's new role at Scribecount Why Elizabeth goes to conferences with two notebooks The origin of ScribeCount in the back of a room and on cocktail napkins at NINC (Novelist's Inc) in Florida Randall and Elizabeth's background as writers The decision Randall made related to signing a deal with Tor versus indie publishing Elizabeth's earliest entrepreneur activities which involved killing her mother's rubber tree plant at the age of eight The thrill of landing on writing "Jane Austin fan fiction" style historical romance Why Elizabeth sells her eBooks at $9.99 An overview of what ScribeCount is and how it helps authors understand their sales data from numerous sources The complications that come with understanding advertising and marketing expenditures related to sales campaign The difference of earnings in a month (live reporting) versus payments in a month (usually delayed 30 to 90 days) "Get off the spreadsheet, get on the Sunburst!" How ScribeCount is free to use until an author earns more than $999/month Launching Ingram Spark into the platform (which did happen roughly half way through August 2022) The very clear privacy policy that ScribeCount has, preserving data for ONLY each author account - it is never merged with other data The learning library that Elizabeth is working on to help mid-list authors learn how to leverage the data and the tools ScribeCount has Some of the conferences that Elizabeth and Randall will be at over the next little while And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the author-centric nature of ScribeCount and why that is so important. He also shares his thoughts on Elizabeth's $9.99 price point for her novels. Links of Interest: ScribeCount (Mark's affiliate link) Elizabeth Ann West Randal Wood EP 263 - Terry Brooks & Susanna Kearsley - WWC Keynotes Part 1 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 264 - Hank Phillippi Ryan & Edward Willett - When Words Collide Keynotes (Part 2) Hank Phillippi Ryan & Edward Willett - When Words Collide Keynotes (Part 2) Sun, 21 Aug 2022 04:01:00 +0000 Mark shares the keynotes given by Hank Phillippi Ryan and Edward Willett from an event he hosted on August 12, 2022 for the virtual When Words Collide 2022 annual conference.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a few words about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

  • Hank Phillippi Ryan shares discusses ten things that she learned during the pandemic that she realized she already knew

 

  • Edward Willett shares his life-long dream of being a writer, the circuitous journey and the multiple unexpected stops along the way

The full video of these keynotes, as well as the ones by Terry Brooks and Susanna Kearsley (plus the conversation and Q&A that followed the talks) can be found here on YouTube.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark shares the keynotes given by Hank Phillippi Ryan and Edward Willett from an event he hosted on August 12, 2022 for the virtual When Words Collide 2022 annual conference.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a few words about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

  • Hank Phillippi Ryan shares discusses ten things that she learned during the pandemic that she realized she already knew

  • Edward Willett shares his life-long dream of being a writer, the circuitous journey and the multiple unexpected stops along the way

The full video of these keynotes, as well as the ones by Terry Brooks and Susanna Kearsley (plus the conversation and Q&A that followed the talks) can be found here on YouTube.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 58:04 false 5 264 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark shares the keynotes given by Hank Phillippi Ryan and Edward Willett from an event he hosted on August 12, 2022 for the virtual When Words Collide 2022 annual conference. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a few words about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Hank Phillippi Ryan shares discusses ten things that she learned during the pandemic that she realized she already knew   Edward Willett shares his life-long dream of being a writer, the circuitous journey and the multiple unexpected stops along the way The full video of these keynotes, as well as the ones by Terry Brooks and Susanna Kearsley (plus the conversation and Q&A that followed the talks) can be found here on YouTube.   Links of Interest: When Words Collide Hank Phillippi Ryan Edward Willett YouTube Video of FULL Keynote Talks EP 262 - Rambling Hometown Reflections EP 263 - Terry Brooks & Susanna Kearsley - WWC Keynotes Part 1 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark shares the keynotes given by Hank Phillippi Ryan and Edward Willett from an event he hosted on August 12, 2022 for the virtual When Words Collide 2022 annual conference. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a few words about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Hank Phillippi Ryan shares discusses ten things that she learned during the pandemic that she realized she already knew   Edward Willett shares his life-long dream of being a writer, the circuitous journey and the multiple unexpected stops along the way The full video of these keynotes, as well as the ones by Terry Brooks and Susanna Kearsley (plus the conversation and Q&A that followed the talks) can be found here on YouTube.   Links of Interest: When Words Collide Hank Phillippi Ryan Edward Willett YouTube Video of FULL Keynote Talks EP 262 - Rambling Hometown Reflections EP 263 - Terry Brooks & Susanna Kearsley - WWC Keynotes Part 1 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 263 - Terry Brooks & Susanna Kearsley - When Words Collide Keynotes (Part 1) Terry Brooks & Susanna Kearsley - When Words Collide Keynotes (Part 1) Fri, 19 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Mark shares the keynotes given by Terry Brooks and Susanna Kearsley from an event he hosted on August 12, 2022 for the virtual When Words Collide 2022 annual conference.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes a new patron and then says a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

  • Terry Brooks talks about a topic he hates to answer or discuss: "Where do you get your ideas?" and explains why

 

  • Susanna Kearsley explores the concept of an author's supposedly "solitary" life that may actually be filled with relationships.

The full video of these keynotes, as well as the ones by Hank Phillippi Ryan and Edward Willett (plus the conversation and Q&A that followed the talks) can be found here on YouTube.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark shares the keynotes given by Terry Brooks and Susanna Kearsley from an event he hosted on August 12, 2022 for the virtual When Words Collide 2022 annual conference.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes a new patron and then says a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

  • Terry Brooks talks about a topic he hates to answer or discuss: "Where do you get your ideas?" and explains why

  • Susanna Kearsley explores the concept of an author's supposedly "solitary" life that may actually be filled with relationships.

The full video of these keynotes, as well as the ones by Hank Phillippi Ryan and Edward Willett (plus the conversation and Q&A that followed the talks) can be found here on YouTube.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 43:32 false 5 263 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark shares the keynotes given by Terry Brooks and Susanna Kearsley from an event he hosted on August 12, 2022 for the virtual When Words Collide 2022 annual conference. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes a new patron and then says a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Terry Brooks talks about a topic he hates to answer or discuss: "Where do you get your ideas?" and explains why   Susanna Kearsley explores the concept of an author's supposedly "solitary" life that may actually be filled with relationships. The full video of these keynotes, as well as the ones by Hank Phillippi Ryan and Edward Willett (plus the conversation and Q&A that followed the talks) can be found here on YouTube.   Links of Interest: When Words Collide Terry Brooks Susanna Kearsley YouTube Video of FULL Keynote Talks EP 262 - Rambling Hometown Reflections The Fantastic Comic Fan Podcast EP 57 - Author Mark Leslie Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark shares the keynotes given by Terry Brooks and Susanna Kearsley from an event he hosted on August 12, 2022 for the virtual When Words Collide 2022 annual conference. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes a new patron and then says a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Terry Brooks talks about a topic he hates to answer or discuss: "Where do you get your ideas?" and explains why   Susanna Kearsley explores the concept of an author's supposedly "solitary" life that may actually be filled with relationships. The full video of these keynotes, as well as the ones by Hank Phillippi Ryan and Edward Willett (plus the conversation and Q&A that followed the talks) can be found here on YouTube.   Links of Interest: When Words Collide Terry Brooks Susanna Kearsley YouTube Video of FULL Keynote Talks EP 262 - Rambling Hometown Reflections The Fantastic Comic Fan Podcast EP 57 - Author Mark Leslie Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 262 - Rambling Hometown Reflections Rambling Hometown Reflections Fri, 12 Aug 2022 03:50:51 +0000 In this solo episode Mark reflects on a few things related to the regular returns back to his hometown of Levack, Ontario, and how those things have influenced his writing life.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> In this solo episode Mark reflects on a few things related to the regular returns back to his hometown of Levack, Ontario, and how those things have influenced his writing life.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 30:10 false 5 262 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark reflects on a few things related to the regular returns back to his hometown of Levack, Ontario, and how those things have influenced his writing life. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 In this solo episode Mark reflects on a few things related to the regular returns back to his hometown of Levack, Ontario, and how those things have influenced his writing life. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 261 - How to Write Brilliant Beginnings with S.W. Millar How to Write Brilliant Beginnings with S.W. Millar Thu, 04 Aug 2022 23:50:35 +0000 Mark interviews S.W. Millar about his new book - How to Write Brilliant Beginnings: Crafting Your Novel's Opening Chapters Made Easy.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Shane talk about:

  • Shane's background as an urban fantasy writer and a certified Story Editor
  • Writing his first novel back in 2010, pulling it out of a drawer in 2015 and realizing how much it was lacking, and then engaging in a long period of study to better his craft and understanding of the business
  • Wanting to write the kind of books he needed when he was first starting out and wanting to learn
  • How reading Jim Butcher's Harry Desden files novels inspired Shane to want to write similar tales
  • Realizing that he wanted to train as a writer-friendly editor with Kristina Stanley from Fictionary
  • The importance of having a degree of distance when you are taking in feedback from editors or readers
  • Shane's preference for the type of fiction he prefers to edit: Urban fantasy, Thrillers, and Science-Fictio
  • How to Write Brilliant Beginnings, Shane's new book, and why it is such an important element to help with sales
  • The invisible/subtle question that you set up so that, in the reader's mind, they are compelled to keep reading to find the answer to it
  • Why it is equally compelling to end your chapters, particularly the first two or three chapters, which as much of a hook as possible
  • That "just one more principal"
  • The idea of a character "going about their current 'flawed' existence"
  • How everything a character sees and experiences is filtered through their wound and scar
  • Giving your main character something very unique to them as an identifier
  • The five top things that you should give your character for them to be three dimensional and compelling to readers
  • The value of opening the novel with some type of conflict or action beat
  • When ending chapters or cutting scenes, the element of cutting it off BEFORE the resolution that can compel the reader to keep reading
  • The way that old television programs, such as Batman that always cut to a commercial break with a hook that would make the audience want to keep watching to find out how it was resolved
  • That "know, like, and trust" thing which can be so important when engaging in social media
  • The importance of open-ended questions that can lead to engagement and detailed answers
  • Shane's books: How to Write Brilliant Beginnings, How to Plot Your Novel and How to Write Novels Fast
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on distance and objectivity as well as that end of chapter "cut to commercial" hook.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews S.W. Millar about his new book - How to Write Brilliant Beginnings: Crafting Your Novel's Opening Chapters Made Easy.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Shane talk about:

  • Shane's background as an urban fantasy writer and a certified Story Editor
  • Writing his first novel back in 2010, pulling it out of a drawer in 2015 and realizing how much it was lacking, and then engaging in a long period of study to better his craft and understanding of the business
  • Wanting to write the kind of books he needed when he was first starting out and wanting to learn
  • How reading Jim Butcher's Harry Desden files novels inspired Shane to want to write similar tales
  • Realizing that he wanted to train as a writer-friendly editor with Kristina Stanley from Fictionary
  • The importance of having a degree of distance when you are taking in feedback from editors or readers
  • Shane's preference for the type of fiction he prefers to edit: Urban fantasy, Thrillers, and Science-Fictio
  • How to Write Brilliant Beginnings, Shane's new book, and why it is such an important element to help with sales
  • The invisible/subtle question that you set up so that, in the reader's mind, they are compelled to keep reading to find the answer to it
  • Why it is equally compelling to end your chapters, particularly the first two or three chapters, which as much of a hook as possible
  • That "just one more principal"
  • The idea of a character "going about their current 'flawed' existence"
  • How everything a character sees and experiences is filtered through their wound and scar
  • Giving your main character something very unique to them as an identifier
  • The five top things that you should give your character for them to be three dimensional and compelling to readers
  • The value of opening the novel with some type of conflict or action beat
  • When ending chapters or cutting scenes, the element of cutting it off BEFORE the resolution that can compel the reader to keep reading
  • The way that old television programs, such as Batman that always cut to a commercial break with a hook that would make the audience want to keep watching to find out how it was resolved
  • That "know, like, and trust" thing which can be so important when engaging in social media
  • The importance of open-ended questions that can lead to engagement and detailed answers
  • Shane's books: How to Write Brilliant Beginnings, How to Plot Your Novel and How to Write Novels Fast
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on distance and objectivity as well as that end of chapter "cut to commercial" hook.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 40:41 false 5 261 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews S.W. Millar about his new book - How to Write Brilliant Beginnings: Crafting Your Novel's Opening Chapters Made Easy. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Shane talk about: Shane's background as an urban fantasy writer and a certified Story Editor Writing his first novel back in 2010, pulling it out of a drawer in 2015 and realizing how much it was lacking, and then engaging in a long period of study to better his craft and understanding of the business Wanting to write the kind of books he needed when he was first starting out and wanting to learn How reading Jim Butcher's Harry Desden files novels inspired Shane to want to write similar tales Realizing that he wanted to train as a writer-friendly editor with Kristina Stanley from Fictionary The importance of having a degree of distance when you are taking in feedback from editors or readers Shane's preference for the type of fiction he prefers to edit: Urban fantasy, Thrillers, and Science-Fictio How to Write Brilliant Beginnings, Shane's new book, and why it is such an important element to help with sales The invisible/subtle question that you set up so that, in the reader's mind, they are compelled to keep reading to find the answer to it Why it is equally compelling to end your chapters, particularly the first two or three chapters, which as much of a hook as possible That "just one more principal" The idea of a character "going about their current 'flawed' existence" How everything a character sees and experiences is filtered through their wound and scar Giving your main character something very unique to them as an identifier The five top things that you should give your character for them to be three dimensional and compelling to readers The value of opening the novel with some type of conflict or action beat When ending chapters or cutting scenes, the element of cutting it off BEFORE the resolution that can compel the reader to keep reading The way that old television programs, such as Batman that always cut to a commercial break with a hook that would make the audience want to keep watching to find out how it was resolved That "know, like, and trust" thing which can be so important when engaging in social media The importance of open-ended questions that can lead to engagement and detailed answers Shane's books: How to Write Brilliant Beginnings, How to Plot Your Novel and How to Write Novels Fast And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on distance and objectivity as well as that end of chapter "cut to commercial" hook. Links of Interest: S. W. (Shane) Millar's Website Instagram TikTok Fictionary EP 260 - Mood, Atmosphere, and Worldbuilding with Joshua Essoe Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews S.W. Millar about his new book - How to Write Brilliant Beginnings: Crafting Your Novel's Opening Chapters Made Easy. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Shane talk about: Shane's background as an urban fantasy writer and a certified Story Editor Writing his first novel back in 2010, pulling it out of a drawer in 2015 and realizing how much it was lacking, and then engaging in a long period of study to better his craft and understanding of the business Wanting to write the kind of books he needed when he was first starting out and wanting to learn How reading Jim Butcher's Harry Desden files novels inspired Shane to want to write similar tales Realizing that he wanted to train as a writer-friendly editor with Kristina Stanley from Fictionary The importance of having a degree of distance when you are taking in feedback from editors or readers Shane's preference for the type of fiction he prefers to edit: Urban fantasy, Thrillers, and Science-Fictio How to Write Brilliant Beginnings, Shane's new book, and why it is such an important element to help with sales The invisible/subtle question that you set up so that, in the reader's mind, they are compelled to keep reading to find the answer to it Why it is equally compelling to end your chapters, particularly the first two or three chapters, which as much of a hook as possible That "just one more principal" The idea of a character "going about their current 'flawed' existence" How everything a character sees and experiences is filtered through their wound and scar Giving your main character something very unique to them as an identifier The five top things that you should give your character for them to be three dimensional and compelling to readers The value of opening the novel with some type of conflict or action beat When ending chapters or cutting scenes, the element of cutting it off BEFORE the resolution that can compel the reader to keep reading The way that old television programs, such as Batman that always cut to a commercial break with a hook that would make the audience want to keep watching to find out how it was resolved That "know, like, and trust" thing which can be so important when engaging in social media The importance of open-ended questions that can lead to engagement and detailed answers Shane's books: How to Write Brilliant Beginnings, How to Plot Your Novel and How to Write Novels Fast And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on distance and objectivity as well as that end of chapter "cut to commercial" hook. Links of Interest: S. W. (Shane) Millar's Website Instagram TikTok Fictionary EP 260 - Mood, Atmosphere, and Worldbuilding with Joshua Essoe Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 260 - Mood, Atmosphere, and Worldbuilding with Joshua Essoe Mood, Atmosphere, and Worldbuilding with Joshua Essoe Thu, 28 Jul 2022 23:45:44 +0000 Mark interviews editor Joshua Essoe about the elements of atmosphere, mood, and world-building.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Joshua talk about:

  • How Joshua got into being an editor twelve years ago
  • The limitation of only being able to work 1:1 with so many clients at a time and how that led to Joshua deciding to release books (Essoe's Guides to Writing) to assist writers with some of his knowledge/experience
  • The way Joshua divides up a typical day of work, which involves a lot of burning the midnight oil
  • Joshua's unique way of combining two subjects into a single double-sided flip book as a special Kickstarter exclusive project
  • The first flip book - Action Sequences / Sex Scenes
  • The second flip book - Worldbuilding / Mood & Atmosphere
  • The problem with trying to release a flip-book format in the traditional print book market. (Where does the bar code that's supposed to be on the "back" of the book go?)
  • Original artwork from James A. Owen that is part of these books, and this special Kickstarter project
  • The 6 major areas where writers usually have issues in Worldbuilding, including Info-dumping, which is also broken down into 6 types:
    • world-building info dump
    • the back-story info dump
    • the technical info dump
    • dialogue info dump
    • thought info dump
    • emotion info dump
  • How Kevin J. Anderson does a great job of setting up his world in the first several pages of the Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. novels
  • Three big things that you need to do in your world-building: broadening it, deepening it, and involving it
  • How writers need to shackle their impulse to share too many details about their world all at once to readers
  • A discussion of Tolkien's world-building, which involved a combination of intriguing teaser moments, but also some longer segments of info-dumping
  • What are we talking about when we're talking about Mood and Atmosphere?
  • How there aren't that many books in existence on the topic of mood and atmosphere
  • The way that every aspect of your writing that can contribute to mood
  • How atmosphere is a part of mood, but is a big enough element that it can be understood and explored on its own
  • An excellent example of atmosphere from A Wrinkle in Time
  • How you want to be purposeful when creating and sharing mood in your writing
  • Some of the rewards that are going to be available in Joshua's Kickstarter
  • And more...

 

After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things from the discussion.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews editor Joshua Essoe about the elements of atmosphere, mood, and world-building.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Joshua talk about:

  • How Joshua got into being an editor twelve years ago
  • The limitation of only being able to work 1:1 with so many clients at a time and how that led to Joshua deciding to release books (Essoe's Guides to Writing) to assist writers with some of his knowledge/experience
  • The way Joshua divides up a typical day of work, which involves a lot of burning the midnight oil
  • Joshua's unique way of combining two subjects into a single double-sided flip book as a special Kickstarter exclusive project
  • The first flip book - Action Sequences / Sex Scenes
  • The second flip book - Worldbuilding / Mood & Atmosphere
  • The problem with trying to release a flip-book format in the traditional print book market. (Where does the bar code that's supposed to be on the "back" of the book go?)
  • Original artwork from James A. Owen that is part of these books, and this special Kickstarter project
  • The 6 major areas where writers usually have issues in Worldbuilding, including Info-dumping, which is also broken down into 6 types:
    • world-building info dump
    • the back-story info dump
    • the technical info dump
    • dialogue info dump
    • thought info dump
    • emotion info dump
  • How Kevin J. Anderson does a great job of setting up his world in the first several pages of the Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. novels
  • Three big things that you need to do in your world-building: broadening it, deepening it, and involving it
  • How writers need to shackle their impulse to share too many details about their world all at once to readers
  • A discussion of Tolkien's world-building, which involved a combination of intriguing teaser moments, but also some longer segments of info-dumping
  • What are we talking about when we're talking about Mood and Atmosphere?
  • How there aren't that many books in existence on the topic of mood and atmosphere
  • The way that every aspect of your writing that can contribute to mood
  • How atmosphere is a part of mood, but is a big enough element that it can be understood and explored on its own
  • An excellent example of atmosphere from A Wrinkle in Time
  • How you want to be purposeful when creating and sharing mood in your writing
  • Some of the rewards that are going to be available in Joshua's Kickstarter
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things from the discussion.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 55:35 false 5 260 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews editor Joshua Essoe about the elements of atmosphere, mood, and world-building. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Joshua talk about: How Joshua got into being an editor twelve years ago The limitation of only being able to work 1:1 with so many clients at a time and how that led to Joshua deciding to release books (Essoe's Guides to Writing) to assist writers with some of his knowledge/experience The way Joshua divides up a typical day of work, which involves a lot of burning the midnight oil Joshua's unique way of combining two subjects into a single double-sided flip book as a special Kickstarter exclusive project The first flip book - Action Sequences / Sex Scenes The second flip book - Worldbuilding / Mood & Atmosphere The problem with trying to release a flip-book format in the traditional print book market. (Where does the bar code that's supposed to be on the "back" of the book go?) Original artwork from James A. Owen that is part of these books, and this special Kickstarter project The 6 major areas where writers usually have issues in Worldbuilding, including Info-dumping, which is also broken down into 6 types: world-building info dump the back-story info dump the technical info dump dialogue info dump thought info dump emotion info dump How Kevin J. Anderson does a great job of setting up his world in the first several pages of the Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. novels Three big things that you need to do in your world-building: broadening it, deepening it, and involving it How writers need to shackle their impulse to share too many details about their world all at once to readers A discussion of Tolkien's world-building, which involved a combination of intriguing teaser moments, but also some longer segments of info-dumping What are we talking about when we're talking about Mood and Atmosphere? How there aren't that many books in existence on the topic of mood and atmosphere The way that every aspect of your writing that can contribute to mood How atmosphere is a part of mood, but is a big enough element that it can be understood and explored on its own An excellent example of atmosphere from A Wrinkle in Time How you want to be purposeful when creating and sharing mood in your writing Some of the rewards that are going to be available in Joshua's Kickstarter And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things from the discussion. Links of Interest: Joshua's Website Joshua's Worldbuilding, Mood & Atmosphere Kickstarter EP 137 - Action Sequences and Sex Scenes with Joshua Essoe Kobo Writing Life Podcast - EP 76 - (Mark's first interview with Joshua) Findaway Voices The Emotion Thesaurus on the Writers Helping Writers Website Other Episodes Mentioned in this podcast EP 247 - My Mom's Influence on Me As A Writer EP 258 - June 2022 Reflective Hangout Highlight Clips   Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews editor Joshua Essoe about the elements of atmosphere, mood, and world-building. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Joshua talk about: How Joshua got into being an editor twelve years ago The limitation of only being able to work 1:1 with so many clients at a time and how that led to Joshua deciding to release books (Essoe's Guides to Writing) to assist writers with some of his knowledge/experience The way Joshua divides up a typical day of work, which involves a lot of burning the midnight oil Joshua's unique way of combining two subjects into a single double-sided flip book as a special Kickstarter exclusive project The first flip book - Action Sequences / Sex Scenes The second flip book - Worldbuilding / Mood & Atmosphere The problem with trying to release a flip-book format in the traditional print book market. (Where does the bar code that's supposed to be on the "back" of the book go?) Original artwork from James A. Owen that is part of these books, and this special Kickstarter project The 6 major areas where writers usually have issues in Worldbuilding, including Info-dumping, which is also broken down into 6 types: world-building info dump the back-story info dump the technical info dump dialogue info dump thought info dump emotion info dump How Kevin J. Anderson does a great job of setting up his world in the first several pages of the Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. novels Three big things that you need to do in your world-building: broadening it, deepening it, and involving it How writers need to shackle their impulse to share too many details about their world all at once to readers A discussion of Tolkien's world-building, which involved a combination of intriguing teaser moments, but also some longer segments of info-dumping What are we talking about when we're talking about Mood and Atmosphere? How there aren't that many books in existence on the topic of mood and atmosphere The way that every aspect of your writing that can contribute to mood How atmosphere is a part of mood, but is a big enough element that it can be understood and explored on its own An excellent example of atmosphere from A Wrinkle in Time How you want to be purposeful when creating and sharing mood in your writing Some of the rewards that are going to be available in Joshua's Kickstarter And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things from the discussion. Links of Interest: Joshua's Website Joshua's Worldbuilding, Mood & Atmosphere Kickstarter EP 137 - Action Sequences and Sex Scenes with Joshua Essoe Kobo Writing Life Podcast - EP 76 - (Mark's first interview with Joshua) Findaway Voices The Emotion Thesaurus on the Writers Helping Writers Website Other Episodes Mentioned in this podcast EP 247 - My Mom's Influence on Me As A Writer EP 258 - June 2022 Reflective Hangout Highlight Clips   Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 259 - Do You Hear What I Hear? The Sound of Opportunity Do You Hear What I Hear? The Sound of Opportunity Thu, 21 Jul 2022 23:00:00 +0000 In this solo episode where Mark shares some examples of ways that authors can leverage some of the audio and audiobook options available to them.

Prior to the main segment and clips, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> In this solo episode where Mark shares some examples of ways that authors can leverage some of the audio and audiobook options available to them.

Prior to the main segment and clips, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 50:28 false 5 259 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode where Mark shares some examples of ways that authors can leverage some of the audio and audiobook options available to them. Prior to the main segment and clips, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Other Episodes Mentioned in this podcast EP 029 - Terry Fallis on Writing with Authenticity, Humor, and Passion EP 063 - Wait! Did You Hear That? All About Audiobooks EP 136 - Great sales at Google with Brian Rathbone EP 148 - AI Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn EP 233 - Love Only Better, with Paulette Stout EP 227 - Publishing Trends and Reflections for 2022 EP 257 - Naima Simone on Writing with Heart, Humor, and Heat Draft2Digital Podcast EP 073 - Acting, Audiobooks, and TikTok with Actress Sarah Sampino This Time Around (Short Story - Audio Versions) Human Narrated/Scott Overton (Paid) Human Narrated/Scott Overton (FREE YouTube) Google Play AI Narrated - Mike (FREE) The 7 P's of Publishing Success Human Narrated/Mark (Paid) AI Narrated - VocoCraft - Brian AI Narrated - Google Play - Mike Mark's Short Story Collections Active Reader Bumps in the Night Snowman Shivers Evasion (Human Narrated / Brian Troxell) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 In this solo episode where Mark shares some examples of ways that authors can leverage some of the audio and audiobook options available to them. Prior to the main segment and clips, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Other Episodes Mentioned in this podcast EP 029 - Terry Fallis on Writing with Authenticity, Humor, and Passion EP 063 - Wait! Did You Hear That? All About Audiobooks EP 136 - Great sales at Google with Brian Rathbone EP 148 - AI Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn EP 233 - Love Only Better, with Paulette Stout EP 227 - Publishing Trends and Reflections for 2022 EP 257 - Naima Simone on Writing with Heart, Humor, and Heat Draft2Digital Podcast EP 073 - Acting, Audiobooks, and TikTok with Actress Sarah Sampino This Time Around (Short Story - Audio Versions) Human Narrated/Scott Overton (Paid) Human Narrated/Scott Overton (FREE YouTube) Google Play AI Narrated - Mike (FREE) The 7 P's of Publishing Success Human Narrated/Mark (Paid) AI Narrated - VocoCraft - Brian AI Narrated - Google Play - Mike Mark's Short Story Collections Active Reader Bumps in the Night Snowman Shivers Evasion (Human Narrated / Brian Troxell) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 258 - June 2022 Reflective Hangout Highlights June 2022 Reflective Hangout Highlights Thu, 14 Jul 2022 22:00:00 +0000 This week's episode is a series of highlighted clips from the nearly 3 hours of Reflective Hangout sessions that took place in June 2022 with Mark and a few patrons of the podcast:

Prior to the main segment and clips, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> This week's episode is a series of highlighted clips from the nearly 3 hours of Reflective Hangout sessions that took place in June 2022 with Mark and a few patrons of the podcast:

Prior to the main segment and clips, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 47:16 false 5 258 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This week's episode is a series of highlighted clips from the nearly 3 hours of Reflective Hangout sessions that took place in June 2022 with Mark and a few patrons of the podcast: Katie Cross Matty Dalrymple Roland Denzel Kathy Mac Prior to the main segment and clips, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Audiobooks See Double Digit Growth (Findaway Blog) APA - Sales & Consumer Survey Press Release June 2022 Reflective Hangout 1 June 2022 Reflective Hangout 2 June 2022 Reflective Hangout 3 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 This week's episode is a series of highlighted clips from the nearly 3 hours of Reflective Hangout sessions that took place in June 2022 with Mark and a few patrons of the podcast: Katie Cross Matty Dalrymple Roland Denzel Kathy Mac Prior to the main segment and clips, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Audiobooks See Double Digit Growth (Findaway Blog) APA - Sales & Consumer Survey Press Release June 2022 Reflective Hangout 1 June 2022 Reflective Hangout 2 June 2022 Reflective Hangout 3 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 257 - Naima Simone on Writing with Heart, Humor, and Heat Naima Simone on Writing with Heart, Humor, and Heat Thu, 07 Jul 2022 23:24:55 +0000 Mark interviews USA Today Bestselling author Naima Simone about writing sizzling romances with heart, a touch of humor and snark.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads recent comments, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Naima talk about:

  • Naima's unique and fun tagline: "Where heart, humor, and heat collide"
  • Learning to read as early as 3 and 4 years of age
  • Some of Naima's favorite books she read when growing up, and also sneaking into her mom's room to read her mom's more adult romance books at the age of 11 and 12
  • Writing her first story about a cucumber named Fred who went to the bookstore
  • The romance book she wrote in the 2nd grade
  • The "fan fiction" type of stories that she used to write and trade with her sister
  • The "Donnie Wahlberg" inspired romantic story Naima wrote
  • Why Naima worked so hard and never gave up on her dream to be a published author
  • What was supposed to be that "next level" of her career and the experience of opening that first royalty check
  • Naima's father's advise about following your passion and how his support and advice helped her at that devastating moment of seeing that particular royalty check
  • The importance of the emotional and logistical support of her husband
  • How Naima may write romance but that her husband is the romantic person in their relationship
  • The core of honor, respect, and vulnerability from her husband who has made it into some of Naima's fictional characters
  • Deciding between working with a publisher or self-publishing a particular writing project
  • Naima's love of the 80's and 80's music and how that has made it into a particular series she is writing
  • Her book Jessie's Girl, and the connection to Rick Springfield using it as an example that song titles can't be copyrighted
  • Naima's advice for new of beginning writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on Naima's pivotal moment.

Links of Interest:

 

Published since 2009, USA Today Bestselling author Naima Simone loves writing sizzling romances with heart, a touch of humor and snark. Her books have been featured in The Washington Post and Entertainment Weekly, and described as balancing "crackling, electric love scenes with exquisitely rendered characters caught in emotional turmoil."

She is wife to Superman, or his non-Kryptonian, less bullet proof equivalent, and mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in perfect, sometimes domestically-challenged bliss in the southern United States.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

 

]]> Mark interviews USA Today Bestselling author Naima Simone about writing sizzling romances with heart, a touch of humor and snark.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads recent comments, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Naima talk about:

  • Naima's unique and fun tagline: "Where heart, humor, and heat collide"
  • Learning to read as early as 3 and 4 years of age
  • Some of Naima's favorite books she read when growing up, and also sneaking into her mom's room to read her mom's more adult romance books at the age of 11 and 12
  • Writing her first story about a cucumber named Fred who went to the bookstore
  • The romance book she wrote in the 2nd grade
  • The "fan fiction" type of stories that she used to write and trade with her sister
  • The "Donnie Wahlberg" inspired romantic story Naima wrote
  • Why Naima worked so hard and never gave up on her dream to be a published author
  • What was supposed to be that "next level" of her career and the experience of opening that first royalty check
  • Naima's father's advise about following your passion and how his support and advice helped her at that devastating moment of seeing that particular royalty check
  • The importance of the emotional and logistical support of her husband
  • How Naima may write romance but that her husband is the romantic person in their relationship
  • The core of honor, respect, and vulnerability from her husband who has made it into some of Naima's fictional characters
  • Deciding between working with a publisher or self-publishing a particular writing project
  • Naima's love of the 80's and 80's music and how that has made it into a particular series she is writing
  • Her book Jessie's Girl, and the connection to Rick Springfield using it as an example that song titles can't be copyrighted
  • Naima's advice for new of beginning writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on Naima's pivotal moment.

Links of Interest:

Published since 2009, USA Today Bestselling author Naima Simone loves writing sizzling romances with heart, a touch of humor and snark. Her books have been featured in The Washington Post and Entertainment Weekly, and described as balancing "crackling, electric love scenes with exquisitely rendered characters caught in emotional turmoil."

She is wife to Superman, or his non-Kryptonian, less bullet proof equivalent, and mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in perfect, sometimes domestically-challenged bliss in the southern United States.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 48:02 false 5 257 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews USA Today Bestselling author Naima Simone about writing sizzling romances with heart, a touch of humor and snark. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads recent comments, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Naima talk about: Naima's unique and fun tagline: "Where heart, humor, and heat collide" Learning to read as early as 3 and 4 years of age Some of Naima's favorite books she read when growing up, and also sneaking into her mom's room to read her mom's more adult romance books at the age of 11 and 12 Writing her first story about a cucumber named Fred who went to the bookstore The romance book she wrote in the 2nd grade The "fan fiction" type of stories that she used to write and trade with her sister The "Donnie Wahlberg" inspired romantic story Naima wrote Why Naima worked so hard and never gave up on her dream to be a published author What was supposed to be that "next level" of her career and the experience of opening that first royalty check Naima's father's advise about following your passion and how his support and advice helped her at that devastating moment of seeing that particular royalty check The importance of the emotional and logistical support of her husband How Naima may write romance but that her husband is the romantic person in their relationship The core of honor, respect, and vulnerability from her husband who has made it into some of Naima's fictional characters Deciding between working with a publisher or self-publishing a particular writing project Naima's love of the 80's and 80's music and how that has made it into a particular series she is writing Her book Jessie's Girl, and the connection to Rick Springfield using it as an example that song titles can't be copyrighted Naima's advice for new of beginning writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on Naima's pivotal moment. Links of Interest: Naima Simone's Website Instagram Facebook Twitter EP 256 - Knowing Your Value and Worth as an Author Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Published since 2009, USA Today Bestselling author Naima Simone loves writing sizzling romances with heart, a touch of humor and snark. Her books have been featured in The Washington Post and Entertainment Weekly, and described as balancing "crackling, electric love scenes with exquisitely rendered characters caught in emotional turmoil." She is wife to Superman, or his non-Kryptonian, less bullet proof equivalent, and mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in perfect, sometimes domestically-challenged bliss in the southern United States.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   Mark interviews USA Today Bestselling author Naima Simone about writing sizzling romances with heart, a touch of humor and snark. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads recent comments, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Naima talk about: Naima's unique and fun tagline: "Where heart, humor, and heat collide" Learning to read as early as 3 and 4 years of age Some of Naima's favorite books she read when growing up, and also sneaking into her mom's room to read her mom's more adult romance books at the age of 11 and 12 Writing her first story about a cucumber named Fred who went to the bookstore The romance book she wrote in the 2nd grade The "fan fiction" type of stories that she used to write and trade with her sister The "Donnie Wahlberg" inspired romantic story Naima wrote Why Naima worked so hard and never gave up on her dream to be a published author What was supposed to be that "next level" of her career and the experience of opening that first royalty check Naima's father's advise about following your passion and how his support and advice helped her at that devastating moment of seeing that particular royalty check The importance of the emotional and logistical support of her husband How Naima may write romance but that her husband is the romantic person in their relationship The core of honor, respect, and vulnerability from her husband who has made it into some of Naima's fictional characters Deciding between working with a publisher or self-publishing a particular writing project Naima's love of the 80's and 80's music and how that has made it into a particular series she is writing Her book Jessie's Girl, and the connection to Rick Springfield using it as an example that song titles can't be copyrighted Naima's advice for new of beginning writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on Naima's pivotal moment. Links of Interest: Naima Simone's Website Instagram Facebook Twitter EP 256 - Knowing Your Value and Worth as an Author Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Published since 2009, USA Today Bestselling author Naima Simone loves writing sizzling romances with heart, a touch of humor and snark. Her books have been featured in The Washington Post and Entertainment Weekly, and described as balancing "crackling, electric love scenes with exquisitely rendered characters caught in emotional turmoil." She is wife to Superman, or his non-Kryptonian, less bullet proof equivalent, and mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in perfect, sometimes domestically-challenged bliss in the southern United States.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    EP 256 - Knowing Your Worth and Value as an Author Knowing Your Worth and Value as an Author Fri, 01 Jul 2022 02:24:38 +0000 Mark shares an excerpt about calculating your worth as an author from the book ACCOUNTING FOR AUTHORS which he co-authored with D.F. Hart.

Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patron Jenny Simard LaBranche to his patron supporters, and shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark shares an excerpt about calculating your worth as an author from the book ACCOUNTING FOR AUTHORS which he co-authored with D.F. Hart.

Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patron Jenny Simard LaBranche to his patron supporters, and shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 35:41 false 5 256 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark shares an excerpt about calculating your worth as an author from the book ACCOUNTING FOR AUTHORS which he co-authored with D.F. Hart. Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patron Jenny Simard LaBranche to his patron supporters, and shares a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest: Accounting for Authors EP 255 - Overcoming Obstacles and Just Doing It With Jenny S. LaBranche Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark shares an excerpt about calculating your worth as an author from the book ACCOUNTING FOR AUTHORS which he co-authored with D.F. Hart. Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patron Jenny Simard LaBranche to his patron supporters, and shares a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest: Accounting for Authors EP 255 - Overcoming Obstacles and Just Doing It With Jenny S. LaBranche Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 255 - Overcoming Obstacles and Just Doing It with Jenny S. LaBranche Overcoming Obstacles and Just Doing It with Jenny S. LaBranche Thu, 23 Jun 2022 20:34:42 +0000 Mark interviews Jenny S. LaBranche about not letting anything stand in the way of pursuing her dream of becoming a writer.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads comments, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Jenny talk about:

  • Wanting, her entire life, to be a writer
  • Growing up in a Hollywood family, and first learning about screenplays
  • Jenny's work-related connection to the 9/11 tragedy in New York City (75% of their clients were in the World Trade Center buildings) and becoming a firefighter and EMT shortly after that
  • Leaving her job in August 2021 and the great support her husband offered her
  • Signing the Red Sneaker contract
  • A little bit about the Red Sneakers book series from William Bernhardt and how they helped Jenny
  • Being surrounded by so many of mother's books when she was young
  • Working with William Bernhardt as a writing coach and as an editor
  • The Writing Retreat in the Ozark that Jenny was scheduled to attend this summer
  • Jenny's forthcoming novel Kingdoms of Shadow and Flame and the heart of her main character
  • Scheduling her day to include writing, other tasks, and non-writing-related chores and responsibilities
  • Going for walks with her characters
  • Being a hard-core plotter
  • Jenny's plans for the new novel and the options she's considering
  • How Jenny learned about Draft2Digital
  • The value and power of acknowledging that "I Am A Writer"
  • Why it's important to stop doubting yourself and to just do it
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on two of the things Jenny spoke about, thanks Patrons, and also reads an excerpt from Fright Nights, Big City as an example of a "walk with your character" exercise.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Jenny S. LaBrache spent from ages 20–31 working in the IT field. On September 11, 2001, Jenny was working as a Corporate IT Manager, managing 10 of the world's largest internet companies. 75% of her companies clients were in the world trade centers and they themselves occupied the 136 floor of The South Tower. After that devastation, Jenny left the IT field and began working as a Firefighter and Emergency Medic until the end of 2014. Throughout her life and career, Jenny always let her dyslexia stand in the way of pursuing her dream of becoming a writer, but no longer.

On August 26th, 2021, Jenny joined William Bernhardt's Red Sneaker Writers Center on Facebook and began The Red Sneaker Writers Book Series. Her first high fantasy novel will be Kingdoms of Shadow and Flame. This is a thrilling, fast paced fantasy filled with adventure, dark forces, deceit, laughter, friendship and, a humorous discovery of the primal nature of one's true self. Where new friends become tutors in the most interesting and hilarious ways.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Jenny S. LaBranche about not letting anything stand in the way of pursuing her dream of becoming a writer.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads comments, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Jenny talk about:

  • Wanting, her entire life, to be a writer
  • Growing up in a Hollywood family, and first learning about screenplays
  • Jenny's work-related connection to the 9/11 tragedy in New York City (75% of their clients were in the World Trade Center buildings) and becoming a firefighter and EMT shortly after that
  • Leaving her job in August 2021 and the great support her husband offered her
  • Signing the Red Sneaker contract
  • A little bit about the Red Sneakers book series from William Bernhardt and how they helped Jenny
  • Being surrounded by so many of mother's books when she was young
  • Working with William Bernhardt as a writing coach and as an editor
  • The Writing Retreat in the Ozark that Jenny was scheduled to attend this summer
  • Jenny's forthcoming novel Kingdoms of Shadow and Flame and the heart of her main character
  • Scheduling her day to include writing, other tasks, and non-writing-related chores and responsibilities
  • Going for walks with her characters
  • Being a hard-core plotter
  • Jenny's plans for the new novel and the options she's considering
  • How Jenny learned about Draft2Digital
  • The value and power of acknowledging that "I Am A Writer"
  • Why it's important to stop doubting yourself and to just do it
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on two of the things Jenny spoke about, thanks Patrons, and also reads an excerpt from Fright Nights, Big City as an example of a "walk with your character" exercise.

Links of Interest:

Jenny S. LaBrache spent from ages 20–31 working in the IT field. On September 11, 2001, Jenny was working as a Corporate IT Manager, managing 10 of the world's largest internet companies. 75% of her companies clients were in the world trade centers and they themselves occupied the 136 floor of The South Tower. After that devastation, Jenny left the IT field and began working as a Firefighter and Emergency Medic until the end of 2014. Throughout her life and career, Jenny always let her dyslexia stand in the way of pursuing her dream of becoming a writer, but no longer.

On August 26th, 2021, Jenny joined William Bernhardt's Red Sneaker Writers Center on Facebook and began The Red Sneaker Writers Book Series. Her first high fantasy novel will be Kingdoms of Shadow and Flame. This is a thrilling, fast paced fantasy filled with adventure, dark forces, deceit, laughter, friendship and, a humorous discovery of the primal nature of one's true self. Where new friends become tutors in the most interesting and hilarious ways.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 50:56 false 5 255 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Jenny S. LaBranche about not letting anything stand in the way of pursuing her dream of becoming a writer. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads comments, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Jenny talk about: Wanting, her entire life, to be a writer Growing up in a Hollywood family, and first learning about screenplays Jenny's work-related connection to the 9/11 tragedy in New York City (75% of their clients were in the World Trade Center buildings) and becoming a firefighter and EMT shortly after that Leaving her job in August 2021 and the great support her husband offered her Signing the Red Sneaker contract A little bit about the Red Sneakers book series from William Bernhardt and how they helped Jenny Being surrounded by so many of mother's books when she was young Working with William Bernhardt as a writing coach and as an editor The Writing Retreat in the Ozark that Jenny was scheduled to attend this summer Jenny's forthcoming novel Kingdoms of Shadow and Flame and the heart of her main character Scheduling her day to include writing, other tasks, and non-writing-related chores and responsibilities Going for walks with her characters Being a hard-core plotter Jenny's plans for the new novel and the options she's considering How Jenny learned about Draft2Digital The value and power of acknowledging that "I Am A Writer" Why it's important to stop doubting yourself and to just do it And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on two of the things Jenny spoke about, thanks Patrons, and also reads an excerpt from Fright Nights, Big City as an example of a "walk with your character" exercise.   Links of Interest: Jenny's Facebook Page Red Sneaker Writers Red Sneaker Writing Retreats EP 252 - Broadening Your Writing Universe with Rona Gofstein Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Jenny S. LaBrache spent from ages 20–31 working in the IT field. On September 11, 2001, Jenny was working as a Corporate IT Manager, managing 10 of the world's largest internet companies. 75% of her companies clients were in the world trade centers and they themselves occupied the 136 floor of The South Tower. After that devastation, Jenny left the IT field and began working as a Firefighter and Emergency Medic until the end of 2014. Throughout her life and career, Jenny always let her dyslexia stand in the way of pursuing her dream of becoming a writer, but no longer. On August 26th, 2021, Jenny joined William Bernhardt's Red Sneaker Writers Center on Facebook and began The Red Sneaker Writers Book Series. Her first high fantasy novel will be Kingdoms of Shadow and Flame. This is a thrilling, fast paced fantasy filled with adventure, dark forces, deceit, laughter, friendship and, a humorous discovery of the primal nature of one's true self. Where new friends become tutors in the most interesting and hilarious ways.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Jenny S. LaBranche about not letting anything stand in the way of pursuing her dream of becoming a writer. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads comments, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Jenny talk about: Wanting, her entire life, to be a writer Growing up in a Hollywood family, and first learning about screenplays Jenny's work-related connection to the 9/11 tragedy in New York City (75% of their clients were in the World Trade Center buildings) and becoming a firefighter and EMT shortly after that Leaving her job in August 2021 and the great support her husband offered her Signing the Red Sneaker contract A little bit about the Red Sneakers book series from William Bernhardt and how they helped Jenny Being surrounded by so many of mother's books when she was young Working with William Bernhardt as a writing coach and as an editor The Writing Retreat in the Ozark that Jenny was scheduled to attend this summer Jenny's forthcoming novel Kingdoms of Shadow and Flame and the heart of her main character Scheduling her day to include writing, other tasks, and non-writing-related chores and responsibilities Going for walks with her characters Being a hard-core plotter Jenny's plans for the new novel and the options she's considering How Jenny learned about Draft2Digital The value and power of acknowledging that "I Am A Writer" Why it's important to stop doubting yourself and to just do it And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on two of the things Jenny spoke about, thanks Patrons, and also reads an excerpt from Fright Nights, Big City as an example of a "walk with your character" exercise.   Links of Interest: Jenny's Facebook Page Red Sneaker Writers Red Sneaker Writing Retreats EP 252 - Broadening Your Writing Universe with Rona Gofstein Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Jenny S. LaBrache spent from ages 20–31 working in the IT field. On September 11, 2001, Jenny was working as a Corporate IT Manager, managing 10 of the world's largest internet companies. 75% of her companies clients were in the world trade centers and they themselves occupied the 136 floor of The South Tower. After that devastation, Jenny left the IT field and began working as a Firefighter and Emergency Medic until the end of 2014. Throughout her life and career, Jenny always let her dyslexia stand in the way of pursuing her dream of becoming a writer, but no longer. On August 26th, 2021, Jenny joined William Bernhardt's Red Sneaker Writers Center on Facebook and began The Red Sneaker Writers Book Series. Her first high fantasy novel will be Kingdoms of Shadow and Flame. This is a thrilling, fast paced fantasy filled with adventure, dark forces, deceit, laughter, friendship and, a humorous discovery of the primal nature of one's true self. Where new friends become tutors in the most interesting and hilarious ways.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 254 - Best Pages, Ads, and Newsletters with Bryan Cohen Best Pages, Ads, and Newsletters with Bryan Cohen Thu, 16 Jun 2022 23:00:00 +0000 Mark interviews Bryan Cohen who runs Author Ad School, Best Page Forward, and co-hosts The Sell More Books Show.

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks his patrons, reads comments, offers a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Bryan talk about:

  • Bryan's "Best Page Forward" book blurb writing business that started in 2016
  • Slowly growing the business by starting off with "bargain basement" pricing, and then eventually growing to having 8 writers and having written more than 5000 book descriptions
  • The misconception that it's necessary for a blurb writer to have to read the book they are writing about
  • Adding instructions for Amazon and Facebook ads to his repertoire
  • The fact that even people who work on the Amazon Ads product can find it complex and confusing
  • The quarterly free Amazon Ad Challenges that Bryan has been running for the past couple of years
  • The hands-on approach to this challenge that begins right at step-one
  • Who these free challenges and the full courses are for
  • Opportunities that exist within email marketing
  • The forthcoming book that Bryan is working on that follows the "story" of helping a fictional author named Nina
  • Bryan's long-running podcast The Sell More Books Show
  • The importance of regularly scheduled down-time for one's mental and physical health
  • A little bit about Bryan's own personal writing career
  • Bryan's final "hot potato of wisdom" (a shtick from The Sell More Books Show)
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of downtown for an author, as well as Bryan's reminder about starting off focusing on one writing thing and one marketing thing.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Bryan Cohen runs Author Ad School, Best Page Forward, and co-hosts The Sell More Books Show. He's helped over 30,000 authors through his free Ad Challenges and has sold 140,000 copies of his own books as well.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Bryan Cohen who runs Author Ad School, Best Page Forward, and co-hosts The Sell More Books Show.

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks his patrons, reads comments, offers a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Bryan talk about:

  • Bryan's "Best Page Forward" book blurb writing business that started in 2016
  • Slowly growing the business by starting off with "bargain basement" pricing, and then eventually growing to having 8 writers and having written more than 5000 book descriptions
  • The misconception that it's necessary for a blurb writer to have to read the book they are writing about
  • Adding instructions for Amazon and Facebook ads to his repertoire
  • The fact that even people who work on the Amazon Ads product can find it complex and confusing
  • The quarterly free Amazon Ad Challenges that Bryan has been running for the past couple of years
  • The hands-on approach to this challenge that begins right at step-one
  • Who these free challenges and the full courses are for
  • Opportunities that exist within email marketing
  • The forthcoming book that Bryan is working on that follows the "story" of helping a fictional author named Nina
  • Bryan's long-running podcast The Sell More Books Show
  • The importance of regularly scheduled down-time for one's mental and physical health
  • A little bit about Bryan's own personal writing career
  • Bryan's final "hot potato of wisdom" (a shtick from The Sell More Books Show)
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of downtown for an author, as well as Bryan's reminder about starting off focusing on one writing thing and one marketing thing.

Links of Interest:

Bryan Cohen runs Author Ad School, Best Page Forward, and co-hosts The Sell More Books Show. He's helped over 30,000 authors through his free Ad Challenges and has sold 140,000 copies of his own books as well.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 44:53 false 5 254 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Bryan Cohen who runs Author Ad School, Best Page Forward, and co-hosts The Sell More Books Show. Prior to the interview, Mark thanks his patrons, reads comments, offers a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Bryan talk about: Bryan's "Best Page Forward" book blurb writing business that started in 2016 Slowly growing the business by starting off with "bargain basement" pricing, and then eventually growing to having 8 writers and having written more than 5000 book descriptions The misconception that it's necessary for a blurb writer to have to read the book they are writing about Adding instructions for Amazon and Facebook ads to his repertoire The fact that even people who work on the Amazon Ads product can find it complex and confusing The quarterly free Amazon Ad Challenges that Bryan has been running for the past couple of years The hands-on approach to this challenge that begins right at step-one Who these free challenges and the full courses are for Opportunities that exist within email marketing The forthcoming book that Bryan is working on that follows the "story" of helping a fictional author named Nina Bryan's long-running podcast The Sell More Books Show The importance of regularly scheduled down-time for one's mental and physical health A little bit about Bryan's own personal writing career Bryan's final "hot potato of wisdom" (a shtick from The Sell More Books Show) And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of downtown for an author, as well as Bryan's reminder about starting off focusing on one writing thing and one marketing thing.   Links of Interest: Bryan Cohen's Website Best Page Forward Sell More Books Show Podcast Bryan's Kick Your Email Kickstarter Episode 251 - The Author Journey with C.J. Anaya Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Bryan Cohen runs Author Ad School, Best Page Forward, and co-hosts The Sell More Books Show. He's helped over 30,000 authors through his free Ad Challenges and has sold 140,000 copies of his own books as well.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Bryan Cohen who runs Author Ad School, Best Page Forward, and co-hosts The Sell More Books Show. Prior to the interview, Mark thanks his patrons, reads comments, offers a personal update and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Bryan talk about: Bryan's "Best Page Forward" book blurb writing business that started in 2016 Slowly growing the business by starting off with "bargain basement" pricing, and then eventually growing to having 8 writers and having written more than 5000 book descriptions The misconception that it's necessary for a blurb writer to have to read the book they are writing about Adding instructions for Amazon and Facebook ads to his repertoire The fact that even people who work on the Amazon Ads product can find it complex and confusing The quarterly free Amazon Ad Challenges that Bryan has been running for the past couple of years The hands-on approach to this challenge that begins right at step-one Who these free challenges and the full courses are for Opportunities that exist within email marketing The forthcoming book that Bryan is working on that follows the "story" of helping a fictional author named Nina Bryan's long-running podcast The Sell More Books Show The importance of regularly scheduled down-time for one's mental and physical health A little bit about Bryan's own personal writing career Bryan's final "hot potato of wisdom" (a shtick from The Sell More Books Show) And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of downtown for an author, as well as Bryan's reminder about starting off focusing on one writing thing and one marketing thing.   Links of Interest: Bryan Cohen's Website Best Page Forward Sell More Books Show Podcast Bryan's Kick Your Email Kickstarter Episode 251 - The Author Journey with C.J. Anaya Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Bryan Cohen runs Author Ad School, Best Page Forward, and co-hosts The Sell More Books Show. He's helped over 30,000 authors through his free Ad Challenges and has sold 140,000 copies of his own books as well.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 253 - Survival, Resilience, Grace, and Persistence with Lizbeth Meredith Survival, Resilience, Grace, and Persistence with Lizbeth Meredith Fri, 10 Jun 2022 00:53:59 +0000 Mark interviews Lizbeth Meredith an award-winning author, speaker, and online teacher living in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her memoir Pieces of Me has been adapted as Stolen By Their Father for Lifetime Television and was released earlier this year.

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks his patrons, talks about a cool Kickstarter that one of his patrons, Holger Nils Pohl is running, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Lizbeth talk about:

  • Lizbeth's earliest melodramatic poetry writing when she was young
  • Why and how the writing helped when she started to think of her life as a story
  • Realizing how Lizbeth's PIECES OF ME is just one of an endless number of stories of survival and resilience
  • Her story of looking over two years of her children being abducted and taken away by their non-custodial father
  • The importance of community for writers as well as for people in general
  • Being told, when sharing her first draft "You know, this doesn't HAVE to be published"
  • Positive feedback from agents who loved her manuscript but would be unable to take it on
  • Deciding to publish with a hybrid publisher (a publisher that charges authors for all the publishing costs)
  • Learning about writers grants to be able to take advantage of and applying for them
  • How applying for a grant helps a writer learn how to pitch
  • Having her book optioned by Canadian company Cineflex
  • The lengthy timelines that it took in order to get the option in place
  • The movie name being re-adapted from the book title to "Stolen by Their Father"
  • The release date of the 2022 movie lining up with the anniversary of the date Lizbeth left her husband
  • Some of the other writing projects Lizbeth is working on
  • Lizbeth's podcast, Persistence U with Lizbeth
  • Advice Lizbeth would offer to her younger self or beginning writers
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on Lizbeth's business decision on how she would publish, recognizing the skills she already had with skills from the hybrid publisher she chose. He also reflects on her pointing out the value of community.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Lizbeth Meredith is an author living in Chattanooga, Tennessee after more than 5 decades in Alaska. Her memoir, Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, has been adapted as Stolen By Their Father for Lifetime Television.

Lizbeth is a speaker and online teacher who enjoys coaching and consulting part-time, a fun addition after three-decades career serving crime victims and offenders. In her off- time, Lizbeth enjoys movies at the theater, talking with podcast guests at Persistence U with Lizbeth, and Facetime chats with her adult daughters and grand-pets.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Lizbeth Meredith an award-winning author, speaker, and online teacher living in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her memoir Pieces of Me has been adapted as Stolen By Their Father for Lifetime Television and was released earlier this year.

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks his patrons, talks about a cool Kickstarter that one of his patrons, Holger Nils Pohl is running, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Lizbeth talk about:

  • Lizbeth's earliest melodramatic poetry writing when she was young
  • Why and how the writing helped when she started to think of her life as a story
  • Realizing how Lizbeth's PIECES OF ME is just one of an endless number of stories of survival and resilience
  • Her story of looking over two years of her children being abducted and taken away by their non-custodial father
  • The importance of community for writers as well as for people in general
  • Being told, when sharing her first draft "You know, this doesn't HAVE to be published"
  • Positive feedback from agents who loved her manuscript but would be unable to take it on
  • Deciding to publish with a hybrid publisher (a publisher that charges authors for all the publishing costs)
  • Learning about writers grants to be able to take advantage of and applying for them
  • How applying for a grant helps a writer learn how to pitch
  • Having her book optioned by Canadian company Cineflex
  • The lengthy timelines that it took in order to get the option in place
  • The movie name being re-adapted from the book title to "Stolen by Their Father"
  • The release date of the 2022 movie lining up with the anniversary of the date Lizbeth left her husband
  • Some of the other writing projects Lizbeth is working on
  • Lizbeth's podcast, Persistence U with Lizbeth
  • Advice Lizbeth would offer to her younger self or beginning writers
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on Lizbeth's business decision on how she would publish, recognizing the skills she already had with skills from the hybrid publisher she chose. He also reflects on her pointing out the value of community.

Links of Interest:

Lizbeth Meredith is an author living in Chattanooga, Tennessee after more than 5 decades in Alaska. Her memoir, Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, has been adapted as Stolen By Their Father for Lifetime Television.

Lizbeth is a speaker and online teacher who enjoys coaching and consulting part-time, a fun addition after three-decades career serving crime victims and offenders. In her off- time, Lizbeth enjoys movies at the theater, talking with podcast guests at Persistence U with Lizbeth, and Facetime chats with her adult daughters and grand-pets.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 51:38 false 5 2022 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Lizbeth Meredith an award-winning author, speaker, and online teacher living in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her memoir Pieces of Me has been adapted as Stolen By Their Father for Lifetime Television and was released earlier this year. Prior to the interview, Mark thanks his patrons, talks about a cool Kickstarter that one of his patrons, Holger Nils Pohl is running, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Lizbeth talk about: Lizbeth's earliest melodramatic poetry writing when she was young Why and how the writing helped when she started to think of her life as a story Realizing how Lizbeth's PIECES OF ME is just one of an endless number of stories of survival and resilience Her story of looking over two years of her children being abducted and taken away by their non-custodial father The importance of community for writers as well as for people in general Being told, when sharing her first draft "You know, this doesn't HAVE to be published" Positive feedback from agents who loved her manuscript but would be unable to take it on Deciding to publish with a hybrid publisher (a publisher that charges authors for all the publishing costs) Learning about writers grants to be able to take advantage of and applying for them How applying for a grant helps a writer learn how to pitch Having her book optioned by Canadian company Cineflex The lengthy timelines that it took in order to get the option in place The movie name being re-adapted from the book title to "Stolen by Their Father" The release date of the 2022 movie lining up with the anniversary of the date Lizbeth left her husband Some of the other writing projects Lizbeth is working on Lizbeth's podcast, Persistence U with Lizbeth Advice Lizbeth would offer to her younger self or beginning writers And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on Lizbeth's business decision on how she would publish, recognizing the skills she already had with skills from the hybrid publisher she chose. He also reflects on her pointing out the value of community.   Links of Interest: Lizbeth's Website Lizbeth's Podcast IMDB Listing for Stolen by Their Father Lizbeth's Interview of Best Book Ever Podcast Findaway Voices Holger Nils Pohl's Kickstarter: Creating Clarity Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Lizbeth Meredith is an author living in Chattanooga, Tennessee after more than 5 decades in Alaska. Her memoir, Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, has been adapted as Stolen By Their Father for Lifetime Television. Lizbeth is a speaker and online teacher who enjoys coaching and consulting part-time, a fun addition after three-decades career serving crime victims and offenders. In her off- time, Lizbeth enjoys movies at the theater, talking with podcast guests at Persistence U with Lizbeth, and Facetime chats with her adult daughters and grand-pets.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Lizbeth Meredith an award-winning author, speaker, and online teacher living in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her memoir Pieces of Me has been adapted as Stolen By Their Father for Lifetime Television and was released earlier this year. Prior to the interview, Mark thanks his patrons, talks about a cool Kickstarter that one of his patrons, Holger Nils Pohl is running, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Lizbeth talk about: Lizbeth's earliest melodramatic poetry writing when she was young Why and how the writing helped when she started to think of her life as a story Realizing how Lizbeth's PIECES OF ME is just one of an endless number of stories of survival and resilience Her story of looking over two years of her children being abducted and taken away by their non-custodial father The importance of community for writers as well as for people in general Being told, when sharing her first draft "You know, this doesn't HAVE to be published" Positive feedback from agents who loved her manuscript but would be unable to take it on Deciding to publish with a hybrid publisher (a publisher that charges authors for all the publishing costs) Learning about writers grants to be able to take advantage of and applying for them How applying for a grant helps a writer learn how to pitch Having her book optioned by Canadian company Cineflex The lengthy timelines that it took in order to get the option in place The movie name being re-adapted from the book title to "Stolen by Their Father" The release date of the 2022 movie lining up with the anniversary of the date Lizbeth left her husband Some of the other writing projects Lizbeth is working on Lizbeth's podcast, Persistence U with Lizbeth Advice Lizbeth would offer to her younger self or beginning writers And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on Lizbeth's business decision on how she would publish, recognizing the skills she already had with skills from the hybrid publisher she chose. He also reflects on her pointing out the value of community.   Links of Interest: Lizbeth's Website Lizbeth's Podcast IMDB Listing for Stolen by Their Father Lizbeth's Interview of Best Book Ever Podcast Findaway Voices Holger Nils Pohl's Kickstarter: Creating Clarity Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Lizbeth Meredith is an author living in Chattanooga, Tennessee after more than 5 decades in Alaska. Her memoir, Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, has been adapted as Stolen By Their Father for Lifetime Television. Lizbeth is a speaker and online teacher who enjoys coaching and consulting part-time, a fun addition after three-decades career serving crime victims and offenders. In her off- time, Lizbeth enjoys movies at the theater, talking with podcast guests at Persistence U with Lizbeth, and Facetime chats with her adult daughters and grand-pets.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 252 - Broadening Your Writing Universe with Rona Gofstein Broadening Your Writing Universe with Rona Gofstein Fri, 03 Jun 2022 00:42:53 +0000 Mark interviews Rona Gofstein, an Author Accelerator certified fiction book coach who specializes in helping writers of genre fiction develop, write and revise their novels. She also writes contemporary romance, is the president of Broad Universe, an international organization for women and alternatively gendered authors of speculative fiction, as well as president of the New Hampshire Chapter of RWA. 

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks his patrons and provides them an update on June virtual hangouts and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Rona talk about:

  • When Rona first started to play around with writing when back in college
  • How Julia Cameron's Book The Artist's Way inspired Rona to get serious about writing and publishing a book
  • Being a "feel your way through" type of writer
  • Knowing her characters really well, despite being a planstser
  • How Rona works through character sheets
  • The importance of having a "what would they never, ever do?" element on a character sheet
  • What Broad Universe is within speculative fiction and how they use it to help bring attention to a more diverse range of authors
  • Becoming an accredited Author Accelerator Book coach
  • Rona's love of helping writers realize their dreams of becoming a writer
  • The different types of clients Rona works with and the techniques and elements she helps them understand
  • Where and how Rona fits in her own writing
  • Continuing to do the "Morning Pages" from the previously mentioned book by Julia Cameron
  • How coaching and writing can help feed off one another for Rona
  • The Joan Didion quote: "I don't know what I think until I write it down."
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of the morning pages that Rona does based on reading Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way.

Links of Interest:

 

Rona Gofstein is an Author Accelerator certified fiction book coach and specializes in helping writers of genre fiction develop, write and revise their novels. She writes contemporary romance and will be launching a new series and pen name later this year. Rona is the president of Broad Universe, an international organization for women and alternatively gendered authors of speculative fiction, as well as president of the New Hampshire Chapter of RWA. She desperately needs her morning coffee, thinks reservations are the best thing to make for dinner, and believes that one day she will find the magic planner that will keep her perfectly organized.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Rona Gofstein, an Author Accelerator certified fiction book coach who specializes in helping writers of genre fiction develop, write and revise their novels. She also writes contemporary romance, is the president of Broad Universe, an international organization for women and alternatively gendered authors of speculative fiction, as well as president of the New Hampshire Chapter of RWA.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks his patrons and provides them an update on June virtual hangouts and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Rona talk about:

  • When Rona first started to play around with writing when back in college
  • How Julia Cameron's Book The Artist's Way inspired Rona to get serious about writing and publishing a book
  • Being a "feel your way through" type of writer
  • Knowing her characters really well, despite being a planstser
  • How Rona works through character sheets
  • The importance of having a "what would they never, ever do?" element on a character sheet
  • What Broad Universe is within speculative fiction and how they use it to help bring attention to a more diverse range of authors
  • Becoming an accredited Author Accelerator Book coach
  • Rona's love of helping writers realize their dreams of becoming a writer
  • The different types of clients Rona works with and the techniques and elements she helps them understand
  • Where and how Rona fits in her own writing
  • Continuing to do the "Morning Pages" from the previously mentioned book by Julia Cameron
  • How coaching and writing can help feed off one another for Rona
  • The Joan Didion quote: "I don't know what I think until I write it down."
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of the morning pages that Rona does based on reading Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way.

Links of Interest:

Rona Gofstein is an Author Accelerator certified fiction book coach and specializes in helping writers of genre fiction develop, write and revise their novels. She writes contemporary romance and will be launching a new series and pen name later this year. Rona is the president of Broad Universe, an international organization for women and alternatively gendered authors of speculative fiction, as well as president of the New Hampshire Chapter of RWA. She desperately needs her morning coffee, thinks reservations are the best thing to make for dinner, and believes that one day she will find the magic planner that will keep her perfectly organized.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 54:52 false 5 252 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Rona Gofstein, an Author Accelerator certified fiction book coach who specializes in helping writers of genre fiction develop, write and revise their novels. She also writes contemporary romance, is the president of Broad Universe, an international organization for women and alternatively gendered authors of speculative fiction, as well as president of the New Hampshire Chapter of RWA.  Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks his patrons and provides them an update on June virtual hangouts and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Rona talk about: When Rona first started to play around with writing when back in college How Julia Cameron's Book The Artist's Way inspired Rona to get serious about writing and publishing a book Being a "feel your way through" type of writer Knowing her characters really well, despite being a planstser How Rona works through character sheets The importance of having a "what would they never, ever do?" element on a character sheet What Broad Universe is within speculative fiction and how they use it to help bring attention to a more diverse range of authors Becoming an accredited Author Accelerator Book coach Rona's love of helping writers realize their dreams of becoming a writer The different types of clients Rona works with and the techniques and elements she helps them understand Where and how Rona fits in her own writing Continuing to do the "Morning Pages" from the previously mentioned book by Julia Cameron How coaching and writing can help feed off one another for Rona The Joan Didion quote: "I don't know what I think until I write it down." And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of the morning pages that Rona does based on reading Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. Links of Interest: Rona Gofstein's Website Broad Universe Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Rona Gofstein is an Author Accelerator certified fiction book coach and specializes in helping writers of genre fiction develop, write and revise their novels. She writes contemporary romance and will be launching a new series and pen name later this year. Rona is the president of Broad Universe, an international organization for women and alternatively gendered authors of speculative fiction, as well as president of the New Hampshire Chapter of RWA. She desperately needs her morning coffee, thinks reservations are the best thing to make for dinner, and believes that one day she will find the magic planner that will keep her perfectly organized.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Rona Gofstein, an Author Accelerator certified fiction book coach who specializes in helping writers of genre fiction develop, write and revise their novels. She also writes contemporary romance, is the president of Broad Universe, an international organization for women and alternatively gendered authors of speculative fiction, as well as president of the New Hampshire Chapter of RWA.  Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks his patrons and provides them an update on June virtual hangouts and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Rona talk about: When Rona first started to play around with writing when back in college How Julia Cameron's Book The Artist's Way inspired Rona to get serious about writing and publishing a book Being a "feel your way through" type of writer Knowing her characters really well, despite being a planstser How Rona works through character sheets The importance of having a "what would they never, ever do?" element on a character sheet What Broad Universe is within speculative fiction and how they use it to help bring attention to a more diverse range of authors Becoming an accredited Author Accelerator Book coach Rona's love of helping writers realize their dreams of becoming a writer The different types of clients Rona works with and the techniques and elements she helps them understand Where and how Rona fits in her own writing Continuing to do the "Morning Pages" from the previously mentioned book by Julia Cameron How coaching and writing can help feed off one another for Rona The Joan Didion quote: "I don't know what I think until I write it down." And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of the morning pages that Rona does based on reading Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. Links of Interest: Rona Gofstein's Website Broad Universe Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Rona Gofstein is an Author Accelerator certified fiction book coach and specializes in helping writers of genre fiction develop, write and revise their novels. She writes contemporary romance and will be launching a new series and pen name later this year. Rona is the president of Broad Universe, an international organization for women and alternatively gendered authors of speculative fiction, as well as president of the New Hampshire Chapter of RWA. She desperately needs her morning coffee, thinks reservations are the best thing to make for dinner, and believes that one day she will find the magic planner that will keep her perfectly organized.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 251 - The Author Journey with C. J. Anaya The Author Journey with C. J. Anaya Fri, 27 May 2022 02:17:21 +0000 Mark interviews C.J. Anaya, a USA Today bestselling and multi-award-winning author who enjoys assisting authors in writing, publishing, and marketing books with her YouTube channel Author Journey.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, an ad he recorded with Julie Strauss for the release of their new novel Lover's Moon, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and CJ talk about:

  • How by the time she was eight months old CJ was singing
  • Writing short stories for her friends at the age of 10 because she wanted to give them all Christmas presents
  • The singing and performing she did, including starting to writing songs at the age of 18
  • Going through three incidents of cancer. First at the age of 18, then at 26, and more recently in the past year
  • How her writing journey began shortly after running into Jennifer Griffith when CJ was in a bookstore signing copies of her CD
  • Writing short stories for her friends at the age of 10 because she wanted to give them all Christmas presents
  • Dreaming about a spirit trapped in a Japanese statue which lead to writing THE HEALER which ended up being the first book in a series
  • How the Paranormal Misfit series started off as a 10,000 word short story
  • The specific themes and issues that this YA series deals with
  • The book and course CJ created about writer's block
  • Specific genres that CJ works on as a developmental editor
  • CJ's experience attending Superstars Writing Seminars alone (as opposed to always previously going to conferences with a friend)
  • Advice she would give to her youngest self
  • Something that she hadn't expected when taking Kevin J. Anderson's Western Colorado University's Masters in Publishing program
  • Writing songs for characters in her books
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on when CJ spoke about learning to deal with constructive criticism and appreciating that it's not that there's anything wrong with the work, but about what can we improve upon and how can we make this even better.

Links of Interest:

 

C.J. Anaya is a USA Today bestselling and multi-award-winning author. She also enjoys assisting authors in writing, publishing, and marketing books with her YouTube channel Author Journey.

She's a huge fan of The Mindy Project, Hugh Jackman, and binge eating any and all things chocolate.

As a mother of four awesome kiddos, C.J. is usually helping out with endless amounts of homework, attempting difficult and harrowing crochet projects with her daughters, and getting schooled in basketball by her teenage son.

She loves writing entertaining reads for everyone to enjoy and dabbles in singing and songwriting for kicks and giggles.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews C.J. Anaya, a USA Today bestselling and multi-award-winning author who enjoys assisting authors in writing, publishing, and marketing books with her YouTube channel Author Journey.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, an ad he recorded with Julie Strauss for the release of their new novel Lover's Moon, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and CJ talk about:

  • How by the time she was eight months old CJ was singing
  • Writing short stories for her friends at the age of 10 because she wanted to give them all Christmas presents
  • The singing and performing she did, including starting to writing songs at the age of 18
  • Going through three incidents of cancer. First at the age of 18, then at 26, and more recently in the past year
  • How her writing journey began shortly after running into Jennifer Griffith when CJ was in a bookstore signing copies of her CD
  • Writing short stories for her friends at the age of 10 because she wanted to give them all Christmas presents
  • Dreaming about a spirit trapped in a Japanese statue which lead to writing THE HEALER which ended up being the first book in a series
  • How the Paranormal Misfit series started off as a 10,000 word short story
  • The specific themes and issues that this YA series deals with
  • The book and course CJ created about writer's block
  • Specific genres that CJ works on as a developmental editor
  • CJ's experience attending Superstars Writing Seminars alone (as opposed to always previously going to conferences with a friend)
  • Advice she would give to her youngest self
  • Something that she hadn't expected when taking Kevin J. Anderson's Western Colorado University's Masters in Publishing program
  • Writing songs for characters in her books
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on when CJ spoke about learning to deal with constructive criticism and appreciating that it's not that there's anything wrong with the work, but about what can we improve upon and how can we make this even better.

Links of Interest:

C.J. Anaya is a USA Today bestselling and multi-award-winning author. She also enjoys assisting authors in writing, publishing, and marketing books with her YouTube channel Author Journey.

She's a huge fan of The Mindy Project, Hugh Jackman, and binge eating any and all things chocolate.

As a mother of four awesome kiddos, C.J. is usually helping out with endless amounts of homework, attempting difficult and harrowing crochet projects with her daughters, and getting schooled in basketball by her teenage son.

She loves writing entertaining reads for everyone to enjoy and dabbles in singing and songwriting for kicks and giggles.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 51:38 false 5 251 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews C.J. Anaya, a USA Today bestselling and multi-award-winning author who enjoys assisting authors in writing, publishing, and marketing books with her YouTube channel Author Journey. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, an ad he recorded with Julie Strauss for the release of their new novel Lover's Moon, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and CJ talk about: How by the time she was eight months old CJ was singing Writing short stories for her friends at the age of 10 because she wanted to give them all Christmas presents The singing and performing she did, including starting to writing songs at the age of 18 Going through three incidents of cancer. First at the age of 18, then at 26, and more recently in the past year How her writing journey began shortly after running into Jennifer Griffith when CJ was in a bookstore signing copies of her CD Writing short stories for her friends at the age of 10 because she wanted to give them all Christmas presents Dreaming about a spirit trapped in a Japanese statue which lead to writing THE HEALER which ended up being the first book in a series How the Paranormal Misfit series started off as a 10,000 word short story The specific themes and issues that this YA series deals with The book and course CJ created about writer's block Specific genres that CJ works on as a developmental editor CJ's experience attending Superstars Writing Seminars alone (as opposed to always previously going to conferences with a friend) Advice she would give to her youngest self Something that she hadn't expected when taking Kevin J. Anderson's Western Colorado University's Masters in Publishing program Writing songs for characters in her books And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on when CJ spoke about learning to deal with constructive criticism and appreciating that it's not that there's anything wrong with the work, but about what can we improve upon and how can we make this even better. Links of Interest: CJ Anaya's Website CJ's YouTube Channel Cindy Savage Music on Reverbnation Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast TikTok Video - Mark's Skeleton Author Prop French River Trading Post The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   C.J. Anaya is a USA Today bestselling and multi-award-winning author. She also enjoys assisting authors in writing, publishing, and marketing books with her YouTube channel Author Journey. She's a huge fan of The Mindy Project, Hugh Jackman, and binge eating any and all things chocolate. As a mother of four awesome kiddos, C.J. is usually helping out with endless amounts of homework, attempting difficult and harrowing crochet projects with her daughters, and getting schooled in basketball by her teenage son. She loves writing entertaining reads for everyone to enjoy and dabbles in singing and songwriting for kicks and giggles.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews C.J. Anaya, a USA Today bestselling and multi-award-winning author who enjoys assisting authors in writing, publishing, and marketing books with her YouTube channel Author Journey. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, an ad he recorded with Julie Strauss for the release of their new novel Lover's Moon, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and CJ talk about: How by the time she was eight months old CJ was singing Writing short stories for her friends at the age of 10 because she wanted to give them all Christmas presents The singing and performing she did, including starting to writing songs at the age of 18 Going through three incidents of cancer. First at the age of 18, then at 26, and more recently in the past year How her writing journey began shortly after running into Jennifer Griffith when CJ was in a bookstore signing copies of her CD Writing short stories for her friends at the age of 10 because she wanted to give them all Christmas presents Dreaming about a spirit trapped in a Japanese statue which lead to writing THE HEALER which ended up being the first book in a series How the Paranormal Misfit series started off as a 10,000 word short story The specific themes and issues that this YA series deals with The book and course CJ created about writer's block Specific genres that CJ works on as a developmental editor CJ's experience attending Superstars Writing Seminars alone (as opposed to always previously going to conferences with a friend) Advice she would give to her youngest self Something that she hadn't expected when taking Kevin J. Anderson's Western Colorado University's Masters in Publishing program Writing songs for characters in her books And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on when CJ spoke about learning to deal with constructive criticism and appreciating that it's not that there's anything wrong with the work, but about what can we improve upon and how can we make this even better. Links of Interest: CJ Anaya's Website CJ's YouTube Channel Cindy Savage Music on Reverbnation Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast TikTok Video - Mark's Skeleton Author Prop French River Trading Post The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   C.J. Anaya is a USA Today bestselling and multi-award-winning author. She also enjoys assisting authors in writing, publishing, and marketing books with her YouTube channel Author Journey. She's a huge fan of The Mindy Project, Hugh Jackman, and binge eating any and all things chocolate. As a mother of four awesome kiddos, C.J. is usually helping out with endless amounts of homework, attempting difficult and harrowing crochet projects with her daughters, and getting schooled in basketball by her teenage son. She loves writing entertaining reads for everyone to enjoy and dabbles in singing and songwriting for kicks and giggles.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 250 - Typewriters, Nature, and Fatherhood with E.S. Curry Typewriters, Nature, and Fatherhood with E.S. Curry Thu, 19 May 2022 20:05:16 +0000 Mark interviews E.S. Curry, an insatiable renaissance man who loves writing outside the data stream on a Royal typewriter, listening to classical music on vinyl, and imagining bedtime stories with his son Åsmund.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Scott talk about:

  • How Scott started writing for himself four years ago after years of doing ghostwriting and working in advertising and marketing
  • The importance of discovering his own voice as a writer and how it took writing over one million words before he found his voice
  • The experience of a being at a "Fred Forward" conference at the Fred Rogers Center and how Fred Rogers talked about the importance of being in a bubble with a child and really engaging and attending to them and that space
  • Getting away to the wilderness with his son Åsmund, unplugging from the digital realm, and really connecting with one another and within nature
  • The desire of parents to want to "write these things down" when experiencing that magical time in their child's life where the fantastical and imagination are such powerful elements
  • Doing their first father/son book signing at Lake Placid
  • Writing on a 1953 Royal Quiet Deluxe typewriter
  • Discovering his own author brand and his persona in the same way that he had to discover his own writer voice
  • The scholarly 1858 expedition known as the Philosopher's Camp
  • Richard Louv's writing, his books The Nature Principal, Last Child in the Woods, and his ideas of a Nature Deficit Disorder
  • Being visited by Ralph Waldo Emerson's ghost in Scott's next book: Camping with Emerson's Ghost
  • Scott being a huge believer in the 3-format author
  • A little bit about Scott's role at Findaway Voices
  • The experience of doing the audio for his first book, including auditioning himself as a potential narrator
  • The importance of having a simultaneous release with multiple formats to maximize your launch marketing effort impact
  • Some of the projects that Scott has been working on outlining
  • Being a big believer in the Rule of 3's
  • Creating book ciphers for his son as well as for marketing
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on Scott's work at writing millions of words before finding his voice, communing with nature, and the tactile experience of writing on a typewriter.

 

Links of Interest:

 

E.S. Curry is an insatiable renaissance man that loves writing outside the data stream on a Royal typewriter while listening to classical music on vinyl, plays piano and guitar, races his sailing yacht Escapade, fences, and imagines bedtime stories with his son Åsmund.

For over 20 years, he's worked with iconic brands around the world designing brand strategies and marketing campaigns, including IMG, Arnold Palmer, Olympics, Fashion Week, and numerous non-profit initiatives. He is currently the Marketing Strategist for Findaway Voices, a platform that empowers authors and publishers to create and distribute audiobooks to reach listeners globally.

A former ghostwriter, he published his first book under his own pen name, The Flying Sabuki: A Father-Son Nature Adventure, in 2021. One of the many five-star reviews describes the book as a "Must Read for Parents" and "Curry's approach to parenting struck a chord with me, as his intentional foundation of love and genuine connection with this child is what I aspire to as a parent. On several occasions, tears streamed down my face…" The follow-up book entitled The Philosophers Ghost: Camping with Ralph Waldo Emerson will be published later this year.

E.S. Curry calls Cleveland, Ohio, and Great Lake Erie his home port. To learn more and sign up for his email list visit escurry.com.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews E.S. Curry, an insatiable renaissance man who loves writing outside the data stream on a Royal typewriter, listening to classical music on vinyl, and imagining bedtime stories with his son Åsmund.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Scott talk about:

  • How Scott started writing for himself four years ago after years of doing ghostwriting and working in advertising and marketing
  • The importance of discovering his own voice as a writer and how it took writing over one million words before he found his voice
  • The experience of a being at a "Fred Forward" conference at the Fred Rogers Center and how Fred Rogers talked about the importance of being in a bubble with a child and really engaging and attending to them and that space
  • Getting away to the wilderness with his son Åsmund, unplugging from the digital realm, and really connecting with one another and within nature
  • The desire of parents to want to "write these things down" when experiencing that magical time in their child's life where the fantastical and imagination are such powerful elements
  • Doing their first father/son book signing at Lake Placid
  • Writing on a 1953 Royal Quiet Deluxe typewriter
  • Discovering his own author brand and his persona in the same way that he had to discover his own writer voice
  • The scholarly 1858 expedition known as the Philosopher's Camp
  • Richard Louv's writing, his books The Nature Principal, Last Child in the Woods, and his ideas of a Nature Deficit Disorder
  • Being visited by Ralph Waldo Emerson's ghost in Scott's next book: Camping with Emerson's Ghost
  • Scott being a huge believer in the 3-format author
  • A little bit about Scott's role at Findaway Voices
  • The experience of doing the audio for his first book, including auditioning himself as a potential narrator
  • The importance of having a simultaneous release with multiple formats to maximize your launch marketing effort impact
  • Some of the projects that Scott has been working on outlining
  • Being a big believer in the Rule of 3's
  • Creating book ciphers for his son as well as for marketing
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on Scott's work at writing millions of words before finding his voice, communing with nature, and the tactile experience of writing on a typewriter.

Links of Interest:

E.S. Curry is an insatiable renaissance man that loves writing outside the data stream on a Royal typewriter while listening to classical music on vinyl, plays piano and guitar, races his sailing yacht Escapade, fences, and imagines bedtime stories with his son Åsmund.

For over 20 years, he's worked with iconic brands around the world designing brand strategies and marketing campaigns, including IMG, Arnold Palmer, Olympics, Fashion Week, and numerous non-profit initiatives. He is currently the Marketing Strategist for Findaway Voices, a platform that empowers authors and publishers to create and distribute audiobooks to reach listeners globally.

A former ghostwriter, he published his first book under his own pen name, The Flying Sabuki: A Father-Son Nature Adventure, in 2021. One of the many five-star reviews describes the book as a "Must Read for Parents" and "Curry's approach to parenting struck a chord with me, as his intentional foundation of love and genuine connection with this child is what I aspire to as a parent. On several occasions, tears streamed down my face…" The follow-up book entitled The Philosophers Ghost: Camping with Ralph Waldo Emerson will be published later this year.

E.S. Curry calls Cleveland, Ohio, and Great Lake Erie his home port. To learn more and sign up for his email list visit escurry.com.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 50:25 false 5 250 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews E.S. Curry, an insatiable renaissance man who loves writing outside the data stream on a Royal typewriter, listening to classical music on vinyl, and imagining bedtime stories with his son Åsmund. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Scott talk about: How Scott started writing for himself four years ago after years of doing ghostwriting and working in advertising and marketing The importance of discovering his own voice as a writer and how it took writing over one million words before he found his voice The experience of a being at a "Fred Forward" conference at the Fred Rogers Center and how Fred Rogers talked about the importance of being in a bubble with a child and really engaging and attending to them and that space Getting away to the wilderness with his son Åsmund, unplugging from the digital realm, and really connecting with one another and within nature The desire of parents to want to "write these things down" when experiencing that magical time in their child's life where the fantastical and imagination are such powerful elements Doing their first father/son book signing at Lake Placid Writing on a 1953 Royal Quiet Deluxe typewriter Discovering his own author brand and his persona in the same way that he had to discover his own writer voice The scholarly 1858 expedition known as the Philosopher's Camp Richard Louv's writing, his books The Nature Principal, Last Child in the Woods, and his ideas of a Nature Deficit Disorder Being visited by Ralph Waldo Emerson's ghost in Scott's next book: Camping with Emerson's Ghost Scott being a huge believer in the 3-format author A little bit about Scott's role at Findaway Voices The experience of doing the audio for his first book, including auditioning himself as a potential narrator The importance of having a simultaneous release with multiple formats to maximize your launch marketing effort impact Some of the projects that Scott has been working on outlining Being a big believer in the Rule of 3's Creating book ciphers for his son as well as for marketing And more... After the interview Mark reflects on Scott's work at writing millions of words before finding his voice, communing with nature, and the tactile experience of writing on a typewriter.   Links of Interest: E.S. Curry's Website Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   E.S. Curry is an insatiable renaissance man that loves writing outside the data stream on a Royal typewriter while listening to classical music on vinyl, plays piano and guitar, races his sailing yacht Escapade, fences, and imagines bedtime stories with his son Åsmund. For over 20 years, he's worked with iconic brands around the world designing brand strategies and marketing campaigns, including IMG, Arnold Palmer, Olympics, Fashion Week, and numerous non-profit initiatives. He is currently the Marketing Strategist for Findaway Voices, a platform that empowers authors and publishers to create and distribute audiobooks to reach listeners globally. A former ghostwriter, he published his first book under his own pen name, The Flying Sabuki: A Father-Son Nature Adventure, in 2021. One of the many five-star reviews describes the book as a "Must Read for Parents" and "Curry's approach to parenting struck a chord with me, as his intentional foundation of love and genuine connection with this child is what I aspire to as a parent. On several occasions, tears streamed down my face…" The follow-up book entitled The Philosophers Ghost: Camping with Ralph Waldo Emerson will be published later this year. E.S. Curry calls Cleveland, Ohio, and Great Lake Erie his home port. To learn more and sign up for his email list visit escurry.com.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews E.S. Curry, an insatiable renaissance man who loves writing outside the data stream on a Royal typewriter, listening to classical music on vinyl, and imagining bedtime stories with his son Åsmund. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Scott talk about: How Scott started writing for himself four years ago after years of doing ghostwriting and working in advertising and marketing The importance of discovering his own voice as a writer and how it took writing over one million words before he found his voice The experience of a being at a "Fred Forward" conference at the Fred Rogers Center and how Fred Rogers talked about the importance of being in a bubble with a child and really engaging and attending to them and that space Getting away to the wilderness with his son Åsmund, unplugging from the digital realm, and really connecting with one another and within nature The desire of parents to want to "write these things down" when experiencing that magical time in their child's life where the fantastical and imagination are such powerful elements Doing their first father/son book signing at Lake Placid Writing on a 1953 Royal Quiet Deluxe typewriter Discovering his own author brand and his persona in the same way that he had to discover his own writer voice The scholarly 1858 expedition known as the Philosopher's Camp Richard Louv's writing, his books The Nature Principal, Last Child in the Woods, and his ideas of a Nature Deficit Disorder Being visited by Ralph Waldo Emerson's ghost in Scott's next book: Camping with Emerson's Ghost Scott being a huge believer in the 3-format author A little bit about Scott's role at Findaway Voices The experience of doing the audio for his first book, including auditioning himself as a potential narrator The importance of having a simultaneous release with multiple formats to maximize your launch marketing effort impact Some of the projects that Scott has been working on outlining Being a big believer in the Rule of 3's Creating book ciphers for his son as well as for marketing And more... After the interview Mark reflects on Scott's work at writing millions of words before finding his voice, communing with nature, and the tactile experience of writing on a typewriter.   Links of Interest: E.S. Curry's Website Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   E.S. Curry is an insatiable renaissance man that loves writing outside the data stream on a Royal typewriter while listening to classical music on vinyl, plays piano and guitar, races his sailing yacht Escapade, fences, and imagines bedtime stories with his son Åsmund. For over 20 years, he's worked with iconic brands around the world designing brand strategies and marketing campaigns, including IMG, Arnold Palmer, Olympics, Fashion Week, and numerous non-profit initiatives. He is currently the Marketing Strategist for Findaway Voices, a platform that empowers authors and publishers to create and distribute audiobooks to reach listeners globally. A former ghostwriter, he published his first book under his own pen name, The Flying Sabuki: A Father-Son Nature Adventure, in 2021. One of the many five-star reviews describes the book as a "Must Read for Parents" and "Curry's approach to parenting struck a chord with me, as his intentional foundation of love and genuine connection with this child is what I aspire to as a parent. On several occasions, tears streamed down my face…" The follow-up book entitled The Philosophers Ghost: Camping with Ralph Waldo Emerson will be published later this year. E.S. Curry calls Cleveland, Ohio, and Great Lake Erie his home port. To learn more and sign up for his email list visit escurry.com.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 249 - Epic Kids Adventures with D.E. Cunningham Epic Kids Adventures with D.E. Cunningham Thu, 12 May 2022 22:42:48 +0000 Mark interviews D. E. Cunningham, a middle-grade fantasy author, about his life as a storyteller and his new novel Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a recent comment, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and David talk about:

  • The inspiration behind writing Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls
  • Writing a musical comedy for stage when in college, and making short VHS movies, improv and parodies with his friends when he was in high school
  • Being able to bang out 1000 words an hour, but without proper structure and plotting
  • Discovering Brandon Sanderson's DIY writing class on YouTube
  • How dramatically different the later drafts of the novel became after David learned more about the craft
  • David's desire to make the heart of the Marco Swift story about children facing trauma and learning to not blame themselves
  • Inspiration from Mister Roger's and his own passion for ensuring that every child knew they were loved and they are capable of loving
  • Going through depression and being semi-suicidal when he was younger
  • Writing this first novel while working on his MFA for Film Production
  • Hiring an editor through Reedsy
  • Work David had done writing a couple of episodes and outlines for a few different television shows as well as voicing the main character for one series
  • Spending a year and a half querying 122 agents
  • The one agent who asked to read the book who told David it was "good not great"
  • Hiring a second editor to address the feedback this agent had offered to David
  • Trading skills with an artist/designer to get a professional looking cover for his self-published book
  • The 99% Perspiration/1% Inspiration principal
  • Realities of television and movie adaptations
  • The coolest things about self-publishing a book
  • David deciding to do the audiobook himself because he already had voice-acting experience
  • Advice David would offer to his younger self
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on David's life-long passion for storytelling, being cognizant of his target audience, and his determination and persistence as a writer.

 

Links of Interest:

 

D. E. Cunningham is a middle-grade fantasy author who currently resides in Virginia Beach with his wonderful wife and three fun-loving boys. His search for truth, goodness, and beauty have driven him to write larger-than-life adventures for a new generation of readers. When not writing, he can be found voicing cartoon characters, producing animated children's shows, and exploring the wilderness with his family.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

 

]]> Mark interviews D. E. Cunningham, a middle-grade fantasy author, about his life as a storyteller and his new novel Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a recent comment, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and David talk about:

  • The inspiration behind writing Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls
  • Writing a musical comedy for stage when in college, and making short VHS movies, improv and parodies with his friends when he was in high school
  • Being able to bang out 1000 words an hour, but without proper structure and plotting
  • Discovering Brandon Sanderson's DIY writing class on YouTube
  • How dramatically different the later drafts of the novel became after David learned more about the craft
  • David's desire to make the heart of the Marco Swift story about children facing trauma and learning to not blame themselves
  • Inspiration from Mister Roger's and his own passion for ensuring that every child knew they were loved and they are capable of loving
  • Going through depression and being semi-suicidal when he was younger
  • Writing this first novel while working on his MFA for Film Production
  • Hiring an editor through Reedsy
  • Work David had done writing a couple of episodes and outlines for a few different television shows as well as voicing the main character for one series
  • Spending a year and a half querying 122 agents
  • The one agent who asked to read the book who told David it was "good not great"
  • Hiring a second editor to address the feedback this agent had offered to David
  • Trading skills with an artist/designer to get a professional looking cover for his self-published book
  • The 99% Perspiration/1% Inspiration principal
  • Realities of television and movie adaptations
  • The coolest things about self-publishing a book
  • David deciding to do the audiobook himself because he already had voice-acting experience
  • Advice David would offer to his younger self
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on David's life-long passion for storytelling, being cognizant of his target audience, and his determination and persistence as a writer.

Links of Interest:

D. E. Cunningham is a middle-grade fantasy author who currently resides in Virginia Beach with his wonderful wife and three fun-loving boys. His search for truth, goodness, and beauty have driven him to write larger-than-life adventures for a new generation of readers. When not writing, he can be found voicing cartoon characters, producing animated children's shows, and exploring the wilderness with his family.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:02:40 false 5 249 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews D. E. Cunningham, a middle-grade fantasy author, about his life as a storyteller and his new novel Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a recent comment, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and David talk about: The inspiration behind writing Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls Writing a musical comedy for stage when in college, and making short VHS movies, improv and parodies with his friends when he was in high school Being able to bang out 1000 words an hour, but without proper structure and plotting Discovering Brandon Sanderson's DIY writing class on YouTube How dramatically different the later drafts of the novel became after David learned more about the craft David's desire to make the heart of the Marco Swift story about children facing trauma and learning to not blame themselves Inspiration from Mister Roger's and his own passion for ensuring that every child knew they were loved and they are capable of loving Going through depression and being semi-suicidal when he was younger Writing this first novel while working on his MFA for Film Production Hiring an editor through Reedsy Work David had done writing a couple of episodes and outlines for a few different television shows as well as voicing the main character for one series Spending a year and a half querying 122 agents The one agent who asked to read the book who told David it was "good not great" Hiring a second editor to address the feedback this agent had offered to David Trading skills with an artist/designer to get a professional looking cover for his self-published book The 99% Perspiration/1% Inspiration principal Realities of television and movie adaptations The coolest things about self-publishing a book David deciding to do the audiobook himself because he already had voice-acting experience Advice David would offer to his younger self And more... After the interview Mark reflects on David's life-long passion for storytelling, being cognizant of his target audience, and his determination and persistence as a writer.   Links of Interest: Marco Swift Website D. E. Cunningham Facebook Page D. E. Cunningham Instagram Findaway Voices The World of Publishing (Victoria, BC & Virtual) - May 14, 2022 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   D. E. Cunningham is a middle-grade fantasy author who currently resides in Virginia Beach with his wonderful wife and three fun-loving boys. His search for truth, goodness, and beauty have driven him to write larger-than-life adventures for a new generation of readers. When not writing, he can be found voicing cartoon characters, producing animated children's shows, and exploring the wilderness with his family.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   Mark interviews D. E. Cunningham, a middle-grade fantasy author, about his life as a storyteller and his new novel Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a recent comment, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and David talk about: The inspiration behind writing Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls Writing a musical comedy for stage when in college, and making short VHS movies, improv and parodies with his friends when he was in high school Being able to bang out 1000 words an hour, but without proper structure and plotting Discovering Brandon Sanderson's DIY writing class on YouTube How dramatically different the later drafts of the novel became after David learned more about the craft David's desire to make the heart of the Marco Swift story about children facing trauma and learning to not blame themselves Inspiration from Mister Roger's and his own passion for ensuring that every child knew they were loved and they are capable of loving Going through depression and being semi-suicidal when he was younger Writing this first novel while working on his MFA for Film Production Hiring an editor through Reedsy Work David had done writing a couple of episodes and outlines for a few different television shows as well as voicing the main character for one series Spending a year and a half querying 122 agents The one agent who asked to read the book who told David it was "good not great" Hiring a second editor to address the feedback this agent had offered to David Trading skills with an artist/designer to get a professional looking cover for his self-published book The 99% Perspiration/1% Inspiration principal Realities of television and movie adaptations The coolest things about self-publishing a book David deciding to do the audiobook himself because he already had voice-acting experience Advice David would offer to his younger self And more... After the interview Mark reflects on David's life-long passion for storytelling, being cognizant of his target audience, and his determination and persistence as a writer.   Links of Interest: Marco Swift Website D. E. Cunningham Facebook Page D. E. Cunningham Instagram Findaway Voices The World of Publishing (Victoria, BC & Virtual) - May 14, 2022 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   D. E. Cunningham is a middle-grade fantasy author who currently resides in Virginia Beach with his wonderful wife and three fun-loving boys. His search for truth, goodness, and beauty have driven him to write larger-than-life adventures for a new generation of readers. When not writing, he can be found voicing cartoon characters, producing animated children's shows, and exploring the wilderness with his family.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    EP 248 - Personal and Professional Challenges with Carina Alyce Personal and Professional Challenges with Carina Alyce Thu, 05 May 2022 19:24:55 +0000 Mark interviews Carina Alyce, a best-selling author and full-time triple board-certified physician who started writing dramatic medical romances after twenty years in the trenches of health care.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update as well as a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Carina talk about:

  • Carina's love of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Grey's Anatomy, and how this evolved, along with her passion for storytelling, to start writing her current series
  • Her medical and clinical background that helped inspire some of her stories
  • A typical work and family day, and where and how Carina gets her writing in
  • The "dead drop" method of communicating with herself using Gmail drafts while working on a manuscript
  • Scheduling TikTok content in advance during one-hour of work to use for the remainder of the week
  • How a TikTok "page flip" video works
  • Managing projects via a visible wall whiteboard/calendar
  • Writing Firefighter/Doctor/Police romances
  • The HEROES WITH HEAT AND HEART 9/11 charity anthology Carina edits and heads up
  • Using a combination of personal experience and interacting with firefighters and law enforcement to help make the content in her novels legitimate
  • How sometimes "crossover" can be an understatement in Carina's MetroGen novels that include the hospital, the firestation, and the police station
  • The number of books Carina already has out and the batch of forthcoming releases coming out in the next several months
  • Setting up the stories in a way that the readers can help determine what happens in the ongoing stories, with plot twists such as who the father of a pregnant woman's child will be
  • How a single event can include numerous people who all have their own unique story that can covered within this series
  • The dramatic storytelling principal of "Chekov's gun" ("If in Act I you have a pistol hanging on the wall, then it must fire in the last act".)
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things from the conversation.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Carina Alyce is the pen name of the Amazon best-selling author and full-time triple board-certified physician who started writing dramatic medical romances after twenty years in the trenches of health care. She promises she never had sex in a call room - the mattresses are not comfortable - or had a fistfight with a patient - though she did work as a fight doc at the Octagon. Her stories are sexy, snarky, and real with all the romance and drama of the lives of our first responders.

She writes the MetroGeneral Downtown series that tackles the personal and professional challenges facing our front-line providers. You'll find her stories have the drama of Grey's Anatomy, the comedy of Scrubs, the sexiness of Outlander, and the medical details of Forensic Files. They feature fast, witty dialogue, strong women with goals, and quirky ensemble casts.

When not working or writing, she is a brown belt in judo, an avid reader, and an attending surgeon in stuffed animal veterinary medicine for her six kids. (No one trusts her husband's medical skills because he's just a lawyer.) You can follow her at carinaalyce.com/newsletter or see her dance and make Grey's Anatomy jokes on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@carinaalyce

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

 

]]> Mark interviews Carina Alyce, a best-selling author and full-time triple board-certified physician who started writing dramatic medical romances after twenty years in the trenches of health care.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update as well as a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Carina talk about:

  • Carina's love of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Grey's Anatomy, and how this evolved, along with her passion for storytelling, to start writing her current series
  • Her medical and clinical background that helped inspire some of her stories
  • A typical work and family day, and where and how Carina gets her writing in
  • The "dead drop" method of communicating with herself using Gmail drafts while working on a manuscript
  • Scheduling TikTok content in advance during one-hour of work to use for the remainder of the week
  • How a TikTok "page flip" video works
  • Managing projects via a visible wall whiteboard/calendar
  • Writing Firefighter/Doctor/Police romances
  • The HEROES WITH HEAT AND HEART 9/11 charity anthology Carina edits and heads up
  • Using a combination of personal experience and interacting with firefighters and law enforcement to help make the content in her novels legitimate
  • How sometimes "crossover" can be an understatement in Carina's MetroGen novels that include the hospital, the firestation, and the police station
  • The number of books Carina already has out and the batch of forthcoming releases coming out in the next several months
  • Setting up the stories in a way that the readers can help determine what happens in the ongoing stories, with plot twists such as who the father of a pregnant woman's child will be
  • How a single event can include numerous people who all have their own unique story that can covered within this series
  • The dramatic storytelling principal of "Chekov's gun" ("If in Act I you have a pistol hanging on the wall, then it must fire in the last act".)
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things from the conversation.

Links of Interest:

Carina Alyce is the pen name of the Amazon best-selling author and full-time triple board-certified physician who started writing dramatic medical romances after twenty years in the trenches of health care. She promises she never had sex in a call room - the mattresses are not comfortable - or had a fistfight with a patient - though she did work as a fight doc at the Octagon. Her stories are sexy, snarky, and real with all the romance and drama of the lives of our first responders.

She writes the MetroGeneral Downtown series that tackles the personal and professional challenges facing our front-line providers. You'll find her stories have the drama of Grey's Anatomy, the comedy of Scrubs, the sexiness of Outlander, and the medical details of Forensic Files. They feature fast, witty dialogue, strong women with goals, and quirky ensemble casts.

When not working or writing, she is a brown belt in judo, an avid reader, and an attending surgeon in stuffed animal veterinary medicine for her six kids. (No one trusts her husband's medical skills because he's just a lawyer.) You can follow her at carinaalyce.com/newsletter or see her dance and make Grey's Anatomy jokes on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@carinaalyce

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:13:47 false 5 248 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Carina Alyce, a best-selling author and full-time triple board-certified physician who started writing dramatic medical romances after twenty years in the trenches of health care. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update as well as a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Carina talk about: Carina's love of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Grey's Anatomy, and how this evolved, along with her passion for storytelling, to start writing her current series Her medical and clinical background that helped inspire some of her stories A typical work and family day, and where and how Carina gets her writing in The "dead drop" method of communicating with herself using Gmail drafts while working on a manuscript Scheduling TikTok content in advance during one-hour of work to use for the remainder of the week How a TikTok "page flip" video works Managing projects via a visible wall whiteboard/calendar Writing Firefighter/Doctor/Police romances The HEROES WITH HEAT AND HEART 9/11 charity anthology Carina edits and heads up Using a combination of personal experience and interacting with firefighters and law enforcement to help make the content in her novels legitimate How sometimes "crossover" can be an understatement in Carina's MetroGen novels that include the hospital, the firestation, and the police station The number of books Carina already has out and the batch of forthcoming releases coming out in the next several months Setting up the stories in a way that the readers can help determine what happens in the ongoing stories, with plot twists such as who the father of a pregnant woman's child will be How a single event can include numerous people who all have their own unique story that can covered within this series The dramatic storytelling principal of "Chekov's gun" ("If in Act I you have a pistol hanging on the wall, then it must fire in the last act".) And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things from the conversation.   Links of Interest: Carina Alyce Website Carina on TikTok EP 247 - My Mom's Influence on Me as a Writer The 2022 Write Stuff Storybundle Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Carina Alyce is the pen name of the Amazon best-selling author and full-time triple board-certified physician who started writing dramatic medical romances after twenty years in the trenches of health care. She promises she never had sex in a call room - the mattresses are not comfortable - or had a fistfight with a patient - though she did work as a fight doc at the Octagon. Her stories are sexy, snarky, and real with all the romance and drama of the lives of our first responders. She writes the MetroGeneral Downtown series that tackles the personal and professional challenges facing our front-line providers. You'll find her stories have the drama of Grey's Anatomy, the comedy of Scrubs, the sexiness of Outlander, and the medical details of Forensic Files. They feature fast, witty dialogue, strong women with goals, and quirky ensemble casts. When not working or writing, she is a brown belt in judo, an avid reader, and an attending surgeon in stuffed animal veterinary medicine for her six kids. (No one trusts her husband's medical skills because he's just a lawyer.) You can follow her at carinaalyce.com/newsletter or see her dance and make Grey's Anatomy jokes on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@carinaalyce   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   Mark interviews Carina Alyce, a best-selling author and full-time triple board-certified physician who started writing dramatic medical romances after twenty years in the trenches of health care. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update as well as a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Carina talk about: Carina's love of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Grey's Anatomy, and how this evolved, along with her passion for storytelling, to start writing her current series Her medical and clinical background that helped inspire some of her stories A typical work and family day, and where and how Carina gets her writing in The "dead drop" method of communicating with herself using Gmail drafts while working on a manuscript Scheduling TikTok content in advance during one-hour of work to use for the remainder of the week How a TikTok "page flip" video works Managing projects via a visible wall whiteboard/calendar Writing Firefighter/Doctor/Police romances The HEROES WITH HEAT AND HEART 9/11 charity anthology Carina edits and heads up Using a combination of personal experience and interacting with firefighters and law enforcement to help make the content in her novels legitimate How sometimes "crossover" can be an understatement in Carina's MetroGen novels that include the hospital, the firestation, and the police station The number of books Carina already has out and the batch of forthcoming releases coming out in the next several months Setting up the stories in a way that the readers can help determine what happens in the ongoing stories, with plot twists such as who the father of a pregnant woman's child will be How a single event can include numerous people who all have their own unique story that can covered within this series The dramatic storytelling principal of "Chekov's gun" ("If in Act I you have a pistol hanging on the wall, then it must fire in the last act".) And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things from the conversation.   Links of Interest: Carina Alyce Website Carina on TikTok EP 247 - My Mom's Influence on Me as a Writer The 2022 Write Stuff Storybundle Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Carina Alyce is the pen name of the Amazon best-selling author and full-time triple board-certified physician who started writing dramatic medical romances after twenty years in the trenches of health care. She promises she never had sex in a call room - the mattresses are not comfortable - or had a fistfight with a patient - though she did work as a fight doc at the Octagon. Her stories are sexy, snarky, and real with all the romance and drama of the lives of our first responders. She writes the MetroGeneral Downtown series that tackles the personal and professional challenges facing our front-line providers. You'll find her stories have the drama of Grey's Anatomy, the comedy of Scrubs, the sexiness of Outlander, and the medical details of Forensic Files. They feature fast, witty dialogue, strong women with goals, and quirky ensemble casts. When not working or writing, she is a brown belt in judo, an avid reader, and an attending surgeon in stuffed animal veterinary medicine for her six kids. (No one trusts her husband's medical skills because he's just a lawyer.) You can follow her at carinaalyce.com/newsletter or see her dance and make Grey's Anatomy jokes on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@carinaalyce   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    EP 247 - My Mom's Influence On Me As A Writer My Mom's Influence On Me As A Writer Thu, 28 Apr 2022 22:00:00 +0000 After the loss of his mother, Mark reflects on the ways in which she influenced his love of reading, and other things.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

 

]]> After the loss of his mother, Mark reflects on the ways in which she influenced his love of reading, and other things.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 38:59 false 5 247 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)After the loss of his mother, Mark reflects on the ways in which she influenced his love of reading, and other things. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: The 2022 Write Stuff Storybundle Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   After the loss of his mother, Mark reflects on the ways in which she influenced his love of reading, and other things. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: The 2022 Write Stuff Storybundle Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    EP 246 - Four of the Pitfalls of Publishing Four of the Pitfalls of Publishing Fri, 22 Apr 2022 03:41:42 +0000 Mark shares four of the many pitfalls of publishing that can befall authors.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update  and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by The 2022 Write Stuff StoryBundle.

For StoryBundle, you decide what price you want to pay. For $5 (or more, if you're feeling generous), you'll get the basic bundle of four books in any ebook format—WORLDWIDE.

  • Domesticate Your Badgers by Michael W Lucas
  • Publishing Pitfalls for Authors by Mark Leslie Lefebvre
  • Writing Craft by DeAnna Knippling
  • A Freelancer's Survival Guide to Starting Your Own Business by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

If you pay at least the bonus price of just $20, you get all four of the regular books, plus five more books and an online lecture, for a total of 10 books/lectures. That includes two StoryBundle exclusives!

  • A Writer Prepares by Lawrence Block
  • Free Your Inner Nonfiction Writer by Johanna Rothman (StoryBundle Exclusive)
  • Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Virtual Worlds by Joanna Penn
  • Create a Character Clinic by Holly Lisle
  • Do...Quit Your Day Job by Christina F. York (StoryBundle Exclusive)
  • The Pop-Up Series - Clean First Draft Writing by Dean Wesley Smith

 

During the main content of this episode, Mark shares four of the P's of publishing pitfalls:

  • PACING
  • PACK
  • PACKAGING
  • PARALYSIS

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark shares four of the many pitfalls of publishing that can befall authors.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by The 2022 Write Stuff StoryBundle.

For StoryBundle, you decide what price you want to pay. For $5 (or more, if you're feeling generous), you'll get the basic bundle of four books in any ebook format—WORLDWIDE.

  • Domesticate Your Badgers by Michael W Lucas
  • Publishing Pitfalls for Authors by Mark Leslie Lefebvre
  • Writing Craft by DeAnna Knippling
  • A Freelancer's Survival Guide to Starting Your Own Business by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

If you pay at least the bonus price of just $20, you get all four of the regular books, plus five more books and an online lecture, for a total of 10 books/lectures. That includes two StoryBundle exclusives!

  • A Writer Prepares by Lawrence Block
  • Free Your Inner Nonfiction Writer by Johanna Rothman (StoryBundle Exclusive)
  • Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Virtual Worlds by Joanna Penn
  • Create a Character Clinic by Holly Lisle
  • Do...Quit Your Day Job by Christina F. York (StoryBundle Exclusive)
  • The Pop-Up Series - Clean First Draft Writing by Dean Wesley Smith

During the main content of this episode, Mark shares four of the P's of publishing pitfalls:

  • PACING
  • PACK
  • PACKAGING
  • PARALYSIS

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 36:18 false 5 246 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark shares four of the many pitfalls of publishing that can befall authors. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update  and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by The 2022 Write Stuff StoryBundle. For StoryBundle, you decide what price you want to pay. For $5 (or more, if you're feeling generous), you'll get the basic bundle of four books in any ebook format—WORLDWIDE. Domesticate Your Badgers by Michael W Lucas Publishing Pitfalls for Authors by Mark Leslie Lefebvre Writing Craft by DeAnna Knippling A Freelancer's Survival Guide to Starting Your Own Business by Kristine Kathryn Rusch If you pay at least the bonus price of just $20, you get all four of the regular books, plus five more books and an online lecture, for a total of 10 books/lectures. That includes two StoryBundle exclusives! A Writer Prepares by Lawrence Block Free Your Inner Nonfiction Writer by Johanna Rothman (StoryBundle Exclusive) Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Virtual Worlds by Joanna Penn Create a Character Clinic by Holly Lisle Do...Quit Your Day Job by Christina F. York (StoryBundle Exclusive) The Pop-Up Series - Clean First Draft Writing by Dean Wesley Smith   During the main content of this episode, Mark shares four of the P's of publishing pitfalls: PACING PACK PACKAGING PARALYSIS   Links of Interest: The 2022 Write Stuff Storybundle Episode 202 - Predators and Publishers "7 Tools For Pacing A Novel & Keeping Your Story Moving At The Right Pace," Courtney Carpenter, April 24, 2012 "Pacing in Writing: 10 Powerful Ways to Keep Readers Hooked," Reedsy Blog, October 13, 2018 Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You'll Ever Need, Jessica Brody, Ten Speed Press, October 2018. Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish, James Scott Bell. Writers Digest Books, October 2004. How to Write Best Selling Fiction, Dean R. Koontz, Writers Digest Books, September 1981. (Out of Print asof the release of this book in August 2021) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark shares four of the many pitfalls of publishing that can befall authors. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update  and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by The 2022 Write Stuff StoryBundle. For StoryBundle, you decide what price you want to pay. For $5 (or more, if you're feeling generous), you'll get the basic bundle of four books in any ebook format—WORLDWIDE. Domesticate Your Badgers by Michael W Lucas Publishing Pitfalls for Authors by Mark Leslie Lefebvre Writing Craft by DeAnna Knippling A Freelancer's Survival Guide to Starting Your Own Business by Kristine Kathryn Rusch If you pay at least the bonus price of just $20, you get all four of the regular books, plus five more books and an online lecture, for a total of 10 books/lectures. That includes two StoryBundle exclusives! A Writer Prepares by Lawrence Block Free Your Inner Nonfiction Writer by Johanna Rothman (StoryBundle Exclusive) Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Virtual Worlds by Joanna Penn Create a Character Clinic by Holly Lisle Do...Quit Your Day Job by Christina F. York (StoryBundle Exclusive) The Pop-Up Series - Clean First Draft Writing by Dean Wesley Smith   During the main content of this episode, Mark shares four of the P's of publishing pitfalls: PACING PACK PACKAGING PARALYSIS   Links of Interest: The 2022 Write Stuff Storybundle Episode 202 - Predators and Publishers "7 Tools For Pacing A Novel & Keeping Your Story Moving At The Right Pace," Courtney Carpenter, April 24, 2012 "Pacing in Writing: 10 Powerful Ways to Keep Readers Hooked," Reedsy Blog, October 13, 2018 Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You'll Ever Need, Jessica Brody, Ten Speed Press, October 2018. Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish, James Scott Bell. Writers Digest Books, October 2004. How to Write Best Selling Fiction, Dean R. Koontz, Writers Digest Books, September 1981. (Out of Print asof the release of this book in August 2021) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 245 - Reflective Round Table March 2022 Reflective Round Table March 2022 Thu, 14 Apr 2022 22:06:05 +0000 Mark chats with patrons Matty Dalrymple and Roland Denzel from the March 2022 "Reflective Round-Table."

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update (that includes the release of the co-authored book Accounting for Authors) and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast who support the podcast over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections

During their conversation, Mark, Matty, and Roland talk about:

  • In person events for authors
  • Print books for indie authors
  • Challenges related to pre-release print ARCs (Advance Reader Copies)
  • Tricks and Hacks for in person events and other physical props related to book events
  • Book Launches - both virtual and in person
  • Working with local bookstores
  • Public Lending Rights
  • And so much more...

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark chats with patrons Matty Dalrymple and Roland Denzel from the March 2022 "Reflective Round-Table."

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update (that includes the release of the co-authored book Accounting for Authors) and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast who support the podcast over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections

During their conversation, Mark, Matty, and Roland talk about:

  • In person events for authors
  • Print books for indie authors
  • Challenges related to pre-release print ARCs (Advance Reader Copies)
  • Tricks and Hacks for in person events and other physical props related to book events
  • Book Launches - both virtual and in person
  • Working with local bookstores
  • Public Lending Rights
  • And so much more...

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 57:28 false 5 245 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark chats with patrons Matty Dalrymple and Roland Denzel from the March 2022 "Reflective Round-Table." Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update (that includes the release of the co-authored book Accounting for Authors) and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast who support the podcast over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections During their conversation, Mark, Matty, and Roland talk about: In person events for authors Print books for indie authors Challenges related to pre-release print ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) Tricks and Hacks for in person events and other physical props related to book events Book Launches - both virtual and in person Working with local bookstores Public Lending Rights And so much more...   Links of Interest: Matty Dalrymple Roland Denzel Episode 216 - Podcasting for Authors with Matty Dalrymple Episode 128 - Healthy Home Workspaces with Roland Denzel Episode 116 - Taking the Short Tack with Matty Dalrymple Reflective Round Table Episodes Findaway Voices Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark chats with patrons Matty Dalrymple and Roland Denzel from the March 2022 "Reflective Round-Table." Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update (that includes the release of the co-authored book Accounting for Authors) and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast who support the podcast over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections During their conversation, Mark, Matty, and Roland talk about: In person events for authors Print books for indie authors Challenges related to pre-release print ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) Tricks and Hacks for in person events and other physical props related to book events Book Launches - both virtual and in person Working with local bookstores Public Lending Rights And so much more...   Links of Interest: Matty Dalrymple Roland Denzel Episode 216 - Podcasting for Authors with Matty Dalrymple Episode 128 - Healthy Home Workspaces with Roland Denzel Episode 116 - Taking the Short Tack with Matty Dalrymple Reflective Round Table Episodes Findaway Voices Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 244 - Rambling Reflections Rambling Reflections Fri, 08 Apr 2022 00:03:58 +0000 A rambling reflection episode that talks about writing fast and slow, writing with passion, worrying over reviews, and marketing, and Mark's "Pineapple on Pizza Principle."

Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patron S.W. Millar, reads a few comments, shares a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> A rambling reflection episode that talks about writing fast and slow, writing with passion, worrying over reviews, and marketing, and Mark's "Pineapple on Pizza Principle."

Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patron S.W. Millar, reads a few comments, shares a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 41:16 false 5 244 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)A rambling reflection episode that talks about writing fast and slow, writing with passion, worrying over reviews, and marketing, and Mark's "Pineapple on Pizza Principle." Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patron S.W. Millar, reads a few comments, shares a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Episode 243 - Creating a Nurturing Welcome Sequence with Holly Darling Best Book Ever Podcast - Episode 92 - Leah Carey on "One To Watch" by Kate Stayman-London Findaway Voices Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 A rambling reflection episode that talks about writing fast and slow, writing with passion, worrying over reviews, and marketing, and Mark's "Pineapple on Pizza Principle." Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patron S.W. Millar, reads a few comments, shares a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Episode 243 - Creating a Nurturing Welcome Sequence with Holly Darling Best Book Ever Podcast - Episode 92 - Leah Carey on "One To Watch" by Kate Stayman-London Findaway Voices Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 243 - Creating Nurturing Email Welcome Sequences with Holly Darling Creating Nurturing Email Welcome Sequences with Holly Darling Thu, 31 Mar 2022 22:00:00 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews Holly Darling, an author and email marketing consultant.

Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new Patron Holger Nils Pohl, shares a brief personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Holly Talk About

 
  • Holly's background as a romance author and how that led to her passion about email marketing
  • Her background in the entertainment business doing email and social media for musicians with large record companies
  • Responding to questions like: "Why do I need an author email?" or the idea of: "I'm a new author and don't yet have a readership yet."
  • The industry average of open rates being anywhere between 18% and 22% but how open-rates are not a reliable metric
  • How author email offers you a lot more control over the reader journey
  • The importance of a four-email 2nd phase nurturing aspect of the welcome sequence
  • Building a welcome sequence on paper first before moving on to the email service provider
  • How readers are 42% more likely to buy from an author inside of a welcome sequence than in a standard newsletter update
  • The way that a well-thought-out nurturing plan can help reduce your emails getting targeted as spam
  • What a lead magnet is and what type of content can work best in that regard
  • How, in sales, people buy from other people they know, like, and trust
  • That the trust element is what we're working on inside of the nurturing phase of the welcome sequence
  • The first short email in that sequence which usually contains the following elements:
    • A picture of yourself
    • A link to the reader magnet being offered
    • Orientate them by reminding them how they got there
    • Set the tone for what's to come
  • The importance of the trust in the email delivery service and the receiving email's trust of you
  • How clicks signal to the email service provider that the person sending the email is "legit"
  • Holly's typical email timing sequence for those 1st four emails is:
    1) immediately when they sign up
    2) 2 days later
    3) 4 days later
    4) 7 days later
  • Why Holly is a huge fan of the double opt in
  • That every email service provider out there allows you to customize your standard double opt-in message
  • The survey Holly has added to her emails asking if subscribers to the email want to receive all of the news she has, or if they only want to know about new releases and promotional offers
  • What tends to happen, statistically, when you give someone more than two choices or options
  • The importance of tagging people based on their interactions or status, including why it's good to tag people on their way "out"
  • eMail service providers that Holly would recommend
  • How the initial emails, particularly in the welcome sequence, need to have a heavier text component to them
  • A reminder to focus on the click rather than on the email open rate
  • The free courses Holly has on her site, as well as the 1:1 coaching she does with authors
  • Use code MARK20 to get 20% off any of Holly's paid courses
  • And more...

Links of Interest:

 

Holly Darling is a self-published author and an email marketing consultant for authors based in the theatre city of Stratford, Ontario. Over the years, she has helped nearly 1,000 entrepreneurs grow their businesses with proven email marketing strategies. And it all began with her passion for writing!

Holly's mission is to teach writers how to use emails to increase their sales and cultivate loyal fan bases. Her signature course, Email Marketing for Authors, is for writers looking to use email to grow their business. Whether you're a brand new author or an experienced writer trying to cut through the noise, Holly's passion is to help authors turn their readers into raving fans.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> In this episode, Mark interviews Holly Darling, an author and email marketing consultant.

Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new Patron Holger Nils Pohl, shares a brief personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Holly Talk About

  • Holly's background as a romance author and how that led to her passion about email marketing
  • Her background in the entertainment business doing email and social media for musicians with large record companies
  • Responding to questions like: "Why do I need an author email?" or the idea of: "I'm a new author and don't yet have a readership yet."
  • The industry average of open rates being anywhere between 18% and 22% but how open-rates are not a reliable metric
  • How author email offers you a lot more control over the reader journey
  • The importance of a four-email 2nd phase nurturing aspect of the welcome sequence
  • Building a welcome sequence on paper first before moving on to the email service provider
  • How readers are 42% more likely to buy from an author inside of a welcome sequence than in a standard newsletter update
  • The way that a well-thought-out nurturing plan can help reduce your emails getting targeted as spam
  • What a lead magnet is and what type of content can work best in that regard
  • How, in sales, people buy from other people they know, like, and trust
  • That the trust element is what we're working on inside of the nurturing phase of the welcome sequence
  • The first short email in that sequence which usually contains the following elements:
    • A picture of yourself
    • A link to the reader magnet being offered
    • Orientate them by reminding them how they got there
    • Set the tone for what's to come
  • The importance of the trust in the email delivery service and the receiving email's trust of you
  • How clicks signal to the email service provider that the person sending the email is "legit"
  • Holly's typical email timing sequence for those 1st four emails is: 1) immediately when they sign up 2) 2 days later 3) 4 days later 4) 7 days later
  • Why Holly is a huge fan of the double opt in
  • That every email service provider out there allows you to customize your standard double opt-in message
  • The survey Holly has added to her emails asking if subscribers to the email want to receive all of the news she has, or if they only want to know about new releases and promotional offers
  • What tends to happen, statistically, when you give someone more than two choices or options
  • The importance of tagging people based on their interactions or status, including why it's good to tag people on their way "out"
  • eMail service providers that Holly would recommend
  • How the initial emails, particularly in the welcome sequence, need to have a heavier text component to them
  • A reminder to focus on the click rather than on the email open rate
  • The free courses Holly has on her site, as well as the 1:1 coaching she does with authors
  • Use code MARK20 to get 20% off any of Holly's paid courses
  • And more...

Links of Interest:

Holly Darling is a self-published author and an email marketing consultant for authors based in the theatre city of Stratford, Ontario. Over the years, she has helped nearly 1,000 entrepreneurs grow their businesses with proven email marketing strategies. And it all began with her passion for writing!

Holly's mission is to teach writers how to use emails to increase their sales and cultivate loyal fan bases. Her signature course, Email Marketing for Authors, is for writers looking to use email to grow their business. Whether you're a brand new author or an experienced writer trying to cut through the noise, Holly's passion is to help authors turn their readers into raving fans.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:09:28 false 5 243 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews Holly Darling, an author and email marketing consultant. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new Patron Holger Nils Pohl, shares a brief personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Holly Talk About   Holly's background as a romance author and how that led to her passion about email marketing Her background in the entertainment business doing email and social media for musicians with large record companies Responding to questions like: "Why do I need an author email?" or the idea of: "I'm a new author and don't yet have a readership yet." The industry average of open rates being anywhere between 18% and 22% but how open-rates are not a reliable metric How author email offers you a lot more control over the reader journey The importance of a four-email 2nd phase nurturing aspect of the welcome sequence Building a welcome sequence on paper first before moving on to the email service provider How readers are 42% more likely to buy from an author inside of a welcome sequence than in a standard newsletter update The way that a well-thought-out nurturing plan can help reduce your emails getting targeted as spam What a lead magnet is and what type of content can work best in that regard How, in sales, people buy from other people they know, like, and trust That the trust element is what we're working on inside of the nurturing phase of the welcome sequence The first short email in that sequence which usually contains the following elements: A picture of yourself A link to the reader magnet being offered Orientate them by reminding them how they got there Set the tone for what's to come The importance of the trust in the email delivery service and the receiving email's trust of you How clicks signal to the email service provider that the person sending the email is "legit" Holly's typical email timing sequence for those 1st four emails is: 1) immediately when they sign up 2) 2 days later 3) 4 days later 4) 7 days later Why Holly is a huge fan of the double opt in That every email service provider out there allows you to customize your standard double opt-in message The survey Holly has added to her emails asking if subscribers to the email want to receive all of the news she has, or if they only want to know about new releases and promotional offers What tends to happen, statistically, when you give someone more than two choices or options The importance of tagging people based on their interactions or status, including why it's good to tag people on their way "out" eMail service providers that Holly would recommend How the initial emails, particularly in the welcome sequence, need to have a heavier text component to them A reminder to focus on the click rather than on the email open rate The free courses Holly has on her site, as well as the 1:1 coaching she does with authors Use code MARK20 to get 20% off any of Holly's paid courses And more... Links of Interest: Holly Darling HQ FREE Email Marketing Resources Online Courses Holly Mortimer Author VIDEO from Live Streamed Interview (YouTube) Findaway Voices Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Holly Darling is a self-published author and an email marketing consultant for authors based in the theatre city of Stratford, Ontario. Over the years, she has helped nearly 1,000 entrepreneurs grow their businesses with proven email marketing strategies. And it all began with her passion for writing! Holly's mission is to teach writers how to use emails to increase their sales and cultivate loyal fan bases. Her signature course, Email Marketing for Authors, is for writers looking to use email to grow their business. Whether you're a brand new author or an experienced writer trying to cut through the noise, Holly's passion is to help authors turn their readers into raving fans. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 In this episode, Mark interviews Holly Darling, an author and email marketing consultant. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new Patron Holger Nils Pohl, shares a brief personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Holly Talk About   Holly's background as a romance author and how that led to her passion about email marketing Her background in the entertainment business doing email and social media for musicians with large record companies Responding to questions like: "Why do I need an author email?" or the idea of: "I'm a new author and don't yet have a readership yet." The industry average of open rates being anywhere between 18% and 22% but how open-rates are not a reliable metric How author email offers you a lot more control over the reader journey The importance of a four-email 2nd phase nurturing aspect of the welcome sequence Building a welcome sequence on paper first before moving on to the email service provider How readers are 42% more likely to buy from an author inside of a welcome sequence than in a standard newsletter update The way that a well-thought-out nurturing plan can help reduce your emails getting targeted as spam What a lead magnet is and what type of content can work best in that regard How, in sales, people buy from other people they know, like, and trust That the trust element is what we're working on inside of the nurturing phase of the welcome sequence The first short email in that sequence which usually contains the following elements: A picture of yourself A link to the reader magnet being offered Orientate them by reminding them how they got there Set the tone for what's to come The importance of the trust in the email delivery service and the receiving email's trust of you How clicks signal to the email service provider that the person sending the email is "legit" Holly's typical email timing sequence for those 1st four emails is: 1) immediately when they sign up 2) 2 days later 3) 4 days later 4) 7 days later Why Holly is a huge fan of the double opt in That every email service provider out there allows you to customize your standard double opt-in message The survey Holly has added to her emails asking if subscribers to the email want to receive all of the news she has, or if they only want to know about new releases and promotional offers What tends to happen, statistically, when you give someone more than two choices or options The importance of tagging people based on their interactions or status, including why it's good to tag people on their way "out" eMail service providers that Holly would recommend How the initial emails, particularly in the welcome sequence, need to have a heavier text component to them A reminder to focus on the click rather than on the email open rate The free courses Holly has on her site, as well as the 1:1 coaching she does with authors Use code MARK20 to get 20% off any of Holly's paid courses And more... Links of Interest: Holly Darling HQ FREE Email Marketing Resources Online Courses Holly Mortimer Author VIDEO from Live Streamed Interview (YouTube) Findaway Voices Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Holly Darling is a self-published author and an email marketing consultant for authors based in the theatre city of Stratford, Ontario. Over the years, she has helped nearly 1,000 entrepreneurs grow their businesses with proven email marketing strategies. And it all began with her passion for writing! Holly's mission is to teach writers how to use emails to increase their sales and cultivate loyal fan bases. Her signature course, Email Marketing for Authors, is for writers looking to use email to grow their business. Whether you're a brand new author or an experienced writer trying to cut through the noise, Holly's passion is to help authors turn their readers into raving fans. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 242 - Helping Others Share Important Stories with Kim Lengling Helping Others Share Important Stories with Kim Lengling Thu, 24 Mar 2022 22:33:30 +0000 An interview with Kim Lengling, author, writer, and host of Let Fear Bounce podcast and the Write Stuff, the author's voice TV Show.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Claire talk about:

  • How Kim accidentally fell into writing after being asked to share a very personal story about her grandfather who was a WWI veteran in front of an audience of 800 people and a bunch of television cameras
  • Being invited to write a monthly column on veteran issues after this speech
  • The evolution of this writing into personal stories that Kim helped veterans shared
  • Being the person who can help other people share their stories
  • A little about her grandfather's personal story that Kim had shared on that fateful day
  • The unique manner by which some of the veterans Kim has spoken to wanted to share their stories, and just how difficult sharing those stories can be for them
  • How with each story, Kim's passion for helping other people sharing their stories grew
  • Kim's transition from sharing those stories to her podcast and television work
  • The circumstances that led to Kim wanting to start a podcast
  • Why Kim named her first podcast "Let Fear Bounce"
  • The universality of fear and how that means virtually anyone can be a guest on that podcast regardless of their background
  • The 3 faith-based anthologies Kim published in the "When Grace Found Me" series that shares real life stories of women of faith
  • Kim's advice for writers that includes the negative self-talk authors can often do to sabotage themselves
  • Reaching out to Kim if you're interested in being on her podcast: VIA: lengingauthor@gmail.com
  • And more...
After the interview Mark shares a brief reflection about something Kim said that really stuck about continuing to do something because of the fulfilling feeling that comes from doing it.
 
 

Links of Interest:

 

Kim Lengling "accidentally", began writing in 2004. With her writing, she shares her faith, nature, love of rescue animals, and living with PTSD.

She has been featured as a co-author in seven anthologies, is the lead author and coordinator of a collaborative 3-book faith-based series titled When Grace Found Me, the host of the podcast Let Fear Bounce, and host of The Write Stuff, the author's voice TV Show.

You can regularly find Kim taking walks with her rescue dog, Dexter, reading, drinking coffee, and jotting down story ideas about her Realm. She is also 20+ year advocate for Veterans who live with PTSD .

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> An interview with Kim Lengling, author, writer, and host of Let Fear Bounce podcast and the Write Stuff, the author's voice TV Show.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Claire talk about:

  • How Kim accidentally fell into writing after being asked to share a very personal story about her grandfather who was a WWI veteran in front of an audience of 800 people and a bunch of television cameras
  • Being invited to write a monthly column on veteran issues after this speech
  • The evolution of this writing into personal stories that Kim helped veterans shared
  • Being the person who can help other people share their stories
  • A little about her grandfather's personal story that Kim had shared on that fateful day
  • The unique manner by which some of the veterans Kim has spoken to wanted to share their stories, and just how difficult sharing those stories can be for them
  • How with each story, Kim's passion for helping other people sharing their stories grew
  • Kim's transition from sharing those stories to her podcast and television work
  • The circumstances that led to Kim wanting to start a podcast
  • Why Kim named her first podcast "Let Fear Bounce"
  • The universality of fear and how that means virtually anyone can be a guest on that podcast regardless of their background
  • The 3 faith-based anthologies Kim published in the "When Grace Found Me" series that shares real life stories of women of faith
  • Kim's advice for writers that includes the negative self-talk authors can often do to sabotage themselves
  • Reaching out to Kim if you're interested in being on her podcast: VIA: lengingauthor@gmail.com
  • And more...
After the interview Mark shares a brief reflection about something Kim said that really stuck about continuing to do something because of the fulfilling feeling that comes from doing it.

Links of Interest:

Kim Lengling "accidentally", began writing in 2004. With her writing, she shares her faith, nature, love of rescue animals, and living with PTSD. She has been featured as a co-author in seven anthologies, is the lead author and coordinator of a collaborative 3-book faith-based series titled When Grace Found Me, the host of the podcast Let Fear Bounce, and host of The Write Stuff, the author's voice TV Show. You can regularly find Kim taking walks with her rescue dog, Dexter, reading, drinking coffee, and jotting down story ideas about her Realm. She is also 20+ year advocate for Veterans who live with PTSD .

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 47:20 false 5 242 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)An interview with Kim Lengling, author, writer, and host of Let Fear Bounce podcast and the Write Stuff, the author's voice TV Show. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Claire talk about: How Kim accidentally fell into writing after being asked to share a very personal story about her grandfather who was a WWI veteran in front of an audience of 800 people and a bunch of television cameras Being invited to write a monthly column on veteran issues after this speech The evolution of this writing into personal stories that Kim helped veterans shared Being the person who can help other people share their stories A little about her grandfather's personal story that Kim had shared on that fateful day The unique manner by which some of the veterans Kim has spoken to wanted to share their stories, and just how difficult sharing those stories can be for them How with each story, Kim's passion for helping other people sharing their stories grew Kim's transition from sharing those stories to her podcast and television work The circumstances that led to Kim wanting to start a podcast Why Kim named her first podcast "Let Fear Bounce" The universality of fear and how that means virtually anyone can be a guest on that podcast regardless of their background The 3 faith-based anthologies Kim published in the "When Grace Found Me" series that shares real life stories of women of faith Kim's advice for writers that includes the negative self-talk authors can often do to sabotage themselves Reaching out to Kim if you're interested in being on her podcast: VIA: lengingauthor@gmail.com And more... After the interview Mark shares a brief reflection about something Kim said that really stuck about continuing to do something because of the fulfilling feeling that comes from doing it.     Links of Interest: Kim Lengling's Website Findaway Voices EP 241 - Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem EP 240 - Character, Story, & Industry Alignment with Claire Taylor EP 233 - Love, Only Better with Paulette Stout No One Will Read Your Book: And Other Truths About Publishing Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Kim Lengling "accidentally", began writing in 2004. With her writing, she shares her faith, nature, love of rescue animals, and living with PTSD. She has been featured as a co-author in seven anthologies, is the lead author and coordinator of a collaborative 3-book faith-based series titled When Grace Found Me, the host of the podcast Let Fear Bounce, and host of The Write Stuff, the author's voice TV Show. You can regularly find Kim taking walks with her rescue dog, Dexter, reading, drinking coffee, and jotting down story ideas about her Realm. She is also 20+ year advocate for Veterans who live with PTSD . The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 An interview with Kim Lengling, author, writer, and host of Let Fear Bounce podcast and the Write Stuff, the author's voice TV Show. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Claire talk about: How Kim accidentally fell into writing after being asked to share a very personal story about her grandfather who was a WWI veteran in front of an audience of 800 people and a bunch of television cameras Being invited to write a monthly column on veteran issues after this speech The evolution of this writing into personal stories that Kim helped veterans shared Being the person who can help other people share their stories A little about her grandfather's personal story that Kim had shared on that fateful day The unique manner by which some of the veterans Kim has spoken to wanted to share their stories, and just how difficult sharing those stories can be for them How with each story, Kim's passion for helping other people sharing their stories grew Kim's transition from sharing those stories to her podcast and television work The circumstances that led to Kim wanting to start a podcast Why Kim named her first podcast "Let Fear Bounce" The universality of fear and how that means virtually anyone can be a guest on that podcast regardless of their background The 3 faith-based anthologies Kim published in the "When Grace Found Me" series that shares real life stories of women of faith Kim's advice for writers that includes the negative self-talk authors can often do to sabotage themselves Reaching out to Kim if you're interested in being on her podcast: VIA: lengingauthor@gmail.com And more... After the interview Mark shares a brief reflection about something Kim said that really stuck about continuing to do something because of the fulfilling feeling that comes from doing it.     Links of Interest: Kim Lengling's Website Findaway Voices EP 241 - Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem EP 240 - Character, Story, & Industry Alignment with Claire Taylor EP 233 - Love, Only Better with Paulette Stout No One Will Read Your Book: And Other Truths About Publishing Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Kim Lengling "accidentally", began writing in 2004. With her writing, she shares her faith, nature, love of rescue animals, and living with PTSD. She has been featured as a co-author in seven anthologies, is the lead author and coordinator of a collaborative 3-book faith-based series titled When Grace Found Me, the host of the podcast Let Fear Bounce, and host of The Write Stuff, the author's voice TV Show. You can regularly find Kim taking walks with her rescue dog, Dexter, reading, drinking coffee, and jotting down story ideas about her Realm. She is also 20+ year advocate for Veterans who live with PTSD . The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 241 - Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem Fri, 18 Mar 2022 01:17:08 +0000 A reading, by the author (H. Claire Taylor) of her March 7, 2022 Medium article entitled: "Indie Publishing Has a Creepy Problem"

Links of Interest:

 

Claire Taylor is the founder and owner of FFS Media. She also leads the Story Alignment services offered by FFS Media.

With over a dozen top-selling humor novels published (and many more on the way), she can write the crap out of a funny book. And she can help you bring out the humor in your story, too, without sacrificing a compelling narrative or strong character development.

She has professionally edited 200+ fiction manuscripts, with experience in every stage of the editing process from outline evaluation to proofreading. Her passion lies in telling a story that sticks with readers long after they finish the last page, and she loves helping others achieve that goal.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> A reading, by the author (H. Claire Taylor) of her March 7, 2022 Medium article entitled: "Indie Publishing Has a Creepy Problem"

Links of Interest:

Claire Taylor is the founder and owner of FFS Media. She also leads the Story Alignment services offered by FFS Media.

With over a dozen top-selling humor novels published (and many more on the way), she can write the crap out of a funny book. And she can help you bring out the humor in your story, too, without sacrificing a compelling narrative or strong character development.

She has professionally edited 200+ fiction manuscripts, with experience in every stage of the editing process from outline evaluation to proofreading. Her passion lies in telling a story that sticks with readers long after they finish the last page, and she loves helping others achieve that goal.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 26:34 true 5 241 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)A reading, by the author (H. Claire Taylor) of her March 7, 2022 Medium article entitled: "Indie Publishing Has a Creepy Problem" Links of Interest: Claire Taylor's Website Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem (Original Article) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections   Claire Taylor is the founder and owner of FFS Media. She also leads the Story Alignment services offered by FFS Media. With over a dozen top-selling humor novels published (and many more on the way), she can write the crap out of a funny book. And she can help you bring out the humor in your story, too, without sacrificing a compelling narrative or strong character development. She has professionally edited 200+ fiction manuscripts, with experience in every stage of the editing process from outline evaluation to proofreading. Her passion lies in telling a story that sticks with readers long after they finish the last page, and she loves helping others achieve that goal.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 A reading, by the author (H. Claire Taylor) of her March 7, 2022 Medium article entitled: "Indie Publishing Has a Creepy Problem" Links of Interest: Claire Taylor's Website Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem (Original Article) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections   Claire Taylor is the founder and owner of FFS Media. She also leads the Story Alignment services offered by FFS Media. With over a dozen top-selling humor novels published (and many more on the way), she can write the crap out of a funny book. And she can help you bring out the humor in your story, too, without sacrificing a compelling narrative or strong character development. She has professionally edited 200+ fiction manuscripts, with experience in every stage of the editing process from outline evaluation to proofreading. Her passion lies in telling a story that sticks with readers long after they finish the last page, and she loves helping others achieve that goal.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 240 - Character, Story, and Industry Alignment with Clarie Taylor Character, Story, and Industry Alignment with Clarie Taylor Fri, 18 Mar 2022 00:26:05 +0000 Mark has a conversation with Claire Taylor, founder and owner of FFS Media, about her writing, about story alignment, and about a creep problem that exists in the indie publishing industry.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares some randomly drawn prizes for three of his Patrons (two copies of a book on worldbuilding by Angeline Trevena and a virtual course by Claire Taylor), a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Claire talk about:

  • How long it has been since the last time they saw one another in person due to that "thing that happened" (a global pandemic)
  • Claire's start on The Sell More Books Show Podcast (with co-host Bryan Cohen) in Jan 2020 and the importance of how the two hosts can raise different points to bring perspective to the news and tips
  • The challenge of reading news articles aloud live
  • Claire's FFS media company and how her story alignment work first started
  • The Enneagram (a typology system that describes human personality as a number of interconnected personality types) that Claire uses for her story alignment process
  • Mark's mispronunciation of Enneagram as angiogram
  • Aligning characters to their core motivations
  • The different genres and series novels that Claire writes in. H. Claire Taylor as a writer of contemporary comedy novels; H. Clarie Taylor co-authoring with Brock Bloodworth (a pseudonym for Claire) writing a paranormal cop comedy adventure series; Nova Nelson writing cozy mysteries and magical Renaissance fiction; CLaire Feeny writing serial killer fiction
  • Claire's passion for Renaissance Fairs
  • Leveraging her husband's experience as a police officer (and soon to be detective) in making her cop fiction more realistic
  • The culmination of having been writing since May 2015
  • Learning the importance of rest and changing her previous habits of being a chronic over-achiever
  • The origin of Claire's "The Waffling" series of videos and its relation to her giving in to peer pressure
  • Claire's social media "Hot Walks"
  • Being at the two year anniversary of when everything shut-down/locked-down for "two weeks"
  • Her publishing strategy of "Exclusive to Amazon Kindle" VS "Wide"
  • The genesis for Clarie's March 14, 2022 Medium article "Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem"
  • How important it is for men to be aware that this type of thing is happening and how it's not going to be reported, and why women don't report it
  • The importance of paying attention to and focusing on that "sixth sense" of just knowing something is wrong, or the body language being witnessed seems off
  • How woman are often programed to diminish such an experience and to also gaslight themselves - so having someone acknowledge the wrong taking place can be extremely beneficial to them in validating the experience
  • Claire's own Enneagram type and how that aligns with her deep-rooted satisfaction in doing what is right and what needs to be done
  • And more...
After the interview Mark shares a brief reflection about something that Claire said that really stuck with him. "My fear of seeming awkward in a situation is less important than the possibility of a woman being in a bad situation I haven't intervened in."
 
He also shares that the article Claire published to Medium will be the main content of Episode 241 which will be published almost immediately after Episode 240.
 

Links of Interest:

 

Claire Taylor is the founder and owner of FFS Media. She also leads the Story Alignment services offered by FFS Media.

With over a dozen top-selling humor novels published (and many more on the way), she can write the crap out of a funny book. And she can help you bring out the humor in your story, too, without sacrificing a compelling narrative or strong character development.

She has professionally edited 200+ fiction manuscripts, with experience in every stage of the editing process from outline evaluation to proofreading. Her passion lies in telling a story that sticks with readers long after they finish the last page, and she loves helping others achieve that goal.


The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark has a conversation with Claire Taylor, founder and owner of FFS Media, about her writing, about story alignment, and about a creep problem that exists in the indie publishing industry.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares some randomly drawn prizes for three of his Patrons (two copies of a book on worldbuilding by Angeline Trevena and a virtual course by Claire Taylor), a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Claire talk about:

  • How long it has been since the last time they saw one another in person due to that "thing that happened" (a global pandemic)
  • Claire's start on The Sell More Books Show Podcast (with co-host Bryan Cohen) in Jan 2020 and the importance of how the two hosts can raise different points to bring perspective to the news and tips
  • The challenge of reading news articles aloud live
  • Claire's FFS media company and how her story alignment work first started
  • The Enneagram (a typology system that describes human personality as a number of interconnected personality types) that Claire uses for her story alignment process
  • Mark's mispronunciation of Enneagram as angiogram
  • Aligning characters to their core motivations
  • The different genres and series novels that Claire writes in. H. Claire Taylor as a writer of contemporary comedy novels; H. Clarie Taylor co-authoring with Brock Bloodworth (a pseudonym for Claire) writing a paranormal cop comedy adventure series; Nova Nelson writing cozy mysteries and magical Renaissance fiction; CLaire Feeny writing serial killer fiction
  • Claire's passion for Renaissance Fairs
  • Leveraging her husband's experience as a police officer (and soon to be detective) in making her cop fiction more realistic
  • The culmination of having been writing since May 2015
  • Learning the importance of rest and changing her previous habits of being a chronic over-achiever
  • The origin of Claire's "The Waffling" series of videos and its relation to her giving in to peer pressure
  • Claire's social media "Hot Walks"
  • Being at the two year anniversary of when everything shut-down/locked-down for "two weeks"
  • Her publishing strategy of "Exclusive to Amazon Kindle" VS "Wide"
  • The genesis for Clarie's March 14, 2022 Medium article "Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem"
  • How important it is for men to be aware that this type of thing is happening and how it's not going to be reported, and why women don't report it
  • The importance of paying attention to and focusing on that "sixth sense" of just knowing something is wrong, or the body language being witnessed seems off
  • How woman are often programed to diminish such an experience and to also gaslight themselves - so having someone acknowledge the wrong taking place can be extremely beneficial to them in validating the experience
  • Claire's own Enneagram type and how that aligns with her deep-rooted satisfaction in doing what is right and what needs to be done
  • And more...
After the interview Mark shares a brief reflection about something that Claire said that really stuck with him. "My fear of seeming awkward in a situation is less important than the possibility of a woman being in a bad situation I haven't intervened in." He also shares that the article Claire published to Medium will be the main content of Episode 241 which will be published almost immediately after Episode 240.

Links of Interest:

Claire Taylor is the founder and owner of FFS Media. She also leads the Story Alignment services offered by FFS Media.

With over a dozen top-selling humor novels published (and many more on the way), she can write the crap out of a funny book. And she can help you bring out the humor in your story, too, without sacrificing a compelling narrative or strong character development.

She has professionally edited 200+ fiction manuscripts, with experience in every stage of the editing process from outline evaluation to proofreading. Her passion lies in telling a story that sticks with readers long after they finish the last page, and she loves helping others achieve that goal.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:00:18 false 5 240 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark has a conversation with Claire Taylor, founder and owner of FFS Media, about her writing, about story alignment, and about a creep problem that exists in the indie publishing industry. Prior to the main content, Mark shares some randomly drawn prizes for three of his Patrons (two copies of a book on worldbuilding by Angeline Trevena and a virtual course by Claire Taylor), a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Claire talk about: How long it has been since the last time they saw one another in person due to that "thing that happened" (a global pandemic) Claire's start on The Sell More Books Show Podcast (with co-host Bryan Cohen) in Jan 2020 and the importance of how the two hosts can raise different points to bring perspective to the news and tips The challenge of reading news articles aloud live Claire's FFS media company and how her story alignment work first started The Enneagram (a typology system that describes human personality as a number of interconnected personality types) that Claire uses for her story alignment process Mark's mispronunciation of Enneagram as angiogram Aligning characters to their core motivations The different genres and series novels that Claire writes in. H. Claire Taylor as a writer of contemporary comedy novels; H. Clarie Taylor co-authoring with Brock Bloodworth (a pseudonym for Claire) writing a paranormal cop comedy adventure series; Nova Nelson writing cozy mysteries and magical Renaissance fiction; CLaire Feeny writing serial killer fiction Claire's passion for Renaissance Fairs Leveraging her husband's experience as a police officer (and soon to be detective) in making her cop fiction more realistic The culmination of having been writing since May 2015 Learning the importance of rest and changing her previous habits of being a chronic over-achiever The origin of Claire's "The Waffling" series of videos and its relation to her giving in to peer pressure Claire's social media "Hot Walks" Being at the two year anniversary of when everything shut-down/locked-down for "two weeks" Her publishing strategy of "Exclusive to Amazon Kindle" VS "Wide" The genesis for Clarie's March 14, 2022 Medium article "Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem" How important it is for men to be aware that this type of thing is happening and how it's not going to be reported, and why women don't report it The importance of paying attention to and focusing on that "sixth sense" of just knowing something is wrong, or the body language being witnessed seems off How woman are often programed to diminish such an experience and to also gaslight themselves - so having someone acknowledge the wrong taking place can be extremely beneficial to them in validating the experience Claire's own Enneagram type and how that aligns with her deep-rooted satisfaction in doing what is right and what needs to be done And more... After the interview Mark shares a brief reflection about something that Claire said that really stuck with him. "My fear of seeming awkward in a situation is less important than the possibility of a woman being in a bad situation I haven't intervened in."   He also shares that the article Claire published to Medium will be the main content of Episode 241 which will be published almost immediately after Episode 240.   Links of Interest: Claire Taylor's Website 5 Day Indie Author Alignment Course (FREE - Virtual) Supercharge Your Story Course (Virtual) Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem (Medium Article) EP 237 - Building and Destroying Worlds with Angeline Trevena Findaway Voices Findaway Voices - Title Discount Promo Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Claire Taylor is the founder and owner of FFS Media. She also leads the Story Alignment services offered by FFS Media. With over a dozen top-selling humor novels published (and many more on the way), she can write the crap out of a funny book. And she can help you bring out the humor in your story, too, without sacrificing a compelling narrative or strong character development. She has professionally edited 200+ fiction manuscripts, with experience in every stage of the editing process from outline evaluation to proofreading. Her passion lies in telling a story that sticks with readers long after they finish the last page, and she loves helping others achieve that goal. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark has a conversation with Claire Taylor, founder and owner of FFS Media, about her writing, about story alignment, and about a creep problem that exists in the indie publishing industry. Prior to the main content, Mark shares some randomly drawn prizes for three of his Patrons (two copies of a book on worldbuilding by Angeline Trevena and a virtual course by Claire Taylor), a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Claire talk about: How long it has been since the last time they saw one another in person due to that "thing that happened" (a global pandemic) Claire's start on The Sell More Books Show Podcast (with co-host Bryan Cohen) in Jan 2020 and the importance of how the two hosts can raise different points to bring perspective to the news and tips The challenge of reading news articles aloud live Claire's FFS media company and how her story alignment work first started The Enneagram (a typology system that describes human personality as a number of interconnected personality types) that Claire uses for her story alignment process Mark's mispronunciation of Enneagram as angiogram Aligning characters to their core motivations The different genres and series novels that Claire writes in. H. Claire Taylor as a writer of contemporary comedy novels; H. Clarie Taylor co-authoring with Brock Bloodworth (a pseudonym for Claire) writing a paranormal cop comedy adventure series; Nova Nelson writing cozy mysteries and magical Renaissance fiction; CLaire Feeny writing serial killer fiction Claire's passion for Renaissance Fairs Leveraging her husband's experience as a police officer (and soon to be detective) in making her cop fiction more realistic The culmination of having been writing since May 2015 Learning the importance of rest and changing her previous habits of being a chronic over-achiever The origin of Claire's "The Waffling" series of videos and its relation to her giving in to peer pressure Claire's social media "Hot Walks" Being at the two year anniversary of when everything shut-down/locked-down for "two weeks" Her publishing strategy of "Exclusive to Amazon Kindle" VS "Wide" The genesis for Clarie's March 14, 2022 Medium article "Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem" How important it is for men to be aware that this type of thing is happening and how it's not going to be reported, and why women don't report it The importance of paying attention to and focusing on that "sixth sense" of just knowing something is wrong, or the body language being witnessed seems off How woman are often programed to diminish such an experience and to also gaslight themselves - so having someone acknowledge the wrong taking place can be extremely beneficial to them in validating the experience Claire's own Enneagram type and how that aligns with her deep-rooted satisfaction in doing what is right and what needs to be done And more... After the interview Mark shares a brief reflection about something that Claire said that really stuck with him. "My fear of seeming awkward in a situation is less important than the possibility of a woman being in a bad situation I haven't intervened in."   He also shares that the article Claire published to Medium will be the main content of Episode 241 which will be published almost immediately after Episode 240.   Links of Interest: Claire Taylor's Website 5 Day Indie Author Alignment Course (FREE - Virtual) Supercharge Your Story Course (Virtual) Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem (Medium Article) EP 237 - Building and Destroying Worlds with Angeline Trevena Findaway Voices Findaway Voices - Title Discount Promo Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Claire Taylor is the founder and owner of FFS Media. She also leads the Story Alignment services offered by FFS Media. With over a dozen top-selling humor novels published (and many more on the way), she can write the crap out of a funny book. And she can help you bring out the humor in your story, too, without sacrificing a compelling narrative or strong character development. She has professionally edited 200+ fiction manuscripts, with experience in every stage of the editing process from outline evaluation to proofreading. Her passion lies in telling a story that sticks with readers long after they finish the last page, and she loves helping others achieve that goal. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 239 - Public Lending Right for Authors Public Lending Right for Authors Fri, 11 Mar 2022 00:14:29 +0000 In this solo episode Mark talks about Public Lending Right programs.

Public Lending Right (PLR) is the right of authors and other rightsholders to receive payment for the free public use of their works in libraries. PLR has been in existence since the 1940s and is currently available for authors in more than 30 countries around the world.

Prior to the main content, shares a personal update that includes Writers for Ukraine: The Million Word Challenge, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> In this solo episode Mark talks about Public Lending Right programs.

Public Lending Right (PLR) is the right of authors and other rightsholders to receive payment for the free public use of their works in libraries. PLR has been in existence since the 1940s and is currently available for authors in more than 30 countries around the world.

Prior to the main content, shares a personal update that includes Writers for Ukraine: The Million Word Challenge, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 33:24 false 5 239 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark talks about Public Lending Right programs. Public Lending Right (PLR) is the right of authors and other rightsholders to receive payment for the free public use of their works in libraries. PLR has been in existence since the 1940s and is currently available for authors in more than 30 countries around the world. Prior to the main content, shares a personal update that includes Writers for Ukraine: The Million Word Challenge, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Writers for Ukraine Go Fund Me for Writers for Ukraine PLR International Links to Established Global Region programs for PLR PLR Canada Findaway Voices Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 In this solo episode Mark talks about Public Lending Right programs. Public Lending Right (PLR) is the right of authors and other rightsholders to receive payment for the free public use of their works in libraries. PLR has been in existence since the 1940s and is currently available for authors in more than 30 countries around the world. Prior to the main content, shares a personal update that includes Writers for Ukraine: The Million Word Challenge, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Writers for Ukraine Go Fund Me for Writers for Ukraine PLR International Links to Established Global Region programs for PLR PLR Canada Findaway Voices Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 238 - This is Not a Real Interview with Jeff Cottrill This is Not a Real Interview with Jeff Cottrill Fri, 04 Mar 2022 02:35:10 +0000 Mark interviews Jeff Cottrill, a fiction writer, poet, journalist and spoken-word artist based in Toronto, Canada, about spoken-word art and his new novel HATE STORY.

Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes a Patreon supporter, shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Jeff talk about:

  • How Jeff had always been writing since he was young, including silly poems and sketches and stories
  • The writing becoming a bit more serious in nature in high school, and then later in university, where he was actually discouraged from writing for a while
  • Discovering the unique nature of spoken-word and open mics and then adapting his own style and adaptation of the art
  • How really bad workshops can be traumatizing and can set back a writer for years
  • The lack of (or overabundance of) life and energy within spoken-word poetry
  • Reading the room and playing off the crowd
  • Jeff's Octobe 2020 article on Digital Journal called "Meet the Zoom Poets: How lockdown has connected artists globally"
  • A bit of a backstory about and a short reading from Jeff's poem: ""This Is Not Real Poetry"
  • Jeff's new novel Hate Story, which is a mix of satire and mystery that has a plot structure that's like a loose parody of Citizen Kane
  • How social media gaffs can completely destroy a person's life
  • The Justine Sacco 2003 Twitter fiasco
  • Trying agents, and then discovering Dragonfly Publishing in Australia for this book
  • The virtual book launch on March 19, 2022 that is going to include guest musicians and other authors, performance poets and creative artists
  • Advice Jeff would offer to budding writers and spoken word artists
  • And more...

 

After the interview, Mark talks about what writers can learn from witnessing really good spoken word performances as well as the idea that sometimes your idea for a project may not always come at the proper time.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Jeff Cottrill is a fiction writer, poet, journalist and spoken-word artist based in Toronto, Canada. He has headlined in countless literary series throughout Canada, the U.K., the U.S., France and Ireland over the last twenty years. His performance style is influenced by slam conventions, but subverts them with wit, ironic humour and a satirical tone.

His poem "This Is Not Real Poetry" is currently nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and his first novel, "Hate Story", is coming soon from Dragonfly Publishing.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Jeff Cottrill, a fiction writer, poet, journalist and spoken-word artist based in Toronto, Canada, about spoken-word art and his new novel HATE STORY.

Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes a Patreon supporter, shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Jeff talk about:

  • How Jeff had always been writing since he was young, including silly poems and sketches and stories
  • The writing becoming a bit more serious in nature in high school, and then later in university, where he was actually discouraged from writing for a while
  • Discovering the unique nature of spoken-word and open mics and then adapting his own style and adaptation of the art
  • How really bad workshops can be traumatizing and can set back a writer for years
  • The lack of (or overabundance of) life and energy within spoken-word poetry
  • Reading the room and playing off the crowd
  • Jeff's Octobe 2020 article on Digital Journal called "Meet the Zoom Poets: How lockdown has connected artists globally"
  • A bit of a backstory about and a short reading from Jeff's poem: ""This Is Not Real Poetry"
  • Jeff's new novel Hate Story, which is a mix of satire and mystery that has a plot structure that's like a loose parody of Citizen Kane
  • How social media gaffs can completely destroy a person's life
  • The Justine Sacco 2003 Twitter fiasco
  • Trying agents, and then discovering Dragonfly Publishing in Australia for this book
  • The virtual book launch on March 19, 2022 that is going to include guest musicians and other authors, performance poets and creative artists
  • Advice Jeff would offer to budding writers and spoken word artists
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark talks about what writers can learn from witnessing really good spoken word performances as well as the idea that sometimes your idea for a project may not always come at the proper time.

Links of Interest:

Jeff Cottrill is a fiction writer, poet, journalist and spoken-word artist based in Toronto, Canada. He has headlined in countless literary series throughout Canada, the U.K., the U.S., France and Ireland over the last twenty years. His performance style is influenced by slam conventions, but subverts them with wit, ironic humour and a satirical tone.

His poem "This Is Not Real Poetry" is currently nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and his first novel, "Hate Story", is coming soon from Dragonfly Publishing.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 49:24 false 5 238 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Jeff Cottrill, a fiction writer, poet, journalist and spoken-word artist based in Toronto, Canada, about spoken-word art and his new novel HATE STORY. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes a Patreon supporter, shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Jeff talk about: How Jeff had always been writing since he was young, including silly poems and sketches and stories The writing becoming a bit more serious in nature in high school, and then later in university, where he was actually discouraged from writing for a while Discovering the unique nature of spoken-word and open mics and then adapting his own style and adaptation of the art How really bad workshops can be traumatizing and can set back a writer for years The lack of (or overabundance of) life and energy within spoken-word poetry Reading the room and playing off the crowd Jeff's Octobe 2020 article on Digital Journal called "Meet the Zoom Poets: How lockdown has connected artists globally" A bit of a backstory about and a short reading from Jeff's poem: ""This Is Not Real Poetry" Jeff's new novel Hate Story, which is a mix of satire and mystery that has a plot structure that's like a loose parody of Citizen Kane How social media gaffs can completely destroy a person's life The Justine Sacco 2003 Twitter fiasco Trying agents, and then discovering Dragonfly Publishing in Australia for this book The virtual book launch on March 19, 2022 that is going to include guest musicians and other authors, performance poets and creative artists Advice Jeff would offer to budding writers and spoken word artists And more...   After the interview, Mark talks about what writers can learn from witnessing really good spoken word performances as well as the idea that sometimes your idea for a project may not always come at the proper time.   Links of Interest: Jeff Cottrill's Website Meet the Zoom Poets (Article on Digital Journal) How One Stupid Tweet Ruined Justine Sacco's Life (New York Times Article) Findaway Voices Findaway Voices - Title Discount Promo Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Jeff Cottrill is a fiction writer, poet, journalist and spoken-word artist based in Toronto, Canada. He has headlined in countless literary series throughout Canada, the U.K., the U.S., France and Ireland over the last twenty years. His performance style is influenced by slam conventions, but subverts them with wit, ironic humour and a satirical tone. His poem "This Is Not Real Poetry" is currently nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and his first novel, "Hate Story", is coming soon from Dragonfly Publishing.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Jeff Cottrill, a fiction writer, poet, journalist and spoken-word artist based in Toronto, Canada, about spoken-word art and his new novel HATE STORY. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes a Patreon supporter, shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Jeff talk about: How Jeff had always been writing since he was young, including silly poems and sketches and stories The writing becoming a bit more serious in nature in high school, and then later in university, where he was actually discouraged from writing for a while Discovering the unique nature of spoken-word and open mics and then adapting his own style and adaptation of the art How really bad workshops can be traumatizing and can set back a writer for years The lack of (or overabundance of) life and energy within spoken-word poetry Reading the room and playing off the crowd Jeff's Octobe 2020 article on Digital Journal called "Meet the Zoom Poets: How lockdown has connected artists globally" A bit of a backstory about and a short reading from Jeff's poem: ""This Is Not Real Poetry" Jeff's new novel Hate Story, which is a mix of satire and mystery that has a plot structure that's like a loose parody of Citizen Kane How social media gaffs can completely destroy a person's life The Justine Sacco 2003 Twitter fiasco Trying agents, and then discovering Dragonfly Publishing in Australia for this book The virtual book launch on March 19, 2022 that is going to include guest musicians and other authors, performance poets and creative artists Advice Jeff would offer to budding writers and spoken word artists And more...   After the interview, Mark talks about what writers can learn from witnessing really good spoken word performances as well as the idea that sometimes your idea for a project may not always come at the proper time.   Links of Interest: Jeff Cottrill's Website Meet the Zoom Poets (Article on Digital Journal) How One Stupid Tweet Ruined Justine Sacco's Life (New York Times Article) Findaway Voices Findaway Voices - Title Discount Promo Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Jeff Cottrill is a fiction writer, poet, journalist and spoken-word artist based in Toronto, Canada. He has headlined in countless literary series throughout Canada, the U.K., the U.S., France and Ireland over the last twenty years. His performance style is influenced by slam conventions, but subverts them with wit, ironic humour and a satirical tone. His poem "This Is Not Real Poetry" is currently nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and his first novel, "Hate Story", is coming soon from Dragonfly Publishing.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 237 - Building and Destroying Worlds with Angeline Trevena Building and Destroying Worlds with Angeline Trevena Thu, 24 Feb 2022 23:59:52 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Angeline Trevena, an author of dystopian urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic fiction, a podcaster, an events manager, and the author of a number of phenomenal books about world-building.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a short personal update, including the fact one of his patrons will win a copy of Angeline's latest edition of 30 Days of Worldbuilding, a coupon code to get $100 off registration for Superstars Writing Seminars 2023 (STARKSSWS2023) and a word about this episode's sponsor.

 

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Angeline talk about:

  • The release of the 2nd edition of her book 30 Days of World-Building
  • How Angeline has always loved fantasy, and choose-your-own-adventure books
  • The way reading The Chronicles of Narnia was one of the factors that led to her love and passion for world-building
  • The original 30 Days of World-Building starting as an 30 day Instagram challenge, that became a worksheet, that eventually became a book
  • How to Destroy the World, the 2nd world-building book in the same series that Angeline released
  • The original 30 days of world-building prompts that takes you from scratch, all the way up to creating a world ready to drop your characters into
  • Angeline's three rules for world-building: Revealing character, pushing the plot forward, and exploring the themes of your novel
  • Being a panster and an avid world-builder at the same time
  • Destroying a world or creating a dystopian or post-apocalyptic setting
  • How dystopian stories can often be filled with a lot of hope
  • Food within world-building, including all the rituals and festivals that have been created around food
  • How food can be a massive part of religion and magic
  • Some of the other writing that Angeline has done
  • Involving her 9 year old in the writing/early critique process of her middle grade books
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the use of food in culture, religion, society, in rituals, as well as a way to help demonstrate or establish character and conflict in a scene.

Links of Interest:

 

Angeline Trevena was born and bred in a rural corner of Devon, but now lives among the breweries and canals of central England with her husband, their two sons, and a rather neurotic cat. She is a dystopian urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic author, a podcaster, and events manager.

In 2003 she graduated from Edge Hill University, Lancashire, with a BA Hons Degree in Drama and Writing. During this time she decided that her future lay in writing words rather than performing them.

Some years ago she worked at an antique auction house and religiously checked every wardrobe that came in to see if Narnia was in the back of it. She's still not given up looking for it.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

 

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Angeline Trevena, an author of dystopian urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic fiction, a podcaster, an events manager, and the author of a number of phenomenal books about world-building.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a short personal update, including the fact one of his patrons will win a copy of Angeline's latest edition of 30 Days of Worldbuilding, a coupon code to get $100 off registration for Superstars Writing Seminars 2023 (STARKSSWS2023) and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Angeline talk about:

  • The release of the 2nd edition of her book 30 Days of World-Building
  • How Angeline has always loved fantasy, and choose-your-own-adventure books
  • The way reading The Chronicles of Narnia was one of the factors that led to her love and passion for world-building
  • The original 30 Days of World-Building starting as an 30 day Instagram challenge, that became a worksheet, that eventually became a book
  • How to Destroy the World, the 2nd world-building book in the same series that Angeline released
  • The original 30 days of world-building prompts that takes you from scratch, all the way up to creating a world ready to drop your characters into
  • Angeline's three rules for world-building: Revealing character, pushing the plot forward, and exploring the themes of your novel
  • Being a panster and an avid world-builder at the same time
  • Destroying a world or creating a dystopian or post-apocalyptic setting
  • How dystopian stories can often be filled with a lot of hope
  • Food within world-building, including all the rituals and festivals that have been created around food
  • How food can be a massive part of religion and magic
  • Some of the other writing that Angeline has done
  • Involving her 9 year old in the writing/early critique process of her middle grade books
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the use of food in culture, religion, society, in rituals, as well as a way to help demonstrate or establish character and conflict in a scene.

Links of Interest:

Angeline Trevena was born and bred in a rural corner of Devon, but now lives among the breweries and canals of central England with her husband, their two sons, and a rather neurotic cat. She is a dystopian urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic author, a podcaster, and events manager.

In 2003 she graduated from Edge Hill University, Lancashire, with a BA Hons Degree in Drama and Writing. During this time she decided that her future lay in writing words rather than performing them.

Some years ago she worked at an antique auction house and religiously checked every wardrobe that came in to see if Narnia was in the back of it. She's still not given up looking for it.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 55:38 false 5 237 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Angeline Trevena, an author of dystopian urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic fiction, a podcaster, an events manager, and the author of a number of phenomenal books about world-building. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a short personal update, including the fact one of his patrons will win a copy of Angeline's latest edition of 30 Days of Worldbuilding, a coupon code to get $100 off registration for Superstars Writing Seminars 2023 (STARKSSWS2023) and a word about this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Angeline talk about: The release of the 2nd edition of her book 30 Days of World-Building How Angeline has always loved fantasy, and choose-your-own-adventure books The way reading The Chronicles of Narnia was one of the factors that led to her love and passion for world-building The original 30 Days of World-Building starting as an 30 day Instagram challenge, that became a worksheet, that eventually became a book How to Destroy the World, the 2nd world-building book in the same series that Angeline released The original 30 days of world-building prompts that takes you from scratch, all the way up to creating a world ready to drop your characters into Angeline's three rules for world-building: Revealing character, pushing the plot forward, and exploring the themes of your novel Being a panster and an avid world-builder at the same time Destroying a world or creating a dystopian or post-apocalyptic setting How dystopian stories can often be filled with a lot of hope Food within world-building, including all the rituals and festivals that have been created around food How food can be a massive part of religion and magic Some of the other writing that Angeline has done Involving her 9 year old in the writing/early critique process of her middle grade books And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the use of food in culture, religion, society, in rituals, as well as a way to help demonstrate or establish character and conflict in a scene. Links of Interest: Angeline Trevena's Website TikTok Instagram Twitter Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Angeline Trevena was born and bred in a rural corner of Devon, but now lives among the breweries and canals of central England with her husband, their two sons, and a rather neurotic cat. She is a dystopian urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic author, a podcaster, and events manager. In 2003 she graduated from Edge Hill University, Lancashire, with a BA Hons Degree in Drama and Writing. During this time she decided that her future lay in writing words rather than performing them. Some years ago she worked at an antique auction house and religiously checked every wardrobe that came in to see if Narnia was in the back of it. She's still not given up looking for it. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   In this episode Mark interviews Angeline Trevena, an author of dystopian urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic fiction, a podcaster, an events manager, and the author of a number of phenomenal books about world-building. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a short personal update, including the fact one of his patrons will win a copy of Angeline's latest edition of 30 Days of Worldbuilding, a coupon code to get $100 off registration for Superstars Writing Seminars 2023 (STARKSSWS2023) and a word about this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Angeline talk about: The release of the 2nd edition of her book 30 Days of World-Building How Angeline has always loved fantasy, and choose-your-own-adventure books The way reading The Chronicles of Narnia was one of the factors that led to her love and passion for world-building The original 30 Days of World-Building starting as an 30 day Instagram challenge, that became a worksheet, that eventually became a book How to Destroy the World, the 2nd world-building book in the same series that Angeline released The original 30 days of world-building prompts that takes you from scratch, all the way up to creating a world ready to drop your characters into Angeline's three rules for world-building: Revealing character, pushing the plot forward, and exploring the themes of your novel Being a panster and an avid world-builder at the same time Destroying a world or creating a dystopian or post-apocalyptic setting How dystopian stories can often be filled with a lot of hope Food within world-building, including all the rituals and festivals that have been created around food How food can be a massive part of religion and magic Some of the other writing that Angeline has done Involving her 9 year old in the writing/early critique process of her middle grade books And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the use of food in culture, religion, society, in rituals, as well as a way to help demonstrate or establish character and conflict in a scene. Links of Interest: Angeline Trevena's Website TikTok Instagram Twitter Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Angeline Trevena was born and bred in a rural corner of Devon, but now lives among the breweries and canals of central England with her husband, their two sons, and a rather neurotic cat. She is a dystopian urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic author, a podcaster, and events manager. In 2003 she graduated from Edge Hill University, Lancashire, with a BA Hons Degree in Drama and Writing. During this time she decided that her future lay in writing words rather than performing them. Some years ago she worked at an antique auction house and religiously checked every wardrobe that came in to see if Narnia was in the back of it. She's still not given up looking for it. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    EP 236 - Reflective Round Table Feb 2022 Reflective Round Table Feb 2022 Wed, 23 Feb 2022 14:03:35 +0000 Mark has a panel discussion with four of his patrons.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast who supposed this podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

The round-table discussion focuses mainly on the following topics:

  • Digital/virtual versus real-world/in-person connections
  • POD and bookstore returns

Mark also gives out a coupon code for $100 off of for first-time attendees of Superstars Writing Seminars (Colorado Spring, CO), for Feb 2023. Use STARKSSWS2023 to get $100 off if you register before June 1, 2022.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark has a panel discussion with four of his patrons.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast who supposed this podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

The round-table discussion focuses mainly on the following topics:

  • Digital/virtual versus real-world/in-person connections
  • POD and bookstore returns

Mark also gives out a coupon code for $100 off of for first-time attendees of Superstars Writing Seminars (Colorado Spring, CO), for Feb 2023. Use STARKSSWS2023 to get $100 off if you register before June 1, 2022.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 56:21 false 5 236 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark has a panel discussion with four of his patrons. This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast who supposed this podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections. Matty Dalrymple Alyssa Kuron Kathy Mac Faye Whyte The round-table discussion focuses mainly on the following topics: Digital/virtual versus real-world/in-person connections POD and bookstore returns Mark also gives out a coupon code for $100 off of for first-time attendees of Superstars Writing Seminars (Colorado Spring, CO), for Feb 2023. Use STARKSSWS2023 to get $100 off if you register before June 1, 2022. Links of Interest: EP 216 - Podcasting for Authors with Matty Dalrymple EP 166 - Wording Around with Kathy Mac EP 108 - Silver Linings with Talena Winters Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark has a panel discussion with four of his patrons. This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast who supposed this podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections. Matty Dalrymple Alyssa Kuron Kathy Mac Faye Whyte The round-table discussion focuses mainly on the following topics: Digital/virtual versus real-world/in-person connections POD and bookstore returns Mark also gives out a coupon code for $100 off of for first-time attendees of Superstars Writing Seminars (Colorado Spring, CO), for Feb 2023. Use STARKSSWS2023 to get $100 off if you register before June 1, 2022. Links of Interest: EP 216 - Podcasting for Authors with Matty Dalrymple EP 166 - Wording Around with Kathy Mac EP 108 - Silver Linings with Talena Winters Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 235 - Inspiring Readers Through Fiction with Annaliese Morgan Inspiring Readers Through Fiction with Annaliese Morgan Fri, 18 Feb 2022 01:28:50 +0000 Mark interviews Annaliese Morgan, an author, traveller, a solo mum of two boys, and an award winning Advanced Veterinary Surgical Nurse, about writing, her book STAY WILD, and her passion for inspiring young adults and young readers through fiction.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Annaliese talk about:

  • Annaliese's entrance to writing in the 1990s after her extensive veterinary work
  • Those veterinary related books, and how that led to a successful blog of autobiographical vignettes
  • The way that real life elements can be incorporated into her fiction
  • Annaliese's first novel, STAY WILD, an urban fantasy story set in present day London
  • Her imprint, Black Daisy Press, and her plans for it
  • The importance of inspirational fiction, particularly for younger readers
  • Advise that Annaliese would offer to beginning writers
  • And much more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things Annaliese said about there being no half-way when you're a writer, as well as big decisions and small decisions.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Annaliese Morgan is an author, traveller and solo mum of two boys... Max an actor and Woody, a gamer, You Tuber and aspiring chef. Originally from Yorkshire but based in London the three are rather like the three musketeers; they have a Basset hound called Pineapple, but he is more meh than musketeer.

Formerly, and in a different life, Annaliese was an award winning Advanced Veterinary Surgical Nurse in the UK. She co-authored a book on veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia in 1999 for the BSAVA. In 2007 and 2009 she was sought after to write three books (NVQ2, NVQ3 and A-Z for Veterinary Nurses) to help students pass their exams. In 2008 she opened the first pet health spa in the UK and published Desperate Housepets: Become a Chic Pet Owner Without Being a Bitch in 2014, and ran a successful blog of inspiring autobiographical vignettes entitled The Annaliese Journals - terrible title with some dodgy writing in parts but we all start somewhere - thousands loved it and were helped by the blog pieces, which is the bit that matters.

Since a child Annaliese has always been a writer and traveller, but after recovery from a near fatal motorbike accident including over eleven operations and learning to walk again, losing her brother to suicide and divorce in 2009, she chucked the burnt boil-in-the-bag rice in the bin and decided to up level.

Fast forward a few soul-searching years trekking across the planet and enough rejections professional and personally to defy the law of averages, Annaliese brought her edgy style, love for the supernatural and all things magical, together with her abilities, influence and passion for young people.

She started Black Daisy Press, her own publishing company dedicated to young and new adults. She also holds accredited diplomas in symbology, vampirology and Ancient Egyptian magic, and is an expert in the supernatural and mystical worlds.

Her mission is to encourage young and new adults to embrace being unique individuals and to stand out in a world of followers, whilst providing enchanting and entertaining material so they never feel alone, she she always did.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

 

]]> Mark interviews Annaliese Morgan, an author, traveller, a solo mum of two boys, and an award winning Advanced Veterinary Surgical Nurse, about writing, her book STAY WILD, and her passion for inspiring young adults and young readers through fiction.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Annaliese talk about:

  • Annaliese's entrance to writing in the 1990s after her extensive veterinary work
  • Those veterinary related books, and how that led to a successful blog of autobiographical vignettes
  • The way that real life elements can be incorporated into her fiction
  • Annaliese's first novel, STAY WILD, an urban fantasy story set in present day London
  • Her imprint, Black Daisy Press, and her plans for it
  • The importance of inspirational fiction, particularly for younger readers
  • Advise that Annaliese would offer to beginning writers
  • And much more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things Annaliese said about there being no half-way when you're a writer, as well as big decisions and small decisions.

Links of Interest:

Annaliese Morgan is an author, traveller and solo mum of two boys... Max an actor and Woody, a gamer, You Tuber and aspiring chef. Originally from Yorkshire but based in London the three are rather like the three musketeers; they have a Basset hound called Pineapple, but he is more meh than musketeer.

Formerly, and in a different life, Annaliese was an award winning Advanced Veterinary Surgical Nurse in the UK. She co-authored a book on veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia in 1999 for the BSAVA. In 2007 and 2009 she was sought after to write three books (NVQ2, NVQ3 and A-Z for Veterinary Nurses) to help students pass their exams. In 2008 she opened the first pet health spa in the UK and published Desperate Housepets: Become a Chic Pet Owner Without Being a Bitch in 2014, and ran a successful blog of inspiring autobiographical vignettes entitled The Annaliese Journals - terrible title with some dodgy writing in parts but we all start somewhere - thousands loved it and were helped by the blog pieces, which is the bit that matters.

Since a child Annaliese has always been a writer and traveller, but after recovery from a near fatal motorbike accident including over eleven operations and learning to walk again, losing her brother to suicide and divorce in 2009, she chucked the burnt boil-in-the-bag rice in the bin and decided to up level.

Fast forward a few soul-searching years trekking across the planet and enough rejections professional and personally to defy the law of averages, Annaliese brought her edgy style, love for the supernatural and all things magical, together with her abilities, influence and passion for young people.

She started Black Daisy Press, her own publishing company dedicated to young and new adults. She also holds accredited diplomas in symbology, vampirology and Ancient Egyptian magic, and is an expert in the supernatural and mystical worlds.

Her mission is to encourage young and new adults to embrace being unique individuals and to stand out in a world of followers, whilst providing enchanting and entertaining material so they never feel alone, she she always did.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 54:25 false 5 235 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Annaliese Morgan, an author, traveller, a solo mum of two boys, and an award winning Advanced Veterinary Surgical Nurse, about writing, her book STAY WILD, and her passion for inspiring young adults and young readers through fiction. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Annaliese talk about: Annaliese's entrance to writing in the 1990s after her extensive veterinary work Those veterinary related books, and how that led to a successful blog of autobiographical vignettes The way that real life elements can be incorporated into her fiction Annaliese's first novel, STAY WILD, an urban fantasy story set in present day London Her imprint, Black Daisy Press, and her plans for it The importance of inspirational fiction, particularly for younger readers Advise that Annaliese would offer to beginning writers And much more... After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things Annaliese said about there being no half-way when you're a writer, as well as big decisions and small decisions.   Links of Interest: Annaliese Morgan's Website Superstars Writing Seminars James A. Owen's Website Findaway Voices Chirp Listing for Canadian Werewolf series The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Annaliese Morgan is an author, traveller and solo mum of two boys... Max an actor and Woody, a gamer, You Tuber and aspiring chef. Originally from Yorkshire but based in London the three are rather like the three musketeers; they have a Basset hound called Pineapple, but he is more meh than musketeer. Formerly, and in a different life, Annaliese was an award winning Advanced Veterinary Surgical Nurse in the UK. She co-authored a book on veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia in 1999 for the BSAVA. In 2007 and 2009 she was sought after to write three books (NVQ2, NVQ3 and A-Z for Veterinary Nurses) to help students pass their exams. In 2008 she opened the first pet health spa in the UK and published Desperate Housepets: Become a Chic Pet Owner Without Being a Bitch in 2014, and ran a successful blog of inspiring autobiographical vignettes entitled The Annaliese Journals - terrible title with some dodgy writing in parts but we all start somewhere - thousands loved it and were helped by the blog pieces, which is the bit that matters. Since a child Annaliese has always been a writer and traveller, but after recovery from a near fatal motorbike accident including over eleven operations and learning to walk again, losing her brother to suicide and divorce in 2009, she chucked the burnt boil-in-the-bag rice in the bin and decided to up level. Fast forward a few soul-searching years trekking across the planet and enough rejections professional and personally to defy the law of averages, Annaliese brought her edgy style, love for the supernatural and all things magical, together with her abilities, influence and passion for young people. She started Black Daisy Press, her own publishing company dedicated to young and new adults. She also holds accredited diplomas in symbology, vampirology and Ancient Egyptian magic, and is an expert in the supernatural and mystical worlds. Her mission is to encourage young and new adults to embrace being unique individuals and to stand out in a world of followers, whilst providing enchanting and entertaining material so they never feel alone, she she always did.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   Mark interviews Annaliese Morgan, an author, traveller, a solo mum of two boys, and an award winning Advanced Veterinary Surgical Nurse, about writing, her book STAY WILD, and her passion for inspiring young adults and young readers through fiction. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Annaliese talk about: Annaliese's entrance to writing in the 1990s after her extensive veterinary work Those veterinary related books, and how that led to a successful blog of autobiographical vignettes The way that real life elements can be incorporated into her fiction Annaliese's first novel, STAY WILD, an urban fantasy story set in present day London Her imprint, Black Daisy Press, and her plans for it The importance of inspirational fiction, particularly for younger readers Advise that Annaliese would offer to beginning writers And much more... After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things Annaliese said about there being no half-way when you're a writer, as well as big decisions and small decisions.   Links of Interest: Annaliese Morgan's Website Superstars Writing Seminars James A. Owen's Website Findaway Voices Chirp Listing for Canadian Werewolf series The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Annaliese Morgan is an author, traveller and solo mum of two boys... Max an actor and Woody, a gamer, You Tuber and aspiring chef. Originally from Yorkshire but based in London the three are rather like the three musketeers; they have a Basset hound called Pineapple, but he is more meh than musketeer. Formerly, and in a different life, Annaliese was an award winning Advanced Veterinary Surgical Nurse in the UK. She co-authored a book on veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia in 1999 for the BSAVA. In 2007 and 2009 she was sought after to write three books (NVQ2, NVQ3 and A-Z for Veterinary Nurses) to help students pass their exams. In 2008 she opened the first pet health spa in the UK and published Desperate Housepets: Become a Chic Pet Owner Without Being a Bitch in 2014, and ran a successful blog of inspiring autobiographical vignettes entitled The Annaliese Journals - terrible title with some dodgy writing in parts but we all start somewhere - thousands loved it and were helped by the blog pieces, which is the bit that matters. Since a child Annaliese has always been a writer and traveller, but after recovery from a near fatal motorbike accident including over eleven operations and learning to walk again, losing her brother to suicide and divorce in 2009, she chucked the burnt boil-in-the-bag rice in the bin and decided to up level. Fast forward a few soul-searching years trekking across the planet and enough rejections professional and personally to defy the law of averages, Annaliese brought her edgy style, love for the supernatural and all things magical, together with her abilities, influence and passion for young people. She started Black Daisy Press, her own publishing company dedicated to young and new adults. She also holds accredited diplomas in symbology, vampirology and Ancient Egyptian magic, and is an expert in the supernatural and mystical worlds. Her mission is to encourage young and new adults to embrace being unique individuals and to stand out in a world of followers, whilst providing enchanting and entertaining material so they never feel alone, she she always did.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    EP 234 - Reflections on a Reflective Talk Reflections on a Reflective Talk Fri, 11 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000 This episode goes a bit meta with Mark sharing a recording of Kathy Mac interviewing a group of her students shortly after a virtual talk that Mark gave to them on the opportunities available to authors within the traditional and indie publishing realms.

It is a "reflections on a reflective talk" episode.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> This episode goes a bit meta with Mark sharing a recording of Kathy Mac interviewing a group of her students shortly after a virtual talk that Mark gave to them on the opportunities available to authors within the traditional and indie publishing realms.

It is a "reflections on a reflective talk" episode.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 22:48 false 5 234 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This episode goes a bit meta with Mark sharing a recording of Kathy Mac interviewing a group of her students shortly after a virtual talk that Mark gave to them on the opportunities available to authors within the traditional and indie publishing realms. It is a "reflections on a reflective talk" episode. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Episode 166 - Wording Around with Prose Episode 226 - Reflective Round Table Dec 2021 Episode 231 - Reflective Round Table Jan 2022 Findaway Voices Chirp Listing for Canadian Werewolf series The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 This episode goes a bit meta with Mark sharing a recording of Kathy Mac interviewing a group of her students shortly after a virtual talk that Mark gave to them on the opportunities available to authors within the traditional and indie publishing realms. It is a "reflections on a reflective talk" episode. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Episode 166 - Wording Around with Prose Episode 226 - Reflective Round Table Dec 2021 Episode 231 - Reflective Round Table Jan 2022 Findaway Voices Chirp Listing for Canadian Werewolf series The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 233 - Sinking Your Teeth Into Reader Interaction with E.E. Judd Sinking Your Teeth Into Reader Interaction with E.E. Judd Fri, 04 Feb 2022 01:38:04 +0000 Mark interviews author E.E. Judd about her new novel, TEETH, her writing life, and interacting with her readers.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Elise talk about:

  • The humor that Elise puts in her biography and how it's indicative of the tongue-in-cheek snark in her fiction as well as in her author newsletter
  • Her new novel TEETH, the first in the series, and the creation of the prequel story "reader magnet"
  • How Elise has always loved the werewolf genre, and the werewolf books by Patricia Briggs and Kelley Armstrong
  • Enjoying blood and guts, and action, and monsters
  • The decision to release her books under the "gender neutral" pseudonym E.E. Judd
  • The main character, Danielle Waters, who is a naive werewolf with no idea of the world of the other supernaturals that exist
  • Why Canada is the perfect setting for werewolf novels
  • The dojo she helps her husband run and their theory of "if it's useful learn it; if it's useful, use it"
  • Realistic and realism in fight scenes that Elise writes
  • Deciding upon what parts of the werewolf mythology and to leverage in her novels
  • How much Elise appreciates Brandon Sanderson's "Laws of Magic"
  • The frequency of communicating with her readers via her author newsletter
  • Wanting to write stories since she was a kid
  • How Elise considers NaNoWriMo a gift from the heavens
  • Elise's perspective on how social media is a great way to interact with existing readers
  • The importance of a supportive community for a writer
  • Writing by plotting line by line or writing by exploring how a scene should feel
  • Advice Elise would give to beginning writers
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on Elise's use of her newsletter and social media as a way to engage with and entertain her readers, rather than trying to sell to them. He also talks about her advice on the importance of finishing.

Links of Interest:

 

E.E. Judd writes badass fantasy. She's into reading (shocking!), video games, plants, sarcasm, and stories with blood and guts. Her energetic golden retriever, Akamaru, makes sure she moves enough to keep her soft little writer's body in shape.

She majored in Computer Programming in university, and then made good use of that education by deciding to write novels. In her spare time, she helps her husband run a dojo from their home, and knows enough jujitsu to get her in trouble (but not enough to get her out of it).

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews author E.E. Judd about her new novel, TEETH, her writing life, and interacting with her readers.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Elise talk about:

  • The humor that Elise puts in her biography and how it's indicative of the tongue-in-cheek snark in her fiction as well as in her author newsletter
  • Her new novel TEETH, the first in the series, and the creation of the prequel story "reader magnet"
  • How Elise has always loved the werewolf genre, and the werewolf books by Patricia Briggs and Kelley Armstrong
  • Enjoying blood and guts, and action, and monsters
  • The decision to release her books under the "gender neutral" pseudonym E.E. Judd
  • The main character, Danielle Waters, who is a naive werewolf with no idea of the world of the other supernaturals that exist
  • Why Canada is the perfect setting for werewolf novels
  • The dojo she helps her husband run and their theory of "if it's useful learn it; if it's useful, use it"
  • Realistic and realism in fight scenes that Elise writes
  • Deciding upon what parts of the werewolf mythology and to leverage in her novels
  • How much Elise appreciates Brandon Sanderson's "Laws of Magic"
  • The frequency of communicating with her readers via her author newsletter
  • Wanting to write stories since she was a kid
  • How Elise considers NaNoWriMo a gift from the heavens
  • Elise's perspective on how social media is a great way to interact with existing readers
  • The importance of a supportive community for a writer
  • Writing by plotting line by line or writing by exploring how a scene should feel
  • Advice Elise would give to beginning writers
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on Elise's use of her newsletter and social media as a way to engage with and entertain her readers, rather than trying to sell to them. He also talks about her advice on the importance of finishing.

Links of Interest:

E.E. Judd writes badass fantasy. She's into reading (shocking!), video games, plants, sarcasm, and stories with blood and guts. Her energetic golden retriever, Akamaru, makes sure she moves enough to keep her soft little writer's body in shape.

She majored in Computer Programming in university, and then made good use of that education by deciding to write novels. In her spare time, she helps her husband run a dojo from their home, and knows enough jujitsu to get her in trouble (but not enough to get her out of it).

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 40:51 false 5 233 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author E.E. Judd about her new novel, TEETH, her writing life, and interacting with her readers. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Elise talk about: The humor that Elise puts in her biography and how it's indicative of the tongue-in-cheek snark in her fiction as well as in her author newsletter Her new novel TEETH, the first in the series, and the creation of the prequel story "reader magnet" How Elise has always loved the werewolf genre, and the werewolf books by Patricia Briggs and Kelley Armstrong Enjoying blood and guts, and action, and monsters The decision to release her books under the "gender neutral" pseudonym E.E. Judd The main character, Danielle Waters, who is a naive werewolf with no idea of the world of the other supernaturals that exist Why Canada is the perfect setting for werewolf novels The dojo she helps her husband run and their theory of "if it's useful learn it; if it's useful, use it" Realistic and realism in fight scenes that Elise writes Deciding upon what parts of the werewolf mythology and to leverage in her novels How much Elise appreciates Brandon Sanderson's "Laws of Magic" The frequency of communicating with her readers via her author newsletter Wanting to write stories since she was a kid How Elise considers NaNoWriMo a gift from the heavens Elise's perspective on how social media is a great way to interact with existing readers The importance of a supportive community for a writer Writing by plotting line by line or writing by exploring how a scene should feel Advice Elise would give to beginning writers And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on Elise's use of her newsletter and social media as a way to engage with and entertain her readers, rather than trying to sell to them. He also talks about her advice on the importance of finishing. Links of Interest: E.E. Judd's Website E.E. Judd on Instagram E.E. Judd on Facebook Findaway Voices Win a Free Audiobook Launch from Findaway Voices Chirp Listing for Canadian Werewolf series The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   E.E. Judd writes badass fantasy. She's into reading (shocking!), video games, plants, sarcasm, and stories with blood and guts. Her energetic golden retriever, Akamaru, makes sure she moves enough to keep her soft little writer's body in shape. She majored in Computer Programming in university, and then made good use of that education by deciding to write novels. In her spare time, she helps her husband run a dojo from their home, and knows enough jujitsu to get her in trouble (but not enough to get her out of it).   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews author E.E. Judd about her new novel, TEETH, her writing life, and interacting with her readers. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Elise talk about: The humor that Elise puts in her biography and how it's indicative of the tongue-in-cheek snark in her fiction as well as in her author newsletter Her new novel TEETH, the first in the series, and the creation of the prequel story "reader magnet" How Elise has always loved the werewolf genre, and the werewolf books by Patricia Briggs and Kelley Armstrong Enjoying blood and guts, and action, and monsters The decision to release her books under the "gender neutral" pseudonym E.E. Judd The main character, Danielle Waters, who is a naive werewolf with no idea of the world of the other supernaturals that exist Why Canada is the perfect setting for werewolf novels The dojo she helps her husband run and their theory of "if it's useful learn it; if it's useful, use it" Realistic and realism in fight scenes that Elise writes Deciding upon what parts of the werewolf mythology and to leverage in her novels How much Elise appreciates Brandon Sanderson's "Laws of Magic" The frequency of communicating with her readers via her author newsletter Wanting to write stories since she was a kid How Elise considers NaNoWriMo a gift from the heavens Elise's perspective on how social media is a great way to interact with existing readers The importance of a supportive community for a writer Writing by plotting line by line or writing by exploring how a scene should feel Advice Elise would give to beginning writers And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on Elise's use of her newsletter and social media as a way to engage with and entertain her readers, rather than trying to sell to them. He also talks about her advice on the importance of finishing. Links of Interest: E.E. Judd's Website E.E. Judd on Instagram E.E. Judd on Facebook Findaway Voices Win a Free Audiobook Launch from Findaway Voices Chirp Listing for Canadian Werewolf series The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   E.E. Judd writes badass fantasy. She's into reading (shocking!), video games, plants, sarcasm, and stories with blood and guts. Her energetic golden retriever, Akamaru, makes sure she moves enough to keep her soft little writer's body in shape. She majored in Computer Programming in university, and then made good use of that education by deciding to write novels. In her spare time, she helps her husband run a dojo from their home, and knows enough jujitsu to get her in trouble (but not enough to get her out of it).   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 232 - From Script Writer to Novelist with David Boito From Script Writer to Novelist with David Boito Fri, 28 Jan 2022 00:37:51 +0000 Mark interviews David Boito, a screenwriter and novelist about his new novel VALLEY FLIERS, writing screenplays and scripts, and so much more.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and David talk about:

  • What you call the role of a flyer
  • The similarities with the way that a radio controlled model aircraft has with a full scale aircraft
  • How David first got interested in RC controlled aircraft and the nearby Apollo 11 Flight field
  • e inspiration to write a story based on this intriguing locale
  • Initially beginning to write this novel in screenplay format and then later adapting it into a novel
  • David's other script work, including writing an episode of the last 1980s TV sitcom Head of the Class starring Howard Hesseman
  • How, once you have the screenplay you have a solid outline
  • Making the decision to self publish and where David turned (Reedsy)
  • How spying in the Hitchcock "Rear Window" era is significantly different with spying that can be done via modern drones
  • The difference between flying a drone and flying an aviation model aircraft
  • Advice David would offer to authors thinking of writing a novel or screenplay
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the craft skills and IP leverage that can come from creating a screenplay, as well as those manuscripts that stay locked in a drawer.

Links of Interest:

 

David Boito resides with his wife and son in the San Fernando Valley suburb of Los Angeles, near the miniature airfield that inspired Valley Fliers, his debut novel. He is a longtime fan of aviation and always looks to the sky as a plane goes by. David also works as a screenwriter and has authored short stories. He has been published in the UCLA literary journal, Westwind, among others.

]]> Mark interviews David Boito, a screenwriter and novelist about his new novel VALLEY FLIERS, writing screenplays and scripts, and so much more.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and David talk about:

  • What you call the role of a flyer
  • The similarities with the way that a radio controlled model aircraft has with a full scale aircraft
  • How David first got interested in RC controlled aircraft and the nearby Apollo 11 Flight field
  • e inspiration to write a story based on this intriguing locale
  • Initially beginning to write this novel in screenplay format and then later adapting it into a novel
  • David's other script work, including writing an episode of the last 1980s TV sitcom Head of the Class starring Howard Hesseman
  • How, once you have the screenplay you have a solid outline
  • Making the decision to self publish and where David turned (Reedsy)
  • How spying in the Hitchcock "Rear Window" era is significantly different with spying that can be done via modern drones
  • The difference between flying a drone and flying an aviation model aircraft
  • Advice David would offer to authors thinking of writing a novel or screenplay
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the craft skills and IP leverage that can come from creating a screenplay, as well as those manuscripts that stay locked in a drawer.

Links of Interest:

David Boito resides with his wife and son in the San Fernando Valley suburb of Los Angeles, near the miniature airfield that inspired Valley Fliers, his debut novel. He is a longtime fan of aviation and always looks to the sky as a plane goes by. David also works as a screenwriter and has authored short stories. He has been published in the UCLA literary journal, Westwind, among others.

]]> 42:35 false 5 232 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews David Boito, a screenwriter and novelist about his new novel VALLEY FLIERS, writing screenplays and scripts, and so much more. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and David talk about: What you call the role of a flyer The similarities with the way that a radio controlled model aircraft has with a full scale aircraft How David first got interested in RC controlled aircraft and the nearby Apollo 11 Flight field e inspiration to write a story based on this intriguing locale Initially beginning to write this novel in screenplay format and then later adapting it into a novel David's other script work, including writing an episode of the last 1980s TV sitcom Head of the Class starring Howard Hesseman How, once you have the screenplay you have a solid outline Making the decision to self publish and where David turned (Reedsy) How spying in the Hitchcock "Rear Window" era is significantly different with spying that can be done via modern drones The difference between flying a drone and flying an aviation model aircraft Advice David would offer to authors thinking of writing a novel or screenplay And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the craft skills and IP leverage that can come from creating a screenplay, as well as those manuscripts that stay locked in a drawer. Links of Interest: David Boito Findaway Voices Win a Free Audiobook Launch from Findaway Voices Chirp Listing for Canadian Werewolf series Write for the Win Storybundle TikTok FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES Giveaway video The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   David Boito resides with his wife and son in the San Fernando Valley suburb of Los Angeles, near the miniature airfield that inspired Valley Fliers, his debut novel. He is a longtime fan of aviation and always looks to the sky as a plane goes by. David also works as a screenwriter and has authored short stories. He has been published in the UCLA literary journal, Westwind, among others.Mark interviews David Boito, a screenwriter and novelist about his new novel VALLEY FLIERS, writing screenplays and scripts, and so much more. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and David talk about: What you call the role of a flyer The similarities with the way that a radio controlled model aircraft has with a full scale aircraft How David first got interested in RC controlled aircraft and the nearby Apollo 11 Flight field e inspiration to write a story based on this intriguing locale Initially beginning to write this novel in screenplay format and then later adapting it into a novel David's other script work, including writing an episode of the last 1980s TV sitcom Head of the Class starring Howard Hesseman How, once you have the screenplay you have a solid outline Making the decision to self publish and where David turned (Reedsy) How spying in the Hitchcock "Rear Window" era is significantly different with spying that can be done via modern drones The difference between flying a drone and flying an aviation model aircraft Advice David would offer to authors thinking of writing a novel or screenplay And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the craft skills and IP leverage that can come from creating a screenplay, as well as those manuscripts that stay locked in a drawer. Links of Interest: David Boito Findaway Voices Win a Free Audiobook Launch from Findaway Voices Chirp Listing for Canadian Werewolf series Write for the Win Storybundle TikTok FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES Giveaway video The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   David Boito resides with his wife and son in the San Fernando Valley suburb of Los Angeles, near the miniature airfield that inspired Valley Fliers, his debut novel. He is a longtime fan of aviation and always looks to the sky as a plane goes by. David also works as a screenwriter and has authored short stories. He has been published in the UCLA literary journal, Westwind, among others. EP 231 - Reflective Round Table Jan 2022 - Content That Should Be in a Writing Course Reflective Round Table Jan 2022 - Content That Should Be in a Writing Course Mon, 24 Jan 2022 18:46:13 +0000

Part of series of bonus "Reflective Round Table" episodes that are discussions between Mark and a selection of patrons of the podcast.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections podcast who support this podcast at:

https://patreon.com/starkreflections

In this episode, Mark chats with:

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Part of series of bonus "Reflective Round Table" episodes that are discussions between Mark and a selection of patrons of the podcast.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections podcast who support this podcast at:

https://patreon.com/starkreflections

In this episode, Mark chats with:

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 57:26 false 5 231 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Part of series of bonus "Reflective Round Table" episodes that are discussions between Mark and a selection of patrons of the podcast. This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections podcast who support this podcast at: https://patreon.com/starkreflections In this episode, Mark chats with: Matty Dalrymple Julie Strauss Kathy Mac Linda Hill Talena Winters   Links of Interest: EP 216 - Podcasting for Authors with Matty Dalrymple EP 166 - Wording Around with Kathy Mac EP 108 - Silver Linings with Talena Winters EP 35 - Lessons Learned from the Novel Intensive Workshop (Julie Strauss guest) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Part of series of bonus "Reflective Round Table" episodes that are discussions between Mark and a selection of patrons of the podcast. This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections podcast who support this podcast at: https://patreon.com/starkreflections In this episode, Mark chats with: Matty Dalrymple Julie Strauss Kathy Mac Linda Hill Talena Winters   Links of Interest: EP 216 - Podcasting for Authors with Matty Dalrymple EP 166 - Wording Around with Kathy Mac EP 108 - Silver Linings with Talena Winters EP 35 - Lessons Learned from the Novel Intensive Workshop (Julie Strauss guest) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 230 - Jacob Hess on Character Development, Story, & The Hero's Journey Jacob Hess on Character Development, Story, & The Hero's Journey Fri, 21 Jan 2022 01:46:14 +0000 Mark interviews author Jacob Hess about character development, world-building and The Hero's Journey.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, a cautionary tale about making POD titles returnable, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Jacob talk about:

  • Jacob's initial interest in world-building and character development through imaginative play as a child
  • How his love for stories eventually merged with a later love of reading that he developed
  • Describing his fictional world as a mix between Star Wars and Lord of the Rings
  • The passion Jacob has for the Hero's Journey and how that came from his discovery of Shawn Coyne's The Story Grid
  • Having Lord of the Rings read to him as a child, and then enjoying re-reading it as an adult
  • A quote from Tolkien with a unique perspective on story that inspired Jacob
  • The importance of the transformation process and Jacob's desire to want the reader to face the same change that the character in the story faces
  • How, after writing the foolscap page for a novel, Jacob likes to discover a lot of the story by just starting to write it
  • The way that his world-building comes out of his story and the characters having to interact with the world around them
  • The elements of "essential action" and how that works within each scene of a story
  • Thinking of storytelling like chipping away at a slab of marble or clay until it looks the way you've envisioned
  • The short story readers can get for free by signing up on Jacob's website
  • How Jacob manages his time for writing with working a full time job
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of each scene's "essential action" in a story and how he is thinking about it in different ways to help him become a better writer.

He also shares an update about the returned-books issue.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Jacob Hess grew up in Oregon and became a Christian at a young age. God has continued to display His faithfulness to Jacob throughout his life; a journey deeper and deeper into grace. Jacob received a Master of Divinity from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and moved to Seattle, Washington with his wife where he works as a minister in the local church.
​
Jacob's years in school grew his passion for writing and reading, but he has always had a love for stories, whether they're told with pen and page or the rhythms and rhymes of song. He agrees with J. R. R. Tolkien when he writes, "the Pot of Soup, the Cauldron of Story, has always been boiling, and to it have continually been added new bits, dainty and undainty," (On-Fairy-Stories, p. 45). As humans we simply cannot seem to escape a need to tell stories, a desire to reach beyond ourselves and connect to the deeper truths of who we are and what it means to live a life of meaning.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews author Jacob Hess about character development, world-building and The Hero's Journey.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, a cautionary tale about making POD titles returnable, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Jacob talk about:

  • Jacob's initial interest in world-building and character development through imaginative play as a child
  • How his love for stories eventually merged with a later love of reading that he developed
  • Describing his fictional world as a mix between Star Wars and Lord of the Rings
  • The passion Jacob has for the Hero's Journey and how that came from his discovery of Shawn Coyne's The Story Grid
  • Having Lord of the Rings read to him as a child, and then enjoying re-reading it as an adult
  • A quote from Tolkien with a unique perspective on story that inspired Jacob
  • The importance of the transformation process and Jacob's desire to want the reader to face the same change that the character in the story faces
  • How, after writing the foolscap page for a novel, Jacob likes to discover a lot of the story by just starting to write it
  • The way that his world-building comes out of his story and the characters having to interact with the world around them
  • The elements of "essential action" and how that works within each scene of a story
  • Thinking of storytelling like chipping away at a slab of marble or clay until it looks the way you've envisioned
  • The short story readers can get for free by signing up on Jacob's website
  • How Jacob manages his time for writing with working a full time job
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of each scene's "essential action" in a story and how he is thinking about it in different ways to help him become a better writer.

He also shares an update about the returned-books issue.

Links of Interest:

Jacob Hess grew up in Oregon and became a Christian at a young age. God has continued to display His faithfulness to Jacob throughout his life; a journey deeper and deeper into grace. Jacob received a Master of Divinity from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and moved to Seattle, Washington with his wife where he works as a minister in the local church. ​ Jacob's years in school grew his passion for writing and reading, but he has always had a love for stories, whether they're told with pen and page or the rhythms and rhymes of song. He agrees with J. R. R. Tolkien when he writes, "the Pot of Soup, the Cauldron of Story, has always been boiling, and to it have continually been added new bits, dainty and undainty," (On-Fairy-Stories, p. 45). As humans we simply cannot seem to escape a need to tell stories, a desire to reach beyond ourselves and connect to the deeper truths of who we are and what it means to live a life of meaning.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 59:57 false 5 230 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author Jacob Hess about character development, world-building and The Hero's Journey. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, a cautionary tale about making POD titles returnable, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Jacob talk about: Jacob's initial interest in world-building and character development through imaginative play as a child How his love for stories eventually merged with a later love of reading that he developed Describing his fictional world as a mix between Star Wars and Lord of the Rings The passion Jacob has for the Hero's Journey and how that came from his discovery of Shawn Coyne's The Story Grid Having Lord of the Rings read to him as a child, and then enjoying re-reading it as an adult A quote from Tolkien with a unique perspective on story that inspired Jacob The importance of the transformation process and Jacob's desire to want the reader to face the same change that the character in the story faces How, after writing the foolscap page for a novel, Jacob likes to discover a lot of the story by just starting to write it The way that his world-building comes out of his story and the characters having to interact with the world around them The elements of "essential action" and how that works within each scene of a story Thinking of storytelling like chipping away at a slab of marble or clay until it looks the way you've envisioned The short story readers can get for free by signing up on Jacob's website How Jacob manages his time for writing with working a full time job And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of each scene's "essential action" in a story and how he is thinking about it in different ways to help him become a better writer. He also shares an update about the returned-books issue.   Links of Interest: Jacob Hess Instagram Facebook Twitter Findaway Voices Chirp Listing for Canadian Werewolf series Write for the Win Storybundle TikTok FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES Giveaway video The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Jacob Hess grew up in Oregon and became a Christian at a young age. God has continued to display His faithfulness to Jacob throughout his life; a journey deeper and deeper into grace. Jacob received a Master of Divinity from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and moved to Seattle, Washington with his wife where he works as a minister in the local church. ​ Jacob's years in school grew his passion for writing and reading, but he has always had a love for stories, whether they're told with pen and page or the rhythms and rhymes of song. He agrees with J. R. R. Tolkien when he writes, "the Pot of Soup, the Cauldron of Story, has always been boiling, and to it have continually been added new bits, dainty and undainty," (On-Fairy-Stories, p. 45). As humans we simply cannot seem to escape a need to tell stories, a desire to reach beyond ourselves and connect to the deeper truths of who we are and what it means to live a life of meaning.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews author Jacob Hess about character development, world-building and The Hero's Journey. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, a cautionary tale about making POD titles returnable, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Jacob talk about: Jacob's initial interest in world-building and character development through imaginative play as a child How his love for stories eventually merged with a later love of reading that he developed Describing his fictional world as a mix between Star Wars and Lord of the Rings The passion Jacob has for the Hero's Journey and how that came from his discovery of Shawn Coyne's The Story Grid Having Lord of the Rings read to him as a child, and then enjoying re-reading it as an adult A quote from Tolkien with a unique perspective on story that inspired Jacob The importance of the transformation process and Jacob's desire to want the reader to face the same change that the character in the story faces How, after writing the foolscap page for a novel, Jacob likes to discover a lot of the story by just starting to write it The way that his world-building comes out of his story and the characters having to interact with the world around them The elements of "essential action" and how that works within each scene of a story Thinking of storytelling like chipping away at a slab of marble or clay until it looks the way you've envisioned The short story readers can get for free by signing up on Jacob's website How Jacob manages his time for writing with working a full time job And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of each scene's "essential action" in a story and how he is thinking about it in different ways to help him become a better writer. He also shares an update about the returned-books issue.   Links of Interest: Jacob Hess Instagram Facebook Twitter Findaway Voices Chirp Listing for Canadian Werewolf series Write for the Win Storybundle TikTok FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES Giveaway video The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Jacob Hess grew up in Oregon and became a Christian at a young age. God has continued to display His faithfulness to Jacob throughout his life; a journey deeper and deeper into grace. Jacob received a Master of Divinity from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and moved to Seattle, Washington with his wife where he works as a minister in the local church. ​ Jacob's years in school grew his passion for writing and reading, but he has always had a love for stories, whether they're told with pen and page or the rhythms and rhymes of song. He agrees with J. R. R. Tolkien when he writes, "the Pot of Soup, the Cauldron of Story, has always been boiling, and to it have continually been added new bits, dainty and undainty," (On-Fairy-Stories, p. 45). As humans we simply cannot seem to escape a need to tell stories, a desire to reach beyond ourselves and connect to the deeper truths of who we are and what it means to live a life of meaning.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 229 - The Multiple Genres and Publishing Paths of Michelle Rowen/Morgan Rhodes The Multiple Genres and Publishing Paths of Michelle Rowen/Morgan Rhodes Fri, 14 Jan 2022 01:54:52 +0000 Mark interview Michelle Rowen/Morgan Rhodes about her different pen names, the genres she writes, her publishing journey, and her latest novel, ECHOES & EMPIRES.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update that includes devastating news of the loss of a writer friend, along with some good news related to his writing, the results of a recent Chirp audiobook promotion, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Michelle talk about:

  • ECHOES AND EMPIRES, Michelle's new alt-world fantasy under the name Morgan Rhodes
  • Michelle's thoughts on the difference between her Michelle Rowen and Morgan Rhodes pseudonyms and the different genres under each
  • Being inspired by Buffy's drama, action, and humor
  • The "fallen princess" phase or theme that keeps coming up in her writing lately
  • The way the covers properly and effectively highlight the genre similarities and differences
  • Michelle's prolific 4 to 5 books a year era when she was writing her paranormal chick-lit style lighter Michelle Rowen books, and how that changed to 1 book a year working on the Fallen Kingdoms titles
  • The lead time on trad publishing and how it differs from indie publishing
  • Getting her first starred review from School Library Journal
  • The challenge of not revealing the many plot twists in her novels when she talks about them with media
  • Getting rights back on some of her previously traditionally published titles and the steps and work involved in re-launching them, including having to re-edit them based on updated "sensitivity" perspectives
  • Michelle's dreams of being a writer (Romancing the Stone) versus the reality
  • Her discovery of the power of plotting (verses pantsing)
  • Advice Michelle would give to new writers
  • Michelle's take on "write what you know"
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on Michelle's dedication to her fans and her professionalism.

Links of Interest:

 

Morgan Rhodes is the New York Times bestselling author of the YA high fantasy Falling Kingdoms series, and loves to write about the epic adventures of the quirky, interesting characters who inhabit her imagination. She also writes as Michelle Rowen, a bestselling and award-winning author of over two dozen novels. A former graphic designer drawn to sparkly objects and fancy handbags, Morgan lives in Ontario, Canada, where she maintains a very healthy belief in all things magical. Her latest novel is Echoes and Empires, a young adult alt-world fantasy published by Razorbill Books.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

 

]]> Mark interview Michelle Rowen/Morgan Rhodes about her different pen names, the genres she writes, her publishing journey, and her latest novel, ECHOES & EMPIRES.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update that includes devastating news of the loss of a writer friend, along with some good news related to his writing, the results of a recent Chirp audiobook promotion, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Michelle talk about:

  • ECHOES AND EMPIRES, Michelle's new alt-world fantasy under the name Morgan Rhodes
  • Michelle's thoughts on the difference between her Michelle Rowen and Morgan Rhodes pseudonyms and the different genres under each
  • Being inspired by Buffy's drama, action, and humor
  • The "fallen princess" phase or theme that keeps coming up in her writing lately
  • The way the covers properly and effectively highlight the genre similarities and differences
  • Michelle's prolific 4 to 5 books a year era when she was writing her paranormal chick-lit style lighter Michelle Rowen books, and how that changed to 1 book a year working on the Fallen Kingdoms titles
  • The lead time on trad publishing and how it differs from indie publishing
  • Getting her first starred review from School Library Journal
  • The challenge of not revealing the many plot twists in her novels when she talks about them with media
  • Getting rights back on some of her previously traditionally published titles and the steps and work involved in re-launching them, including having to re-edit them based on updated "sensitivity" perspectives
  • Michelle's dreams of being a writer (Romancing the Stone) versus the reality
  • Her discovery of the power of plotting (verses pantsing)
  • Advice Michelle would give to new writers
  • Michelle's take on "write what you know"
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on Michelle's dedication to her fans and her professionalism.

Links of Interest:

Morgan Rhodes is the New York Times bestselling author of the YA high fantasy Falling Kingdoms series, and loves to write about the epic adventures of the quirky, interesting characters who inhabit her imagination. She also writes as Michelle Rowen, a bestselling and award-winning author of over two dozen novels. A former graphic designer drawn to sparkly objects and fancy handbags, Morgan lives in Ontario, Canada, where she maintains a very healthy belief in all things magical. Her latest novel is Echoes and Empires, a young adult alt-world fantasy published by Razorbill Books.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:03:29 false 5 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interview Michelle Rowen/Morgan Rhodes about her different pen names, the genres she writes, her publishing journey, and her latest novel, ECHOES & EMPIRES. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update that includes devastating news of the loss of a writer friend, along with some good news related to his writing, the results of a recent Chirp audiobook promotion, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Michelle talk about: ECHOES AND EMPIRES, Michelle's new alt-world fantasy under the name Morgan Rhodes Michelle's thoughts on the difference between her Michelle Rowen and Morgan Rhodes pseudonyms and the different genres under each Being inspired by Buffy's drama, action, and humor The "fallen princess" phase or theme that keeps coming up in her writing lately The way the covers properly and effectively highlight the genre similarities and differences Michelle's prolific 4 to 5 books a year era when she was writing her paranormal chick-lit style lighter Michelle Rowen books, and how that changed to 1 book a year working on the Fallen Kingdoms titles The lead time on trad publishing and how it differs from indie publishing Getting her first starred review from School Library Journal The challenge of not revealing the many plot twists in her novels when she talks about them with media Getting rights back on some of her previously traditionally published titles and the steps and work involved in re-launching them, including having to re-edit them based on updated "sensitivity" perspectives Michelle's dreams of being a writer (Romancing the Stone) versus the reality Her discovery of the power of plotting (verses pantsing) Advice Michelle would give to new writers Michelle's take on "write what you know" And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on Michelle's dedication to her fans and her professionalism. Links of Interest: Morgan Rhodes Facebook Twitter Tumblr Instagram Michelle Rowen Twitter Facebook Pinterest Instagram BookBub EP 228 - EP 227 - Publishing Trends & Reflections for 2022 EP 168 - Writing Your Way to Paradise with David Farland Kobo Writing Life Podcast EP 50 - David Farland Findaway Voices Chirp Listing for Canadian Werewolf series Kobo Writing Life Indie Cover Contest WINNER TikTok FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES Giveaway video The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Morgan Rhodes is the New York Times bestselling author of the YA high fantasy Falling Kingdoms series, and loves to write about the epic adventures of the quirky, interesting characters who inhabit her imagination. She also writes as Michelle Rowen, a bestselling and award-winning author of over two dozen novels. A former graphic designer drawn to sparkly objects and fancy handbags, Morgan lives in Ontario, Canada, where she maintains a very healthy belief in all things magical. Her latest novel is Echoes and Empires, a young adult alt-world fantasy published by Razorbill Books.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   Mark interview Michelle Rowen/Morgan Rhodes about her different pen names, the genres she writes, her publishing journey, and her latest novel, ECHOES & EMPIRES. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update that includes devastating news of the loss of a writer friend, along with some good news related to his writing, the results of a recent Chirp audiobook promotion, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Michelle talk about: ECHOES AND EMPIRES, Michelle's new alt-world fantasy under the name Morgan Rhodes Michelle's thoughts on the difference between her Michelle Rowen and Morgan Rhodes pseudonyms and the different genres under each Being inspired by Buffy's drama, action, and humor The "fallen princess" phase or theme that keeps coming up in her writing lately The way the covers properly and effectively highlight the genre similarities and differences Michelle's prolific 4 to 5 books a year era when she was writing her paranormal chick-lit style lighter Michelle Rowen books, and how that changed to 1 book a year working on the Fallen Kingdoms titles The lead time on trad publishing and how it differs from indie publishing Getting her first starred review from School Library Journal The challenge of not revealing the many plot twists in her novels when she talks about them with media Getting rights back on some of her previously traditionally published titles and the steps and work involved in re-launching them, including having to re-edit them based on updated "sensitivity" perspectives Michelle's dreams of being a writer (Romancing the Stone) versus the reality Her discovery of the power of plotting (verses pantsing) Advice Michelle would give to new writers Michelle's take on "write what you know" And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on Michelle's dedication to her fans and her professionalism. Links of Interest: Morgan Rhodes Facebook Twitter Tumblr Instagram Michelle Rowen Twitter Facebook Pinterest Instagram BookBub EP 228 - EP 227 - Publishing Trends & Reflections for 2022 EP 168 - Writing Your Way to Paradise with David Farland Kobo Writing Life Podcast EP 50 - David Farland Findaway Voices Chirp Listing for Canadian Werewolf series Kobo Writing Life Indie Cover Contest WINNER TikTok FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES Giveaway video The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Morgan Rhodes is the New York Times bestselling author of the YA high fantasy Falling Kingdoms series, and loves to write about the epic adventures of the quirky, interesting characters who inhabit her imagination. She also writes as Michelle Rowen, a bestselling and award-winning author of over two dozen novels. A former graphic designer drawn to sparkly objects and fancy handbags, Morgan lives in Ontario, Canada, where she maintains a very healthy belief in all things magical. Her latest novel is Echoes and Empires, a young adult alt-world fantasy published by Razorbill Books.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    EP 228 - Goals & Achievements Retrospective for 2021 Goals & Achievements Retrospective for 2021 Fri, 07 Jan 2022 00:39:28 +0000 In this episode, Mark looks back at his 2021 goals and achievements, outlining the successes, the failures, and the unexpected.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and also shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

A high level overview of Mark's 2021 Goals

Stated 2021 Goals

1 - Publish FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES
(Completed Feb 2021)
(In addition - Pub'd FRIGHT NIGHTS BIG CITY

2 - Publish WIDE FOR THE WIN
(Completed March 2021) - had to push pub date back from Jan 26 to March 16

3 - Publish LOVER'S MOON (novelette/novella)
(Didn't do it)

4 - Stark Publishing Solutions - Unnamed book for writers
(Completed Aug 2021)

5 - Stark Publishing Solutions - Unnamed book 2 for writers
(Didn't do it)

6 - Publish SCREAMING SKULLS X
(Didn't do it)

7 - Publish GHOSTLY GANANOQUE X
(Didn't do it)

8 - Considering another anthology
(Didn't do it)

9 - Expanding Stark Publishing into something bigger
- Author A - One book (Sarah Kades - Kiss Me in the Rain)
- Author B - Delayed until 2022
- Author C - still a work in progress

10 - Special un-named project (Planes, Trains and Automobiles)

(Didn't do it)

Mark also shares some of the high level %'s of his 2021 eBook income, including % of sales at Amazon, Kobo, Apple, B&N, Google, and other places.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> In this episode, Mark looks back at his 2021 goals and achievements, outlining the successes, the failures, and the unexpected.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and also shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

A high level overview of Mark's 2021 Goals

Stated 2021 Goals

1 - Publish FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES (Completed Feb 2021) (In addition - Pub'd FRIGHT NIGHTS BIG CITY

2 - Publish WIDE FOR THE WIN (Completed March 2021) - had to push pub date back from Jan 26 to March 16

3 - Publish LOVER'S MOON (novelette/novella) (Didn't do it)

4 - Stark Publishing Solutions - Unnamed book for writers (Completed Aug 2021)

5 - Stark Publishing Solutions - Unnamed book 2 for writers (Didn't do it)

6 - Publish SCREAMING SKULLS X (Didn't do it)

7 - Publish GHOSTLY GANANOQUE X (Didn't do it)

8 - Considering another anthology (Didn't do it)

9 - Expanding Stark Publishing into something bigger - Author A - One book (Sarah Kades - Kiss Me in the Rain) - Author B - Delayed until 2022 - Author C - still a work in progress

10 - Special un-named project (Planes, Trains and Automobiles)

(Didn't do it)

Mark also shares some of the high level %'s of his 2021 eBook income, including % of sales at Amazon, Kobo, Apple, B&N, Google, and other places.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 50:28 false 5 228 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark looks back at his 2021 goals and achievements, outlining the successes, the failures, and the unexpected. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and also shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. A high level overview of Mark's 2021 Goals Stated 2021 Goals 1 - Publish FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES (Completed Feb 2021) (In addition - Pub'd FRIGHT NIGHTS BIG CITY 2 - Publish WIDE FOR THE WIN (Completed March 2021) - had to push pub date back from Jan 26 to March 16 3 - Publish LOVER'S MOON (novelette/novella) (Didn't do it) 4 - Stark Publishing Solutions - Unnamed book for writers (Completed Aug 2021) 5 - Stark Publishing Solutions - Unnamed book 2 for writers (Didn't do it) 6 - Publish SCREAMING SKULLS X (Didn't do it) 7 - Publish GHOSTLY GANANOQUE X (Didn't do it) 8 - Considering another anthology (Didn't do it) 9 - Expanding Stark Publishing into something bigger - Author A - One book (Sarah Kades - Kiss Me in the Rain) - Author B - Delayed until 2022 - Author C - still a work in progress 10 - Special un-named project (Planes, Trains and Automobiles) (Didn't do it) Mark also shares some of the high level %'s of his 2021 eBook income, including % of sales at Amazon, Kobo, Apple, B&N, Google, and other places.   Links of Interest: EP 225 - Writing Personal Experience in Fiction with Ami Sands Brodoff EP 226 - Reflective Roundtable December 2021 EP 227 - Publishing Trends & Reflections for 2022 Findaway Voices Findaway Voices Blog: What You Can Control The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 In this episode, Mark looks back at his 2021 goals and achievements, outlining the successes, the failures, and the unexpected. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and also shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. A high level overview of Mark's 2021 Goals Stated 2021 Goals 1 - Publish FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES (Completed Feb 2021) (In addition - Pub'd FRIGHT NIGHTS BIG CITY 2 - Publish WIDE FOR THE WIN (Completed March 2021) - had to push pub date back from Jan 26 to March 16 3 - Publish LOVER'S MOON (novelette/novella) (Didn't do it) 4 - Stark Publishing Solutions - Unnamed book for writers (Completed Aug 2021) 5 - Stark Publishing Solutions - Unnamed book 2 for writers (Didn't do it) 6 - Publish SCREAMING SKULLS X (Didn't do it) 7 - Publish GHOSTLY GANANOQUE X (Didn't do it) 8 - Considering another anthology (Didn't do it) 9 - Expanding Stark Publishing into something bigger - Author A - One book (Sarah Kades - Kiss Me in the Rain) - Author B - Delayed until 2022 - Author C - still a work in progress 10 - Special un-named project (Planes, Trains and Automobiles) (Didn't do it) Mark also shares some of the high level %'s of his 2021 eBook income, including % of sales at Amazon, Kobo, Apple, B&N, Google, and other places.   Links of Interest: EP 225 - Writing Personal Experience in Fiction with Ami Sands Brodoff EP 226 - Reflective Roundtable December 2021 EP 227 - Publishing Trends & Reflections for 2022 Findaway Voices Findaway Voices Blog: What You Can Control The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 227 - Publishing Trends and Reflections for 2022 Publishing Trends and Reflections for 2022 Thu, 30 Dec 2021 23:00:00 +0000 Mark reads from a 2000 word article he wrote when asked to discuss publishing trends for 2022.

Prior to the main content, Mark, using an AI voice double (Overdub) from Descript to speak the words he has typed, explains why he is using a voice double for the interstitial parts of the podcast, and also shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark reads from a 2000 word article he wrote when asked to discuss publishing trends for 2022.

Prior to the main content, Mark, using an AI voice double (Overdub) from Descript to speak the words he has typed, explains why he is using a voice double for the interstitial parts of the podcast, and also shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 19:24 false 4 227 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark reads from a 2000 word article he wrote when asked to discuss publishing trends for 2022. Prior to the main content, Mark, using an AI voice double (Overdub) from Descript to speak the words he has typed, explains why he is using a voice double for the interstitial parts of the podcast, and also shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: The Top Eight Publishing Trends for 2022 - Article by Clayton Noblit from Written Word Media EP 148 - Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark reads from a 2000 word article he wrote when asked to discuss publishing trends for 2022. Prior to the main content, Mark, using an AI voice double (Overdub) from Descript to speak the words he has typed, explains why he is using a voice double for the interstitial parts of the podcast, and also shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: The Top Eight Publishing Trends for 2022 - Article by Clayton Noblit from Written Word Media EP 148 - Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 226 - Reflective Round Table December 2021 Reflective Roundtable December 2021 Thu, 23 Dec 2021 23:00:00 +0000

The first in a new series of "Reflective Round Table" discussions between Mark and a selection of patrons of the podcast.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections podcast who support this podcast at:

https://patreon.com/starkreflections

In this episode, Mark chats with:

In their conversation Mark, Matt, Shari, Jeff, and Kathy talk about

  • The importance of a strong narrative question/theme for a book and/or series
  • Different planning processes as we hurtle toward 2022
  • Timelines/stressors/deadlines where editorial input is shortchanged 
  • And a few other things in between

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> The first in a new series of "Reflective Round Table" discussions between Mark and a selection of patrons of the podcast.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections podcast who support this podcast at:

https://patreon.com/starkreflections

In this episode, Mark chats with:

In their conversation Mark, Matt, Shari, Jeff, and Kathy talk about

  • The importance of a strong narrative question/theme for a book and/or series
  • Different planning processes as we hurtle toward 2022
  • Timelines/stressors/deadlines where editorial input is shortchanged
  • And a few other things in between

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:15:10 false 4 226 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)The first in a new series of "Reflective Round Table" discussions between Mark and a selection of patrons of the podcast. This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections podcast who support this podcast at: https://patreon.com/starkreflections In this episode, Mark chats with: Matty Dalrymple Shari Decter Hirst (writing as Sherilyn Decter) Jeff Elkins Kathy Mac In their conversation Mark, Matt, Shari, Jeff, and Kathy talk about The importance of a strong narrative question/theme for a book and/or series Different planning processes as we hurtle toward 2022 Timelines/stressors/deadlines where editorial input is shortchanged  And a few other things in between   Links of Interest: Matty Dalrymple Shari Decter Hirst (writing as Sherilyn Decter) Jeff Elkins Kathy Mac The Dialogue Doctor The Indy Author The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 The first in a new series of "Reflective Round Table" discussions between Mark and a selection of patrons of the podcast. This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections podcast who support this podcast at: https://patreon.com/starkreflections In this episode, Mark chats with: Matty Dalrymple Shari Decter Hirst (writing as Sherilyn Decter) Jeff Elkins Kathy Mac In their conversation Mark, Matt, Shari, Jeff, and Kathy talk about The importance of a strong narrative question/theme for a book and/or series Different planning processes as we hurtle toward 2022 Timelines/stressors/deadlines where editorial input is shortchanged  And a few other things in between   Links of Interest: Matty Dalrymple Shari Decter Hirst (writing as Sherilyn Decter) Jeff Elkins Kathy Mac The Dialogue Doctor The Indy Author The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 225 - Writing Personal Experience in Fiction with Ami Sands Brodoff Writing Personal Experience in Fiction with Ami Sands Brodoff Fri, 17 Dec 2021 00:25:48 +0000 Mark interviews Ami Sands Brodoff, the award-winning author of three novels and two story collections about her latest book, The Sleep of Apples and the stories and books she has written over the years.

Prior to the main content, Mark discusses recent comments, welcomes new patron Jared Nelson, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation Mark and Ami talk about:

  • Ami as a "late-bloomer" writer who had worked on a number of short stories for years before working on a novel
  • The encouragement, including a nomination for The Pushcart Prize that happened early on with Ami's first published story
  • Being invited to The Algonquin Hotel in New York for lunch with some editors
  • Asking herself is this the career I want to be doing no matter what
  • The related anchor job that Ami had for guaranteed writing money coming in while she did freelance work
  • Adapting real-life circumstances into her first novel, Can You See Me?
  • How the stories in The Sleep of Apples are linked by a neighborhood, whereas in a previous collection, it was a theme that unified the stories
  • The concept of neighborhoods in cities like Montreal and New York
  • The amazing critical acclaim for The Sleep of Apples and how publicist can snowball
  • Various workshops that Ami has lead over the years
  • Tapping into the stories that other people want to share and tell
  • Advice Ami would have for beginning writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of how publicist can snowball, or how a lot of hard work can lead to those "viral" things.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Ami Sands Brodoff is the award-winning author of three novels and two story collections. Her latest novel-in-stories, The Sleep of Apples, centres on 9 closely-linked characters confronting crises related to mental illness, mortality--sooner rather than later--and gender identity.

Ami's novel, In Many Waters, grapples with our world-wide refugee crisis. The White Space Between, which focuses on a mother and daughter struggling with the impact of the Holocaust won The Canadian Jewish Book Award for Fiction. Bloodknots, a volume of thematically-linked stories was a finalist for the ReLit Award.

Ami leads workshops for teens, adults, and seniors. She has taught writing to formerly incarcerated women and to people grappling with mental illness. Ami has been awarded fellowships to Yaddo, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Ragdale Foundation, and St. James Cavalier Arts Centre for Creativity (Malta).

Ami lives in Montreal with her partner, children and high energy Brittany Spaniel Xeno.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Ami Sands Brodoff, the award-winning author of three novels and two story collections about her latest book, The Sleep of Apples and the stories and books she has written over the years.

Prior to the main content, Mark discusses recent comments, welcomes new patron Jared Nelson, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation Mark and Ami talk about:

  • Ami as a "late-bloomer" writer who had worked on a number of short stories for years before working on a novel
  • The encouragement, including a nomination for The Pushcart Prize that happened early on with Ami's first published story
  • Being invited to The Algonquin Hotel in New York for lunch with some editors
  • Asking herself is this the career I want to be doing no matter what
  • The related anchor job that Ami had for guaranteed writing money coming in while she did freelance work
  • Adapting real-life circumstances into her first novel, Can You See Me?
  • How the stories in The Sleep of Apples are linked by a neighborhood, whereas in a previous collection, it was a theme that unified the stories
  • The concept of neighborhoods in cities like Montreal and New York
  • The amazing critical acclaim for The Sleep of Apples and how publicist can snowball
  • Various workshops that Ami has lead over the years
  • Tapping into the stories that other people want to share and tell
  • Advice Ami would have for beginning writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of how publicist can snowball, or how a lot of hard work can lead to those "viral" things.

Links of Interest:

Ami Sands Brodoff is the award-winning author of three novels and two story collections. Her latest novel-in-stories, The Sleep of Apples, centres on 9 closely-linked characters confronting crises related to mental illness, mortality--sooner rather than later--and gender identity.

Ami's novel, In Many Waters, grapples with our world-wide refugee crisis. The White Space Between, which focuses on a mother and daughter struggling with the impact of the Holocaust won The Canadian Jewish Book Award for Fiction. Bloodknots, a volume of thematically-linked stories was a finalist for the ReLit Award.

Ami leads workshops for teens, adults, and seniors. She has taught writing to formerly incarcerated women and to people grappling with mental illness. Ami has been awarded fellowships to Yaddo, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Ragdale Foundation, and St. James Cavalier Arts Centre for Creativity (Malta).

Ami lives in Montreal with her partner, children and high energy Brittany Spaniel Xeno.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 58:04 false 4 225 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Ami Sands Brodoff, the award-winning author of three novels and two story collections about her latest book, The Sleep of Apples and the stories and books she has written over the years. Prior to the main content, Mark discusses recent comments, welcomes new patron Jared Nelson, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation Mark and Ami talk about: Ami as a "late-bloomer" writer who had worked on a number of short stories for years before working on a novel The encouragement, including a nomination for The Pushcart Prize that happened early on with Ami's first published story Being invited to The Algonquin Hotel in New York for lunch with some editors Asking herself is this the career I want to be doing no matter what The related anchor job that Ami had for guaranteed writing money coming in while she did freelance work Adapting real-life circumstances into her first novel, Can You See Me? How the stories in The Sleep of Apples are linked by a neighborhood, whereas in a previous collection, it was a theme that unified the stories The concept of neighborhoods in cities like Montreal and New York The amazing critical acclaim for The Sleep of Apples and how publicist can snowball Various workshops that Ami has lead over the years Tapping into the stories that other people want to share and tell Advice Ami would have for beginning writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of how publicist can snowball, or how a lot of hard work can lead to those "viral" things.   Links of Interest: Ami Sands Brodoff Website EP 223 - Love, Only Better with Paulette Stout The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Ami Sands Brodoff is the award-winning author of three novels and two story collections. Her latest novel-in-stories, The Sleep of Apples, centres on 9 closely-linked characters confronting crises related to mental illness, mortality--sooner rather than later--and gender identity. Ami's novel, In Many Waters, grapples with our world-wide refugee crisis. The White Space Between, which focuses on a mother and daughter struggling with the impact of the Holocaust won The Canadian Jewish Book Award for Fiction. Bloodknots, a volume of thematically-linked stories was a finalist for the ReLit Award. Ami leads workshops for teens, adults, and seniors. She has taught writing to formerly incarcerated women and to people grappling with mental illness. Ami has been awarded fellowships to Yaddo, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Ragdale Foundation, and St. James Cavalier Arts Centre for Creativity (Malta). Ami lives in Montreal with her partner, children and high energy Brittany Spaniel Xeno.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Ami Sands Brodoff, the award-winning author of three novels and two story collections about her latest book, The Sleep of Apples and the stories and books she has written over the years. Prior to the main content, Mark discusses recent comments, welcomes new patron Jared Nelson, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation Mark and Ami talk about: Ami as a "late-bloomer" writer who had worked on a number of short stories for years before working on a novel The encouragement, including a nomination for The Pushcart Prize that happened early on with Ami's first published story Being invited to The Algonquin Hotel in New York for lunch with some editors Asking herself is this the career I want to be doing no matter what The related anchor job that Ami had for guaranteed writing money coming in while she did freelance work Adapting real-life circumstances into her first novel, Can You See Me? How the stories in The Sleep of Apples are linked by a neighborhood, whereas in a previous collection, it was a theme that unified the stories The concept of neighborhoods in cities like Montreal and New York The amazing critical acclaim for The Sleep of Apples and how publicist can snowball Various workshops that Ami has lead over the years Tapping into the stories that other people want to share and tell Advice Ami would have for beginning writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of how publicist can snowball, or how a lot of hard work can lead to those "viral" things.   Links of Interest: Ami Sands Brodoff Website EP 223 - Love, Only Better with Paulette Stout The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Ami Sands Brodoff is the award-winning author of three novels and two story collections. Her latest novel-in-stories, The Sleep of Apples, centres on 9 closely-linked characters confronting crises related to mental illness, mortality--sooner rather than later--and gender identity. Ami's novel, In Many Waters, grapples with our world-wide refugee crisis. The White Space Between, which focuses on a mother and daughter struggling with the impact of the Holocaust won The Canadian Jewish Book Award for Fiction. Bloodknots, a volume of thematically-linked stories was a finalist for the ReLit Award. Ami leads workshops for teens, adults, and seniors. She has taught writing to formerly incarcerated women and to people grappling with mental illness. Ami has been awarded fellowships to Yaddo, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Ragdale Foundation, and St. James Cavalier Arts Centre for Creativity (Malta). Ami lives in Montreal with her partner, children and high energy Brittany Spaniel Xeno.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 224 - Being an Independent Publisher and Bookseller with Heather Campbell Being an Independent Publisher and Bookseller with Heather Campbel Fri, 10 Dec 2021 01:44:09 +0000 Mark interviews Heather Campbell co-founder and publisher at Latitude 46 Publishing, and owner of a brand-new indie bookstore in Sudbury, Ontario.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares some recent comments, a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation Mark and Heather talk about:

  • Heather's long love of reading and books, and her engagement in the Sudbury, Ontario writing community
  • Deciding to start Latitude 46 when Scrivener Press decided to close shop
  • How Heather got into learning about publishing, distribution, and self-publishing twelve years ago by helping a friend out with her book
  • Celebrating Latitude 46's 7th anniversary on March 22, 2022
  • How often a regional/local publisher has to start off doing it part time and with funding support from arts councils, etc
  • The average number of submissions rec'd versus books published
  • The way that Heather, as a publisher, seeks to have a collaborative relationship with her writers
  • Advice for authors looking to submit to Latitude 46
  • The mandate to publish authors either from or with strong ties to Northern Ontario and mid-Northern Ontario
  • Heather's decision to open up a downtown independently operated bookstore as part of a 4 month opportunity by the city called "Zero Vacancy" to help revitalize the downtown core
  • Some of the other artisan and local artist merchandise carried in the store
  • An imprint from Latitude 46 that Heather uses when the title doesn't have a literary bend to it
  • Authors who have come in to sign books and the store as well as forthcoming planned author visits
  • Heather's thought that writers could benefit from going and working in a bookstore, even briefly, to understand what that experience is like
  • The question of "is this publishable" that publishers often ask when a manuscript is presented
  • Toni Morrison's long term "teamwork" based relationship with her editor

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of understanding a publishers vision and mandate as well as the idea of how writers can benefit from in person bookstore experience.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Heather Campbell has spent over 25 years in communications and freelance writing, specializing in issues relevant to Northern Ontario communities. A graduate of York University (BA Sociology '92), she has combined her education, experience and 'need to initiate' by starting a local chapter of the Professional Writers Association of Canada and the Wordstock Sudbury Literary Festival. Joining forces with another local writer to start a new publishing house for the North is a natural extension of how she can contribute to creating a thriving literary scene in Northern Ontario.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews Heather Campbell co-founder and publisher at Latitude 46 Publishing, and owner of a brand-new indie bookstore in Sudbury, Ontario.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares some recent comments, a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation Mark and Heather talk about:

  • Heather's long love of reading and books, and her engagement in the Sudbury, Ontario writing community
  • Deciding to start Latitude 46 when Scrivener Press decided to close shop
  • How Heather got into learning about publishing, distribution, and self-publishing twelve years ago by helping a friend out with her book
  • Celebrating Latitude 46's 7th anniversary on March 22, 2022
  • How often a regional/local publisher has to start off doing it part time and with funding support from arts councils, etc
  • The average number of submissions rec'd versus books published
  • The way that Heather, as a publisher, seeks to have a collaborative relationship with her writers
  • Advice for authors looking to submit to Latitude 46
  • The mandate to publish authors either from or with strong ties to Northern Ontario and mid-Northern Ontario
  • Heather's decision to open up a downtown independently operated bookstore as part of a 4 month opportunity by the city called "Zero Vacancy" to help revitalize the downtown core
  • Some of the other artisan and local artist merchandise carried in the store
  • An imprint from Latitude 46 that Heather uses when the title doesn't have a literary bend to it
  • Authors who have come in to sign books and the store as well as forthcoming planned author visits
  • Heather's thought that writers could benefit from going and working in a bookstore, even briefly, to understand what that experience is like
  • The question of "is this publishable" that publishers often ask when a manuscript is presented
  • Toni Morrison's long term "teamwork" based relationship with her editor

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of understanding a publishers vision and mandate as well as the idea of how writers can benefit from in person bookstore experience.

Links of Interest:

Heather Campbell has spent over 25 years in communications and freelance writing, specializing in issues relevant to Northern Ontario communities. A graduate of York University (BA Sociology '92), she has combined her education, experience and 'need to initiate' by starting a local chapter of the Professional Writers Association of Canada and the Wordstock Sudbury Literary Festival. Joining forces with another local writer to start a new publishing house for the North is a natural extension of how she can contribute to creating a thriving literary scene in Northern Ontario.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:02:02 false 4 224 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Heather Campbell co-founder and publisher at Latitude 46 Publishing, and owner of a brand-new indie bookstore in Sudbury, Ontario. Prior to the main content, Mark shares some recent comments, a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation Mark and Heather talk about: Heather's long love of reading and books, and her engagement in the Sudbury, Ontario writing community Deciding to start Latitude 46 when Scrivener Press decided to close shop How Heather got into learning about publishing, distribution, and self-publishing twelve years ago by helping a friend out with her book Celebrating Latitude 46's 7th anniversary on March 22, 2022 How often a regional/local publisher has to start off doing it part time and with funding support from arts councils, etc The average number of submissions rec'd versus books published The way that Heather, as a publisher, seeks to have a collaborative relationship with her writers Advice for authors looking to submit to Latitude 46 The mandate to publish authors either from or with strong ties to Northern Ontario and mid-Northern Ontario Heather's decision to open up a downtown independently operated bookstore as part of a 4 month opportunity by the city called "Zero Vacancy" to help revitalize the downtown core Some of the other artisan and local artist merchandise carried in the store An imprint from Latitude 46 that Heather uses when the title doesn't have a literary bend to it Authors who have come in to sign books and the store as well as forthcoming planned author visits Heather's thought that writers could benefit from going and working in a bookstore, even briefly, to understand what that experience is like The question of "is this publishable" that publishers often ask when a manuscript is presented Toni Morrison's long term "teamwork" based relationship with her editor After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of understanding a publishers vision and mandate as well as the idea of how writers can benefit from in person bookstore experience.   Links of Interest: Latitude 46 Publishing Facebook Page Instagram Twitter EP 189 - From Stage to Page Then Back to Stage with Rod Carley EP 223 - Love, Only Better with Paulette Stout The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Heather Campbell has spent over 25 years in communications and freelance writing, specializing in issues relevant to Northern Ontario communities. A graduate of York University (BA Sociology '92), she has combined her education, experience and 'need to initiate' by starting a local chapter of the Professional Writers Association of Canada and the Wordstock Sudbury Literary Festival. Joining forces with another local writer to start a new publishing house for the North is a natural extension of how she can contribute to creating a thriving literary scene in Northern Ontario.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews Heather Campbell co-founder and publisher at Latitude 46 Publishing, and owner of a brand-new indie bookstore in Sudbury, Ontario. Prior to the main content, Mark shares some recent comments, a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation Mark and Heather talk about: Heather's long love of reading and books, and her engagement in the Sudbury, Ontario writing community Deciding to start Latitude 46 when Scrivener Press decided to close shop How Heather got into learning about publishing, distribution, and self-publishing twelve years ago by helping a friend out with her book Celebrating Latitude 46's 7th anniversary on March 22, 2022 How often a regional/local publisher has to start off doing it part time and with funding support from arts councils, etc The average number of submissions rec'd versus books published The way that Heather, as a publisher, seeks to have a collaborative relationship with her writers Advice for authors looking to submit to Latitude 46 The mandate to publish authors either from or with strong ties to Northern Ontario and mid-Northern Ontario Heather's decision to open up a downtown independently operated bookstore as part of a 4 month opportunity by the city called "Zero Vacancy" to help revitalize the downtown core Some of the other artisan and local artist merchandise carried in the store An imprint from Latitude 46 that Heather uses when the title doesn't have a literary bend to it Authors who have come in to sign books and the store as well as forthcoming planned author visits Heather's thought that writers could benefit from going and working in a bookstore, even briefly, to understand what that experience is like The question of "is this publishable" that publishers often ask when a manuscript is presented Toni Morrison's long term "teamwork" based relationship with her editor After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of understanding a publishers vision and mandate as well as the idea of how writers can benefit from in person bookstore experience.   Links of Interest: Latitude 46 Publishing Facebook Page Instagram Twitter EP 189 - From Stage to Page Then Back to Stage with Rod Carley EP 223 - Love, Only Better with Paulette Stout The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Heather Campbell has spent over 25 years in communications and freelance writing, specializing in issues relevant to Northern Ontario communities. A graduate of York University (BA Sociology '92), she has combined her education, experience and 'need to initiate' by starting a local chapter of the Professional Writers Association of Canada and the Wordstock Sudbury Literary Festival. Joining forces with another local writer to start a new publishing house for the North is a natural extension of how she can contribute to creating a thriving literary scene in Northern Ontario.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 223 - Love, Only Better, with Paulette Stout Love, Only Better, with Paulette Stout Fri, 03 Dec 2021 01:32:15 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews author Paulette Stout about her new novel Love, Only Better.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a recent comment, a personal update, thanks new patron Jo-Ann Carson, and shares a word and update about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Paulette talk about:

  • Why Paulette chose to fictionalize the taboo subject matter of the novel
  • How this novel can help some women realize that they're not alone in this experience
  • Taking a really difficult topic and making it a beach read
  • The importance of approaching a deeply personal and emotionally difficult topic with humor
  • The process of deciding to write this novel
  • Reaching out to agents with queries for this book
  • Learning about indie publishing and how it suited this book with what many publishers saw as a taboo topic
  • Scribbling at the alter of Joanna Penn
  • Writing a prequel as an author newsletter giveaway
  • Getting a BookBub Feature New Release on her first time asking for one
  • Using NetGalley and getting more than 300 downloads for the book while it was up for preorder
  • How initially positioning the book as romance rather than women's fiction resulted in a few mis-matches on reader expectations
  • Deciding to change a great cover for a different great cover based on those reader expectations
  • Paulette's desire to "up" the level of intimacy within women's fiction
  • Sales so far of the book in print and eBook
  • Segmenting her list into two groups: people who open and people who don't open her newsletters
  • Working on Book 2 for NaNoWriMo 2021 so she can get it to editors in December for a spring 2022 release
  • Advice Paulette would offer to beginning writers or writers who want to write a book about a more taboo topic
  • And more...

After the conversation Mark reflects on the business decision Paulette made to re-do her covers (see below) and also on how (and why) authors are so hard on and so down on themselves.

Links of Interest:

 

Paula Stout is the fearless author of Love, Only Better, a contemporary novel and bedroom rallying cry for women everywhere.

Born in Manhattan, Paulette is the gold-star wordsmith and owner of her content marketing agency, Media Goddess Inc., where she crafts content for her list of global clients. Prior to MGI, Paulette led content and design teams at several tech companies, and one educational publisher where her elimination of the Oxford comma caused a near riot.

Paulette's prior career as a media buyer/planner in New York earned her three industry awards, including a MediaWeek All-Star.

She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Cornell University and her MBA in Marketing from the Lubin School of Business, Pace University.

You can usually find Paulette rearranging words into pleasing patterns while wearing grammar t-shirts.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> In this episode Mark interviews author Paulette Stout about her new novel Love, Only Better.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a recent comment, a personal update, thanks new patron Jo-Ann Carson, and shares a word and update about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Paulette talk about:

  • Why Paulette chose to fictionalize the taboo subject matter of the novel
  • How this novel can help some women realize that they're not alone in this experience
  • Taking a really difficult topic and making it a beach read
  • The importance of approaching a deeply personal and emotionally difficult topic with humor
  • The process of deciding to write this novel
  • Reaching out to agents with queries for this book
  • Learning about indie publishing and how it suited this book with what many publishers saw as a taboo topic
  • Scribbling at the alter of Joanna Penn
  • Writing a prequel as an author newsletter giveaway
  • Getting a BookBub Feature New Release on her first time asking for one
  • Using NetGalley and getting more than 300 downloads for the book while it was up for preorder
  • How initially positioning the book as romance rather than women's fiction resulted in a few mis-matches on reader expectations
  • Deciding to change a great cover for a different great cover based on those reader expectations
  • Paulette's desire to "up" the level of intimacy within women's fiction
  • Sales so far of the book in print and eBook
  • Segmenting her list into two groups: people who open and people who don't open her newsletters
  • Working on Book 2 for NaNoWriMo 2021 so she can get it to editors in December for a spring 2022 release
  • Advice Paulette would offer to beginning writers or writers who want to write a book about a more taboo topic
  • And more...

After the conversation Mark reflects on the business decision Paulette made to re-do her covers (see below) and also on how (and why) authors are so hard on and so down on themselves.

Links of Interest:

Paula Stout is the fearless author of Love, Only Better, a contemporary novel and bedroom rallying cry for women everywhere.

Born in Manhattan, Paulette is the gold-star wordsmith and owner of her content marketing agency, Media Goddess Inc., where she crafts content for her list of global clients. Prior to MGI, Paulette led content and design teams at several tech companies, and one educational publisher where her elimination of the Oxford comma caused a near riot.

Paulette's prior career as a media buyer/planner in New York earned her three industry awards, including a MediaWeek All-Star.

She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Cornell University and her MBA in Marketing from the Lubin School of Business, Pace University.

You can usually find Paulette rearranging words into pleasing patterns while wearing grammar t-shirts.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 52:56 true 4 223 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews author Paulette Stout about her new novel Love, Only Better. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a recent comment, a personal update, thanks new patron Jo-Ann Carson, and shares a word and update about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Paulette talk about: Why Paulette chose to fictionalize the taboo subject matter of the novel How this novel can help some women realize that they're not alone in this experience Taking a really difficult topic and making it a beach read The importance of approaching a deeply personal and emotionally difficult topic with humor The process of deciding to write this novel Reaching out to agents with queries for this book Learning about indie publishing and how it suited this book with what many publishers saw as a taboo topic Scribbling at the alter of Joanna Penn Writing a prequel as an author newsletter giveaway Getting a BookBub Feature New Release on her first time asking for one Using NetGalley and getting more than 300 downloads for the book while it was up for preorder How initially positioning the book as romance rather than women's fiction resulted in a few mis-matches on reader expectations Deciding to change a great cover for a different great cover based on those reader expectations Paulette's desire to "up" the level of intimacy within women's fiction Sales so far of the book in print and eBook Segmenting her list into two groups: people who open and people who don't open her newsletters Working on Book 2 for NaNoWriMo 2021 so she can get it to editors in December for a spring 2022 release Advice Paulette would offer to beginning writers or writers who want to write a book about a more taboo topic And more... After the conversation Mark reflects on the business decision Paulette made to re-do her covers (see below) and also on how (and why) authors are so hard on and so down on themselves. Links of Interest: Paulette Stout's Website Facebook Author Page Twitter Instagram PR By The Book Findaway Voices Books A Million Announcement EP 154 - Reflections on T S Paul The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Paula Stout is the fearless author of Love, Only Better, a contemporary novel and bedroom rallying cry for women everywhere. Born in Manhattan, Paulette is the gold-star wordsmith and owner of her content marketing agency, Media Goddess Inc., where she crafts content for her list of global clients. Prior to MGI, Paulette led content and design teams at several tech companies, and one educational publisher where her elimination of the Oxford comma caused a near riot. Paulette's prior career as a media buyer/planner in New York earned her three industry awards, including a MediaWeek All-Star. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Cornell University and her MBA in Marketing from the Lubin School of Business, Pace University. You can usually find Paulette rearranging words into pleasing patterns while wearing grammar t-shirts.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 In this episode Mark interviews author Paulette Stout about her new novel Love, Only Better. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a recent comment, a personal update, thanks new patron Jo-Ann Carson, and shares a word and update about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Paulette talk about: Why Paulette chose to fictionalize the taboo subject matter of the novel How this novel can help some women realize that they're not alone in this experience Taking a really difficult topic and making it a beach read The importance of approaching a deeply personal and emotionally difficult topic with humor The process of deciding to write this novel Reaching out to agents with queries for this book Learning about indie publishing and how it suited this book with what many publishers saw as a taboo topic Scribbling at the alter of Joanna Penn Writing a prequel as an author newsletter giveaway Getting a BookBub Feature New Release on her first time asking for one Using NetGalley and getting more than 300 downloads for the book while it was up for preorder How initially positioning the book as romance rather than women's fiction resulted in a few mis-matches on reader expectations Deciding to change a great cover for a different great cover based on those reader expectations Paulette's desire to "up" the level of intimacy within women's fiction Sales so far of the book in print and eBook Segmenting her list into two groups: people who open and people who don't open her newsletters Working on Book 2 for NaNoWriMo 2021 so she can get it to editors in December for a spring 2022 release Advice Paulette would offer to beginning writers or writers who want to write a book about a more taboo topic And more... After the conversation Mark reflects on the business decision Paulette made to re-do her covers (see below) and also on how (and why) authors are so hard on and so down on themselves. Links of Interest: Paulette Stout's Website Facebook Author Page Twitter Instagram PR By The Book Findaway Voices Books A Million Announcement EP 154 - Reflections on T S Paul The Canadian Mounted Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Paula Stout is the fearless author of Love, Only Better, a contemporary novel and bedroom rallying cry for women everywhere. Born in Manhattan, Paulette is the gold-star wordsmith and owner of her content marketing agency, Media Goddess Inc., where she crafts content for her list of global clients. Prior to MGI, Paulette led content and design teams at several tech companies, and one educational publisher where her elimination of the Oxford comma caused a near riot. Paulette's prior career as a media buyer/planner in New York earned her three industry awards, including a MediaWeek All-Star. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Cornell University and her MBA in Marketing from the Lubin School of Business, Pace University. You can usually find Paulette rearranging words into pleasing patterns while wearing grammar t-shirts.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 222 - Clean Romance, Happily Ever Afters, and Taking Care of Readers with Brittany Fichter Clean Romance, Happily Ever Afters, and Taking Care of Readers with Brittany Fichter Fri, 26 Nov 2021 00:41:33 +0000 Mark interviews author Brittany Fichter about writing happily ever after endings, clean romance, and taking the time to care for her readers.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, thanks new patron James S. Aaron, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Brittany talk about:

  • Writing clean, sweet, and wholesome romance
  • Living and writing with OCD, Tourettes and free-floating anxiety
  • The Writing Gals Podcast and their outline of the various levels of heat in romance fiction
  • How the outline for Brittany's last book was 50,000 words
  • The way that clean romances can still deal with heavy concepts and deep emotions
  • Writing fairy tales that are full fantasy, much like the darkness to light moment in The Lord of the Rings
  • Brittany's childhood love of fairy tales and her desire to what to know the characters beyond the tropes
  • Stephen King's writing prompt to write a story you'll never share with anyone, and how Brittany used that to write a story inspired by Beauty and The Beast that she published in 2015
  • Revising covers, and the fact her first book (Beyond Beauty) has gone through four covers already
  • Getting writing done with young children
  • Making YouTube music playlists for every book that she writes as a way of triggering her brain that it's time to write
  • The push that leads a lot of writers to writer burnout
  • The Happy Planner brand
  • Writing and publishing a chapter a week on her blog to keep her readers happy while they're waiting for the next book
  • Why Brittany has a "Fun and Games" section on her website and why she avoids political discussion in her reader groups and author page
  • How her writing is all about light overcoming dark
  • The way that 2020 had us on social media and on our phones a lot, instead of being with and understanding others
  • Advice Brittany would give to new writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of attending to the needs of your readers.

Links of Interest:


Brittany Fichter lives with her Prince Charming, little fairy, and little prince in a decently clean castle in whatever kingdom the United States Air Force has most recently placed them.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

]]> Mark interviews author Brittany Fichter about writing happily ever after endings, clean romance, and taking the time to care for her readers.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, thanks new patron James S. Aaron, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Brittany talk about:

  • Writing clean, sweet, and wholesome romance
  • Living and writing with OCD, Tourettes and free-floating anxiety
  • The Writing Gals Podcast and their outline of the various levels of heat in romance fiction
  • How the outline for Brittany's last book was 50,000 words
  • The way that clean romances can still deal with heavy concepts and deep emotions
  • Writing fairy tales that are full fantasy, much like the darkness to light moment in The Lord of the Rings
  • Brittany's childhood love of fairy tales and her desire to what to know the characters beyond the tropes
  • Stephen King's writing prompt to write a story you'll never share with anyone, and how Brittany used that to write a story inspired by Beauty and The Beast that she published in 2015
  • Revising covers, and the fact her first book (Beyond Beauty) has gone through four covers already
  • Getting writing done with young children
  • Making YouTube music playlists for every book that she writes as a way of triggering her brain that it's time to write
  • The push that leads a lot of writers to writer burnout
  • The Happy Planner brand
  • Writing and publishing a chapter a week on her blog to keep her readers happy while they're waiting for the next book
  • Why Brittany has a "Fun and Games" section on her website and why she avoids political discussion in her reader groups and author page
  • How her writing is all about light overcoming dark
  • The way that 2020 had us on social media and on our phones a lot, instead of being with and understanding others
  • Advice Brittany would give to new writers
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of attending to the needs of your readers.

Links of Interest:

Brittany Fichter lives with her Prince Charming, little fairy, and little prince in a decently clean castle in whatever kingdom the United States Air Force has most recently placed them.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:04:28 false 4 2021 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author Brittany Fichter about writing happily ever after endings, clean romance, and taking the time to care for her readers. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, thanks new patron James S. Aaron, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Brittany talk about: Writing clean, sweet, and wholesome romance Living and writing with OCD, Tourettes and free-floating anxiety The Writing Gals Podcast and their outline of the various levels of heat in romance fiction How the outline for Brittany's last book was 50,000 words The way that clean romances can still deal with heavy concepts and deep emotions Writing fairy tales that are full fantasy, much like the darkness to light moment in The Lord of the Rings Brittany's childhood love of fairy tales and her desire to what to know the characters beyond the tropes Stephen King's writing prompt to write a story you'll never share with anyone, and how Brittany used that to write a story inspired by Beauty and The Beast that she published in 2015 Revising covers, and the fact her first book (Beyond Beauty) has gone through four covers already Getting writing done with young children Making YouTube music playlists for every book that she writes as a way of triggering her brain that it's time to write The push that leads a lot of writers to writer burnout The Happy Planner brand Writing and publishing a chapter a week on her blog to keep her readers happy while they're waiting for the next book Why Brittany has a "Fun and Games" section on her website and why she avoids political discussion in her reader groups and author page How her writing is all about light overcoming dark The way that 2020 had us on social media and on our phones a lot, instead of being with and understanding others Advice Brittany would give to new writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of attending to the needs of your readers. Links of Interest: Brittany Fichter's Website Facebook Author Page Facebook Reader Group Instagram Writing Gals: What Makes Clean Romance Clean 20BooksVegas Website 2021 Video Playlist of 162 Videos (YouTube) Killing it on Kobo Wide for the Win Apple Books Panel Findaway Voices The Canadian Mounted You Play with Your Balls a Lot (Lipsync) The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Brittany Fichter lives with her Prince Charming, little fairy, and little prince in a decently clean castle in whatever kingdom the United States Air Force has most recently placed them.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mark interviews author Brittany Fichter about writing happily ever after endings, clean romance, and taking the time to care for her readers. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, thanks new patron James S. Aaron, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Brittany talk about: Writing clean, sweet, and wholesome romance Living and writing with OCD, Tourettes and free-floating anxiety The Writing Gals Podcast and their outline of the various levels of heat in romance fiction How the outline for Brittany's last book was 50,000 words The way that clean romances can still deal with heavy concepts and deep emotions Writing fairy tales that are full fantasy, much like the darkness to light moment in The Lord of the Rings Brittany's childhood love of fairy tales and her desire to what to know the characters beyond the tropes Stephen King's writing prompt to write a story you'll never share with anyone, and how Brittany used that to write a story inspired by Beauty and The Beast that she published in 2015 Revising covers, and the fact her first book (Beyond Beauty) has gone through four covers already Getting writing done with young children Making YouTube music playlists for every book that she writes as a way of triggering her brain that it's time to write The push that leads a lot of writers to writer burnout The Happy Planner brand Writing and publishing a chapter a week on her blog to keep her readers happy while they're waiting for the next book Why Brittany has a "Fun and Games" section on her website and why she avoids political discussion in her reader groups and author page How her writing is all about light overcoming dark The way that 2020 had us on social media and on our phones a lot, instead of being with and understanding others Advice Brittany would give to new writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of attending to the needs of your readers. Links of Interest: Brittany Fichter's Website Facebook Author Page Facebook Reader Group Instagram Writing Gals: What Makes Clean Romance Clean 20BooksVegas Website 2021 Video Playlist of 162 Videos (YouTube) Killing it on Kobo Wide for the Win Apple Books Panel Findaway Voices The Canadian Mounted You Play with Your Balls a Lot (Lipsync) The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Brittany Fichter lives with her Prince Charming, little fairy, and little prince in a decently clean castle in whatever kingdom the United States Air Force has most recently placed them.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  EP 221 - Highlights from 20BooksVegas 2021 Highlights from 20BooksVegas 2021 Fri, 19 Nov 2021 00:20:59 +0000 Mark shares three short audio excerpts from the November 2021 20BooksVegas conference.

20Books Vegas 2021 is by far the biggest and best of the 20Books shows (there have been ten so far). It is the biggest show in the world focused on self-publishing although there is something for every author, traditional or indie.

The 20Books mentality is that everyone deserves a chance to succeed if they take the knowledge and experience and apply it to their author business.

With up to 20 authors making seven figures a year and hundreds making a full-time living, there will be something for everyone. Be warned, no one is going to carry you and make you an overnight sensation. You have to do that for yourself by applying what over 100 guest speakers have to offer. Are you ready to excel, reap the rewards of your good work? Then take control of your author career.

 

Prior to the main content, Mark shares recent comments, a personal update, thanks new patron Michael Howell and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

The three clips (each approximately 10 minutes) are:

 

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark shares three short audio excerpts from the November 2021 20BooksVegas conference.

20Books Vegas 2021 is by far the biggest and best of the 20Books shows (there have been ten so far). It is the biggest show in the world focused on self-publishing although there is something for every author, traditional or indie.

The 20Books mentality is that everyone deserves a chance to succeed if they take the knowledge and experience and apply it to their author business.

With up to 20 authors making seven figures a year and hundreds making a full-time living, there will be something for everyone. Be warned, no one is going to carry you and make you an overnight sensation. You have to do that for yourself by applying what over 100 guest speakers have to offer. Are you ready to excel, reap the rewards of your good work? Then take control of your author career.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares recent comments, a personal update, thanks new patron Michael Howell and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

The three clips (each approximately 10 minutes) are:

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:00:07 false 4 221 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark shares three short audio excerpts from the November 2021 20BooksVegas conference. 20Books Vegas 2021 is by far the biggest and best of the 20Books shows (there have been ten so far). It is the biggest show in the world focused on self-publishing although there is something for every author, traditional or indie. The 20Books mentality is that everyone deserves a chance to succeed if they take the knowledge and experience and apply it to their author business. With up to 20 authors making seven figures a year and hundreds making a full-time living, there will be something for everyone. Be warned, no one is going to carry you and make you an overnight sensation. You have to do that for yourself by applying what over 100 guest speakers have to offer. Are you ready to excel, reap the rewards of your good work? Then take control of your author career.   Prior to the main content, Mark shares recent comments, a personal update, thanks new patron Michael Howell and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. The three clips (each approximately 10 minutes) are: Mal Cooper - Finding and Keeping Fans https://youtu.be/qlqdlrgGXCQ (Full video) Caroline Peckham - Starting and Growing Your TikTok Platform https://youtu.be/dBiIPaeYUmk (Full video) Kevin McLaughlin - The Five Pillars of Indie Publishing https://youtu.be/yFXZAoi02sk (Full video)     Links of Interest: 20BooksVegas Website 2021 Video Playlist of 144 Videos (YouTube) Findaway Voices Findaway Voices Blog - Spotify EP 218 - John Gaspard on Business, Magic, and Writing The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark shares three short audio excerpts from the November 2021 20BooksVegas conference. 20Books Vegas 2021 is by far the biggest and best of the 20Books shows (there have been ten so far). It is the biggest show in the world focused on self-publishing although there is something for every author, traditional or indie. The 20Books mentality is that everyone deserves a chance to succeed if they take the knowledge and experience and apply it to their author business. With up to 20 authors making seven figures a year and hundreds making a full-time living, there will be something for everyone. Be warned, no one is going to carry you and make you an overnight sensation. You have to do that for yourself by applying what over 100 guest speakers have to offer. Are you ready to excel, reap the rewards of your good work? Then take control of your author career.   Prior to the main content, Mark shares recent comments, a personal update, thanks new patron Michael Howell and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. The three clips (each approximately 10 minutes) are: Mal Cooper - Finding and Keeping Fans https://youtu.be/qlqdlrgGXCQ (Full video) Caroline Peckham - Starting and Growing Your TikTok Platform https://youtu.be/dBiIPaeYUmk (Full video) Kevin McLaughlin - The Five Pillars of Indie Publishing https://youtu.be/yFXZAoi02sk (Full video)     Links of Interest: 20BooksVegas Website 2021 Video Playlist of 144 Videos (YouTube) Findaway Voices Findaway Voices Blog - Spotify EP 218 - John Gaspard on Business, Magic, and Writing The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 220 - Vikrant Shaurya from BestsellingBook.com Vikrant Shaurya from BestsellingBook.com Thu, 11 Nov 2021 19:39:45 +0000 Mark interviews Vikrant Shaurya, CEO and Founder of Bestsellingbook.com.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update with crappy audio from a Vegas hotel room and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation Mark and Vikrant talk about:

  • The story of how Vikrant got started in writing
  • Spending more time in the college library than in classe
  • Starting a company, making a number of mistakes, and being left with no money and being forced to shut down the business
  • Discovering self-publishing and working hard to write and go through the publishing process
  • Creating a "done for you" publishing company to help entrepreneurs and speakers
  • Who Vikrant's ideal client is and the detailed customized process of ensuring their book is written using their insights/knowledge/experience in their unique voice
  • The packages and costs of making the book a bestseller on Amazon
  • The process of the angel writers who work closely with clients
  • Going through the book chapter by chapter with the client with unlimited revisions
  • Potential opportunities for writers to work for Bestselling Book as angel writers
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the various needs and pathways for different types of writers and where a service like Bestsellingbook.com might fit in to that.

Links of Interest:

 

Vikrant Shaurya is the CEO & Founder of BestsellingBook.com, #1 Bestselling Author, sought-after Book Launch Manager, and an internationally recognized Digital Publishing Expert. He has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and first-time authors actualize their dreams by joining them in their self-publishing journeys through his courses, coaching, and done-for-you services.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Vikrant Shaurya, CEO and Founder of Bestsellingbook.com.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update with crappy audio from a Vegas hotel room and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation Mark and Vikrant talk about:

  • The story of how Vikrant got started in writing
  • Spending more time in the college library than in classe
  • Starting a company, making a number of mistakes, and being left with no money and being forced to shut down the business
  • Discovering self-publishing and working hard to write and go through the publishing process
  • Creating a "done for you" publishing company to help entrepreneurs and speakers
  • Who Vikrant's ideal client is and the detailed customized process of ensuring their book is written using their insights/knowledge/experience in their unique voice
  • The packages and costs of making the book a bestseller on Amazon
  • The process of the angel writers who work closely with clients
  • Going through the book chapter by chapter with the client with unlimited revisions
  • Potential opportunities for writers to work for Bestselling Book as angel writers
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the various needs and pathways for different types of writers and where a service like Bestsellingbook.com might fit in to that.

Links of Interest:

Vikrant Shaurya is the CEO & Founder of BestsellingBook.com, #1 Bestselling Author, sought-after Book Launch Manager, and an internationally recognized Digital Publishing Expert. He has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and first-time authors actualize their dreams by joining them in their self-publishing journeys through his courses, coaching, and done-for-you services.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 50:23 false 4 220 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Vikrant Shaurya, CEO and Founder of Bestsellingbook.com. Prior to the interview, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update with crappy audio from a Vegas hotel room and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation Mark and Vikrant talk about: The story of how Vikrant got started in writing Spending more time in the college library than in classe Starting a company, making a number of mistakes, and being left with no money and being forced to shut down the business Discovering self-publishing and working hard to write and go through the publishing process Creating a "done for you" publishing company to help entrepreneurs and speakers Who Vikrant's ideal client is and the detailed customized process of ensuring their book is written using their insights/knowledge/experience in their unique voice The packages and costs of making the book a bestseller on Amazon The process of the angel writers who work closely with clients Going through the book chapter by chapter with the client with unlimited revisions Potential opportunities for writers to work for Bestselling Book as angel writers And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the various needs and pathways for different types of writers and where a service like Bestsellingbook.com might fit in to that. Links of Interest: BestsellingBook.com Findaway Voices 20BooksVegas SelfPubCon 2021: The Writing Craft Conference (ALLI) - The Craft of Writing Short Books The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Vikrant Shaurya is the CEO & Founder of BestsellingBook.com, #1 Bestselling Author, sought-after Book Launch Manager, and an internationally recognized Digital Publishing Expert. He has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and first-time authors actualize their dreams by joining them in their self-publishing journeys through his courses, coaching, and done-for-you services.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Vikrant Shaurya, CEO and Founder of Bestsellingbook.com. Prior to the interview, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update with crappy audio from a Vegas hotel room and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation Mark and Vikrant talk about: The story of how Vikrant got started in writing Spending more time in the college library than in classe Starting a company, making a number of mistakes, and being left with no money and being forced to shut down the business Discovering self-publishing and working hard to write and go through the publishing process Creating a "done for you" publishing company to help entrepreneurs and speakers Who Vikrant's ideal client is and the detailed customized process of ensuring their book is written using their insights/knowledge/experience in their unique voice The packages and costs of making the book a bestseller on Amazon The process of the angel writers who work closely with clients Going through the book chapter by chapter with the client with unlimited revisions Potential opportunities for writers to work for Bestselling Book as angel writers And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the various needs and pathways for different types of writers and where a service like Bestsellingbook.com might fit in to that. Links of Interest: BestsellingBook.com Findaway Voices 20BooksVegas SelfPubCon 2021: The Writing Craft Conference (ALLI) - The Craft of Writing Short Books The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Vikrant Shaurya is the CEO & Founder of BestsellingBook.com, #1 Bestselling Author, sought-after Book Launch Manager, and an internationally recognized Digital Publishing Expert. He has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and first-time authors actualize their dreams by joining them in their self-publishing journeys through his courses, coaching, and done-for-you services.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 219 - Learning Through Failure & Hidden Variables with Chris Racknor Learning Through Failure & Hidden Variables with Chris Racknor Fri, 05 Nov 2021 01:39:43 +0000 Mark interviews Chris Racknor about his Shawn Ronin mystery series, about science fiction and about his experiences in both traditional and indie publishing.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation Mark and Chris talk about:

  • The report card snapshot from the first grade indicating Chris had an affinity for writing
  • The serialized blog stories on Chris's blog early on in the advent of digital reading
  • The 2004 goal Chris set related to writing a novel, and how that came to pass in 2020
  • Heading into the science discipline and wondering if it was for the science or for making the science-fiction more believable
  • How Chris's mother, concerned that he was reading too many comic books, handed him a copy of a Robert B. Parker novel
  • How science-fiction is about asking questions, while mysteries are about searching for answers
  • Chris's experience of working with a publisher and coming to realize the sub-par work they had done on his novel
  • The podcasts that Chris regularly listens to related to the business of self-publishing
  • Preparing and launching the first three books in his mystery series via the indie route
  • A bit of a background on the series and the main character
  • Some of the personal situations from Chris's own life that have factored into the novels
  • Strategies for launching three books at once, such as immediately making the first book in that series free
  • Advice that Chris would give to his younger self
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on Chris's determination to not give up despite the challenges he faced with his first book, but instead, to take a different approach.

He also talks about the importance of asking and how you miss 100% of the shots you never take.

Links of Interest:

 

Chris Racknor has a Ph.D. in physics and lives in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. He has been an astronomy teacher, physicist, motorcycle owner, competitive strongman, varsity rugby player, and stay-at-home dad. He is a family man, Data Scientist, sci-fi nerd, professional kilt-wearing tree thrower, Transformers toy collector, and sumo wrestling aficionado with plenty more stories to tell.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Chris Racknor about his Shawn Ronin mystery series, about science fiction and about his experiences in both traditional and indie publishing.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation Mark and Chris talk about:

  • The report card snapshot from the first grade indicating Chris had an affinity for writing
  • The serialized blog stories on Chris's blog early on in the advent of digital reading
  • The 2004 goal Chris set related to writing a novel, and how that came to pass in 2020
  • Heading into the science discipline and wondering if it was for the science or for making the science-fiction more believable
  • How Chris's mother, concerned that he was reading too many comic books, handed him a copy of a Robert B. Parker novel
  • How science-fiction is about asking questions, while mysteries are about searching for answers
  • Chris's experience of working with a publisher and coming to realize the sub-par work they had done on his novel
  • The podcasts that Chris regularly listens to related to the business of self-publishing
  • Preparing and launching the first three books in his mystery series via the indie route
  • A bit of a background on the series and the main character
  • Some of the personal situations from Chris's own life that have factored into the novels
  • Strategies for launching three books at once, such as immediately making the first book in that series free
  • Advice that Chris would give to his younger self
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on Chris's determination to not give up despite the challenges he faced with his first book, but instead, to take a different approach.

He also talks about the importance of asking and how you miss 100% of the shots you never take.

Links of Interest:

Chris Racknor has a Ph.D. in physics and lives in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. He has been an astronomy teacher, physicist, motorcycle owner, competitive strongman, varsity rugby player, and stay-at-home dad. He is a family man, Data Scientist, sci-fi nerd, professional kilt-wearing tree thrower, Transformers toy collector, and sumo wrestling aficionado with plenty more stories to tell.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 49:50 false 4 219 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Chris Racknor about his Shawn Ronin mystery series, about science fiction and about his experiences in both traditional and indie publishing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation Mark and Chris talk about: The report card snapshot from the first grade indicating Chris had an affinity for writing The serialized blog stories on Chris's blog early on in the advent of digital reading The 2004 goal Chris set related to writing a novel, and how that came to pass in 2020 Heading into the science discipline and wondering if it was for the science or for making the science-fiction more believable How Chris's mother, concerned that he was reading too many comic books, handed him a copy of a Robert B. Parker novel How science-fiction is about asking questions, while mysteries are about searching for answers Chris's experience of working with a publisher and coming to realize the sub-par work they had done on his novel The podcasts that Chris regularly listens to related to the business of self-publishing Preparing and launching the first three books in his mystery series via the indie route A bit of a background on the series and the main character Some of the personal situations from Chris's own life that have factored into the novels Strategies for launching three books at once, such as immediately making the first book in that series free Advice that Chris would give to his younger self And more... After the interview Mark reflects on Chris's determination to not give up despite the challenges he faced with his first book, but instead, to take a different approach. He also talks about the importance of asking and how you miss 100% of the shots you never take. Links of Interest: Chris Racknor's Website Findaway Voices Universal Book Links Now Include Print (Announcement) Haunted Hospitals The Relaxed Author SelfPubCon 2021: The Writing Craft Conference (ALLI) - The Craft of Writing Short Books The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Chris Racknor has a Ph.D. in physics and lives in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. He has been an astronomy teacher, physicist, motorcycle owner, competitive strongman, varsity rugby player, and stay-at-home dad. He is a family man, Data Scientist, sci-fi nerd, professional kilt-wearing tree thrower, Transformers toy collector, and sumo wrestling aficionado with plenty more stories to tell.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Chris Racknor about his Shawn Ronin mystery series, about science fiction and about his experiences in both traditional and indie publishing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation Mark and Chris talk about: The report card snapshot from the first grade indicating Chris had an affinity for writing The serialized blog stories on Chris's blog early on in the advent of digital reading The 2004 goal Chris set related to writing a novel, and how that came to pass in 2020 Heading into the science discipline and wondering if it was for the science or for making the science-fiction more believable How Chris's mother, concerned that he was reading too many comic books, handed him a copy of a Robert B. Parker novel How science-fiction is about asking questions, while mysteries are about searching for answers Chris's experience of working with a publisher and coming to realize the sub-par work they had done on his novel The podcasts that Chris regularly listens to related to the business of self-publishing Preparing and launching the first three books in his mystery series via the indie route A bit of a background on the series and the main character Some of the personal situations from Chris's own life that have factored into the novels Strategies for launching three books at once, such as immediately making the first book in that series free Advice that Chris would give to his younger self And more... After the interview Mark reflects on Chris's determination to not give up despite the challenges he faced with his first book, but instead, to take a different approach. He also talks about the importance of asking and how you miss 100% of the shots you never take. Links of Interest: Chris Racknor's Website Findaway Voices Universal Book Links Now Include Print (Announcement) Haunted Hospitals The Relaxed Author SelfPubCon 2021: The Writing Craft Conference (ALLI) - The Craft of Writing Short Books The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Chris Racknor has a Ph.D. in physics and lives in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. He has been an astronomy teacher, physicist, motorcycle owner, competitive strongman, varsity rugby player, and stay-at-home dad. He is a family man, Data Scientist, sci-fi nerd, professional kilt-wearing tree thrower, Transformers toy collector, and sumo wrestling aficionado with plenty more stories to tell.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 218 - John Gaspard on Business, Magic, and Writing John Gaspard on Business, Magic, and Writing Fri, 29 Oct 2021 16:21:49 +0000 Mark interviews John Gaspard about his mystery novels, his decision to move from traditional publishing to indie publishing, and other behind the scenes business decisions about his life in writing.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation Mark and John talk about:

  • John's journey to traditional publishing and the process of getting his rights back and checking out indie publishing
  • Working with an agent
  • Some of the research John has done to find a publisher
  • What a "right of first refusal" clause in a contract is
  • Offering his publisher money to get out of the contract he was in
  • The writing John was doing as full time work that was NOT writing novels
  • Writing a mystery in novel form compared to writing it for the screen
  • John's early introduction to film making that led to film-making projects through high school
  • The two $30K feature films John worked on in the late 80s
  • The combo book/behind-the-curtains podcast John has created and the plan behind wanting to launch it
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the business decision and investment John made in himself.

 

Links of Interest:

 

John Gaspard is the author of the Eli Marks mystery series as well as four other stand-alone novels, "The Greyhound of the Baskervilles," "A Christmas Carl," "The Sword & Mr. Stone," and "The Ripperologists."

He also writes the Como Lake Players mystery series, under the pen name Bobbie Raymond.

In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less – that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, they've made more than the films.

John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several dogs, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.


The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews John Gaspard about his mystery novels, his decision to move from traditional publishing to indie publishing, and other behind the scenes business decisions about his life in writing.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation Mark and John talk about:

  • John's journey to traditional publishing and the process of getting his rights back and checking out indie publishing
  • Working with an agent
  • Some of the research John has done to find a publisher
  • What a "right of first refusal" clause in a contract is
  • Offering his publisher money to get out of the contract he was in
  • The writing John was doing as full time work that was NOT writing novels
  • Writing a mystery in novel form compared to writing it for the screen
  • John's early introduction to film making that led to film-making projects through high school
  • The two $30K feature films John worked on in the late 80s
  • The combo book/behind-the-curtains podcast John has created and the plan behind wanting to launch it
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the business decision and investment John made in himself.

Links of Interest:

John Gaspard is the author of the Eli Marks mystery series as well as four other stand-alone novels, "The Greyhound of the Baskervilles," "A Christmas Carl," "The Sword & Mr. Stone," and "The Ripperologists."

He also writes the Como Lake Players mystery series, under the pen name Bobbie Raymond.

In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less – that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, they've made more than the films.

John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several dogs, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 53:53 false 4 218 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews John Gaspard about his mystery novels, his decision to move from traditional publishing to indie publishing, and other behind the scenes business decisions about his life in writing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation Mark and John talk about: John's journey to traditional publishing and the process of getting his rights back and checking out indie publishing Working with an agent Some of the research John has done to find a publisher What a "right of first refusal" clause in a contract is Offering his publisher money to get out of the contract he was in The writing John was doing as full time work that was NOT writing novels Writing a mystery in novel form compared to writing it for the screen John's early introduction to film making that led to film-making projects through high school The two $30K feature films John worked on in the late 80s The combo book/behind-the-curtains podcast John has created and the plan behind wanting to launch it And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the business decision and investment John made in himself.   Links of Interest: Eli Marks Website Eli Marks Podcast John's Books Film Books All of John's Books Findaway Voices Universal Book Links Now Include Print (Announcement) Haunted Hospitals The Relaxed Author SelfPubCon 2021: The Writing Craft Conference (ALLI) - The Craft of Writing Short Books The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   John Gaspard is the author of the Eli Marks mystery series as well as four other stand-alone novels, "The Greyhound of the Baskervilles," "A Christmas Carl," "The Sword & Mr. Stone," and "The Ripperologists." He also writes the Como Lake Players mystery series, under the pen name Bobbie Raymond. In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less – that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, they've made more than the films. John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several dogs, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews John Gaspard about his mystery novels, his decision to move from traditional publishing to indie publishing, and other behind the scenes business decisions about his life in writing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation Mark and John talk about: John's journey to traditional publishing and the process of getting his rights back and checking out indie publishing Working with an agent Some of the research John has done to find a publisher What a "right of first refusal" clause in a contract is Offering his publisher money to get out of the contract he was in The writing John was doing as full time work that was NOT writing novels Writing a mystery in novel form compared to writing it for the screen John's early introduction to film making that led to film-making projects through high school The two $30K feature films John worked on in the late 80s The combo book/behind-the-curtains podcast John has created and the plan behind wanting to launch it And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the business decision and investment John made in himself.   Links of Interest: Eli Marks Website Eli Marks Podcast John's Books Film Books All of John's Books Findaway Voices Universal Book Links Now Include Print (Announcement) Haunted Hospitals The Relaxed Author SelfPubCon 2021: The Writing Craft Conference (ALLI) - The Craft of Writing Short Books The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   John Gaspard is the author of the Eli Marks mystery series as well as four other stand-alone novels, "The Greyhound of the Baskervilles," "A Christmas Carl," "The Sword & Mr. Stone," and "The Ripperologists." He also writes the Como Lake Players mystery series, under the pen name Bobbie Raymond. In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less – that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, they've made more than the films. John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several dogs, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 217 - Dynamic Writer & Editor Partnerships with Sarah Kades & Adrienne Kerr Dynamic Writer & Editor Partnerships with Sarah Kades & Adrienne Kerr Wed, 27 Oct 2021 01:51:10 +0000 Mark has a conversation with Sarah Kades and Adrienne Kerr about how their relationship as a writing and editing team, about Sarah's recent release, Kiss Me in the Rain and about their pathways into the writing and publishing world.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor: Stark Publishing and his books for writers.

In their conversation, Mark, Sarah, and Adrienne talk about:

  • How Sarah got into writing and how Adrienne got into editing
  • The first book that Adrienne edited and the intriguing story behind it
  • Sarah's first experience with a nurturing editor and how that led to a positive experience ensuring she stuck with writing
  • The importance of having a solid connection and relationship with an editor who understands your goals
  • How Adrienne and Sarah first met and the huge faux pas Sarah made trying to connect with Adrienne
  • The airport pickup story and how Sarah and Adrienne bonded in the car on the way to the conference hotel
  • The way the two helped one another at mutually critical junctures in their lives
  • A bit about the novel Kiss Me in the Rain and the elements Sarah likes to include in her novels
  • How the setting in Kiss Me in the Rain is a character in the novel
  • Earning your right to criticize as an editor
  • Sarah's writer voice and confidence growing stronger by working with Adrienne
  • Keeping in mind a book in a series as a stand-alone story for readers of that book as well as the readers of the entire series
  • And more...

After the conversation Mark reflects on the importance of a solid writer/editor relationship as well as the value of being specific when offering both positive and negative feedback.

 

Sarah Kades writes action adventure thrillers with strong environmental themes as Sarah Kades and socially responsible narrative nonfiction as Sarah Graham. She is passionate about culture, landscapes, knowledge accessibility, the arts and Momma Earth. She loves writing books that remind us of the natural nature within each of us, a re-wilding to our true, authentic, best awesome self!

She has studied in the United States, Canada and Scotland, and for the last twenty years her day job has been as an archaeologist and Indigenous Knowledge studies and engagement facilitator. In 2020, she received her first literary arts grant and was a two-time Energy Futures Lab Banff Summit storyteller. When she is not writing you can find her running, bumping into her next adventure or trying to figure out where in the garden to put the makeshift wood fired pizza oven.

 

Adienne Kerr has more than twenty years of experience in book publishing, with expertise in retail, sales, acquisitions, and editing. As Senior Editor at Penguin Random House Canada from 2009 to 2015, she acquired and edited thirty national bestsellers and in 2011, The Canadian Booksellers Association named her Editor of the Year.

​Since 2016 as a freelance editor Adrienne has worked with publishers, literary agents, and private clients.
She speak at events such as the Surrey International Writers' Festival, Calgary's When Words Collide, and the Ontario Writers' Conference and lectures on publishing topics at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark has a conversation with Sarah Kades and Adrienne Kerr about how their relationship as a writing and editing team, about Sarah's recent release, Kiss Me in the Rain and about their pathways into the writing and publishing world.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor: Stark Publishing and his books for writers.

In their conversation, Mark, Sarah, and Adrienne talk about:

  • How Sarah got into writing and how Adrienne got into editing
  • The first book that Adrienne edited and the intriguing story behind it
  • Sarah's first experience with a nurturing editor and how that led to a positive experience ensuring she stuck with writing
  • The importance of having a solid connection and relationship with an editor who understands your goals
  • How Adrienne and Sarah first met and the huge faux pas Sarah made trying to connect with Adrienne
  • The airport pickup story and how Sarah and Adrienne bonded in the car on the way to the conference hotel
  • The way the two helped one another at mutually critical junctures in their lives
  • A bit about the novel Kiss Me in the Rain and the elements Sarah likes to include in her novels
  • How the setting in Kiss Me in the Rain is a character in the novel
  • Earning your right to criticize as an editor
  • Sarah's writer voice and confidence growing stronger by working with Adrienne
  • Keeping in mind a book in a series as a stand-alone story for readers of that book as well as the readers of the entire series
  • And more...

After the conversation Mark reflects on the importance of a solid writer/editor relationship as well as the value of being specific when offering both positive and negative feedback.

Sarah Kades writes action adventure thrillers with strong environmental themes as Sarah Kades and socially responsible narrative nonfiction as Sarah Graham. She is passionate about culture, landscapes, knowledge accessibility, the arts and Momma Earth. She loves writing books that remind us of the natural nature within each of us, a re-wilding to our true, authentic, best awesome self!

She has studied in the United States, Canada and Scotland, and for the last twenty years her day job has been as an archaeologist and Indigenous Knowledge studies and engagement facilitator. In 2020, she received her first literary arts grant and was a two-time Energy Futures Lab Banff Summit storyteller. When she is not writing you can find her running, bumping into her next adventure or trying to figure out where in the garden to put the makeshift wood fired pizza oven.

Adienne Kerr has more than twenty years of experience in book publishing, with expertise in retail, sales, acquisitions, and editing. As Senior Editor at Penguin Random House Canada from 2009 to 2015, she acquired and edited thirty national bestsellers and in 2011, The Canadian Booksellers Association named her Editor of the Year.

​Since 2016 as a freelance editor Adrienne has worked with publishers, literary agents, and private clients. She speak at events such as the Surrey International Writers' Festival, Calgary's When Words Collide, and the Ontario Writers' Conference and lectures on publishing topics at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 49:54 false 4 217 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark has a conversation with Sarah Kades and Adrienne Kerr about how their relationship as a writing and editing team, about Sarah's recent release, Kiss Me in the Rain and about their pathways into the writing and publishing world. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor: Stark Publishing and his books for writers. In their conversation, Mark, Sarah, and Adrienne talk about: How Sarah got into writing and how Adrienne got into editing The first book that Adrienne edited and the intriguing story behind it Sarah's first experience with a nurturing editor and how that led to a positive experience ensuring she stuck with writing The importance of having a solid connection and relationship with an editor who understands your goals How Adrienne and Sarah first met and the huge faux pas Sarah made trying to connect with Adrienne The airport pickup story and how Sarah and Adrienne bonded in the car on the way to the conference hotel The way the two helped one another at mutually critical junctures in their lives A bit about the novel Kiss Me in the Rain and the elements Sarah likes to include in her novels How the setting in Kiss Me in the Rain is a character in the novel Earning your right to criticize as an editor Sarah's writer voice and confidence growing stronger by working with Adrienne Keeping in mind a book in a series as a stand-alone story for readers of that book as well as the readers of the entire series And more... After the conversation Mark reflects on the importance of a solid writer/editor relationship as well as the value of being specific when offering both positive and negative feedback.   Sarah's Website Adrienne's Website Kiss Me in the Rain Mark's Books for Writers Findaway Voices SelfPubCon 2021: The Writing Craft Conference (ALLI) - The Craft of Writing Short Books The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Sarah Kades writes action adventure thrillers with strong environmental themes as Sarah Kades and socially responsible narrative nonfiction as Sarah Graham. She is passionate about culture, landscapes, knowledge accessibility, the arts and Momma Earth. She loves writing books that remind us of the natural nature within each of us, a re-wilding to our true, authentic, best awesome self! She has studied in the United States, Canada and Scotland, and for the last twenty years her day job has been as an archaeologist and Indigenous Knowledge studies and engagement facilitator. In 2020, she received her first literary arts grant and was a two-time Energy Futures Lab Banff Summit storyteller. When she is not writing you can find her running, bumping into her next adventure or trying to figure out where in the garden to put the makeshift wood fired pizza oven.   Adienne Kerr has more than twenty years of experience in book publishing, with expertise in retail, sales, acquisitions, and editing. As Senior Editor at Penguin Random House Canada from 2009 to 2015, she acquired and edited thirty national bestsellers and in 2011, The Canadian Booksellers Association named her Editor of the Year. ​Since 2016 as a freelance editor Adrienne has worked with publishers, literary agents, and private clients. She speak at events such as the Surrey International Writers' Festival, Calgary's When Words Collide, and the Ontario Writers' Conference and lectures on publishing topics at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark has a conversation with Sarah Kades and Adrienne Kerr about how their relationship as a writing and editing team, about Sarah's recent release, Kiss Me in the Rain and about their pathways into the writing and publishing world. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor: Stark Publishing and his books for writers. In their conversation, Mark, Sarah, and Adrienne talk about: How Sarah got into writing and how Adrienne got into editing The first book that Adrienne edited and the intriguing story behind it Sarah's first experience with a nurturing editor and how that led to a positive experience ensuring she stuck with writing The importance of having a solid connection and relationship with an editor who understands your goals How Adrienne and Sarah first met and the huge faux pas Sarah made trying to connect with Adrienne The airport pickup story and how Sarah and Adrienne bonded in the car on the way to the conference hotel The way the two helped one another at mutually critical junctures in their lives A bit about the novel Kiss Me in the Rain and the elements Sarah likes to include in her novels How the setting in Kiss Me in the Rain is a character in the novel Earning your right to criticize as an editor Sarah's writer voice and confidence growing stronger by working with Adrienne Keeping in mind a book in a series as a stand-alone story for readers of that book as well as the readers of the entire series And more... After the conversation Mark reflects on the importance of a solid writer/editor relationship as well as the value of being specific when offering both positive and negative feedback.   Sarah's Website Adrienne's Website Kiss Me in the Rain Mark's Books for Writers Findaway Voices SelfPubCon 2021: The Writing Craft Conference (ALLI) - The Craft of Writing Short Books The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Sarah Kades writes action adventure thrillers with strong environmental themes as Sarah Kades and socially responsible narrative nonfiction as Sarah Graham. She is passionate about culture, landscapes, knowledge accessibility, the arts and Momma Earth. She loves writing books that remind us of the natural nature within each of us, a re-wilding to our true, authentic, best awesome self! She has studied in the United States, Canada and Scotland, and for the last twenty years her day job has been as an archaeologist and Indigenous Knowledge studies and engagement facilitator. In 2020, she received her first literary arts grant and was a two-time Energy Futures Lab Banff Summit storyteller. When she is not writing you can find her running, bumping into her next adventure or trying to figure out where in the garden to put the makeshift wood fired pizza oven.   Adienne Kerr has more than twenty years of experience in book publishing, with expertise in retail, sales, acquisitions, and editing. As Senior Editor at Penguin Random House Canada from 2009 to 2015, she acquired and edited thirty national bestsellers and in 2011, The Canadian Booksellers Association named her Editor of the Year. ​Since 2016 as a freelance editor Adrienne has worked with publishers, literary agents, and private clients. She speak at events such as the Surrey International Writers' Festival, Calgary's When Words Collide, and the Ontario Writers' Conference and lectures on publishing topics at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP216 - Podcasting for Authors with Matty Dalrymple Podcasting for Authors with Matty Dalrymple Thu, 21 Oct 2021 22:06:58 +0000 Mark interviews Matty Dalrymple about her new book THE INDY AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation Mark and Matty talk about:

  • Matty's celebration of the 100th episode of her podcast and the ongoing celebratory series of 7 episodes featuring Orna Ross
  • The workshop that Matty and Mark collaborated on for the 2021 Alliance of Independent Authors Self Publishing Conference talking about the craft of writing short fiction
  • The drabble writing assignment that Matty and Mark offer as part of their workshop. (A drabble is a short story that is exactly 100 words)
  • Matty's new book The Indy Author's Guide to Podcasting for Authors that includes podcasting itself as well as being a good podcast guest
  • The downloadable Captain's Log resource that Matty has made available
  • Matty turns the table and asked Mark why he started the Stark Reflections Podcast
  • Matty's thoughts on whether or not a podcast is going to help an author sell books, as well as her own experience as both a podcast host and a podcast guest
  • The concept of how a podcast guest might be temporarily bringing their own fans as listeners to someone else's podcast
  • Leveraging a podcast as a way to connect with people that you're interested in connecting with and learning from
  • Some of the technology, software, and assets required to record, produce, and distribute a podcast
  • The amount of time that it takes Matty per week for her podcast
  • Struggling with transcription and using Descript for that
  • How the transcript for a podcast episode serves a particular portion of the audience
  • Use of feature affiliates, Patreon and "Buy me a Coffee" for The Indy Author podcast
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on consistency in author branding, intrinsic motivation, and thinking long term.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, and speaks on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She is the host of THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST and the author of THE INDY AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS. She is also the co-author, along with Mark Leslie Lefebvre, of TAKING THE SHORT TACK: CREATING INCOME AND CONNECTING WITH READERS USING SHORT FICTION. Matty is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. You can connect with The Indy Author via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
​
Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers ROCK PAPER SCISSORS, SNAKES AND LADDERS, and THE IRON RING; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels THE SENSE OF DEATH, THE SENSE OF RECKONING, THE FALCON AND THE OWL, and ​A FURNACE FOR YOUR FOE; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including CLOSE THESE EYES and WRITE IN WATER. Matty is a member of Sisters in Crime and the Brandywine Valley Writers Group. You can connect with Matty via Facebook and Twitter.

​Matty lives with her husband and three dogs in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Matty Dalrymple about her new book THE INDY AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation Mark and Matty talk about:

  • Matty's celebration of the 100th episode of her podcast and the ongoing celebratory series of 7 episodes featuring Orna Ross
  • The workshop that Matty and Mark collaborated on for the 2021 Alliance of Independent Authors Self Publishing Conference talking about the craft of writing short fiction
  • The drabble writing assignment that Matty and Mark offer as part of their workshop. (A drabble is a short story that is exactly 100 words)
  • Matty's new book The Indy Author's Guide to Podcasting for Authors that includes podcasting itself as well as being a good podcast guest
  • The downloadable Captain's Log resource that Matty has made available
  • Matty turns the table and asked Mark why he started the Stark Reflections Podcast
  • Matty's thoughts on whether or not a podcast is going to help an author sell books, as well as her own experience as both a podcast host and a podcast guest
  • The concept of how a podcast guest might be temporarily bringing their own fans as listeners to someone else's podcast
  • Leveraging a podcast as a way to connect with people that you're interested in connecting with and learning from
  • Some of the technology, software, and assets required to record, produce, and distribute a podcast
  • The amount of time that it takes Matty per week for her podcast
  • Struggling with transcription and using Descript for that
  • How the transcript for a podcast episode serves a particular portion of the audience
  • Use of feature affiliates, Patreon and "Buy me a Coffee" for The Indy Author podcast
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on consistency in author branding, intrinsic motivation, and thinking long term.

Links of Interest:

Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, and speaks on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She is the host of THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST and the author of THE INDY AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS. She is also the co-author, along with Mark Leslie Lefebvre, of TAKING THE SHORT TACK: CREATING INCOME AND CONNECTING WITH READERS USING SHORT FICTION. Matty is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. You can connect with The Indy Author via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. ​ Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers ROCK PAPER SCISSORS, SNAKES AND LADDERS, and THE IRON RING; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels THE SENSE OF DEATH, THE SENSE OF RECKONING, THE FALCON AND THE OWL, and ​A FURNACE FOR YOUR FOE; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including CLOSE THESE EYES and WRITE IN WATER. Matty is a member of Sisters in Crime and the Brandywine Valley Writers Group. You can connect with Matty via Facebook and Twitter.

​Matty lives with her husband and three dogs in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 45:24 false 4 216 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Matty Dalrymple about her new book THE INDY AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation Mark and Matty talk about: Matty's celebration of the 100th episode of her podcast and the ongoing celebratory series of 7 episodes featuring Orna Ross The workshop that Matty and Mark collaborated on for the 2021 Alliance of Independent Authors Self Publishing Conference talking about the craft of writing short fiction The drabble writing assignment that Matty and Mark offer as part of their workshop. (A drabble is a short story that is exactly 100 words) Matty's new book The Indy Author's Guide to Podcasting for Authors that includes podcasting itself as well as being a good podcast guest The downloadable Captain's Log resource that Matty has made available Matty turns the table and asked Mark why he started the Stark Reflections Podcast Matty's thoughts on whether or not a podcast is going to help an author sell books, as well as her own experience as both a podcast host and a podcast guest The concept of how a podcast guest might be temporarily bringing their own fans as listeners to someone else's podcast Leveraging a podcast as a way to connect with people that you're interested in connecting with and learning from Some of the technology, software, and assets required to record, produce, and distribute a podcast The amount of time that it takes Matty per week for her podcast Struggling with transcription and using Descript for that How the transcript for a podcast episode serves a particular portion of the audience Use of feature affiliates, Patreon and "Buy me a Coffee" for The Indy Author podcast And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on consistency in author branding, intrinsic motivation, and thinking long term.   Links of Interest: Matty's Websites: The Indy Author Episode 098 - Redefining Indy Success through Short Fiction with Ran Walker Matty Dalrymple Findaway Voices SelfPubCon 2021: The Writing Craft Conference (ALLI) - The Craft of Writing Short Books The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, and speaks on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She is the host of THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST and the author of THE INDY AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS. She is also the co-author, along with Mark Leslie Lefebvre, of TAKING THE SHORT TACK: CREATING INCOME AND CONNECTING WITH READERS USING SHORT FICTION. Matty is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. You can connect with The Indy Author via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. ​ Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers ROCK PAPER SCISSORS, SNAKES AND LADDERS, and THE IRON RING; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels THE SENSE OF DEATH, THE SENSE OF RECKONING, THE FALCON AND THE OWL, and ​A FURNACE FOR YOUR FOE; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including CLOSE THESE EYES and WRITE IN WATER. Matty is a member of Sisters in Crime and the Brandywine Valley Writers Group. You can connect with Matty via Facebook and Twitter. ​Matty lives with her husband and three dogs in Chester County, Pennsylvania.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Matty Dalrymple about her new book THE INDY AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation Mark and Matty talk about: Matty's celebration of the 100th episode of her podcast and the ongoing celebratory series of 7 episodes featuring Orna Ross The workshop that Matty and Mark collaborated on for the 2021 Alliance of Independent Authors Self Publishing Conference talking about the craft of writing short fiction The drabble writing assignment that Matty and Mark offer as part of their workshop. (A drabble is a short story that is exactly 100 words) Matty's new book The Indy Author's Guide to Podcasting for Authors that includes podcasting itself as well as being a good podcast guest The downloadable Captain's Log resource that Matty has made available Matty turns the table and asked Mark why he started the Stark Reflections Podcast Matty's thoughts on whether or not a podcast is going to help an author sell books, as well as her own experience as both a podcast host and a podcast guest The concept of how a podcast guest might be temporarily bringing their own fans as listeners to someone else's podcast Leveraging a podcast as a way to connect with people that you're interested in connecting with and learning from Some of the technology, software, and assets required to record, produce, and distribute a podcast The amount of time that it takes Matty per week for her podcast Struggling with transcription and using Descript for that How the transcript for a podcast episode serves a particular portion of the audience Use of feature affiliates, Patreon and "Buy me a Coffee" for The Indy Author podcast And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on consistency in author branding, intrinsic motivation, and thinking long term.   Links of Interest: Matty's Websites: The Indy Author Episode 098 - Redefining Indy Success through Short Fiction with Ran Walker Matty Dalrymple Findaway Voices SelfPubCon 2021: The Writing Craft Conference (ALLI) - The Craft of Writing Short Books The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, and speaks on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She is the host of THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST and the author of THE INDY AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS. She is also the co-author, along with Mark Leslie Lefebvre, of TAKING THE SHORT TACK: CREATING INCOME AND CONNECTING WITH READERS USING SHORT FICTION. Matty is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. You can connect with The Indy Author via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. ​ Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers ROCK PAPER SCISSORS, SNAKES AND LADDERS, and THE IRON RING; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels THE SENSE OF DEATH, THE SENSE OF RECKONING, THE FALCON AND THE OWL, and ​A FURNACE FOR YOUR FOE; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including CLOSE THESE EYES and WRITE IN WATER. Matty is a member of Sisters in Crime and the Brandywine Valley Writers Group. You can connect with Matty via Facebook and Twitter. ​Matty lives with her husband and three dogs in Chester County, Pennsylvania.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 215 - The Fusion of Horror, Culture, and Entertainment with Patricio X. Maya The Fusion of Horror, Culture, and Entertainment with Patricio X. Maya Fri, 15 Oct 2021 00:33:20 +0000 Mark interviews Patricio X. Maya, who writes in both English and Spanish. They talk about his writing, his essays, his first novel, Reggaetón Cruise, which has been called "a techno-beat The Great Gatsby" about cultural exile, multiculturalism, and so much more.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, thanks Patreon supporters and shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

  • - What drew Patricia to writing in the first place, and those early teenage poems written in Spanish
  • Being inspired by Columbian writer Gabriel García Márquez
  • Patricio's move to the United States when he was 13 and his introduction to the English world
  • Writing prose in English and poetry in Spanish
  • Patricios's first book, a collection of essays and philosophies
  • The theme of cultural exile in Patricio's second book
  • Cherished early memories and defining half of his life from the age of 13
  • The origin of the poem "80 Miles Per Hour"
  • The stylized American circus that's a part of Patricio's novel
  • The Reggaetón Cruise and how it explores the contemporary moment of American culture where horror and entertainment marry and fuse
  • Patricio's publishing partnership with Grady Miller Books that allows mutual growth together
  • The media manager that Patricio works with for promotional appearances
  • Thoughts about multiculturalism and super-multiculturalism in the US, Canada, the UK and other places
  • What is the cost of becoming cosmopolitan?
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things the conversation made him think about.

Links of Interest:

 

Patricio X. Maya was born in Quito, Ecuador, and moved to California at age 12. He writes in English and Spanish. His first book, Walking Around with Fante and Bukowski, is made up of 21 essays grouped into sections about art, politics, and autobiography. His second book, 80 MPH, is a collection of eighty powerful poems written in Spanish.

His first novel, Reggaetón Cruise, has been called "a techno-beat The Great Gatsby." Some of the novel's themes are globalization, viral fame, and hyper-reality. The narrative plot is complex and the characters from all over the world. Though the novel touches upon immigration, terrorism, exile, and murder, parts of it are humorous, while others have been called thought-provoking, and even unnerving.

Too Much Sweetie, his second novel, is about René, a young Ecuadoran artist trapped between a moneyed upbringing and his current down-and-out North American reality. René's tense world view collapses when he falls for Meaw-Meaw, an ambitious Thai masseuse who loves him for all that he wants to leave behind. Too Much Sweetie, that strangest of things -a sensual novel of ideas- is set to be published later this year under the Hollywood publisher Grady Miller Books, which has also published the writer's previous books.

Along Miller, Maya has gathered the collected poems of Aldo Tambellini for publication. He has also acted as editor-in-chief of 80 MPH Anthology, which showcases the work of various Hispanic and American writers. Maya holds an M.A. in Arts Journalism from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and a B.A. in English from CSULA. He has been a Visiting Scholar at the CalArts' Aesthetics and Politics program and a poetry lecturer at the Los Angeles Public Library Summer Lecture Series.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Patricio X. Maya, who writes in both English and Spanish. They talk about his writing, his essays, his first novel, Reggaetón Cruise, which has been called "a techno-beat The Great Gatsby" about cultural exile, multiculturalism, and so much more.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, thanks Patreon supporters and shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

  • - What drew Patricia to writing in the first place, and those early teenage poems written in Spanish
  • Being inspired by Columbian writer Gabriel García Márquez
  • Patricio's move to the United States when he was 13 and his introduction to the English world
  • Writing prose in English and poetry in Spanish
  • Patricios's first book, a collection of essays and philosophies
  • The theme of cultural exile in Patricio's second book
  • Cherished early memories and defining half of his life from the age of 13
  • The origin of the poem "80 Miles Per Hour"
  • The stylized American circus that's a part of Patricio's novel
  • The Reggaetón Cruise and how it explores the contemporary moment of American culture where horror and entertainment marry and fuse
  • Patricio's publishing partnership with Grady Miller Books that allows mutual growth together
  • The media manager that Patricio works with for promotional appearances
  • Thoughts about multiculturalism and super-multiculturalism in the US, Canada, the UK and other places
  • What is the cost of becoming cosmopolitan?
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things the conversation made him think about.

Links of Interest:

Patricio X. Maya was born in Quito, Ecuador, and moved to California at age 12. He writes in English and Spanish. His first book, Walking Around with Fante and Bukowski, is made up of 21 essays grouped into sections about art, politics, and autobiography. His second book, 80 MPH, is a collection of eighty powerful poems written in Spanish.

His first novel, Reggaetón Cruise, has been called "a techno-beat The Great Gatsby." Some of the novel's themes are globalization, viral fame, and hyper-reality. The narrative plot is complex and the characters from all over the world. Though the novel touches upon immigration, terrorism, exile, and murder, parts of it are humorous, while others have been called thought-provoking, and even unnerving.

Too Much Sweetie, his second novel, is about René, a young Ecuadoran artist trapped between a moneyed upbringing and his current down-and-out North American reality. René's tense world view collapses when he falls for Meaw-Meaw, an ambitious Thai masseuse who loves him for all that he wants to leave behind. Too Much Sweetie, that strangest of things -a sensual novel of ideas- is set to be published later this year under the Hollywood publisher Grady Miller Books, which has also published the writer's previous books.

Along Miller, Maya has gathered the collected poems of Aldo Tambellini for publication. He has also acted as editor-in-chief of 80 MPH Anthology, which showcases the work of various Hispanic and American writers. Maya holds an M.A. in Arts Journalism from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and a B.A. in English from CSULA. He has been a Visiting Scholar at the CalArts' Aesthetics and Politics program and a poetry lecturer at the Los Angeles Public Library Summer Lecture Series.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 48:49 false 4 215 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Patricio X. Maya, who writes in both English and Spanish. They talk about his writing, his essays, his first novel, Reggaetón Cruise, which has been called "a techno-beat The Great Gatsby" about cultural exile, multiculturalism, and so much more. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, thanks Patreon supporters and shares a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. - What drew Patricia to writing in the first place, and those early teenage poems written in Spanish Being inspired by Columbian writer Gabriel García Márquez Patricio's move to the United States when he was 13 and his introduction to the English world Writing prose in English and poetry in Spanish Patricios's first book, a collection of essays and philosophies The theme of cultural exile in Patricio's second book Cherished early memories and defining half of his life from the age of 13 The origin of the poem "80 Miles Per Hour" The stylized American circus that's a part of Patricio's novel The Reggaetón Cruise and how it explores the contemporary moment of American culture where horror and entertainment marry and fuse Patricio's publishing partnership with Grady Miller Books that allows mutual growth together The media manager that Patricio works with for promotional appearances Thoughts about multiculturalism and super-multiculturalism in the US, Canada, the UK and other places What is the cost of becoming cosmopolitan? And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few things the conversation made him think about. Links of Interest: The Reggaetón Cruise Findaway Voices Announcing Marketplace Self-Publishing Insiders Chat with Will Dages (YouTube) The 2nd Annual Online Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writers Conference (Oct 16, 2021) Business Bootcamp for Authors - Paths to Publication: Alternatives to Traditional Publishing (Panel) - (Oct 19, 2021) SelfPubCon: The Writing Craft Conference (ALLI) - The Craft of Writing Short Books The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Patricio X. Maya was born in Quito, Ecuador, and moved to California at age 12. He writes in English and Spanish. His first book, Walking Around with Fante and Bukowski, is made up of 21 essays grouped into sections about art, politics, and autobiography. His second book, 80 MPH, is a collection of eighty powerful poems written in Spanish. His first novel, Reggaetón Cruise, has been called "a techno-beat The Great Gatsby." Some of the novel's themes are globalization, viral fame, and hyper-reality. The narrative plot is complex and the characters from all over the world. Though the novel touches upon immigration, terrorism, exile, and murder, parts of it are humorous, while others have been called thought-provoking, and even unnerving. Too Much Sweetie, his second novel, is about René, a young Ecuadoran artist trapped between a moneyed upbringing and his current down-and-out North American reality. René's tense world view collapses when he falls for Meaw-Meaw, an ambitious Thai masseuse who loves him for all that he wants to leave behind. Too Much Sweetie, that strangest of things -a sensual novel of ideas- is set to be published later this year under the Hollywood publisher Grady Miller Books, which has also published the writer's previous books. Along Miller, Maya has gathered the collected poems of Aldo Tambellini for publication. He has also acted as editor-in-chief of 80 MPH Anthology, which showcases the work of various Hispanic and American writers. Maya holds an M.A. in Arts Journalism from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and a B.A. in English from CSULA. He has been a Visiting Scholar at the CalArts' Aesthetics and Politics program and a poetry lecturer at the Los Angeles Public Library Summer Lecture Series.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Patricio X. Maya, who writes in both English and Spanish. They talk about his writing, his essays, his first novel, Reggaetón Cruise, which has been called "a techno-beat The Great Gatsby" about cultural exile, multiculturalism, and so much more. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, thanks Patreon supporters and shares a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. - What drew Patricia to writing in the first place, and those early teenage poems written in Spanish Being inspired by Columbian writer Gabriel García Márquez Patricio's move to the United States when he was 13 and his introduction to the English world Writing prose in English and poetry in Spanish Patricios's first book, a collection of essays and philosophies The theme of cultural exile in Patricio's second book Cherished early memories and defining half of his life from the age of 13 The origin of the poem "80 Miles Per Hour" The stylized American circus that's a part of Patricio's novel The Reggaetón Cruise and how it explores the contemporary moment of American culture where horror and entertainment marry and fuse Patricio's publishing partnership with Grady Miller Books that allows mutual growth together The media manager that Patricio works with for promotional appearances Thoughts about multiculturalism and super-multiculturalism in the US, Canada, the UK and other places What is the cost of becoming cosmopolitan? And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few things the conversation made him think about. Links of Interest: The Reggaetón Cruise Findaway Voices Announcing Marketplace Self-Publishing Insiders Chat with Will Dages (YouTube) The 2nd Annual Online Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writers Conference (Oct 16, 2021) Business Bootcamp for Authors - Paths to Publication: Alternatives to Traditional Publishing (Panel) - (Oct 19, 2021) SelfPubCon: The Writing Craft Conference (ALLI) - The Craft of Writing Short Books The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Patricio X. Maya was born in Quito, Ecuador, and moved to California at age 12. He writes in English and Spanish. His first book, Walking Around with Fante and Bukowski, is made up of 21 essays grouped into sections about art, politics, and autobiography. His second book, 80 MPH, is a collection of eighty powerful poems written in Spanish. His first novel, Reggaetón Cruise, has been called "a techno-beat The Great Gatsby." Some of the novel's themes are globalization, viral fame, and hyper-reality. The narrative plot is complex and the characters from all over the world. Though the novel touches upon immigration, terrorism, exile, and murder, parts of it are humorous, while others have been called thought-provoking, and even unnerving. Too Much Sweetie, his second novel, is about René, a young Ecuadoran artist trapped between a moneyed upbringing and his current down-and-out North American reality. René's tense world view collapses when he falls for Meaw-Meaw, an ambitious Thai masseuse who loves him for all that he wants to leave behind. Too Much Sweetie, that strangest of things -a sensual novel of ideas- is set to be published later this year under the Hollywood publisher Grady Miller Books, which has also published the writer's previous books. Along Miller, Maya has gathered the collected poems of Aldo Tambellini for publication. He has also acted as editor-in-chief of 80 MPH Anthology, which showcases the work of various Hispanic and American writers. Maya holds an M.A. in Arts Journalism from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and a B.A. in English from CSULA. He has been a Visiting Scholar at the CalArts' Aesthetics and Politics program and a poetry lecturer at the Los Angeles Public Library Summer Lecture Series.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 214 - Collaborations in Space with Carol Van Natta Collaborations in Space with Carol Van Natta Fri, 08 Oct 2021 20:58:30 +0000 Mark interviews Carol Van Natta about the collaborative author PETS IN SPACE series.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, recent comments, and shares an audio clip of Will Dages from Findaway Voices, this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Carol discuss:

  • How, back in high school, Carol and a bunch of her friends wrote a great deal of fan fiction
  • Pitching her first co-written book to publishers, and then experimenting with KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)
  • The different series novels that Carol has written and released
  • The origin of the Pets in Space anthology series and the charity it raises funds for
  • "Pigs in Space" from the Muppet Show and how the anthology is meant to be a fun one that doesn't take itself too seriously
  • Each release of the anthology being limited so that the rights can go back to all the individual authors
  • Carol being in numerous editions, then becoming the editor of Pets in Space 6
  • The curation involved in creating the anthology
  • Cross promotion opportunities for the 11 authors involved in this project
  • How the giant anthology (Approximately 400,000 words) is only produced in eBook and not print (mostly for logistical reasons)
  • The pros and cons of the anthology only being available for a limited time
  • Writing with music, and the "Pets in Space" playlist
  • Susan Smith's song that she wrote and produced
  • How writers interested in being considered for this anthology series can reach out to Carol
  • The fact that other writers are not competition for one another
  • Advice Carol would give her younger self: Outlining is a good thing
  • And more...

 

After the interview, Mark reflects on how easy misunderstandings can happen over different groups in the author and publishing communities using words to mean different products (such as "anthology") and the power of author collaborations.

Links of Interest:

 

Carol Van Natta is a USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning science fiction and fantasy author. Series include the Central Galactic Concordance space opera series that starts with Last Ship Off Polaris-G, Overload Flux, and Minder Rising, and the Ice Age Shifters® paranormal romance series that starts with Shifter Mate Magic and Shift of Destiny. She is also the editor of the Pets in Space 6 science fiction romance anthology. She shares her Fort Collins, CO home with just the right number of mad-scientist cat

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Carol Van Natta about the collaborative author PETS IN SPACE series.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, recent comments, and shares an audio clip of Will Dages from Findaway Voices, this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Carol discuss:

  • How, back in high school, Carol and a bunch of her friends wrote a great deal of fan fiction
  • Pitching her first co-written book to publishers, and then experimenting with KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)
  • The different series novels that Carol has written and released
  • The origin of the Pets in Space anthology series and the charity it raises funds for
  • "Pigs in Space" from the Muppet Show and how the anthology is meant to be a fun one that doesn't take itself too seriously
  • Each release of the anthology being limited so that the rights can go back to all the individual authors
  • Carol being in numerous editions, then becoming the editor of Pets in Space 6
  • The curation involved in creating the anthology
  • Cross promotion opportunities for the 11 authors involved in this project
  • How the giant anthology (Approximately 400,000 words) is only produced in eBook and not print (mostly for logistical reasons)
  • The pros and cons of the anthology only being available for a limited time
  • Writing with music, and the "Pets in Space" playlist
  • Susan Smith's song that she wrote and produced
  • How writers interested in being considered for this anthology series can reach out to Carol
  • The fact that other writers are not competition for one another
  • Advice Carol would give her younger self: Outlining is a good thing
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on how easy misunderstandings can happen over different groups in the author and publishing communities using words to mean different products (such as "anthology") and the power of author collaborations.

Links of Interest:

Carol Van Natta is a USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning science fiction and fantasy author. Series include the Central Galactic Concordance space opera series that starts with Last Ship Off Polaris-G, Overload Flux, and Minder Rising, and the Ice Age Shifters® paranormal romance series that starts with Shifter Mate Magic and Shift of Destiny. She is also the editor of the Pets in Space 6 science fiction romance anthology. She shares her Fort Collins, CO home with just the right number of mad-scientist cat

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:00:31 false 4 214 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Carol Van Natta about the collaborative author PETS IN SPACE series. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, recent comments, and shares an audio clip of Will Dages from Findaway Voices, this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Carol discuss: How, back in high school, Carol and a bunch of her friends wrote a great deal of fan fiction Pitching her first co-written book to publishers, and then experimenting with KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) The different series novels that Carol has written and released The origin of the Pets in Space anthology series and the charity it raises funds for "Pigs in Space" from the Muppet Show and how the anthology is meant to be a fun one that doesn't take itself too seriously Each release of the anthology being limited so that the rights can go back to all the individual authors Carol being in numerous editions, then becoming the editor of Pets in Space 6 The curation involved in creating the anthology Cross promotion opportunities for the 11 authors involved in this project How the giant anthology (Approximately 400,000 words) is only produced in eBook and not print (mostly for logistical reasons) The pros and cons of the anthology only being available for a limited time Writing with music, and the "Pets in Space" playlist Susan Smith's song that she wrote and produced How writers interested in being considered for this anthology series can reach out to Carol The fact that other writers are not competition for one another Advice Carol would give her younger self: Outlining is a good thing And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on how easy misunderstandings can happen over different groups in the author and publishing communities using words to mean different products (such as "anthology") and the power of author collaborations. Links of Interest: Carol Van Natta's Website Pets in Space Raia's Song by S.E. Smith The 6 Figure Author Podcast (Episode 102 - How to Keep Yourself from Stressing Out as an Author While Still Achieving Your Goals) Findaway Voices Announcing Marketplace Self-Publishing Insiders Chat with Will Dages (YouTube) The 2nd Annual Online Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writers Conference (Oct 16, 2021) The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Carol Van Natta is a USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning science fiction and fantasy author. Series include the Central Galactic Concordance space opera series that starts with Last Ship Off Polaris-G, Overload Flux, and Minder Rising, and the Ice Age Shifters® paranormal romance series that starts with Shifter Mate Magic and Shift of Destiny. She is also the editor of the Pets in Space 6 science fiction romance anthology. She shares her Fort Collins, CO home with just the right number of mad-scientist cat   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Carol Van Natta about the collaborative author PETS IN SPACE series. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, recent comments, and shares an audio clip of Will Dages from Findaway Voices, this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Carol discuss: How, back in high school, Carol and a bunch of her friends wrote a great deal of fan fiction Pitching her first co-written book to publishers, and then experimenting with KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) The different series novels that Carol has written and released The origin of the Pets in Space anthology series and the charity it raises funds for "Pigs in Space" from the Muppet Show and how the anthology is meant to be a fun one that doesn't take itself too seriously Each release of the anthology being limited so that the rights can go back to all the individual authors Carol being in numerous editions, then becoming the editor of Pets in Space 6 The curation involved in creating the anthology Cross promotion opportunities for the 11 authors involved in this project How the giant anthology (Approximately 400,000 words) is only produced in eBook and not print (mostly for logistical reasons) The pros and cons of the anthology only being available for a limited time Writing with music, and the "Pets in Space" playlist Susan Smith's song that she wrote and produced How writers interested in being considered for this anthology series can reach out to Carol The fact that other writers are not competition for one another Advice Carol would give her younger self: Outlining is a good thing And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on how easy misunderstandings can happen over different groups in the author and publishing communities using words to mean different products (such as "anthology") and the power of author collaborations. Links of Interest: Carol Van Natta's Website Pets in Space Raia's Song by S.E. Smith The 6 Figure Author Podcast (Episode 102 - How to Keep Yourself from Stressing Out as an Author While Still Achieving Your Goals) Findaway Voices Announcing Marketplace Self-Publishing Insiders Chat with Will Dages (YouTube) The 2nd Annual Online Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writers Conference (Oct 16, 2021) The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Carol Van Natta is a USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning science fiction and fantasy author. Series include the Central Galactic Concordance space opera series that starts with Last Ship Off Polaris-G, Overload Flux, and Minder Rising, and the Ice Age Shifters® paranormal romance series that starts with Shifter Mate Magic and Shift of Destiny. She is also the editor of the Pets in Space 6 science fiction romance anthology. She shares her Fort Collins, CO home with just the right number of mad-scientist cat   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 213 - Putting Story Theory Into Practice With Valerie Francis Putting Story Theory Into Practice With Valerie Francis Fri, 01 Oct 2021 12:32:18 +0000 Mark has a conversation with Canadian author Valerie Francis, a literary editor, podcaster, story nerd, and the bestselling author of the steamy romance, Masquerade (think Bridgerton for the 21st century).

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, recent comments, thanks Patrons and offers a few words about this episode's sponsor regarding their forthcoming marketplace.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Valerie talk about:

  • - Valerie's introduction to becoming a StoryGrid editor in 2015 when she had finished her first novel, a middle-grade fantasy she had written on instinct
  • The New York trip Valerie took to a two day workshop and how her writing took a quantum leap from that
  • How, despite learning the intricacies of story and breaking elements apart, Valerie hasn't lost her love of story
  • The different tools that writers can use when crafting a story
  • The concept of the "potato chip length" chapter
  • The origin of Valerie's 12 part serialized novel Masquerade
  • The tagline for Masquerade: "What would you do if you knew you wouldn't get caught?"
  • The designs that Valerie commissioned for the print book version
  • Defining the target audience for Masquerade and how it was designed specifically as an escape for them
  • Creating a romance with protagonists in their 40s
  • The five different plot lines involved in the Masquerade story
  • How the entire project of Valerie's novel Immortal came about
  • Learning how to create a story within a story, multiple story lines and a non-linear structure Challenges that come with having to hook your audience multiple times with multiple story lines
  • Throwing away the entire first draft of her manuscript after 18 months of work
  • The fact there are 57 million books on Amazon right now and what that means for authors
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on Valerie's long-term hard work ethic of writing the best books she can and really understanding her target audience.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Canadian writer, Valerie Francis, is the bestselling author of the steamy romance, Masquerade (think Bridgerton for the 21st century). She's also a literary editor, podcaster, and story nerd so obsessed with the craft of storytelling that she's started an online book club featuring stories by, for and about women.

Valerie is currently writing her first thriller, Immortal. It's like Gone Girl meets Dracula.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark has a conversation with Canadian author Valerie Francis, a literary editor, podcaster, story nerd, and the bestselling author of the steamy romance, Masquerade (think Bridgerton for the 21st century).

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, recent comments, thanks Patrons and offers a few words about this episode's sponsor regarding their forthcoming marketplace.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Valerie talk about:

  • - Valerie's introduction to becoming a StoryGrid editor in 2015 when she had finished her first novel, a middle-grade fantasy she had written on instinct
  • The New York trip Valerie took to a two day workshop and how her writing took a quantum leap from that
  • How, despite learning the intricacies of story and breaking elements apart, Valerie hasn't lost her love of story
  • The different tools that writers can use when crafting a story
  • The concept of the "potato chip length" chapter
  • The origin of Valerie's 12 part serialized novel Masquerade
  • The tagline for Masquerade: "What would you do if you knew you wouldn't get caught?"
  • The designs that Valerie commissioned for the print book version
  • Defining the target audience for Masquerade and how it was designed specifically as an escape for them
  • Creating a romance with protagonists in their 40s
  • The five different plot lines involved in the Masquerade story
  • How the entire project of Valerie's novel Immortal came about
  • Learning how to create a story within a story, multiple story lines and a non-linear structure Challenges that come with having to hook your audience multiple times with multiple story lines
  • Throwing away the entire first draft of her manuscript after 18 months of work
  • The fact there are 57 million books on Amazon right now and what that means for authors
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on Valerie's long-term hard work ethic of writing the best books she can and really understanding her target audience.

Links of Interest:

Canadian writer, Valerie Francis, is the bestselling author of the steamy romance, Masquerade (think Bridgerton for the 21st century). She's also a literary editor, podcaster, and story nerd so obsessed with the craft of storytelling that she's started an online book club featuring stories by, for and about women.

Valerie is currently writing her first thriller, Immortal. It's like Gone Girl meets Dracula.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:01:52 false 4 213 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark has a conversation with Canadian author Valerie Francis, a literary editor, podcaster, story nerd, and the bestselling author of the steamy romance, Masquerade (think Bridgerton for the 21st century). Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, recent comments, thanks Patrons and offers a few words about this episode's sponsor regarding their forthcoming marketplace. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Valerie talk about: - Valerie's introduction to becoming a StoryGrid editor in 2015 when she had finished her first novel, a middle-grade fantasy she had written on instinct The New York trip Valerie took to a two day workshop and how her writing took a quantum leap from that How, despite learning the intricacies of story and breaking elements apart, Valerie hasn't lost her love of story The different tools that writers can use when crafting a story The concept of the "potato chip length" chapter The origin of Valerie's 12 part serialized novel Masquerade The tagline for Masquerade: "What would you do if you knew you wouldn't get caught?" The designs that Valerie commissioned for the print book version Defining the target audience for Masquerade and how it was designed specifically as an escape for them Creating a romance with protagonists in their 40s The five different plot lines involved in the Masquerade story How the entire project of Valerie's novel Immortal came about Learning how to create a story within a story, multiple story lines and a non-linear structure Challenges that come with having to hook your audience multiple times with multiple story lines Throwing away the entire first draft of her manuscript after 18 months of work The fact there are 57 million books on Amazon right now and what that means for authors And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on Valerie's long-term hard work ethic of writing the best books she can and really understanding her target audience.   Links of Interest: Valerie Francis' Website Valerie's Book Club Love Stories for Busy Women Psychological Thriller: Immortal Middle Grade Fantasy Books for Writers Episode 104 - Living the Editing & Writing Life with Valerie Francis Episode 199 – Chelle Honiker & Chrishaun Keller-Hanna of Indie Author Magazine Episode 128 - Healthy Home Workspaces with Roland Denzel Findaway Voices Announcing Marketplace The 2nd Annual Online Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writers Conference (Oct 16, 2021) Brantford Public Library Online Workshop: Writing True Ghost Stories (Oct 6 and 7, 2021) Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Canadian writer, Valerie Francis, is the bestselling author of the steamy romance, Masquerade (think Bridgerton for the 21st century). She's also a literary editor, podcaster, and story nerd so obsessed with the craft of storytelling that she's started an online book club featuring stories by, for and about women. Valerie is currently writing her first thriller, Immortal. It's like Gone Girl meets Dracula.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark has a conversation with Canadian author Valerie Francis, a literary editor, podcaster, story nerd, and the bestselling author of the steamy romance, Masquerade (think Bridgerton for the 21st century). Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, recent comments, thanks Patrons and offers a few words about this episode's sponsor regarding their forthcoming marketplace. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Valerie talk about: - Valerie's introduction to becoming a StoryGrid editor in 2015 when she had finished her first novel, a middle-grade fantasy she had written on instinct The New York trip Valerie took to a two day workshop and how her writing took a quantum leap from that How, despite learning the intricacies of story and breaking elements apart, Valerie hasn't lost her love of story The different tools that writers can use when crafting a story The concept of the "potato chip length" chapter The origin of Valerie's 12 part serialized novel Masquerade The tagline for Masquerade: "What would you do if you knew you wouldn't get caught?" The designs that Valerie commissioned for the print book version Defining the target audience for Masquerade and how it was designed specifically as an escape for them Creating a romance with protagonists in their 40s The five different plot lines involved in the Masquerade story How the entire project of Valerie's novel Immortal came about Learning how to create a story within a story, multiple story lines and a non-linear structure Challenges that come with having to hook your audience multiple times with multiple story lines Throwing away the entire first draft of her manuscript after 18 months of work The fact there are 57 million books on Amazon right now and what that means for authors And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on Valerie's long-term hard work ethic of writing the best books she can and really understanding her target audience.   Links of Interest: Valerie Francis' Website Valerie's Book Club Love Stories for Busy Women Psychological Thriller: Immortal Middle Grade Fantasy Books for Writers Episode 104 - Living the Editing & Writing Life with Valerie Francis Episode 199 – Chelle Honiker & Chrishaun Keller-Hanna of Indie Author Magazine Episode 128 - Healthy Home Workspaces with Roland Denzel Findaway Voices Announcing Marketplace The 2nd Annual Online Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writers Conference (Oct 16, 2021) Brantford Public Library Online Workshop: Writing True Ghost Stories (Oct 6 and 7, 2021) Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Canadian writer, Valerie Francis, is the bestselling author of the steamy romance, Masquerade (think Bridgerton for the 21st century). She's also a literary editor, podcaster, and story nerd so obsessed with the craft of storytelling that she's started an online book club featuring stories by, for and about women. Valerie is currently writing her first thriller, Immortal. It's like Gone Girl meets Dracula.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 212 - A Conversation with Joanna Penn on Co-Authoring The Relaxed Author A Conversation with Joanna Penn on Co-Authoring The Relaxed Author Thu, 23 Sep 2021 23:39:26 +0000 Mark and Joanna Penn talk about collaborating on the writing and release of their co-authored book THE RELAXED AUTHOR: Take the Pressure Off Your Art and Enjoy the Creative Journey.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from a recent episode, thanks Patrons and offers a few words about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Joanna talk about:

  • How pretty and beautifully designed the book turned out to be
  • Where the idea for this book came from and why they decided to write it
  • Knowing one another both personally and professionally for so long and the inherent trust and understanding they had getting into this project
  • How to determine that a potential opportunity is with the right partner
  • The contract that Joanna and Mark signed as part of this agreement/collaborative publishing
  • The logistics behind publishing the book under Curl Up Press, Joanna's imprint
  • How they divided up the responsibilities for the overall book project
  • Use of Draft2Digital's payment splitting for the eBook and the other ways the book is being published in different formats as well as available to purchase direct from Joanna
  • Their different approaches to outlining and writing a non-fiction book
  • How each chapter of the book includes both of Joanna and Mark's voice in answer to specific topic areas
  • The different tools that each of them enjoy using, such as Google spreadsheets, Dropbox, Scrivener, ScribeCount
  • Creating the original draft of the book in audio first via a series of conversations
  • Some of the challenges and frustrations of the re-writing and editing of the work in a collaborative manner that they encountered
  • The relaxed approach Joanna and Mark are both taking in the launch of the book
  • Why they both admitted to not always being relaxed as an important thing to include in the book
  • How the practices that Mark and Joanna talk about help prepare them for the long-term author journey
  • The way that the things they shared in this book aren't all that different than the things they've shared in their previous books for authors, but that the focus is "the relaxed author" so it's more of a concise and narrowed down focus on that topic
  • The inclusive way that their suggestions for being a relaxed author include "do X, or don't"
  • How an author's writing should be where they can turn to for solice and comfort, not for stress
  • And more...

After the conversation Mark reflects on just how lucky he is that he got to work on a collaborative project like this with Joanna. He then asks listeners to reflect on their own experience around being, or trying to be a relaxed author.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Joanna Penn is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers under J.F.Penn and also writes non-fiction for authors. She's an award-winning creative entrepreneur and podcaster. You can learn more about Joanna at www.thecreativepenn.com.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark and Joanna Penn talk about collaborating on the writing and release of their co-authored book THE RELAXED AUTHOR: Take the Pressure Off Your Art and Enjoy the Creative Journey.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from a recent episode, thanks Patrons and offers a few words about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Joanna talk about:

  • How pretty and beautifully designed the book turned out to be
  • Where the idea for this book came from and why they decided to write it
  • Knowing one another both personally and professionally for so long and the inherent trust and understanding they had getting into this project
  • How to determine that a potential opportunity is with the right partner
  • The contract that Joanna and Mark signed as part of this agreement/collaborative publishing
  • The logistics behind publishing the book under Curl Up Press, Joanna's imprint
  • How they divided up the responsibilities for the overall book project
  • Use of Draft2Digital's payment splitting for the eBook and the other ways the book is being published in different formats as well as available to purchase direct from Joanna
  • Their different approaches to outlining and writing a non-fiction book
  • How each chapter of the book includes both of Joanna and Mark's voice in answer to specific topic areas
  • The different tools that each of them enjoy using, such as Google spreadsheets, Dropbox, Scrivener, ScribeCount
  • Creating the original draft of the book in audio first via a series of conversations
  • Some of the challenges and frustrations of the re-writing and editing of the work in a collaborative manner that they encountered
  • The relaxed approach Joanna and Mark are both taking in the launch of the book
  • Why they both admitted to not always being relaxed as an important thing to include in the book
  • How the practices that Mark and Joanna talk about help prepare them for the long-term author journey
  • The way that the things they shared in this book aren't all that different than the things they've shared in their previous books for authors, but that the focus is "the relaxed author" so it's more of a concise and narrowed down focus on that topic
  • The inclusive way that their suggestions for being a relaxed author include "do X, or don't"
  • How an author's writing should be where they can turn to for solice and comfort, not for stress
  • And more...

After the conversation Mark reflects on just how lucky he is that he got to work on a collaborative project like this with Joanna. He then asks listeners to reflect on their own experience around being, or trying to be a relaxed author.

Links of Interest:

Joanna Penn is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers under J.F.Penn and also writes non-fiction for authors. She's an award-winning creative entrepreneur and podcaster. You can learn more about Joanna at www.thecreativepenn.com.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:09:12 false 4 212 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark and Joanna Penn talk about collaborating on the writing and release of their co-authored book THE RELAXED AUTHOR: Take the Pressure Off Your Art and Enjoy the Creative Journey. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from a recent episode, thanks Patrons and offers a few words about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Joanna talk about: How pretty and beautifully designed the book turned out to be Where the idea for this book came from and why they decided to write it Knowing one another both personally and professionally for so long and the inherent trust and understanding they had getting into this project How to determine that a potential opportunity is with the right partner The contract that Joanna and Mark signed as part of this agreement/collaborative publishing The logistics behind publishing the book under Curl Up Press, Joanna's imprint How they divided up the responsibilities for the overall book project Use of Draft2Digital's payment splitting for the eBook and the other ways the book is being published in different formats as well as available to purchase direct from Joanna Their different approaches to outlining and writing a non-fiction book How each chapter of the book includes both of Joanna and Mark's voice in answer to specific topic areas The different tools that each of them enjoy using, such as Google spreadsheets, Dropbox, Scrivener, ScribeCount Creating the original draft of the book in audio first via a series of conversations Some of the challenges and frustrations of the re-writing and editing of the work in a collaborative manner that they encountered The relaxed approach Joanna and Mark are both taking in the launch of the book Why they both admitted to not always being relaxed as an important thing to include in the book How the practices that Mark and Joanna talk about help prepare them for the long-term author journey The way that the things they shared in this book aren't all that different than the things they've shared in their previous books for authors, but that the focus is "the relaxed author" so it's more of a concise and narrowed down focus on that topic The inclusive way that their suggestions for being a relaxed author include "do X, or don't" How an author's writing should be where they can turn to for solice and comfort, not for stress And more... After the conversation Mark reflects on just how lucky he is that he got to work on a collaborative project like this with Joanna. He then asks listeners to reflect on their own experience around being, or trying to be a relaxed author.   Links of Interest: Joanna Penn's Website The Creative Penn Podcast The Books and Travel Podcast Joanna's Books The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Related YouTube Videos The Relaxed Author (Sample Excerpt) Video of the Conversation in this Episode Episode 203 - A Rand on Unprofessional Author Behavior Episode 002 - Living the Healthy Writer's Life with Joanna Penn Episode 148 - AI Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn Episode 164 - Reflections on The Creative Penn Podcast Episode 517 Publishing Pitfalls for Authors Patreon for Stark Reflections An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Joanna Penn is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers under J.F.Penn and also writes non-fiction for authors. She's an award-winning creative entrepreneur and podcaster. You can learn more about Joanna at www.thecreativepenn.com.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark and Joanna Penn talk about collaborating on the writing and release of their co-authored book THE RELAXED AUTHOR: Take the Pressure Off Your Art and Enjoy the Creative Journey. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from a recent episode, thanks Patrons and offers a few words about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Joanna talk about: How pretty and beautifully designed the book turned out to be Where the idea for this book came from and why they decided to write it Knowing one another both personally and professionally for so long and the inherent trust and understanding they had getting into this project How to determine that a potential opportunity is with the right partner The contract that Joanna and Mark signed as part of this agreement/collaborative publishing The logistics behind publishing the book under Curl Up Press, Joanna's imprint How they divided up the responsibilities for the overall book project Use of Draft2Digital's payment splitting for the eBook and the other ways the book is being published in different formats as well as available to purchase direct from Joanna Their different approaches to outlining and writing a non-fiction book How each chapter of the book includes both of Joanna and Mark's voice in answer to specific topic areas The different tools that each of them enjoy using, such as Google spreadsheets, Dropbox, Scrivener, ScribeCount Creating the original draft of the book in audio first via a series of conversations Some of the challenges and frustrations of the re-writing and editing of the work in a collaborative manner that they encountered The relaxed approach Joanna and Mark are both taking in the launch of the book Why they both admitted to not always being relaxed as an important thing to include in the book How the practices that Mark and Joanna talk about help prepare them for the long-term author journey The way that the things they shared in this book aren't all that different than the things they've shared in their previous books for authors, but that the focus is "the relaxed author" so it's more of a concise and narrowed down focus on that topic The inclusive way that their suggestions for being a relaxed author include "do X, or don't" How an author's writing should be where they can turn to for solice and comfort, not for stress And more... After the conversation Mark reflects on just how lucky he is that he got to work on a collaborative project like this with Joanna. He then asks listeners to reflect on their own experience around being, or trying to be a relaxed author.   Links of Interest: Joanna Penn's Website The Creative Penn Podcast The Books and Travel Podcast Joanna's Books The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Related YouTube Videos The Relaxed Author (Sample Excerpt) Video of the Conversation in this Episode Episode 203 - A Rand on Unprofessional Author Behavior Episode 002 - Living the Healthy Writer's Life with Joanna Penn Episode 148 - AI Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn Episode 164 - Reflections on The Creative Penn Podcast Episode 517 Publishing Pitfalls for Authors Patreon for Stark Reflections An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Joanna Penn is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers under J.F.Penn and also writes non-fiction for authors. She's an award-winning creative entrepreneur and podcaster. You can learn more about Joanna at www.thecreativepenn.com.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 211 - Around the World in 90 Minutes with Marty Essen Around the World in 90 Minutes with Marty Essen Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:19:33 +0000 Mark interviews Marty Essen, the author of several non-fiction and fiction titles, and a much sought after public speaker.

Prior to the main content, Mark thanks Patrons to the podcast, shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Marty talk about:

  • How Marty's first book tour experience evolved into compelling storytelling rather than dry readings from his book
  • Differences involved in moving from writing short articles for newspapers and magazines to writing a book
  • The eye opening experience of working with an editor
  • Winning an award at Book Expo America in NYC
  • Marty's experience working at radio stations
  • The newspaper interview that resulted in being invited to write an article about his Amazon Rainforest exploration
  • How Marty's show is a pre-scripted show that is exactly the same. Why he does that and how he keeps himself motivated repeatedly delivering the same content
  • The research Marty does in terms of researching colleges to pitch to for his talks
  • How this work resulted in Marty representing other talents through his company/agency (Encante Entertainment)
  • A tip Marty has used to combat stage fright
  • Doing virtual talks during the pandemic and the pros and cons of that
  • How Marty found his first editor and deciding to self-publish
  • The two different covers on one of his books
  • Setting up distribution through Midpoint Trade
  • The huge number of print copies that Marty has sold in print
  • Doing full color printing for a recent book that required using a printer in China to keep the costs down
  • How a common theme in all of Marty's books are about protecting the environment and protecting human rights
  • Marty's experience at writing and releasing three novels (satirical science-fiction/political)
  • An idea Marty has for a Kickstarter style project
  • And more...
After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of turning a weakness into a strength, and the idea of authenticity in scripted/rehearsed performance.
 

Links of Interest:

Marty Essen began writing professionally in the 1990s as a features writer for Gig Magazine. His first book, Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents, won six national awards, and the Minneapolis Star-Tribune named it a "Top Ten Green Book."

His second book, Endangered Edens: Exploring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica, the Everglades, and Puerto Rico, won four national awards.

His novels, Time Is Irreverent, Time Is Irreverent 2: Jesus Christ, Not Again! and Time Is Irreverent 3: Gone for 16 Seconds, have all received rave reviews.

Hits, Heathens, and Hippos is Marty's sixth book, and like all of his books, it reflects his values of protecting human rights and the environment—and does so with a wry sense of humor.

Marty is also a popular college speaker, who has performed the stage-show version of Cool Creatures, Hot Planet on hundreds of campuses in forty-five states.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Marty Essen, the author of several non-fiction and fiction titles, and a much sought after public speaker.

Prior to the main content, Mark thanks Patrons to the podcast, shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Marty talk about:

  • How Marty's first book tour experience evolved into compelling storytelling rather than dry readings from his book
  • Differences involved in moving from writing short articles for newspapers and magazines to writing a book
  • The eye opening experience of working with an editor
  • Winning an award at Book Expo America in NYC
  • Marty's experience working at radio stations
  • The newspaper interview that resulted in being invited to write an article about his Amazon Rainforest exploration
  • How Marty's show is a pre-scripted show that is exactly the same. Why he does that and how he keeps himself motivated repeatedly delivering the same content
  • The research Marty does in terms of researching colleges to pitch to for his talks
  • How this work resulted in Marty representing other talents through his company/agency (Encante Entertainment)
  • A tip Marty has used to combat stage fright
  • Doing virtual talks during the pandemic and the pros and cons of that
  • How Marty found his first editor and deciding to self-publish
  • The two different covers on one of his books
  • Setting up distribution through Midpoint Trade
  • The huge number of print copies that Marty has sold in print
  • Doing full color printing for a recent book that required using a printer in China to keep the costs down
  • How a common theme in all of Marty's books are about protecting the environment and protecting human rights
  • Marty's experience at writing and releasing three novels (satirical science-fiction/political)
  • An idea Marty has for a Kickstarter style project
  • And more...
After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of turning a weakness into a strength, and the idea of authenticity in scripted/rehearsed performance.

Links of Interest:

Marty Essen began writing professionally in the 1990s as a features writer for Gig Magazine. His first book, Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents, won six national awards, and the Minneapolis Star-Tribune named it a "Top Ten Green Book."

His second book, Endangered Edens: Exploring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica, the Everglades, and Puerto Rico, won four national awards.

His novels, Time Is Irreverent, Time Is Irreverent 2: Jesus Christ, Not Again! and Time Is Irreverent 3: Gone for 16 Seconds, have all received rave reviews.

Hits, Heathens, and Hippos is Marty's sixth book, and like all of his books, it reflects his values of protecting human rights and the environment—and does so with a wry sense of humor.

Marty is also a popular college speaker, who has performed the stage-show version of Cool Creatures, Hot Planet on hundreds of campuses in forty-five states.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:08:31 false 4 211 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Marty Essen, the author of several non-fiction and fiction titles, and a much sought after public speaker. Prior to the main content, Mark thanks Patrons to the podcast, shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Marty talk about: How Marty's first book tour experience evolved into compelling storytelling rather than dry readings from his book Differences involved in moving from writing short articles for newspapers and magazines to writing a book The eye opening experience of working with an editor Winning an award at Book Expo America in NYC Marty's experience working at radio stations The newspaper interview that resulted in being invited to write an article about his Amazon Rainforest exploration How Marty's show is a pre-scripted show that is exactly the same. Why he does that and how he keeps himself motivated repeatedly delivering the same content The research Marty does in terms of researching colleges to pitch to for his talks How this work resulted in Marty representing other talents through his company/agency (Encante Entertainment) A tip Marty has used to combat stage fright Doing virtual talks during the pandemic and the pros and cons of that How Marty found his first editor and deciding to self-publish The two different covers on one of his books Setting up distribution through Midpoint Trade The huge number of print copies that Marty has sold in print Doing full color printing for a recent book that required using a printer in China to keep the costs down How a common theme in all of Marty's books are about protecting the environment and protecting human rights Marty's experience at writing and releasing three novels (satirical science-fiction/political) An idea Marty has for a Kickstarter style project And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of turning a weakness into a strength, and the idea of authenticity in scripted/rehearsed performance.   Links of Interest: Marty Essen's Website Video excerpts of some of Marty's talks Marty's Books Empire Builder's Summit The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors Patreon for Stark Reflections An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Marty Essen began writing professionally in the 1990s as a features writer for Gig Magazine. His first book, Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents, won six national awards, and the Minneapolis Star-Tribune named it a "Top Ten Green Book." His second book, Endangered Edens: Exploring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica, the Everglades, and Puerto Rico, won four national awards. His novels, Time Is Irreverent, Time Is Irreverent 2: Jesus Christ, Not Again! and Time Is Irreverent 3: Gone for 16 Seconds, have all received rave reviews. Hits, Heathens, and Hippos is Marty's sixth book, and like all of his books, it reflects his values of protecting human rights and the environment—and does so with a wry sense of humor. Marty is also a popular college speaker, who has performed the stage-show version of Cool Creatures, Hot Planet on hundreds of campuses in forty-five states.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Marty Essen, the author of several non-fiction and fiction titles, and a much sought after public speaker. Prior to the main content, Mark thanks Patrons to the podcast, shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Marty talk about: How Marty's first book tour experience evolved into compelling storytelling rather than dry readings from his book Differences involved in moving from writing short articles for newspapers and magazines to writing a book The eye opening experience of working with an editor Winning an award at Book Expo America in NYC Marty's experience working at radio stations The newspaper interview that resulted in being invited to write an article about his Amazon Rainforest exploration How Marty's show is a pre-scripted show that is exactly the same. Why he does that and how he keeps himself motivated repeatedly delivering the same content The research Marty does in terms of researching colleges to pitch to for his talks How this work resulted in Marty representing other talents through his company/agency (Encante Entertainment) A tip Marty has used to combat stage fright Doing virtual talks during the pandemic and the pros and cons of that How Marty found his first editor and deciding to self-publish The two different covers on one of his books Setting up distribution through Midpoint Trade The huge number of print copies that Marty has sold in print Doing full color printing for a recent book that required using a printer in China to keep the costs down How a common theme in all of Marty's books are about protecting the environment and protecting human rights Marty's experience at writing and releasing three novels (satirical science-fiction/political) An idea Marty has for a Kickstarter style project And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of turning a weakness into a strength, and the idea of authenticity in scripted/rehearsed performance.   Links of Interest: Marty Essen's Website Video excerpts of some of Marty's talks Marty's Books Empire Builder's Summit The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors Patreon for Stark Reflections An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Marty Essen began writing professionally in the 1990s as a features writer for Gig Magazine. His first book, Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents, won six national awards, and the Minneapolis Star-Tribune named it a "Top Ten Green Book." His second book, Endangered Edens: Exploring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica, the Everglades, and Puerto Rico, won four national awards. His novels, Time Is Irreverent, Time Is Irreverent 2: Jesus Christ, Not Again! and Time Is Irreverent 3: Gone for 16 Seconds, have all received rave reviews. Hits, Heathens, and Hippos is Marty's sixth book, and like all of his books, it reflects his values of protecting human rights and the environment—and does so with a wry sense of humor. Marty is also a popular college speaker, who has performed the stage-show version of Cool Creatures, Hot Planet on hundreds of campuses in forty-five states.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 210 - Facing Creative Block with Morgan Rhodes Facing Creative Block with Morgan Rhodes Fri, 10 Sep 2021 00:07:56 +0000 A keynote from Morgan Rhodes (Michelle Rowen) about her writer journey and facing creative block. The keynote is from the When Words Collide August 2021 Virtual Conference.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

Morgan Rhodes is a psuedonym for Michelle Rowen. Under Morgan Rhodes she has published 6 books in the Falling Kingdons series, and her Razorbill (Penguin Teens) novel Echoes and Empires, comes in January 2022.

Michelle Rowen is the bestselling and award-winning author of over two dozen novels. She has written for Penguin, Grand Central, Harlequin, Dorchester, and Bloomsbury.

A former president of Toronto Romance Writers, Michelle lives in Mississauga, Ontario, where she refills her creative well by watching trashy reality TV and drinking a lot of delicious coffee.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> A keynote from Morgan Rhodes (Michelle Rowen) about her writer journey and facing creative block. The keynote is from the When Words Collide August 2021 Virtual Conference.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

Morgan Rhodes is a psuedonym for Michelle Rowen. Under Morgan Rhodes she has published 6 books in the Falling Kingdons series, and her Razorbill (Penguin Teens) novel Echoes and Empires, comes in January 2022.

Michelle Rowen is the bestselling and award-winning author of over two dozen novels. She has written for Penguin, Grand Central, Harlequin, Dorchester, and Bloomsbury.

A former president of Toronto Romance Writers, Michelle lives in Mississauga, Ontario, where she refills her creative well by watching trashy reality TV and drinking a lot of delicious coffee.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 40:40 false 4 210 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)A keynote from Morgan Rhodes (Michelle Rowen) about her writer journey and facing creative block. The keynote is from the When Words Collide August 2021 Virtual Conference. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Morgan Rhodes Michelle Rowen Video of WWC Keynote Talks (Que'd to Morgan's talk) Empire Builder's Summit The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors Patreon for Stark Reflections An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City     Morgan Rhodes is a psuedonym for Michelle Rowen. Under Morgan Rhodes she has published 6 books in the Falling Kingdons series, and her Razorbill (Penguin Teens) novel Echoes and Empires, comes in January 2022. Michelle Rowen is the bestselling and award-winning author of over two dozen novels. She has written for Penguin, Grand Central, Harlequin, Dorchester, and Bloomsbury. A former president of Toronto Romance Writers, Michelle lives in Mississauga, Ontario, where she refills her creative well by watching trashy reality TV and drinking a lot of delicious coffee.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0A keynote from Morgan Rhodes (Michelle Rowen) about her writer journey and facing creative block. The keynote is from the When Words Collide August 2021 Virtual Conference. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Morgan Rhodes Michelle Rowen Video of WWC Keynote Talks (Que'd to Morgan's talk) Empire Builder's Summit The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors Patreon for Stark Reflections An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City     Morgan Rhodes is a psuedonym for Michelle Rowen. Under Morgan Rhodes she has published 6 books in the Falling Kingdons series, and her Razorbill (Penguin Teens) novel Echoes and Empires, comes in January 2022. Michelle Rowen is the bestselling and award-winning author of over two dozen novels. She has written for Penguin, Grand Central, Harlequin, Dorchester, and Bloomsbury. A former president of Toronto Romance Writers, Michelle lives in Mississauga, Ontario, where she refills her creative well by watching trashy reality TV and drinking a lot of delicious coffee.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 209 - Growing Sales, Subscribers, and Twitch Marketing with Kerrie Flanagan & Chuck Harrelson Growing Sales, Subscribers, and Twitch Marketing with Kerrie Flanagan & Chuck Harrelson Fri, 03 Sep 2021 12:45:54 +0000 Mark interviews Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson about collaborating on multiple genres under two shared pseudonyms, growing global sales, increasing author newsletter subscribers, and experimenting with marketing through Twitch.

Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patron Malcolm Coon, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

During their conversation, Mark, Kerrie, and Chuck talk about:

  • The origin of how Kerrie and Chuck started writing together under multiple pseudonyms
  • The books that they are working on under the names C.G. Harris (The Judas Files - Urban Fantasy; The Rax - Science Fiction) and C.K. Wiles (Romance)
  • Their experimentation with going exclusive on their eBooks with KDP Select and how it failed and they returned to publishing wide
  • Dedication to getting more subscribers and moving from 55 to over 3000 people on their list
  • How focusing on Facebook ads was helpful in the newsletter subscription
  • Apple success that came from Apple putting The Nine (book one in The Judas Files) on their "Free First in Series" page
  • Using ScribeCount to measure their wide sales and the difference that a few months made
  • How they work together in terms of the writing process as well as the logistics of publishing and handling the finances
  • The way they are budgeting out their ad spend
  • The experimentation they did with sponsoring a Twitch stream to talk about their The Judas Files books
  • Learning about the unsustainable nature of rapid releases
  • And more...

 

Mark then reflects on the experimentation and iteration that Kerrie and Chuck continue to do, trying new things, changing their approach, exploring new marketing opportunities, and not giving up.

 

Links of Interest:

 

C.G. Harris is an award winning science-fiction and fantasy author from Colorado who draws inspiration from favorites, Jim Butcher, Richard Kadrey and Brandon Sanderson. For nearly a decade, Harris has escaped the humdrum of the real world by creating fictional characters and made-up realities. When not writing, Harris spends time collecting the illusive arcade token, from the golden age when Dig Dug and Frogger were king. Harris knows the value of such a collection will only be seen in the confused faces of those family members left behind long after C.G. Harris is gone.

​
C.G. Harris is the combined persona of writers Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson about collaborating on multiple genres under two shared pseudonyms, growing global sales, increasing author newsletter subscribers, and experimenting with marketing through Twitch.

Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patron Malcolm Coon, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark, Kerrie, and Chuck talk about:

  • The origin of how Kerrie and Chuck started writing together under multiple pseudonyms
  • The books that they are working on under the names C.G. Harris (The Judas Files - Urban Fantasy; The Rax - Science Fiction) and C.K. Wiles (Romance)
  • Their experimentation with going exclusive on their eBooks with KDP Select and how it failed and they returned to publishing wide
  • Dedication to getting more subscribers and moving from 55 to over 3000 people on their list
  • How focusing on Facebook ads was helpful in the newsletter subscription
  • Apple success that came from Apple putting The Nine (book one in The Judas Files) on their "Free First in Series" page
  • Using ScribeCount to measure their wide sales and the difference that a few months made
  • How they work together in terms of the writing process as well as the logistics of publishing and handling the finances
  • The way they are budgeting out their ad spend
  • The experimentation they did with sponsoring a Twitch stream to talk about their The Judas Files books
  • Learning about the unsustainable nature of rapid releases
  • And more...

Mark then reflects on the experimentation and iteration that Kerrie and Chuck continue to do, trying new things, changing their approach, exploring new marketing opportunities, and not giving up.

Links of Interest:

C.G. Harris is an award winning science-fiction and fantasy author from Colorado who draws inspiration from favorites, Jim Butcher, Richard Kadrey and Brandon Sanderson. For nearly a decade, Harris has escaped the humdrum of the real world by creating fictional characters and made-up realities. When not writing, Harris spends time collecting the illusive arcade token, from the golden age when Dig Dug and Frogger were king. Harris knows the value of such a collection will only be seen in the confused faces of those family members left behind long after C.G. Harris is gone.

​ C.G. Harris is the combined persona of writers Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:02:45 false 4 209 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson about collaborating on multiple genres under two shared pseudonyms, growing global sales, increasing author newsletter subscribers, and experimenting with marketing through Twitch. Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patron Malcolm Coon, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   During their conversation, Mark, Kerrie, and Chuck talk about: The origin of how Kerrie and Chuck started writing together under multiple pseudonyms The books that they are working on under the names C.G. Harris (The Judas Files - Urban Fantasy; The Rax - Science Fiction) and C.K. Wiles (Romance) Their experimentation with going exclusive on their eBooks with KDP Select and how it failed and they returned to publishing wide Dedication to getting more subscribers and moving from 55 to over 3000 people on their list How focusing on Facebook ads was helpful in the newsletter subscription Apple success that came from Apple putting The Nine (book one in The Judas Files) on their "Free First in Series" page Using ScribeCount to measure their wide sales and the difference that a few months made How they work together in terms of the writing process as well as the logistics of publishing and handling the finances The way they are budgeting out their ad spend The experimentation they did with sponsoring a Twitch stream to talk about their The Judas Files books Learning about the unsustainable nature of rapid releases And more...   Mark then reflects on the experimentation and iteration that Kerrie and Chuck continue to do, trying new things, changing their approach, exploring new marketing opportunities, and not giving up.   Links of Interest: C.G. Harris Website Judas Files The Rax C.K. Wiles Website Twitch Stream Content from Fellowship of Awesome: Full Stream (Starts about 11 minutes in) Talking about The Nine Reading excerpt in Canadian accent Reading excerpt in sexy romance voice Episode 31 - Kerrie Flanagan on Writing and Selling Magazine Articles Episode 45 - Co-authoring with the Writers Behind C.K. Wiles Episode 117 - Multi-Layered Collaboration with Kerrie Flanagan, Chuck Harrelson, and Macleod Andrews The Relaxed Author Publishing Pitfalls for Authors Patreon for Stark Reflections An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   C.G. Harris is an award winning science-fiction and fantasy author from Colorado who draws inspiration from favorites, Jim Butcher, Richard Kadrey and Brandon Sanderson. For nearly a decade, Harris has escaped the humdrum of the real world by creating fictional characters and made-up realities. When not writing, Harris spends time collecting the illusive arcade token, from the golden age when Dig Dug and Frogger were king. Harris knows the value of such a collection will only be seen in the confused faces of those family members left behind long after C.G. Harris is gone. ​ C.G. Harris is the combined persona of writers Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson about collaborating on multiple genres under two shared pseudonyms, growing global sales, increasing author newsletter subscribers, and experimenting with marketing through Twitch. Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patron Malcolm Coon, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   During their conversation, Mark, Kerrie, and Chuck talk about: The origin of how Kerrie and Chuck started writing together under multiple pseudonyms The books that they are working on under the names C.G. Harris (The Judas Files - Urban Fantasy; The Rax - Science Fiction) and C.K. Wiles (Romance) Their experimentation with going exclusive on their eBooks with KDP Select and how it failed and they returned to publishing wide Dedication to getting more subscribers and moving from 55 to over 3000 people on their list How focusing on Facebook ads was helpful in the newsletter subscription Apple success that came from Apple putting The Nine (book one in The Judas Files) on their "Free First in Series" page Using ScribeCount to measure their wide sales and the difference that a few months made How they work together in terms of the writing process as well as the logistics of publishing and handling the finances The way they are budgeting out their ad spend The experimentation they did with sponsoring a Twitch stream to talk about their The Judas Files books Learning about the unsustainable nature of rapid releases And more...   Mark then reflects on the experimentation and iteration that Kerrie and Chuck continue to do, trying new things, changing their approach, exploring new marketing opportunities, and not giving up.   Links of Interest: C.G. Harris Website Judas Files The Rax C.K. Wiles Website Twitch Stream Content from Fellowship of Awesome: Full Stream (Starts about 11 minutes in) Talking about The Nine Reading excerpt in Canadian accent Reading excerpt in sexy romance voice Episode 31 - Kerrie Flanagan on Writing and Selling Magazine Articles Episode 45 - Co-authoring with the Writers Behind C.K. Wiles Episode 117 - Multi-Layered Collaboration with Kerrie Flanagan, Chuck Harrelson, and Macleod Andrews The Relaxed Author Publishing Pitfalls for Authors Patreon for Stark Reflections An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   C.G. Harris is an award winning science-fiction and fantasy author from Colorado who draws inspiration from favorites, Jim Butcher, Richard Kadrey and Brandon Sanderson. For nearly a decade, Harris has escaped the humdrum of the real world by creating fictional characters and made-up realities. When not writing, Harris spends time collecting the illusive arcade token, from the golden age when Dig Dug and Frogger were king. Harris knows the value of such a collection will only be seen in the confused faces of those family members left behind long after C.G. Harris is gone. ​ C.G. Harris is the combined persona of writers Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 208 - Writing & Living a True Crime with Deborah Vadas Levison Writing & Living a True Crime with Deborah Vadas Levison Fri, 27 Aug 2021 00:13:54 +0000 Mark interviews Deborah Levison, a multi award-winning author, freelance writer, publicist and the author of THE CRATE: A Story of War, a Murder, and Justice - a true crime story with echoes of the Holocaust.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and talks about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

During their conversation, Mark and Debbie talk about:

  • How much of a bookworm Debbie was from an early age, and that she'd always dreamed of being an author
  • One of the earliest essays she had to write for school about her, her mother, and her grandmother going to visit the bears at dusk at the local garbage dump
  • Debbie's lonely childhood growing up spending summers in the Muskoka region of Ontario, and how that helped fuel her imagination and love of fictional characters from books
  • Her work as a professional writer (a journalist, publicist, etc)
  • Debbie's true crime book, The Crate, which was about a very grizzly and gruesome crime that personally impacted her family
  • Family history that includes paralleling evil from the past (Debbie's parents being Holocaust survivors) with evil in the present
  • The surreal 2010 life-changing phone call Debbie received from her brother informing her about this crate he discovered hidden under the crawl space of their family cottage
  • The challenge and experience of reaching out to the victim's mother and sister and learning about who she was -- which was the focus of the second half of the book
  • How the media painted the situation in a very "blame the victim" manner
  • The "memoir" elements in the structure of this book
  • The process of pitching the book, and the first agent she'd reached out to who graciously spent time and energy helping Debbie make the book better for her pitch, and then recommended her to another agent
  • How Canadian publishers are heavily subsidized by the Canadian government, which led to them passing on Debbie's book because she was no longer a Canadian resident (those publishers only get grant money when they publish books from Canadian authors)
  • The third agent Debbie worked with who found a publisher in Colorado that worked quickly to get the book out
  • The cover promotional blurbs Debbie got from Lee Child and James Rollins after connecting at ThrillerFest in New York
  • Some of the logistics about the research and writing of this book
  • The numerous live events she has done talking about The Crate, and what Debbie is working on now

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Deborah Levison, a multi award-winning author, freelance writer, publicist and the author of THE CRATE: A Story of War, a Murder, and Justice - a true crime story with echoes of the Holocaust.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and talks about this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Debbie talk about:

  • How much of a bookworm Debbie was from an early age, and that she'd always dreamed of being an author
  • One of the earliest essays she had to write for school about her, her mother, and her grandmother going to visit the bears at dusk at the local garbage dump
  • Debbie's lonely childhood growing up spending summers in the Muskoka region of Ontario, and how that helped fuel her imagination and love of fictional characters from books
  • Her work as a professional writer (a journalist, publicist, etc)
  • Debbie's true crime book, The Crate, which was about a very grizzly and gruesome crime that personally impacted her family
  • Family history that includes paralleling evil from the past (Debbie's parents being Holocaust survivors) with evil in the present
  • The surreal 2010 life-changing phone call Debbie received from her brother informing her about this crate he discovered hidden under the crawl space of their family cottage
  • The challenge and experience of reaching out to the victim's mother and sister and learning about who she was -- which was the focus of the second half of the book
  • How the media painted the situation in a very "blame the victim" manner
  • The "memoir" elements in the structure of this book
  • The process of pitching the book, and the first agent she'd reached out to who graciously spent time and energy helping Debbie make the book better for her pitch, and then recommended her to another agent
  • How Canadian publishers are heavily subsidized by the Canadian government, which led to them passing on Debbie's book because she was no longer a Canadian resident (those publishers only get grant money when they publish books from Canadian authors)
  • The third agent Debbie worked with who found a publisher in Colorado that worked quickly to get the book out
  • The cover promotional blurbs Debbie got from Lee Child and James Rollins after connecting at ThrillerFest in New York
  • Some of the logistics about the research and writing of this book
  • The numerous live events she has done talking about The Crate, and what Debbie is working on now

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 59:07 false 4 208 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Deborah Levison, a multi award-winning author, freelance writer, publicist and the author of THE CRATE: A Story of War, a Murder, and Justice - a true crime story with echoes of the Holocaust. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and talks about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   During their conversation, Mark and Debbie talk about: How much of a bookworm Debbie was from an early age, and that she'd always dreamed of being an author One of the earliest essays she had to write for school about her, her mother, and her grandmother going to visit the bears at dusk at the local garbage dump Debbie's lonely childhood growing up spending summers in the Muskoka region of Ontario, and how that helped fuel her imagination and love of fictional characters from books Her work as a professional writer (a journalist, publicist, etc) Debbie's true crime book, The Crate, which was about a very grizzly and gruesome crime that personally impacted her family Family history that includes paralleling evil from the past (Debbie's parents being Holocaust survivors) with evil in the present The surreal 2010 life-changing phone call Debbie received from her brother informing her about this crate he discovered hidden under the crawl space of their family cottage The challenge and experience of reaching out to the victim's mother and sister and learning about who she was -- which was the focus of the second half of the book How the media painted the situation in a very "blame the victim" manner The "memoir" elements in the structure of this book The process of pitching the book, and the first agent she'd reached out to who graciously spent time and energy helping Debbie make the book better for her pitch, and then recommended her to another agent How Canadian publishers are heavily subsidized by the Canadian government, which led to them passing on Debbie's book because she was no longer a Canadian resident (those publishers only get grant money when they publish books from Canadian authors) The third agent Debbie worked with who found a publisher in Colorado that worked quickly to get the book out The cover promotional blurbs Debbie got from Lee Child and James Rollins after connecting at ThrillerFest in New York Some of the logistics about the research and writing of this book The numerous live events she has done talking about The Crate, and what Debbie is working on now   Links of Interest: Deborah Levison's Website Episode 206 - No One Will Believe In You More Than You, with Steena Holmes Episode 204 - Overcoming Self Doubt with Tessa Smith McGovern Episode 203 - A Rant on Unprofessional Author Behavior Episode 191 - Insights from the Immersive Media & Books 2020 Consumer Survey The Relaxed Author Publishing Pitfalls for Authors Patreon for Stark Reflections An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Deborah Levison, a multi award-winning author, freelance writer, publicist and the author of THE CRATE: A Story of War, a Murder, and Justice - a true crime story with echoes of the Holocaust. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and talks about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   During their conversation, Mark and Debbie talk about: How much of a bookworm Debbie was from an early age, and that she'd always dreamed of being an author One of the earliest essays she had to write for school about her, her mother, and her grandmother going to visit the bears at dusk at the local garbage dump Debbie's lonely childhood growing up spending summers in the Muskoka region of Ontario, and how that helped fuel her imagination and love of fictional characters from books Her work as a professional writer (a journalist, publicist, etc) Debbie's true crime book, The Crate, which was about a very grizzly and gruesome crime that personally impacted her family Family history that includes paralleling evil from the past (Debbie's parents being Holocaust survivors) with evil in the present The surreal 2010 life-changing phone call Debbie received from her brother informing her about this crate he discovered hidden under the crawl space of their family cottage The challenge and experience of reaching out to the victim's mother and sister and learning about who she was -- which was the focus of the second half of the book How the media painted the situation in a very "blame the victim" manner The "memoir" elements in the structure of this book The process of pitching the book, and the first agent she'd reached out to who graciously spent time and energy helping Debbie make the book better for her pitch, and then recommended her to another agent How Canadian publishers are heavily subsidized by the Canadian government, which led to them passing on Debbie's book because she was no longer a Canadian resident (those publishers only get grant money when they publish books from Canadian authors) The third agent Debbie worked with who found a publisher in Colorado that worked quickly to get the book out The cover promotional blurbs Debbie got from Lee Child and James Rollins after connecting at ThrillerFest in New York Some of the logistics about the research and writing of this book The numerous live events she has done talking about The Crate, and what Debbie is working on now   Links of Interest: Deborah Levison's Website Episode 206 - No One Will Believe In You More Than You, with Steena Holmes Episode 204 - Overcoming Self Doubt with Tessa Smith McGovern Episode 203 - A Rant on Unprofessional Author Behavior Episode 191 - Insights from the Immersive Media & Books 2020 Consumer Survey The Relaxed Author Publishing Pitfalls for Authors Patreon for Stark Reflections An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 207 - Library and Bookstore Strategies Library and Bookstore Strategies Thu, 19 Aug 2021 19:50:52 +0000 This solo episode features a recording of a talk Mark gave at When Words Collide 2021.

Prior to the talk, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> This solo episode features a recording of a talk Mark gave at When Words Collide 2021.

Prior to the talk, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:02:56 false 4 207 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This solo episode features a recording of a talk Mark gave at When Words Collide 2021. Prior to the talk, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Episode 99 - Getting Your Book into Libraries Episode 191 - Insights from the Immersive Media & Books 2020 Consumer Survey Episode 177 - Author Insights from Youth Services Librarians Episode 110 - A Conversation About Working with Bookstores and Libraries Episode 87 - You, Your Book, and Bookstores Episode 193 - Showcasing Indie Author Books in an Indie Bookstore Episode 167 - Bookseller Insights with Laura Hayden The Relaxed Author Publishing Pitfalls for Authors Patreon for Stark Reflections An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0This solo episode features a recording of a talk Mark gave at When Words Collide 2021. Prior to the talk, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Episode 99 - Getting Your Book into Libraries Episode 191 - Insights from the Immersive Media & Books 2020 Consumer Survey Episode 177 - Author Insights from Youth Services Librarians Episode 110 - A Conversation About Working with Bookstores and Libraries Episode 87 - You, Your Book, and Bookstores Episode 193 - Showcasing Indie Author Books in an Indie Bookstore Episode 167 - Bookseller Insights with Laura Hayden The Relaxed Author Publishing Pitfalls for Authors Patreon for Stark Reflections An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 206 - No One Will Believe In You More Than You: A WWC Keynote from Steena Holmes No One Will Believe In You More Than You: A WWC Keynote from Steena Holmes Tue, 17 Aug 2021 16:10:15 +0000 This episode features a 2021 When Words Collide Keynote given by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Steena Holmes.

The talk was recorded on Friday August 13, 2021.

After the talk, Mark shares a couple of reflections and thanks patrons of the podcast who support it at patreon.com/starkreflections. He also shares that the presentations he gave at When Words Collide will be shared in video and audio formats for patrons.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Steena Holmes is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with over 2 million copies of her titles sold world wide, including The Forgotten Ones, Saving Abby and The Memory Child. Named in the Top 20 Women Author to read in 2015 by Good Housekeeping, she won the National Indie Excellence Award in 2012 for Finding Emma as well as the USA Book News Award for The Word Game in 2015. Steena has been featured in various newspapers and magazines, websites such as Goodreads, BookBub, RedBook, Glamour, Coastal Living and Goodhousekeeping. To find out more about her books and her love for traveling, you can visit her Website: http://www.steenaholmes.com/

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> This episode features a 2021 When Words Collide Keynote given by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Steena Holmes.

The talk was recorded on Friday August 13, 2021.

After the talk, Mark shares a couple of reflections and thanks patrons of the podcast who support it at patreon.com/starkreflections. He also shares that the presentations he gave at When Words Collide will be shared in video and audio formats for patrons.

Links of Interest:

Steena Holmes is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with over 2 million copies of her titles sold world wide, including The Forgotten Ones, Saving Abby and The Memory Child. Named in the Top 20 Women Author to read in 2015 by Good Housekeeping, she won the National Indie Excellence Award in 2012 for Finding Emma as well as the USA Book News Award for The Word Game in 2015. Steena has been featured in various newspapers and magazines, websites such as Goodreads, BookBub, RedBook, Glamour, Coastal Living and Goodhousekeeping. To find out more about her books and her love for traveling, you can visit her Website: http://www.steenaholmes.com/

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 23:07 false 4 206 bonus Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This episode features a 2021 When Words Collide Keynote given by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Steena Holmes. The talk was recorded on Friday August 13, 2021. After the talk, Mark shares a couple of reflections and thanks patrons of the podcast who support it at patreon.com/starkreflections. He also shares that the presentations he gave at When Words Collide will be shared in video and audio formats for patrons.   Links of Interest: Episode 17 - Focusing on Your Readers with Steena Holmes When Words Collide The Relaxed Author Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Steena Holmes is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with over 2 million copies of her titles sold world wide, including The Forgotten Ones, Saving Abby and The Memory Child. Named in the Top 20 Women Author to read in 2015 by Good Housekeeping, she won the National Indie Excellence Award in 2012 for Finding Emma as well as the USA Book News Award for The Word Game in 2015. Steena has been featured in various newspapers and magazines, websites such as Goodreads, BookBub, RedBook, Glamour, Coastal Living and Goodhousekeeping. To find out more about her books and her love for traveling, you can visit her Website: http://www.steenaholmes.com/ The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0This episode features a 2021 When Words Collide Keynote given by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Steena Holmes. The talk was recorded on Friday August 13, 2021. After the talk, Mark shares a couple of reflections and thanks patrons of the podcast who support it at patreon.com/starkreflections. He also shares that the presentations he gave at When Words Collide will be shared in video and audio formats for patrons.   Links of Interest: Episode 17 - Focusing on Your Readers with Steena Holmes When Words Collide The Relaxed Author Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Steena Holmes is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with over 2 million copies of her titles sold world wide, including The Forgotten Ones, Saving Abby and The Memory Child. Named in the Top 20 Women Author to read in 2015 by Good Housekeeping, she won the National Indie Excellence Award in 2012 for Finding Emma as well as the USA Book News Award for The Word Game in 2015. Steena has been featured in various newspapers and magazines, websites such as Goodreads, BookBub, RedBook, Glamour, Coastal Living and Goodhousekeeping. To find out more about her books and her love for traveling, you can visit her Website: http://www.steenaholmes.com/ The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 205 - From Bookseller To Author With Simon Lowe From Bookseller To Author With Simon Lowe Fri, 13 Aug 2021 14:09:00 +0000 Mark interviews Simon Lowe, an author with a number of stories published in various magazines, who, after a decade working in book stores, released his first novel (The World is at War, Again) in June 2021 and now writes part time while also performing the role of a stay at home dad.

Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new Patrons Talena Winters,
Rachel Amphlett, and Carolyn Stein, reads comments from recent episodes, offers a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their chat, Mark and Simon discuss:

  • Simon's recent release of the speculative fiction novel The World Is At War, Again and how it's about government declaring newer technology to be too much of a threat to be allowed
  • How the novel is set with the world at war without there being a specific single war such as WWII - as a commentary of the ongoing "state" of war
  • Some of the parallels between the content of this novel and the current pandemic world we're living in
  • How the removal of technology also reduces a person's ability to "fake" who they are, in the same way they can behind the filters of social media
  • Conceiving of a world without technology as one of of being able to focus on how people interact directly with one another
  • The impact of external factors on the way people connect and focus
  • Simon's 10 years of experience as a bookseller and the various formats for paperbacks
  • The difference in UK and North American bookshop genre designations such as "Crime" in the UK which is "Mystery" in North America
  • Mark's experience on what people were looking for when they walked into a bookstore and asked for the "non-fiction books"
  • How, for some people, walking into a bookstore can be an intimidating experience
  • The way Simon's experience as a bookseller informed him as a writer and within the business of publishing
  • Decisions on which books to stock, which are based on understanding the marketplace and what is going to sell within that market
  • The importance of not taking it personally when a bookseller or publisher is not interested in your book
  • How thinking of the book in smaller chunks made the process of writing the novel more manageable
  • And more....

 After the interview, Mark reflects on the concept of breaking your work/writing into smaller, more manageable chunks as one way to conquer the overwhelm of a large project in front of you.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Simon Lowe is a British author. His stories have appeared in various publications, including AMP, Storgy, Ponder Review, EX/POST, Blackwater Review, and elsewhere. After a decade working in book stores he now writes part time as well as being a stay at home dad. His new novel, The World is At War, Again, was released in June 2021.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Simon Lowe, an author with a number of stories published in various magazines, who, after a decade working in book stores, released his first novel (The World is at War, Again) in June 2021 and now writes part time while also performing the role of a stay at home dad.

Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new Patrons Talena Winters, Rachel Amphlett, and Carolyn Stein, reads comments from recent episodes, offers a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their chat, Mark and Simon discuss:

  • Simon's recent release of the speculative fiction novel The World Is At War, Again and how it's about government declaring newer technology to be too much of a threat to be allowed
  • How the novel is set with the world at war without there being a specific single war such as WWII - as a commentary of the ongoing "state" of war
  • Some of the parallels between the content of this novel and the current pandemic world we're living in
  • How the removal of technology also reduces a person's ability to "fake" who they are, in the same way they can behind the filters of social media
  • Conceiving of a world without technology as one of of being able to focus on how people interact directly with one another
  • The impact of external factors on the way people connect and focus
  • Simon's 10 years of experience as a bookseller and the various formats for paperbacks
  • The difference in UK and North American bookshop genre designations such as "Crime" in the UK which is "Mystery" in North America
  • Mark's experience on what people were looking for when they walked into a bookstore and asked for the "non-fiction books"
  • How, for some people, walking into a bookstore can be an intimidating experience
  • The way Simon's experience as a bookseller informed him as a writer and within the business of publishing
  • Decisions on which books to stock, which are based on understanding the marketplace and what is going to sell within that market
  • The importance of not taking it personally when a bookseller or publisher is not interested in your book
  • How thinking of the book in smaller chunks made the process of writing the novel more manageable
  • And more....

After the interview, Mark reflects on the concept of breaking your work/writing into smaller, more manageable chunks as one way to conquer the overwhelm of a large project in front of you.

Links of Interest:

Simon Lowe is a British author. His stories have appeared in various publications, including AMP, Storgy, Ponder Review, EX/POST, Blackwater Review, and elsewhere. After a decade working in book stores he now writes part time as well as being a stay at home dad. His new novel, The World is At War, Again, was released in June 2021.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 45:18 false 4 205 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Simon Lowe, an author with a number of stories published in various magazines, who, after a decade working in book stores, released his first novel (The World is at War, Again) in June 2021 and now writes part time while also performing the role of a stay at home dad. Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new Patrons Talena Winters, Rachel Amphlett, and Carolyn Stein, reads comments from recent episodes, offers a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their chat, Mark and Simon discuss: Simon's recent release of the speculative fiction novel The World Is At War, Again and how it's about government declaring newer technology to be too much of a threat to be allowed How the novel is set with the world at war without there being a specific single war such as WWII - as a commentary of the ongoing "state" of war Some of the parallels between the content of this novel and the current pandemic world we're living in How the removal of technology also reduces a person's ability to "fake" who they are, in the same way they can behind the filters of social media Conceiving of a world without technology as one of of being able to focus on how people interact directly with one another The impact of external factors on the way people connect and focus Simon's 10 years of experience as a bookseller and the various formats for paperbacks The difference in UK and North American bookshop genre designations such as "Crime" in the UK which is "Mystery" in North America Mark's experience on what people were looking for when they walked into a bookstore and asked for the "non-fiction books" How, for some people, walking into a bookstore can be an intimidating experience The way Simon's experience as a bookseller informed him as a writer and within the business of publishing Decisions on which books to stock, which are based on understanding the marketplace and what is going to sell within that market The importance of not taking it personally when a bookseller or publisher is not interested in your book How thinking of the book in smaller chunks made the process of writing the novel more manageable And more....  After the interview, Mark reflects on the concept of breaking your work/writing into smaller, more manageable chunks as one way to conquer the overwhelm of a large project in front of you.   Links of Interest: Simon Lowe's Website Episode 204 - Overcoming Self-Doubt with Tessa Smith McGovern Episode 203 - A Rant on Unprofessional Author Behavior Original Unedited raw Rant (Patron link) Episode 17 - Focusing on Your Readers with Steena Holmes When Words Collide The Relaxed Author Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Simon Lowe is a British author. His stories have appeared in various publications, including AMP, Storgy, Ponder Review, EX/POST, Blackwater Review, and elsewhere. After a decade working in book stores he now writes part time as well as being a stay at home dad. His new novel, The World is At War, Again, was released in June 2021.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Simon Lowe, an author with a number of stories published in various magazines, who, after a decade working in book stores, released his first novel (The World is at War, Again) in June 2021 and now writes part time while also performing the role of a stay at home dad. Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new Patrons Talena Winters, Rachel Amphlett, and Carolyn Stein, reads comments from recent episodes, offers a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their chat, Mark and Simon discuss: Simon's recent release of the speculative fiction novel The World Is At War, Again and how it's about government declaring newer technology to be too much of a threat to be allowed How the novel is set with the world at war without there being a specific single war such as WWII - as a commentary of the ongoing "state" of war Some of the parallels between the content of this novel and the current pandemic world we're living in How the removal of technology also reduces a person's ability to "fake" who they are, in the same way they can behind the filters of social media Conceiving of a world without technology as one of of being able to focus on how people interact directly with one another The impact of external factors on the way people connect and focus Simon's 10 years of experience as a bookseller and the various formats for paperbacks The difference in UK and North American bookshop genre designations such as "Crime" in the UK which is "Mystery" in North America Mark's experience on what people were looking for when they walked into a bookstore and asked for the "non-fiction books" How, for some people, walking into a bookstore can be an intimidating experience The way Simon's experience as a bookseller informed him as a writer and within the business of publishing Decisions on which books to stock, which are based on understanding the marketplace and what is going to sell within that market The importance of not taking it personally when a bookseller or publisher is not interested in your book How thinking of the book in smaller chunks made the process of writing the novel more manageable And more....  After the interview, Mark reflects on the concept of breaking your work/writing into smaller, more manageable chunks as one way to conquer the overwhelm of a large project in front of you.   Links of Interest: Simon Lowe's Website Episode 204 - Overcoming Self-Doubt with Tessa Smith McGovern Episode 203 - A Rant on Unprofessional Author Behavior Original Unedited raw Rant (Patron link) Episode 17 - Focusing on Your Readers with Steena Holmes When Words Collide The Relaxed Author Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Simon Lowe is a British author. His stories have appeared in various publications, including AMP, Storgy, Ponder Review, EX/POST, Blackwater Review, and elsewhere. After a decade working in book stores he now writes part time as well as being a stay at home dad. His new novel, The World is At War, Again, was released in June 2021.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 204 - Overcoming Self-Doubt with Tessa Smith McGovern Overcoming Self-Doubt with Tessa Smith McGovern Fri, 06 Aug 2021 17:26:08 +0000 Mark interviews Tessa Smith McGovern an award-winning and best-selling author who has taught writing for 22 year.

Prior to the interview, Mark says comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

During their conversation, Mark and Tessa talk about:

  • How, during the lockdown and covid-19 pandemic isolation, Tessa had to come face to face with herself while stuck at home
  • The recognition of guilt, misery, and self-doubt that led to self-sabotage
  • Tessa having been an author for thirty years and being traditionally published and indie published
  • Finding herself humiliated in a situation with a writer whose work Tessa quite adored
  • Tessa's experience with teaching writers, and how writers often bring a significant amount of material to those lessons
  • How we have to find the belief in ourselves
  • Lighting the candle for someone else when the flame of inspiration goes out
  • Things we can do to avoid self-sabotage
  • Setting a goal that doesn't end up engaging your ego (which can often introduce self-doubt to the equation)
  • The Westport Writes writers program in Westport Connecticut
  • How love and kindness meditation can improve your focus, your memory and your productivity
  • The importance of creative rest, and recognizing when we need that
  • If you understand your creative process and what works, you can be more in control of it
  • The fifty+ short stories Tessa had from her writing career and how she found particular connections between the stories, based on themes, similar characters, and other factors that can be patterned
  • How the process of linking short stories can be a delightful process
  • Tessa's book Cocktails for Book Lovers
  • The value of a good editor, and how sometimes working with an editor from a traditional publishing house can offer perks that are difficult to buy from freelance editors
  • The way that the right editor can help an author turn something that is good into something that is fantastic
  • And more...

Links of Interest:

 

Tessa Smith McGovern has taught writing for 22 years and, for the last ten years, at the Writing Institute, Sarah Lawrence College, NY. She is an award-winning writer whose linked short story collection, LONDON ROAD: LINKED STORIES, received a 'Featured' review from Kirkus, is an Amazon best-seller, and a gold medal winner in the 2012 eLit Awards. Her non-fiction book, COCKTAILS FOR BOOK LOVERS (Sourcebooks), is also an Amazon best-seller. Her many publication credits include the Connecticut Review and Equinox, a UK poetry journal archived by the English Arts Council at the Southbank Centre, London. She's currently writing a contemporary fantasy novel inspired by British mythology and pursuing her MFA in Writing at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

She is founder and editor of eChook Digital Publishing. eChook won a silver medal in the 2012 eLit Awards and its stories have been read by thousands of readers in 100+ countries.

Tessa is also host, writer and producer of BookGirlTV (BGTV), an award-winning digital channel that promotes books and reading. BGTV has 6 million+ minutes viewed on YouTube and 10,000+ likes on Facebook.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Tessa Smith McGovern an award-winning and best-selling author who has taught writing for 22 year.

Prior to the interview, Mark says comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Tessa talk about:

  • How, during the lockdown and covid-19 pandemic isolation, Tessa had to come face to face with herself while stuck at home
  • The recognition of guilt, misery, and self-doubt that led to self-sabotage
  • Tessa having been an author for thirty years and being traditionally published and indie published
  • Finding herself humiliated in a situation with a writer whose work Tessa quite adored
  • Tessa's experience with teaching writers, and how writers often bring a significant amount of material to those lessons
  • How we have to find the belief in ourselves
  • Lighting the candle for someone else when the flame of inspiration goes out
  • Things we can do to avoid self-sabotage
  • Setting a goal that doesn't end up engaging your ego (which can often introduce self-doubt to the equation)
  • The Westport Writes writers program in Westport Connecticut
  • How love and kindness meditation can improve your focus, your memory and your productivity
  • The importance of creative rest, and recognizing when we need that
  • If you understand your creative process and what works, you can be more in control of it
  • The fifty+ short stories Tessa had from her writing career and how she found particular connections between the stories, based on themes, similar characters, and other factors that can be patterned
  • How the process of linking short stories can be a delightful process
  • Tessa's book Cocktails for Book Lovers
  • The value of a good editor, and how sometimes working with an editor from a traditional publishing house can offer perks that are difficult to buy from freelance editors
  • The way that the right editor can help an author turn something that is good into something that is fantastic
  • And more...

Links of Interest:

Tessa Smith McGovern has taught writing for 22 years and, for the last ten years, at the Writing Institute, Sarah Lawrence College, NY. She is an award-winning writer whose linked short story collection, LONDON ROAD: LINKED STORIES, received a 'Featured' review from Kirkus, is an Amazon best-seller, and a gold medal winner in the 2012 eLit Awards. Her non-fiction book, COCKTAILS FOR BOOK LOVERS (Sourcebooks), is also an Amazon best-seller. Her many publication credits include the Connecticut Review and Equinox, a UK poetry journal archived by the English Arts Council at the Southbank Centre, London. She's currently writing a contemporary fantasy novel inspired by British mythology and pursuing her MFA in Writing at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

She is founder and editor of eChook Digital Publishing. eChook won a silver medal in the 2012 eLit Awards and its stories have been read by thousands of readers in 100+ countries.

Tessa is also host, writer and producer of BookGirlTV (BGTV), an award-winning digital channel that promotes books and reading. BGTV has 6 million+ minutes viewed on YouTube and 10,000+ likes on Facebook.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:05:26 false 4 202 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Tessa Smith McGovern an award-winning and best-selling author who has taught writing for 22 year. Prior to the interview, Mark says comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   During their conversation, Mark and Tessa talk about: How, during the lockdown and covid-19 pandemic isolation, Tessa had to come face to face with herself while stuck at home The recognition of guilt, misery, and self-doubt that led to self-sabotage Tessa having been an author for thirty years and being traditionally published and indie published Finding herself humiliated in a situation with a writer whose work Tessa quite adored Tessa's experience with teaching writers, and how writers often bring a significant amount of material to those lessons How we have to find the belief in ourselves Lighting the candle for someone else when the flame of inspiration goes out Things we can do to avoid self-sabotage Setting a goal that doesn't end up engaging your ego (which can often introduce self-doubt to the equation) The Westport Writes writers program in Westport Connecticut How love and kindness meditation can improve your focus, your memory and your productivity The importance of creative rest, and recognizing when we need that If you understand your creative process and what works, you can be more in control of it The fifty+ short stories Tessa had from her writing career and how she found particular connections between the stories, based on themes, similar characters, and other factors that can be patterned How the process of linking short stories can be a delightful process Tessa's book Cocktails for Book Lovers The value of a good editor, and how sometimes working with an editor from a traditional publishing house can offer perks that are difficult to buy from freelance editors The way that the right editor can help an author turn something that is good into something that is fantastic And more... Links of Interest: Tessa Smith McGovern's Website Newsletter Signup Free Coaching/Zoom Classes How to Link Stories & Memoirs into a Collection BookGirlTV BookGirlTV on YouTube Episode 203 - A Rant on Unprofessional Author Behavior Original Unedited raw Rant (Patron link) Episode 201 - Building Your Marketing From Day One with Julie Broad of Book Launchers Episode 197 - Rambling Reflections from the Darkness Within Publishing Pitfalls for Authors The Relaxed Author Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Tessa Smith McGovern has taught writing for 22 years and, for the last ten years, at the Writing Institute, Sarah Lawrence College, NY. She is an award-winning writer whose linked short story collection, LONDON ROAD: LINKED STORIES, received a 'Featured' review from Kirkus, is an Amazon best-seller, and a gold medal winner in the 2012 eLit Awards. Her non-fiction book, COCKTAILS FOR BOOK LOVERS (Sourcebooks), is also an Amazon best-seller. Her many publication credits include the Connecticut Review and Equinox, a UK poetry journal archived by the English Arts Council at the Southbank Centre, London. She's currently writing a contemporary fantasy novel inspired by British mythology and pursuing her MFA in Writing at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is founder and editor of eChook Digital Publishing. eChook won a silver medal in the 2012 eLit Awards and its stories have been read by thousands of readers in 100+ countries. Tessa is also host, writer and producer of BookGirlTV (BGTV), an award-winning digital channel that promotes books and reading. BGTV has 6 million+ minutes viewed on YouTube and 10,000+ likes on Facebook.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Tessa Smith McGovern an award-winning and best-selling author who has taught writing for 22 year. Prior to the interview, Mark says comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   During their conversation, Mark and Tessa talk about: How, during the lockdown and covid-19 pandemic isolation, Tessa had to come face to face with herself while stuck at home The recognition of guilt, misery, and self-doubt that led to self-sabotage Tessa having been an author for thirty years and being traditionally published and indie published Finding herself humiliated in a situation with a writer whose work Tessa quite adored Tessa's experience with teaching writers, and how writers often bring a significant amount of material to those lessons How we have to find the belief in ourselves Lighting the candle for someone else when the flame of inspiration goes out Things we can do to avoid self-sabotage Setting a goal that doesn't end up engaging your ego (which can often introduce self-doubt to the equation) The Westport Writes writers program in Westport Connecticut How love and kindness meditation can improve your focus, your memory and your productivity The importance of creative rest, and recognizing when we need that If you understand your creative process and what works, you can be more in control of it The fifty+ short stories Tessa had from her writing career and how she found particular connections between the stories, based on themes, similar characters, and other factors that can be patterned How the process of linking short stories can be a delightful process Tessa's book Cocktails for Book Lovers The value of a good editor, and how sometimes working with an editor from a traditional publishing house can offer perks that are difficult to buy from freelance editors The way that the right editor can help an author turn something that is good into something that is fantastic And more... Links of Interest: Tessa Smith McGovern's Website Newsletter Signup Free Coaching/Zoom Classes How to Link Stories & Memoirs into a Collection BookGirlTV BookGirlTV on YouTube Episode 203 - A Rant on Unprofessional Author Behavior Original Unedited raw Rant (Patron link) Episode 201 - Building Your Marketing From Day One with Julie Broad of Book Launchers Episode 197 - Rambling Reflections from the Darkness Within Publishing Pitfalls for Authors The Relaxed Author Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Tessa Smith McGovern has taught writing for 22 years and, for the last ten years, at the Writing Institute, Sarah Lawrence College, NY. She is an award-winning writer whose linked short story collection, LONDON ROAD: LINKED STORIES, received a 'Featured' review from Kirkus, is an Amazon best-seller, and a gold medal winner in the 2012 eLit Awards. Her non-fiction book, COCKTAILS FOR BOOK LOVERS (Sourcebooks), is also an Amazon best-seller. Her many publication credits include the Connecticut Review and Equinox, a UK poetry journal archived by the English Arts Council at the Southbank Centre, London. She's currently writing a contemporary fantasy novel inspired by British mythology and pursuing her MFA in Writing at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is founder and editor of eChook Digital Publishing. eChook won a silver medal in the 2012 eLit Awards and its stories have been read by thousands of readers in 100+ countries. Tessa is also host, writer and producer of BookGirlTV (BGTV), an award-winning digital channel that promotes books and reading. BGTV has 6 million+ minutes viewed on YouTube and 10,000+ likes on Facebook.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 203 - A Rant on Unprofessional Author Behavior A Rant on Unprofessional Author Behavior Fri, 30 Jul 2021 10:16:35 +0000 Mark shares a rant about a particular thing he noticed continues to happen related to authors looking for promotional opportunities.

Prior to the main content, Mark talks about how this episode was born from content originally sent to patrons of the podcast who responded to his slightly rawer rant on the same topic. For that special episode, he merely turned on the microphone and just let it out.

But a number of patrons commented about that rant, suggesting that it would be beneficial to the larger author community to be aware of an author action that can really set off retailers, distributors, and other industry people.

Mark reads off the names of the current patrons, thanking them for their support, and for bringing this episode to all listeners.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections podcast.

Patrons can support this podcast at http://patreon.com/starkreflections for $1, $3, or $5 a month, and gain access to additional content, text, video, and special audio episodes. A common theme to those episodes is "Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts." As of July 29, 2021, there are 75 exclusive backlist patron posts available.

Within the main content, or rant, for this episode, Mark talks about all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into finding promotional space for indie authors on the majority of the larger retail platforms outside of Amazon, and the thoughtless way that some authors treat all this hard work.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark shares a rant about a particular thing he noticed continues to happen related to authors looking for promotional opportunities.

Prior to the main content, Mark talks about how this episode was born from content originally sent to patrons of the podcast who responded to his slightly rawer rant on the same topic. For that special episode, he merely turned on the microphone and just let it out.

But a number of patrons commented about that rant, suggesting that it would be beneficial to the larger author community to be aware of an author action that can really set off retailers, distributors, and other industry people.

Mark reads off the names of the current patrons, thanking them for their support, and for bringing this episode to all listeners.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections podcast.

Patrons can support this podcast at http://patreon.com/starkreflections for $1, $3, or $5 a month, and gain access to additional content, text, video, and special audio episodes. A common theme to those episodes is "Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts." As of July 29, 2021, there are 75 exclusive backlist patron posts available.

Within the main content, or rant, for this episode, Mark talks about all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into finding promotional space for indie authors on the majority of the larger retail platforms outside of Amazon, and the thoughtless way that some authors treat all this hard work.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 27:49 false 4 203 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark shares a rant about a particular thing he noticed continues to happen related to authors looking for promotional opportunities. Prior to the main content, Mark talks about how this episode was born from content originally sent to patrons of the podcast who responded to his slightly rawer rant on the same topic. For that special episode, he merely turned on the microphone and just let it out. But a number of patrons commented about that rant, suggesting that it would be beneficial to the larger author community to be aware of an author action that can really set off retailers, distributors, and other industry people. Mark reads off the names of the current patrons, thanking them for their support, and for bringing this episode to all listeners. This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections podcast. Patrons can support this podcast at http://patreon.com/starkreflections for $1, $3, or $5 a month, and gain access to additional content, text, video, and special audio episodes. A common theme to those episodes is "Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts." As of July 29, 2021, there are 75 exclusive backlist patron posts available. Within the main content, or rant, for this episode, Mark talks about all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into finding promotional space for indie authors on the majority of the larger retail platforms outside of Amazon, and the thoughtless way that some authors treat all this hard work.   Links of Interest: A Rant on Unprofessional Author Behavior (Patron link) Publishing Pitfalls for Authors The Relaxed Author Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark shares a rant about a particular thing he noticed continues to happen related to authors looking for promotional opportunities. Prior to the main content, Mark talks about how this episode was born from content originally sent to patrons of the podcast who responded to his slightly rawer rant on the same topic. For that special episode, he merely turned on the microphone and just let it out. But a number of patrons commented about that rant, suggesting that it would be beneficial to the larger author community to be aware of an author action that can really set off retailers, distributors, and other industry people. Mark reads off the names of the current patrons, thanking them for their support, and for bringing this episode to all listeners. This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections podcast. Patrons can support this podcast at http://patreon.com/starkreflections for $1, $3, or $5 a month, and gain access to additional content, text, video, and special audio episodes. A common theme to those episodes is "Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts." As of July 29, 2021, there are 75 exclusive backlist patron posts available. Within the main content, or rant, for this episode, Mark talks about all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into finding promotional space for indie authors on the majority of the larger retail platforms outside of Amazon, and the thoughtless way that some authors treat all this hard work.   Links of Interest: A Rant on Unprofessional Author Behavior (Patron link) Publishing Pitfalls for Authors The Relaxed Author Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 202 - Publishers and Predators Publishers and Predators Thu, 22 Jul 2021 23:26:20 +0000 Mark shares an early draft excerpt from his forthcoming August 2021 book PUBLISHING PITFALLS FOR AUTHORS. Specifically he talks about Publishers and Predators and the things that authors need to be careful to look out for.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares some comments from a recent Patreon only rant episode he recently released talking about unprofessional author behavior and promises to release an edited and slightly modified version into the regular feed in the near future.

He thanks his patrons for the feedback on that episode as well as helping him realize that the learning and insights would be valuable to the greater author community.

He then shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark shares an early draft excerpt from his forthcoming August 2021 book PUBLISHING PITFALLS FOR AUTHORS. Specifically he talks about Publishers and Predators and the things that authors need to be careful to look out for.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares some comments from a recent Patreon only rant episode he recently released talking about unprofessional author behavior and promises to release an edited and slightly modified version into the regular feed in the near future.

He thanks his patrons for the feedback on that episode as well as helping him realize that the learning and insights would be valuable to the greater author community.

He then shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 34:41 false 4 202 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark shares an early draft excerpt from his forthcoming August 2021 book PUBLISHING PITFALLS FOR AUTHORS. Specifically he talks about Publishers and Predators and the things that authors need to be careful to look out for. Prior to the main content, Mark shares some comments from a recent Patreon only rant episode he recently released talking about unprofessional author behavior and promises to release an edited and slightly modified version into the regular feed in the near future. He thanks his patrons for the feedback on that episode as well as helping him realize that the learning and insights would be valuable to the greater author community. He then shares a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: A Rant on Unprofessional Author Behavior (Patron link) Publishing Pitfalls for Authors The Relaxed Author Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark shares an early draft excerpt from his forthcoming August 2021 book PUBLISHING PITFALLS FOR AUTHORS. Specifically he talks about Publishers and Predators and the things that authors need to be careful to look out for. Prior to the main content, Mark shares some comments from a recent Patreon only rant episode he recently released talking about unprofessional author behavior and promises to release an edited and slightly modified version into the regular feed in the near future. He thanks his patrons for the feedback on that episode as well as helping him realize that the learning and insights would be valuable to the greater author community. He then shares a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: A Rant on Unprofessional Author Behavior (Patron link) Publishing Pitfalls for Authors The Relaxed Author Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 201 - Building Your Marketing From Day One with Julie Broad of Book Launchers Building Your Marketing From Day One with Julie Broad of Book Launchers Fri, 16 Jul 2021 02:02:37 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews #1 bestselling author and founder of Book Launchers, Julie Broad.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal upon, an opportunity for listeners to win one of three spots in a full day author boot camp workshop taking place in mid August 2021, and a new opportunity for listeners to win a 1:1 Story Stuck consultation with editor Clark Chamberlain.

In their conversation, Mark and Julie talk about:

  • The non-straight-line journey that Julie took to get to her current career in helping authors (which involved real estate, properties, and that world)
  • Being approached by published in 2011 for some book ideas, and the back-and-forth of a book proposal done collaboratively by a major publisher that changed their course/plan at the last minute
  • How Julie's crushed-ego from that rejected led to her self-publishing the book and shepherding the book (More Than Cash Flow) to #1 for over a month
  • The nightmarish horror stories that helped Julie's real estate book sell really well
  • The passion to help authors that drives Julie and is evident in her dynamic Book Launchers videos
  • How Book Launchers has learned that, once an author is past a certain point in developing their manuscript, it might be too late for effectively building those marketing efforts in early
  • Some of the common mistakes authors make such as an ineffective title, and even the TOC and chapter titles
  • How the chapter title "You are Who Google Says You Are" in her book "New Brand You"
  • The reality that Book Launchers only works with about 10% of the people who approach them - because they want to ensure they can truly help the clients they take on
  • The behind-the-scenes of the Book Launchers videos, including about five hours of research and writing that goes into the videos before they even begin to shoot
  • The critical importance of those core supporters and the people who regularly interact and comment
  • Being recognized in public because of the popularity and value of her YouTube channel
  • Some of the things that authors should look out for when it comes to service providers in the self-publishing space
  • How asking for and getting reviews is one of the most important aspects of the business of writing
  • Some of the industry trends that Julie is tracking and paying attention to
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things that the conversation made him think about.

 

Links of Interest:

Julie Broad, founder of self-publishing services firm Book Launchers and Amazon Overall #1 Best Selling Author, knows what it takes to successfully self-publish a book. Julie's titles include More than Cashflow, which topped Amazon, The New Brand You, and her latest book, Self-Publish & Succeed. An expert on writing a book with marketing in mind, Julie teaches authors how to write a #noboringbook on her popular YouTube channel BookLaunchers.TV. Her advice for authors and investors has also been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur.com, Yahoo! Business, CTV, the Toronto Sun, and Medium.com.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews #1 bestselling author and founder of Book Launchers, Julie Broad.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal upon, an opportunity for listeners to win one of three spots in a full day author boot camp workshop taking place in mid August 2021, and a new opportunity for listeners to win a 1:1 Story Stuck consultation with editor Clark Chamberlain.

In their conversation, Mark and Julie talk about:

  • The non-straight-line journey that Julie took to get to her current career in helping authors (which involved real estate, properties, and that world)
  • Being approached by published in 2011 for some book ideas, and the back-and-forth of a book proposal done collaboratively by a major publisher that changed their course/plan at the last minute
  • How Julie's crushed-ego from that rejected led to her self-publishing the book and shepherding the book (More Than Cash Flow) to #1 for over a month
  • The nightmarish horror stories that helped Julie's real estate book sell really well
  • The passion to help authors that drives Julie and is evident in her dynamic Book Launchers videos
  • How Book Launchers has learned that, once an author is past a certain point in developing their manuscript, it might be too late for effectively building those marketing efforts in early
  • Some of the common mistakes authors make such as an ineffective title, and even the TOC and chapter titles
  • How the chapter title "You are Who Google Says You Are" in her book "New Brand You"
  • The reality that Book Launchers only works with about 10% of the people who approach them - because they want to ensure they can truly help the clients they take on
  • The behind-the-scenes of the Book Launchers videos, including about five hours of research and writing that goes into the videos before they even begin to shoot
  • The critical importance of those core supporters and the people who regularly interact and comment
  • Being recognized in public because of the popularity and value of her YouTube channel
  • Some of the things that authors should look out for when it comes to service providers in the self-publishing space
  • How asking for and getting reviews is one of the most important aspects of the business of writing
  • Some of the industry trends that Julie is tracking and paying attention to
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things that the conversation made him think about.

Links of Interest:

Julie Broad, founder of self-publishing services firm Book Launchers and Amazon Overall #1 Best Selling Author, knows what it takes to successfully self-publish a book. Julie's titles include More than Cashflow, which topped Amazon, The New Brand You, and her latest book, Self-Publish & Succeed. An expert on writing a book with marketing in mind, Julie teaches authors how to write a #noboringbook on her popular YouTube channel BookLaunchers.TV. Her advice for authors and investors has also been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur.com, Yahoo! Business, CTV, the Toronto Sun, and Medium.com.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 53:31 false 4 201 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews #1 bestselling author and founder of Book Launchers, Julie Broad. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal upon, an opportunity for listeners to win one of three spots in a full day author boot camp workshop taking place in mid August 2021, and a new opportunity for listeners to win a 1:1 Story Stuck consultation with editor Clark Chamberlain. In their conversation, Mark and Julie talk about: The non-straight-line journey that Julie took to get to her current career in helping authors (which involved real estate, properties, and that world) Being approached by published in 2011 for some book ideas, and the back-and-forth of a book proposal done collaboratively by a major publisher that changed their course/plan at the last minute How Julie's crushed-ego from that rejected led to her self-publishing the book and shepherding the book (More Than Cash Flow) to #1 for over a month The nightmarish horror stories that helped Julie's real estate book sell really well The passion to help authors that drives Julie and is evident in her dynamic Book Launchers videos How Book Launchers has learned that, once an author is past a certain point in developing their manuscript, it might be too late for effectively building those marketing efforts in early Some of the common mistakes authors make such as an ineffective title, and even the TOC and chapter titles How the chapter title "You are Who Google Says You Are" in her book "New Brand You" The reality that Book Launchers only works with about 10% of the people who approach them - because they want to ensure they can truly help the clients they take on The behind-the-scenes of the Book Launchers videos, including about five hours of research and writing that goes into the videos before they even begin to shoot The critical importance of those core supporters and the people who regularly interact and comment Being recognized in public because of the popularity and value of her YouTube channel Some of the things that authors should look out for when it comes to service providers in the self-publishing space How asking for and getting reviews is one of the most important aspects of the business of writing Some of the industry trends that Julie is tracking and paying attention to And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things that the conversation made him think about.   Links of Interest: Booklaunchers.tv (YouTube Channel) Booklaunchers.com (Main Website) Julie's Video Review of KILLING IT ON KOBO EP 29 - Terry Fallis on Writing with Authenticity, Humor, and Passion EP 200 - Alas, Dear Author, I Reflected for 200 Episodes EP 197 - Rambling Reflections Through the Darkness Within Mark's TikTok #DuetMe Request (Planes, Trains and Automobiles) Mark's YouTube Video of "You Play with Your Balls a Lot" Scene from Planes, Trains and Automobiles) Bibliofic Designs The Relaxed Author Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Julie Broad, founder of self-publishing services firm Book Launchers and Amazon Overall #1 Best Selling Author, knows what it takes to successfully self-publish a book. Julie's titles include More than Cashflow, which topped Amazon, The New Brand You, and her latest book, Self-Publish & Succeed. An expert on writing a book with marketing in mind, Julie teaches authors how to write a #noboringbook on her popular YouTube channel BookLaunchers.TV. Her advice for authors and investors has also been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur.com, Yahoo! Business, CTV, the Toronto Sun, and Medium.com.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews #1 bestselling author and founder of Book Launchers, Julie Broad. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal upon, an opportunity for listeners to win one of three spots in a full day author boot camp workshop taking place in mid August 2021, and a new opportunity for listeners to win a 1:1 Story Stuck consultation with editor Clark Chamberlain. In their conversation, Mark and Julie talk about: The non-straight-line journey that Julie took to get to her current career in helping authors (which involved real estate, properties, and that world) Being approached by published in 2011 for some book ideas, and the back-and-forth of a book proposal done collaboratively by a major publisher that changed their course/plan at the last minute How Julie's crushed-ego from that rejected led to her self-publishing the book and shepherding the book (More Than Cash Flow) to #1 for over a month The nightmarish horror stories that helped Julie's real estate book sell really well The passion to help authors that drives Julie and is evident in her dynamic Book Launchers videos How Book Launchers has learned that, once an author is past a certain point in developing their manuscript, it might be too late for effectively building those marketing efforts in early Some of the common mistakes authors make such as an ineffective title, and even the TOC and chapter titles How the chapter title "You are Who Google Says You Are" in her book "New Brand You" The reality that Book Launchers only works with about 10% of the people who approach them - because they want to ensure they can truly help the clients they take on The behind-the-scenes of the Book Launchers videos, including about five hours of research and writing that goes into the videos before they even begin to shoot The critical importance of those core supporters and the people who regularly interact and comment Being recognized in public because of the popularity and value of her YouTube channel Some of the things that authors should look out for when it comes to service providers in the self-publishing space How asking for and getting reviews is one of the most important aspects of the business of writing Some of the industry trends that Julie is tracking and paying attention to And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things that the conversation made him think about.   Links of Interest: Booklaunchers.tv (YouTube Channel) Booklaunchers.com (Main Website) Julie's Video Review of KILLING IT ON KOBO EP 29 - Terry Fallis on Writing with Authenticity, Humor, and Passion EP 200 - Alas, Dear Author, I Reflected for 200 Episodes EP 197 - Rambling Reflections Through the Darkness Within Mark's TikTok #DuetMe Request (Planes, Trains and Automobiles) Mark's YouTube Video of "You Play with Your Balls a Lot" Scene from Planes, Trains and Automobiles) Bibliofic Designs The Relaxed Author Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Julie Broad, founder of self-publishing services firm Book Launchers and Amazon Overall #1 Best Selling Author, knows what it takes to successfully self-publish a book. Julie's titles include More than Cashflow, which topped Amazon, The New Brand You, and her latest book, Self-Publish & Succeed. An expert on writing a book with marketing in mind, Julie teaches authors how to write a #noboringbook on her popular YouTube channel BookLaunchers.TV. Her advice for authors and investors has also been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur.com, Yahoo! Business, CTV, the Toronto Sun, and Medium.com.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 200 - Alas, Dear Author, I Reflected for 200 Episodes Alas, Dear Author, I Reflected for 200 Episodes Fri, 09 Jul 2021 01:50:06 +0000 Mark reflects on 200 episodes and also shares a reading from a chapter in his book WIDE FOR THE WIN on Quantum Eggs merged with ad hoc musings.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares an opportunity for listeners to win one of three spots in a full day author boot camp workshop taking place in mid August 2021, and also shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

Mark reflects on why he started the podcast, what he think it offers, then shares a chapter from the book WIDE FOR THE WIN interspersed with pauses and reflective asides.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> Mark reflects on 200 episodes and also shares a reading from a chapter in his book WIDE FOR THE WIN on Quantum Eggs merged with ad hoc musings.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares an opportunity for listeners to win one of three spots in a full day author boot camp workshop taking place in mid August 2021, and also shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark reflects on why he started the podcast, what he think it offers, then shares a chapter from the book WIDE FOR THE WIN interspersed with pauses and reflective asides.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 43:42 false 4 200 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark reflects on 200 episodes and also shares a reading from a chapter in his book WIDE FOR THE WIN on Quantum Eggs merged with ad hoc musings. Prior to the main content, Mark shares an opportunity for listeners to win one of three spots in a full day author boot camp workshop taking place in mid August 2021, and also shares a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Mark reflects on why he started the podcast, what he think it offers, then shares a chapter from the book WIDE FOR THE WIN interspersed with pauses and reflective asides. Links of Interest: Link to Entry Form for Full Day Workshop Free Registration to Virtual When Words Collide Conference in August 2021 Episode 192 - Bold Business Strategies for Authors Parody Video: Stuck in This House Here with You Stupid Dad Joke Shorts Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark reflects on 200 episodes and also shares a reading from a chapter in his book WIDE FOR THE WIN on Quantum Eggs merged with ad hoc musings. Prior to the main content, Mark shares an opportunity for listeners to win one of three spots in a full day author boot camp workshop taking place in mid August 2021, and also shares a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Mark reflects on why he started the podcast, what he think it offers, then shares a chapter from the book WIDE FOR THE WIN interspersed with pauses and reflective asides. Links of Interest: Link to Entry Form for Full Day Workshop Free Registration to Virtual When Words Collide Conference in August 2021 Episode 192 - Bold Business Strategies for Authors Parody Video: Stuck in This House Here with You Stupid Dad Joke Shorts Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   EP 199 - Indie Author Magazine Indie Author Magazine Thu, 01 Jul 2021 22:00:00 +0000 Mark interviews Chelle Honiker and Chrishaun Keller Hanna of Indie Author Magazine.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversion Chelle, Chrishaun, and Mark talk about:

  • Their backgrounds as writers, creatives, geeks, and entrepreneurs
  • Chrishan's "Organzied chaos with style" line and how she has honed and refined her "pitch" over time at cons
  • How writing feels like one dimension of a way that you can tell a story
  • Learning about not being cut out for working FOR other people
  • An aborted attempt at becoming a digital nomad (due to the global covid lockdowns)
  • How an accountability partner/mastermind group led to the origin of Indie Author Magazine
  • The desire to create an unbiased source of trusted information for indie authors
  • The magazine being produced as a monthly digital and a print quarterly
  • How the skill-set for the magazine was based on internal skills, talents, and experience from the team
  • The range of topics and features planned to be covered and updated in each issue
  • The "Indie Annie" column in order to answer questions submitted by readers
  • How authors can get ahold of the magazine online or via the app
  • The way they manage to fit managing this magazine while maintaining their writing commitments
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the power of priorities, partnership, and collaboration.

  

Links of Interest:

 

The mission of Indie Author Magazine is to inform, educate, and inspire authors at every stage of their careers.

Our vision is to be the trusted industry leader for reliable resources and information for indie authors by providing unbiased, well-researched, and articulate content in a timely manner, in the most engaging format possible.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Chelle Honiker and Chrishaun Keller Hanna of Indie Author Magazine.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversion Chelle, Chrishaun, and Mark talk about:

  • Their backgrounds as writers, creatives, geeks, and entrepreneurs
  • Chrishan's "Organzied chaos with style" line and how she has honed and refined her "pitch" over time at cons
  • How writing feels like one dimension of a way that you can tell a story
  • Learning about not being cut out for working FOR other people
  • An aborted attempt at becoming a digital nomad (due to the global covid lockdowns)
  • How an accountability partner/mastermind group led to the origin of Indie Author Magazine
  • The desire to create an unbiased source of trusted information for indie authors
  • The magazine being produced as a monthly digital and a print quarterly
  • How the skill-set for the magazine was based on internal skills, talents, and experience from the team
  • The range of topics and features planned to be covered and updated in each issue
  • The "Indie Annie" column in order to answer questions submitted by readers
  • How authors can get ahold of the magazine online or via the app
  • The way they manage to fit managing this magazine while maintaining their writing commitments
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the power of priorities, partnership, and collaboration.

Links of Interest:

The mission of Indie Author Magazine is to inform, educate, and inspire authors at every stage of their careers.

Our vision is to be the trusted industry leader for reliable resources and information for indie authors by providing unbiased, well-researched, and articulate content in a timely manner, in the most engaging format possible.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 57:56 false 4 199 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Chelle Honiker and Chrishaun Keller Hanna of Indie Author Magazine. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversion Chelle, Chrishaun, and Mark talk about: Their backgrounds as writers, creatives, geeks, and entrepreneurs Chrishan's "Organzied chaos with style" line and how she has honed and refined her "pitch" over time at cons How writing feels like one dimension of a way that you can tell a story Learning about not being cut out for working FOR other people An aborted attempt at becoming a digital nomad (due to the global covid lockdowns) How an accountability partner/mastermind group led to the origin of Indie Author Magazine The desire to create an unbiased source of trusted information for indie authors The magazine being produced as a monthly digital and a print quarterly How the skill-set for the magazine was based on internal skills, talents, and experience from the team The range of topics and features planned to be covered and updated in each issue The "Indie Annie" column in order to answer questions submitted by readers How authors can get ahold of the magazine online or via the app The way they manage to fit managing this magazine while maintaining their writing commitments And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the power of priorities, partnership, and collaboration.    Links of Interest: Indie Author Magazine The Relaxed Author Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   The mission of Indie Author Magazine is to inform, educate, and inspire authors at every stage of their careers. Our vision is to be the trusted industry leader for reliable resources and information for indie authors by providing unbiased, well-researched, and articulate content in a timely manner, in the most engaging format possible.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Chelle Honiker and Chrishaun Keller Hanna of Indie Author Magazine. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversion Chelle, Chrishaun, and Mark talk about: Their backgrounds as writers, creatives, geeks, and entrepreneurs Chrishan's "Organzied chaos with style" line and how she has honed and refined her "pitch" over time at cons How writing feels like one dimension of a way that you can tell a story Learning about not being cut out for working FOR other people An aborted attempt at becoming a digital nomad (due to the global covid lockdowns) How an accountability partner/mastermind group led to the origin of Indie Author Magazine The desire to create an unbiased source of trusted information for indie authors The magazine being produced as a monthly digital and a print quarterly How the skill-set for the magazine was based on internal skills, talents, and experience from the team The range of topics and features planned to be covered and updated in each issue The "Indie Annie" column in order to answer questions submitted by readers How authors can get ahold of the magazine online or via the app The way they manage to fit managing this magazine while maintaining their writing commitments And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the power of priorities, partnership, and collaboration.    Links of Interest: Indie Author Magazine The Relaxed Author Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   The mission of Indie Author Magazine is to inform, educate, and inspire authors at every stage of their careers. Our vision is to be the trusted industry leader for reliable resources and information for indie authors by providing unbiased, well-researched, and articulate content in a timely manner, in the most engaging format possible.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 198 - Multiple Prosperous Winners in Marketing & Publishing with Honorée Corder Multiple Prosperous Winners in Marketing & Publishing with Honorée Corder Thu, 24 Jun 2021 22:12:39 +0000 Mark interviews Honorée Corder, an executive and strategic book and publishing coach, TEDx speaker, and the author of more than 50 books including You Must Write a Book.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, some recent comments and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversion Mark and Honorée talk about:

  • The way Honorée's business got its start after a discussion with Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series
  • Collaborating with businesses that want to use her books to promote/market their own business and how that has created a win/win/win situation
  • Purposefully writing and marketing books to targeted potential clients with bulk discount rates in mind
  • How people will throw out business cards but are far less likely to throw out a book
  • Researching how to make the process of custom back covers for the same front, spine, and interior with a designer and a printer
  • Ideas for how authors can leverage this type of marketing by offering a potential client a pile of books to give away to their clients
  • Adapting an abundance mindset versus a scarcity mindset
  • The mental hurdles that writers have to overcome in order to face prosperity
  • What makes the difference between a hobbyist and a professional
  • Commitment versus interest
  • The question of "whether or not the person I am tomorrow will be proud of the person I am today"
  • The importance of having downtime, quiet time, and opportunities for recharging our creativity
  • How having a schedule can set you free from not worrying about something that's on your plate
  • The basic principlee behind "The Miracle Morning" (Hal Elrod) and "The Miracle Morning for Writers" (Hal Elrod and Honorée)
  • How, for the most part, you can find 15 minutes in different parts of your day
  • A few things she didn't expect before beginning this journey
  • How writing from a really raw place allowed Honorée to see that the more authentic she has been in her writing, the more readers have liked it and it has helped people
  • And more

After the interview, Mark reflects on some of the things that this chat inspired in him, including an idea that sprung from the conversation.

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Honorée Corder, an executive and strategic book and publishing coach, TEDx speaker, and the author of more than 50 books including You Must Write a Book.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, some recent comments and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversion Mark and Honorée talk about:

  • The way Honorée's business got its start after a discussion with Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series
  • Collaborating with businesses that want to use her books to promote/market their own business and how that has created a win/win/win situation
  • Purposefully writing and marketing books to targeted potential clients with bulk discount rates in mind
  • How people will throw out business cards but are far less likely to throw out a book
  • Researching how to make the process of custom back covers for the same front, spine, and interior with a designer and a printer
  • Ideas for how authors can leverage this type of marketing by offering a potential client a pile of books to give away to their clients
  • Adapting an abundance mindset versus a scarcity mindset
  • The mental hurdles that writers have to overcome in order to face prosperity
  • What makes the difference between a hobbyist and a professional
  • Commitment versus interest
  • The question of "whether or not the person I am tomorrow will be proud of the person I am today"
  • The importance of having downtime, quiet time, and opportunities for recharging our creativity
  • How having a schedule can set you free from not worrying about something that's on your plate
  • The basic principlee behind "The Miracle Morning" (Hal Elrod) and "The Miracle Morning for Writers" (Hal Elrod and Honorée)
  • How, for the most part, you can find 15 minutes in different parts of your day
  • A few things she didn't expect before beginning this journey
  • How writing from a really raw place allowed Honorée to see that the more authentic she has been in her writing, the more readers have liked it and it has helped people
  • And more

After the interview, Mark reflects on some of the things that this chat inspired in him, including an idea that sprung from the conversation.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 59:44 false 4 198 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Honorée Corder, an executive and strategic book and publishing coach, TEDx speaker, and the author of more than 50 books including You Must Write a Book. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, some recent comments and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversion Mark and Honorée talk about: The way Honorée's business got its start after a discussion with Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series Collaborating with businesses that want to use her books to promote/market their own business and how that has created a win/win/win situation Purposefully writing and marketing books to targeted potential clients with bulk discount rates in mind How people will throw out business cards but are far less likely to throw out a book Researching how to make the process of custom back covers for the same front, spine, and interior with a designer and a printer Ideas for how authors can leverage this type of marketing by offering a potential client a pile of books to give away to their clients Adapting an abundance mindset versus a scarcity mindset The mental hurdles that writers have to overcome in order to face prosperity What makes the difference between a hobbyist and a professional Commitment versus interest The question of "whether or not the person I am tomorrow will be proud of the person I am today" The importance of having downtime, quiet time, and opportunities for recharging our creativity How having a schedule can set you free from not worrying about something that's on your plate The basic principlee behind "The Miracle Morning" (Hal Elrod) and "The Miracle Morning for Writers" (Hal Elrod and Honorée) How, for the most part, you can find 15 minutes in different parts of your day A few things she didn't expect before beginning this journey How writing from a really raw place allowed Honorée to see that the more authentic she has been in her writing, the more readers have liked it and it has helped people And more After the interview, Mark reflects on some of the things that this chat inspired in him, including an idea that sprung from the conversation. Links of Interest: Honorée Corder's website BookBub Blog Post - Chirp Follow Buttons Episode 197 - The Darkness Within Episode 196 - Haunted Walks & Talks with Jim Dean The Relaxed Author Planes, Trains & Automobiles Mark Lip Sync Scene from Planes, Trains & Automobiles Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreMark interviews Honorée Corder, an executive and strategic book and publishing coach, TEDx speaker, and the author of more than 50 books including You Must Write a Book. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, some recent comments and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversion Mark and Honorée talk about: The way Honorée's business got its start after a discussion with Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series Collaborating with businesses that want to use her books to promote/market their own business and how that has created a win/win/win situation Purposefully writing and marketing books to targeted potential clients with bulk discount rates in mind How people will throw out business cards but are far less likely to throw out a book Researching how to make the process of custom back covers for the same front, spine, and interior with a designer and a printer Ideas for how authors can leverage this type of marketing by offering a potential client a pile of books to give away to their clients Adapting an abundance mindset versus a scarcity mindset The mental hurdles that writers have to overcome in order to face prosperity What makes the difference between a hobbyist and a professional Commitment versus interest The question of "whether or not the person I am tomorrow will be proud of the person I am today" The importance of having downtime, quiet time, and opportunities for recharging our creativity How having a schedule can set you free from not worrying about something that's on your plate The basic principlee behind "The Miracle Morning" (Hal Elrod) and "The Miracle Morning for Writers" (Hal Elrod and Honorée) How, for the most part, you can find 15 minutes in different parts of your day A few things she didn't expect before beginning this journey How writing from a really raw place allowed Honorée to see that the more authentic she has been in her writing, the more readers have liked it and it has helped people And more After the interview, Mark reflects on some of the things that this chat inspired in him, including an idea that sprung from the conversation. Links of Interest: Honorée Corder's website BookBub Blog Post - Chirp Follow Buttons Episode 197 - The Darkness Within Episode 196 - Haunted Walks & Talks with Jim Dean The Relaxed Author Planes, Trains & Automobiles Mark Lip Sync Scene from Planes, Trains & Automobiles Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 197 - Rambling Reflections Through The Darkness Within Rambling Reflections Through The Darkness Within Fri, 18 Jun 2021 00:53:24 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark talks openly about the anxiety, frustration, and darkness that took over as he was trying to prepare for this week's episode.

It's an unscripted talk through the things circling his mind, and how he is trying to deal with them.

Prior to his introspective rambling, he pauses to share a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

It's not uncommon for writers and creative people to feel a darkness begin to descend over their emotions, to dance and mingle with anxiety and an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.

Mark tries to talk through those feelings and how he is trying to face them.

He does talk about a book he is currently listening to as a re-read: Neil Peart's Traveling Music: The Soundtrack to my Life and Times and the "end of day" treat that has become as part of a mental health/physical activity regimen.

Links of Interest:

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode, Mark talks openly about the anxiety, frustration, and darkness that took over as he was trying to prepare for this week's episode.

It's an unscripted talk through the things circling his mind, and how he is trying to deal with them.

Prior to his introspective rambling, he pauses to share a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

It's not uncommon for writers and creative people to feel a darkness begin to descend over their emotions, to dance and mingle with anxiety and an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.

Mark tries to talk through those feelings and how he is trying to face them.

He does talk about a book he is currently listening to as a re-read: Neil Peart's Traveling Music: The Soundtrack to my Life and Times and the "end of day" treat that has become as part of a mental health/physical activity regimen.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 41:14 false 4 197 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark talks openly about the anxiety, frustration, and darkness that took over as he was trying to prepare for this week's episode. It's an unscripted talk through the things circling his mind, and how he is trying to deal with them. Prior to his introspective rambling, he pauses to share a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. It's not uncommon for writers and creative people to feel a darkness begin to descend over their emotions, to dance and mingle with anxiety and an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. Mark tries to talk through those feelings and how he is trying to face them. He does talk about a book he is currently listening to as a re-read: Neil Peart's Traveling Music: The Soundtrack to my Life and Times and the "end of day" treat that has become as part of a mental health/physical activity regimen. Links of Interest: Mental Health Services Canada Depression Hotline Mental Help Dot Net Suicide Prevention Helpline The Relaxed Author The Relaxed Author Survey (Only Open until July 1, 2021) Best Book Ever Podcast Season 1 Ep 9 - Mark talking about EARTH ABIDES Neil Peart - Traveling Music Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode, Mark talks openly about the anxiety, frustration, and darkness that took over as he was trying to prepare for this week's episode. It's an unscripted talk through the things circling his mind, and how he is trying to deal with them. Prior to his introspective rambling, he pauses to share a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. It's not uncommon for writers and creative people to feel a darkness begin to descend over their emotions, to dance and mingle with anxiety and an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. Mark tries to talk through those feelings and how he is trying to face them. He does talk about a book he is currently listening to as a re-read: Neil Peart's Traveling Music: The Soundtrack to my Life and Times and the "end of day" treat that has become as part of a mental health/physical activity regimen. Links of Interest: Mental Health Services Canada Depression Hotline Mental Help Dot Net Suicide Prevention Helpline The Relaxed Author The Relaxed Author Survey (Only Open until July 1, 2021) Best Book Ever Podcast Season 1 Ep 9 - Mark talking about EARTH ABIDES Neil Peart - Traveling Music Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 196 - Haunted Walks and Talks With Jim Dean Haunted Walks and Talks With Jim Dean Fri, 11 Jun 2021 01:22:11 +0000 Mark interviews Jim Dean, Creative Director of Haunted Walks, Inc.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor . . .

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Jim and Mark talk about:

  • How Glen Shackleton came to found the company via the first haunted walks in Kingston, Ontario in 1995
  • The early days of the haunted walks and how people reacted to the idea
  • Expanding out into Ottawa and Toronto as well as other nearby locations
  • How ghost stories are a great way to share local history and the local experience in an entertaining format
  • "We create and share extraordinary experiences"
  • How in "normal" or "pre-pandemic" times, tens of thousands of students would come to Ottawa and go on the ghost walks
  • The level of improv that is often required of the tour guides who have to incorporate the scripts into real-life interactive experiences
  • Dealing with the pandemic after just coming off their most successful year and the most trying day of having to lay off almost all of the company's one hundred staff members
  • The "home and bored" haunted packs that they started selling early in the pandemic
  • Asking the question of what Halloween was going to look like in the fall of 2020
  • The "Save Halloween" Kickstarter Project they launched, which didn't succeed, but led to some other ideas that worked for them, such as the virtual haunted campfires
  • The virtual DIY audio experience that is "The Haunting at Home"
  • How virtual events have opened Haunted Walks, Inc. up to an international audience and customer base
  • Hosting the Haunted Walks Podcast and the types of stories that Jim covers on it
  • Jim's memories of how, in school, when the old movie projector got rolled out and the lights went down and the film came on, the room became an entirely different place
  • How the stories are crafted for the tours and how they evolve over time
  • The special "Fact or Fiction" tours that they sometimes do
  • A couple of unexplainable things that happened on a few of the tours and that Jim experienced
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on his appreciate for Haunted Walks, Inc. and the ways they have helped him personally and as a writer. He then talks about the important of multiple product lines and revenue streams derived from a single source of passion.

 

Links of Interest:

 

For 18 years, Jim Dean has been the Creative Director of Haunted Walks, Inc, which runs ghost tours and other paranormal adventures in Kingston, Ottawa, and Toronto, Ontario. He is also the host of the company's popular Haunted Talks podcast which explores dark history and ghost stories from around the world.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Jim Dean, Creative Director of Haunted Walks, Inc.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor . . .

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Jim and Mark talk about:

  • How Glen Shackleton came to found the company via the first haunted walks in Kingston, Ontario in 1995
  • The early days of the haunted walks and how people reacted to the idea
  • Expanding out into Ottawa and Toronto as well as other nearby locations
  • How ghost stories are a great way to share local history and the local experience in an entertaining format
  • "We create and share extraordinary experiences"
  • How in "normal" or "pre-pandemic" times, tens of thousands of students would come to Ottawa and go on the ghost walks
  • The level of improv that is often required of the tour guides who have to incorporate the scripts into real-life interactive experiences
  • Dealing with the pandemic after just coming off their most successful year and the most trying day of having to lay off almost all of the company's one hundred staff members
  • The "home and bored" haunted packs that they started selling early in the pandemic
  • Asking the question of what Halloween was going to look like in the fall of 2020
  • The "Save Halloween" Kickstarter Project they launched, which didn't succeed, but led to some other ideas that worked for them, such as the virtual haunted campfires
  • The virtual DIY audio experience that is "The Haunting at Home"
  • How virtual events have opened Haunted Walks, Inc. up to an international audience and customer base
  • Hosting the Haunted Walks Podcast and the types of stories that Jim covers on it
  • Jim's memories of how, in school, when the old movie projector got rolled out and the lights went down and the film came on, the room became an entirely different place
  • How the stories are crafted for the tours and how they evolve over time
  • The special "Fact or Fiction" tours that they sometimes do
  • A couple of unexplainable things that happened on a few of the tours and that Jim experienced
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on his appreciate for Haunted Walks, Inc. and the ways they have helped him personally and as a writer. He then talks about the important of multiple product lines and revenue streams derived from a single source of passion.

Links of Interest:

For 18 years, Jim Dean has been the Creative Director of Haunted Walks, Inc, which runs ghost tours and other paranormal adventures in Kingston, Ottawa, and Toronto, Ontario. He is also the host of the company's popular Haunted Talks podcast which explores dark history and ghost stories from around the world.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:05:32 false 4 196 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Jim Dean, Creative Director of Haunted Walks, Inc. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor . . . This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Jim and Mark talk about: How Glen Shackleton came to found the company via the first haunted walks in Kingston, Ontario in 1995 The early days of the haunted walks and how people reacted to the idea Expanding out into Ottawa and Toronto as well as other nearby locations How ghost stories are a great way to share local history and the local experience in an entertaining format "We create and share extraordinary experiences" How in "normal" or "pre-pandemic" times, tens of thousands of students would come to Ottawa and go on the ghost walks The level of improv that is often required of the tour guides who have to incorporate the scripts into real-life interactive experiences Dealing with the pandemic after just coming off their most successful year and the most trying day of having to lay off almost all of the company's one hundred staff members The "home and bored" haunted packs that they started selling early in the pandemic Asking the question of what Halloween was going to look like in the fall of 2020 The "Save Halloween" Kickstarter Project they launched, which didn't succeed, but led to some other ideas that worked for them, such as the virtual haunted campfires The virtual DIY audio experience that is "The Haunting at Home" How virtual events have opened Haunted Walks, Inc. up to an international audience and customer base Hosting the Haunted Walks Podcast and the types of stories that Jim covers on it Jim's memories of how, in school, when the old movie projector got rolled out and the lights went down and the film came on, the room became an entirely different place How the stories are crafted for the tours and how they evolve over time The special "Fact or Fiction" tours that they sometimes do A couple of unexplainable things that happened on a few of the tours and that Jim experienced And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on his appreciate for Haunted Walks, Inc. and the ways they have helped him personally and as a writer. He then talks about the important of multiple product lines and revenue streams derived from a single source of passion.   Links of Interest: The Haunted Walk Website Ghost Tours Online Experiences Haunted Talks Podcast Episode 195 - Help! I'm An Author With Mal Cooper Episode 194 - Eric Bryan Moore on Audiobook Narration and Pocket Pulp Podcast Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   For 18 years, Jim Dean has been the Creative Director of Haunted Walks, Inc, which runs ghost tours and other paranormal adventures in Kingston, Ottawa, and Toronto, Ontario. He is also the host of the company's popular Haunted Talks podcast which explores dark history and ghost stories from around the world.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Jim Dean, Creative Director of Haunted Walks, Inc. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor . . . This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Jim and Mark talk about: How Glen Shackleton came to found the company via the first haunted walks in Kingston, Ontario in 1995 The early days of the haunted walks and how people reacted to the idea Expanding out into Ottawa and Toronto as well as other nearby locations How ghost stories are a great way to share local history and the local experience in an entertaining format "We create and share extraordinary experiences" How in "normal" or "pre-pandemic" times, tens of thousands of students would come to Ottawa and go on the ghost walks The level of improv that is often required of the tour guides who have to incorporate the scripts into real-life interactive experiences Dealing with the pandemic after just coming off their most successful year and the most trying day of having to lay off almost all of the company's one hundred staff members The "home and bored" haunted packs that they started selling early in the pandemic Asking the question of what Halloween was going to look like in the fall of 2020 The "Save Halloween" Kickstarter Project they launched, which didn't succeed, but led to some other ideas that worked for them, such as the virtual haunted campfires The virtual DIY audio experience that is "The Haunting at Home" How virtual events have opened Haunted Walks, Inc. up to an international audience and customer base Hosting the Haunted Walks Podcast and the types of stories that Jim covers on it Jim's memories of how, in school, when the old movie projector got rolled out and the lights went down and the film came on, the room became an entirely different place How the stories are crafted for the tours and how they evolve over time The special "Fact or Fiction" tours that they sometimes do A couple of unexplainable things that happened on a few of the tours and that Jim experienced And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on his appreciate for Haunted Walks, Inc. and the ways they have helped him personally and as a writer. He then talks about the important of multiple product lines and revenue streams derived from a single source of passion.   Links of Interest: The Haunted Walk Website Ghost Tours Online Experiences Haunted Talks Podcast Episode 195 - Help! I'm An Author With Mal Cooper Episode 194 - Eric Bryan Moore on Audiobook Narration and Pocket Pulp Podcast Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   For 18 years, Jim Dean has been the Creative Director of Haunted Walks, Inc, which runs ghost tours and other paranormal adventures in Kingston, Ottawa, and Toronto, Ontario. He is also the host of the company's popular Haunted Talks podcast which explores dark history and ghost stories from around the world.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 195 - Help! I'm An Author, with Mal Cooper Help! I'm An Author With Mal Cooper Thu, 03 Jun 2021 23:32:47 +0000 Mark interviews author Malorie Cooper about her writing and the "Help! I'm An Author" that Mal writes with her wife Jill Cooper.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mal and Mark talk about:

  • How long it has been since they saw one another at a conference (November 2019), and how long it has been since in person writer gatherings
  • The fact that Malorie is an extrovert by nature and enjoys hanging out with other authors, whether in person (when possible) or via virtual hangouts
  • The daily five hour springs that Malorie hosts (23 minute springs and 7 minute breaks) which usually involves about 15 authors
  • The music playlist that Malorie has defaulted to most recently
  • The fact that your writing speed and process doesn't necessarily follow a linear path
  • How Malorie deals with continuity in different books/series
  • Tips for how to keep track of details when writing a long series - which includes NOT being too specific about many details, like eye color, etc.
  • What inspired Malorie and her wife Jill to start writing the HELP! books for writers
  • How Facebook ad procedures have changed over the years
  • Some of the other titles in the Help! I'm An Author series
  • The fact that Malorie was a CTO in a previous career and how that impacted the SEO involved in deciding the book titles
  • Multiple experiments Malorie did with various rapid-release models
  • Why consistency is far more important that a rapid release schedule
  • How Malorie works on different co-authored projects
  • The major burn-out and much needed break from writing back in 2019 that Malorie had to take
  • That one month (August 2018) where Malorie wrote 200,000 words despite taking a week-long vacation at Disney
  • How Malorie does her best work and fastest work at the last minute
  • Deciding to not release the Help! My Marketing Plan Sucks book at the beginning of the pandemic and how that ended up splitting off into multiple more specific platform marketing titles
  • How Malorie invests her time when attending a writer's conference
  • The video content that Mal and Jill are working on creating
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the powerful energy that Mal gives off, which he finds inspiring, as well as the mention of getting the best work done quickly and at the last minute.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Malorie Cooper likes to think of herself as a dreamer and a wanderer, yet her feet are firmly grounded in reality.

A twenty-year software development veteran, Malorie eventually climbed the ladder to the position of software architect and CTO, where she gained a wealth of experience managing complex systems and large groups of people. Her experiences there translated well into the realm of science fiction, and when her novels took off, she was primed and ready to make the jump into a career as a full-time author. Since then, she has sold nearly a million books. In addition to writing her bestselling science fiction series, she has written a book entitled "Help! My Facebook Ads Suck" and regularly presents on advertising and productivity at author conventions.

She shares her home with a brilliant young girl, her wonderful wife (who also writes), a cat that chirps at birds, a never-ending list of things she would like to build, and ideas…

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews author Malorie Cooper about her writing and the "Help! I'm An Author" that Mal writes with her wife Jill Cooper.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mal and Mark talk about:

  • How long it has been since they saw one another at a conference (November 2019), and how long it has been since in person writer gatherings
  • The fact that Malorie is an extrovert by nature and enjoys hanging out with other authors, whether in person (when possible) or via virtual hangouts
  • The daily five hour springs that Malorie hosts (23 minute springs and 7 minute breaks) which usually involves about 15 authors
  • The music playlist that Malorie has defaulted to most recently
  • The fact that your writing speed and process doesn't necessarily follow a linear path
  • How Malorie deals with continuity in different books/series
  • Tips for how to keep track of details when writing a long series - which includes NOT being too specific about many details, like eye color, etc.
  • What inspired Malorie and her wife Jill to start writing the HELP! books for writers
  • How Facebook ad procedures have changed over the years
  • Some of the other titles in the Help! I'm An Author series
  • The fact that Malorie was a CTO in a previous career and how that impacted the SEO involved in deciding the book titles
  • Multiple experiments Malorie did with various rapid-release models
  • Why consistency is far more important that a rapid release schedule
  • How Malorie works on different co-authored projects
  • The major burn-out and much needed break from writing back in 2019 that Malorie had to take
  • That one month (August 2018) where Malorie wrote 200,000 words despite taking a week-long vacation at Disney
  • How Malorie does her best work and fastest work at the last minute
  • Deciding to not release the Help! My Marketing Plan Sucks book at the beginning of the pandemic and how that ended up splitting off into multiple more specific platform marketing titles
  • How Malorie invests her time when attending a writer's conference
  • The video content that Mal and Jill are working on creating
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the powerful energy that Mal gives off, which he finds inspiring, as well as the mention of getting the best work done quickly and at the last minute.

Links of Interest:

Malorie Cooper likes to think of herself as a dreamer and a wanderer, yet her feet are firmly grounded in reality.

A twenty-year software development veteran, Malorie eventually climbed the ladder to the position of software architect and CTO, where she gained a wealth of experience managing complex systems and large groups of people. Her experiences there translated well into the realm of science fiction, and when her novels took off, she was primed and ready to make the jump into a career as a full-time author. Since then, she has sold nearly a million books. In addition to writing her bestselling science fiction series, she has written a book entitled "Help! My Facebook Ads Suck" and regularly presents on advertising and productivity at author conventions.

She shares her home with a brilliant young girl, her wonderful wife (who also writes), a cat that chirps at birds, a never-ending list of things she would like to build, and ideas…

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 57:31 false 4 195 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author Malorie Cooper about her writing and the "Help! I'm An Author" that Mal writes with her wife Jill Cooper. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mal and Mark talk about: How long it has been since they saw one another at a conference (November 2019), and how long it has been since in person writer gatherings The fact that Malorie is an extrovert by nature and enjoys hanging out with other authors, whether in person (when possible) or via virtual hangouts The daily five hour springs that Malorie hosts (23 minute springs and 7 minute breaks) which usually involves about 15 authors The music playlist that Malorie has defaulted to most recently The fact that your writing speed and process doesn't necessarily follow a linear path How Malorie deals with continuity in different books/series Tips for how to keep track of details when writing a long series - which includes NOT being too specific about many details, like eye color, etc. What inspired Malorie and her wife Jill to start writing the HELP! books for writers How Facebook ad procedures have changed over the years Some of the other titles in the Help! I'm An Author series The fact that Malorie was a CTO in a previous career and how that impacted the SEO involved in deciding the book titles Multiple experiments Malorie did with various rapid-release models Why consistency is far more important that a rapid release schedule How Malorie works on different co-authored projects The major burn-out and much needed break from writing back in 2019 that Malorie had to take That one month (August 2018) where Malorie wrote 200,000 words despite taking a week-long vacation at Disney How Malorie does her best work and fastest work at the last minute Deciding to not release the Help! My Marketing Plan Sucks book at the beginning of the pandemic and how that ended up splitting off into multiple more specific platform marketing titles How Malorie invests her time when attending a writer's conference The video content that Mal and Jill are working on creating And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the powerful energy that Mal gives off, which he finds inspiring, as well as the mention of getting the best work done quickly and at the last minute.   Links of Interest: The Writing Wives Website M.D. Cooper's Aeon 14 Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Malorie Cooper likes to think of herself as a dreamer and a wanderer, yet her feet are firmly grounded in reality. A twenty-year software development veteran, Malorie eventually climbed the ladder to the position of software architect and CTO, where she gained a wealth of experience managing complex systems and large groups of people. Her experiences there translated well into the realm of science fiction, and when her novels took off, she was primed and ready to make the jump into a career as a full-time author. Since then, she has sold nearly a million books. In addition to writing her bestselling science fiction series, she has written a book entitled "Help! My Facebook Ads Suck" and regularly presents on advertising and productivity at author conventions. She shares her home with a brilliant young girl, her wonderful wife (who also writes), a cat that chirps at birds, a never-ending list of things she would like to build, and ideas…   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews author Malorie Cooper about her writing and the "Help! I'm An Author" that Mal writes with her wife Jill Cooper. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mal and Mark talk about: How long it has been since they saw one another at a conference (November 2019), and how long it has been since in person writer gatherings The fact that Malorie is an extrovert by nature and enjoys hanging out with other authors, whether in person (when possible) or via virtual hangouts The daily five hour springs that Malorie hosts (23 minute springs and 7 minute breaks) which usually involves about 15 authors The music playlist that Malorie has defaulted to most recently The fact that your writing speed and process doesn't necessarily follow a linear path How Malorie deals with continuity in different books/series Tips for how to keep track of details when writing a long series - which includes NOT being too specific about many details, like eye color, etc. What inspired Malorie and her wife Jill to start writing the HELP! books for writers How Facebook ad procedures have changed over the years Some of the other titles in the Help! I'm An Author series The fact that Malorie was a CTO in a previous career and how that impacted the SEO involved in deciding the book titles Multiple experiments Malorie did with various rapid-release models Why consistency is far more important that a rapid release schedule How Malorie works on different co-authored projects The major burn-out and much needed break from writing back in 2019 that Malorie had to take That one month (August 2018) where Malorie wrote 200,000 words despite taking a week-long vacation at Disney How Malorie does her best work and fastest work at the last minute Deciding to not release the Help! My Marketing Plan Sucks book at the beginning of the pandemic and how that ended up splitting off into multiple more specific platform marketing titles How Malorie invests her time when attending a writer's conference The video content that Mal and Jill are working on creating And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the powerful energy that Mal gives off, which he finds inspiring, as well as the mention of getting the best work done quickly and at the last minute.   Links of Interest: The Writing Wives Website M.D. Cooper's Aeon 14 Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Malorie Cooper likes to think of herself as a dreamer and a wanderer, yet her feet are firmly grounded in reality. A twenty-year software development veteran, Malorie eventually climbed the ladder to the position of software architect and CTO, where she gained a wealth of experience managing complex systems and large groups of people. Her experiences there translated well into the realm of science fiction, and when her novels took off, she was primed and ready to make the jump into a career as a full-time author. Since then, she has sold nearly a million books. In addition to writing her bestselling science fiction series, she has written a book entitled "Help! My Facebook Ads Suck" and regularly presents on advertising and productivity at author conventions. She shares her home with a brilliant young girl, her wonderful wife (who also writes), a cat that chirps at birds, a never-ending list of things she would like to build, and ideas…   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 194 - Eric Bryan Moore on Audiobook Narration & Pocket Pulp Podcast Eric Bryan Moore on Audiobook Narration & Pocket Pulp Podcast Thu, 27 May 2021 23:24:11 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews audiobook narrator Eric Bryan Moore about his work as a voice actor and his new podcast Pocket Pulp.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor...

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Eric and Mark talk about:

  • The interesting nature of getting to talk to one another after having previously worked together as author and narrator
  • How listening to audiobooks while he was living in Brazil and wondering what he would do led back to his background in acting and a career in audiobooks
  • The original studio Eric used to have to use before having a home setup to record audiobooks
  • How a unique moment in reading aloud in an English class inspired the teacher to introduce Eric to the theater group
  • Studying writing as a way to help him better understand the work he was doing as a narrator
  • Auditioning a lot and getting 12 rejections before landing his first narrating gig
  • The ratio of about 1 in every 10 books that a narrator works on under the ACX royalty share program that actually earns money for the narrator
  • Eric's romance narrator pseudonym of D.C. Cole
  • The idea of how audiobook listeners might cross-over to discover new writers because of a narrator they enjoy listening to
  • How most of Eric's work has been working with small publishers and indie authors
  • The problem with being a narrator is that you don't get to read for fun anymore (ie, no downtime for pleasure reading)
  • How Eric's work is a combination of repeat clients and doing the occasional audition
  • Eric's going rate of $250 / finished hour which is the minimum rate for SAG-AFTRA
  • The way that a program like Voices Share at Findaway Voices works
  • The additional costs that Eric has to pay someone else to outsource as a narrator (which eats into his existing per/hour fees
  • The new podcast that Eric launched called POCKET PULP
  • How writers can submit stories to Eric's podcast, and the fact they get the audio file in return which they can use however they want
  • The potential things that this weekly podcast can lead to
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the opportunity that exists for writers as well as the unique way Eric is leveraging this new podcast to build up his brand within the specific community where he's hoping to reach more people.

Links of Interest:

 

Originally a stage actor and Shakespeare fanatic from California, Eric Bryan Moore bounced around the globe for a number of years, including having lived in Japan for six of them, before finally settling down in São Paulo, Brazil. After starting a family, he decided to put his acting degree back to use and kicked off a career in audiobook narration in 2016. He narrates from his home studio and enjoys reading Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thrillers, Mysteries, and Horror. When he's not recording, Eric is busy playing with his daughter, trying to win his fantasy football league, playing chess online, reading for fun, and learning how to make the perfect caipirinha!

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode, Mark interviews audiobook narrator Eric Bryan Moore about his work as a voice actor and his new podcast Pocket Pulp.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor...

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Eric and Mark talk about:

  • The interesting nature of getting to talk to one another after having previously worked together as author and narrator
  • How listening to audiobooks while he was living in Brazil and wondering what he would do led back to his background in acting and a career in audiobooks
  • The original studio Eric used to have to use before having a home setup to record audiobooks
  • How a unique moment in reading aloud in an English class inspired the teacher to introduce Eric to the theater group
  • Studying writing as a way to help him better understand the work he was doing as a narrator
  • Auditioning a lot and getting 12 rejections before landing his first narrating gig
  • The ratio of about 1 in every 10 books that a narrator works on under the ACX royalty share program that actually earns money for the narrator
  • Eric's romance narrator pseudonym of D.C. Cole
  • The idea of how audiobook listeners might cross-over to discover new writers because of a narrator they enjoy listening to
  • How most of Eric's work has been working with small publishers and indie authors
  • The problem with being a narrator is that you don't get to read for fun anymore (ie, no downtime for pleasure reading)
  • How Eric's work is a combination of repeat clients and doing the occasional audition
  • Eric's going rate of $250 / finished hour which is the minimum rate for SAG-AFTRA
  • The way that a program like Voices Share at Findaway Voices works
  • The additional costs that Eric has to pay someone else to outsource as a narrator (which eats into his existing per/hour fees
  • The new podcast that Eric launched called POCKET PULP
  • How writers can submit stories to Eric's podcast, and the fact they get the audio file in return which they can use however they want
  • The potential things that this weekly podcast can lead to
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the opportunity that exists for writers as well as the unique way Eric is leveraging this new podcast to build up his brand within the specific community where he's hoping to reach more people.

Links of Interest:

Originally a stage actor and Shakespeare fanatic from California, Eric Bryan Moore bounced around the globe for a number of years, including having lived in Japan for six of them, before finally settling down in São Paulo, Brazil. After starting a family, he decided to put his acting degree back to use and kicked off a career in audiobook narration in 2016. He narrates from his home studio and enjoys reading Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thrillers, Mysteries, and Horror. When he's not recording, Eric is busy playing with his daughter, trying to win his fantasy football league, playing chess online, reading for fun, and learning how to make the perfect caipirinha!

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 51:00 false 4 194 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews audiobook narrator Eric Bryan Moore about his work as a voice actor and his new podcast Pocket Pulp. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor... This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Eric and Mark talk about: The interesting nature of getting to talk to one another after having previously worked together as author and narrator How listening to audiobooks while he was living in Brazil and wondering what he would do led back to his background in acting and a career in audiobooks The original studio Eric used to have to use before having a home setup to record audiobooks How a unique moment in reading aloud in an English class inspired the teacher to introduce Eric to the theater group Studying writing as a way to help him better understand the work he was doing as a narrator Auditioning a lot and getting 12 rejections before landing his first narrating gig The ratio of about 1 in every 10 books that a narrator works on under the ACX royalty share program that actually earns money for the narrator Eric's romance narrator pseudonym of D.C. Cole The idea of how audiobook listeners might cross-over to discover new writers because of a narrator they enjoy listening to How most of Eric's work has been working with small publishers and indie authors The problem with being a narrator is that you don't get to read for fun anymore (ie, no downtime for pleasure reading) How Eric's work is a combination of repeat clients and doing the occasional audition Eric's going rate of $250 / finished hour which is the minimum rate for SAG-AFTRA The way that a program like Voices Share at Findaway Voices works The additional costs that Eric has to pay someone else to outsource as a narrator (which eats into his existing per/hour fees The new podcast that Eric launched called POCKET PULP How writers can submit stories to Eric's podcast, and the fact they get the audio file in return which they can use however they want The potential things that this weekly podcast can lead to And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the opportunity that exists for writers as well as the unique way Eric is leveraging this new podcast to build up his brand within the specific community where he's hoping to reach more people. Links of Interest: Eric Bryan Moore's Website Pocket Pulp Podcast Pocket Pulp Podcast on YouTube Episode 7 - "Spirits" by Mark Leslie YouTube link for "Spirits" Mark's Books Narrated by Eric Active Reader: And Other Cautionary Tales from the Book World A Murder of Scarecrows Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Originally a stage actor and Shakespeare fanatic from California, Eric Bryan Moore bounced around the globe for a number of years, including having lived in Japan for six of them, before finally settling down in São Paulo, Brazil. After starting a family, he decided to put his acting degree back to use and kicked off a career in audiobook narration in 2016. He narrates from his home studio and enjoys reading Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thrillers, Mysteries, and Horror. When he's not recording, Eric is busy playing with his daughter, trying to win his fantasy football league, playing chess online, reading for fun, and learning how to make the perfect caipirinha!     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode, Mark interviews audiobook narrator Eric Bryan Moore about his work as a voice actor and his new podcast Pocket Pulp. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor... This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Eric and Mark talk about: The interesting nature of getting to talk to one another after having previously worked together as author and narrator How listening to audiobooks while he was living in Brazil and wondering what he would do led back to his background in acting and a career in audiobooks The original studio Eric used to have to use before having a home setup to record audiobooks How a unique moment in reading aloud in an English class inspired the teacher to introduce Eric to the theater group Studying writing as a way to help him better understand the work he was doing as a narrator Auditioning a lot and getting 12 rejections before landing his first narrating gig The ratio of about 1 in every 10 books that a narrator works on under the ACX royalty share program that actually earns money for the narrator Eric's romance narrator pseudonym of D.C. Cole The idea of how audiobook listeners might cross-over to discover new writers because of a narrator they enjoy listening to How most of Eric's work has been working with small publishers and indie authors The problem with being a narrator is that you don't get to read for fun anymore (ie, no downtime for pleasure reading) How Eric's work is a combination of repeat clients and doing the occasional audition Eric's going rate of $250 / finished hour which is the minimum rate for SAG-AFTRA The way that a program like Voices Share at Findaway Voices works The additional costs that Eric has to pay someone else to outsource as a narrator (which eats into his existing per/hour fees The new podcast that Eric launched called POCKET PULP How writers can submit stories to Eric's podcast, and the fact they get the audio file in return which they can use however they want The potential things that this weekly podcast can lead to And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the opportunity that exists for writers as well as the unique way Eric is leveraging this new podcast to build up his brand within the specific community where he's hoping to reach more people. Links of Interest: Eric Bryan Moore's Website Pocket Pulp Podcast Pocket Pulp Podcast on YouTube Episode 7 - "Spirits" by Mark Leslie YouTube link for "Spirits" Mark's Books Narrated by Eric Active Reader: And Other Cautionary Tales from the Book World A Murder of Scarecrows Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Originally a stage actor and Shakespeare fanatic from California, Eric Bryan Moore bounced around the globe for a number of years, including having lived in Japan for six of them, before finally settling down in São Paulo, Brazil. After starting a family, he decided to put his acting degree back to use and kicked off a career in audiobook narration in 2016. He narrates from his home studio and enjoys reading Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thrillers, Mysteries, and Horror. When he's not recording, Eric is busy playing with his daughter, trying to win his fantasy football league, playing chess online, reading for fun, and learning how to make the perfect caipirinha!     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 193 - Showcasing Indie Authors in an Indie Bookstore with Susan Faw Showcasing Indie Authors in an Indie Bookstore with Susan Faw Fri, 21 May 2021 16:59:59 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews author Susan Faw who is also the owner and founder of Dragon's Lair Artist Emporium, a physical bookstore in Norther Ontario that showcases books from indie authors.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Susan talk about:

  • Susan's first meeting with group of authors at a library session with the Stratford Writer's Group in about 2012
  • How long it took Susan to write her first book
  • The actual work-related impetus of Susan writing her first novel
  • Making the move to Northern Ontario from the Niagara region in Southern Ontario
  • The population of the community Susan is in, which is about 6000 people
  • How Susan is keeping busy on the writing side of things with a series she is writing
  • The back story of creating Dragon's Lair Emporium
  • The grant for Northern Ontario women that Susan used to create the store's website
  • Opening the bookstore and then having to shut it down after 6 days due to a Provincial enforced shutdown due to Covid
  • Just how eager customers are to get into the store
  • Collaborative partnerships with the local high school
  • How, at this point in time, Susan is getting most of her stock from Ingram
  • Pricing setup advice and Susan's ability to see it from both the author and bookseller side
  • The fact that Susan is not doing returns, which is typical modus operandi for a bookstore
  • Coming up with creative ways to market books rather than just buying giant piles of books where half of them can be returned
  • A reminder that if an author sets a 55% discount via Ingram Spark, the bookstore actually sees 40%
  • Realizing that specific people who are only interested in discounted prices might not actually be your customer
  • The forms where authors can submit their books for consideration to be carried in the bookstore
  • What authors can do to help support the bookstore that is supporting indie authored books
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the unique customers for print books in local physical bookstores, as contrasted to online shoppers on Amazon. He also reminds authors to consider their own books from the bookstore owner's perspective.

Links of Interest:

 

Susan Faw is a Canadian author of young adult fantasy and dystopian fiction. Her debut novel, Seer of Souls was awarded first place for the best young adult mythology of 2016, Chanticleer Reviews, and the grand prize of the Dante Rossetti for best young adult fiction of 2016, Chanticleer Reviews.

Dragon's Lair Artist Emporium is the brain child of owner Susan Faw. Frustrated with the lack of venues available to independent authors, she a book store dedicated to authors worldwide, who have chosen a self-publishing career.

Dragon's Lair Artist Emporium knows that there are many wonderful books deserving to be seen, and to be read. Dragon's Lair was born to give the independently published author what they have long been denied - space on a physical store shelf. Not only is this space for them, but their business model is built around showcasing the amazing, unrepresented talent that exists in the indie publishing sphere.

]]> In this episode Mark interviews author Susan Faw who is also the owner and founder of Dragon's Lair Artist Emporium, a physical bookstore in Norther Ontario that showcases books from indie authors.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Susan talk about:

  • Susan's first meeting with group of authors at a library session with the Stratford Writer's Group in about 2012
  • How long it took Susan to write her first book
  • The actual work-related impetus of Susan writing her first novel
  • Making the move to Northern Ontario from the Niagara region in Southern Ontario
  • The population of the community Susan is in, which is about 6000 people
  • How Susan is keeping busy on the writing side of things with a series she is writing
  • The back story of creating Dragon's Lair Emporium
  • The grant for Northern Ontario women that Susan used to create the store's website
  • Opening the bookstore and then having to shut it down after 6 days due to a Provincial enforced shutdown due to Covid
  • Just how eager customers are to get into the store
  • Collaborative partnerships with the local high school
  • How, at this point in time, Susan is getting most of her stock from Ingram
  • Pricing setup advice and Susan's ability to see it from both the author and bookseller side
  • The fact that Susan is not doing returns, which is typical modus operandi for a bookstore
  • Coming up with creative ways to market books rather than just buying giant piles of books where half of them can be returned
  • A reminder that if an author sets a 55% discount via Ingram Spark, the bookstore actually sees 40%
  • Realizing that specific people who are only interested in discounted prices might not actually be your customer
  • The forms where authors can submit their books for consideration to be carried in the bookstore
  • What authors can do to help support the bookstore that is supporting indie authored books
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the unique customers for print books in local physical bookstores, as contrasted to online shoppers on Amazon. He also reminds authors to consider their own books from the bookstore owner's perspective.

Links of Interest:

Susan Faw is a Canadian author of young adult fantasy and dystopian fiction. Her debut novel, Seer of Souls was awarded first place for the best young adult mythology of 2016, Chanticleer Reviews, and the grand prize of the Dante Rossetti for best young adult fiction of 2016, Chanticleer Reviews.

Dragon's Lair Artist Emporium is the brain child of owner Susan Faw. Frustrated with the lack of venues available to independent authors, she a book store dedicated to authors worldwide, who have chosen a self-publishing career.

Dragon's Lair Artist Emporium knows that there are many wonderful books deserving to be seen, and to be read. Dragon's Lair was born to give the independently published author what they have long been denied - space on a physical store shelf. Not only is this space for them, but their business model is built around showcasing the amazing, unrepresented talent that exists in the indie publishing sphere.

]]> 01:05:04 false 4 193 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews author Susan Faw who is also the owner and founder of Dragon's Lair Artist Emporium, a physical bookstore in Norther Ontario that showcases books from indie authors. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Susan talk about: Susan's first meeting with group of authors at a library session with the Stratford Writer's Group in about 2012 How long it took Susan to write her first book The actual work-related impetus of Susan writing her first novel Making the move to Northern Ontario from the Niagara region in Southern Ontario The population of the community Susan is in, which is about 6000 people How Susan is keeping busy on the writing side of things with a series she is writing The back story of creating Dragon's Lair Emporium The grant for Northern Ontario women that Susan used to create the store's website Opening the bookstore and then having to shut it down after 6 days due to a Provincial enforced shutdown due to Covid Just how eager customers are to get into the store Collaborative partnerships with the local high school How, at this point in time, Susan is getting most of her stock from Ingram Pricing setup advice and Susan's ability to see it from both the author and bookseller side The fact that Susan is not doing returns, which is typical modus operandi for a bookstore Coming up with creative ways to market books rather than just buying giant piles of books where half of them can be returned A reminder that if an author sets a 55% discount via Ingram Spark, the bookstore actually sees 40% Realizing that specific people who are only interested in discounted prices might not actually be your customer The forms where authors can submit their books for consideration to be carried in the bookstore What authors can do to help support the bookstore that is supporting indie authored books And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the unique customers for print books in local physical bookstores, as contrasted to online shoppers on Amazon. He also reminds authors to consider their own books from the bookstore owner's perspective. Links of Interest: Susan Faw's Author Website Dragon's Lair Artist Emporium Website EP 191 - Insights from the Immersive Media and Books 2020 Consumer Survey The Creative Penn Episode 551 - The Challenges of a First Novel Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's Tavern YouTube Episodes Pilot Episode (6 Min 39 Seconds) Short: Dad Jokes Matter (1 Min 37 Seconds) Short: Tension (1 Min 31 Seconds) Short: Mister Bright Side (3 Mins 47 Seconds) Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Susan Faw is a Canadian author of young adult fantasy and dystopian fiction. Her debut novel, Seer of Souls was awarded first place for the best young adult mythology of 2016, Chanticleer Reviews, and the grand prize of the Dante Rossetti for best young adult fiction of 2016, Chanticleer Reviews. Dragon's Lair Artist Emporium is the brain child of owner Susan Faw. Frustrated with the lack of venues available to independent authors, she a book store dedicated to authors worldwide, who have chosen a self-publishing career. Dragon's Lair Artist Emporium knows that there are many wonderful books deserving to be seen, and to be read. Dragon's Lair was born to give the independently published author what they have long been denied - space on a physical store shelf. Not only is this space for them, but their business model is built around showcasing the amazing, unrepresented talent that exists in the indie publishing sphere.In this episode Mark interviews author Susan Faw who is also the owner and founder of Dragon's Lair Artist Emporium, a physical bookstore in Norther Ontario that showcases books from indie authors. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Susan talk about: Susan's first meeting with group of authors at a library session with the Stratford Writer's Group in about 2012 How long it took Susan to write her first book The actual work-related impetus of Susan writing her first novel Making the move to Northern Ontario from the Niagara region in Southern Ontario The population of the community Susan is in, which is about 6000 people How Susan is keeping busy on the writing side of things with a series she is writing The back story of creating Dragon's Lair Emporium The grant for Northern Ontario women that Susan used to create the store's website Opening the bookstore and then having to shut it down after 6 days due to a Provincial enforced shutdown due to Covid Just how eager customers are to get into the store Collaborative partnerships with the local high school How, at this point in time, Susan is getting most of her stock from Ingram Pricing setup advice and Susan's ability to see it from both the author and bookseller side The fact that Susan is not doing returns, which is typical modus operandi for a bookstore Coming up with creative ways to market books rather than just buying giant piles of books where half of them can be returned A reminder that if an author sets a 55% discount via Ingram Spark, the bookstore actually sees 40% Realizing that specific people who are only interested in discounted prices might not actually be your customer The forms where authors can submit their books for consideration to be carried in the bookstore What authors can do to help support the bookstore that is supporting indie authored books And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the unique customers for print books in local physical bookstores, as contrasted to online shoppers on Amazon. He also reminds authors to consider their own books from the bookstore owner's perspective. Links of Interest: Susan Faw's Author Website Dragon's Lair Artist Emporium Website EP 191 - Insights from the Immersive Media and Books 2020 Consumer Survey The Creative Penn Episode 551 - The Challenges of a First Novel Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's Tavern YouTube Episodes Pilot Episode (6 Min 39 Seconds) Short: Dad Jokes Matter (1 Min 37 Seconds) Short: Tension (1 Min 31 Seconds) Short: Mister Bright Side (3 Mins 47 Seconds) Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Susan Faw is a Canadian author of young adult fantasy and dystopian fiction. Her debut novel, Seer of Souls was awarded first place for the best young adult mythology of 2016, Chanticleer Reviews, and the grand prize of the Dante Rossetti for best young adult fiction of 2016, Chanticleer Reviews. Dragon's Lair Artist Emporium is the brain child of owner Susan Faw. Frustrated with the lack of venues available to independent authors, she a book store dedicated to authors worldwide, who have chosen a self-publishing career. Dragon's Lair Artist Emporium knows that there are many wonderful books deserving to be seen, and to be read. Dragon's Lair was born to give the independently published author what they have long been denied - space on a physical store shelf. Not only is this space for them, but their business model is built around showcasing the amazing, unrepresented talent that exists in the indie publishing sphere. EP 192 - Bold Business Strategies for Authors with James Kademan Bold Business Strategies for Authors with James Kademan Tue, 18 May 2021 15:05:31 +0000 In this episode, recorded from a live video chat, Mark interviews James Kademan, owner of Calls On Call, a shared receptionist service, Draw In Customers Business Coaching, and the author of The BOLD Business Book.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In this live chat, Mark and James talk about:

  • James' background as an entreupreneur, which started in 2006
  • The multiple businesses that James has created, and the numerous mistakes he has made along the way in order to find success
  • The infinite number of ideas that you have compared to the actual implementation
  • How most entrepreneurs, like most authors, can be overly optimistic
  • The implementation of "Whatever Blooms" an automated online flower-ordering business to save people time
  • Riding the "hope train" and the comfort in complacency
  • James' decision to self-publish THE BOLD BUSINESS BOOK
  • Releasing the book in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and Audiobook
  • How James never anticipated that you have to practically "claw your way" to get people to leave reviews for your book
  • The way that people often don't value time
  • The importance of "done" and finishing something
  • How important "inbox zero" is for email management
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the value of getting work done and how he is adapting the "Inbox Zero" strategy.

He also shares some info about a free workshop he is doing with James at When Words Collide in August 2021, as well as the full day workshop...

Authoring Boot Camp Basic Training (Full Day Workshop)

Want to take your author career to the next level?

Business Coach James Kademan and Author Consultant Mark Leslie Lefebvre team up to help authors define and achieve their goals, from shaping-up their writing practice and effective scheduling, to publishing and marketing strategies, Mark and James unpack Authoring and help authors understand how they can create their own plan.

Author Sarah Kades Graham joins as moderator, as well as prototype—hear how the Authoring Boot Camp has changed her career!

Links of Interest:

 

James Kademan has been an entrepreneur since 2006. He owns several businesses, including Calls On Call Extraordinary Answering Service for those ready to outsource, and Draw In Customers Business Coaching where he helps entrepreneurs achieve more time, more money and more fun, while enjoying what they do. James is the author of The BOLD Business Book, A Strategy Guide to Start, Run, and Love Your Soon to Be BOLD Business. He is a Certified Business Coach and Professional Speaker and continues to release blogs, podcasts and videos at his website www.drawincustomers.com.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode, recorded from a live video chat, Mark interviews James Kademan, owner of Calls On Call, a shared receptionist service, Draw In Customers Business Coaching, and the author of The BOLD Business Book.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In this live chat, Mark and James talk about:

  • James' background as an entreupreneur, which started in 2006
  • The multiple businesses that James has created, and the numerous mistakes he has made along the way in order to find success
  • The infinite number of ideas that you have compared to the actual implementation
  • How most entrepreneurs, like most authors, can be overly optimistic
  • The implementation of "Whatever Blooms" an automated online flower-ordering business to save people time
  • Riding the "hope train" and the comfort in complacency
  • James' decision to self-publish THE BOLD BUSINESS BOOK
  • Releasing the book in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and Audiobook
  • How James never anticipated that you have to practically "claw your way" to get people to leave reviews for your book
  • The way that people often don't value time
  • The importance of "done" and finishing something
  • How important "inbox zero" is for email management
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the value of getting work done and how he is adapting the "Inbox Zero" strategy.

He also shares some info about a free workshop he is doing with James at When Words Collide in August 2021, as well as the full day workshop...

Authoring Boot Camp Basic Training (Full Day Workshop)

Want to take your author career to the next level?

Business Coach James Kademan and Author Consultant Mark Leslie Lefebvre team up to help authors define and achieve their goals, from shaping-up their writing practice and effective scheduling, to publishing and marketing strategies, Mark and James unpack Authoring and help authors understand how they can create their own plan.

Author Sarah Kades Graham joins as moderator, as well as prototype—hear how the Authoring Boot Camp has changed her career!

Links of Interest:

James Kademan has been an entrepreneur since 2006. He owns several businesses, including Calls On Call Extraordinary Answering Service for those ready to outsource, and Draw In Customers Business Coaching where he helps entrepreneurs achieve more time, more money and more fun, while enjoying what they do. James is the author of The BOLD Business Book, A Strategy Guide to Start, Run, and Love Your Soon to Be BOLD Business. He is a Certified Business Coach and Professional Speaker and continues to release blogs, podcasts and videos at his website www.drawincustomers.com.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 49:39 false 4 192 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, recorded from a live video chat, Mark interviews James Kademan, owner of Calls On Call, a shared receptionist service, Draw In Customers Business Coaching, and the author of The BOLD Business Book. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In this live chat, Mark and James talk about: James' background as an entreupreneur, which started in 2006 The multiple businesses that James has created, and the numerous mistakes he has made along the way in order to find success The infinite number of ideas that you have compared to the actual implementation How most entrepreneurs, like most authors, can be overly optimistic The implementation of "Whatever Blooms" an automated online flower-ordering business to save people time Riding the "hope train" and the comfort in complacency James' decision to self-publish THE BOLD BUSINESS BOOK Releasing the book in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and Audiobook How James never anticipated that you have to practically "claw your way" to get people to leave reviews for your book The way that people often don't value time The importance of "done" and finishing something How important "inbox zero" is for email management And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the value of getting work done and how he is adapting the "Inbox Zero" strategy. He also shares some info about a free workshop he is doing with James at When Words Collide in August 2021, as well as the full day workshop... Authoring Boot Camp Basic Training (Full Day Workshop) Want to take your author career to the next level? Business Coach James Kademan and Author Consultant Mark Leslie Lefebvre team up to help authors define and achieve their goals, from shaping-up their writing practice and effective scheduling, to publishing and marketing strategies, Mark and James unpack Authoring and help authors understand how they can create their own plan. Author Sarah Kades Graham joins as moderator, as well as prototype—hear how the Authoring Boot Camp has changed her career! Links of Interest: Draw in Customers Business Coaching Calls on Call James' Business Books "Inbox Zero" YouTube Video When Words Collide Full Day Authoring Boot Camp Workshop Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   James Kademan has been an entrepreneur since 2006. He owns several businesses, including Calls On Call Extraordinary Answering Service for those ready to outsource, and Draw In Customers Business Coaching where he helps entrepreneurs achieve more time, more money and more fun, while enjoying what they do. James is the author of The BOLD Business Book, A Strategy Guide to Start, Run, and Love Your Soon to Be BOLD Business. He is a Certified Business Coach and Professional Speaker and continues to release blogs, podcasts and videos at his website www.drawincustomers.com.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode, recorded from a live video chat, Mark interviews James Kademan, owner of Calls On Call, a shared receptionist service, Draw In Customers Business Coaching, and the author of The BOLD Business Book. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In this live chat, Mark and James talk about: James' background as an entreupreneur, which started in 2006 The multiple businesses that James has created, and the numerous mistakes he has made along the way in order to find success The infinite number of ideas that you have compared to the actual implementation How most entrepreneurs, like most authors, can be overly optimistic The implementation of "Whatever Blooms" an automated online flower-ordering business to save people time Riding the "hope train" and the comfort in complacency James' decision to self-publish THE BOLD BUSINESS BOOK Releasing the book in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and Audiobook How James never anticipated that you have to practically "claw your way" to get people to leave reviews for your book The way that people often don't value time The importance of "done" and finishing something How important "inbox zero" is for email management And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the value of getting work done and how he is adapting the "Inbox Zero" strategy. He also shares some info about a free workshop he is doing with James at When Words Collide in August 2021, as well as the full day workshop... Authoring Boot Camp Basic Training (Full Day Workshop) Want to take your author career to the next level? Business Coach James Kademan and Author Consultant Mark Leslie Lefebvre team up to help authors define and achieve their goals, from shaping-up their writing practice and effective scheduling, to publishing and marketing strategies, Mark and James unpack Authoring and help authors understand how they can create their own plan. Author Sarah Kades Graham joins as moderator, as well as prototype—hear how the Authoring Boot Camp has changed her career! Links of Interest: Draw in Customers Business Coaching Calls on Call James' Business Books "Inbox Zero" YouTube Video When Words Collide Full Day Authoring Boot Camp Workshop Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   James Kademan has been an entrepreneur since 2006. He owns several businesses, including Calls On Call Extraordinary Answering Service for those ready to outsource, and Draw In Customers Business Coaching where he helps entrepreneurs achieve more time, more money and more fun, while enjoying what they do. James is the author of The BOLD Business Book, A Strategy Guide to Start, Run, and Love Your Soon to Be BOLD Business. He is a Certified Business Coach and Professional Speaker and continues to release blogs, podcasts and videos at his website www.drawincustomers.com.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 191 - Insights from the Immersive Media & Books 2020 Consumer Survey Insights from the Immersive Media & Books 2020 Consumer Survey Thu, 13 May 2021 22:07:32 +0000 Mark interviews Dr. Rachel Noorda and Dr. Kathi Inman Berens about the Immersive Media & Books 2020 Consumer Survey conducted by the Panorama Project and Portland State University.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor (which includes a sample from the first narrator that Mark ever used through Findaway Voices).

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark then shares comments from recent episodes and also a personal update.

In his discussion with Dr. Noorda and Dr. Berens, the three discuss:

  • Dr. Rachel Noorda's background at Portland State University directing the Masters book publishing program there and her route into the academic world
  • The student-run press that publishes several trade books every year, giving the students a hands-on experience in publishing
  • Dr. Kathi Inman Berens' undergrad work within publishing and her later long-term academic experience within open access publishing, digital pedagogy and related projects
  • How there isn't a lot of book publishing research out there that's not proprietary in nature
  • The origin and evolution of The Panorama Project
  • Behaviors related to "engagement" with books that don't necessarily include buying or reading them
  • How the survey was made up of people who "engaged with a book" at least once in the past 12 months
  • An OverDrive study and a 2019 PEW research study and that both estimate between 75% and 85% of people have engaged with a book in the previous year
  • How books are a very durable 500-year success story, according to Dr. Berens, that people have incredibly powerful feelings and emotions about
  • Some of the research that revealed surprising results
  • How the stats show that the suspected "show-rooming" of bricks and mortar stores that result in online (ie, Amazon) purchases is actually more of a 50/50 split. Sometimes people find books in bookstores and buy those same books online. Other times, people find the books online then buy them in bookstores. It's a two-way street
  • How, while the biggest single realm of book discoverability (20%) is from friends, that 80% of the time people are finding books from a multitude of other means
  • The difficulty of measuring or finding the typical 6 touch points a person needs to have with a book before they decide to purchase/read it
  • All of the things that happen in purchasing behavior that we (as authors and publishers, and even as consumers) are not aware of
  • How the Immersive Media report does have a specific section for authors
  • The high relevance of "genre" and "favorite author" when it comes to deciding to buy a book
  • How readers are often expecting some kind of "online access" to authors
  • The "literary citizenship" that Jane Friedman talks about in her book THE BUSINESS OF BEING A WRITER
  • And more...

After the interview Mark shares a couple of reflections about the conversation and then thanks Patrons.

Links of Interest:

 

Dr. Rachel Noorda is Director of Publishing and Assistant Professor of English at Portland State University. Dr. Noorda holds a PhD degree in Publishing Studies from the University of Stirling and has published peer-reviewed research on various book publishing projects including book subscription boxes, independent publisher mission statements, the Portland Book Festival, and online book blurbs. She is currently writing a book (contracted with Cambridge University Press) about entrepreneurship in twenty-first century US book publishing. She has been very involved with the industry, including analyzing data and writing industry reports for PubWest, the Independent Book Publishers Association, the Book Industry Study Group, Literary Arts, and Publishing Scotland.


Dr. Kathi Inman Berens, Associate Professor of English at Portland State University, has published peer-reviewed research about digital humanities, book publishing, and digital literature. A Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, Dr. Berens conducted grant-supported research for IBM when she was faculty and a Fellow of the Annenberg Innovation Lab at the University of Southern California. Dr. Berens studies immersive environments and transmedia experiences, consulting with Portland companies on VR medical therapies, immersive storytelling, and mobile web interface design. In her book publishing consulting and scholarship, two years of survey work provide foundational data for insights about consumer behavior at the Portland Book Festival. She is advisory council for arts non-profits Literary Arts, NW Film Center, and Oregon Storyboard.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Dr. Rachel Noorda and Dr. Kathi Inman Berens about the Immersive Media & Books 2020 Consumer Survey conducted by the Panorama Project and Portland State University.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor (which includes a sample from the first narrator that Mark ever used through Findaway Voices).

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark then shares comments from recent episodes and also a personal update.

In his discussion with Dr. Noorda and Dr. Berens, the three discuss:

  • Dr. Rachel Noorda's background at Portland State University directing the Masters book publishing program there and her route into the academic world
  • The student-run press that publishes several trade books every year, giving the students a hands-on experience in publishing
  • Dr. Kathi Inman Berens' undergrad work within publishing and her later long-term academic experience within open access publishing, digital pedagogy and related projects
  • How there isn't a lot of book publishing research out there that's not proprietary in nature
  • The origin and evolution of The Panorama Project
  • Behaviors related to "engagement" with books that don't necessarily include buying or reading them
  • How the survey was made up of people who "engaged with a book" at least once in the past 12 months
  • An OverDrive study and a 2019 PEW research study and that both estimate between 75% and 85% of people have engaged with a book in the previous year
  • How books are a very durable 500-year success story, according to Dr. Berens, that people have incredibly powerful feelings and emotions about
  • Some of the research that revealed surprising results
  • How the stats show that the suspected "show-rooming" of bricks and mortar stores that result in online (ie, Amazon) purchases is actually more of a 50/50 split. Sometimes people find books in bookstores and buy those same books online. Other times, people find the books online then buy them in bookstores. It's a two-way street
  • How, while the biggest single realm of book discoverability (20%) is from friends, that 80% of the time people are finding books from a multitude of other means
  • The difficulty of measuring or finding the typical 6 touch points a person needs to have with a book before they decide to purchase/read it
  • All of the things that happen in purchasing behavior that we (as authors and publishers, and even as consumers) are not aware of
  • How the Immersive Media report does have a specific section for authors
  • The high relevance of "genre" and "favorite author" when it comes to deciding to buy a book
  • How readers are often expecting some kind of "online access" to authors
  • The "literary citizenship" that Jane Friedman talks about in her book THE BUSINESS OF BEING A WRITER
  • And more...

After the interview Mark shares a couple of reflections about the conversation and then thanks Patrons.

Links of Interest:

Dr. Rachel Noorda is Director of Publishing and Assistant Professor of English at Portland State University. Dr. Noorda holds a PhD degree in Publishing Studies from the University of Stirling and has published peer-reviewed research on various book publishing projects including book subscription boxes, independent publisher mission statements, the Portland Book Festival, and online book blurbs. She is currently writing a book (contracted with Cambridge University Press) about entrepreneurship in twenty-first century US book publishing. She has been very involved with the industry, including analyzing data and writing industry reports for PubWest, the Independent Book Publishers Association, the Book Industry Study Group, Literary Arts, and Publishing Scotland.

Dr. Kathi Inman Berens, Associate Professor of English at Portland State University, has published peer-reviewed research about digital humanities, book publishing, and digital literature. A Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, Dr. Berens conducted grant-supported research for IBM when she was faculty and a Fellow of the Annenberg Innovation Lab at the University of Southern California. Dr. Berens studies immersive environments and transmedia experiences, consulting with Portland companies on VR medical therapies, immersive storytelling, and mobile web interface design. In her book publishing consulting and scholarship, two years of survey work provide foundational data for insights about consumer behavior at the Portland Book Festival. She is advisory council for arts non-profits Literary Arts, NW Film Center, and Oregon Storyboard.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 57:58 false 4 191 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Dr. Rachel Noorda and Dr. Kathi Inman Berens about the Immersive Media & Books 2020 Consumer Survey conducted by the Panorama Project and Portland State University. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor (which includes a sample from the first narrator that Mark ever used through Findaway Voices). You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark then shares comments from recent episodes and also a personal update. In his discussion with Dr. Noorda and Dr. Berens, the three discuss: Dr. Rachel Noorda's background at Portland State University directing the Masters book publishing program there and her route into the academic world The student-run press that publishes several trade books every year, giving the students a hands-on experience in publishing Dr. Kathi Inman Berens' undergrad work within publishing and her later long-term academic experience within open access publishing, digital pedagogy and related projects How there isn't a lot of book publishing research out there that's not proprietary in nature The origin and evolution of The Panorama Project Behaviors related to "engagement" with books that don't necessarily include buying or reading them How the survey was made up of people who "engaged with a book" at least once in the past 12 months An OverDrive study and a 2019 PEW research study and that both estimate between 75% and 85% of people have engaged with a book in the previous year How books are a very durable 500-year success story, according to Dr. Berens, that people have incredibly powerful feelings and emotions about Some of the research that revealed surprising results How the stats show that the suspected "show-rooming" of bricks and mortar stores that result in online (ie, Amazon) purchases is actually more of a 50/50 split. Sometimes people find books in bookstores and buy those same books online. Other times, people find the books online then buy them in bookstores. It's a two-way street How, while the biggest single realm of book discoverability (20%) is from friends, that 80% of the time people are finding books from a multitude of other means The difficulty of measuring or finding the typical 6 touch points a person needs to have with a book before they decide to purchase/read it All of the things that happen in purchasing behavior that we (as authors and publishers, and even as consumers) are not aware of How the Immersive Media report does have a specific section for authors The high relevance of "genre" and "favorite author" when it comes to deciding to buy a book How readers are often expecting some kind of "online access" to authors The "literary citizenship" that Jane Friedman talks about in her book THE BUSINESS OF BEING A WRITER And more... After the interview Mark shares a couple of reflections about the conversation and then thanks Patrons. Links of Interest: The Panorama Project Immersive Media & Books 2020 Consumer Survey The March 2021 Webinar EP 187 - Business-Minded Creative Marketing with Diana Wink EP 188- A Gritty & Real Adoption and Publishing Story with Denise Massar EP 189 - From Stage to Page and Back to Stage with Rod Carley EP 190 - The Episode Where Shit Went Down with Sweary Historian James Fell The Write Stuff Storybundle (Until May 25, 2021) Eric Bryan Moore's Website Pocket Pulp Episode 7 - Spirits by Mark Leslie Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Dr. Rachel Noorda is Director of Publishing and Assistant Professor of English at Portland State University. Dr. Noorda holds a PhD degree in Publishing Studies from the University of Stirling and has published peer-reviewed research on various book publishing projects including book subscription boxes, independent publisher mission statements, the Portland Book Festival, and online book blurbs. She is currently writing a book (contracted with Cambridge University Press) about entrepreneurship in twenty-first century US book publishing. She has been very involved with the industry, including analyzing data and writing industry reports for PubWest, the Independent Book Publishers Association, the Book Industry Study Group, Literary Arts, and Publishing Scotland. Dr. Kathi Inman Berens, Associate Professor of English at Portland State University, has published peer-reviewed research about digital humanities, book publishing, and digital literature. A Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, Dr. Berens conducted grant-supported research for IBM when she was faculty and a Fellow of the Annenberg Innovation Lab at the University of Southern California. Dr. Berens studies immersive environments and transmedia experiences, consulting with Portland companies on VR medical therapies, immersive storytelling, and mobile web interface design. In her book publishing consulting and scholarship, two years of survey work provide foundational data for insights about consumer behavior at the Portland Book Festival. She is advisory council for arts non-profits Literary Arts, NW Film Center, and Oregon Storyboard.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Dr. Rachel Noorda and Dr. Kathi Inman Berens about the Immersive Media & Books 2020 Consumer Survey conducted by the Panorama Project and Portland State University. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor (which includes a sample from the first narrator that Mark ever used through Findaway Voices). You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark then shares comments from recent episodes and also a personal update. In his discussion with Dr. Noorda and Dr. Berens, the three discuss: Dr. Rachel Noorda's background at Portland State University directing the Masters book publishing program there and her route into the academic world The student-run press that publishes several trade books every year, giving the students a hands-on experience in publishing Dr. Kathi Inman Berens' undergrad work within publishing and her later long-term academic experience within open access publishing, digital pedagogy and related projects How there isn't a lot of book publishing research out there that's not proprietary in nature The origin and evolution of The Panorama Project Behaviors related to "engagement" with books that don't necessarily include buying or reading them How the survey was made up of people who "engaged with a book" at least once in the past 12 months An OverDrive study and a 2019 PEW research study and that both estimate between 75% and 85% of people have engaged with a book in the previous year How books are a very durable 500-year success story, according to Dr. Berens, that people have incredibly powerful feelings and emotions about Some of the research that revealed surprising results How the stats show that the suspected "show-rooming" of bricks and mortar stores that result in online (ie, Amazon) purchases is actually more of a 50/50 split. Sometimes people find books in bookstores and buy those same books online. Other times, people find the books online then buy them in bookstores. It's a two-way street How, while the biggest single realm of book discoverability (20%) is from friends, that 80% of the time people are finding books from a multitude of other means The difficulty of measuring or finding the typical 6 touch points a person needs to have with a book before they decide to purchase/read it All of the things that happen in purchasing behavior that we (as authors and publishers, and even as consumers) are not aware of How the Immersive Media report does have a specific section for authors The high relevance of "genre" and "favorite author" when it comes to deciding to buy a book How readers are often expecting some kind of "online access" to authors The "literary citizenship" that Jane Friedman talks about in her book THE BUSINESS OF BEING A WRITER And more... After the interview Mark shares a couple of reflections about the conversation and then thanks Patrons. Links of Interest: The Panorama Project Immersive Media & Books 2020 Consumer Survey The March 2021 Webinar EP 187 - Business-Minded Creative Marketing with Diana Wink EP 188- A Gritty & Real Adoption and Publishing Story with Denise Massar EP 189 - From Stage to Page and Back to Stage with Rod Carley EP 190 - The Episode Where Shit Went Down with Sweary Historian James Fell The Write Stuff Storybundle (Until May 25, 2021) Eric Bryan Moore's Website Pocket Pulp Episode 7 - Spirits by Mark Leslie Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Dr. Rachel Noorda is Director of Publishing and Assistant Professor of English at Portland State University. Dr. Noorda holds a PhD degree in Publishing Studies from the University of Stirling and has published peer-reviewed research on various book publishing projects including book subscription boxes, independent publisher mission statements, the Portland Book Festival, and online book blurbs. She is currently writing a book (contracted with Cambridge University Press) about entrepreneurship in twenty-first century US book publishing. She has been very involved with the industry, including analyzing data and writing industry reports for PubWest, the Independent Book Publishers Association, the Book Industry Study Group, Literary Arts, and Publishing Scotland. Dr. Kathi Inman Berens, Associate Professor of English at Portland State University, has published peer-reviewed research about digital humanities, book publishing, and digital literature. A Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, Dr. Berens conducted grant-supported research for IBM when she was faculty and a Fellow of the Annenberg Innovation Lab at the University of Southern California. Dr. Berens studies immersive environments and transmedia experiences, consulting with Portland companies on VR medical therapies, immersive storytelling, and mobile web interface design. In her book publishing consulting and scholarship, two years of survey work provide foundational data for insights about consumer behavior at the Portland Book Festival. She is advisory council for arts non-profits Literary Arts, NW Film Center, and Oregon Storyboard.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 190 - The Episode When Shit Went Down With James Fell Sweary Historian The Episode When Shit Went Down With James Fell Sweary Historian Thu, 06 May 2021 17:50:55 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews James Fell, Sweary Historian, about his latest book On This Day in History, Sh!t Went Down.

Warning to listeners: In this episode, adult language goes down. A lot. If you are offended by swearing and adult language, please do NOT listen to this episode.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments, from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and James discuss:

  • His experience writing as a freelance investigative journalist within the diet and fitness industry for the LA Times and Chicago Tribune
  • How James' literary agent compared his previous book The Holy Shit Moment as a combination of Malcolm Gladwell's Blink with Jen Sincero's You Are a Badass
  • The way that The Holy Shit Moment was a book with a bit of a scientific analysis on "how shit works" and learning that you can't make those "holy shit" moments happen, but you can set up the groundwork for making it more likely to occur
  • The way that the book The Holy Shit Moment flopped and what that meant for James' career despite all the media attention and support
  • Being in a tough and tight headspace where he wasn't sure what was going to happen with his career, with a book flop, Trump looking like he was going to be re-elected, a Covid-19 pandemic lockdown
  • The way that exercise can be an important part of paving the way for an epiphany moment
  • The long bike-ride James was on that led to the idea for this new book and shift to his writing focus over to history
  • The idea of the "this day in history" posts to share to Facebook
  • How the 2nd post about May West "blew up" on social media (5 million views within a month) and prompted people to suggest he should convert these types of posts into a book
  • The way James would decide on what to write for any specific day
  • The more than 1000 variations of the word "Fuck" that appears in the On This Day in History Shit Went Down
  • A future book that James has been working on called Greedy Sexist Religious Bigots Who Hate Science
  • The move James made to Patreon with his daily history post content and his weariness about whether or not it would work. But how, within a few hours, he was already well into a few thousand dollars
  • How, within 3 months, James was in the top 30 of all writers on Patreon
  • Moving over to Substack and how they encourage people to provide content for free to create an audience, while also having some content behind a paywall
  • The deep and meaningful connection that people can feel towards writers they respect and admire
  • The generosity shown to sci-fi author John Varley via a health crisis and GoFundMe campaign
  • How, even though people can read the entire content of the book for free, sales of On This Day In History Shit Went Down are exploding
  • The print book significantly outpacing the eBook sales on this title despite doing no advertising or marketing outside of sharing free content from the book on social media
  • The importance of a blatant and direct CALL TO ACTION to "get the book
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the change in writing focus James took as well as his fully embracing both traditional publishing and indie publishing options to fully leverage his IP to his greatest benefit, as well as his combination of nimble indie author marketing tactics combined with a progressive business-oriented approach.

Mark then thanks Patrons of the podcast offering them one of two opportunities to win one of two free download codes for an awesome new writing bundle from Storybundle called "The Right Stuff Storybundle" (which is only available until May 25, 2021.

 

Links of Interest:

 

About James Fell

My name is James and I say "fuck" a lot.

It is possible for me to not swear. I was a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune for many years. I think the LA Times let me get away with "hell" twice. I've also been a columnist for Chatelaine and AskMen, and written for TIME Magazine, the Guardian, NPR, Women's Health, Men's Health, and many others. You can see a sample of my published articles here. Additionally, I've had countless radio and TV appearances and never uttered a profane word a single time. Go me.

I began as a health and fitness writer and have published two books. The first is Lose it Right: A Brutally Honest 3-Stage Program to Help You Get Fit and Lose Weight Without Losing Your Mind published by Random House Canada in 2014. The second is about the science of the life-changing epiphany titled The Holy Sh!t Moment: How Lasting Change Can Happen in an Instant published by St. Martin's Press in 2019. Yes, I wrote a book with a swearword in the title. Both are heavy on the science, containing no bullshit.

I also have a popular blog that has millions of readers where I have written on a wide variety of subjects that include fitness, diet, and motivation, but certainly isn't limited to that. The blog is very sweary. Here is my recipe for "motherfucking lasagna."

Covid-19 changed my career arc.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews James Fell, Sweary Historian, about his latest book On This Day in History, Sh!t Went Down.

Warning to listeners: In this episode, adult language goes down. A lot. If you are offended by swearing and adult language, please do NOT listen to this episode.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments, from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and James discuss:

  • His experience writing as a freelance investigative journalist within the diet and fitness industry for the LA Times and Chicago Tribune
  • How James' literary agent compared his previous book The Holy Shit Moment as a combination of Malcolm Gladwell's Blink with Jen Sincero's You Are a Badass
  • The way that The Holy Shit Moment was a book with a bit of a scientific analysis on "how shit works" and learning that you can't make those "holy shit" moments happen, but you can set up the groundwork for making it more likely to occur
  • The way that the book The Holy Shit Moment flopped and what that meant for James' career despite all the media attention and support
  • Being in a tough and tight headspace where he wasn't sure what was going to happen with his career, with a book flop, Trump looking like he was going to be re-elected, a Covid-19 pandemic lockdown
  • The way that exercise can be an important part of paving the way for an epiphany moment
  • The long bike-ride James was on that led to the idea for this new book and shift to his writing focus over to history
  • The idea of the "this day in history" posts to share to Facebook
  • How the 2nd post about May West "blew up" on social media (5 million views within a month) and prompted people to suggest he should convert these types of posts into a book
  • The way James would decide on what to write for any specific day
  • The more than 1000 variations of the word "Fuck" that appears in the On This Day in History Shit Went Down
  • A future book that James has been working on called Greedy Sexist Religious Bigots Who Hate Science
  • The move James made to Patreon with his daily history post content and his weariness about whether or not it would work. But how, within a few hours, he was already well into a few thousand dollars
  • How, within 3 months, James was in the top 30 of all writers on Patreon
  • Moving over to Substack and how they encourage people to provide content for free to create an audience, while also having some content behind a paywall
  • The deep and meaningful connection that people can feel towards writers they respect and admire
  • The generosity shown to sci-fi author John Varley via a health crisis and GoFundMe campaign
  • How, even though people can read the entire content of the book for free, sales of On This Day In History Shit Went Down are exploding
  • The print book significantly outpacing the eBook sales on this title despite doing no advertising or marketing outside of sharing free content from the book on social media
  • The importance of a blatant and direct CALL TO ACTION to "get the book
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the change in writing focus James took as well as his fully embracing both traditional publishing and indie publishing options to fully leverage his IP to his greatest benefit, as well as his combination of nimble indie author marketing tactics combined with a progressive business-oriented approach.

Mark then thanks Patrons of the podcast offering them one of two opportunities to win one of two free download codes for an awesome new writing bundle from Storybundle called "The Right Stuff Storybundle" (which is only available until May 25, 2021.

Links of Interest:

About James Fell

My name is James and I say "fuck" a lot.

It is possible for me to not swear. I was a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune for many years. I think the LA Times let me get away with "hell" twice. I've also been a columnist for Chatelaine and AskMen, and written for TIME Magazine, the Guardian, NPR, Women's Health, Men's Health, and many others. You can see a sample of my published articles here. Additionally, I've had countless radio and TV appearances and never uttered a profane word a single time. Go me.

I began as a health and fitness writer and have published two books. The first is Lose it Right: A Brutally Honest 3-Stage Program to Help You Get Fit and Lose Weight Without Losing Your Mind published by Random House Canada in 2014. The second is about the science of the life-changing epiphany titled The Holy Sh!t Moment: How Lasting Change Can Happen in an Instant published by St. Martin's Press in 2019. Yes, I wrote a book with a swearword in the title. Both are heavy on the science, containing no bullshit.

I also have a popular blog that has millions of readers where I have written on a wide variety of subjects that include fitness, diet, and motivation, but certainly isn't limited to that. The blog is very sweary. Here is my recipe for "motherfucking lasagna."

Covid-19 changed my career arc.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 59:50 true 4 190 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews James Fell, Sweary Historian, about his latest book On This Day in History, Sh!t Went Down. Warning to listeners: In this episode, adult language goes down. A lot. If you are offended by swearing and adult language, please do NOT listen to this episode. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments, from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and James discuss: His experience writing as a freelance investigative journalist within the diet and fitness industry for the LA Times and Chicago Tribune How James' literary agent compared his previous book The Holy Shit Moment as a combination of Malcolm Gladwell's Blink with Jen Sincero's You Are a Badass The way that The Holy Shit Moment was a book with a bit of a scientific analysis on "how shit works" and learning that you can't make those "holy shit" moments happen, but you can set up the groundwork for making it more likely to occur The way that the book The Holy Shit Moment flopped and what that meant for James' career despite all the media attention and support Being in a tough and tight headspace where he wasn't sure what was going to happen with his career, with a book flop, Trump looking like he was going to be re-elected, a Covid-19 pandemic lockdown The way that exercise can be an important part of paving the way for an epiphany moment The long bike-ride James was on that led to the idea for this new book and shift to his writing focus over to history The idea of the "this day in history" posts to share to Facebook How the 2nd post about May West "blew up" on social media (5 million views within a month) and prompted people to suggest he should convert these types of posts into a book The way James would decide on what to write for any specific day The more than 1000 variations of the word "Fuck" that appears in the On This Day in History Shit Went Down A future book that James has been working on called Greedy Sexist Religious Bigots Who Hate Science The move James made to Patreon with his daily history post content and his weariness about whether or not it would work. But how, within a few hours, he was already well into a few thousand dollars How, within 3 months, James was in the top 30 of all writers on Patreon Moving over to Substack and how they encourage people to provide content for free to create an audience, while also having some content behind a paywall The deep and meaningful connection that people can feel towards writers they respect and admire The generosity shown to sci-fi author John Varley via a health crisis and GoFundMe campaign How, even though people can read the entire content of the book for free, sales of On This Day In History Shit Went Down are exploding The print book significantly outpacing the eBook sales on this title despite doing no advertising or marketing outside of sharing free content from the book on social media The importance of a blatant and direct CALL TO ACTION to "get the book And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the change in writing focus James took as well as his fully embracing both traditional publishing and indie publishing options to fully leverage his IP to his greatest benefit, as well as his combination of nimble indie author marketing tactics combined with a progressive business-oriented approach. Mark then thanks Patrons of the podcast offering them one of two opportunities to win one of two free download codes for an awesome new writing bundle from Storybundle called "The Right Stuff Storybundle" (which is only available until May 25, 2021.   Links of Interest: James Fell's Website Body for Wife / Books On This Day in History Shit Went Down James Fell Facebook Page James Fell on Substack Episode 60 - The Holy Shit Moment and Other Sudden Insights with James Fell Episode 2 - Living the Healthy Writer Life with Joanna Penn Episode 138 - Cash Flow for Creators with Michael W Lucas Episode 148 - A Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn The Write Stuff Storybundle (Until May 25, 2021) Kevin Closs Music Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   About James Fell My name is James and I say "fuck" a lot. It is possible for me to not swear. I was a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune for many years. I think the LA Times let me get away with "hell" twice. I've also been a columnist for Chatelaine and AskMen, and written for TIME Magazine, the Guardian, NPR, Women's Health, Men's Health, and many others. You can see a sample of my published articles here. Additionally, I've had countless radio and TV appearances and never uttered a profane word a single time. Go me. I began as a health and fitness writer and have published two books. The first is Lose it Right: A Brutally Honest 3-Stage Program to Help You Get Fit and Lose Weight Without Losing Your Mind published by Random House Canada in 2014. The second is about the science of the life-changing epiphany titled The Holy Sh!t Moment: How Lasting Change Can Happen in an Instant published by St. Martin's Press in 2019. Yes, I wrote a book with a swearword in the title. Both are heavy on the science, containing no bullshit. I also have a popular blog that has millions of readers where I have written on a wide variety of subjects that include fitness, diet, and motivation, but certainly isn't limited to that. The blog is very sweary. Here is my recipe for "motherfucking lasagna." Covid-19 changed my career arc.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews James Fell, Sweary Historian, about his latest book On This Day in History, Sh!t Went Down. Warning to listeners: In this episode, adult language goes down. A lot. If you are offended by swearing and adult language, please do NOT listen to this episode. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments, from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and James discuss: His experience writing as a freelance investigative journalist within the diet and fitness industry for the LA Times and Chicago Tribune How James' literary agent compared his previous book The Holy Shit Moment as a combination of Malcolm Gladwell's Blink with Jen Sincero's You Are a Badass The way that The Holy Shit Moment was a book with a bit of a scientific analysis on "how shit works" and learning that you can't make those "holy shit" moments happen, but you can set up the groundwork for making it more likely to occur The way that the book The Holy Shit Moment flopped and what that meant for James' career despite all the media attention and support Being in a tough and tight headspace where he wasn't sure what was going to happen with his career, with a book flop, Trump looking like he was going to be re-elected, a Covid-19 pandemic lockdown The way that exercise can be an important part of paving the way for an epiphany moment The long bike-ride James was on that led to the idea for this new book and shift to his writing focus over to history The idea of the "this day in history" posts to share to Facebook How the 2nd post about May West "blew up" on social media (5 million views within a month) and prompted people to suggest he should convert these types of posts into a book The way James would decide on what to write for any specific day The more than 1000 variations of the word "Fuck" that appears in the On This Day in History Shit Went Down A future book that James has been working on called Greedy Sexist Religious Bigots Who Hate Science The move James made to Patreon with his daily history post content and his weariness about whether or not it would work. But how, within a few hours, he was already well into a few thousand dollars How, within 3 months, James was in the top 30 of all writers on Patreon Moving over to Substack and how they encourage people to provide content for free to create an audience, while also having some content behind a paywall The deep and meaningful connection that people can feel towards writers they respect and admire The generosity shown to sci-fi author John Varley via a health crisis and GoFundMe campaign How, even though people can read the entire content of the book for free, sales of On This Day In History Shit Went Down are exploding The print book significantly outpacing the eBook sales on this title despite doing no advertising or marketing outside of sharing free content from the book on social media The importance of a blatant and direct CALL TO ACTION to "get the book And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the change in writing focus James took as well as his fully embracing both traditional publishing and indie publishing options to fully leverage his IP to his greatest benefit, as well as his combination of nimble indie author marketing tactics combined with a progressive business-oriented approach. Mark then thanks Patrons of the podcast offering them one of two opportunities to win one of two free download codes for an awesome new writing bundle from Storybundle called "The Right Stuff Storybundle" (which is only available until May 25, 2021.   Links of Interest: James Fell's Website Body for Wife / Books On This Day in History Shit Went Down James Fell Facebook Page James Fell on Substack Episode 60 - The Holy Shit Moment and Other Sudden Insights with James Fell Episode 2 - Living the Healthy Writer Life with Joanna Penn Episode 138 - Cash Flow for Creators with Michael W Lucas Episode 148 - A Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn The Write Stuff Storybundle (Until May 25, 2021) Kevin Closs Music Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   About James Fell My name is James and I say "fuck" a lot. It is possible for me to not swear. I was a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune for many years. I think the LA Times let me get away with "hell" twice. I've also been a columnist for Chatelaine and AskMen, and written for TIME Magazine, the Guardian, NPR, Women's Health, Men's Health, and many others. You can see a sample of my published articles here. Additionally, I've had countless radio and TV appearances and never uttered a profane word a single time. Go me. I began as a health and fitness writer and have published two books. The first is Lose it Right: A Brutally Honest 3-Stage Program to Help You Get Fit and Lose Weight Without Losing Your Mind published by Random House Canada in 2014. The second is about the science of the life-changing epiphany titled The Holy Sh!t Moment: How Lasting Change Can Happen in an Instant published by St. Martin's Press in 2019. Yes, I wrote a book with a swearword in the title. Both are heavy on the science, containing no bullshit. I also have a popular blog that has millions of readers where I have written on a wide variety of subjects that include fitness, diet, and motivation, but certainly isn't limited to that. The blog is very sweary. Here is my recipe for "motherfucking lasagna." Covid-19 changed my career arc.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 189 - From Stage to Page and Back to Stage with Rod Carley From Stage to Page and Back to Stage with Rod Carley Fri, 30 Apr 2021 00:27:25 +0000 Mark interviews writer, director, playwright and actor, Rod Carley and they talk about his new novel Kinmount.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update as well as a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Rod talk about:

  • How, when he was young, Rod would come home from school every day and work on a picture book
  • Joining a musical as part of the chorus in grade 9
  • Theater offering a sense of collaboration and inclusion
  • Having Canadian poet bpNichol as a creative writing instructor in university, and how this legendary writer was a huge influence
  • The work Rod did adapting and editing Shakespearean scripts into modern settings by finding more recent historic parallels to moments, themes, and events from the original plays
  • Writing musicals based on the history of Northern Ontario
  • An overview of the premise and setup for Rod's first novel, A Matter of Will
  • Rod's latest novel, Kinmount, which is about a theater director trying to put on a Shakespeare play (Romeo & Juliet) in a small town
  • The common mis-perception of Romeo & Juliet as a romantic story rather than a tragedy
  • How Romeo & Juliet is, in many ways, a tragedy of toxic masculinity
  • Balancing humanity with hilarity in the writing of this book
  • The subtle elements of magic realism in Kinmount and A Matter of Will and how it has to come from an organic place in the story
  • One of the things Rod has done when directing MacBeth ("the Scottish play") to break the curse/spell associated with that play
  • How the first week of July in North Bay there is a massive shadfly infestation
  • Launching a novel during the 2020 Pandemic
  • Pivoting to a virtual book launch, and hiring a small local marketing firm to assist with that
  • One of the pros of having a virtual book launch, which allowed for attendees from afar
  • Getting onto the long-list for the Stephen Leacock Medal and the support Rod received from Terry Fallis
  • Some of Rod's influences that include Robertson Davies, Mordecai Richler, David Sedaris, Kurt Vonnegut, and more
  • How Rod prepares for doing a live (or virtual) reading of his work
  • The way Rod's work in theater has informed his ability to compose dialogue
  • Modern adaptation (what Rod calls "responsible adaption") of Shakespeare's society and how, back in Shakespeare's day, people were used to speaking and listening a lot more rapidly, so a typical Shakespeare play wasn't as long in duration as a modern version
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the adaptations that can happen with creative work and how authors might consider their own work re-adapted to different formats.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Rod's first novel, A Matter of Will, was a finalist for the 2018 Northern Lit Award for Fiction. His non-fiction short story, A Farewell to Steam, was featured in the anthology, 150 Years Up North and More. His literary fiction short story, Botox and the Brontosaurus, is featured in Cloud Lake Literary's inaugural online review. Rod is also an award-winning director, playwright and actor, having directed and produced over 100 theatrical productions to date including fifteen adaptations of Shakespeare. He is the Artistic Director of the Acting for Stage and Screen Program for Canadore College and a part-time English professor with Nipissing University. Rod was the 2009 winner of TVO's Big Ideas/Best Lecturer competition. KINMOUNT is his second novel.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews writer, director, playwright and actor, Rod Carley and they talk about his new novel Kinmount.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update as well as a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Rod talk about:

  • How, when he was young, Rod would come home from school every day and work on a picture book
  • Joining a musical as part of the chorus in grade 9
  • Theater offering a sense of collaboration and inclusion
  • Having Canadian poet bpNichol as a creative writing instructor in university, and how this legendary writer was a huge influence
  • The work Rod did adapting and editing Shakespearean scripts into modern settings by finding more recent historic parallels to moments, themes, and events from the original plays
  • Writing musicals based on the history of Northern Ontario
  • An overview of the premise and setup for Rod's first novel, A Matter of Will
  • Rod's latest novel, Kinmount, which is about a theater director trying to put on a Shakespeare play (Romeo & Juliet) in a small town
  • The common mis-perception of Romeo & Juliet as a romantic story rather than a tragedy
  • How Romeo & Juliet is, in many ways, a tragedy of toxic masculinity
  • Balancing humanity with hilarity in the writing of this book
  • The subtle elements of magic realism in Kinmount and A Matter of Will and how it has to come from an organic place in the story
  • One of the things Rod has done when directing MacBeth ("the Scottish play") to break the curse/spell associated with that play
  • How the first week of July in North Bay there is a massive shadfly infestation
  • Launching a novel during the 2020 Pandemic
  • Pivoting to a virtual book launch, and hiring a small local marketing firm to assist with that
  • One of the pros of having a virtual book launch, which allowed for attendees from afar
  • Getting onto the long-list for the Stephen Leacock Medal and the support Rod received from Terry Fallis
  • Some of Rod's influences that include Robertson Davies, Mordecai Richler, David Sedaris, Kurt Vonnegut, and more
  • How Rod prepares for doing a live (or virtual) reading of his work
  • The way Rod's work in theater has informed his ability to compose dialogue
  • Modern adaptation (what Rod calls "responsible adaption") of Shakespeare's society and how, back in Shakespeare's day, people were used to speaking and listening a lot more rapidly, so a typical Shakespeare play wasn't as long in duration as a modern version
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the adaptations that can happen with creative work and how authors might consider their own work re-adapted to different formats.

Links of Interest:

Rod's first novel, A Matter of Will, was a finalist for the 2018 Northern Lit Award for Fiction. His non-fiction short story, A Farewell to Steam, was featured in the anthology, 150 Years Up North and More. His literary fiction short story, Botox and the Brontosaurus, is featured in Cloud Lake Literary's inaugural online review. Rod is also an award-winning director, playwright and actor, having directed and produced over 100 theatrical productions to date including fifteen adaptations of Shakespeare. He is the Artistic Director of the Acting for Stage and Screen Program for Canadore College and a part-time English professor with Nipissing University. Rod was the 2009 winner of TVO's Big Ideas/Best Lecturer competition. KINMOUNT is his second novel.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:05:43 false 4 189 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews writer, director, playwright and actor, Rod Carley and they talk about his new novel Kinmount. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update as well as a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Rod talk about: How, when he was young, Rod would come home from school every day and work on a picture book Joining a musical as part of the chorus in grade 9 Theater offering a sense of collaboration and inclusion Having Canadian poet bpNichol as a creative writing instructor in university, and how this legendary writer was a huge influence The work Rod did adapting and editing Shakespearean scripts into modern settings by finding more recent historic parallels to moments, themes, and events from the original plays Writing musicals based on the history of Northern Ontario An overview of the premise and setup for Rod's first novel, A Matter of Will Rod's latest novel, Kinmount, which is about a theater director trying to put on a Shakespeare play (Romeo & Juliet) in a small town The common mis-perception of Romeo & Juliet as a romantic story rather than a tragedy How Romeo & Juliet is, in many ways, a tragedy of toxic masculinity Balancing humanity with hilarity in the writing of this book The subtle elements of magic realism in Kinmount and A Matter of Will and how it has to come from an organic place in the story One of the things Rod has done when directing MacBeth ("the Scottish play") to break the curse/spell associated with that play How the first week of July in North Bay there is a massive shadfly infestation Launching a novel during the 2020 Pandemic Pivoting to a virtual book launch, and hiring a small local marketing firm to assist with that One of the pros of having a virtual book launch, which allowed for attendees from afar Getting onto the long-list for the Stephen Leacock Medal and the support Rod received from Terry Fallis Some of Rod's influences that include Robertson Davies, Mordecai Richler, David Sedaris, Kurt Vonnegut, and more How Rod prepares for doing a live (or virtual) reading of his work The way Rod's work in theater has informed his ability to compose dialogue Modern adaptation (what Rod calls "responsible adaption") of Shakespeare's society and how, back in Shakespeare's day, people were used to speaking and listening a lot more rapidly, so a typical Shakespeare play wasn't as long in duration as a modern version And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the adaptations that can happen with creative work and how authors might consider their own work re-adapted to different formats.   Links of Interest: Rod Carley's Website Instagram Twitter Facebook Kevin Closs Music Episode 29 - Terry Fallis on Writing with Authenticity, Humor, & Passion Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Rod's first novel, A Matter of Will, was a finalist for the 2018 Northern Lit Award for Fiction. His non-fiction short story, A Farewell to Steam, was featured in the anthology, 150 Years Up North and More. His literary fiction short story, Botox and the Brontosaurus, is featured in Cloud Lake Literary's inaugural online review. Rod is also an award-winning director, playwright and actor, having directed and produced over 100 theatrical productions to date including fifteen adaptations of Shakespeare. He is the Artistic Director of the Acting for Stage and Screen Program for Canadore College and a part-time English professor with Nipissing University. Rod was the 2009 winner of TVO's Big Ideas/Best Lecturer competition. KINMOUNT is his second novel.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews writer, director, playwright and actor, Rod Carley and they talk about his new novel Kinmount. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update as well as a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Rod talk about: How, when he was young, Rod would come home from school every day and work on a picture book Joining a musical as part of the chorus in grade 9 Theater offering a sense of collaboration and inclusion Having Canadian poet bpNichol as a creative writing instructor in university, and how this legendary writer was a huge influence The work Rod did adapting and editing Shakespearean scripts into modern settings by finding more recent historic parallels to moments, themes, and events from the original plays Writing musicals based on the history of Northern Ontario An overview of the premise and setup for Rod's first novel, A Matter of Will Rod's latest novel, Kinmount, which is about a theater director trying to put on a Shakespeare play (Romeo & Juliet) in a small town The common mis-perception of Romeo & Juliet as a romantic story rather than a tragedy How Romeo & Juliet is, in many ways, a tragedy of toxic masculinity Balancing humanity with hilarity in the writing of this book The subtle elements of magic realism in Kinmount and A Matter of Will and how it has to come from an organic place in the story One of the things Rod has done when directing MacBeth ("the Scottish play") to break the curse/spell associated with that play How the first week of July in North Bay there is a massive shadfly infestation Launching a novel during the 2020 Pandemic Pivoting to a virtual book launch, and hiring a small local marketing firm to assist with that One of the pros of having a virtual book launch, which allowed for attendees from afar Getting onto the long-list for the Stephen Leacock Medal and the support Rod received from Terry Fallis Some of Rod's influences that include Robertson Davies, Mordecai Richler, David Sedaris, Kurt Vonnegut, and more How Rod prepares for doing a live (or virtual) reading of his work The way Rod's work in theater has informed his ability to compose dialogue Modern adaptation (what Rod calls "responsible adaption") of Shakespeare's society and how, back in Shakespeare's day, people were used to speaking and listening a lot more rapidly, so a typical Shakespeare play wasn't as long in duration as a modern version And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the adaptations that can happen with creative work and how authors might consider their own work re-adapted to different formats.   Links of Interest: Rod Carley's Website Instagram Twitter Facebook Kevin Closs Music Episode 29 - Terry Fallis on Writing with Authenticity, Humor, & Passion Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Rod's first novel, A Matter of Will, was a finalist for the 2018 Northern Lit Award for Fiction. His non-fiction short story, A Farewell to Steam, was featured in the anthology, 150 Years Up North and More. His literary fiction short story, Botox and the Brontosaurus, is featured in Cloud Lake Literary's inaugural online review. Rod is also an award-winning director, playwright and actor, having directed and produced over 100 theatrical productions to date including fifteen adaptations of Shakespeare. He is the Artistic Director of the Acting for Stage and Screen Program for Canadore College and a part-time English professor with Nipissing University. Rod was the 2009 winner of TVO's Big Ideas/Best Lecturer competition. KINMOUNT is his second novel.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 188 - A Gritty & Realistic Adoption & Publishing Journey with Denise Massar A Gritty & Realistic Adoption & Publishing Journey with Denise Massar Thu, 22 Apr 2021 21:18:20 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Denise Massar about her memoir "Matched," about adoption, and about the work being done to find the right publisher for the manuscript.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor...

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

During their conversation, Mark and Denise talk about:

  • Denise's memoir about adoption called "Matched"
  • The process of private domestic newborn adoption and how it is different than the systems used to be
  • How competitive the process is
  • How adoptive parents are tasked 100% with finding their own birth mom
  • The diverse range of women in a position of being pregnant and not wanting to keep their baby
  • How the search for a birth mother can feel seedy
  • Adoption being a hot-button topic, potentially as hot-button as the topic of abortion
  • Seeing how an open adoption could be, with Denise's son Henry, and comparing that to her own adoption, which was secret/hidden
  • How easy it was for both Denise and Mark to find their birth mothers thanks to the opening up of information, and the internet
  • The impact of the "yes, I am your mother" message Denise was sent
  • Calling the mother who raised her, her mother, and her birth mom her birth mother
  • How Denise has always been a writer, and that she got her MFA in writing, but that this memoir was her first tangle product
  • The process of finding a publisher for her memoir which was an unexpected journey after finishing the book
  • Hiring Jane Friedman to critique her query letter
  • What a book proposal is, what "comp titles" are
  • The popular "adoption wheel" of shame/depression/etc
  • The agent query process for Denise
  • How the book went out on submission the day that most of the United States went into pandemic lock-down in 2020
  • The importance of an author being seen as current and relevant by a potential publisher
  • The title "Matched" and consideration of creating a more intuitive/SEO based title for the book
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the concept of how an editor goes to bat for a book at the editorial round table and other concepts discussed in the interview.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Denise Massar, an adoptee and adoptive mom, lives in Orange County, California with her husband and three kids. A Washington State native, she earned her MA in English Literature from Central Washington University. Denise enjoys: Thrift store wandering, reading in bed with Aussie licorice (red), sweaty spin classes, salt air, and the belly laughs of her kids.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Denise Massar about her memoir "Matched," about adoption, and about the work being done to find the right publisher for the manuscript.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor...

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Denise talk about:

  • Denise's memoir about adoption called "Matched"
  • The process of private domestic newborn adoption and how it is different than the systems used to be
  • How competitive the process is
  • How adoptive parents are tasked 100% with finding their own birth mom
  • The diverse range of women in a position of being pregnant and not wanting to keep their baby
  • How the search for a birth mother can feel seedy
  • Adoption being a hot-button topic, potentially as hot-button as the topic of abortion
  • Seeing how an open adoption could be, with Denise's son Henry, and comparing that to her own adoption, which was secret/hidden
  • How easy it was for both Denise and Mark to find their birth mothers thanks to the opening up of information, and the internet
  • The impact of the "yes, I am your mother" message Denise was sent
  • Calling the mother who raised her, her mother, and her birth mom her birth mother
  • How Denise has always been a writer, and that she got her MFA in writing, but that this memoir was her first tangle product
  • The process of finding a publisher for her memoir which was an unexpected journey after finishing the book
  • Hiring Jane Friedman to critique her query letter
  • What a book proposal is, what "comp titles" are
  • The popular "adoption wheel" of shame/depression/etc
  • The agent query process for Denise
  • How the book went out on submission the day that most of the United States went into pandemic lock-down in 2020
  • The importance of an author being seen as current and relevant by a potential publisher
  • The title "Matched" and consideration of creating a more intuitive/SEO based title for the book
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the concept of how an editor goes to bat for a book at the editorial round table and other concepts discussed in the interview.

Links of Interest:

Denise Massar, an adoptee and adoptive mom, lives in Orange County, California with her husband and three kids. A Washington State native, she earned her MA in English Literature from Central Washington University. Denise enjoys: Thrift store wandering, reading in bed with Aussie licorice (red), sweaty spin classes, salt air, and the belly laughs of her kids.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:10:09 false 4 188 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Denise Massar about her memoir "Matched," about adoption, and about the work being done to find the right publisher for the manuscript. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   During their conversation, Mark and Denise talk about: Denise's memoir about adoption called "Matched" The process of private domestic newborn adoption and how it is different than the systems used to be How competitive the process is How adoptive parents are tasked 100% with finding their own birth mom The diverse range of women in a position of being pregnant and not wanting to keep their baby How the search for a birth mother can feel seedy Adoption being a hot-button topic, potentially as hot-button as the topic of abortion Seeing how an open adoption could be, with Denise's son Henry, and comparing that to her own adoption, which was secret/hidden How easy it was for both Denise and Mark to find their birth mothers thanks to the opening up of information, and the internet The impact of the "yes, I am your mother" message Denise was sent Calling the mother who raised her, her mother, and her birth mom her birth mother How Denise has always been a writer, and that she got her MFA in writing, but that this memoir was her first tangle product The process of finding a publisher for her memoir which was an unexpected journey after finishing the book Hiring Jane Friedman to critique her query letter What a book proposal is, what "comp titles" are The popular "adoption wheel" of shame/depression/etc The agent query process for Denise How the book went out on submission the day that most of the United States went into pandemic lock-down in 2020 The importance of an author being seen as current and relevant by a potential publisher The title "Matched" and consideration of creating a more intuitive/SEO based title for the book And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the concept of how an editor goes to bat for a book at the editorial round table and other concepts discussed in the interview.   Links of Interest: Denise Massar's Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Medium Are Editors Responding to Submissions During Coronavirus? (Article) 5 Things I Wanted My Son To Have From His Birth Mother (Article) Episode 108 - Silver Linings with Talena Winters Episode 163 - Getting a Creative Edge with Mickey Mikkelson The Creative Penn Episode 546 - Global, Wide Self-Publishing with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Top 35 Canadian Book Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021 Lawrence Hill Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Denise Massar, an adoptee and adoptive mom, lives in Orange County, California with her husband and three kids. A Washington State native, she earned her MA in English Literature from Central Washington University. Denise enjoys: Thrift store wandering, reading in bed with Aussie licorice (red), sweaty spin classes, salt air, and the belly laughs of her kids.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Denise Massar about her memoir "Matched," about adoption, and about the work being done to find the right publisher for the manuscript. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   During their conversation, Mark and Denise talk about: Denise's memoir about adoption called "Matched" The process of private domestic newborn adoption and how it is different than the systems used to be How competitive the process is How adoptive parents are tasked 100% with finding their own birth mom The diverse range of women in a position of being pregnant and not wanting to keep their baby How the search for a birth mother can feel seedy Adoption being a hot-button topic, potentially as hot-button as the topic of abortion Seeing how an open adoption could be, with Denise's son Henry, and comparing that to her own adoption, which was secret/hidden How easy it was for both Denise and Mark to find their birth mothers thanks to the opening up of information, and the internet The impact of the "yes, I am your mother" message Denise was sent Calling the mother who raised her, her mother, and her birth mom her birth mother How Denise has always been a writer, and that she got her MFA in writing, but that this memoir was her first tangle product The process of finding a publisher for her memoir which was an unexpected journey after finishing the book Hiring Jane Friedman to critique her query letter What a book proposal is, what "comp titles" are The popular "adoption wheel" of shame/depression/etc The agent query process for Denise How the book went out on submission the day that most of the United States went into pandemic lock-down in 2020 The importance of an author being seen as current and relevant by a potential publisher The title "Matched" and consideration of creating a more intuitive/SEO based title for the book And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the concept of how an editor goes to bat for a book at the editorial round table and other concepts discussed in the interview.   Links of Interest: Denise Massar's Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Medium Are Editors Responding to Submissions During Coronavirus? (Article) 5 Things I Wanted My Son To Have From His Birth Mother (Article) Episode 108 - Silver Linings with Talena Winters Episode 163 - Getting a Creative Edge with Mickey Mikkelson The Creative Penn Episode 546 - Global, Wide Self-Publishing with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Top 35 Canadian Book Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021 Lawrence Hill Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Denise Massar, an adoptee and adoptive mom, lives in Orange County, California with her husband and three kids. A Washington State native, she earned her MA in English Literature from Central Washington University. Denise enjoys: Thrift store wandering, reading in bed with Aussie licorice (red), sweaty spin classes, salt air, and the belly laughs of her kids.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 187 - Business Minded Creative Marketing with Diana Wink Business Minded Creative Marketing with Diana Wink Fri, 16 Apr 2021 02:32:38 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Diana Wink, fiction author, blogger and film director.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor...

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Diana discuss:

  • How Diana wrote poems in Russian and German when she was young and also wrote a novel when she was 11
  • Asking about how she could combine music, visual art and storytelling together, which lead to her interest in film
  • Loving the writing and the planning behind projects such as films
  • How the shooting is the most stressful part of a film, and in editing it's often about regret
  • The way that everyone can have ideas that feed off of one another in a collaborative film project
    - What it's like to see the reaction of a live audience to a film at a film festival
    - How, in film, if you don't have a budget, you have to first find it - which isn't necessary when writing fiction. And how this led Diana back into writing
  • Diana's dystopian sci-fi trilogy under the name DF Wink
  • How science fiction and dystopian fiction can be a mirror held up to current events and reality
  • The documentary style podcast format that Diana uses
  • A slogan Diana uses: "There is a platform for every outstanding story and you have one to tell"
  • That similar problem most writers often have with actually writing their first novel
  • Diana's book for writers: The Business-Minded Creative and why she put it together
  • How Diana built her website (storyartist.me) using the principals of storytelling
  • The struggle Diana faces because of all the different passions and areas of creativity that she engages in
  • How Diana is fueled by every interview that she does for her podcast
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things about what Diana said that inspired him, he thanks his patrons and listeners of the podcast.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Diana Wink is an author, blogger and film director.  With a passion for stories since she can remember, she studied film making and made a career as director of successful short films (awarded in festivals) and advertising.

In 2015, she decided to go back to her roots and finally finish her first fiction book. Since then, she attracted 5-star reviews, raving fans and written many more novels.

On Story Artist, she decided to share her creative journey and help content creators in new and effective ways because her credo is: There is a platform for every outstanding story.
And you have one to tell.


The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Diana Wink, fiction author, blogger and film director.

Prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor...

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Diana discuss:

  • How Diana wrote poems in Russian and German when she was young and also wrote a novel when she was 11
  • Asking about how she could combine music, visual art and storytelling together, which lead to her interest in film
  • Loving the writing and the planning behind projects such as films
  • How the shooting is the most stressful part of a film, and in editing it's often about regret
  • The way that everyone can have ideas that feed off of one another in a collaborative film project - What it's like to see the reaction of a live audience to a film at a film festival - How, in film, if you don't have a budget, you have to first find it - which isn't necessary when writing fiction. And how this led Diana back into writing
  • Diana's dystopian sci-fi trilogy under the name DF Wink
  • How science fiction and dystopian fiction can be a mirror held up to current events and reality
  • The documentary style podcast format that Diana uses
  • A slogan Diana uses: "There is a platform for every outstanding story and you have one to tell"
  • That similar problem most writers often have with actually writing their first novel
  • Diana's book for writers: The Business-Minded Creative and why she put it together
  • How Diana built her website (storyartist.me) using the principals of storytelling
  • The struggle Diana faces because of all the different passions and areas of creativity that she engages in
  • How Diana is fueled by every interview that she does for her podcast
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things about what Diana said that inspired him, he thanks his patrons and listeners of the podcast.

Links of Interest:

Diana Wink is an author, blogger and film director. With a passion for stories since she can remember, she studied film making and made a career as director of successful short films (awarded in festivals) and advertising.

In 2015, she decided to go back to her roots and finally finish her first fiction book. Since then, she attracted 5-star reviews, raving fans and written many more novels.

On Story Artist, she decided to share her creative journey and help content creators in new and effective ways because her credo is: There is a platform for every outstanding story. And you have one to tell.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 45:22 false 4 187 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Diana Wink, fiction author, blogger and film director. Prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Diana discuss: How Diana wrote poems in Russian and German when she was young and also wrote a novel when she was 11 Asking about how she could combine music, visual art and storytelling together, which lead to her interest in film Loving the writing and the planning behind projects such as films How the shooting is the most stressful part of a film, and in editing it's often about regret The way that everyone can have ideas that feed off of one another in a collaborative film project - What it's like to see the reaction of a live audience to a film at a film festival - How, in film, if you don't have a budget, you have to first find it - which isn't necessary when writing fiction. And how this led Diana back into writing Diana's dystopian sci-fi trilogy under the name DF Wink How science fiction and dystopian fiction can be a mirror held up to current events and reality The documentary style podcast format that Diana uses A slogan Diana uses: "There is a platform for every outstanding story and you have one to tell" That similar problem most writers often have with actually writing their first novel Diana's book for writers: The Business-Minded Creative and why she put it together How Diana built her website (storyartist.me) using the principals of storytelling The struggle Diana faces because of all the different passions and areas of creativity that she engages in How Diana is fueled by every interview that she does for her podcast And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few things about what Diana said that inspired him, he thanks his patrons and listeners of the podcast.   Links of Interest: Diana Wink Website DFWink Website StoryArtist.me Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Diana Wink is an author, blogger and film director.  With a passion for stories since she can remember, she studied film making and made a career as director of successful short films (awarded in festivals) and advertising. In 2015, she decided to go back to her roots and finally finish her first fiction book. Since then, she attracted 5-star reviews, raving fans and written many more novels. On Story Artist, she decided to share her creative journey and help content creators in new and effective ways because her credo is: There is a platform for every outstanding story. And you have one to tell. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Diana Wink, fiction author, blogger and film director. Prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Diana discuss: How Diana wrote poems in Russian and German when she was young and also wrote a novel when she was 11 Asking about how she could combine music, visual art and storytelling together, which lead to her interest in film Loving the writing and the planning behind projects such as films How the shooting is the most stressful part of a film, and in editing it's often about regret The way that everyone can have ideas that feed off of one another in a collaborative film project - What it's like to see the reaction of a live audience to a film at a film festival - How, in film, if you don't have a budget, you have to first find it - which isn't necessary when writing fiction. And how this led Diana back into writing Diana's dystopian sci-fi trilogy under the name DF Wink How science fiction and dystopian fiction can be a mirror held up to current events and reality The documentary style podcast format that Diana uses A slogan Diana uses: "There is a platform for every outstanding story and you have one to tell" That similar problem most writers often have with actually writing their first novel Diana's book for writers: The Business-Minded Creative and why she put it together How Diana built her website (storyartist.me) using the principals of storytelling The struggle Diana faces because of all the different passions and areas of creativity that she engages in How Diana is fueled by every interview that she does for her podcast And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few things about what Diana said that inspired him, he thanks his patrons and listeners of the podcast.   Links of Interest: Diana Wink Website DFWink Website StoryArtist.me Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Diana Wink is an author, blogger and film director.  With a passion for stories since she can remember, she studied film making and made a career as director of successful short films (awarded in festivals) and advertising. In 2015, she decided to go back to her roots and finally finish her first fiction book. Since then, she attracted 5-star reviews, raving fans and written many more novels. On Story Artist, she decided to share her creative journey and help content creators in new and effective ways because her credo is: There is a platform for every outstanding story. And you have one to tell. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 186 - Fresh Starts: Tales from the Pikes Peak Writers Fresh Starts: Tales from the Pikes Peak Writers Sat, 10 Apr 2021 19:51:06 +0000
From mystery to romance and science fiction—from heartfelt essays to poetry that moves the soul, FRESH STARTS is a bold new anthology of tales from the Pikes Peak Writers. Mark interviews three of the contributors to this anthology in celebration of the new book's release on Friday April 9, 2021.
 
Prior to the interview Mark shares a word from this episodes sponsor...

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

In the interview Mark talks with:

Joshua Clark ("Nolan's Bucket List: Snow Edition" / Cover Designer)
Josh is a writer, bookseller, graphic designer, and designer of the cover of Fresh Starts. He graduated with an art degree from Colorado State University-Pueblo. Josh is an active member of Pikes Peak Writers, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and was the former Speakers Coordinator for Pueblo West Writers. His short story, 'The Galaxy Got a Whole Lot Bigger,' received a Silver Honorable Mention in Q4 of the 2020 Writers of the Future Contest. He is now busy writing his next novel.


Bowen Gillings ("Dawn Trouble")
Bowen Gillings is an award-winning author whose quirky tales range from superhero suspense to divine family squabbles. He is a devout travel enthusiast, committed martial arts dabbler, and closeted RPG nerd. He enjoys cooking, the outdoors, good whiskey, and good friends. Born in Wisconsin, he grew up in South Dakota's Black Hills, matriculated in Minnesota, and then bounced around Europe with the Army. He's lived on both coasts, danced on the Great Wall of China, and driven a Volvo from Alaska to Louisiana before settling in Colorado with his wife and daughter.


Terry Odell ("My Name is Marjorie")
Although Terry Odell had no aspirations of becoming a writer until long after receiving her AARP card, she's now the author of over thirty novels, novellas, and short stories. She writes mysteries and romantic suspense, but calls them all "Mysteries With Relationships." Her awards include the Silver Falchion, the International Digital Awards, and the HOLT Medallion. A Los Angeles native, she moved to Florida where she spent thirty years in the heat and humidity. She now enjoys life with her husband and rescue dog in the cooler, dryer climate of the Colorado Rockies, where she watches wildlife from her windows.

 

After the interview, Mark reflects on a few of the things the chat with Joshua, Terry, and Bowen made him think about.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In the interview Mark talks with:

Joshua Clark ("Nolan's Bucket List: Snow Edition" / Cover Designer) Josh is a writer, bookseller, graphic designer, and designer of the cover of Fresh Starts. He graduated with an art degree from Colorado State University-Pueblo. Josh is an active member of Pikes Peak Writers, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and was the former Speakers Coordinator for Pueblo West Writers. His short story, 'The Galaxy Got a Whole Lot Bigger,' received a Silver Honorable Mention in Q4 of the 2020 Writers of the Future Contest. He is now busy writing his next novel.

Bowen Gillings ("Dawn Trouble") Bowen Gillings is an award-winning author whose quirky tales range from superhero suspense to divine family squabbles. He is a devout travel enthusiast, committed martial arts dabbler, and closeted RPG nerd. He enjoys cooking, the outdoors, good whiskey, and good friends. Born in Wisconsin, he grew up in South Dakota's Black Hills, matriculated in Minnesota, and then bounced around Europe with the Army. He's lived on both coasts, danced on the Great Wall of China, and driven a Volvo from Alaska to Louisiana before settling in Colorado with his wife and daughter.

Terry Odell ("My Name is Marjorie") Although Terry Odell had no aspirations of becoming a writer until long after receiving her AARP card, she's now the author of over thirty novels, novellas, and short stories. She writes mysteries and romantic suspense, but calls them all "Mysteries With Relationships." Her awards include the Silver Falchion, the International Digital Awards, and the HOLT Medallion. A Los Angeles native, she moved to Florida where she spent thirty years in the heat and humidity. She now enjoys life with her husband and rescue dog in the cooler, dryer climate of the Colorado Rockies, where she watches wildlife from her windows.

After the interview, Mark reflects on a few of the things the chat with Joshua, Terry, and Bowen made him think about.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 43:04 false 4 186 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)From mystery to romance and science fiction—from heartfelt essays to poetry that moves the soul, FRESH STARTS is a bold new anthology of tales from the Pikes Peak Writers. Mark interviews three of the contributors to this anthology in celebration of the new book's release on Friday April 9, 2021.   Prior to the interview Mark shares a word from this episodes sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In the interview Mark talks with: Joshua Clark ("Nolan's Bucket List: Snow Edition" / Cover Designer) Josh is a writer, bookseller, graphic designer, and designer of the cover of Fresh Starts. He graduated with an art degree from Colorado State University-Pueblo. Josh is an active member of Pikes Peak Writers, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and was the former Speakers Coordinator for Pueblo West Writers. His short story, 'The Galaxy Got a Whole Lot Bigger,' received a Silver Honorable Mention in Q4 of the 2020 Writers of the Future Contest. He is now busy writing his next novel. Bowen Gillings ("Dawn Trouble") Bowen Gillings is an award-winning author whose quirky tales range from superhero suspense to divine family squabbles. He is a devout travel enthusiast, committed martial arts dabbler, and closeted RPG nerd. He enjoys cooking, the outdoors, good whiskey, and good friends. Born in Wisconsin, he grew up in South Dakota's Black Hills, matriculated in Minnesota, and then bounced around Europe with the Army. He's lived on both coasts, danced on the Great Wall of China, and driven a Volvo from Alaska to Louisiana before settling in Colorado with his wife and daughter. Terry Odell ("My Name is Marjorie") Although Terry Odell had no aspirations of becoming a writer until long after receiving her AARP card, she's now the author of over thirty novels, novellas, and short stories. She writes mysteries and romantic suspense, but calls them all "Mysteries With Relationships." Her awards include the Silver Falchion, the International Digital Awards, and the HOLT Medallion. A Los Angeles native, she moved to Florida where she spent thirty years in the heat and humidity. She now enjoys life with her husband and rescue dog in the cooler, dryer climate of the Colorado Rockies, where she watches wildlife from her windows.   After the interview, Mark reflects on a few of the things the chat with Joshua, Terry, and Bowen made him think about.   Links of Interest: Pikes Peak Writers Pikes Peak Writers Anthology: Fresh Starts YouTube Video of Interview Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0From mystery to romance and science fiction—from heartfelt essays to poetry that moves the soul, FRESH STARTS is a bold new anthology of tales from the Pikes Peak Writers. Mark interviews three of the contributors to this anthology in celebration of the new book's release on Friday April 9, 2021.   Prior to the interview Mark shares a word from this episodes sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In the interview Mark talks with: Joshua Clark ("Nolan's Bucket List: Snow Edition" / Cover Designer) Josh is a writer, bookseller, graphic designer, and designer of the cover of Fresh Starts. He graduated with an art degree from Colorado State University-Pueblo. Josh is an active member of Pikes Peak Writers, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and was the former Speakers Coordinator for Pueblo West Writers. His short story, 'The Galaxy Got a Whole Lot Bigger,' received a Silver Honorable Mention in Q4 of the 2020 Writers of the Future Contest. He is now busy writing his next novel. Bowen Gillings ("Dawn Trouble") Bowen Gillings is an award-winning author whose quirky tales range from superhero suspense to divine family squabbles. He is a devout travel enthusiast, committed martial arts dabbler, and closeted RPG nerd. He enjoys cooking, the outdoors, good whiskey, and good friends. Born in Wisconsin, he grew up in South Dakota's Black Hills, matriculated in Minnesota, and then bounced around Europe with the Army. He's lived on both coasts, danced on the Great Wall of China, and driven a Volvo from Alaska to Louisiana before settling in Colorado with his wife and daughter. Terry Odell ("My Name is Marjorie") Although Terry Odell had no aspirations of becoming a writer until long after receiving her AARP card, she's now the author of over thirty novels, novellas, and short stories. She writes mysteries and romantic suspense, but calls them all "Mysteries With Relationships." Her awards include the Silver Falchion, the International Digital Awards, and the HOLT Medallion. A Los Angeles native, she moved to Florida where she spent thirty years in the heat and humidity. She now enjoys life with her husband and rescue dog in the cooler, dryer climate of the Colorado Rockies, where she watches wildlife from her windows.   After the interview, Mark reflects on a few of the things the chat with Joshua, Terry, and Bowen made him think about.   Links of Interest: Pikes Peak Writers Pikes Peak Writers Anthology: Fresh Starts YouTube Video of Interview Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 185 - Promotions: Results and Analysis Promotions: Results and Analysis Thu, 08 Apr 2021 22:08:34 +0000 In this episode Mark shares details about the recent "A Canadian Werewolf in New York" promotion he ran in March 2021 centered around an International BookBub Deal. He also shares some articles with tips from BookBub and Written Word Media.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

In this episode Mark shares details about his Canadian Werewolf Promo, including the high level strategy used as well as the results.

He splits the intro to the promo and the results between sharing four articles from BookBub and Written Word Media about promotions.

 

Over all costs for the promotions run were $347.44.

Overall earnings from the promotions were $610.17.

Which resulted in a net gain of $262.73.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark shares details about the recent "A Canadian Werewolf in New York" promotion he ran in March 2021 centered around an International BookBub Deal. He also shares some articles with tips from BookBub and Written Word Media.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In this episode Mark shares details about his Canadian Werewolf Promo, including the high level strategy used as well as the results.

He splits the intro to the promo and the results between sharing four articles from BookBub and Written Word Media about promotions.

Over all costs for the promotions run were $347.44.

Overall earnings from the promotions were $610.17.

Which resulted in a net gain of $262.73.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 56:28 false 4 185 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark shares details about the recent "A Canadian Werewolf in New York" promotion he ran in March 2021 centered around an International BookBub Deal. He also shares some articles with tips from BookBub and Written Word Media. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In this episode Mark shares details about his Canadian Werewolf Promo, including the high level strategy used as well as the results. He splits the intro to the promo and the results between sharing four articles from BookBub and Written Word Media about promotions.   Over all costs for the promotions run were $347.44. Overall earnings from the promotions were $610.17. Which resulted in a net gain of $262.73.   Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Articles mentioned in this podcast BookBub The Best Day of the Week to Discount eBooks Do BookBub Deals Work for Permafree Books Multiple Times? Written Word Media The Best Book Promotion Sites The Best Way to Promote a Book on Bargainbooksy Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark shares details about the recent "A Canadian Werewolf in New York" promotion he ran in March 2021 centered around an International BookBub Deal. He also shares some articles with tips from BookBub and Written Word Media. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In this episode Mark shares details about his Canadian Werewolf Promo, including the high level strategy used as well as the results. He splits the intro to the promo and the results between sharing four articles from BookBub and Written Word Media about promotions.   Over all costs for the promotions run were $347.44. Overall earnings from the promotions were $610.17. Which resulted in a net gain of $262.73.   Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Articles mentioned in this podcast BookBub The Best Day of the Week to Discount eBooks Do BookBub Deals Work for Permafree Books Multiple Times? Written Word Media The Best Book Promotion Sites The Best Way to Promote a Book on Bargainbooksy Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Patreon for Stark Reflections Wide for the Win     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Ep 184 - Writing Raw & Real Memoirs with Jenn T. Grace Writing Raw & Real Memoirs with Jenn T. Grace Fri, 02 Apr 2021 00:59:56 +0000 Mark interviews Jenn T. Grace, a nationally recognized business strategist, speaker, and award-winning author who is passionate about helping people share their stories of adversity.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, welcomes new patrons and offers a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Jenn discuss:

  • How, from the earliest age, Jenn had always wanted to be a "Dear Abby" type of writer
  • A 2012 advice column that was an early "Dear Abby" dream-come-true for Jenn
  • The LGBTQ inclusion consulting work that led to very random questions and great learning opportunities to share
  • The "raw and real" level of vulnerability that helps to break through the noise and clutter
  • How authors don't often include their story enough in non-fiction to connect with readers in a way that they don't expect
  • The way you can tell, when writing a memoir, if you're going deep enough into the emotional resonance of a story
  • Jenn's memoir House on Fire, which she released in Sept 2020 and how she had no choice but to have to share that story
  • How Jenn likes to think about writing, which is a solo event, as a team sport
  • The profound experience Jenn had of listening to her narrated memoir in another person's voice
  • How most people confuse memoir with autobiography
  • The admiration that Jenn has for Dani Shapiro as a memoirist
  • The difference between a writer coach and an author coach
  • Publish Your Purpose Press, the service that Jenn runs to help thought leaders create their books
  • The "Getting Started for Authors" program and how it can help writers earlier in their journey
  • Jenn's role in helping writers to recalibrate their focus and purpose and to ensure they're always attending to that "North Star" for their project
  • How writing a memoir as a piece of fiction is one strategy that writers can use when the stories they need to share are so raw and exposing
  • The emotional, personal, and legal ramifications related to sharing true stories about other people
  • A "second pass" approach to changing identifying details/features/descriptions that can be done, but only after the core writing and re-writing is completed
  • Strategies for how to change names, locations, specifics in a memoir
  • The value of Jenn's other non-fiction books inspired from her "Dear Abby" writing
  • The personal satisfaction of helping other people realize their dream of writing a book

After the interview Mark shares a reflection about the importance of emotional resonance in writing memoir or fiction.

 

Links of Interest

 

Jenn T. Grace is a nationally recognized business strategist, speaker, and award-winning author. Guided by the mantra, "Change happens in business," Jenn believes social change happens first in the workplace before spilling over into mainstream society. She has been featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC.

Passionate about helping people share their stories of adversity, Jenn is the Founder of Publish Your Purpose Press, a publishing company that includes the PYP Academy, with programs that teach aspiring authors how to publish their books. In addition to publishing 60+ books that share the stories of others, Jenn has written six.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Jenn T. Grace, a nationally recognized business strategist, speaker, and award-winning author who is passionate about helping people share their stories of adversity.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, welcomes new patrons and offers a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Jenn discuss:

  • How, from the earliest age, Jenn had always wanted to be a "Dear Abby" type of writer
  • A 2012 advice column that was an early "Dear Abby" dream-come-true for Jenn
  • The LGBTQ inclusion consulting work that led to very random questions and great learning opportunities to share
  • The "raw and real" level of vulnerability that helps to break through the noise and clutter
  • How authors don't often include their story enough in non-fiction to connect with readers in a way that they don't expect
  • The way you can tell, when writing a memoir, if you're going deep enough into the emotional resonance of a story
  • Jenn's memoir House on Fire, which she released in Sept 2020 and how she had no choice but to have to share that story
  • How Jenn likes to think about writing, which is a solo event, as a team sport
  • The profound experience Jenn had of listening to her narrated memoir in another person's voice
  • How most people confuse memoir with autobiography
  • The admiration that Jenn has for Dani Shapiro as a memoirist
  • The difference between a writer coach and an author coach
  • Publish Your Purpose Press, the service that Jenn runs to help thought leaders create their books
  • The "Getting Started for Authors" program and how it can help writers earlier in their journey
  • Jenn's role in helping writers to recalibrate their focus and purpose and to ensure they're always attending to that "North Star" for their project
  • How writing a memoir as a piece of fiction is one strategy that writers can use when the stories they need to share are so raw and exposing
  • The emotional, personal, and legal ramifications related to sharing true stories about other people
  • A "second pass" approach to changing identifying details/features/descriptions that can be done, but only after the core writing and re-writing is completed
  • Strategies for how to change names, locations, specifics in a memoir
  • The value of Jenn's other non-fiction books inspired from her "Dear Abby" writing
  • The personal satisfaction of helping other people realize their dream of writing a book

After the interview Mark shares a reflection about the importance of emotional resonance in writing memoir or fiction.

Links of Interest

Jenn T. Grace is a nationally recognized business strategist, speaker, and award-winning author. Guided by the mantra, "Change happens in business," Jenn believes social change happens first in the workplace before spilling over into mainstream society. She has been featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC.

Passionate about helping people share their stories of adversity, Jenn is the Founder of Publish Your Purpose Press, a publishing company that includes the PYP Academy, with programs that teach aspiring authors how to publish their books. In addition to publishing 60+ books that share the stories of others, Jenn has written six.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 53:55 false 4 184 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Jenn T. Grace, a nationally recognized business strategist, speaker, and award-winning author who is passionate about helping people share their stories of adversity. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, welcomes new patrons and offers a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Jenn discuss: How, from the earliest age, Jenn had always wanted to be a "Dear Abby" type of writer A 2012 advice column that was an early "Dear Abby" dream-come-true for Jenn The LGBTQ inclusion consulting work that led to very random questions and great learning opportunities to share The "raw and real" level of vulnerability that helps to break through the noise and clutter How authors don't often include their story enough in non-fiction to connect with readers in a way that they don't expect The way you can tell, when writing a memoir, if you're going deep enough into the emotional resonance of a story Jenn's memoir House on Fire, which she released in Sept 2020 and how she had no choice but to have to share that story How Jenn likes to think about writing, which is a solo event, as a team sport The profound experience Jenn had of listening to her narrated memoir in another person's voice How most people confuse memoir with autobiography The admiration that Jenn has for Dani Shapiro as a memoirist The difference between a writer coach and an author coach Publish Your Purpose Press, the service that Jenn runs to help thought leaders create their books The "Getting Started for Authors" program and how it can help writers earlier in their journey Jenn's role in helping writers to recalibrate their focus and purpose and to ensure they're always attending to that "North Star" for their project How writing a memoir as a piece of fiction is one strategy that writers can use when the stories they need to share are so raw and exposing The emotional, personal, and legal ramifications related to sharing true stories about other people A "second pass" approach to changing identifying details/features/descriptions that can be done, but only after the core writing and re-writing is completed Strategies for how to change names, locations, specifics in a memoir The value of Jenn's other non-fiction books inspired from her "Dear Abby" writing The personal satisfaction of helping other people realize their dream of writing a book After the interview Mark shares a reflection about the importance of emotional resonance in writing memoir or fiction.   Links of Interest Jenn T. Grace Website Publish Your Purpose Website Wide for the Win Findaway Voices Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Patreon for Stark Reflections   Jenn T. Grace is a nationally recognized business strategist, speaker, and award-winning author. Guided by the mantra, "Change happens in business," Jenn believes social change happens first in the workplace before spilling over into mainstream society. She has been featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC. Passionate about helping people share their stories of adversity, Jenn is the Founder of Publish Your Purpose Press, a publishing company that includes the PYP Academy, with programs that teach aspiring authors how to publish their books. In addition to publishing 60+ books that share the stories of others, Jenn has written six.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Jenn T. Grace, a nationally recognized business strategist, speaker, and award-winning author who is passionate about helping people share their stories of adversity. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, welcomes new patrons and offers a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Jenn discuss: How, from the earliest age, Jenn had always wanted to be a "Dear Abby" type of writer A 2012 advice column that was an early "Dear Abby" dream-come-true for Jenn The LGBTQ inclusion consulting work that led to very random questions and great learning opportunities to share The "raw and real" level of vulnerability that helps to break through the noise and clutter How authors don't often include their story enough in non-fiction to connect with readers in a way that they don't expect The way you can tell, when writing a memoir, if you're going deep enough into the emotional resonance of a story Jenn's memoir House on Fire, which she released in Sept 2020 and how she had no choice but to have to share that story How Jenn likes to think about writing, which is a solo event, as a team sport The profound experience Jenn had of listening to her narrated memoir in another person's voice How most people confuse memoir with autobiography The admiration that Jenn has for Dani Shapiro as a memoirist The difference between a writer coach and an author coach Publish Your Purpose Press, the service that Jenn runs to help thought leaders create their books The "Getting Started for Authors" program and how it can help writers earlier in their journey Jenn's role in helping writers to recalibrate their focus and purpose and to ensure they're always attending to that "North Star" for their project How writing a memoir as a piece of fiction is one strategy that writers can use when the stories they need to share are so raw and exposing The emotional, personal, and legal ramifications related to sharing true stories about other people A "second pass" approach to changing identifying details/features/descriptions that can be done, but only after the core writing and re-writing is completed Strategies for how to change names, locations, specifics in a memoir The value of Jenn's other non-fiction books inspired from her "Dear Abby" writing The personal satisfaction of helping other people realize their dream of writing a book After the interview Mark shares a reflection about the importance of emotional resonance in writing memoir or fiction.   Links of Interest Jenn T. Grace Website Publish Your Purpose Website Wide for the Win Findaway Voices Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Patreon for Stark Reflections   Jenn T. Grace is a nationally recognized business strategist, speaker, and award-winning author. Guided by the mantra, "Change happens in business," Jenn believes social change happens first in the workplace before spilling over into mainstream society. She has been featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC. Passionate about helping people share their stories of adversity, Jenn is the Founder of Publish Your Purpose Press, a publishing company that includes the PYP Academy, with programs that teach aspiring authors how to publish their books. In addition to publishing 60+ books that share the stories of others, Jenn has written six.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 183 - Baring it All with Jenn Taylor The Naked Podcaster Baring it All with Jenn Taylor The Naked Podcaster Fri, 26 Mar 2021 00:55:41 +0000 Mark interviews Jenn Taylor, Mom of 18 and The Naked Podcaster about raw, open and honest conversations, vulnerability, and more.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In his personal update, Mark shares a number of things:

  • The audiobook release of Fear and Longing in Los Angeles, and the inclusion of Alicia Witt's music
  • The launch of Wide for the Win and multiple events associated with that
  • The release of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine #10 which Mark guest edited

Mark also welcomes new Patron David Perlmutter, thanking him and all patrons for supporting the podcast.

In their conversation Jenn and Mark discuss:

  • What Jenn does, coaching women executives, primarily Moms and what that can do to stress levels, sleep, motivation, exercise, and time
  • The coaching certifications that Jenn has and the fact that people don't ask often enough if a coach has a certification
  • NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programing)
  • Jenn's role as Mom, executive, single mom, etc.
  • The importance of not feeling that you're failing on all fronts when juggling all the balls and how it can happen to the best of us
  • How we take our own struggles and use that to make it faster, harder, smarter for others to do the same things
  • The numerous Jenn Taylor brands
  • When the opportunity to write a book first happened to Jenn and how she treated it like a job, and had tremendous support for her husband to make it happen
  • How, as of April 8th Jenn will have been a Mom for 29 years
  • How having a book was like having a child and the way Jenn was inspired to want others to have the same feeling
  • The way that learning about abuse her children had suffered allowed Jenn to open up regarding stories of struggles toward success
  • Jenn's book HELLO, MY NAME IS . . . WARRIOR PRINCESS
  • How we don't have to accept the labels that people put on us and letting go of those negative labels
  • The origin of the creation of Wonder Woman and how that resonated with Jenn
  • How a joke about wanting to be able to work at home without having to wear pants lead Jenn and her husband to come up with The Naked Podcaster brand
  • Jenn asks her guests to bare it all in an uncomfortable moment emotionally, so she's willing to be uncomfortable and bare it all physically in support of them
  • How everything that Jenn does has to come from a place that is raw and genuine
  • How in Western culture we often see nakedness as something sexual
  • The fact that Jenn has only has two rude comments in the past four years of The Naked Podcaster show
  • The "Stripping with my Daughters" segment of Jenn's show that's about being very raw and is always on a topic that they choose to discuss
  • Why Jenn asks her guests for a bullet-point list in advance of the interview
  • The time Jenn found out during a live chat with her daughter about a planned suicide that was prevented via a circumstantial phone call that happened
  • And more...

 

After the interview Mark reflects on those who have opened up and been vulnerable in order to reach out and ask him questions about writing and publishing and how hearing Jenn talk about her experiences, reminded him of the great honor this has been.

 

Links of Interest

 

Jenn Taylor is Mom Of 18 and The Naked Podcaster and is a Mindset Coach and Motivational Speaker.

She is an NLP Practitioner and has 15+ years in the foster care sector as both a parent and a trainer, has written the blog - Mom's Running It - for 9 years, and is a published author of a self-help memoir "Hello, My Name Is... Warrior Princess".

She teaches Compounding Joy, bringing fast, easy, actionable exercises to people to increase their joy and gratitude. She is also married to an amazing man in Reno, NV, is a runner, minimalist, and healthy lifestyle enthusiast. Find her at momof18.com

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Jenn Taylor, Mom of 18 and The Naked Podcaster about raw, open and honest conversations, vulnerability, and more.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In his personal update, Mark shares a number of things:

  • The audiobook release of Fear and Longing in Los Angeles, and the inclusion of Alicia Witt's music
  • The launch of Wide for the Win and multiple events associated with that
  • The release of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine #10 which Mark guest edited

Mark also welcomes new Patron David Perlmutter, thanking him and all patrons for supporting the podcast.

In their conversation Jenn and Mark discuss:

  • What Jenn does, coaching women executives, primarily Moms and what that can do to stress levels, sleep, motivation, exercise, and time
  • The coaching certifications that Jenn has and the fact that people don't ask often enough if a coach has a certification
  • NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programing)
  • Jenn's role as Mom, executive, single mom, etc.
  • The importance of not feeling that you're failing on all fronts when juggling all the balls and how it can happen to the best of us
  • How we take our own struggles and use that to make it faster, harder, smarter for others to do the same things
  • The numerous Jenn Taylor brands
  • When the opportunity to write a book first happened to Jenn and how she treated it like a job, and had tremendous support for her husband to make it happen
  • How, as of April 8th Jenn will have been a Mom for 29 years
  • How having a book was like having a child and the way Jenn was inspired to want others to have the same feeling
  • The way that learning about abuse her children had suffered allowed Jenn to open up regarding stories of struggles toward success
  • Jenn's book HELLO, MY NAME IS . . . WARRIOR PRINCESS
  • How we don't have to accept the labels that people put on us and letting go of those negative labels
  • The origin of the creation of Wonder Woman and how that resonated with Jenn
  • How a joke about wanting to be able to work at home without having to wear pants lead Jenn and her husband to come up with The Naked Podcaster brand
  • Jenn asks her guests to bare it all in an uncomfortable moment emotionally, so she's willing to be uncomfortable and bare it all physically in support of them
  • How everything that Jenn does has to come from a place that is raw and genuine
  • How in Western culture we often see nakedness as something sexual
  • The fact that Jenn has only has two rude comments in the past four years of The Naked Podcaster show
  • The "Stripping with my Daughters" segment of Jenn's show that's about being very raw and is always on a topic that they choose to discuss
  • Why Jenn asks her guests for a bullet-point list in advance of the interview
  • The time Jenn found out during a live chat with her daughter about a planned suicide that was prevented via a circumstantial phone call that happened
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on those who have opened up and been vulnerable in order to reach out and ask him questions about writing and publishing and how hearing Jenn talk about her experiences, reminded him of the great honor this has been.

Links of Interest

Jenn Taylor is Mom Of 18 and The Naked Podcaster and is a Mindset Coach and Motivational Speaker.

She is an NLP Practitioner and has 15+ years in the foster care sector as both a parent and a trainer, has written the blog - Mom's Running It - for 9 years, and is a published author of a self-help memoir "Hello, My Name Is... Warrior Princess".

She teaches Compounding Joy, bringing fast, easy, actionable exercises to people to increase their joy and gratitude. She is also married to an amazing man in Reno, NV, is a runner, minimalist, and healthy lifestyle enthusiast. Find her at momof18.com

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:19:04 false 4 183 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Jenn Taylor, Mom of 18 and The Naked Podcaster about raw, open and honest conversations, vulnerability, and more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark shares a number of things: The audiobook release of Fear and Longing in Los Angeles, and the inclusion of Alicia Witt's music The launch of Wide for the Win and multiple events associated with that The release of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine #10 which Mark guest edited Mark also welcomes new Patron David Perlmutter, thanking him and all patrons for supporting the podcast. In their conversation Jenn and Mark discuss: What Jenn does, coaching women executives, primarily Moms and what that can do to stress levels, sleep, motivation, exercise, and time The coaching certifications that Jenn has and the fact that people don't ask often enough if a coach has a certification NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programing) Jenn's role as Mom, executive, single mom, etc. The importance of not feeling that you're failing on all fronts when juggling all the balls and how it can happen to the best of us How we take our own struggles and use that to make it faster, harder, smarter for others to do the same things The numerous Jenn Taylor brands When the opportunity to write a book first happened to Jenn and how she treated it like a job, and had tremendous support for her husband to make it happen How, as of April 8th Jenn will have been a Mom for 29 years How having a book was like having a child and the way Jenn was inspired to want others to have the same feeling The way that learning about abuse her children had suffered allowed Jenn to open up regarding stories of struggles toward success Jenn's book HELLO, MY NAME IS . . . WARRIOR PRINCESS How we don't have to accept the labels that people put on us and letting go of those negative labels The origin of the creation of Wonder Woman and how that resonated with Jenn How a joke about wanting to be able to work at home without having to wear pants lead Jenn and her husband to come up with The Naked Podcaster brand Jenn asks her guests to bare it all in an uncomfortable moment emotionally, so she's willing to be uncomfortable and bare it all physically in support of them How everything that Jenn does has to come from a place that is raw and genuine How in Western culture we often see nakedness as something sexual The fact that Jenn has only has two rude comments in the past four years of The Naked Podcaster show The "Stripping with my Daughters" segment of Jenn's show that's about being very raw and is always on a topic that they choose to discuss Why Jenn asks her guests for a bullet-point list in advance of the interview The time Jenn found out during a live chat with her daughter about a planned suicide that was prevented via a circumstantial phone call that happened And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on those who have opened up and been vulnerable in order to reach out and ask him questions about writing and publishing and how hearing Jenn talk about her experiences, reminded him of the great honor this has been.   Links of Interest Jenn Taylor's Website and Social Media Links Website: http://www.momof18.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momofeighteen/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momofeighteen/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MomOfEighteen Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/momofeighteen/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenn-taylor-96442b98/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYzMhPtJ2PpgmXMJTgP3oA? Podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster Wide for the Win Findaway Voices Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Patreon for Stark Reflections   Jenn Taylor is Mom Of 18 and The Naked Podcaster and is a Mindset Coach and Motivational Speaker. She is an NLP Practitioner and has 15+ years in the foster care sector as both a parent and a trainer, has written the blog - Mom's Running It - for 9 years, and is a published author of a self-help memoir "Hello, My Name Is... Warrior Princess". She teaches Compounding Joy, bringing fast, easy, actionable exercises to people to increase their joy and gratitude. She is also married to an amazing man in Reno, NV, is a runner, minimalist, and healthy lifestyle enthusiast. Find her at momof18.com   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Jenn Taylor, Mom of 18 and The Naked Podcaster about raw, open and honest conversations, vulnerability, and more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark shares a number of things: The audiobook release of Fear and Longing in Los Angeles, and the inclusion of Alicia Witt's music The launch of Wide for the Win and multiple events associated with that The release of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine #10 which Mark guest edited Mark also welcomes new Patron David Perlmutter, thanking him and all patrons for supporting the podcast. In their conversation Jenn and Mark discuss: What Jenn does, coaching women executives, primarily Moms and what that can do to stress levels, sleep, motivation, exercise, and time The coaching certifications that Jenn has and the fact that people don't ask often enough if a coach has a certification NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programing) Jenn's role as Mom, executive, single mom, etc. The importance of not feeling that you're failing on all fronts when juggling all the balls and how it can happen to the best of us How we take our own struggles and use that to make it faster, harder, smarter for others to do the same things The numerous Jenn Taylor brands When the opportunity to write a book first happened to Jenn and how she treated it like a job, and had tremendous support for her husband to make it happen How, as of April 8th Jenn will have been a Mom for 29 years How having a book was like having a child and the way Jenn was inspired to want others to have the same feeling The way that learning about abuse her children had suffered allowed Jenn to open up regarding stories of struggles toward success Jenn's book HELLO, MY NAME IS . . . WARRIOR PRINCESS How we don't have to accept the labels that people put on us and letting go of those negative labels The origin of the creation of Wonder Woman and how that resonated with Jenn How a joke about wanting to be able to work at home without having to wear pants lead Jenn and her husband to come up with The Naked Podcaster brand Jenn asks her guests to bare it all in an uncomfortable moment emotionally, so she's willing to be uncomfortable and bare it all physically in support of them How everything that Jenn does has to come from a place that is raw and genuine How in Western culture we often see nakedness as something sexual The fact that Jenn has only has two rude comments in the past four years of The Naked Podcaster show The "Stripping with my Daughters" segment of Jenn's show that's about being very raw and is always on a topic that they choose to discuss Why Jenn asks her guests for a bullet-point list in advance of the interview The time Jenn found out during a live chat with her daughter about a planned suicide that was prevented via a circumstantial phone call that happened And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on those who have opened up and been vulnerable in order to reach out and ask him questions about writing and publishing and how hearing Jenn talk about her experiences, reminded him of the great honor this has been.   Links of Interest Jenn Taylor's Website and Social Media Links Website: http://www.momof18.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momofeighteen/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momofeighteen/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MomOfEighteen Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/momofeighteen/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenn-taylor-96442b98/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYzMhPtJ2PpgmXMJTgP3oA? Podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster Wide for the Win Findaway Voices Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Patreon for Stark Reflections   Jenn Taylor is Mom Of 18 and The Naked Podcaster and is a Mindset Coach and Motivational Speaker. She is an NLP Practitioner and has 15+ years in the foster care sector as both a parent and a trainer, has written the blog - Mom's Running It - for 9 years, and is a published author of a self-help memoir "Hello, My Name Is... Warrior Princess". She teaches Compounding Joy, bringing fast, easy, actionable exercises to people to increase their joy and gratitude. She is also married to an amazing man in Reno, NV, is a runner, minimalist, and healthy lifestyle enthusiast. Find her at momof18.com   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 182 - What Is Wide Publishing? What is Wide Publishing? Fri, 19 Mar 2021 01:34:18 +0000 In this episode Mark shares an excerpt from the introduction to the March 2021 book Wide for the Win, in which he shares his vision of what truly wide publishing is.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a brief personal update as well as a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

The Chapter of the book that Mark reads from a draft of Wide for the Win is:

  • Introduction: Prefatory Disclaimers, A Note on Biases, and How to Use this Book
    • What is Wide?
    • No, Seriously. Get to the Bloody Point: What is Wide?
    • Disclaimers
    • A Note on Biases
    • An Admission of Exclusivity
    • My Numbers on Wide
    • How to Use This Book

Links of Interest

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark shares an excerpt from the introduction to the March 2021 book Wide for the Win, in which he shares his vision of what truly wide publishing is.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a brief personal update as well as a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

The Chapter of the book that Mark reads from a draft of Wide for the Win is:

  • Introduction: Prefatory Disclaimers, A Note on Biases, and How to Use this Book
    • What is Wide?
    • No, Seriously. Get to the Bloody Point: What is Wide?
    • Disclaimers
    • A Note on Biases
    • An Admission of Exclusivity
    • My Numbers on Wide
    • How to Use This Book

Links of Interest

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 35:00 false 4 182 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark shares an excerpt from the introduction to the March 2021 book Wide for the Win, in which he shares his vision of what truly wide publishing is. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a brief personal update as well as a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. The Chapter of the book that Mark reads from a draft of Wide for the Win is: Introduction: Prefatory Disclaimers, A Note on Biases, and How to Use this Book What is Wide? No, Seriously. Get to the Bloody Point: What is Wide? Disclaimers A Note on Biases An Admission of Exclusivity My Numbers on Wide How to Use This Book Links of Interest Wide for the Win Findaway Voices Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark shares an excerpt from the introduction to the March 2021 book Wide for the Win, in which he shares his vision of what truly wide publishing is. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a brief personal update as well as a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. The Chapter of the book that Mark reads from a draft of Wide for the Win is: Introduction: Prefatory Disclaimers, A Note on Biases, and How to Use this Book What is Wide? No, Seriously. Get to the Bloody Point: What is Wide? Disclaimers A Note on Biases An Admission of Exclusivity My Numbers on Wide How to Use This Book Links of Interest Wide for the Win Findaway Voices Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 EP 181 - Things I Hate About KDP Select Things I hate About KDP Select Fri, 12 Mar 2021 02:20:44 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark shares three short sections from his forthcoming book Wide for the Win.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a brief personal update as well as a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

The three chapters/segments that Mark reads from a draft of Wide for the Win are:

  • Amazon's Exclusivity Program is Called KDP Select, Not KU
  • My Biggest Pet Peeve About Amazon Exclusivity
  • I Don't Hate Amazon

Links of Interest

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode, Mark shares three short sections from his forthcoming book Wide for the Win.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a brief personal update as well as a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

The three chapters/segments that Mark reads from a draft of Wide for the Win are:

  • Amazon's Exclusivity Program is Called KDP Select, Not KU
  • My Biggest Pet Peeve About Amazon Exclusivity
  • I Don't Hate Amazon

Links of Interest

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 21:41 false 4 181 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark shares three short sections from his forthcoming book Wide for the Win. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a brief personal update as well as a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. The three chapters/segments that Mark reads from a draft of Wide for the Win are: Amazon's Exclusivity Program is Called KDP Select, Not KU My Biggest Pet Peeve About Amazon Exclusivity I Don't Hate Amazon Links of Interest Wide for the Win Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode, Mark shares three short sections from his forthcoming book Wide for the Win. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a brief personal update as well as a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. The three chapters/segments that Mark reads from a draft of Wide for the Win are: Amazon's Exclusivity Program is Called KDP Select, Not KU My Biggest Pet Peeve About Amazon Exclusivity I Don't Hate Amazon Links of Interest Wide for the Win Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 180 - Tips for Publishing Wide for Authors at Different Stages Tips for WIDE Authors at Different Stages Fri, 05 Mar 2021 01:35:53 +0000 This episode features an excerpt from Mark's forthcoming book Wide for the Win, which was also shared on an Alliance of Independent Authors online article.

To "go wide" or "publish wide" is to distribute and sell books via multiple platforms, rather than limiting yourself to a single outlet, usually Kindle (the only retailer with a blatant exclusivity program).

Publishing wide is a common recommendation for long-term, sustainable, and scalable growth.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update that includes a forthcoming promo run and the exhaustion he is recently feeling with multiple book launches in a relatively small window, as well as a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In the reading of the book excerpt/article excerpt, Mark shares ideas for authors at different stages of publishing wide.

  • At the Start of Your Indie Writer journey
  • Coming out of a Tour of Duty in KDP Select
  • Returning to WIDE
  • You've Been WIDE and You're Not Selling

 

Links of Interest

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> This episode features an excerpt from Mark's forthcoming book Wide for the Win, which was also shared on an Alliance of Independent Authors online article.

To "go wide" or "publish wide" is to distribute and sell books via multiple platforms, rather than limiting yourself to a single outlet, usually Kindle (the only retailer with a blatant exclusivity program).

Publishing wide is a common recommendation for long-term, sustainable, and scalable growth.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update that includes a forthcoming promo run and the exhaustion he is recently feeling with multiple book launches in a relatively small window, as well as a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In the reading of the book excerpt/article excerpt, Mark shares ideas for authors at different stages of publishing wide.

  • At the Start of Your Indie Writer journey
  • Coming out of a Tour of Duty in KDP Select
  • Returning to WIDE
  • You've Been WIDE and You're Not Selling

Links of Interest

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 40:30 false 4 180 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This episode features an excerpt from Mark's forthcoming book Wide for the Win, which was also shared on an Alliance of Independent Authors online article. To "go wide" or "publish wide" is to distribute and sell books via multiple platforms, rather than limiting yourself to a single outlet, usually Kindle (the only retailer with a blatant exclusivity program). Publishing wide is a common recommendation for long-term, sustainable, and scalable growth. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update that includes a forthcoming promo run and the exhaustion he is recently feeling with multiple book launches in a relatively small window, as well as a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the reading of the book excerpt/article excerpt, Mark shares ideas for authors at different stages of publishing wide. At the Start of Your Indie Writer journey Coming out of a Tour of Duty in KDP Select Returning to WIDE You've Been WIDE and You're Not Selling   Links of Interest For Independent Authors: The Ultimate Guide to Publishing Wide (ALLI article) Wide for the Win Findaway Voices Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Patreon for Stark Reflections     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0This episode features an excerpt from Mark's forthcoming book Wide for the Win, which was also shared on an Alliance of Independent Authors online article. To "go wide" or "publish wide" is to distribute and sell books via multiple platforms, rather than limiting yourself to a single outlet, usually Kindle (the only retailer with a blatant exclusivity program). Publishing wide is a common recommendation for long-term, sustainable, and scalable growth. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update that includes a forthcoming promo run and the exhaustion he is recently feeling with multiple book launches in a relatively small window, as well as a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the reading of the book excerpt/article excerpt, Mark shares ideas for authors at different stages of publishing wide. At the Start of Your Indie Writer journey Coming out of a Tour of Duty in KDP Select Returning to WIDE You've Been WIDE and You're Not Selling   Links of Interest For Independent Authors: The Ultimate Guide to Publishing Wide (ALLI article) Wide for the Win Findaway Voices Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Patreon for Stark Reflections     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 179 - Emily Goodwin on Writers of the Future Emily Goodwin on Writers of the Future Fri, 26 Feb 2021 00:00:05 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Emily Goodwin. Emily is the Vice President Public Affairs for Author Services, Inc. based in Los Angeles, California. She has been involved with book publishing since 2007, including the international Writers & Illustrators of the Future Contests. She is the producer for the Writers of the Future annual Achievement Awards as well as the online writing workshop.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update that include some mistakes he made in the recent release of his novel Fear and Longing in Los Angeles as well as a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Emily and Mark talk about:

  • The blind-judged free to enter contest that Writers of the Future operations for beginning writers
  • How stories can be read by NYT Bestselling science-fiction and fantasy writers like David Farland, Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, and a dozen others
  • The four quarters of the contest, and the fact that authors can enter each quarter
  • Winners for each quarterly contest who get flown in to spend a week long boot-camp in a hotel just off Hollywood Boulevard with the esteemed bestselling sci-fi and fantasy judges
  • The way that Illustrators and Writers collaborate and the amazing "art reveal" experience that happens when the artists, who have been working on pieces to match each story, reveal their work for the first time
  • Some of the details of the workshops and lectures they participate in during the weekly boot-camp, including the "24 hour story" challenge
  • Getting to learn from authors like Larry Niven, Robert J. Sawyer, Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta
  • The gala book launch event for the Writers and Illustrators of the Future anthology that usually involves signing upwards of 500 to 600 copies of the book
  • The follow-up media support offered to authors once they return to their respective homes
  • The incredible networking that happens at the annual event, between the writers and illustrators and the attending judges and presenters and workshop leaders
  • How the annual event was affected in 2020 because of the global pandemic
  • The purpose of the contest to help new writers and illustrators with a bit of a boost and kick-start to their career based on their talent
  • The free online WOTF workshops that are available for anyone to participate in which are led by Dave Farland, Tim Powers, and Orson Scott Card
  • And more...

 

 

 

 

Links of Interest

 

Emily Goodwin is the Vice President Public Affairs for Author Services, Inc. based in Los Angeles, California. She has been involved with book publishing since 2007, including the international Writers & Illustrators of the Future Contests. She is the producer for the Writers of the Future annual Achievement Awards as well as the online writing workshop. She has been active with the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards as a judge. She is involved in community activities in the greater Los Angeles area and has been Vice President Community Outreach for the Hollywood Christmas Parade since 2014. Emily has also been an Honorary Commander for the US Air Force since 2018 and as of 2020, the US Space Force.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Emily Goodwin. Emily is the Vice President Public Affairs for Author Services, Inc. based in Los Angeles, California. She has been involved with book publishing since 2007, including the international Writers & Illustrators of the Future Contests. She is the producer for the Writers of the Future annual Achievement Awards as well as the online writing workshop.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update that include some mistakes he made in the recent release of his novel Fear and Longing in Los Angeles as well as a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Emily and Mark talk about:

  • The blind-judged free to enter contest that Writers of the Future operations for beginning writers
  • How stories can be read by NYT Bestselling science-fiction and fantasy writers like David Farland, Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, and a dozen others
  • The four quarters of the contest, and the fact that authors can enter each quarter
  • Winners for each quarterly contest who get flown in to spend a week long boot-camp in a hotel just off Hollywood Boulevard with the esteemed bestselling sci-fi and fantasy judges
  • The way that Illustrators and Writers collaborate and the amazing "art reveal" experience that happens when the artists, who have been working on pieces to match each story, reveal their work for the first time
  • Some of the details of the workshops and lectures they participate in during the weekly boot-camp, including the "24 hour story" challenge
  • Getting to learn from authors like Larry Niven, Robert J. Sawyer, Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta
  • The gala book launch event for the Writers and Illustrators of the Future anthology that usually involves signing upwards of 500 to 600 copies of the book
  • The follow-up media support offered to authors once they return to their respective homes
  • The incredible networking that happens at the annual event, between the writers and illustrators and the attending judges and presenters and workshop leaders
  • How the annual event was affected in 2020 because of the global pandemic
  • The purpose of the contest to help new writers and illustrators with a bit of a boost and kick-start to their career based on their talent
  • The free online WOTF workshops that are available for anyone to participate in which are led by Dave Farland, Tim Powers, and Orson Scott Card
  • And more...

Links of Interest

Emily Goodwin is the Vice President Public Affairs for Author Services, Inc. based in Los Angeles, California. She has been involved with book publishing since 2007, including the international Writers & Illustrators of the Future Contests. She is the producer for the Writers of the Future annual Achievement Awards as well as the online writing workshop. She has been active with the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards as a judge. She is involved in community activities in the greater Los Angeles area and has been Vice President Community Outreach for the Hollywood Christmas Parade since 2014. Emily has also been an Honorary Commander for the US Air Force since 2018 and as of 2020, the US Space Force.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 54:29 false 4 179 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Emily Goodwin. Emily is the Vice President Public Affairs for Author Services, Inc. based in Los Angeles, California. She has been involved with book publishing since 2007, including the international Writers & Illustrators of the Future Contests. She is the producer for the Writers of the Future annual Achievement Awards as well as the online writing workshop. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update that include some mistakes he made in the recent release of his novel Fear and Longing in Los Angeles as well as a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Emily and Mark talk about: The blind-judged free to enter contest that Writers of the Future operations for beginning writers How stories can be read by NYT Bestselling science-fiction and fantasy writers like David Farland, Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, and a dozen others The four quarters of the contest, and the fact that authors can enter each quarter Winners for each quarterly contest who get flown in to spend a week long boot-camp in a hotel just off Hollywood Boulevard with the esteemed bestselling sci-fi and fantasy judges The way that Illustrators and Writers collaborate and the amazing "art reveal" experience that happens when the artists, who have been working on pieces to match each story, reveal their work for the first time Some of the details of the workshops and lectures they participate in during the weekly boot-camp, including the "24 hour story" challenge Getting to learn from authors like Larry Niven, Robert J. Sawyer, Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta The gala book launch event for the Writers and Illustrators of the Future anthology that usually involves signing upwards of 500 to 600 copies of the book The follow-up media support offered to authors once they return to their respective homes The incredible networking that happens at the annual event, between the writers and illustrators and the attending judges and presenters and workshop leaders How the annual event was affected in 2020 because of the global pandemic The purpose of the contest to help new writers and illustrators with a bit of a boost and kick-start to their career based on their talent The free online WOTF workshops that are available for anyone to participate in which are led by Dave Farland, Tim Powers, and Orson Scott Card And more...         Links of Interest Writers of the Future Writer Contest Illustrator Contest Free Online Workshop Writer Judges Illustrator Judges Black History Month Organizations & Resources Findaway Voices Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Wide for the Win Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Emily Goodwin is the Vice President Public Affairs for Author Services, Inc. based in Los Angeles, California. She has been involved with book publishing since 2007, including the international Writers & Illustrators of the Future Contests. She is the producer for the Writers of the Future annual Achievement Awards as well as the online writing workshop. She has been active with the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards as a judge. She is involved in community activities in the greater Los Angeles area and has been Vice President Community Outreach for the Hollywood Christmas Parade since 2014. Emily has also been an Honorary Commander for the US Air Force since 2018 and as of 2020, the US Space Force.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Emily Goodwin. Emily is the Vice President Public Affairs for Author Services, Inc. based in Los Angeles, California. She has been involved with book publishing since 2007, including the international Writers & Illustrators of the Future Contests. She is the producer for the Writers of the Future annual Achievement Awards as well as the online writing workshop. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update that include some mistakes he made in the recent release of his novel Fear and Longing in Los Angeles as well as a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Emily and Mark talk about: The blind-judged free to enter contest that Writers of the Future operations for beginning writers How stories can be read by NYT Bestselling science-fiction and fantasy writers like David Farland, Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, and a dozen others The four quarters of the contest, and the fact that authors can enter each quarter Winners for each quarterly contest who get flown in to spend a week long boot-camp in a hotel just off Hollywood Boulevard with the esteemed bestselling sci-fi and fantasy judges The way that Illustrators and Writers collaborate and the amazing "art reveal" experience that happens when the artists, who have been working on pieces to match each story, reveal their work for the first time Some of the details of the workshops and lectures they participate in during the weekly boot-camp, including the "24 hour story" challenge Getting to learn from authors like Larry Niven, Robert J. Sawyer, Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta The gala book launch event for the Writers and Illustrators of the Future anthology that usually involves signing upwards of 500 to 600 copies of the book The follow-up media support offered to authors once they return to their respective homes The incredible networking that happens at the annual event, between the writers and illustrators and the attending judges and presenters and workshop leaders How the annual event was affected in 2020 because of the global pandemic The purpose of the contest to help new writers and illustrators with a bit of a boost and kick-start to their career based on their talent The free online WOTF workshops that are available for anyone to participate in which are led by Dave Farland, Tim Powers, and Orson Scott Card And more...         Links of Interest Writers of the Future Writer Contest Illustrator Contest Free Online Workshop Writer Judges Illustrator Judges Black History Month Organizations & Resources Findaway Voices Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Wide for the Win Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Emily Goodwin is the Vice President Public Affairs for Author Services, Inc. based in Los Angeles, California. She has been involved with book publishing since 2007, including the international Writers & Illustrators of the Future Contests. She is the producer for the Writers of the Future annual Achievement Awards as well as the online writing workshop. She has been active with the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards as a judge. She is involved in community activities in the greater Los Angeles area and has been Vice President Community Outreach for the Hollywood Christmas Parade since 2014. Emily has also been an Honorary Commander for the US Air Force since 2018 and as of 2020, the US Space Force.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 178 - The Wide World Vision of Judith & Michael Anderle of LMBPN Publishing The Wide World Vision of Judith & Michael Anderle of LMBPN Publishing Thu, 18 Feb 2021 23:27:52 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Judith and Michael Anderle of LMBPN Publishing.

This episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update on the forthcoming release of Fear and Longing in Los Angeles and the ongoing work being done on Wide for the Win. He also talks about the benefits of PLR (Public Lending Right) programs.

 

In their conversation, Judith, Michael, and Mark talk about:

  • How they each got started in the business of publishing
  • Michael's first 90 days of writing and publishing
  • Judith's background in the medical and pharmaceutical industry and how she made Michael create a profit/loss statement for the following year for LMBPN before she decided to step in and run the company
  • How calculating the earnings of $7.50 per book per day led to the idea of the 20Booksto50K methodology, movement, and Facebook Group
  • Judith's inkling for fashion and how that led to the company name LMBPN (London Madrid Barceloni Paris New York - the fashion capitals of the word) and how the complexity of the company name provided a "great, people will talk about it" essence
  • The "Disruptive Imagination" tag line for LMBPN and the multiple pillars represented in the logo itself
  • The generosity of spirit in working with authors directly at LMBPN as well as sharing with the larger author community
  • Some of the international authors and employees of LMBPN who hail from all over the world
  • How Michael and Judith have long operated not only within indie publishing circles, but also traditional publishing venues and international book fairs
  • The recent acquisition of book industry veteran Robin Cutler as President of LMBPN
  • Michael's recent health issues related to hypertension and other conditions
  • The value of knowing yourself, and your nature, as well as understanding your strengths and weaknesses
  • The unofficial "disrupting retirement" behavior of LMBPN
  • How Judith never looks at a negotiation as a one-time business contract, but more about the benefit of the long-term relationship
  • The OPUS-X project and the multi-layers of collaboration for this wide book launch
  • Advice that Michael and Judith would give to the earlier versions of themselves when first getting into this business
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the ground-breaking changes that LMBPN is ushering in. He also thanks patrons of the podcast.

Links of Interest

LMBPN is the publishing company for the Kurtherian Gambit, Oriceran, Protected by the Damned and other Universes. In addition to Michael Anderle, they have have published in eBook, print, and audio format collaborations with Justin Sloan, Craig Martelle, TS Paul, CM Raymond, and LE Barbant, Paul C. Middleton, Amy Hopkins, Ell Leigh Clarke, PT Hylton, Candy Crum, Martha Carr, Sarah Boyce, A. L. Knorr, Sarah Knoffke, and many others.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Judith and Michael Anderle of LMBPN Publishing.

This episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update on the forthcoming release of Fear and Longing in Los Angeles and the ongoing work being done on Wide for the Win. He also talks about the benefits of PLR (Public Lending Right) programs.

In their conversation, Judith, Michael, and Mark talk about:

  • How they each got started in the business of publishing
  • Michael's first 90 days of writing and publishing
  • Judith's background in the medical and pharmaceutical industry and how she made Michael create a profit/loss statement for the following year for LMBPN before she decided to step in and run the company
  • How calculating the earnings of $7.50 per book per day led to the idea of the 20Booksto50K methodology, movement, and Facebook Group
  • Judith's inkling for fashion and how that led to the company name LMBPN (London Madrid Barceloni Paris New York - the fashion capitals of the word) and how the complexity of the company name provided a "great, people will talk about it" essence
  • The "Disruptive Imagination" tag line for LMBPN and the multiple pillars represented in the logo itself
  • The generosity of spirit in working with authors directly at LMBPN as well as sharing with the larger author community
  • Some of the international authors and employees of LMBPN who hail from all over the world
  • How Michael and Judith have long operated not only within indie publishing circles, but also traditional publishing venues and international book fairs
  • The recent acquisition of book industry veteran Robin Cutler as President of LMBPN
  • Michael's recent health issues related to hypertension and other conditions
  • The value of knowing yourself, and your nature, as well as understanding your strengths and weaknesses
  • The unofficial "disrupting retirement" behavior of LMBPN
  • How Judith never looks at a negotiation as a one-time business contract, but more about the benefit of the long-term relationship
  • The OPUS-X project and the multi-layers of collaboration for this wide book launch
  • Advice that Michael and Judith would give to the earlier versions of themselves when first getting into this business
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the ground-breaking changes that LMBPN is ushering in. He also thanks patrons of the podcast.

Links of Interest

LMBPN is the publishing company for the Kurtherian Gambit, Oriceran, Protected by the Damned and other Universes. In addition to Michael Anderle, they have have published in eBook, print, and audio format collaborations with Justin Sloan, Craig Martelle, TS Paul, CM Raymond, and LE Barbant, Paul C. Middleton, Amy Hopkins, Ell Leigh Clarke, PT Hylton, Candy Crum, Martha Carr, Sarah Boyce, A. L. Knorr, Sarah Knoffke, and many others.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:09:46 false 4 178 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Judith and Michael Anderle of LMBPN Publishing. This episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update on the forthcoming release of Fear and Longing in Los Angeles and the ongoing work being done on Wide for the Win. He also talks about the benefits of PLR (Public Lending Right) programs.   In their conversation, Judith, Michael, and Mark talk about: How they each got started in the business of publishing Michael's first 90 days of writing and publishing Judith's background in the medical and pharmaceutical industry and how she made Michael create a profit/loss statement for the following year for LMBPN before she decided to step in and run the company How calculating the earnings of $7.50 per book per day led to the idea of the 20Booksto50K methodology, movement, and Facebook Group Judith's inkling for fashion and how that led to the company name LMBPN (London Madrid Barceloni Paris New York - the fashion capitals of the word) and how the complexity of the company name provided a "great, people will talk about it" essence The "Disruptive Imagination" tag line for LMBPN and the multiple pillars represented in the logo itself The generosity of spirit in working with authors directly at LMBPN as well as sharing with the larger author community Some of the international authors and employees of LMBPN who hail from all over the world How Michael and Judith have long operated not only within indie publishing circles, but also traditional publishing venues and international book fairs The recent acquisition of book industry veteran Robin Cutler as President of LMBPN Michael's recent health issues related to hypertension and other conditions The value of knowing yourself, and your nature, as well as understanding your strengths and weaknesses The unofficial "disrupting retirement" behavior of LMBPN How Judith never looks at a negotiation as a one-time business contract, but more about the benefit of the long-term relationship The OPUS-X project and the multi-layers of collaboration for this wide book launch Advice that Michael and Judith would give to the earlier versions of themselves when first getting into this business And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the ground-breaking changes that LMBPN is ushering in. He also thanks patrons of the podcast. Links of Interest LMBPN Publishing OPUS X Book One: Obsidian Detective Black History Month Organizations & Resources Findaway Voices Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Wide for the Win Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections LMBPN is the publishing company for the Kurtherian Gambit, Oriceran, Protected by the Damned and other Universes. In addition to Michael Anderle, they have have published in eBook, print, and audio format collaborations with Justin Sloan, Craig Martelle, TS Paul, CM Raymond, and LE Barbant, Paul C. Middleton, Amy Hopkins, Ell Leigh Clarke, PT Hylton, Candy Crum, Martha Carr, Sarah Boyce, A. L. Knorr, Sarah Knoffke, and many others.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Judith and Michael Anderle of LMBPN Publishing. This episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update on the forthcoming release of Fear and Longing in Los Angeles and the ongoing work being done on Wide for the Win. He also talks about the benefits of PLR (Public Lending Right) programs.   In their conversation, Judith, Michael, and Mark talk about: How they each got started in the business of publishing Michael's first 90 days of writing and publishing Judith's background in the medical and pharmaceutical industry and how she made Michael create a profit/loss statement for the following year for LMBPN before she decided to step in and run the company How calculating the earnings of $7.50 per book per day led to the idea of the 20Booksto50K methodology, movement, and Facebook Group Judith's inkling for fashion and how that led to the company name LMBPN (London Madrid Barceloni Paris New York - the fashion capitals of the word) and how the complexity of the company name provided a "great, people will talk about it" essence The "Disruptive Imagination" tag line for LMBPN and the multiple pillars represented in the logo itself The generosity of spirit in working with authors directly at LMBPN as well as sharing with the larger author community Some of the international authors and employees of LMBPN who hail from all over the world How Michael and Judith have long operated not only within indie publishing circles, but also traditional publishing venues and international book fairs The recent acquisition of book industry veteran Robin Cutler as President of LMBPN Michael's recent health issues related to hypertension and other conditions The value of knowing yourself, and your nature, as well as understanding your strengths and weaknesses The unofficial "disrupting retirement" behavior of LMBPN How Judith never looks at a negotiation as a one-time business contract, but more about the benefit of the long-term relationship The OPUS-X project and the multi-layers of collaboration for this wide book launch Advice that Michael and Judith would give to the earlier versions of themselves when first getting into this business And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the ground-breaking changes that LMBPN is ushering in. He also thanks patrons of the podcast. Links of Interest LMBPN Publishing OPUS X Book One: Obsidian Detective Black History Month Organizations & Resources Findaway Voices Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Wide for the Win Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections LMBPN is the publishing company for the Kurtherian Gambit, Oriceran, Protected by the Damned and other Universes. In addition to Michael Anderle, they have have published in eBook, print, and audio format collaborations with Justin Sloan, Craig Martelle, TS Paul, CM Raymond, and LE Barbant, Paul C. Middleton, Amy Hopkins, Ell Leigh Clarke, PT Hylton, Candy Crum, Martha Carr, Sarah Boyce, A. L. Knorr, Sarah Knoffke, and many others.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 177 - Author Insights from Youth Services Librarians Author Insights from Youth Services Librarians Fri, 12 Feb 2021 03:03:41 +0000 Mark interviews Julie Bonser (Head of Youth Services) and Michelle Rutter (Teen Services Librarian) from Eastern Munroe Public Library in Pennsylvania.

Prior to the interview is an message about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark, Julie, and Michelle talk about:

  • Julie and Michelle's respective titles, the role each of them plays at the library and a little about their background
  • The five different locations in Monroe County where Michelle provides the teen services programing
  • How Julie is not typical as a librarian as a "book-centric" person
  • An explanation of the designation of the term "librarian" what that means and how it differs in different states and the difference between "provisional" and "professional"
  • The significant differences and focuses of public, academic, and school libraries
  • What the average day in the life of a youth services librarian might be like
  • Some of the strange and odd activities that a teen services librarian might find themselves doing
  • Changes that Julie and Michelle have seen since the start of the pandemic
  • Collaborations and sharing with different departments in the library
  • Examples of some of the activities programmed for the library, such as a teen writing workshop
  • The circulation of physical YA books as being the highest it has ever been at the library
  • Platforms the library uses for book acquisition, as well as how they find out about and decide what books to purchase
  • Preferences and biases that librarian curators might have
  • Why a writer of books for younger readers might have a bigger challenge or more resistance to getting books into libraries verses authors of adult titles
  • Librarians looking at holes in title selection as well as specific representation of indigenous voices, #ownvoices, etc
  • Recommendations for how to contact and reach out to libraries to let them know about your book
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark shares a couple of reflections about things the conversation with Julie and Michelle made him think about. He also thanks patrons and listeners.

 

Links of Interest

 

Julie Bonser graduated with a degree in Elementary Education but somehow ended up in libraries. She is currently the Head of Youth Services at the Eastern Monroe Public Library in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, but also has prior experience in circulation, cataloging, and adult reference. Serving kids and teens is her main passion, which keeps her energized, up-to-date, and endlessly entertained. Julie is a lifelong resident of the Pocono Mountains. She enjoys children's literature, board games, Tetris, and strumming the ukulele.


Michelle Rutter is a Teen Services Public Librarian in NE Pennsylvania along with her skeleton assistant Bona Lisa. She is a lifelong bibliophile and has enjoyed teaching such a big word to little kids when she worked in school libraries. She has also worked in an academic library where she once cataloged a piece of heavy machinery as a joke because the facilities department parked it in the library for so long. When she's not perpetrating benign mayhem at work or reading she enjoys dancing, yoga, and various creative pursuits.

Bona Lisa is a Halloween decoration given a greater afterlife as Michelle's pandemic companion and trusty sidekick on the job. She's a bit thin-skinned but her work ethic is hard to beat as she has worked her fingers to the bone.

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Julie Bonser (Head of Youth Services) and Michelle Rutter (Teen Services Librarian) from Eastern Munroe Public Library in Pennsylvania.

Prior to the interview is an message about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark, Julie, and Michelle talk about:

  • Julie and Michelle's respective titles, the role each of them plays at the library and a little about their background
  • The five different locations in Monroe County where Michelle provides the teen services programing
  • How Julie is not typical as a librarian as a "book-centric" person
  • An explanation of the designation of the term "librarian" what that means and how it differs in different states and the difference between "provisional" and "professional"
  • The significant differences and focuses of public, academic, and school libraries
  • What the average day in the life of a youth services librarian might be like
  • Some of the strange and odd activities that a teen services librarian might find themselves doing
  • Changes that Julie and Michelle have seen since the start of the pandemic
  • Collaborations and sharing with different departments in the library
  • Examples of some of the activities programmed for the library, such as a teen writing workshop
  • The circulation of physical YA books as being the highest it has ever been at the library
  • Platforms the library uses for book acquisition, as well as how they find out about and decide what books to purchase
  • Preferences and biases that librarian curators might have
  • Why a writer of books for younger readers might have a bigger challenge or more resistance to getting books into libraries verses authors of adult titles
  • Librarians looking at holes in title selection as well as specific representation of indigenous voices, #ownvoices, etc
  • Recommendations for how to contact and reach out to libraries to let them know about your book
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark shares a couple of reflections about things the conversation with Julie and Michelle made him think about. He also thanks patrons and listeners.

Links of Interest

Julie Bonser graduated with a degree in Elementary Education but somehow ended up in libraries. She is currently the Head of Youth Services at the Eastern Monroe Public Library in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, but also has prior experience in circulation, cataloging, and adult reference. Serving kids and teens is her main passion, which keeps her energized, up-to-date, and endlessly entertained. Julie is a lifelong resident of the Pocono Mountains. She enjoys children's literature, board games, Tetris, and strumming the ukulele.

Michelle Rutter is a Teen Services Public Librarian in NE Pennsylvania along with her skeleton assistant Bona Lisa. She is a lifelong bibliophile and has enjoyed teaching such a big word to little kids when she worked in school libraries. She has also worked in an academic library where she once cataloged a piece of heavy machinery as a joke because the facilities department parked it in the library for so long. When she's not perpetrating benign mayhem at work or reading she enjoys dancing, yoga, and various creative pursuits.

Bona Lisa is a Halloween decoration given a greater afterlife as Michelle's pandemic companion and trusty sidekick on the job. She's a bit thin-skinned but her work ethic is hard to beat as she has worked her fingers to the bone.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:01:42 false 4 177 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Julie Bonser (Head of Youth Services) and Michelle Rutter (Teen Services Librarian) from Eastern Munroe Public Library in Pennsylvania. Prior to the interview is an message about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark, Julie, and Michelle talk about: Julie and Michelle's respective titles, the role each of them plays at the library and a little about their background The five different locations in Monroe County where Michelle provides the teen services programing How Julie is not typical as a librarian as a "book-centric" person An explanation of the designation of the term "librarian" what that means and how it differs in different states and the difference between "provisional" and "professional" The significant differences and focuses of public, academic, and school libraries What the average day in the life of a youth services librarian might be like Some of the strange and odd activities that a teen services librarian might find themselves doing Changes that Julie and Michelle have seen since the start of the pandemic Collaborations and sharing with different departments in the library Examples of some of the activities programmed for the library, such as a teen writing workshop The circulation of physical YA books as being the highest it has ever been at the library Platforms the library uses for book acquisition, as well as how they find out about and decide what books to purchase Preferences and biases that librarian curators might have Why a writer of books for younger readers might have a bigger challenge or more resistance to getting books into libraries verses authors of adult titles Librarians looking at holes in title selection as well as specific representation of indigenous voices, #ownvoices, etc Recommendations for how to contact and reach out to libraries to let them know about your book And more... After the interview, Mark shares a couple of reflections about things the conversation with Julie and Michelle made him think about. He also thanks patrons and listeners.   Links of Interest Eastern Monroe Public Library An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Black History Month Organizations & Resources Findaway Voices - Royalty Bonus Opportunity Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Wide for the Win Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Julie Bonser graduated with a degree in Elementary Education but somehow ended up in libraries. She is currently the Head of Youth Services at the Eastern Monroe Public Library in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, but also has prior experience in circulation, cataloging, and adult reference. Serving kids and teens is her main passion, which keeps her energized, up-to-date, and endlessly entertained. Julie is a lifelong resident of the Pocono Mountains. She enjoys children's literature, board games, Tetris, and strumming the ukulele. Michelle Rutter is a Teen Services Public Librarian in NE Pennsylvania along with her skeleton assistant Bona Lisa. She is a lifelong bibliophile and has enjoyed teaching such a big word to little kids when she worked in school libraries. She has also worked in an academic library where she once cataloged a piece of heavy machinery as a joke because the facilities department parked it in the library for so long. When she's not perpetrating benign mayhem at work or reading she enjoys dancing, yoga, and various creative pursuits. Bona Lisa is a Halloween decoration given a greater afterlife as Michelle's pandemic companion and trusty sidekick on the job. She's a bit thin-skinned but her work ethic is hard to beat as she has worked her fingers to the bone.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Julie Bonser (Head of Youth Services) and Michelle Rutter (Teen Services Librarian) from Eastern Munroe Public Library in Pennsylvania. Prior to the interview is an message about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark, Julie, and Michelle talk about: Julie and Michelle's respective titles, the role each of them plays at the library and a little about their background The five different locations in Monroe County where Michelle provides the teen services programing How Julie is not typical as a librarian as a "book-centric" person An explanation of the designation of the term "librarian" what that means and how it differs in different states and the difference between "provisional" and "professional" The significant differences and focuses of public, academic, and school libraries What the average day in the life of a youth services librarian might be like Some of the strange and odd activities that a teen services librarian might find themselves doing Changes that Julie and Michelle have seen since the start of the pandemic Collaborations and sharing with different departments in the library Examples of some of the activities programmed for the library, such as a teen writing workshop The circulation of physical YA books as being the highest it has ever been at the library Platforms the library uses for book acquisition, as well as how they find out about and decide what books to purchase Preferences and biases that librarian curators might have Why a writer of books for younger readers might have a bigger challenge or more resistance to getting books into libraries verses authors of adult titles Librarians looking at holes in title selection as well as specific representation of indigenous voices, #ownvoices, etc Recommendations for how to contact and reach out to libraries to let them know about your book And more... After the interview, Mark shares a couple of reflections about things the conversation with Julie and Michelle made him think about. He also thanks patrons and listeners.   Links of Interest Eastern Monroe Public Library An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Black History Month Organizations & Resources Findaway Voices - Royalty Bonus Opportunity Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Wide for the Win Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Julie Bonser graduated with a degree in Elementary Education but somehow ended up in libraries. She is currently the Head of Youth Services at the Eastern Monroe Public Library in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, but also has prior experience in circulation, cataloging, and adult reference. Serving kids and teens is her main passion, which keeps her energized, up-to-date, and endlessly entertained. Julie is a lifelong resident of the Pocono Mountains. She enjoys children's literature, board games, Tetris, and strumming the ukulele. Michelle Rutter is a Teen Services Public Librarian in NE Pennsylvania along with her skeleton assistant Bona Lisa. She is a lifelong bibliophile and has enjoyed teaching such a big word to little kids when she worked in school libraries. She has also worked in an academic library where she once cataloged a piece of heavy machinery as a joke because the facilities department parked it in the library for so long. When she's not perpetrating benign mayhem at work or reading she enjoys dancing, yoga, and various creative pursuits. Bona Lisa is a Halloween decoration given a greater afterlife as Michelle's pandemic companion and trusty sidekick on the job. She's a bit thin-skinned but her work ethic is hard to beat as she has worked her fingers to the bone.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 176 - Nurturing Opportunity with Nadine Williams Nurturing Opportunity with Nadine Williams Fri, 05 Feb 2021 00:16:48 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Nadine Williams, a storyteller, a writer, a poet, keynote speaker and entrepreneur.

Prior to the interview Mark shares some recent personal comments, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Nadine talk about:

  • How being a writer, speaker, and poet was something that Nadine stumbled upon after life threw her some curve balls
  • The way that writing became therapy
  • Nadine's career in construction and a trade show encounter that led to her first published article
  • The idea of a book being the result of the marriage between a writer and her pen
  • Nadine's use of the term "tears to ink" to describe the earliest therapeutic writing she had done
  • The early reading Nadine did as a child, and the oral storytelling tradition she grew up with
  • The experience of opening up for a talk that Michelle Obama did in Toronto in 2017
  • The poem "Us Women" that Nadine read for the Obama event, which was originally the poem "Us Africans" that she re-adapted
  • A custom line thrown in to page homage to Michelle Obama specifically
  • What Nadine learned from an error made at that event
  • The art of performance poetry and how all of Nadine's writing has that element of performance
  • The way that an entire poem can come from a single word
  • The significant event that led Nadine into speaking at libraries and schools
  • The art installations and nominations that Nadine was involved in
  • Advice that Nadine would offer to beginning writers
  • Some of the issues we have in Canada related to intolerance and people not being aware of their prejudices and biases
  • Nadine's 2021 Black History Month Theme - "Nurturing Hope through Allyship"
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on Nadine's ability to adapt and re-adapt both creatively and in an entrepreneurial way.

Links of Interest

 


Nadine Williams is an avid child reader, turned wordsmith, turned working Artist. She is a storyteller, a writer, a poet, an arts educator, a Keynote Speaker and host workshop Facilitator, a visual artist, and entrepreneur.

Nadine is the author of the books The Culmination of Marriage Between Me and My Pen, Love Rocks, With This Pen I Do Tell, and Pen on Fyah.

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Nadine Williams, a storyteller, a writer, a poet, keynote speaker and entrepreneur.

Prior to the interview Mark shares some recent personal comments, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Nadine talk about:

  • How being a writer, speaker, and poet was something that Nadine stumbled upon after life threw her some curve balls
  • The way that writing became therapy
  • Nadine's career in construction and a trade show encounter that led to her first published article
  • The idea of a book being the result of the marriage between a writer and her pen
  • Nadine's use of the term "tears to ink" to describe the earliest therapeutic writing she had done
  • The early reading Nadine did as a child, and the oral storytelling tradition she grew up with
  • The experience of opening up for a talk that Michelle Obama did in Toronto in 2017
  • The poem "Us Women" that Nadine read for the Obama event, which was originally the poem "Us Africans" that she re-adapted
  • A custom line thrown in to page homage to Michelle Obama specifically
  • What Nadine learned from an error made at that event
  • The art of performance poetry and how all of Nadine's writing has that element of performance
  • The way that an entire poem can come from a single word
  • The significant event that led Nadine into speaking at libraries and schools
  • The art installations and nominations that Nadine was involved in
  • Advice that Nadine would offer to beginning writers
  • Some of the issues we have in Canada related to intolerance and people not being aware of their prejudices and biases
  • Nadine's 2021 Black History Month Theme - "Nurturing Hope through Allyship"
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on Nadine's ability to adapt and re-adapt both creatively and in an entrepreneurial way.

Links of Interest

Nadine Williams is an avid child reader, turned wordsmith, turned working Artist. She is a storyteller, a writer, a poet, an arts educator, a Keynote Speaker and host workshop Facilitator, a visual artist, and entrepreneur.

Nadine is the author of the books The Culmination of Marriage Between Me and My Pen, Love Rocks, With This Pen I Do Tell, and Pen on Fyah.

]]> 56:33 false 4 176 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Nadine Williams, a storyteller, a writer, a poet, keynote speaker and entrepreneur. Prior to the interview Mark shares some recent personal comments, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Nadine talk about: How being a writer, speaker, and poet was something that Nadine stumbled upon after life threw her some curve balls The way that writing became therapy Nadine's career in construction and a trade show encounter that led to her first published article The idea of a book being the result of the marriage between a writer and her pen Nadine's use of the term "tears to ink" to describe the earliest therapeutic writing she had done The early reading Nadine did as a child, and the oral storytelling tradition she grew up with The experience of opening up for a talk that Michelle Obama did in Toronto in 2017 The poem "Us Women" that Nadine read for the Obama event, which was originally the poem "Us Africans" that she re-adapted A custom line thrown in to page homage to Michelle Obama specifically What Nadine learned from an error made at that event The art of performance poetry and how all of Nadine's writing has that element of performance The way that an entire poem can come from a single word The significant event that led Nadine into speaking at libraries and schools The art installations and nominations that Nadine was involved in Advice that Nadine would offer to beginning writers Some of the issues we have in Canada related to intolerance and people not being aware of their prejudices and biases Nadine's 2021 Black History Month Theme - "Nurturing Hope through Allyship" And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on Nadine's ability to adapt and re-adapt both creatively and in an entrepreneurial way. Links of Interest Nadine Williams Website Instagram Twitter Facebook Black History Organizations & Resources EP 175 - ScribeCount EP 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel with Sacha Black EP 155 - Rebel Reflections with Guest Host Sacha Black EP 163 - Getting a Creative Edge with Mickey Mikkelson The Indy Author Podcast - EP 063 - Wide for the Win with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Rebel Author Podcast EP - 71 Findaway Voices 7 Audiobook Trends for Authors to Watch in 2021 Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Nano-Chameleon Parody Video Wide for the Win Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Nadine Williams is an avid child reader, turned wordsmith, turned working Artist. She is a storyteller, a writer, a poet, an arts educator, a Keynote Speaker and host workshop Facilitator, a visual artist, and entrepreneur. Nadine is the author of the books The Culmination of Marriage Between Me and My Pen, Love Rocks, With This Pen I Do Tell, and Pen on Fyah.In this episode Mark interviews Nadine Williams, a storyteller, a writer, a poet, keynote speaker and entrepreneur. Prior to the interview Mark shares some recent personal comments, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Nadine talk about: How being a writer, speaker, and poet was something that Nadine stumbled upon after life threw her some curve balls The way that writing became therapy Nadine's career in construction and a trade show encounter that led to her first published article The idea of a book being the result of the marriage between a writer and her pen Nadine's use of the term "tears to ink" to describe the earliest therapeutic writing she had done The early reading Nadine did as a child, and the oral storytelling tradition she grew up with The experience of opening up for a talk that Michelle Obama did in Toronto in 2017 The poem "Us Women" that Nadine read for the Obama event, which was originally the poem "Us Africans" that she re-adapted A custom line thrown in to page homage to Michelle Obama specifically What Nadine learned from an error made at that event The art of performance poetry and how all of Nadine's writing has that element of performance The way that an entire poem can come from a single word The significant event that led Nadine into speaking at libraries and schools The art installations and nominations that Nadine was involved in Advice that Nadine would offer to beginning writers Some of the issues we have in Canada related to intolerance and people not being aware of their prejudices and biases Nadine's 2021 Black History Month Theme - "Nurturing Hope through Allyship" And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on Nadine's ability to adapt and re-adapt both creatively and in an entrepreneurial way. Links of Interest Nadine Williams Website Instagram Twitter Facebook Black History Organizations & Resources EP 175 - ScribeCount EP 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel with Sacha Black EP 155 - Rebel Reflections with Guest Host Sacha Black EP 163 - Getting a Creative Edge with Mickey Mikkelson The Indy Author Podcast - EP 063 - Wide for the Win with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Rebel Author Podcast EP - 71 Findaway Voices 7 Audiobook Trends for Authors to Watch in 2021 Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Nano-Chameleon Parody Video Wide for the Win Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Nadine Williams is an avid child reader, turned wordsmith, turned working Artist. She is a storyteller, a writer, a poet, an arts educator, a Keynote Speaker and host workshop Facilitator, a visual artist, and entrepreneur. Nadine is the author of the books The Culmination of Marriage Between Me and My Pen, Love Rocks, With This Pen I Do Tell, and Pen on Fyah. Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 175 - ScribeCount with Philippa A. Werner ScribeCount with Philippa A. Werner Fri, 29 Jan 2021 00:53:52 +0000 Mark interviews Philippa A. Werner, a two times USA Today Bestselling author and the public face of ScribeCount about her writing and the new sales analytics tool for authors.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark also thanks Patrons of the podcast and announces the patron winner of Clark Chamberlain's Story Stuck Coaching package.

In their conversation, Mark and Philippa talk about:

  • Philippa's background as a writer (under the pen names Moira Katson and Natalie Grey
  • The initial release to the sound of crickets, and the later release of the Light and Shadow trilogy which really took off
  • How Philippa learns best by "jumping off the deep end"
  • Advice that if you're having trouble coming up with a blurb for your book, that might be an indication that there's a fundamental problem with the story itself
  • The ScribeCount platform which is a sales aggregator that helps authors analyze their sales in a single dashboard
  • Why ScribeCount was created because the creators themselves (Philippa and Randall Wood) wanted that tool they could use
  • The launch of ScribeCount on Jan 15, 2021
  • The easy process by which an author can set up an account on ScribeCount in a matter of minutes
  • The beginning-author-friendly cost structure for ScribeCount
  • Some of the details and analytics that are easily available to see on ScribeCount
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of sales analysis and access to amazing tools created by folks from within the author community.

Links of Interest

 

Philippa A. Werner is the public face of ScribeCount, overseeing the customer interaction, content, and overall service side of the company. Her main goal is to reduce friction for our subscribers.

Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Mathematics she brings her analytic skills to the team and then balances them with her creative abilities. With 19 novels to her name, including 2 USA Today Bestsellers, Philippa speaks the complicated language of indie-author very well.

A native of Minnesota she can often be found shoveling snow, watching science fiction movies, or arguing thermostat settings. She is an expert at getting socks on a fleeing toddler.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Philippa A. Werner, a two times USA Today Bestselling author and the public face of ScribeCount about her writing and the new sales analytics tool for authors.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark also thanks Patrons of the podcast and announces the patron winner of Clark Chamberlain's Story Stuck Coaching package.

In their conversation, Mark and Philippa talk about:

  • Philippa's background as a writer (under the pen names Moira Katson and Natalie Grey
  • The initial release to the sound of crickets, and the later release of the Light and Shadow trilogy which really took off
  • How Philippa learns best by "jumping off the deep end"
  • Advice that if you're having trouble coming up with a blurb for your book, that might be an indication that there's a fundamental problem with the story itself
  • The ScribeCount platform which is a sales aggregator that helps authors analyze their sales in a single dashboard
  • Why ScribeCount was created because the creators themselves (Philippa and Randall Wood) wanted that tool they could use
  • The launch of ScribeCount on Jan 15, 2021
  • The easy process by which an author can set up an account on ScribeCount in a matter of minutes
  • The beginning-author-friendly cost structure for ScribeCount
  • Some of the details and analytics that are easily available to see on ScribeCount
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of sales analysis and access to amazing tools created by folks from within the author community.

Links of Interest

Philippa A. Werner is the public face of ScribeCount, overseeing the customer interaction, content, and overall service side of the company. Her main goal is to reduce friction for our subscribers.

Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Mathematics she brings her analytic skills to the team and then balances them with her creative abilities. With 19 novels to her name, including 2 USA Today Bestsellers, Philippa speaks the complicated language of indie-author very well.

A native of Minnesota she can often be found shoveling snow, watching science fiction movies, or arguing thermostat settings. She is an expert at getting socks on a fleeing toddler.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 56:59 false 4 175 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Philippa A. Werner, a two times USA Today Bestselling author and the public face of ScribeCount about her writing and the new sales analytics tool for authors. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark also thanks Patrons of the podcast and announces the patron winner of Clark Chamberlain's Story Stuck Coaching package. In their conversation, Mark and Philippa talk about: Philippa's background as a writer (under the pen names Moira Katson and Natalie Grey The initial release to the sound of crickets, and the later release of the Light and Shadow trilogy which really took off How Philippa learns best by "jumping off the deep end" Advice that if you're having trouble coming up with a blurb for your book, that might be an indication that there's a fundamental problem with the story itself The ScribeCount platform which is a sales aggregator that helps authors analyze their sales in a single dashboard Why ScribeCount was created because the creators themselves (Philippa and Randall Wood) wanted that tool they could use The launch of ScribeCount on Jan 15, 2021 The easy process by which an author can set up an account on ScribeCount in a matter of minutes The beginning-author-friendly cost structure for ScribeCount Some of the details and analytics that are easily available to see on ScribeCount And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of sales analysis and access to amazing tools created by folks from within the author community. Links of Interest ScribeCount ScribeCount on Twitter ScribeCount on Facebook Moira Katson Website Moira Katson Facebook Page Randall Wood Author The Indy Author Podcast - EP 063 - Wide for the Win with Mark Leslie Lefebvre EP 173 - DF Hart on Recovering from Mistakes Findaway Voices Wide for the Win Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Philippa A. Werner is the public face of ScribeCount, overseeing the customer interaction, content, and overall service side of the company. Her main goal is to reduce friction for our subscribers. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Mathematics she brings her analytic skills to the team and then balances them with her creative abilities. With 19 novels to her name, including 2 USA Today Bestsellers, Philippa speaks the complicated language of indie-author very well. A native of Minnesota she can often be found shoveling snow, watching science fiction movies, or arguing thermostat settings. She is an expert at getting socks on a fleeing toddler.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Philippa A. Werner, a two times USA Today Bestselling author and the public face of ScribeCount about her writing and the new sales analytics tool for authors. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark also thanks Patrons of the podcast and announces the patron winner of Clark Chamberlain's Story Stuck Coaching package. In their conversation, Mark and Philippa talk about: Philippa's background as a writer (under the pen names Moira Katson and Natalie Grey The initial release to the sound of crickets, and the later release of the Light and Shadow trilogy which really took off How Philippa learns best by "jumping off the deep end" Advice that if you're having trouble coming up with a blurb for your book, that might be an indication that there's a fundamental problem with the story itself The ScribeCount platform which is a sales aggregator that helps authors analyze their sales in a single dashboard Why ScribeCount was created because the creators themselves (Philippa and Randall Wood) wanted that tool they could use The launch of ScribeCount on Jan 15, 2021 The easy process by which an author can set up an account on ScribeCount in a matter of minutes The beginning-author-friendly cost structure for ScribeCount Some of the details and analytics that are easily available to see on ScribeCount And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of sales analysis and access to amazing tools created by folks from within the author community. Links of Interest ScribeCount ScribeCount on Twitter ScribeCount on Facebook Moira Katson Website Moira Katson Facebook Page Randall Wood Author The Indy Author Podcast - EP 063 - Wide for the Win with Mark Leslie Lefebvre EP 173 - DF Hart on Recovering from Mistakes Findaway Voices Wide for the Win Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Philippa A. Werner is the public face of ScribeCount, overseeing the customer interaction, content, and overall service side of the company. Her main goal is to reduce friction for our subscribers. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Mathematics she brings her analytic skills to the team and then balances them with her creative abilities. With 19 novels to her name, including 2 USA Today Bestsellers, Philippa speaks the complicated language of indie-author very well. A native of Minnesota she can often be found shoveling snow, watching science fiction movies, or arguing thermostat settings. She is an expert at getting socks on a fleeing toddler.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 174 - The Bright Horror Road with Susie Moloney The Bright Horror Road with Susie Moloney Fri, 22 Jan 2021 02:11:20 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews author Susie Moloney about her life writing horror, the trajectory of her career through writing novels, scripts, and screenplays, and her latest screenplay with director/collaborator Robert Cuffley, BRIGHT HILL ROAD.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes as well as a personal update. He also shares a word from this episode's sponsor.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

In their conversation, Susie and Mark talk about:

  • How Susie has been a writer her entire life, had started writing short stories and then discovered that her stories were "getting longer" which eventually evolved into novels
  • Susie's "practice novel" ESCAPE OF THE MINOTAUR which was an attempt to see if she could sustain an idea for a novel-length work
  • How that first novel led to getting an agent
  • The origin of Susie's first novel, BASTION FALLS, which was originally released in 1995 and how it was inspired by Leaf Rapids, Manitoba
  • Susie's A DRY SPELL, and what inspired the novel
  • The parallel lives that Susie and Stephen King have
  • How a leak of the manuscript of A DRY SPELL lead to multiple book and film options
  • The fact that Susie was rolling coins to pay the phone bill when her film agent called to let her know about the 7 figure offer for the film option
  • How Susie say the "writing on the wall" as publishing was changing rapidly
  • How the advances were going down from six figure, to five figure, then to four figure
  • How Susie began to collaborate with Robert Cuffley, the director of BRIGHT HILL ROAD and the Award-Winning ROMI
  • The brilliant actress Siobhan Williams who plays Marcy in BRIGHT HILL ROAD
  • Being a woman who writes and embraces horror, including the thought kicked around that her first book be published under S. Moloney
  • Writing a film script specifically for a small cast
  • A few projects that Susie has been recently working on
  • Susie's experience being writer in residence at Edmonton Public Library

 

After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things Susie spoke about and says thank you to his patrons.

 

Links of Interest

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews author Susie Moloney about her life writing horror, the trajectory of her career through writing novels, scripts, and screenplays, and her latest screenplay with director/collaborator Robert Cuffley, BRIGHT HILL ROAD.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes as well as a personal update. He also shares a word from this episode's sponsor.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Susie and Mark talk about:

  • How Susie has been a writer her entire life, had started writing short stories and then discovered that her stories were "getting longer" which eventually evolved into novels
  • Susie's "practice novel" ESCAPE OF THE MINOTAUR which was an attempt to see if she could sustain an idea for a novel-length work
  • How that first novel led to getting an agent
  • The origin of Susie's first novel, BASTION FALLS, which was originally released in 1995 and how it was inspired by Leaf Rapids, Manitoba
  • Susie's A DRY SPELL, and what inspired the novel
  • The parallel lives that Susie and Stephen King have
  • How a leak of the manuscript of A DRY SPELL lead to multiple book and film options
  • The fact that Susie was rolling coins to pay the phone bill when her film agent called to let her know about the 7 figure offer for the film option
  • How Susie say the "writing on the wall" as publishing was changing rapidly
  • How the advances were going down from six figure, to five figure, then to four figure
  • How Susie began to collaborate with Robert Cuffley, the director of BRIGHT HILL ROAD and the Award-Winning ROMI
  • The brilliant actress Siobhan Williams who plays Marcy in BRIGHT HILL ROAD
  • Being a woman who writes and embraces horror, including the thought kicked around that her first book be published under S. Moloney
  • Writing a film script specifically for a small cast
  • A few projects that Susie has been recently working on
  • Susie's experience being writer in residence at Edmonton Public Library

After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things Susie spoke about and says thank you to his patrons.

Links of Interest

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 58:12 false 4 174 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews author Susie Moloney about her life writing horror, the trajectory of her career through writing novels, scripts, and screenplays, and her latest screenplay with director/collaborator Robert Cuffley, BRIGHT HILL ROAD. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes as well as a personal update. He also shares a word from this episode's sponsor.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Susie and Mark talk about: How Susie has been a writer her entire life, had started writing short stories and then discovered that her stories were "getting longer" which eventually evolved into novels Susie's "practice novel" ESCAPE OF THE MINOTAUR which was an attempt to see if she could sustain an idea for a novel-length work How that first novel led to getting an agent The origin of Susie's first novel, BASTION FALLS, which was originally released in 1995 and how it was inspired by Leaf Rapids, Manitoba Susie's A DRY SPELL, and what inspired the novel The parallel lives that Susie and Stephen King have How a leak of the manuscript of A DRY SPELL lead to multiple book and film options The fact that Susie was rolling coins to pay the phone bill when her film agent called to let her know about the 7 figure offer for the film option How Susie say the "writing on the wall" as publishing was changing rapidly How the advances were going down from six figure, to five figure, then to four figure How Susie began to collaborate with Robert Cuffley, the director of BRIGHT HILL ROAD and the Award-Winning ROMI The brilliant actress Siobhan Williams who plays Marcy in BRIGHT HILL ROAD Being a woman who writes and embraces horror, including the thought kicked around that her first book be published under S. Moloney Writing a film script specifically for a small cast A few projects that Susie has been recently working on Susie's experience being writer in residence at Edmonton Public Library   After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things Susie spoke about and says thank you to his patrons.   Links of Interest Susie Moloney Twitter Susie Moloney Instagram Bright Hill Road (Trailer) ROMI (Trailer) EP 173 - DF Hart on Recovering from Mistakes EP 74 - Perspectives on the Past, Present, and Future of Publishing Findaway Voices Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews author Susie Moloney about her life writing horror, the trajectory of her career through writing novels, scripts, and screenplays, and her latest screenplay with director/collaborator Robert Cuffley, BRIGHT HILL ROAD. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes as well as a personal update. He also shares a word from this episode's sponsor.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Susie and Mark talk about: How Susie has been a writer her entire life, had started writing short stories and then discovered that her stories were "getting longer" which eventually evolved into novels Susie's "practice novel" ESCAPE OF THE MINOTAUR which was an attempt to see if she could sustain an idea for a novel-length work How that first novel led to getting an agent The origin of Susie's first novel, BASTION FALLS, which was originally released in 1995 and how it was inspired by Leaf Rapids, Manitoba Susie's A DRY SPELL, and what inspired the novel The parallel lives that Susie and Stephen King have How a leak of the manuscript of A DRY SPELL lead to multiple book and film options The fact that Susie was rolling coins to pay the phone bill when her film agent called to let her know about the 7 figure offer for the film option How Susie say the "writing on the wall" as publishing was changing rapidly How the advances were going down from six figure, to five figure, then to four figure How Susie began to collaborate with Robert Cuffley, the director of BRIGHT HILL ROAD and the Award-Winning ROMI The brilliant actress Siobhan Williams who plays Marcy in BRIGHT HILL ROAD Being a woman who writes and embraces horror, including the thought kicked around that her first book be published under S. Moloney Writing a film script specifically for a small cast A few projects that Susie has been recently working on Susie's experience being writer in residence at Edmonton Public Library   After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things Susie spoke about and says thank you to his patrons.   Links of Interest Susie Moloney Twitter Susie Moloney Instagram Bright Hill Road (Trailer) ROMI (Trailer) EP 173 - DF Hart on Recovering from Mistakes EP 74 - Perspectives on the Past, Present, and Future of Publishing Findaway Voices Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 173 - DF Hart on Recovering from Mistakes DF Hart on Recovering from Mistakes Fri, 15 Jan 2021 02:09:41 +0000 Mark interviews D.F. Hart about her journey through indie publishing, the mistakes she has made on that journey and the dramatic results of the decision to do a makeover on her thriller covers.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes as well as a personal update. He also shares a word from this episode's sponsor.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, DeAnna and Mark discuss:

  • Why DeAnna writes under D.F. Hart and Faith Hart
  • Her first experience publishing through a vanity press in 2010
  • How that first novel's idea came to her originally in 1989
  • How March of 2019 was Deanna's first experience publishing fully indie (as opposed to being done through a vanity press outfit)
  • Reader reaction to the balance between law enforcement work and personal/home life in her main character
  • How a supplemental character that Deanna felt sorry for and wanted to see her get a happy ending became the main character for the first book in her romance series
  • Some of the other complicated ways the two series cross over with one another
  • DeAnna's grandmother's advice to learn from the mistakes of others because you can't possibly make all those mistakes on your own
  • The consult that DeAnna booked with Craig over at Hidden Gems and how that led to a discussion that helped her decide to change her covers
  • Coming to the realization that, while her covers were pretty, they weren't right for the genre
  • The book cover designer that DeAnna hired to re-do her thriller book covers
  • The increase in sales and reviews/ratings on all the major retailers
  • How December 2020 was DeAnna's first four figure month as an author, due to the cover update and the BookBub Feature Deal
  • The uptake in newsletter subscribers and BookBub followers that has happened
  • The importance of measuring results, analyzing data, and keeping a finger on the pulse of your business
  • What DeAnna would have told her 2010 self
  • How Vanity Press outfits prey on the lack of information of authors
  • The importance of celebrating all of your successes along the way

After the interview, Mark reflects on the decision DeAnna had to make to invest more in covers after having already invested in that in the past.

Links of Interest

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews D.F. Hart about her journey through indie publishing, the mistakes she has made on that journey and the dramatic results of the decision to do a makeover on her thriller covers.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes as well as a personal update. He also shares a word from this episode's sponsor.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, DeAnna and Mark discuss:

  • Why DeAnna writes under D.F. Hart and Faith Hart
  • Her first experience publishing through a vanity press in 2010
  • How that first novel's idea came to her originally in 1989
  • How March of 2019 was Deanna's first experience publishing fully indie (as opposed to being done through a vanity press outfit)
  • Reader reaction to the balance between law enforcement work and personal/home life in her main character
  • How a supplemental character that Deanna felt sorry for and wanted to see her get a happy ending became the main character for the first book in her romance series
  • Some of the other complicated ways the two series cross over with one another
  • DeAnna's grandmother's advice to learn from the mistakes of others because you can't possibly make all those mistakes on your own
  • The consult that DeAnna booked with Craig over at Hidden Gems and how that led to a discussion that helped her decide to change her covers
  • Coming to the realization that, while her covers were pretty, they weren't right for the genre
  • The book cover designer that DeAnna hired to re-do her thriller book covers
  • The increase in sales and reviews/ratings on all the major retailers
  • How December 2020 was DeAnna's first four figure month as an author, due to the cover update and the BookBub Feature Deal
  • The uptake in newsletter subscribers and BookBub followers that has happened
  • The importance of measuring results, analyzing data, and keeping a finger on the pulse of your business
  • What DeAnna would have told her 2010 self
  • How Vanity Press outfits prey on the lack of information of authors
  • The importance of celebrating all of your successes along the way

After the interview, Mark reflects on the decision DeAnna had to make to invest more in covers after having already invested in that in the past.

Links of Interest

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 59:51 false 4 173 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews D.F. Hart about her journey through indie publishing, the mistakes she has made on that journey and the dramatic results of the decision to do a makeover on her thriller covers. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes as well as a personal update. He also shares a word from this episode's sponsor.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, DeAnna and Mark discuss: Why DeAnna writes under D.F. Hart and Faith Hart Her first experience publishing through a vanity press in 2010 How that first novel's idea came to her originally in 1989 How March of 2019 was Deanna's first experience publishing fully indie (as opposed to being done through a vanity press outfit) Reader reaction to the balance between law enforcement work and personal/home life in her main character How a supplemental character that Deanna felt sorry for and wanted to see her get a happy ending became the main character for the first book in her romance series Some of the other complicated ways the two series cross over with one another DeAnna's grandmother's advice to learn from the mistakes of others because you can't possibly make all those mistakes on your own The consult that DeAnna booked with Craig over at Hidden Gems and how that led to a discussion that helped her decide to change her covers Coming to the realization that, while her covers were pretty, they weren't right for the genre The book cover designer that DeAnna hired to re-do her thriller book covers The increase in sales and reviews/ratings on all the major retailers How December 2020 was DeAnna's first four figure month as an author, due to the cover update and the BookBub Feature Deal The uptake in newsletter subscribers and BookBub followers that has happened The importance of measuring results, analyzing data, and keeping a finger on the pulse of your business What DeAnna would have told her 2010 self How Vanity Press outfits prey on the lack of information of authors The importance of celebrating all of your successes along the way After the interview, Mark reflects on the decision DeAnna had to make to invest more in covers after having already invested in that in the past. Links of Interest DeAnna's Website Author Facebook Page D.F. Hart BookBub Goodreads Faith Hart BookBub Goodreads DeAnna's Article on Hidden Gems Rocking Book Covers Findaway Voices EP 170 - The Genre of Andrew Pyper EP 169 - The World Needs Your Book With Monica Leonelle EP 166 - Wording Around with Kathy Mac EP 165 - Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough EP 162 - Happy Accidents with Joshua Pantallaresco EP 138 - Cash Flow for Creators with Michael W. Lucas EP 127 - Consistency in Word Count with Blaze Ward EP 90 - Craig Martelle on Successful Indie Author Release Strategies Space: 1975 Anthology Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews D.F. Hart about her journey through indie publishing, the mistakes she has made on that journey and the dramatic results of the decision to do a makeover on her thriller covers. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes as well as a personal update. He also shares a word from this episode's sponsor.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, DeAnna and Mark discuss: Why DeAnna writes under D.F. Hart and Faith Hart Her first experience publishing through a vanity press in 2010 How that first novel's idea came to her originally in 1989 How March of 2019 was Deanna's first experience publishing fully indie (as opposed to being done through a vanity press outfit) Reader reaction to the balance between law enforcement work and personal/home life in her main character How a supplemental character that Deanna felt sorry for and wanted to see her get a happy ending became the main character for the first book in her romance series Some of the other complicated ways the two series cross over with one another DeAnna's grandmother's advice to learn from the mistakes of others because you can't possibly make all those mistakes on your own The consult that DeAnna booked with Craig over at Hidden Gems and how that led to a discussion that helped her decide to change her covers Coming to the realization that, while her covers were pretty, they weren't right for the genre The book cover designer that DeAnna hired to re-do her thriller book covers The increase in sales and reviews/ratings on all the major retailers How December 2020 was DeAnna's first four figure month as an author, due to the cover update and the BookBub Feature Deal The uptake in newsletter subscribers and BookBub followers that has happened The importance of measuring results, analyzing data, and keeping a finger on the pulse of your business What DeAnna would have told her 2010 self How Vanity Press outfits prey on the lack of information of authors The importance of celebrating all of your successes along the way After the interview, Mark reflects on the decision DeAnna had to make to invest more in covers after having already invested in that in the past. Links of Interest DeAnna's Website Author Facebook Page D.F. Hart BookBub Goodreads Faith Hart BookBub Goodreads DeAnna's Article on Hidden Gems Rocking Book Covers Findaway Voices EP 170 - The Genre of Andrew Pyper EP 169 - The World Needs Your Book With Monica Leonelle EP 166 - Wording Around with Kathy Mac EP 165 - Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough EP 162 - Happy Accidents with Joshua Pantallaresco EP 138 - Cash Flow for Creators with Michael W. Lucas EP 127 - Consistency in Word Count with Blaze Ward EP 90 - Craig Martelle on Successful Indie Author Release Strategies Space: 1975 Anthology Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 172 - Understanding and Navigating Gender Understanding and Navigating Gender Wed, 13 Jan 2021 13:27:29 +0000 This special bonus episode of the podcast includes a more than two hour discussion about gender.

Jeff Elkins organized this discussion which took place on Saturday, January 9, 2021.

Dr. Paz Galupo of Towson University and Carin Galupo join Crys Cain and JP Rindfleisch of the Write Away Podcast, Jeff Elkins and Laura Humm, of The Dialogue Doctor Podcast and Mark Leslie Lefebvre of The Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast to walk them through Gender Mapping and give insights into how we should understand the complexities of gender.

Mark foregoes the regular introductory matter for this episode and moves straight to a word from this episode's sponsor prior to the recorded discussion.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

 

 

]]> This special bonus episode of the podcast includes a more than two hour discussion about gender.

Jeff Elkins organized this discussion which took place on Saturday, January 9, 2021.

Dr. Paz Galupo of Towson University and Carin Galupo join Crys Cain and JP Rindfleisch of the Write Away Podcast, Jeff Elkins and Laura Humm, of The Dialogue Doctor Podcast and Mark Leslie Lefebvre of The Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast to walk them through Gender Mapping and give insights into how we should understand the complexities of gender.

Mark foregoes the regular introductory matter for this episode and moves straight to a word from this episode's sponsor prior to the recorded discussion.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 02:37:43 false 4 172 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This special bonus episode of the podcast includes a more than two hour discussion about gender. Jeff Elkins organized this discussion which took place on Saturday, January 9, 2021. Dr. Paz Galupo of Towson University and Carin Galupo join Crys Cain and JP Rindfleisch of the Write Away Podcast, Jeff Elkins and Laura Humm, of The Dialogue Doctor Podcast and Mark Leslie Lefebvre of The Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast to walk them through Gender Mapping and give insights into how we should understand the complexities of gender. Mark foregoes the regular introductory matter for this episode and moves straight to a word from this episode's sponsor prior to the recorded discussion. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest Dr. Paz Galupo The Dialogue Doctor Podcast Jeff Elkins Laura Humm EP 157 - A Conversation with Jeff Elkins Write Away Podcast Crys Cain JP Rindfleish Findaway Voices Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0      This special bonus episode of the podcast includes a more than two hour discussion about gender. Jeff Elkins organized this discussion which took place on Saturday, January 9, 2021. Dr. Paz Galupo of Towson University and Carin Galupo join Crys Cain and JP Rindfleisch of the Write Away Podcast, Jeff Elkins and Laura Humm, of The Dialogue Doctor Podcast and Mark Leslie Lefebvre of The Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast to walk them through Gender Mapping and give insights into how we should understand the complexities of gender. Mark foregoes the regular introductory matter for this episode and moves straight to a word from this episode's sponsor prior to the recorded discussion. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest Dr. Paz Galupo The Dialogue Doctor Podcast Jeff Elkins Laura Humm EP 157 - A Conversation with Jeff Elkins Write Away Podcast Crys Cain JP Rindfleish Findaway Voices Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 171 - Reflections on 2020 Reflections on 2020 Fri, 08 Jan 2021 02:18:09 +0000 In this episode Mark shares a look at his 2020 goals and accomplishments, as well as a look at the publishing industry.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

 

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

Mark's goals for 2020 included:

  1. Audio - Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores
  2. Audio - Killing it on Kobo
  3. Audio - Canadian Werewolf in New York
  4. Audio - Stowe Away
  5. eBook edition - Stowe Away
  6. Print - Stowe Away
  7. Fear and Longing in Los Angeles
  8. Audio - I, Death
  9. Audio - One Hand Screaming
  10. Too Macabre for Montreal - eBook
  11. Screaming Skulls and Other Haunted Objects
  12. Weird Waterloo
  13. Other Non-Fiction Paranormal Ghost Story Project
  14. New Short Story Collection - Nocturnal Saves -(turned into Nobody's Hero)
  15. Exclusive Audio Project
  16. Viability of Indie Publishing Insider Secrets

 

Books Publishing

  • Nobody's Hero (Story Collection) - Jan 14, 2020
  • Taking the Short Tack (Dalrymple) - Jan 31, 2020
  • Stowe Away (Cdn Werewolf 1.5) - Aug 15, 2020
  • Unexpected Strangers (Nocturnal Screams #5 - WIDE) - Sept 8, 2020
  • Thriller Sampler (Tumlinson & Leslie) - Sept 30, 2020
  • Z is for Zombie (Noctunral Screams #6 - WIDE) - Oct 10, 2020
  • Too Macabre for Monteral - (Krishnasamy) - Oct 16, 2020
  • *Strange Sudbury Stories - (Costello, Leslie, Overton) - Oct 20, 2020
  • Something Wicked (Nocturnal Screams #7 - WIDE) - Oct 26, 2020
  • Phantom Itch (Nocturnal Screams #8 - WIDE) - Nov 9, 2020
  • *Beyond Obsessions (Exclusive Kickstarter anthology)
  • *Obsessions (anthology - editor) - Nov 24, 2020
  • Nocturnal Screams (All 8 Volumes) - Nov 26, 2020
  • *Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough (Peter Mitchell) - December 1, 2020

Mark also shares the rough calculation of percentages of his eBook earnings as well as a look at the industry in general and his thoughts on what's coming soon for authors.

Links of Interest

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark shares a look at his 2020 goals and accomplishments, as well as a look at the publishing industry.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark's goals for 2020 included:

  1. Audio - Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores
  2. Audio - Killing it on Kobo
  3. Audio - Canadian Werewolf in New York
  4. Audio - Stowe Away
  5. eBook edition - Stowe Away
  6. Print - Stowe Away
  7. Fear and Longing in Los Angeles
  8. Audio - I, Death
  9. Audio - One Hand Screaming
  10. Too Macabre for Montreal - eBook
  11. Screaming Skulls and Other Haunted Objects
  12. Weird Waterloo
  13. Other Non-Fiction Paranormal Ghost Story Project
  14. New Short Story Collection - Nocturnal Saves -(turned into Nobody's Hero)
  15. Exclusive Audio Project
  16. Viability of Indie Publishing Insider Secrets

Books Publishing

  • Nobody's Hero (Story Collection) - Jan 14, 2020
  • Taking the Short Tack (Dalrymple) - Jan 31, 2020
  • Stowe Away (Cdn Werewolf 1.5) - Aug 15, 2020
  • Unexpected Strangers (Nocturnal Screams #5 - WIDE) - Sept 8, 2020
  • Thriller Sampler (Tumlinson & Leslie) - Sept 30, 2020
  • Z is for Zombie (Noctunral Screams #6 - WIDE) - Oct 10, 2020
  • Too Macabre for Monteral - (Krishnasamy) - Oct 16, 2020
  • *Strange Sudbury Stories - (Costello, Leslie, Overton) - Oct 20, 2020
  • Something Wicked (Nocturnal Screams #7 - WIDE) - Oct 26, 2020
  • Phantom Itch (Nocturnal Screams #8 - WIDE) - Nov 9, 2020
  • *Beyond Obsessions (Exclusive Kickstarter anthology)
  • *Obsessions (anthology - editor) - Nov 24, 2020
  • Nocturnal Screams (All 8 Volumes) - Nov 26, 2020
  • *Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough (Peter Mitchell) - December 1, 2020

Mark also shares the rough calculation of percentages of his eBook earnings as well as a look at the industry in general and his thoughts on what's coming soon for authors.

Links of Interest

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 51:38 false 4 171 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark shares a look at his 2020 goals and accomplishments, as well as a look at the publishing industry. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Mark's goals for 2020 included: Audio - Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores Audio - Killing it on Kobo Audio - Canadian Werewolf in New York Audio - Stowe Away eBook edition - Stowe Away Print - Stowe Away Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Audio - I, Death Audio - One Hand Screaming Too Macabre for Montreal - eBook Screaming Skulls and Other Haunted Objects Weird Waterloo Other Non-Fiction Paranormal Ghost Story Project New Short Story Collection - Nocturnal Saves -(turned into Nobody's Hero) Exclusive Audio Project Viability of Indie Publishing Insider Secrets   Books Publishing Nobody's Hero (Story Collection) - Jan 14, 2020 Taking the Short Tack (Dalrymple) - Jan 31, 2020 Stowe Away (Cdn Werewolf 1.5) - Aug 15, 2020 Unexpected Strangers (Nocturnal Screams #5 - WIDE) - Sept 8, 2020 Thriller Sampler (Tumlinson & Leslie) - Sept 30, 2020 Z is for Zombie (Noctunral Screams #6 - WIDE) - Oct 10, 2020 Too Macabre for Monteral - (Krishnasamy) - Oct 16, 2020 *Strange Sudbury Stories - (Costello, Leslie, Overton) - Oct 20, 2020 Something Wicked (Nocturnal Screams #7 - WIDE) - Oct 26, 2020 Phantom Itch (Nocturnal Screams #8 - WIDE) - Nov 9, 2020 *Beyond Obsessions (Exclusive Kickstarter anthology) *Obsessions (anthology - editor) - Nov 24, 2020 Nocturnal Screams (All 8 Volumes) - Nov 26, 2020 *Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough (Peter Mitchell) - December 1, 2020 Mark also shares the rough calculation of percentages of his eBook earnings as well as a look at the industry in general and his thoughts on what's coming soon for authors. Links of Interest Findaway Voices Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Parodys Stuck in this House Here with You (Music) Isolation Parody Songs - K-Tel (Medley Parody) You Call Me Fever (Music) There Is No Monster Mash (Music) A Christmas Howl (Christmas Carol Dad Joke) Dramatic Exit (Stupid Dad Joke Short) You Better Knock First (Stupid Dad Joke Short) Mark's Tavern (Cheers Parody) A Pandemic Christmas (K-Tel Medley Parody) Sharing Broadband Streams - Collaborative Parody Project The 2020 Aurora Awards Ceremony Patreon for Stark Reflections     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark shares a look at his 2020 goals and accomplishments, as well as a look at the publishing industry. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Mark's goals for 2020 included: Audio - Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores Audio - Killing it on Kobo Audio - Canadian Werewolf in New York Audio - Stowe Away eBook edition - Stowe Away Print - Stowe Away Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Audio - I, Death Audio - One Hand Screaming Too Macabre for Montreal - eBook Screaming Skulls and Other Haunted Objects Weird Waterloo Other Non-Fiction Paranormal Ghost Story Project New Short Story Collection - Nocturnal Saves -(turned into Nobody's Hero) Exclusive Audio Project Viability of Indie Publishing Insider Secrets   Books Publishing Nobody's Hero (Story Collection) - Jan 14, 2020 Taking the Short Tack (Dalrymple) - Jan 31, 2020 Stowe Away (Cdn Werewolf 1.5) - Aug 15, 2020 Unexpected Strangers (Nocturnal Screams #5 - WIDE) - Sept 8, 2020 Thriller Sampler (Tumlinson & Leslie) - Sept 30, 2020 Z is for Zombie (Noctunral Screams #6 - WIDE) - Oct 10, 2020 Too Macabre for Monteral - (Krishnasamy) - Oct 16, 2020 *Strange Sudbury Stories - (Costello, Leslie, Overton) - Oct 20, 2020 Something Wicked (Nocturnal Screams #7 - WIDE) - Oct 26, 2020 Phantom Itch (Nocturnal Screams #8 - WIDE) - Nov 9, 2020 *Beyond Obsessions (Exclusive Kickstarter anthology) *Obsessions (anthology - editor) - Nov 24, 2020 Nocturnal Screams (All 8 Volumes) - Nov 26, 2020 *Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough (Peter Mitchell) - December 1, 2020 Mark also shares the rough calculation of percentages of his eBook earnings as well as a look at the industry in general and his thoughts on what's coming soon for authors. Links of Interest Findaway Voices Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form Parodys Stuck in this House Here with You (Music) Isolation Parody Songs - K-Tel (Medley Parody) You Call Me Fever (Music) There Is No Monster Mash (Music) A Christmas Howl (Christmas Carol Dad Joke) Dramatic Exit (Stupid Dad Joke Short) You Better Knock First (Stupid Dad Joke Short) Mark's Tavern (Cheers Parody) A Pandemic Christmas (K-Tel Medley Parody) Sharing Broadband Streams - Collaborative Parody Project The 2020 Aurora Awards Ceremony Patreon for Stark Reflections     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 170 - The Genre of Andrew Pyper The Genre of Andrew Pyper Fri, 01 Jan 2021 01:38:04 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Andrew Pyper, an international award winning Canadian author with novels published in multiple countries and multiple languages, with multiple property options in play, and more interesting creative projects in the works.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update that includes the two book projects due in early 2021 and the potential that he might reschedule one a few weeks back, a "wide writer" survey he has put out as well as a word from this episode's sponsor.

 

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Andrew and Mark discuss:

  • How Mark first discovered Andrew's work years ago when he was shelving new books in the bookstore he worked at
  • The publishing progression that Andrew experienced, writing short fiction and earning publication credits
  • How a journal/magazine editor Andrew had sold stories to introduced him to a publisher which led to his very first book (1996), which bypassed the normal submission/rejection cycle
  • The cross genre elements of Andrew's novels that incorporate literary, horror, mystery, thriller (which Mark suggests are the "Andrew Pyper" genre)
  • The darkness that exists in all of Andrew's novels
  • Loving the stories of Alice Munro and the intriguing "shadowy" and "danger" elements that exist in her writing
  • The latest short fiction pieces and projects Andrew has been working on
  • Some of the properties that Andrew is involved in licensing
  • How The Residence was based on actual historical details that happened with Franklin Pierce
  • The challenge that can come with over-researching for an author
  • The fun of having some trivia info in your back pocket about the White House being haunted
  • The intriguing architectural layout of the White House and the residence, including passageways and secret doors
  • A special book and audio drama Andrew is releasing via Audible
  • The "writers killing writers" premise in THE KILLING CIRCLE
  • And more...

 

Links of Interest

 

Andrew Pyper was born in Stratford, Ontario, in 1968. He received a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from McGill University, as well as a law degree from the University of Toronto. Although called to the bar in 1996, he has never practiced.

His most recent novels include The Homecoming (2019), The Only Child (2017), and The Damned (2015). His 2013 novel, The Demonologist, won the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Hardcover Novel, and was a #1 bestseller in Canada and Brazil.

A number of Pyper's works have been acquired for TV or feature film. The Homecoming is being developed by eOne with Andrew acting as Co-Creator and Executive Producer. Other active projects have not yet been announced.

Among the earlier novels, The Guardians was published in Canada (Doubleday Canada) in January 2011, the U.K. (Orion) in February 2011, and following this internationally in various territories. It was selected a Globe and Mail 100 Best Books of the Year.

The Killing Circle, Andrew's fourth novel, was a national bestseller in Canada, and has been published in the U.K. (HarperCollins) and U.S. (St. Martin's/Minotaur). Translation rights have been sold in Holland, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Japan.

Kiss Me, a collection of short stories, was published to acclaim in 1996. Following its publication, Mr. Pyper acted as Writer-in-Residence at Berton House, Dawson City, Yukon, as well as at Champlain College, Trent University.

His first novel, Lost Girls, was a national bestseller in Canada and a Globe and Mail Notable Book selection in 1999 as well as a Notable Book selection in the New York Times Book Review (2000) and the London Evening Standard (2000). The novel won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel and is an Otto Penzler pick on Amazon.com. Lost Girls has been published in the U.S. (Delacorte Press) and U.K. (Macmillan) in 2000, and has also been translated into Italian, Dutch, German and Japanese.

Andrew's second novel, The Trade Mission, was published in Canada, the U.K., U.S., the Netherlands and Germany. It was selected by The Toronto Star as one of the Ten Best Books of the Year.

Andrew's third novel, The Wildfire Season, was a Globe and Mail Best Book of the Year and has been published to acclaim in the U.K., Canada, U.S. and Holland.

Andrew's creative writing teaching experience includes terms at Trent University, the University of Toronto, and, currently, Colorado College. He lives in Toronto.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Andrew Pyper, an international award winning Canadian author with novels published in multiple countries and multiple languages, with multiple property options in play, and more interesting creative projects in the works.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update that includes the two book projects due in early 2021 and the potential that he might reschedule one a few weeks back, a "wide writer" survey he has put out as well as a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Andrew and Mark discuss:

  • How Mark first discovered Andrew's work years ago when he was shelving new books in the bookstore he worked at
  • The publishing progression that Andrew experienced, writing short fiction and earning publication credits
  • How a journal/magazine editor Andrew had sold stories to introduced him to a publisher which led to his very first book (1996), which bypassed the normal submission/rejection cycle
  • The cross genre elements of Andrew's novels that incorporate literary, horror, mystery, thriller (which Mark suggests are the "Andrew Pyper" genre)
  • The darkness that exists in all of Andrew's novels
  • Loving the stories of Alice Munro and the intriguing "shadowy" and "danger" elements that exist in her writing
  • The latest short fiction pieces and projects Andrew has been working on
  • Some of the properties that Andrew is involved in licensing
  • How The Residence was based on actual historical details that happened with Franklin Pierce
  • The challenge that can come with over-researching for an author
  • The fun of having some trivia info in your back pocket about the White House being haunted
  • The intriguing architectural layout of the White House and the residence, including passageways and secret doors
  • A special book and audio drama Andrew is releasing via Audible
  • The "writers killing writers" premise in THE KILLING CIRCLE
  • And more...

Links of Interest

Andrew Pyper was born in Stratford, Ontario, in 1968. He received a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from McGill University, as well as a law degree from the University of Toronto. Although called to the bar in 1996, he has never practiced.

His most recent novels include The Homecoming (2019), The Only Child (2017), and The Damned (2015). His 2013 novel, The Demonologist, won the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Hardcover Novel, and was a #1 bestseller in Canada and Brazil.

A number of Pyper's works have been acquired for TV or feature film. The Homecoming is being developed by eOne with Andrew acting as Co-Creator and Executive Producer. Other active projects have not yet been announced.

Among the earlier novels, The Guardians was published in Canada (Doubleday Canada) in January 2011, the U.K. (Orion) in February 2011, and following this internationally in various territories. It was selected a Globe and Mail 100 Best Books of the Year.

The Killing Circle, Andrew's fourth novel, was a national bestseller in Canada, and has been published in the U.K. (HarperCollins) and U.S. (St. Martin's/Minotaur). Translation rights have been sold in Holland, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Japan.

Kiss Me, a collection of short stories, was published to acclaim in 1996. Following its publication, Mr. Pyper acted as Writer-in-Residence at Berton House, Dawson City, Yukon, as well as at Champlain College, Trent University.

His first novel, Lost Girls, was a national bestseller in Canada and a Globe and Mail Notable Book selection in 1999 as well as a Notable Book selection in the New York Times Book Review (2000) and the London Evening Standard (2000). The novel won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel and is an Otto Penzler pick on Amazon.com. Lost Girls has been published in the U.S. (Delacorte Press) and U.K. (Macmillan) in 2000, and has also been translated into Italian, Dutch, German and Japanese.

Andrew's second novel, The Trade Mission, was published in Canada, the U.K., U.S., the Netherlands and Germany. It was selected by The Toronto Star as one of the Ten Best Books of the Year.

Andrew's third novel, The Wildfire Season, was a Globe and Mail Best Book of the Year and has been published to acclaim in the U.K., Canada, U.S. and Holland.

Andrew's creative writing teaching experience includes terms at Trent University, the University of Toronto, and, currently, Colorado College. He lives in Toronto.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:00:32 false 3 170 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Andrew Pyper, an international award winning Canadian author with novels published in multiple countries and multiple languages, with multiple property options in play, and more interesting creative projects in the works. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update that includes the two book projects due in early 2021 and the potential that he might reschedule one a few weeks back, a "wide writer" survey he has put out as well as a word from this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Andrew and Mark discuss: How Mark first discovered Andrew's work years ago when he was shelving new books in the bookstore he worked at The publishing progression that Andrew experienced, writing short fiction and earning publication credits How a journal/magazine editor Andrew had sold stories to introduced him to a publisher which led to his very first book (1996), which bypassed the normal submission/rejection cycle The cross genre elements of Andrew's novels that incorporate literary, horror, mystery, thriller (which Mark suggests are the "Andrew Pyper" genre) The darkness that exists in all of Andrew's novels Loving the stories of Alice Munro and the intriguing "shadowy" and "danger" elements that exist in her writing The latest short fiction pieces and projects Andrew has been working on Some of the properties that Andrew is involved in licensing How The Residence was based on actual historical details that happened with Franklin Pierce The challenge that can come with over-researching for an author The fun of having some trivia info in your back pocket about the White House being haunted The intriguing architectural layout of the White House and the residence, including passageways and secret doors A special book and audio drama Andrew is releasing via Audible The "writers killing writers" premise in THE KILLING CIRCLE And more...   Links of Interest Andrew Pyper's Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Goodreads Findaway Voices Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form EP 157 - A Conversion with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor Parodys Stuck in this House Here with You (Music) Isolation Parody Songs - K-Tel (Medley Parody) You Call Me Fever (Music) There Is No Monster Mash (Music) A Christmas Howl (Christmas Carol Dad Joke) Dramatic Exit (Stupid Dad Joke Short) You Better Knock First (Stupid Dad Joke Short) Mark's Tavern (Cheers Parody) Patreon for Stark Reflections   Andrew Pyper was born in Stratford, Ontario, in 1968. He received a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from McGill University, as well as a law degree from the University of Toronto. Although called to the bar in 1996, he has never practiced. His most recent novels include The Homecoming (2019), The Only Child (2017), and The Damned (2015). His 2013 novel, The Demonologist, won the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Hardcover Novel, and was a #1 bestseller in Canada and Brazil. A number of Pyper's works have been acquired for TV or feature film. The Homecoming is being developed by eOne with Andrew acting as Co-Creator and Executive Producer. Other active projects have not yet been announced. Among the earlier novels, The Guardians was published in Canada (Doubleday Canada) in January 2011, the U.K. (Orion) in February 2011, and following this internationally in various territories. It was selected a Globe and Mail 100 Best Books of the Year. The Killing Circle, Andrew's fourth novel, was a national bestseller in Canada, and has been published in the U.K. (HarperCollins) and U.S. (St. Martin's/Minotaur). Translation rights have been sold in Holland, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Japan. Kiss Me, a collection of short stories, was published to acclaim in 1996. Following its publication, Mr. Pyper acted as Writer-in-Residence at Berton House, Dawson City, Yukon, as well as at Champlain College, Trent University. His first novel, Lost Girls, was a national bestseller in Canada and a Globe and Mail Notable Book selection in 1999 as well as a Notable Book selection in the New York Times Book Review (2000) and the London Evening Standard (2000). The novel won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel and is an Otto Penzler pick on Amazon.com. Lost Girls has been published in the U.S. (Delacorte Press) and U.K. (Macmillan) in 2000, and has also been translated into Italian, Dutch, German and Japanese. Andrew's second novel, The Trade Mission, was published in Canada, the U.K., U.S., the Netherlands and Germany. It was selected by The Toronto Star as one of the Ten Best Books of the Year. Andrew's third novel, The Wildfire Season, was a Globe and Mail Best Book of the Year and has been published to acclaim in the U.K., Canada, U.S. and Holland. Andrew's creative writing teaching experience includes terms at Trent University, the University of Toronto, and, currently, Colorado College. He lives in Toronto.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Andrew Pyper, an international award winning Canadian author with novels published in multiple countries and multiple languages, with multiple property options in play, and more interesting creative projects in the works. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update that includes the two book projects due in early 2021 and the potential that he might reschedule one a few weeks back, a "wide writer" survey he has put out as well as a word from this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Andrew and Mark discuss: How Mark first discovered Andrew's work years ago when he was shelving new books in the bookstore he worked at The publishing progression that Andrew experienced, writing short fiction and earning publication credits How a journal/magazine editor Andrew had sold stories to introduced him to a publisher which led to his very first book (1996), which bypassed the normal submission/rejection cycle The cross genre elements of Andrew's novels that incorporate literary, horror, mystery, thriller (which Mark suggests are the "Andrew Pyper" genre) The darkness that exists in all of Andrew's novels Loving the stories of Alice Munro and the intriguing "shadowy" and "danger" elements that exist in her writing The latest short fiction pieces and projects Andrew has been working on Some of the properties that Andrew is involved in licensing How The Residence was based on actual historical details that happened with Franklin Pierce The challenge that can come with over-researching for an author The fun of having some trivia info in your back pocket about the White House being haunted The intriguing architectural layout of the White House and the residence, including passageways and secret doors A special book and audio drama Andrew is releasing via Audible The "writers killing writers" premise in THE KILLING CIRCLE And more...   Links of Interest Andrew Pyper's Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Goodreads Findaway Voices Wide Writer Survey Wide for the Win Submission Form EP 157 - A Conversion with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor Parodys Stuck in this House Here with You (Music) Isolation Parody Songs - K-Tel (Medley Parody) You Call Me Fever (Music) There Is No Monster Mash (Music) A Christmas Howl (Christmas Carol Dad Joke) Dramatic Exit (Stupid Dad Joke Short) You Better Knock First (Stupid Dad Joke Short) Mark's Tavern (Cheers Parody) Patreon for Stark Reflections   Andrew Pyper was born in Stratford, Ontario, in 1968. He received a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from McGill University, as well as a law degree from the University of Toronto. Although called to the bar in 1996, he has never practiced. His most recent novels include The Homecoming (2019), The Only Child (2017), and The Damned (2015). His 2013 novel, The Demonologist, won the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Hardcover Novel, and was a #1 bestseller in Canada and Brazil. A number of Pyper's works have been acquired for TV or feature film. The Homecoming is being developed by eOne with Andrew acting as Co-Creator and Executive Producer. Other active projects have not yet been announced. Among the earlier novels, The Guardians was published in Canada (Doubleday Canada) in January 2011, the U.K. (Orion) in February 2011, and following this internationally in various territories. It was selected a Globe and Mail 100 Best Books of the Year. The Killing Circle, Andrew's fourth novel, was a national bestseller in Canada, and has been published in the U.K. (HarperCollins) and U.S. (St. Martin's/Minotaur). Translation rights have been sold in Holland, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Japan. Kiss Me, a collection of short stories, was published to acclaim in 1996. Following its publication, Mr. Pyper acted as Writer-in-Residence at Berton House, Dawson City, Yukon, as well as at Champlain College, Trent University. His first novel, Lost Girls, was a national bestseller in Canada and a Globe and Mail Notable Book selection in 1999 as well as a Notable Book selection in the New York Times Book Review (2000) and the London Evening Standard (2000). The novel won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel and is an Otto Penzler pick on Amazon.com. Lost Girls has been published in the U.S. (Delacorte Press) and U.K. (Macmillan) in 2000, and has also been translated into Italian, Dutch, German and Japanese. Andrew's second novel, The Trade Mission, was published in Canada, the U.K., U.S., the Netherlands and Germany. It was selected by The Toronto Star as one of the Ten Best Books of the Year. Andrew's third novel, The Wildfire Season, was a Globe and Mail Best Book of the Year and has been published to acclaim in the U.K., Canada, U.S. and Holland. Andrew's creative writing teaching experience includes terms at Trent University, the University of Toronto, and, currently, Colorado College. He lives in Toronto.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 169 - The World Needs Your Book with Monica Leonelle The World Needs Your Book with Monica Leonelle Thu, 24 Dec 2020 20:25:09 +0000 In this episode Mark shares an interview with Monica Leonelle, a USA Today bestselling author best known for her young adult urban fantasy and paranormal romance series, Waters Dark and Deep. She also teaches writing, publishing, business, and marketing at TheWorldNeedsYourBook.com. Her most recent nonfiction series, Growth Hacking for Storytellers, has helped thousands of writers write faster, become better storytellers, and find their way to success.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal, update, some comments and a few words about this episode's sponsors. These details include

  • Commentary on Robin Cutler joining LMBPN
  • Thoughts about publishing trends and future predictions (based on insightful comments from patrons)
  • A bit about Mark's early writing history, Tough Guys Big Adventure and a stupid Dad Joke video short
  • Sponsors: Findaway Voices and Clark Chamberlan's Author Hustle

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Monica and Mark talk about:

  • Monica's start in self-publishing back in 2009 in non-fiction
  • How Monica's first book on social media for corporations allowed her to shift from software engineering to social media marketing
  • Wanting to buy a domain called "howtobeanauthor" but Joanna Penn got it first
  • The era of self-publishing when Amanda Hawking first exploded onto the scene
  • Monica's first fiction book, Silver Smoke, which was not written to market, but still sold 5000 copies
  • The "early days" of eBook publishing, which often involved learning html coding
  • How learning to write fast was the next major turning point in Monica's writing career
  • Some of the fundamental marketing practices that Monica recommends
  • How books like Twilight and The Martian are written to super-specific genres, but with some high level story structures that are universal
  • The importance of psychological triggers in a story
  • How Monica has divided up her time working on three different types of writing and multiple author names/brands
  • Trends that Monica has been tracking in the writing industry
  • Some of the things going on with different reading apps outside the major retailers
  • How Monica leverages different tools to sell direct, and her enthusiasm about being able to do bundling of eBook/Audio/Print via direct website sales
  • The interesting history and secrets of the old house that Monica lives in
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on Monica's long term experience within indie publishing, and the important of persistence and sticking it out for the long run.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Monica Leonelle is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her young adult urban fantasy and paranormal romance series, Waters Dark and Deep. She also teaches writing, publishing, business, and marketing at TheWorldNeedsYourBook.com. Her most recent nonfiction series, Growth Hacking for Storytellers, has helped thousands of writers write faster, become better storytellers, and find their way to success. She also founded The World Needs Your Book event series to bring this training to the world.

Before becoming an independent author, Monica led digital marketing efforts at Inc. 100 companies like Hansen's Natural and Braintree. She's been an avid blogger of marketing and business trends since 2007. Her ideas have been featured in AdAge, The Huffington Post, Forbes, Inc., the AMEX OpenForum, GigaOm, Mashable, Social Media Today, and the Christian Science Monitor.

Monica lives in a very, very old, 3-story home in St. Louis, MO with her husband and adorable westie, Mia. It possibly has ghosts. And definitely has a secret passage. To find out what she's up to and get access to her latest fiction updates, exclusive giveaways, advanced review copies, and more, sign up at MonicaLeonelle.com.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark shares an interview with Monica Leonelle, a USA Today bestselling author best known for her young adult urban fantasy and paranormal romance series, Waters Dark and Deep. She also teaches writing, publishing, business, and marketing at TheWorldNeedsYourBook.com. Her most recent nonfiction series, Growth Hacking for Storytellers, has helped thousands of writers write faster, become better storytellers, and find their way to success.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal, update, some comments and a few words about this episode's sponsors. These details include

  • Commentary on Robin Cutler joining LMBPN
  • Thoughts about publishing trends and future predictions (based on insightful comments from patrons)
  • A bit about Mark's early writing history, Tough Guys Big Adventure and a stupid Dad Joke video short
  • Sponsors: Findaway Voices and Clark Chamberlan's Author Hustle

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Monica and Mark talk about:

  • Monica's start in self-publishing back in 2009 in non-fiction
  • How Monica's first book on social media for corporations allowed her to shift from software engineering to social media marketing
  • Wanting to buy a domain called "howtobeanauthor" but Joanna Penn got it first
  • The era of self-publishing when Amanda Hawking first exploded onto the scene
  • Monica's first fiction book, Silver Smoke, which was not written to market, but still sold 5000 copies
  • The "early days" of eBook publishing, which often involved learning html coding
  • How learning to write fast was the next major turning point in Monica's writing career
  • Some of the fundamental marketing practices that Monica recommends
  • How books like Twilight and The Martian are written to super-specific genres, but with some high level story structures that are universal
  • The importance of psychological triggers in a story
  • How Monica has divided up her time working on three different types of writing and multiple author names/brands
  • Trends that Monica has been tracking in the writing industry
  • Some of the things going on with different reading apps outside the major retailers
  • How Monica leverages different tools to sell direct, and her enthusiasm about being able to do bundling of eBook/Audio/Print via direct website sales
  • The interesting history and secrets of the old house that Monica lives in
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on Monica's long term experience within indie publishing, and the important of persistence and sticking it out for the long run.

Links of Interest:

Monica Leonelle is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her young adult urban fantasy and paranormal romance series, Waters Dark and Deep. She also teaches writing, publishing, business, and marketing at TheWorldNeedsYourBook.com. Her most recent nonfiction series, Growth Hacking for Storytellers, has helped thousands of writers write faster, become better storytellers, and find their way to success. She also founded The World Needs Your Book event series to bring this training to the world.

Before becoming an independent author, Monica led digital marketing efforts at Inc. 100 companies like Hansen's Natural and Braintree. She's been an avid blogger of marketing and business trends since 2007. Her ideas have been featured in AdAge, The Huffington Post, Forbes, Inc., the AMEX OpenForum, GigaOm, Mashable, Social Media Today, and the Christian Science Monitor.

Monica lives in a very, very old, 3-story home in St. Louis, MO with her husband and adorable westie, Mia. It possibly has ghosts. And definitely has a secret passage. To find out what she's up to and get access to her latest fiction updates, exclusive giveaways, advanced review copies, and more, sign up at MonicaLeonelle.com.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:05:32 false 3 169 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark shares an interview with Monica Leonelle, a USA Today bestselling author best known for her young adult urban fantasy and paranormal romance series, Waters Dark and Deep. She also teaches writing, publishing, business, and marketing at TheWorldNeedsYourBook.com. Her most recent nonfiction series, Growth Hacking for Storytellers, has helped thousands of writers write faster, become better storytellers, and find their way to success. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal, update, some comments and a few words about this episode's sponsors. These details include Commentary on Robin Cutler joining LMBPN Thoughts about publishing trends and future predictions (based on insightful comments from patrons) A bit about Mark's early writing history, Tough Guys Big Adventure and a stupid Dad Joke video short Sponsors: Findaway Voices and Clark Chamberlan's Author Hustle You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Monica and Mark talk about: Monica's start in self-publishing back in 2009 in non-fiction How Monica's first book on social media for corporations allowed her to shift from software engineering to social media marketing Wanting to buy a domain called "howtobeanauthor" but Joanna Penn got it first The era of self-publishing when Amanda Hawking first exploded onto the scene Monica's first fiction book, Silver Smoke, which was not written to market, but still sold 5000 copies The "early days" of eBook publishing, which often involved learning html coding How learning to write fast was the next major turning point in Monica's writing career Some of the fundamental marketing practices that Monica recommends How books like Twilight and The Martian are written to super-specific genres, but with some high level story structures that are universal The importance of psychological triggers in a story How Monica has divided up her time working on three different types of writing and multiple author names/brands Trends that Monica has been tracking in the writing industry Some of the things going on with different reading apps outside the major retailers How Monica leverages different tools to sell direct, and her enthusiasm about being able to do bundling of eBook/Audio/Print via direct website sales The interesting history and secrets of the old house that Monica lives in And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on Monica's long term experience within indie publishing, and the important of persistence and sticking it out for the long run.   Links of Interest: Monica Leonelle Main Website The World Needs Your Book Special Courses from Monica (for Early 2021) Solo Storm Books Card Reading Queen Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Findaway Voices Clark Chamberlan's Stock Up Author Hustle Offer LMBPN Press Release about Robin Cutler Wide for the Win Submission Form A Christmas Howl (Christmas Carol Dad Joke) Patreon for Stark Reflections   Monica Leonelle is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her young adult urban fantasy and paranormal romance series, Waters Dark and Deep. She also teaches writing, publishing, business, and marketing at TheWorldNeedsYourBook.com. Her most recent nonfiction series, Growth Hacking for Storytellers, has helped thousands of writers write faster, become better storytellers, and find their way to success. She also founded The World Needs Your Book event series to bring this training to the world. Before becoming an independent author, Monica led digital marketing efforts at Inc. 100 companies like Hansen's Natural and Braintree. She's been an avid blogger of marketing and business trends since 2007. Her ideas have been featured in AdAge, The Huffington Post, Forbes, Inc., the AMEX OpenForum, GigaOm, Mashable, Social Media Today, and the Christian Science Monitor. Monica lives in a very, very old, 3-story home in St. Louis, MO with her husband and adorable westie, Mia. It possibly has ghosts. And definitely has a secret passage. To find out what she's up to and get access to her latest fiction updates, exclusive giveaways, advanced review copies, and more, sign up at MonicaLeonelle.com.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark shares an interview with Monica Leonelle, a USA Today bestselling author best known for her young adult urban fantasy and paranormal romance series, Waters Dark and Deep. She also teaches writing, publishing, business, and marketing at TheWorldNeedsYourBook.com. Her most recent nonfiction series, Growth Hacking for Storytellers, has helped thousands of writers write faster, become better storytellers, and find their way to success. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal, update, some comments and a few words about this episode's sponsors. These details include Commentary on Robin Cutler joining LMBPN Thoughts about publishing trends and future predictions (based on insightful comments from patrons) A bit about Mark's early writing history, Tough Guys Big Adventure and a stupid Dad Joke video short Sponsors: Findaway Voices and Clark Chamberlan's Author Hustle You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Monica and Mark talk about: Monica's start in self-publishing back in 2009 in non-fiction How Monica's first book on social media for corporations allowed her to shift from software engineering to social media marketing Wanting to buy a domain called "howtobeanauthor" but Joanna Penn got it first The era of self-publishing when Amanda Hawking first exploded onto the scene Monica's first fiction book, Silver Smoke, which was not written to market, but still sold 5000 copies The "early days" of eBook publishing, which often involved learning html coding How learning to write fast was the next major turning point in Monica's writing career Some of the fundamental marketing practices that Monica recommends How books like Twilight and The Martian are written to super-specific genres, but with some high level story structures that are universal The importance of psychological triggers in a story How Monica has divided up her time working on three different types of writing and multiple author names/brands Trends that Monica has been tracking in the writing industry Some of the things going on with different reading apps outside the major retailers How Monica leverages different tools to sell direct, and her enthusiasm about being able to do bundling of eBook/Audio/Print via direct website sales The interesting history and secrets of the old house that Monica lives in And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on Monica's long term experience within indie publishing, and the important of persistence and sticking it out for the long run.   Links of Interest: Monica Leonelle Main Website The World Needs Your Book Special Courses from Monica (for Early 2021) Solo Storm Books Card Reading Queen Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Findaway Voices Clark Chamberlan's Stock Up Author Hustle Offer LMBPN Press Release about Robin Cutler Wide for the Win Submission Form A Christmas Howl (Christmas Carol Dad Joke) Patreon for Stark Reflections   Monica Leonelle is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her young adult urban fantasy and paranormal romance series, Waters Dark and Deep. She also teaches writing, publishing, business, and marketing at TheWorldNeedsYourBook.com. Her most recent nonfiction series, Growth Hacking for Storytellers, has helped thousands of writers write faster, become better storytellers, and find their way to success. She also founded The World Needs Your Book event series to bring this training to the world. Before becoming an independent author, Monica led digital marketing efforts at Inc. 100 companies like Hansen's Natural and Braintree. She's been an avid blogger of marketing and business trends since 2007. Her ideas have been featured in AdAge, The Huffington Post, Forbes, Inc., the AMEX OpenForum, GigaOm, Mashable, Social Media Today, and the Christian Science Monitor. Monica lives in a very, very old, 3-story home in St. Louis, MO with her husband and adorable westie, Mia. It possibly has ghosts. And definitely has a secret passage. To find out what she's up to and get access to her latest fiction updates, exclusive giveaways, advanced review copies, and more, sign up at MonicaLeonelle.com.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 168 - Writing Your Way to Paradise with David Farland Writing Your Way to Paradise with David Farland Fri, 18 Dec 2020 01:44:49 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews David Farland, a New York Times bestselling and multi-award-winning author, who has written for major franchises such as Star Wars and The Mummy, and mentored dozens who have gone on to staggering literary success, including Brandon Mull, Brandon Sanderson, and Stephenie Meyer.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

 

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

In their conversation, Mark and David talk about:

  • How David started writing when he was 17 years old, but didn't get serious about it until the age of about 25/26
  • Deciding he wanted to win a short story contest, and how that led to winning the Grand Prize at Writers of the Future and how that led to a traditional publishing offer which led to a bestseller (On My Way To Paradise) which also won the Philip K. Dick Special Memorial Award
  • His role as the Coordinating Judge of The Writers and Illustrators of the Future writing contest
  • Why David spends so much time helping to prop up and support beginning writers
  • Different game-related stories David has been involved in, including a new game-related story David has coming out in 24 different languages
  • The problem with writers who don't see things in the long term and in the global market
  • The way that Hollywood options work for writers and the money that can be earned on movies that never get made (such as Isaac Asimov's Foundation series)
  • The fact that Philip K Dick's short stories usually have about 100 options in place at any given time (Dick's stories have been made into movies such as "Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, Screamers, Paycheck, A Scanner Darkly, and The Man in the High Castle)
  • Why David created the Apex Writer's Group - the importance of authors educating and inspiring each other
  • Some of the sensations that David was behind, including Stephanie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, James Dashner, Dan Wells, and even the push of Rowling's Harry Potter novels
  • The origin of the pseudonym David Farland
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the concept of casting a wide net and keeping that net out there, via an example David had shared of an author who gave up, and then years later her books hit it big.

 

Links of Interest:

 

David Farland is an award-winning, international bestselling author with over 50 novels in print. He has won the Philip K. Dick Memorial Special Award for "Best Novel in the English Language" for his science fiction novel On My Way to Paradise, the Whitney Award for "Best Novel of the Year" for his historical novel In the Company of Angels, and many more awards for his work. He is best known for his New York Times bestselling fantasy series The Runelords.

Farland has written for major franchises such as Star Wars and The Mummy. He has worked in Hollywood greenlighting movies and doctoring scripts. He has been a movie producer, and he has even lived in China working as a screenwriter for a major fantasy film franchise.

As a writing instructor, Farland has mentored dozens who have gone on to staggering literary success, including such #1 New York Times Bestsellers as Brandon Mull (Fablehaven), Brandon Sanderson (Wheel of Time), and Stephenie Meyer (Twilight).

Farland judges L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future, one of the largest worldwide writing competitions for new fantasy and science fiction authors. The contest has helped discover and launch many authors into professional careers, with nearly 100 new science fiction and fantasy books released in just the last year. In the video game industry, he has been both a designer and a scripter and was the co-leader on the design team for StarCraft: Brood War. He set the Guinness World Record for the largest single-author, single-book signing.

David Farland has been hailed as "The wizard of storytelling" and his work has been called "compelling," "engrossing," "powerful," "profound," and "ultimately life-changing."

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews David Farland, a New York Times bestselling and multi-award-winning author, who has written for major franchises such as Star Wars and The Mummy, and mentored dozens who have gone on to staggering literary success, including Brandon Mull, Brandon Sanderson, and Stephenie Meyer.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and David talk about:

  • How David started writing when he was 17 years old, but didn't get serious about it until the age of about 25/26
  • Deciding he wanted to win a short story contest, and how that led to winning the Grand Prize at Writers of the Future and how that led to a traditional publishing offer which led to a bestseller (On My Way To Paradise) which also won the Philip K. Dick Special Memorial Award
  • His role as the Coordinating Judge of The Writers and Illustrators of the Future writing contest
  • Why David spends so much time helping to prop up and support beginning writers
  • Different game-related stories David has been involved in, including a new game-related story David has coming out in 24 different languages
  • The problem with writers who don't see things in the long term and in the global market
  • The way that Hollywood options work for writers and the money that can be earned on movies that never get made (such as Isaac Asimov's Foundation series)
  • The fact that Philip K Dick's short stories usually have about 100 options in place at any given time (Dick's stories have been made into movies such as "Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, Screamers, Paycheck, A Scanner Darkly, and The Man in the High Castle)
  • Why David created the Apex Writer's Group - the importance of authors educating and inspiring each other
  • Some of the sensations that David was behind, including Stephanie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, James Dashner, Dan Wells, and even the push of Rowling's Harry Potter novels
  • The origin of the pseudonym David Farland
  • And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on the concept of casting a wide net and keeping that net out there, via an example David had shared of an author who gave up, and then years later her books hit it big.

Links of Interest:

David Farland is an award-winning, international bestselling author with over 50 novels in print. He has won the Philip K. Dick Memorial Special Award for "Best Novel in the English Language" for his science fiction novel On My Way to Paradise, the Whitney Award for "Best Novel of the Year" for his historical novel In the Company of Angels, and many more awards for his work. He is best known for his New York Times bestselling fantasy series The Runelords.

Farland has written for major franchises such as Star Wars and The Mummy. He has worked in Hollywood greenlighting movies and doctoring scripts. He has been a movie producer, and he has even lived in China working as a screenwriter for a major fantasy film franchise.

As a writing instructor, Farland has mentored dozens who have gone on to staggering literary success, including such #1 New York Times Bestsellers as Brandon Mull (Fablehaven), Brandon Sanderson (Wheel of Time), and Stephenie Meyer (Twilight).

Farland judges L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future, one of the largest worldwide writing competitions for new fantasy and science fiction authors. The contest has helped discover and launch many authors into professional careers, with nearly 100 new science fiction and fantasy books released in just the last year. In the video game industry, he has been both a designer and a scripter and was the co-leader on the design team for StarCraft: Brood War. He set the Guinness World Record for the largest single-author, single-book signing.

David Farland has been hailed as "The wizard of storytelling" and his work has been called "compelling," "engrossing," "powerful," "profound," and "ultimately life-changing."

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:01:47 false 3 168 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews David Farland, a New York Times bestselling and multi-award-winning author, who has written for major franchises such as Star Wars and The Mummy, and mentored dozens who have gone on to staggering literary success, including Brandon Mull, Brandon Sanderson, and Stephenie Meyer. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and David talk about: How David started writing when he was 17 years old, but didn't get serious about it until the age of about 25/26 Deciding he wanted to win a short story contest, and how that led to winning the Grand Prize at Writers of the Future and how that led to a traditional publishing offer which led to a bestseller (On My Way To Paradise) which also won the Philip K. Dick Special Memorial Award His role as the Coordinating Judge of The Writers and Illustrators of the Future writing contest Why David spends so much time helping to prop up and support beginning writers Different game-related stories David has been involved in, including a new game-related story David has coming out in 24 different languages The problem with writers who don't see things in the long term and in the global market The way that Hollywood options work for writers and the money that can be earned on movies that never get made (such as Isaac Asimov's Foundation series) The fact that Philip K Dick's short stories usually have about 100 options in place at any given time (Dick's stories have been made into movies such as "Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, Screamers, Paycheck, A Scanner Darkly, and The Man in the High Castle) Why David created the Apex Writer's Group - the importance of authors educating and inspiring each other Some of the sensations that David was behind, including Stephanie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, James Dashner, Dan Wells, and even the push of Rowling's Harry Potter novels The origin of the pseudonym David Farland And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the concept of casting a wide net and keeping that net out there, via an example David had shared of an author who gave up, and then years later her books hit it big.   Links of Interest: David Farland's Website My Story Doctor (Website for Writers) Apex Writer's Group Writers & Illustrators of the Future Superstars Writing Seminars Episode 167 - Author, Author, Give Me The News with Laura Hayden Episode 166 - Wording Around with KathyMac Episode 164 - Reflections on The Creative Penn Podcast Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Mark's Tavern (Opening Theme Song - Cheers Parody) Mark's Tavern - Pilot Episode (Cheers Parody) Ghost Stories from the Winking Judge (Video) Spirits Untapped: The Winking Judge Obsessions: An Anthology of Original Fiction Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   David Farland is an award-winning, international bestselling author with over 50 novels in print. He has won the Philip K. Dick Memorial Special Award for "Best Novel in the English Language" for his science fiction novel On My Way to Paradise, the Whitney Award for "Best Novel of the Year" for his historical novel In the Company of Angels, and many more awards for his work. He is best known for his New York Times bestselling fantasy series The Runelords. Farland has written for major franchises such as Star Wars and The Mummy. He has worked in Hollywood greenlighting movies and doctoring scripts. He has been a movie producer, and he has even lived in China working as a screenwriter for a major fantasy film franchise. As a writing instructor, Farland has mentored dozens who have gone on to staggering literary success, including such #1 New York Times Bestsellers as Brandon Mull (Fablehaven), Brandon Sanderson (Wheel of Time), and Stephenie Meyer (Twilight). Farland judges L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future, one of the largest worldwide writing competitions for new fantasy and science fiction authors. The contest has helped discover and launch many authors into professional careers, with nearly 100 new science fiction and fantasy books released in just the last year. In the video game industry, he has been both a designer and a scripter and was the co-leader on the design team for StarCraft: Brood War. He set the Guinness World Record for the largest single-author, single-book signing. David Farland has been hailed as "The wizard of storytelling" and his work has been called "compelling," "engrossing," "powerful," "profound," and "ultimately life-changing."   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews David Farland, a New York Times bestselling and multi-award-winning author, who has written for major franchises such as Star Wars and The Mummy, and mentored dozens who have gone on to staggering literary success, including Brandon Mull, Brandon Sanderson, and Stephenie Meyer. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and David talk about: How David started writing when he was 17 years old, but didn't get serious about it until the age of about 25/26 Deciding he wanted to win a short story contest, and how that led to winning the Grand Prize at Writers of the Future and how that led to a traditional publishing offer which led to a bestseller (On My Way To Paradise) which also won the Philip K. Dick Special Memorial Award His role as the Coordinating Judge of The Writers and Illustrators of the Future writing contest Why David spends so much time helping to prop up and support beginning writers Different game-related stories David has been involved in, including a new game-related story David has coming out in 24 different languages The problem with writers who don't see things in the long term and in the global market The way that Hollywood options work for writers and the money that can be earned on movies that never get made (such as Isaac Asimov's Foundation series) The fact that Philip K Dick's short stories usually have about 100 options in place at any given time (Dick's stories have been made into movies such as "Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, Screamers, Paycheck, A Scanner Darkly, and The Man in the High Castle) Why David created the Apex Writer's Group - the importance of authors educating and inspiring each other Some of the sensations that David was behind, including Stephanie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, James Dashner, Dan Wells, and even the push of Rowling's Harry Potter novels The origin of the pseudonym David Farland And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the concept of casting a wide net and keeping that net out there, via an example David had shared of an author who gave up, and then years later her books hit it big.   Links of Interest: David Farland's Website My Story Doctor (Website for Writers) Apex Writer's Group Writers & Illustrators of the Future Superstars Writing Seminars Episode 167 - Author, Author, Give Me The News with Laura Hayden Episode 166 - Wording Around with KathyMac Episode 164 - Reflections on The Creative Penn Podcast Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Mark's Tavern (Opening Theme Song - Cheers Parody) Mark's Tavern - Pilot Episode (Cheers Parody) Ghost Stories from the Winking Judge (Video) Spirits Untapped: The Winking Judge Obsessions: An Anthology of Original Fiction Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   David Farland is an award-winning, international bestselling author with over 50 novels in print. He has won the Philip K. Dick Memorial Special Award for "Best Novel in the English Language" for his science fiction novel On My Way to Paradise, the Whitney Award for "Best Novel of the Year" for his historical novel In the Company of Angels, and many more awards for his work. He is best known for his New York Times bestselling fantasy series The Runelords. Farland has written for major franchises such as Star Wars and The Mummy. He has worked in Hollywood greenlighting movies and doctoring scripts. He has been a movie producer, and he has even lived in China working as a screenwriter for a major fantasy film franchise. As a writing instructor, Farland has mentored dozens who have gone on to staggering literary success, including such #1 New York Times Bestsellers as Brandon Mull (Fablehaven), Brandon Sanderson (Wheel of Time), and Stephenie Meyer (Twilight). Farland judges L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future, one of the largest worldwide writing competitions for new fantasy and science fiction authors. The contest has helped discover and launch many authors into professional careers, with nearly 100 new science fiction and fantasy books released in just the last year. In the video game industry, he has been both a designer and a scripter and was the co-leader on the design team for StarCraft: Brood War. He set the Guinness World Record for the largest single-author, single-book signing. David Farland has been hailed as "The wizard of storytelling" and his work has been called "compelling," "engrossing," "powerful," "profound," and "ultimately life-changing."   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 167 - Laura Hayden from Author-Author Laura Hayden from Author-Author Fri, 11 Dec 2020 03:56:15 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews author and bookseller Laura Hayden, who is the co-founder and owner of Author-Author an experimental retail bookshop that deals in online sales, special events, books for writers and books for authors.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor . . .

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark also welcomes new Patron Melissa Yi and shares a personal update that includes a couple of talks he gave to library groups in the past week, as well as a few Kobo promotions he is participating in.

Mark reminds listeners they can get the following books via Kobo until the end of 2020 by using the coupon code NANO2020 at checkout:

In their conversation, Mark and Laura talk about:

  • Laura's introduction to books by being an early avid reader
  • The librarian who took Laura by the hand and guided her through the incredible journey through reading
  • The effect of a constant travel life of being a military family on maintaining a reliable career
  • Laura's initial entry into bookselling by walking into a bookstore and offering to help part-time
  • Laura's return to bookselling by offering to volunteer in a bookstore and fixing two of their sections that she saw could use some help
  • Learning about the Harlequin Intrigue imprint and how Laura sold her first novel to them on her very first submission
  • The steps Laura took by spotting opportunities related to books, bookselling, and bookstores
  • The origin of opening up her first physical bookstore
  • How the bookstore only lasted 2 years and went into significant debt because there wasn't a cash-for-trade option
  • How Laura has accounts with 18 larger publishers and 44 small publishers, not to mention Ingram, the world's largest wholesale book distributor
  • The non-returnable account Laura has with most publishers, which allows her to offer authors a deep discount on book purchases
  • How Laura works within a 6 to 9% margin in her business and that she's been doing it since 2007
  • The way that Laura works with conferences and other organizations for selling authors books at events
  • The fact that Laura works 1:1 with all of her clients
  • The impact of running this bookstore on Laura's career as a writer
  • Working as a ghost writer
  • The Laurence Saunders ghost writer scandal
  • The Ella Vaughn pseudonym that Laura is co-authoring with another writer
  • The discounts that a bookstore sees when you set different discounts via Ingram Spark or other print on demand services
  • The insights Laura has into some "publishers" that writers are considering working with
  • What you get with a paid listing in Ingram's monthly ADVANCE magazine
  • Something that Laura wishes all authors would understand about bookstores when considering carrying their books
  • The way a successful indie publishing author has worked successfully with a large indie bookstore

 

After the interview Mark reflects on some of the insights Laura shared but also on how her personal writing took a back-seat to the business she operates in helping writers.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Laura started reading at the age of four and in six short years, exhausted the children's section of the local branch library. She switched to adult mysteries and science fiction and never looked back. Trained as an engineer, she continued to write "for fun" until one day, she decided to write "for real."

Since. as a kid, when she wasn't reading, she was watching TV, her seventeen books and short stories straddle multiple fiction genres and include vivid characters with action, suspense and humor.

Her latest book, DARKWOOD CROSSING: Bailey, the Critter Sitter, is a middle grade collaboration written with Yvonne Jocks under the pseudonym of Ella Vaughn. Laura's latest short story under her own name is "The Ghost of Dogwood," the 10th entry in the popular multi-author "Dogwood Series."

Having traveled across the US as a military spouse, Laura now resides (permanently!) in Colorado with her husband and two dogs. She's one of the founders of Pikes Peak Writers, its first president and has been the director of its conference an unprecedented eight times. To learn more about Laura, the writer, visit her at http://suspense.net To learn more about Author, Author!, visit http://www.author-author.net

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode, Mark interviews author and bookseller Laura Hayden, who is the co-founder and owner of Author-Author an experimental retail bookshop that deals in online sales, special events, books for writers and books for authors.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor . . .

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark also welcomes new Patron Melissa Yi and shares a personal update that includes a couple of talks he gave to library groups in the past week, as well as a few Kobo promotions he is participating in.

Mark reminds listeners they can get the following books via Kobo until the end of 2020 by using the coupon code NANO2020 at checkout:

In their conversation, Mark and Laura talk about:

  • Laura's introduction to books by being an early avid reader
  • The librarian who took Laura by the hand and guided her through the incredible journey through reading
  • The effect of a constant travel life of being a military family on maintaining a reliable career
  • Laura's initial entry into bookselling by walking into a bookstore and offering to help part-time
  • Laura's return to bookselling by offering to volunteer in a bookstore and fixing two of their sections that she saw could use some help
  • Learning about the Harlequin Intrigue imprint and how Laura sold her first novel to them on her very first submission
  • The steps Laura took by spotting opportunities related to books, bookselling, and bookstores
  • The origin of opening up her first physical bookstore
  • How the bookstore only lasted 2 years and went into significant debt because there wasn't a cash-for-trade option
  • How Laura has accounts with 18 larger publishers and 44 small publishers, not to mention Ingram, the world's largest wholesale book distributor
  • The non-returnable account Laura has with most publishers, which allows her to offer authors a deep discount on book purchases
  • How Laura works within a 6 to 9% margin in her business and that she's been doing it since 2007
  • The way that Laura works with conferences and other organizations for selling authors books at events
  • The fact that Laura works 1:1 with all of her clients
  • The impact of running this bookstore on Laura's career as a writer
  • Working as a ghost writer
  • The Laurence Saunders ghost writer scandal
  • The Ella Vaughn pseudonym that Laura is co-authoring with another writer
  • The discounts that a bookstore sees when you set different discounts via Ingram Spark or other print on demand services
  • The insights Laura has into some "publishers" that writers are considering working with
  • What you get with a paid listing in Ingram's monthly ADVANCE magazine
  • Something that Laura wishes all authors would understand about bookstores when considering carrying their books
  • The way a successful indie publishing author has worked successfully with a large indie bookstore

After the interview Mark reflects on some of the insights Laura shared but also on how her personal writing took a back-seat to the business she operates in helping writers.

Links of Interest:

Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Laura started reading at the age of four and in six short years, exhausted the children's section of the local branch library. She switched to adult mysteries and science fiction and never looked back. Trained as an engineer, she continued to write "for fun" until one day, she decided to write "for real."

Since. as a kid, when she wasn't reading, she was watching TV, her seventeen books and short stories straddle multiple fiction genres and include vivid characters with action, suspense and humor.

Her latest book, DARKWOOD CROSSING: Bailey, the Critter Sitter, is a middle grade collaboration written with Yvonne Jocks under the pseudonym of Ella Vaughn. Laura's latest short story under her own name is "The Ghost of Dogwood," the 10th entry in the popular multi-author "Dogwood Series."

Having traveled across the US as a military spouse, Laura now resides (permanently!) in Colorado with her husband and two dogs. She's one of the founders of Pikes Peak Writers, its first president and has been the director of its conference an unprecedented eight times. To learn more about Laura, the writer, visit her at http://suspense.net To learn more about Author, Author!, visit http://www.author-author.net

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:10:11 false 3 167 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews author and bookseller Laura Hayden, who is the co-founder and owner of Author-Author an experimental retail bookshop that deals in online sales, special events, books for writers and books for authors. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark also welcomes new Patron Melissa Yi and shares a personal update that includes a couple of talks he gave to library groups in the past week, as well as a few Kobo promotions he is participating in. Mark reminds listeners they can get the following books via Kobo until the end of 2020 by using the coupon code NANO2020 at checkout: The Indie Author Mindset – Adam Croft Dear Writer, You Need to Quit – Becca Syme The 7 P's of Publishing Success – Mark Leslie Lefebvre Let's Get Digital: How to Self-Publish and Why You Should – David Gaughran In their conversation, Mark and Laura talk about: Laura's introduction to books by being an early avid reader The librarian who took Laura by the hand and guided her through the incredible journey through reading The effect of a constant travel life of being a military family on maintaining a reliable career Laura's initial entry into bookselling by walking into a bookstore and offering to help part-time Laura's return to bookselling by offering to volunteer in a bookstore and fixing two of their sections that she saw could use some help Learning about the Harlequin Intrigue imprint and how Laura sold her first novel to them on her very first submission The steps Laura took by spotting opportunities related to books, bookselling, and bookstores The origin of opening up her first physical bookstore How the bookstore only lasted 2 years and went into significant debt because there wasn't a cash-for-trade option How Laura has accounts with 18 larger publishers and 44 small publishers, not to mention Ingram, the world's largest wholesale book distributor The non-returnable account Laura has with most publishers, which allows her to offer authors a deep discount on book purchases How Laura works within a 6 to 9% margin in her business and that she's been doing it since 2007 The way that Laura works with conferences and other organizations for selling authors books at events The fact that Laura works 1:1 with all of her clients The impact of running this bookstore on Laura's career as a writer Working as a ghost writer The Laurence Saunders ghost writer scandal The Ella Vaughn pseudonym that Laura is co-authoring with another writer The discounts that a bookstore sees when you set different discounts via Ingram Spark or other print on demand services The insights Laura has into some "publishers" that writers are considering working with What you get with a paid listing in Ingram's monthly ADVANCE magazine Something that Laura wishes all authors would understand about bookstores when considering carrying their books The way a successful indie publishing author has worked successfully with a large indie bookstore   After the interview Mark reflects on some of the insights Laura shared but also on how her personal writing took a back-seat to the business she operates in helping writers.   Links of Interest: Author-Author Laura's Author Website Superstars Writing Seminars Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Obsessions: An Anthology of Original Fiction Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Let It Snow Audiobook Event (Blog Post - Findaway) Mark's Blog Post about Let It Snow Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Laura started reading at the age of four and in six short years, exhausted the children's section of the local branch library. She switched to adult mysteries and science fiction and never looked back. Trained as an engineer, she continued to write "for fun" until one day, she decided to write "for real." Since. as a kid, when she wasn't reading, she was watching TV, her seventeen books and short stories straddle multiple fiction genres and include vivid characters with action, suspense and humor. Her latest book, DARKWOOD CROSSING: Bailey, the Critter Sitter, is a middle grade collaboration written with Yvonne Jocks under the pseudonym of Ella Vaughn. Laura's latest short story under her own name is "The Ghost of Dogwood," the 10th entry in the popular multi-author "Dogwood Series." Having traveled across the US as a military spouse, Laura now resides (permanently!) in Colorado with her husband and two dogs. She's one of the founders of Pikes Peak Writers, its first president and has been the director of its conference an unprecedented eight times. To learn more about Laura, the writer, visit her at http://suspense.net To learn more about Author, Author!, visit http://www.author-author.net The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode, Mark interviews author and bookseller Laura Hayden, who is the co-founder and owner of Author-Author an experimental retail bookshop that deals in online sales, special events, books for writers and books for authors. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark also welcomes new Patron Melissa Yi and shares a personal update that includes a couple of talks he gave to library groups in the past week, as well as a few Kobo promotions he is participating in. Mark reminds listeners they can get the following books via Kobo until the end of 2020 by using the coupon code NANO2020 at checkout: The Indie Author Mindset – Adam Croft Dear Writer, You Need to Quit – Becca Syme The 7 P's of Publishing Success – Mark Leslie Lefebvre Let's Get Digital: How to Self-Publish and Why You Should – David Gaughran In their conversation, Mark and Laura talk about: Laura's introduction to books by being an early avid reader The librarian who took Laura by the hand and guided her through the incredible journey through reading The effect of a constant travel life of being a military family on maintaining a reliable career Laura's initial entry into bookselling by walking into a bookstore and offering to help part-time Laura's return to bookselling by offering to volunteer in a bookstore and fixing two of their sections that she saw could use some help Learning about the Harlequin Intrigue imprint and how Laura sold her first novel to them on her very first submission The steps Laura took by spotting opportunities related to books, bookselling, and bookstores The origin of opening up her first physical bookstore How the bookstore only lasted 2 years and went into significant debt because there wasn't a cash-for-trade option How Laura has accounts with 18 larger publishers and 44 small publishers, not to mention Ingram, the world's largest wholesale book distributor The non-returnable account Laura has with most publishers, which allows her to offer authors a deep discount on book purchases How Laura works within a 6 to 9% margin in her business and that she's been doing it since 2007 The way that Laura works with conferences and other organizations for selling authors books at events The fact that Laura works 1:1 with all of her clients The impact of running this bookstore on Laura's career as a writer Working as a ghost writer The Laurence Saunders ghost writer scandal The Ella Vaughn pseudonym that Laura is co-authoring with another writer The discounts that a bookstore sees when you set different discounts via Ingram Spark or other print on demand services The insights Laura has into some "publishers" that writers are considering working with What you get with a paid listing in Ingram's monthly ADVANCE magazine Something that Laura wishes all authors would understand about bookstores when considering carrying their books The way a successful indie publishing author has worked successfully with a large indie bookstore   After the interview Mark reflects on some of the insights Laura shared but also on how her personal writing took a back-seat to the business she operates in helping writers.   Links of Interest: Author-Author Laura's Author Website Superstars Writing Seminars Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Obsessions: An Anthology of Original Fiction Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Let It Snow Audiobook Event (Blog Post - Findaway) Mark's Blog Post about Let It Snow Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Laura started reading at the age of four and in six short years, exhausted the children's section of the local branch library. She switched to adult mysteries and science fiction and never looked back. Trained as an engineer, she continued to write "for fun" until one day, she decided to write "for real." Since. as a kid, when she wasn't reading, she was watching TV, her seventeen books and short stories straddle multiple fiction genres and include vivid characters with action, suspense and humor. Her latest book, DARKWOOD CROSSING: Bailey, the Critter Sitter, is a middle grade collaboration written with Yvonne Jocks under the pseudonym of Ella Vaughn. Laura's latest short story under her own name is "The Ghost of Dogwood," the 10th entry in the popular multi-author "Dogwood Series." Having traveled across the US as a military spouse, Laura now resides (permanently!) in Colorado with her husband and two dogs. She's one of the founders of Pikes Peak Writers, its first president and has been the director of its conference an unprecedented eight times. To learn more about Laura, the writer, visit her at http://suspense.net To learn more about Author, Author!, visit http://www.author-author.net The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 166 - Wording Around with Kathy Mac and Neomi Iancu Haliva Wording Around with Kathy Mac and Neomi Iancu Haliva Fri, 04 Dec 2020 15:15:38 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Poet and teacher Kathy Mac who lives in Fredericton NB, Canada and teaches creative writing at St. Thomas University along with one of her students, Neomi about a book project, Wording Around with Prose, and the course it originated from.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor . . .

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark also shares comments from recent episodes and a personal update, which include the following:

  • A walk through of the Draft2Digital payment splitting
  • A talk about the writing and publishing Mark will be doing for Susie Moloney, the Writer in Residence for Edmonton Public Library on Dec 8, 2020. (It's free to attend but you can email susie.moloney@epl.ca to register
  • The Let It Snow Audiobook Giveaway #snowaudio2020
  • Working on adding courses to his Stark Publishing Teachable platform

During the interview, Mark, Kathy, and Neomi discuss:

  • How Kathy got into academia in 2002 after a start in literary publishing
  • The additions Kathy helped usher into the university, including the course on Literary Publishing
  • Neomi's background in theatre and how that ties into her passion for poetry, prose, and script writing
  • The strong and tight-knit artistic community in Fredericton
    - Getting into the desired course without having the pre-requisites, and the importance of trying and asking when you're passionate about something
  • Details about the make-up and layout of the course
  • How the course has evolved as digital publishing has grown
  • The decision of the class to use Draft2Digital for the eBook, and how they came to that conclusion
  • Where the manuscript that was published came from and how it was adapted into the course and the work that the students did
  • The cancellation of the Wordspring conference and how that led to the origin of this course
  • The different assignments that student groups worked on in the publishing of this book
  • Creation of the video book trailer to help support the marketing of the book
  • Neomi's learnings of the process and what surprised her about the business of publishing
  • How we tend to minimize the amount of work that other people do
  • The way the title "Wording Around" was inspired from a blog from writer A.J. Ripley and their blog
  • What is next for Wording Around Press
  • How there was a plan for making a partially-hand-crafted print version of the book, but how the second wave of Covid-19 ramped up, preventing that from happening
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark shares a few reflections and thoughts about the conversation and the project.

Then he welcomes new patron Tessa Smith McGovern and thanks all patrons for supporting this podcast at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Poet and teacher Kathy Mac who lives in Fredericton NB, Canada and teaches creative writing at St. Thomas University along with one of her students, Neomi about a book project, Wording Around with Prose, and the course it originated from.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor . . .

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark also shares comments from recent episodes and a personal update, which include the following:

  • A walk through of the Draft2Digital payment splitting
  • A talk about the writing and publishing Mark will be doing for Susie Moloney, the Writer in Residence for Edmonton Public Library on Dec 8, 2020. (It's free to attend but you can email susie.moloney@epl.ca to register
  • The Let It Snow Audiobook Giveaway #snowaudio2020
  • Working on adding courses to his Stark Publishing Teachable platform

During the interview, Mark, Kathy, and Neomi discuss:

  • How Kathy got into academia in 2002 after a start in literary publishing
  • The additions Kathy helped usher into the university, including the course on Literary Publishing
  • Neomi's background in theatre and how that ties into her passion for poetry, prose, and script writing
  • The strong and tight-knit artistic community in Fredericton - Getting into the desired course without having the pre-requisites, and the importance of trying and asking when you're passionate about something
  • Details about the make-up and layout of the course
  • How the course has evolved as digital publishing has grown
  • The decision of the class to use Draft2Digital for the eBook, and how they came to that conclusion
  • Where the manuscript that was published came from and how it was adapted into the course and the work that the students did
  • The cancellation of the Wordspring conference and how that led to the origin of this course
  • The different assignments that student groups worked on in the publishing of this book
  • Creation of the video book trailer to help support the marketing of the book
  • Neomi's learnings of the process and what surprised her about the business of publishing
  • How we tend to minimize the amount of work that other people do
  • The way the title "Wording Around" was inspired from a blog from writer A.J. Ripley and their blog
  • What is next for Wording Around Press
  • How there was a plan for making a partially-hand-crafted print version of the book, but how the second wave of Covid-19 ramped up, preventing that from happening
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark shares a few reflections and thoughts about the conversation and the project.

Then he welcomes new patron Tessa Smith McGovern and thanks all patrons for supporting this podcast at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:06:58 false 3 166 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Poet and teacher Kathy Mac who lives in Fredericton NB, Canada and teaches creative writing at St. Thomas University along with one of her students, Neomi about a book project, Wording Around with Prose, and the course it originated from. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark also shares comments from recent episodes and a personal update, which include the following: A walk through of the Draft2Digital payment splitting A talk about the writing and publishing Mark will be doing for Susie Moloney, the Writer in Residence for Edmonton Public Library on Dec 8, 2020. (It's free to attend but you can email susie.moloney@epl.ca to register The Let It Snow Audiobook Giveaway #snowaudio2020 Working on adding courses to his Stark Publishing Teachable platform During the interview, Mark, Kathy, and Neomi discuss: How Kathy got into academia in 2002 after a start in literary publishing The additions Kathy helped usher into the university, including the course on Literary Publishing Neomi's background in theatre and how that ties into her passion for poetry, prose, and script writing The strong and tight-knit artistic community in Fredericton - Getting into the desired course without having the pre-requisites, and the importance of trying and asking when you're passionate about something Details about the make-up and layout of the course How the course has evolved as digital publishing has grown The decision of the class to use Draft2Digital for the eBook, and how they came to that conclusion Where the manuscript that was published came from and how it was adapted into the course and the work that the students did The cancellation of the Wordspring conference and how that led to the origin of this course The different assignments that student groups worked on in the publishing of this book Creation of the video book trailer to help support the marketing of the book Neomi's learnings of the process and what surprised her about the business of publishing How we tend to minimize the amount of work that other people do The way the title "Wording Around" was inspired from a blog from writer A.J. Ripley and their blog What is next for Wording Around Press How there was a plan for making a partially-hand-crafted print version of the book, but how the second wave of Covid-19 ramped up, preventing that from happening And more . . . After the interview Mark shares a few reflections and thoughts about the conversation and the project. Then he welcomes new patron Tessa Smith McGovern and thanks all patrons for supporting this podcast at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.   Links of Interest: Kathy Mac's Website Wording Around with Prose Facebook Twitter Instagram Episode 165 - Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough Episode 164 - Reflections on The Creative Penn Podcast Episode 517 Episode 163 - Getting a Creative Edge with Mickey Mikkelson Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Obsessions: An Anthology of Original Fiction Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Let It Snow Audiobook Event (Blog Post - Findaway) Mark's Blog Post about Let It Snow Books2Read Draft2Digital Payment Splitting Video Walk-Thru Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Poet and teacher Kathy Mac who lives in Fredericton NB, Canada and teaches creative writing at St. Thomas University along with one of her students, Neomi about a book project, Wording Around with Prose, and the course it originated from. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark also shares comments from recent episodes and a personal update, which include the following: A walk through of the Draft2Digital payment splitting A talk about the writing and publishing Mark will be doing for Susie Moloney, the Writer in Residence for Edmonton Public Library on Dec 8, 2020. (It's free to attend but you can email susie.moloney@epl.ca to register The Let It Snow Audiobook Giveaway #snowaudio2020 Working on adding courses to his Stark Publishing Teachable platform During the interview, Mark, Kathy, and Neomi discuss: How Kathy got into academia in 2002 after a start in literary publishing The additions Kathy helped usher into the university, including the course on Literary Publishing Neomi's background in theatre and how that ties into her passion for poetry, prose, and script writing The strong and tight-knit artistic community in Fredericton - Getting into the desired course without having the pre-requisites, and the importance of trying and asking when you're passionate about something Details about the make-up and layout of the course How the course has evolved as digital publishing has grown The decision of the class to use Draft2Digital for the eBook, and how they came to that conclusion Where the manuscript that was published came from and how it was adapted into the course and the work that the students did The cancellation of the Wordspring conference and how that led to the origin of this course The different assignments that student groups worked on in the publishing of this book Creation of the video book trailer to help support the marketing of the book Neomi's learnings of the process and what surprised her about the business of publishing How we tend to minimize the amount of work that other people do The way the title "Wording Around" was inspired from a blog from writer A.J. Ripley and their blog What is next for Wording Around Press How there was a plan for making a partially-hand-crafted print version of the book, but how the second wave of Covid-19 ramped up, preventing that from happening And more . . . After the interview Mark shares a few reflections and thoughts about the conversation and the project. Then he welcomes new patron Tessa Smith McGovern and thanks all patrons for supporting this podcast at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.   Links of Interest: Kathy Mac's Website Wording Around with Prose Facebook Twitter Instagram Episode 165 - Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough Episode 164 - Reflections on The Creative Penn Podcast Episode 517 Episode 163 - Getting a Creative Edge with Mickey Mikkelson Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Obsessions: An Anthology of Original Fiction Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Let It Snow Audiobook Event (Blog Post - Findaway) Mark's Blog Post about Let It Snow Books2Read Draft2Digital Payment Splitting Video Walk-Thru Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 165 - Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough Tue, 01 Dec 2020 21:53:31 +0000 In this special shorter episode of the podcast, Mark talks about a book that he has published via his Stark Publishing imprint written by a friend who found himself homeless in London, England.

Mark shares the origin of the book and why he is publishing it, as well as some of the mechanics and logistics surrounding the distribution of the eBook and print editions.

He also reads an excerpt from the chapter "Down and Out in London."

 

Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough

Peter C. Mitchell

Hardcover ISBN: 9781989351413
Print ISBN: 9781989351376
eBook ISBN: 9781989351383

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this special shorter episode of the podcast, Mark talks about a book that he has published via his Stark Publishing imprint written by a friend who found himself homeless in London, England.

Mark shares the origin of the book and why he is publishing it, as well as some of the mechanics and logistics surrounding the distribution of the eBook and print editions.

He also reads an excerpt from the chapter "Down and Out in London."

Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough

Peter C. Mitchell

Hardcover ISBN: 9781989351413 Print ISBN: 9781989351376 eBook ISBN: 9781989351383

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 34:23 false 3 165 bonus Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this special shorter episode of the podcast, Mark talks about a book that he has published via his Stark Publishing imprint written by a friend who found himself homeless in London, England. Mark shares the origin of the book and why he is publishing it, as well as some of the mechanics and logistics surrounding the distribution of the eBook and print editions. He also reads an excerpt from the chapter "Down and Out in London."   Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough Peter C. Mitchell Hardcover ISBN: 9781989351413 Print ISBN: 9781989351376 eBook ISBN: 9781989351383   Links of Interest: Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough (Universal Book Link) Rude Awakenings (Hardcover - via Author, Author) Rude Awakenings (Paperback - via Author, Author) A Different Drummer Bookstore (Burlington, Ontario) Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this special shorter episode of the podcast, Mark talks about a book that he has published via his Stark Publishing imprint written by a friend who found himself homeless in London, England. Mark shares the origin of the book and why he is publishing it, as well as some of the mechanics and logistics surrounding the distribution of the eBook and print editions. He also reads an excerpt from the chapter "Down and Out in London."   Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough Peter C. Mitchell Hardcover ISBN: 9781989351413 Print ISBN: 9781989351376 eBook ISBN: 9781989351383   Links of Interest: Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough (Universal Book Link) Rude Awakenings (Hardcover - via Author, Author) Rude Awakenings (Paperback - via Author, Author) A Different Drummer Bookstore (Burlington, Ontario) Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 164 - Reflections on The Creative Penn Podcast Episode 517 Reflections on The Creative Penn Podcast Episode 517 Fri, 27 Nov 2020 01:23:09 +0000 This is a special "Reflections on Other Podcasts" style episode.

Mark reflects on Episode 517 of The Creative Penn Podcast, where Joanna Penn interviews Holly Worton.

The description from that episode, which is highly recommended that you listen to is this:

How can you prevent self-doubt and fear from blocking your creative expression? What if you've built an audience for your books, but then you want to change direction? Joanna Penn discusses these issues and more with Holly Worton in Episode 517 (November 23, 2020) of The Creative Penn Podcast.

Holly Worton is the author of 17 nonfiction and self-help books about business mindset and personal growth, as well as on walking and the wisdom of trees and nature. She's also the host of the Into the Woods podcast.

Prior to the episode's main content, Mark shares comments from previous episodes, a word from this episode's sponsor . . .

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark also shares a personal update, which includes.

  • Progression on NaNoWriMo
  • The launch of the OBSESSIONS anthology
  • Publishing another book (unexpectedly) - Nocturnal Screams Vols 1 to 8
  • The forthcoming release of RUDE AWAKENINGS FROM SLEEPING ROUGH by Peter C. Mitchell

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> This is a special "Reflections on Other Podcasts" style episode.

Mark reflects on Episode 517 of The Creative Penn Podcast, where Joanna Penn interviews Holly Worton.

The description from that episode, which is highly recommended that you listen to is this:

How can you prevent self-doubt and fear from blocking your creative expression? What if you've built an audience for your books, but then you want to change direction? Joanna Penn discusses these issues and more with Holly Worton in Episode 517 (November 23, 2020) of The Creative Penn Podcast.

Holly Worton is the author of 17 nonfiction and self-help books about business mindset and personal growth, as well as on walking and the wisdom of trees and nature. She's also the host of the Into the Woods podcast.

Prior to the episode's main content, Mark shares comments from previous episodes, a word from this episode's sponsor . . .

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark also shares a personal update, which includes.

  • Progression on NaNoWriMo
  • The launch of the OBSESSIONS anthology
  • Publishing another book (unexpectedly) - Nocturnal Screams Vols 1 to 8
  • The forthcoming release of RUDE AWAKENINGS FROM SLEEPING ROUGH by Peter C. Mitchell

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 50:56 false 3 164 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This is a special "Reflections on Other Podcasts" style episode. Mark reflects on Episode 517 of The Creative Penn Podcast, where Joanna Penn interviews Holly Worton. The description from that episode, which is highly recommended that you listen to is this: How can you prevent self-doubt and fear from blocking your creative expression? What if you've built an audience for your books, but then you want to change direction? Joanna Penn discusses these issues and more with Holly Worton in Episode 517 (November 23, 2020) of The Creative Penn Podcast. Holly Worton is the author of 17 nonfiction and self-help books about business mindset and personal growth, as well as on walking and the wisdom of trees and nature. She's also the host of the Into the Woods podcast. Prior to the episode's main content, Mark shares comments from previous episodes, a word from this episode's sponsor . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark also shares a personal update, which includes. Progression on NaNoWriMo The launch of the OBSESSIONS anthology Publishing another book (unexpectedly) - Nocturnal Screams Vols 1 to 8 The forthcoming release of RUDE AWAKENINGS FROM SLEEPING ROUGH by Peter C. Mitchell   Links of Interest: Episode 517 of The Creative Penn Podcast: Business Mindset and Pivoting Your Author Career with Holly Worton The Creative Penn Holly Worton Mark's NaNoWriMo Profile Episode 163 - Getting a Creative Edge with Mickey Mikkelson Episode 32 - Hybrid Author Publishing with C. C. Humphreys Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Obsessions: An Anthology of Original Fiction Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0This is a special "Reflections on Other Podcasts" style episode. Mark reflects on Episode 517 of The Creative Penn Podcast, where Joanna Penn interviews Holly Worton. The description from that episode, which is highly recommended that you listen to is this: How can you prevent self-doubt and fear from blocking your creative expression? What if you've built an audience for your books, but then you want to change direction? Joanna Penn discusses these issues and more with Holly Worton in Episode 517 (November 23, 2020) of The Creative Penn Podcast. Holly Worton is the author of 17 nonfiction and self-help books about business mindset and personal growth, as well as on walking and the wisdom of trees and nature. She's also the host of the Into the Woods podcast. Prior to the episode's main content, Mark shares comments from previous episodes, a word from this episode's sponsor . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark also shares a personal update, which includes. Progression on NaNoWriMo The launch of the OBSESSIONS anthology Publishing another book (unexpectedly) - Nocturnal Screams Vols 1 to 8 The forthcoming release of RUDE AWAKENINGS FROM SLEEPING ROUGH by Peter C. Mitchell   Links of Interest: Episode 517 of The Creative Penn Podcast: Business Mindset and Pivoting Your Author Career with Holly Worton The Creative Penn Holly Worton Mark's NaNoWriMo Profile Episode 163 - Getting a Creative Edge with Mickey Mikkelson Episode 32 - Hybrid Author Publishing with C. C. Humphreys Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Obsessions: An Anthology of Original Fiction Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 163 - Getting A Creative Edge with Mickey Mikkelson Getting A Creative Edge with Mickey Mikkelson Fri, 20 Nov 2020 00:20:55 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Mickey Mikellson of Creative Edge Publicity - a boutique publicity firm specializing in arranging events such as book signings, library or school presentations, online and print media opportunities, and many other events related to the arts in general. Mickey and his firm are advocates for both the traditional and independent artist.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares some recent comments from listeners, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Mickey talk about:

  • The last time Mark interviewed Mickey, for the Kobo Writing Life podcast in Calgary at When Words Collide
  • What Creative Edge Publicity does and how they work with authors in terms of setting up interviews, chats, appearances, articles, etc, since 2016
  • How it had been Robert J. Sawyer, Mickey's first traditionally published author, who introduced Mark to Mickey
  • How Creative Edge Publicity went full-time in September 2020 and doubled their client base in less than a month
  • How Mickey got into the business
  • The typical services and connections that Creative Edge offers to their clients
  • The reality of not being able to guarantee sales, but working on long term building-blocks of opportunities
  • Some of the differences now that this business is operating full time
  • The rewarding experience of getting to work with highly intelligent and creative individuals on a daily basis
  • The difference between a publisher's in-house publicist and an independent publicist
  • Mickey's preference towards creating and continuing to build a relationship with an author who is a client, versus short-term, one-off projects
  • The ability to continue to publicize back-list titles versus the three month window of publicity that comes with traditional publishing
  • The first conversation with potential clients in terms of determining the fit, which is typically one hour
  • How Mickey signs authors not based on the content of their books, but more on their personality and how they might fit well within the larger team of clients
  • The perspective of the entire client basis of Creative Edge being a team or extended family
  • The typical budget range an author working with Creative Edge would be looking at
  • The results-based charges currently used for billing clients
  • The value of attracting a reader-based audience versus a mass media based audience
  • Some of the misconceptions authors have about publicists

 

Links of Interest:

 

Mickey Mikkelson is the founder and brain child behind Creative Edge Publicity. 

Graduating from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology with a Marketing Diploma, Mickey has been in the book industry since 2006 where he started as the Special Events Manager in St Albert, Alberta for Chapters/Indigo, the largest bookstore chain in Canada.

Ten years later, he formed Creative Edge Publicity, an aggressive boutique publicity firm that specializes in advocating for both the traditional and independent artist. Realizing there was a direct need by authors for publicity, Mickey tailored his firm to obtain media for indie authors initially and then spreading out to promoting works by traditionally published writers as well. 

In the four years that Creative Edge has been in existence, Mickey has managed to sign some of the top talents in the literary industry including multiple award winners, signing New York Times Bestsellers, and has been able to get indie authors various levels of success with many of them becoming international bestselling authors while working with the Creative Edge brand.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Mickey Mikellson of Creative Edge Publicity - a boutique publicity firm specializing in arranging events such as book signings, library or school presentations, online and print media opportunities, and many other events related to the arts in general. Mickey and his firm are advocates for both the traditional and independent artist.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares some recent comments from listeners, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Mickey talk about:

  • The last time Mark interviewed Mickey, for the Kobo Writing Life podcast in Calgary at When Words Collide
  • What Creative Edge Publicity does and how they work with authors in terms of setting up interviews, chats, appearances, articles, etc, since 2016
  • How it had been Robert J. Sawyer, Mickey's first traditionally published author, who introduced Mark to Mickey
  • How Creative Edge Publicity went full-time in September 2020 and doubled their client base in less than a month
  • How Mickey got into the business
  • The typical services and connections that Creative Edge offers to their clients
  • The reality of not being able to guarantee sales, but working on long term building-blocks of opportunities
  • Some of the differences now that this business is operating full time
  • The rewarding experience of getting to work with highly intelligent and creative individuals on a daily basis
  • The difference between a publisher's in-house publicist and an independent publicist
  • Mickey's preference towards creating and continuing to build a relationship with an author who is a client, versus short-term, one-off projects
  • The ability to continue to publicize back-list titles versus the three month window of publicity that comes with traditional publishing
  • The first conversation with potential clients in terms of determining the fit, which is typically one hour
  • How Mickey signs authors not based on the content of their books, but more on their personality and how they might fit well within the larger team of clients
  • The perspective of the entire client basis of Creative Edge being a team or extended family
  • The typical budget range an author working with Creative Edge would be looking at
  • The results-based charges currently used for billing clients
  • The value of attracting a reader-based audience versus a mass media based audience
  • Some of the misconceptions authors have about publicists

Links of Interest:

Mickey Mikkelson is the founder and brain child behind Creative Edge Publicity.

Graduating from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology with a Marketing Diploma, Mickey has been in the book industry since 2006 where he started as the Special Events Manager in St Albert, Alberta for Chapters/Indigo, the largest bookstore chain in Canada.

Ten years later, he formed Creative Edge Publicity, an aggressive boutique publicity firm that specializes in advocating for both the traditional and independent artist. Realizing there was a direct need by authors for publicity, Mickey tailored his firm to obtain media for indie authors initially and then spreading out to promoting works by traditionally published writers as well.

In the four years that Creative Edge has been in existence, Mickey has managed to sign some of the top talents in the literary industry including multiple award winners, signing New York Times Bestsellers, and has been able to get indie authors various levels of success with many of them becoming international bestselling authors while working with the Creative Edge brand.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 50:10 false 3 163 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Mickey Mikellson of Creative Edge Publicity - a boutique publicity firm specializing in arranging events such as book signings, library or school presentations, online and print media opportunities, and many other events related to the arts in general. Mickey and his firm are advocates for both the traditional and independent artist. Prior to the interview, Mark shares some recent comments from listeners, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Mickey talk about: The last time Mark interviewed Mickey, for the Kobo Writing Life podcast in Calgary at When Words Collide What Creative Edge Publicity does and how they work with authors in terms of setting up interviews, chats, appearances, articles, etc, since 2016 How it had been Robert J. Sawyer, Mickey's first traditionally published author, who introduced Mark to Mickey How Creative Edge Publicity went full-time in September 2020 and doubled their client base in less than a month How Mickey got into the business The typical services and connections that Creative Edge offers to their clients The reality of not being able to guarantee sales, but working on long term building-blocks of opportunities Some of the differences now that this business is operating full time The rewarding experience of getting to work with highly intelligent and creative individuals on a daily basis The difference between a publisher's in-house publicist and an independent publicist Mickey's preference towards creating and continuing to build a relationship with an author who is a client, versus short-term, one-off projects The ability to continue to publicize back-list titles versus the three month window of publicity that comes with traditional publishing The first conversation with potential clients in terms of determining the fit, which is typically one hour How Mickey signs authors not based on the content of their books, but more on their personality and how they might fit well within the larger team of clients The perspective of the entire client basis of Creative Edge being a team or extended family The typical budget range an author working with Creative Edge would be looking at The results-based charges currently used for billing clients The value of attracting a reader-based audience versus a mass media based audience Some of the misconceptions authors have about publicists   Links of Interest: Creative Edge Publicity Facebook Twitter Mark's NaNoWriMo Profile Episode 162 - Happy Accidents with Joshua Pantalleresco Episode 161 - NaNo No-No's Episode 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel with Sacha Black Episode 155 - Rebel Reflections with Guest Host Sacha Black Episode 145 - Leveraging Your Author IP and Hybrid Publishing with Robert J. Sawyer Episode 004 - Optimizing Your Author Brand with Robert J. Sawyer Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Kobo Writing Life Podcast EP 97 - (Mark chats with Mickey, Robert J. Sawyer, and C.C. Humphries) Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Mickey Mikkelson is the founder and brain child behind Creative Edge Publicity.  Graduating from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology with a Marketing Diploma, Mickey has been in the book industry since 2006 where he started as the Special Events Manager in St Albert, Alberta for Chapters/Indigo, the largest bookstore chain in Canada. Ten years later, he formed Creative Edge Publicity, an aggressive boutique publicity firm that specializes in advocating for both the traditional and independent artist. Realizing there was a direct need by authors for publicity, Mickey tailored his firm to obtain media for indie authors initially and then spreading out to promoting works by traditionally published writers as well.  In the four years that Creative Edge has been in existence, Mickey has managed to sign some of the top talents in the literary industry including multiple award winners, signing New York Times Bestsellers, and has been able to get indie authors various levels of success with many of them becoming international bestselling authors while working with the Creative Edge brand.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Mickey Mikellson of Creative Edge Publicity - a boutique publicity firm specializing in arranging events such as book signings, library or school presentations, online and print media opportunities, and many other events related to the arts in general. Mickey and his firm are advocates for both the traditional and independent artist. Prior to the interview, Mark shares some recent comments from listeners, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Mickey talk about: The last time Mark interviewed Mickey, for the Kobo Writing Life podcast in Calgary at When Words Collide What Creative Edge Publicity does and how they work with authors in terms of setting up interviews, chats, appearances, articles, etc, since 2016 How it had been Robert J. Sawyer, Mickey's first traditionally published author, who introduced Mark to Mickey How Creative Edge Publicity went full-time in September 2020 and doubled their client base in less than a month How Mickey got into the business The typical services and connections that Creative Edge offers to their clients The reality of not being able to guarantee sales, but working on long term building-blocks of opportunities Some of the differences now that this business is operating full time The rewarding experience of getting to work with highly intelligent and creative individuals on a daily basis The difference between a publisher's in-house publicist and an independent publicist Mickey's preference towards creating and continuing to build a relationship with an author who is a client, versus short-term, one-off projects The ability to continue to publicize back-list titles versus the three month window of publicity that comes with traditional publishing The first conversation with potential clients in terms of determining the fit, which is typically one hour How Mickey signs authors not based on the content of their books, but more on their personality and how they might fit well within the larger team of clients The perspective of the entire client basis of Creative Edge being a team or extended family The typical budget range an author working with Creative Edge would be looking at The results-based charges currently used for billing clients The value of attracting a reader-based audience versus a mass media based audience Some of the misconceptions authors have about publicists   Links of Interest: Creative Edge Publicity Facebook Twitter Mark's NaNoWriMo Profile Episode 162 - Happy Accidents with Joshua Pantalleresco Episode 161 - NaNo No-No's Episode 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel with Sacha Black Episode 155 - Rebel Reflections with Guest Host Sacha Black Episode 145 - Leveraging Your Author IP and Hybrid Publishing with Robert J. Sawyer Episode 004 - Optimizing Your Author Brand with Robert J. Sawyer Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Kobo Writing Life Podcast EP 97 - (Mark chats with Mickey, Robert J. Sawyer, and C.C. Humphries) Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Mickey Mikkelson is the founder and brain child behind Creative Edge Publicity.  Graduating from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology with a Marketing Diploma, Mickey has been in the book industry since 2006 where he started as the Special Events Manager in St Albert, Alberta for Chapters/Indigo, the largest bookstore chain in Canada. Ten years later, he formed Creative Edge Publicity, an aggressive boutique publicity firm that specializes in advocating for both the traditional and independent artist. Realizing there was a direct need by authors for publicity, Mickey tailored his firm to obtain media for indie authors initially and then spreading out to promoting works by traditionally published writers as well.  In the four years that Creative Edge has been in existence, Mickey has managed to sign some of the top talents in the literary industry including multiple award winners, signing New York Times Bestsellers, and has been able to get indie authors various levels of success with many of them becoming international bestselling authors while working with the Creative Edge brand.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 162 - Happy Accidents with Joshua Pantalleresco Happy Accidents with Joshua Pantalleresco Fri, 13 Nov 2020 01:18:19 +0000 Mark interviews Joshua Pantalleresco, the host of Just Joshing, an Aurora Award Winning podcast that features Joshua interviewing authors and other creatives and business people about life, the universe, and everything.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, welcomes a new patron (Connor Whiteley) and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by:

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Joshua talk about:

  • How Joshua could sum up his career as one great big accident
  • The books and authors Joshua loved reading, and the novel he wrote when still in high school
  • Josh's start interviewing people for a comic book website
  • How working for one of his heroes led to a great moment of trial and tribulation for Joshua
  • How a miscommunication about an interview Josh did with Robert J. Sawyer led to his recent podcast
  • The fact that chocolate chip cookies were initially an accident - and look how they turned out
  • How creating and sharing actually helps others to keep creating and sharing themselves
  • How staring down the Grim Reaper can humble a person in a very real way
  • The strength that it takes to be open and vulnerable
  • A few things that Joshua is afraid of and something he is trying out that he has always wanted to do
  • What makes Joshua ruthless and brutally honest
  • Reflections on the bad experience he'd had with a hero of his that he worked with
  • Perspectives on optimism, realism and cynicism

After the conversation, Mark reflects on the benefits that come with being willing to take a risk.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Joshua Pantalleresco is a writer, poet, podcaster and freelancer. His Podcast Just Joshing is a three time Aurora Award Winning Finalist and one time winner.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Joshua Pantalleresco, the host of Just Joshing, an Aurora Award Winning podcast that features Joshua interviewing authors and other creatives and business people about life, the universe, and everything.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, welcomes a new patron (Connor Whiteley) and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by:

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Joshua talk about:

  • How Joshua could sum up his career as one great big accident
  • The books and authors Joshua loved reading, and the novel he wrote when still in high school
  • Josh's start interviewing people for a comic book website
  • How working for one of his heroes led to a great moment of trial and tribulation for Joshua
  • How a miscommunication about an interview Josh did with Robert J. Sawyer led to his recent podcast
  • The fact that chocolate chip cookies were initially an accident - and look how they turned out
  • How creating and sharing actually helps others to keep creating and sharing themselves
  • How staring down the Grim Reaper can humble a person in a very real way
  • The strength that it takes to be open and vulnerable
  • A few things that Joshua is afraid of and something he is trying out that he has always wanted to do
  • What makes Joshua ruthless and brutally honest
  • Reflections on the bad experience he'd had with a hero of his that he worked with
  • Perspectives on optimism, realism and cynicism

After the conversation, Mark reflects on the benefits that come with being willing to take a risk.

Links of Interest:

Joshua Pantalleresco is a writer, poet, podcaster and freelancer. His Podcast Just Joshing is a three time Aurora Award Winning Finalist and one time winner.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 54:48 false 3 162 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Joshua Pantalleresco, the host of Just Joshing, an Aurora Award Winning podcast that features Joshua interviewing authors and other creatives and business people about life, the universe, and everything. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, welcomes a new patron (Connor Whiteley) and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by: You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Joshua talk about: How Joshua could sum up his career as one great big accident The books and authors Joshua loved reading, and the novel he wrote when still in high school Josh's start interviewing people for a comic book website How working for one of his heroes led to a great moment of trial and tribulation for Joshua How a miscommunication about an interview Josh did with Robert J. Sawyer led to his recent podcast The fact that chocolate chip cookies were initially an accident - and look how they turned out How creating and sharing actually helps others to keep creating and sharing themselves How staring down the Grim Reaper can humble a person in a very real way The strength that it takes to be open and vulnerable A few things that Joshua is afraid of and something he is trying out that he has always wanted to do What makes Joshua ruthless and brutally honest Reflections on the bad experience he'd had with a hero of his that he worked with Perspectives on optimism, realism and cynicism After the conversation, Mark reflects on the benefits that come with being willing to take a risk.   Links of Interest: Joshua Pantalleresco's Website Joshua on Twitter Joshua on Instagram Joshua on YouTube Mark's NaNoWriMo Profile Episode 161 - NaNo No-No's Episode 160 - Growing, Experimenting, and Collaborations with Mark Dawson Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Joshua Pantalleresco is a writer, poet, podcaster and freelancer. His Podcast Just Joshing is a three time Aurora Award Winning Finalist and one time winner.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Joshua Pantalleresco, the host of Just Joshing, an Aurora Award Winning podcast that features Joshua interviewing authors and other creatives and business people about life, the universe, and everything. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, welcomes a new patron (Connor Whiteley) and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by: You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Joshua talk about: How Joshua could sum up his career as one great big accident The books and authors Joshua loved reading, and the novel he wrote when still in high school Josh's start interviewing people for a comic book website How working for one of his heroes led to a great moment of trial and tribulation for Joshua How a miscommunication about an interview Josh did with Robert J. Sawyer led to his recent podcast The fact that chocolate chip cookies were initially an accident - and look how they turned out How creating and sharing actually helps others to keep creating and sharing themselves How staring down the Grim Reaper can humble a person in a very real way The strength that it takes to be open and vulnerable A few things that Joshua is afraid of and something he is trying out that he has always wanted to do What makes Joshua ruthless and brutally honest Reflections on the bad experience he'd had with a hero of his that he worked with Perspectives on optimism, realism and cynicism After the conversation, Mark reflects on the benefits that come with being willing to take a risk.   Links of Interest: Joshua Pantalleresco's Website Joshua on Twitter Joshua on Instagram Joshua on YouTube Mark's NaNoWriMo Profile Episode 161 - NaNo No-No's Episode 160 - Growing, Experimenting, and Collaborations with Mark Dawson Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Joshua Pantalleresco is a writer, poet, podcaster and freelancer. His Podcast Just Joshing is a three time Aurora Award Winning Finalist and one time winner.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 161 - NaNoWriMo No-No's NaNoWriMo No-No's Thu, 05 Nov 2020 19:34:02 +0000 In this episode Mark shares some tips for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), as well as an overview of his previous NaNoWriMo experiences, sharing the errors, the mistakes, and the failures he has made along the way.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by:

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark shares some tips for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), as well as an overview of his previous NaNoWriMo experiences, sharing the errors, the mistakes, and the failures he has made along the way.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by:

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 46:40 false 3 161 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark shares some tips for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), as well as an overview of his previous NaNoWriMo experiences, sharing the errors, the mistakes, and the failures he has made along the way. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by: You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Mark's NaNoWriMo Profile Episode 160 - Growing, Experimenting, and Collaborations with Mark Dawson Episode 100 - Another Publishing Industry First with Mark Dawson Episode 146 - Finding Yourself in Our Song with Meaghan Smith Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Meaghan Smith Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections       The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark shares some tips for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), as well as an overview of his previous NaNoWriMo experiences, sharing the errors, the mistakes, and the failures he has made along the way. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by: You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Mark's NaNoWriMo Profile Episode 160 - Growing, Experimenting, and Collaborations with Mark Dawson Episode 100 - Another Publishing Industry First with Mark Dawson Episode 146 - Finding Yourself in Our Song with Meaghan Smith Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Meaghan Smith Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections       The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 160 - Mark Dawson on Growing, Experimenting and Collaborations within Publishing Mark Dawson on Growing, Experimenting and Collaborations within Publishing Fri, 30 Oct 2020 00:52:00 +0000 In this episode Mark catches up with Mark Dawson to see how his publishing collaboration with Welbeck has been going as well as to find out about some new writing and publishing projects.

This episode is sponsored by:

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

Prior to the interview Mark shares the following:

  • Comments from recent episodes
  • A welcome to new patrons
  • A personal update that includes:
    • Short story writing deadlines (2 target hits with 1 to go)
    • Recent media appearances related to a new book (and the fact that it's Halloween)
    • The song Mark commissioned from Meaghan Smith for his fiance Liz's 50th birthday to go with the artwork commissioned from Josh Vogt.  (Both called "Wonder Woman")
    • A recent music parody Mark created inspired by "The Monster Mash"

 

In their conversation Mark and Mark discuss:

  • How the role of "writer" is Mark's prime passion
  • The way Mark protects his writing time despite wearing many hats in the industry
  • Recently hiring a PA (Personal Assistant)
  • The importance of having a team that he can trust
  • Mark's daily ritual to ensure he gets writing done every day
  • The office Mark has rented that allows him to get writing and podcast work done
  • How a change of scenery can be helpful to writing
  • How John Milton often leaves a place in worse shape when he leaves it
  • The multiple influences that went into the creation of the John Milton character
  • The way that place, news items, and other factors combine for Mark to create a scenario to drop Milton into to watch how he interacts and reacts in that situation
  • How Mark avoids the "Murder She Wrote Conceit"
  • How traveling to a conference often negatively affects his writing productivity
  • The release of The Cleaner in hardcover from Welbeck Publishing and the impact of the pandemic on that.
  • The planned release of the mass market version of the books and the next book in the series
  • The "After School Detectives Club" books that Mark is collaborating on and how it was inspired by his daughter
  • How Mark shares what works and what doesn't work with various publishing projects and experiments he tries out
  • What Mark is looking forward to for the last two months of 2020
  • Some of the forthcoming courses Mark's company will be releasing
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the larger perspective of the industry and how an author like Mark Dawson, who has already sold over 4 million copies of his eBooks still has such a gigantic untapped market of readers to reach who have never heard of him.

Links of Interest:

 

Mark Dawson has worked as a lawyer and in the London film industry. His first books, The Art of Falling Apart and Subpoena Colada, have been published in multiple languages. He is currently writing three series. The John Milton series features a disgruntled assassin who aims to help people make amends for the things that he has done. The Beatrix Rose series features the headlong fight for justice of a wronged mother--who happens to be an assassin--against the six names on her Kill List. Soho Noir is set in the West End of London between 1940 and 1970. The first book in the series, The Black Mile, deals with the (real-life but little-known) serial killer who operated in the area during the Blitz. The Imposter traces the journey of a criminal family through the period; it has been compared to The Sopranos in austerity London. Mark lives in Wiltshire with his family.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark catches up with Mark Dawson to see how his publishing collaboration with Welbeck has been going as well as to find out about some new writing and publishing projects.

This episode is sponsored by:

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Prior to the interview Mark shares the following:

  • Comments from recent episodes
  • A welcome to new patrons
  • A personal update that includes:
    • Short story writing deadlines (2 target hits with 1 to go)
    • Recent media appearances related to a new book (and the fact that it's Halloween)
    • The song Mark commissioned from Meaghan Smith for his fiance Liz's 50th birthday to go with the artwork commissioned from Josh Vogt. (Both called "Wonder Woman")
    • A recent music parody Mark created inspired by "The Monster Mash"

In their conversation Mark and Mark discuss:

  • How the role of "writer" is Mark's prime passion
  • The way Mark protects his writing time despite wearing many hats in the industry
  • Recently hiring a PA (Personal Assistant)
  • The importance of having a team that he can trust
  • Mark's daily ritual to ensure he gets writing done every day
  • The office Mark has rented that allows him to get writing and podcast work done
  • How a change of scenery can be helpful to writing
  • How John Milton often leaves a place in worse shape when he leaves it
  • The multiple influences that went into the creation of the John Milton character
  • The way that place, news items, and other factors combine for Mark to create a scenario to drop Milton into to watch how he interacts and reacts in that situation
  • How Mark avoids the "Murder She Wrote Conceit"
  • How traveling to a conference often negatively affects his writing productivity
  • The release of The Cleaner in hardcover from Welbeck Publishing and the impact of the pandemic on that.
  • The planned release of the mass market version of the books and the next book in the series
  • The "After School Detectives Club" books that Mark is collaborating on and how it was inspired by his daughter
  • How Mark shares what works and what doesn't work with various publishing projects and experiments he tries out
  • What Mark is looking forward to for the last two months of 2020
  • Some of the forthcoming courses Mark's company will be releasing
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the larger perspective of the industry and how an author like Mark Dawson, who has already sold over 4 million copies of his eBooks still has such a gigantic untapped market of readers to reach who have never heard of him.

Links of Interest:

Mark Dawson has worked as a lawyer and in the London film industry. His first books, The Art of Falling Apart and Subpoena Colada, have been published in multiple languages. He is currently writing three series. The John Milton series features a disgruntled assassin who aims to help people make amends for the things that he has done. The Beatrix Rose series features the headlong fight for justice of a wronged mother--who happens to be an assassin--against the six names on her Kill List. Soho Noir is set in the West End of London between 1940 and 1970. The first book in the series, The Black Mile, deals with the (real-life but little-known) serial killer who operated in the area during the Blitz. The Imposter traces the journey of a criminal family through the period; it has been compared to The Sopranos in austerity London. Mark lives in Wiltshire with his family.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:00:52 false 3 160 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark catches up with Mark Dawson to see how his publishing collaboration with Welbeck has been going as well as to find out about some new writing and publishing projects. This episode is sponsored by: You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Prior to the interview Mark shares the following: Comments from recent episodes A welcome to new patrons A personal update that includes: Short story writing deadlines (2 target hits with 1 to go) Recent media appearances related to a new book (and the fact that it's Halloween) The song Mark commissioned from Meaghan Smith for his fiance Liz's 50th birthday to go with the artwork commissioned from Josh Vogt.  (Both called "Wonder Woman") A recent music parody Mark created inspired by "The Monster Mash"   In their conversation Mark and Mark discuss: How the role of "writer" is Mark's prime passion The way Mark protects his writing time despite wearing many hats in the industry Recently hiring a PA (Personal Assistant) The importance of having a team that he can trust Mark's daily ritual to ensure he gets writing done every day The office Mark has rented that allows him to get writing and podcast work done How a change of scenery can be helpful to writing How John Milton often leaves a place in worse shape when he leaves it The multiple influences that went into the creation of the John Milton character The way that place, news items, and other factors combine for Mark to create a scenario to drop Milton into to watch how he interacts and reacts in that situation How Mark avoids the "Murder She Wrote Conceit" How traveling to a conference often negatively affects his writing productivity The release of The Cleaner in hardcover from Welbeck Publishing and the impact of the pandemic on that. The planned release of the mass market version of the books and the next book in the series The "After School Detectives Club" books that Mark is collaborating on and how it was inspired by his daughter How Mark shares what works and what doesn't work with various publishing projects and experiments he tries out What Mark is looking forward to for the last two months of 2020 Some of the forthcoming courses Mark's company will be releasing And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the larger perspective of the industry and how an author like Mark Dawson, who has already sold over 4 million copies of his eBooks still has such a gigantic untapped market of readers to reach who have never heard of him. Links of Interest: Mark Dawson Self Publishing Formula Episode 100 - Another Publishing Industry First with Mark Dawson Episode 159 - Many Roads of Creativity with Sarah Beth Goer Episode 105 - Location Based Storytelling with VoiceMap Episode 146 - Finding Yourself in Our Song with Meaghan Smith Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Meaghan Smith CTV News Sudbury (Mark's interview on Oct 26) Sudbury Star Article Sudbury Dot Com Article Hamilton CHML Article About Virtual Ghost Walk Virtual Ghost Walk Downtown Hamilton (VoiceMap) Mark's Hamilton Public Library Reading - Browsers Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Mark Dawson has worked as a lawyer and in the London film industry. His first books, The Art of Falling Apart and Subpoena Colada, have been published in multiple languages. He is currently writing three series. The John Milton series features a disgruntled assassin who aims to help people make amends for the things that he has done. The Beatrix Rose series features the headlong fight for justice of a wronged mother--who happens to be an assassin--against the six names on her Kill List. Soho Noir is set in the West End of London between 1940 and 1970. The first book in the series, The Black Mile, deals with the (real-life but little-known) serial killer who operated in the area during the Blitz. The Imposter traces the journey of a criminal family through the period; it has been compared to The Sopranos in austerity London. Mark lives in Wiltshire with his family.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark catches up with Mark Dawson to see how his publishing collaboration with Welbeck has been going as well as to find out about some new writing and publishing projects. This episode is sponsored by: You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Prior to the interview Mark shares the following: Comments from recent episodes A welcome to new patrons A personal update that includes: Short story writing deadlines (2 target hits with 1 to go) Recent media appearances related to a new book (and the fact that it's Halloween) The song Mark commissioned from Meaghan Smith for his fiance Liz's 50th birthday to go with the artwork commissioned from Josh Vogt.  (Both called "Wonder Woman") A recent music parody Mark created inspired by "The Monster Mash"   In their conversation Mark and Mark discuss: How the role of "writer" is Mark's prime passion The way Mark protects his writing time despite wearing many hats in the industry Recently hiring a PA (Personal Assistant) The importance of having a team that he can trust Mark's daily ritual to ensure he gets writing done every day The office Mark has rented that allows him to get writing and podcast work done How a change of scenery can be helpful to writing How John Milton often leaves a place in worse shape when he leaves it The multiple influences that went into the creation of the John Milton character The way that place, news items, and other factors combine for Mark to create a scenario to drop Milton into to watch how he interacts and reacts in that situation How Mark avoids the "Murder She Wrote Conceit" How traveling to a conference often negatively affects his writing productivity The release of The Cleaner in hardcover from Welbeck Publishing and the impact of the pandemic on that. The planned release of the mass market version of the books and the next book in the series The "After School Detectives Club" books that Mark is collaborating on and how it was inspired by his daughter How Mark shares what works and what doesn't work with various publishing projects and experiments he tries out What Mark is looking forward to for the last two months of 2020 Some of the forthcoming courses Mark's company will be releasing And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the larger perspective of the industry and how an author like Mark Dawson, who has already sold over 4 million copies of his eBooks still has such a gigantic untapped market of readers to reach who have never heard of him. Links of Interest: Mark Dawson Self Publishing Formula Episode 100 - Another Publishing Industry First with Mark Dawson Episode 159 - Many Roads of Creativity with Sarah Beth Goer Episode 105 - Location Based Storytelling with VoiceMap Episode 146 - Finding Yourself in Our Song with Meaghan Smith Kobo Writing Life NaNoWriMo Promo (use coupon code NANO2020) Meaghan Smith CTV News Sudbury (Mark's interview on Oct 26) Sudbury Star Article Sudbury Dot Com Article Hamilton CHML Article About Virtual Ghost Walk Virtual Ghost Walk Downtown Hamilton (VoiceMap) Mark's Hamilton Public Library Reading - Browsers Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Mark Dawson has worked as a lawyer and in the London film industry. His first books, The Art of Falling Apart and Subpoena Colada, have been published in multiple languages. He is currently writing three series. The John Milton series features a disgruntled assassin who aims to help people make amends for the things that he has done. The Beatrix Rose series features the headlong fight for justice of a wronged mother--who happens to be an assassin--against the six names on her Kill List. Soho Noir is set in the West End of London between 1940 and 1970. The first book in the series, The Black Mile, deals with the (real-life but little-known) serial killer who operated in the area during the Blitz. The Imposter traces the journey of a criminal family through the period; it has been compared to The Sopranos in austerity London. Mark lives in Wiltshire with his family.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 159 - Many Roads of Creativity with Sarah Beth Goer Many Roads of Creativity with Sarah Beth Goer Fri, 23 Oct 2020 00:07:54 +0000 Mark interviews Actor, producer, audiobook narrator, and singer Sarah Beth Goer.

Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a few words about this episode's sponsor...

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Sarah talk about:

  • The fact that this is Sarah's first appearance as a podcast guest
  • Working with Erin Wright on releasing her romance novels in audiobook
  • How and when Sarah got started in audiobook narration
  • The reality of trying to be an actor in LA - including the difficulty of even getting an audition
  • Sarah's determination to get at least 200 rejections before giving up on this pursuit
  • The importance of understanding your goal of having your books in audio
  • Other suggestions to authors on strategies for determining whether or not its worth investing on audiobooks
  • What Sarah wants every author to know about licensing their audio rights to a publisher
  • The original of where Sarah got the "bug" for acting
  • Determining that she really had to do acting for her soul
  • Coming to terms with the doors that are open for you and the doors that are closed for you, and walking through the doors that are open instead of banging your head on the doors that are closed
  • How audiobooks are an actor's medium - where an actor can't be limited or typecast by how they look, for example
  • The comparison of a one-hander, a play performed by a single actor with being a single narrator of an audiobook
  • Why Sarah highly recommends the audiobook for Charlotte's Web
  • The converted and sound-proofed/sound-dampened closet that Sarah records in within her home
  • How Mark met Sarah while looking for narrators for the audiobook for his Obsessions anthology
  • The way Sarah gets new clients
    - Different genres that Sarah likes to work on as an audiobook narrator and what she looks for in a collaborative writing partner
  • The deeply satisfying experience of creating the feature film THREE ROADS
  • The resonance of a specific scene in the film that was created in an ad hoc fashion of collaboration between the actors ad libbing with suggestions from the director
  • Sarah's penchant for ad lib film creation, but why they didn't use that for THREE ROADS (other than a few short scenes)
  • Behind the scenes of the "little details" put into a feature film, such as the "scene within a scene" of a fictional movie two of the characters are watching
  • The mind-boggling realization that every single thing seen on a television show or movie was painstakingly created, designed, or placed by someone responsible for that
  • The challenging reality of the fact that the cost to just distribute this film and would most likely far outweigh the funds that would be earned off of it
  • The cross-training of working on multiple collaborative and creative projects
  • And more

After the interview Mark shares a reflection about Sarah's conviction to stick it out until she tried 200 times, as well as the need for disruption in the film industry.

Mark also welcomes new Patron, Kevin Partner.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Sarah Beth Goer is a member of acting unions SAG-AFTRA and AEA. Her feature film THREE ROADS, which she co-wrote, starred in, and produced, won BEST WRITERS at the LA Femme International Film Festival in 2019.

Sarah is also an audiobook narrator with over 100 titles under her belt. Notable works include Harper title The Unteachables (named in January 2019 an Apple Books Must-Listen), Disney Hyperion title The Devouring Gray (which placed on Barnes & Nobel's 20 most anticipated YA debuts of 2019), and Night Music – which Audiofile Magazine called "an exquisite listen," deeming Goer's performance "dynamic," and "noteworthy" as she "successfully capture[d] the raw emotions of first love muddled by racism and greed."

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Actor, producer, audiobook narrator, and singer Sarah Beth Goer.

Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a few words about this episode's sponsor...

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Sarah talk about:

  • The fact that this is Sarah's first appearance as a podcast guest
  • Working with Erin Wright on releasing her romance novels in audiobook
  • How and when Sarah got started in audiobook narration
  • The reality of trying to be an actor in LA - including the difficulty of even getting an audition
  • Sarah's determination to get at least 200 rejections before giving up on this pursuit
  • The importance of understanding your goal of having your books in audio
  • Other suggestions to authors on strategies for determining whether or not its worth investing on audiobooks
  • What Sarah wants every author to know about licensing their audio rights to a publisher
  • The original of where Sarah got the "bug" for acting
  • Determining that she really had to do acting for her soul
  • Coming to terms with the doors that are open for you and the doors that are closed for you, and walking through the doors that are open instead of banging your head on the doors that are closed
  • How audiobooks are an actor's medium - where an actor can't be limited or typecast by how they look, for example
  • The comparison of a one-hander, a play performed by a single actor with being a single narrator of an audiobook
  • Why Sarah highly recommends the audiobook for Charlotte's Web
  • The converted and sound-proofed/sound-dampened closet that Sarah records in within her home
  • How Mark met Sarah while looking for narrators for the audiobook for his Obsessions anthology
  • The way Sarah gets new clients - Different genres that Sarah likes to work on as an audiobook narrator and what she looks for in a collaborative writing partner
  • The deeply satisfying experience of creating the feature film THREE ROADS
  • The resonance of a specific scene in the film that was created in an ad hoc fashion of collaboration between the actors ad libbing with suggestions from the director
  • Sarah's penchant for ad lib film creation, but why they didn't use that for THREE ROADS (other than a few short scenes)
  • Behind the scenes of the "little details" put into a feature film, such as the "scene within a scene" of a fictional movie two of the characters are watching
  • The mind-boggling realization that every single thing seen on a television show or movie was painstakingly created, designed, or placed by someone responsible for that
  • The challenging reality of the fact that the cost to just distribute this film and would most likely far outweigh the funds that would be earned off of it
  • The cross-training of working on multiple collaborative and creative projects
  • And more

After the interview Mark shares a reflection about Sarah's conviction to stick it out until she tried 200 times, as well as the need for disruption in the film industry.

Mark also welcomes new Patron, Kevin Partner.

Links of Interest:

Sarah Beth Goer is a member of acting unions SAG-AFTRA and AEA. Her feature film THREE ROADS, which she co-wrote, starred in, and produced, won BEST WRITERS at the LA Femme International Film Festival in 2019.

Sarah is also an audiobook narrator with over 100 titles under her belt. Notable works include Harper title The Unteachables (named in January 2019 an Apple Books Must-Listen), Disney Hyperion title The Devouring Gray (which placed on Barnes & Nobel's 20 most anticipated YA debuts of 2019), and Night Music – which Audiofile Magazine called "an exquisite listen," deeming Goer's performance "dynamic," and "noteworthy" as she "successfully capture[d] the raw emotions of first love muddled by racism and greed."

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:08:19 false 3 159 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Actor, producer, audiobook narrator, and singer Sarah Beth Goer. Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a few words about this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Sarah talk about: The fact that this is Sarah's first appearance as a podcast guest Working with Erin Wright on releasing her romance novels in audiobook How and when Sarah got started in audiobook narration The reality of trying to be an actor in LA - including the difficulty of even getting an audition Sarah's determination to get at least 200 rejections before giving up on this pursuit The importance of understanding your goal of having your books in audio Other suggestions to authors on strategies for determining whether or not its worth investing on audiobooks What Sarah wants every author to know about licensing their audio rights to a publisher The original of where Sarah got the "bug" for acting Determining that she really had to do acting for her soul Coming to terms with the doors that are open for you and the doors that are closed for you, and walking through the doors that are open instead of banging your head on the doors that are closed How audiobooks are an actor's medium - where an actor can't be limited or typecast by how they look, for example The comparison of a one-hander, a play performed by a single actor with being a single narrator of an audiobook Why Sarah highly recommends the audiobook for Charlotte's Web The converted and sound-proofed/sound-dampened closet that Sarah records in within her home How Mark met Sarah while looking for narrators for the audiobook for his Obsessions anthology The way Sarah gets new clients - Different genres that Sarah likes to work on as an audiobook narrator and what she looks for in a collaborative writing partner The deeply satisfying experience of creating the feature film THREE ROADS The resonance of a specific scene in the film that was created in an ad hoc fashion of collaboration between the actors ad libbing with suggestions from the director Sarah's penchant for ad lib film creation, but why they didn't use that for THREE ROADS (other than a few short scenes) Behind the scenes of the "little details" put into a feature film, such as the "scene within a scene" of a fictional movie two of the characters are watching The mind-boggling realization that every single thing seen on a television show or movie was painstakingly created, designed, or placed by someone responsible for that The challenging reality of the fact that the cost to just distribute this film and would most likely far outweigh the funds that would be earned off of it The cross-training of working on multiple collaborative and creative projects And more After the interview Mark shares a reflection about Sarah's conviction to stick it out until she tried 200 times, as well as the need for disruption in the film industry. Mark also welcomes new Patron, Kevin Partner.   Links of Interest: Sarah Beth Goer's Website Sarah on Twitter Wonder Woman Productions Pink Flamingo Productions Lyric Audiobooks Episode 157 - A Conversation with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Sarah Beth Goer is a member of acting unions SAG-AFTRA and AEA. Her feature film THREE ROADS, which she co-wrote, starred in, and produced, won BEST WRITERS at the LA Femme International Film Festival in 2019. Sarah is also an audiobook narrator with over 100 titles under her belt. Notable works include Harper title The Unteachables (named in January 2019 an Apple Books Must-Listen), Disney Hyperion title The Devouring Gray (which placed on Barnes & Nobel's 20 most anticipated YA debuts of 2019), and Night Music – which Audiofile Magazine called "an exquisite listen," deeming Goer's performance "dynamic," and "noteworthy" as she "successfully capture[d] the raw emotions of first love muddled by racism and greed."   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Actor, producer, audiobook narrator, and singer Sarah Beth Goer. Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a few words about this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Sarah talk about: The fact that this is Sarah's first appearance as a podcast guest Working with Erin Wright on releasing her romance novels in audiobook How and when Sarah got started in audiobook narration The reality of trying to be an actor in LA - including the difficulty of even getting an audition Sarah's determination to get at least 200 rejections before giving up on this pursuit The importance of understanding your goal of having your books in audio Other suggestions to authors on strategies for determining whether or not its worth investing on audiobooks What Sarah wants every author to know about licensing their audio rights to a publisher The original of where Sarah got the "bug" for acting Determining that she really had to do acting for her soul Coming to terms with the doors that are open for you and the doors that are closed for you, and walking through the doors that are open instead of banging your head on the doors that are closed How audiobooks are an actor's medium - where an actor can't be limited or typecast by how they look, for example The comparison of a one-hander, a play performed by a single actor with being a single narrator of an audiobook Why Sarah highly recommends the audiobook for Charlotte's Web The converted and sound-proofed/sound-dampened closet that Sarah records in within her home How Mark met Sarah while looking for narrators for the audiobook for his Obsessions anthology The way Sarah gets new clients - Different genres that Sarah likes to work on as an audiobook narrator and what she looks for in a collaborative writing partner The deeply satisfying experience of creating the feature film THREE ROADS The resonance of a specific scene in the film that was created in an ad hoc fashion of collaboration between the actors ad libbing with suggestions from the director Sarah's penchant for ad lib film creation, but why they didn't use that for THREE ROADS (other than a few short scenes) Behind the scenes of the "little details" put into a feature film, such as the "scene within a scene" of a fictional movie two of the characters are watching The mind-boggling realization that every single thing seen on a television show or movie was painstakingly created, designed, or placed by someone responsible for that The challenging reality of the fact that the cost to just distribute this film and would most likely far outweigh the funds that would be earned off of it The cross-training of working on multiple collaborative and creative projects And more After the interview Mark shares a reflection about Sarah's conviction to stick it out until she tried 200 times, as well as the need for disruption in the film industry. Mark also welcomes new Patron, Kevin Partner.   Links of Interest: Sarah Beth Goer's Website Sarah on Twitter Wonder Woman Productions Pink Flamingo Productions Lyric Audiobooks Episode 157 - A Conversation with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Sarah Beth Goer is a member of acting unions SAG-AFTRA and AEA. Her feature film THREE ROADS, which she co-wrote, starred in, and produced, won BEST WRITERS at the LA Femme International Film Festival in 2019. Sarah is also an audiobook narrator with over 100 titles under her belt. Notable works include Harper title The Unteachables (named in January 2019 an Apple Books Must-Listen), Disney Hyperion title The Devouring Gray (which placed on Barnes & Nobel's 20 most anticipated YA debuts of 2019), and Night Music – which Audiofile Magazine called "an exquisite listen," deeming Goer's performance "dynamic," and "noteworthy" as she "successfully capture[d] the raw emotions of first love muddled by racism and greed."   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 158 - Kate Tilton on Helping Authors Succeed Kate Tilton on Helping Authors Succeed Fri, 16 Oct 2020 00:16:56 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Kate Tilton about the work she does supporting and helping authors be successful.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares shares comments from recent episodes and social media, offers a personal update, and says a word about this episode's sponsor...

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Kate talk about:

  • Meeting for the first time at the basement in the Javitz Center in New York at Book Expo America
  • How Kate got into the book business
  • The way that interacting in social media led to Kate falling into the role of author assistant
  • Kate starting in the book business when she was still in high school and always being an "old soul" her entire life
  • The fact that Kate has always been a "How" person who likes to figure out processes and how to make things work
  • The challenges of "re-identifying yourself" within an industry
  • How Kate helps authors make decisions within publishing based on what's best for the author and what's best for each book
  • The important role Kate plays in terms of keeping her author clients accountable
  • The value of focusing on humans and relationships and connection for a broader perspective of marketing
  • The mistake that most authors make in thinking of social media as a marketing or sales platform
  • The way that Kate's own use of social media has changed over the years
  • Questioning certain "givens" of business such as "you have to keep increasing the incoming revenue"
  • The importance of having someone as a "thought-partner" in the business of writing and publishing
  • How two different people collaborating can come up with ideas and processes that are far better than they ever would on their own
  • Advice that Kate would give to her younger self

After the interview, Mark reflects on accountability and the human connection element of social media, particularly as it relates to how he and Kate have stayed connected over the years.

Links of Interest:

 

Kate Tilton works with authors of all publication paths, from New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, award winners, and six-figure authors, to pre-publication authors, to authors somewhere in the middle. By standing beside authors as a partner, Kate turns scary and overwhelming things like marketing and finding an audience into tools that can be used to make an author's dream a reality. She achieves this mission with one-on-one partnerships with authors, free resources available on her website, and so much more.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Kate Tilton about the work she does supporting and helping authors be successful.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares shares comments from recent episodes and social media, offers a personal update, and says a word about this episode's sponsor...

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Kate talk about:

  • Meeting for the first time at the basement in the Javitz Center in New York at Book Expo America
  • How Kate got into the book business
  • The way that interacting in social media led to Kate falling into the role of author assistant
  • Kate starting in the book business when she was still in high school and always being an "old soul" her entire life
  • The fact that Kate has always been a "How" person who likes to figure out processes and how to make things work
  • The challenges of "re-identifying yourself" within an industry
  • How Kate helps authors make decisions within publishing based on what's best for the author and what's best for each book
  • The important role Kate plays in terms of keeping her author clients accountable
  • The value of focusing on humans and relationships and connection for a broader perspective of marketing
  • The mistake that most authors make in thinking of social media as a marketing or sales platform
  • The way that Kate's own use of social media has changed over the years
  • Questioning certain "givens" of business such as "you have to keep increasing the incoming revenue"
  • The importance of having someone as a "thought-partner" in the business of writing and publishing
  • How two different people collaborating can come up with ideas and processes that are far better than they ever would on their own
  • Advice that Kate would give to her younger self

After the interview, Mark reflects on accountability and the human connection element of social media, particularly as it relates to how he and Kate have stayed connected over the years.

Links of Interest:

Kate Tilton works with authors of all publication paths, from New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, award winners, and six-figure authors, to pre-publication authors, to authors somewhere in the middle. By standing beside authors as a partner, Kate turns scary and overwhelming things like marketing and finding an audience into tools that can be used to make an author's dream a reality. She achieves this mission with one-on-one partnerships with authors, free resources available on her website, and so much more.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 52:24 false 3 158 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Kate Tilton about the work she does supporting and helping authors be successful. Prior to the interview, Mark shares shares comments from recent episodes and social media, offers a personal update, and says a word about this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Kate talk about: Meeting for the first time at the basement in the Javitz Center in New York at Book Expo America How Kate got into the book business The way that interacting in social media led to Kate falling into the role of author assistant Kate starting in the book business when she was still in high school and always being an "old soul" her entire life The fact that Kate has always been a "How" person who likes to figure out processes and how to make things work The challenges of "re-identifying yourself" within an industry How Kate helps authors make decisions within publishing based on what's best for the author and what's best for each book The important role Kate plays in terms of keeping her author clients accountable The value of focusing on humans and relationships and connection for a broader perspective of marketing The mistake that most authors make in thinking of social media as a marketing or sales platform The way that Kate's own use of social media has changed over the years Questioning certain "givens" of business such as "you have to keep increasing the incoming revenue" The importance of having someone as a "thought-partner" in the business of writing and publishing How two different people collaborating can come up with ideas and processes that are far better than they ever would on their own Advice that Kate would give to her younger self After the interview, Mark reflects on accountability and the human connection element of social media, particularly as it relates to how he and Kate have stayed connected over the years. Links of Interest: Kate Tilton's Website Kate Tilton on Social Media: Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode 157 - A Conversation with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Kate Tilton works with authors of all publication paths, from New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, award winners, and six-figure authors, to pre-publication authors, to authors somewhere in the middle. By standing beside authors as a partner, Kate turns scary and overwhelming things like marketing and finding an audience into tools that can be used to make an author's dream a reality. She achieves this mission with one-on-one partnerships with authors, free resources available on her website, and so much more.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Kate Tilton about the work she does supporting and helping authors be successful. Prior to the interview, Mark shares shares comments from recent episodes and social media, offers a personal update, and says a word about this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Kate talk about: Meeting for the first time at the basement in the Javitz Center in New York at Book Expo America How Kate got into the book business The way that interacting in social media led to Kate falling into the role of author assistant Kate starting in the book business when she was still in high school and always being an "old soul" her entire life The fact that Kate has always been a "How" person who likes to figure out processes and how to make things work The challenges of "re-identifying yourself" within an industry How Kate helps authors make decisions within publishing based on what's best for the author and what's best for each book The important role Kate plays in terms of keeping her author clients accountable The value of focusing on humans and relationships and connection for a broader perspective of marketing The mistake that most authors make in thinking of social media as a marketing or sales platform The way that Kate's own use of social media has changed over the years Questioning certain "givens" of business such as "you have to keep increasing the incoming revenue" The importance of having someone as a "thought-partner" in the business of writing and publishing How two different people collaborating can come up with ideas and processes that are far better than they ever would on their own Advice that Kate would give to her younger self After the interview, Mark reflects on accountability and the human connection element of social media, particularly as it relates to how he and Kate have stayed connected over the years. Links of Interest: Kate Tilton's Website Kate Tilton on Social Media: Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode 157 - A Conversation with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Kate Tilton works with authors of all publication paths, from New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, award winners, and six-figure authors, to pre-publication authors, to authors somewhere in the middle. By standing beside authors as a partner, Kate turns scary and overwhelming things like marketing and finding an audience into tools that can be used to make an author's dream a reality. She achieves this mission with one-on-one partnerships with authors, free resources available on her website, and so much more.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 157 - A Conversation with Jeff Elkins The Dialogue Doctor A Conversation with Jeff Elkins The Dialogue Doctor Thu, 08 Oct 2020 23:57:28 +0000 In this episode Mark chats with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor, about the importance of solid dialogue for characterization, moving a plot along, and creating a bestselling novel.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes new Patron, Macy Dixon, offers a personal update, and says a word about this episode's sponsor...

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Jeff talk about:

  • What good dialogue is going to do for your book
  • The fundamental way that two people connect with one another, which is usually through conversation
  • The reader engagement that comes for characters because of solid dialogue
  • How Jeff filled a gap in the writing craft realm by focusing on dialogue
  • Jeff's background writing conversation simulations and how that lead to his expertise in dialogue
  • The way a person changes the way they speak when in different moods, anxious situations, circumstances
  • Being intention with our dialogue when writing
  • Peter Parker's dialogue as a shy nerd and behind the mask of Spider-man
  • The concept of "putting the character in your mouth"
  • The term "mono-mouth" used to describe multiple characters speaking in the exact same voice (the writer)
  • Jeff's research on bestsellers and how many of them usually have less than four paragraphs between passages of dialogue
  • How both John Grisham novels and Pride and Prejudice both have about 70% dialogue in them
  • If your plot and the twists and turns are the bones, then dialogue is the muscle
  • The value of taking out the "summaries" in your fiction rather than SHOWING that scene
  • An example of a brilliant character reveal through dialogue in Toni Morrison's novel BELOVED
  • The free download authors can get at Jeff's website on the five biggest mistakes authors often make in dialogue
  • What you can get for signing up for Jeff's newsletter
  • The services that Jeff offers for authors
  • A new program/offering that Jeff is launching
  • Jeff's new podcast where he shares ongoing dialogue sessions, advice, and tips

 

After the interview, Mark shares an offer from Jeff (the ability to get a 1 hour $99 booking for $75 by mentioning the Stark Reflections Podcast), and Mark shares a few reflections about things Jeff made him think about.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Jeff Elkins writes stories with engaging and diverse characters that help people escape the stress of the real world. He has published eleven novels and hundreds of short stories and lives in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife and five kids. A graduate of Baylor University and Truett Seminary, Jeff has been writing dialogue simulation for several years and has recently adapted this knowledge, and his writing experience, into a fantastic, and much-needed service for authors called The Dialogue Doctor.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark chats with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor, about the importance of solid dialogue for characterization, moving a plot along, and creating a bestselling novel.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes new Patron, Macy Dixon, offers a personal update, and says a word about this episode's sponsor...

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Jeff talk about:

  • What good dialogue is going to do for your book
  • The fundamental way that two people connect with one another, which is usually through conversation
  • The reader engagement that comes for characters because of solid dialogue
  • How Jeff filled a gap in the writing craft realm by focusing on dialogue
  • Jeff's background writing conversation simulations and how that lead to his expertise in dialogue
  • The way a person changes the way they speak when in different moods, anxious situations, circumstances
  • Being intention with our dialogue when writing
  • Peter Parker's dialogue as a shy nerd and behind the mask of Spider-man
  • The concept of "putting the character in your mouth"
  • The term "mono-mouth" used to describe multiple characters speaking in the exact same voice (the writer)
  • Jeff's research on bestsellers and how many of them usually have less than four paragraphs between passages of dialogue
  • How both John Grisham novels and Pride and Prejudice both have about 70% dialogue in them
  • If your plot and the twists and turns are the bones, then dialogue is the muscle
  • The value of taking out the "summaries" in your fiction rather than SHOWING that scene
  • An example of a brilliant character reveal through dialogue in Toni Morrison's novel BELOVED
  • The free download authors can get at Jeff's website on the five biggest mistakes authors often make in dialogue
  • What you can get for signing up for Jeff's newsletter
  • The services that Jeff offers for authors
  • A new program/offering that Jeff is launching
  • Jeff's new podcast where he shares ongoing dialogue sessions, advice, and tips

After the interview, Mark shares an offer from Jeff (the ability to get a 1 hour $99 booking for $75 by mentioning the Stark Reflections Podcast), and Mark shares a few reflections about things Jeff made him think about.

Links of Interest:

Jeff Elkins writes stories with engaging and diverse characters that help people escape the stress of the real world. He has published eleven novels and hundreds of short stories and lives in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife and five kids. A graduate of Baylor University and Truett Seminary, Jeff has been writing dialogue simulation for several years and has recently adapted this knowledge, and his writing experience, into a fantastic, and much-needed service for authors called The Dialogue Doctor.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:06:46 false 3 157 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark chats with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor, about the importance of solid dialogue for characterization, moving a plot along, and creating a bestselling novel. Prior to the interview, Mark shares shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes new Patron, Macy Dixon, offers a personal update, and says a word about this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Jeff talk about: What good dialogue is going to do for your book The fundamental way that two people connect with one another, which is usually through conversation The reader engagement that comes for characters because of solid dialogue How Jeff filled a gap in the writing craft realm by focusing on dialogue Jeff's background writing conversation simulations and how that lead to his expertise in dialogue The way a person changes the way they speak when in different moods, anxious situations, circumstances Being intention with our dialogue when writing Peter Parker's dialogue as a shy nerd and behind the mask of Spider-man The concept of "putting the character in your mouth" The term "mono-mouth" used to describe multiple characters speaking in the exact same voice (the writer) Jeff's research on bestsellers and how many of them usually have less than four paragraphs between passages of dialogue How both John Grisham novels and Pride and Prejudice both have about 70% dialogue in them If your plot and the twists and turns are the bones, then dialogue is the muscle The value of taking out the "summaries" in your fiction rather than SHOWING that scene An example of a brilliant character reveal through dialogue in Toni Morrison's novel BELOVED The free download authors can get at Jeff's website on the five biggest mistakes authors often make in dialogue What you can get for signing up for Jeff's newsletter The services that Jeff offers for authors A new program/offering that Jeff is launching Jeff's new podcast where he shares ongoing dialogue sessions, advice, and tips   After the interview, Mark shares an offer from Jeff (the ability to get a 1 hour $99 booking for $75 by mentioning the Stark Reflections Podcast), and Mark shares a few reflections about things Jeff made him think about.   Links of Interest: Jeff's Author Website Jeff's Dialogue Doctor Website The 20-week experience Jeff is launching Jeff's Dialogue Doctor YouTube Channel Jeff Elkins on Facebook Jeff Elkins on Twitter Episode 156 - The Stark Reality Facing Authors Episode 118 - Wish I'd Known Then with Jami Albright and Sara Rosett Mark Leslie Lefebvre on Thinking Outside the eBook (guest on the Wish I'd Known Then for Writers Podcast) Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Jeff Elkins writes stories with engaging and diverse characters that help people escape the stress of the real world. He has published eleven novels and hundreds of short stories and lives in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife and five kids. A graduate of Baylor University and Truett Seminary, Jeff has been writing dialogue simulation for several years and has recently adapted this knowledge, and his writing experience, into a fantastic, and much-needed service for authors called The Dialogue Doctor.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark chats with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor, about the importance of solid dialogue for characterization, moving a plot along, and creating a bestselling novel. Prior to the interview, Mark shares shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes new Patron, Macy Dixon, offers a personal update, and says a word about this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Jeff talk about: What good dialogue is going to do for your book The fundamental way that two people connect with one another, which is usually through conversation The reader engagement that comes for characters because of solid dialogue How Jeff filled a gap in the writing craft realm by focusing on dialogue Jeff's background writing conversation simulations and how that lead to his expertise in dialogue The way a person changes the way they speak when in different moods, anxious situations, circumstances Being intention with our dialogue when writing Peter Parker's dialogue as a shy nerd and behind the mask of Spider-man The concept of "putting the character in your mouth" The term "mono-mouth" used to describe multiple characters speaking in the exact same voice (the writer) Jeff's research on bestsellers and how many of them usually have less than four paragraphs between passages of dialogue How both John Grisham novels and Pride and Prejudice both have about 70% dialogue in them If your plot and the twists and turns are the bones, then dialogue is the muscle The value of taking out the "summaries" in your fiction rather than SHOWING that scene An example of a brilliant character reveal through dialogue in Toni Morrison's novel BELOVED The free download authors can get at Jeff's website on the five biggest mistakes authors often make in dialogue What you can get for signing up for Jeff's newsletter The services that Jeff offers for authors A new program/offering that Jeff is launching Jeff's new podcast where he shares ongoing dialogue sessions, advice, and tips   After the interview, Mark shares an offer from Jeff (the ability to get a 1 hour $99 booking for $75 by mentioning the Stark Reflections Podcast), and Mark shares a few reflections about things Jeff made him think about.   Links of Interest: Jeff's Author Website Jeff's Dialogue Doctor Website The 20-week experience Jeff is launching Jeff's Dialogue Doctor YouTube Channel Jeff Elkins on Facebook Jeff Elkins on Twitter Episode 156 - The Stark Reality Facing Authors Episode 118 - Wish I'd Known Then with Jami Albright and Sara Rosett Mark Leslie Lefebvre on Thinking Outside the eBook (guest on the Wish I'd Known Then for Writers Podcast) Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Jeff Elkins writes stories with engaging and diverse characters that help people escape the stress of the real world. He has published eleven novels and hundreds of short stories and lives in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife and five kids. A graduate of Baylor University and Truett Seminary, Jeff has been writing dialogue simulation for several years and has recently adapted this knowledge, and his writing experience, into a fantastic, and much-needed service for authors called The Dialogue Doctor.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 156 - The Stark Reality Facing Authors Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts: The Stark Reality Facing Authors Fri, 02 Oct 2020 00:31:42 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark shares the content that is normally reserved for patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast in a "Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts" episode.

In this episode, he shares clips from two other podcasts that he listens to, then reflects upon the things discussed.

In this particular case, both episodes include the stark reality facing authors.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update as well as a word from this episode's sponsor...

 

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

In the main segment for the episode Mark reflects upon clips from:

  • Sell More Books Show Episode 330
  • The Career Author Podcast Episode 144

 

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo episode, Mark shares the content that is normally reserved for patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast in a "Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts" episode.

In this episode, he shares clips from two other podcasts that he listens to, then reflects upon the things discussed.

In this particular case, both episodes include the stark reality facing authors.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update as well as a word from this episode's sponsor...

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In the main segment for the episode Mark reflects upon clips from:

  • Sell More Books Show Episode 330
  • The Career Author Podcast Episode 144

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 47:19 false 3 156 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark shares the content that is normally reserved for patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast in a "Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts" episode. In this episode, he shares clips from two other podcasts that he listens to, then reflects upon the things discussed. In this particular case, both episodes include the stark reality facing authors. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update as well as a word from this episode's sponsor...   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In the main segment for the episode Mark reflects upon clips from: Sell More Books Show Episode 330 The Career Author Podcast Episode 144     Links of Interest: Sell More Books Show Episode 330 - Clear Strategy, Full Data Sets, Can't Lose The Career Author Podcast Episode 144 - Technology & Publishing Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode, Mark shares the content that is normally reserved for patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast in a "Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts" episode. In this episode, he shares clips from two other podcasts that he listens to, then reflects upon the things discussed. In this particular case, both episodes include the stark reality facing authors. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update as well as a word from this episode's sponsor...   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In the main segment for the episode Mark reflects upon clips from: Sell More Books Show Episode 330 The Career Author Podcast Episode 144     Links of Interest: Sell More Books Show Episode 330 - Clear Strategy, Full Data Sets, Can't Lose The Career Author Podcast Episode 144 - Technology & Publishing Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 155 - Rebel Reflections with Guest Host Sacha Black Rebel Reflections with Guest Host Sacha Black Thu, 24 Sep 2020 23:33:57 +0000 Rebel Author Takeover Special Episode!

In this episode Sacha Black, host of The Rebel Author Podcast, takes over the Stark Reflections Podcast, renaming it the Rebel Reflections Podcast as part of celebrating the 1st anniversary of her podcast (Sept 25, 2020).

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SACHA!!!!

Prior to the takeover, Sacha temporarily hands control back over to Mark, who reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and also a work from this episode's two sponsors....

 

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

A motivational show for all the creatives out there with an inner rebel. Listen for interviews, industry news, tips, tricks and tools to help you take your creative business to the next level. Learn more about the Rebel Author Podcast.

 

In this episode Sacha poses the questions on the following topics which both Mark and Sacha answer:

  • Favorite rebel in history
  • Favorite literary rebel
  • What have you learned since you started podcasting?
  • What have you learned about yourself since starting podcasting?
  • What's your favorite thing about podcasting? 
  • Why do you think Rebellion is important?
  • What kind of rebel are you?
  • A DAD JOKE...

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

Sacha Black is an author, rebel podcaster, speaker and developmental editor.

She has five obsessions; words, expensive shoes, conspiracy theories, self-improvement, and breaking the rules.

Sacha writes books about people with magical powers and other books about the art of writing.

When she's not writing, she can be found laughing inappropriately loud, sniffing musty old books, fangirling film and TV soundtracks, or thinking up new ways to break the rules.

She lives in Hertfordshire, England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Rebel Author Takeover Special Episode!

In this episode Sacha Black, host of The Rebel Author Podcast, takes over the Stark Reflections Podcast, renaming it the Rebel Reflections Podcast as part of celebrating the 1st anniversary of her podcast (Sept 25, 2020).

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SACHA!!!!

Prior to the takeover, Sacha temporarily hands control back over to Mark, who reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and also a work from this episode's two sponsors....

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

A motivational show for all the creatives out there with an inner rebel. Listen for interviews, industry news, tips, tricks and tools to help you take your creative business to the next level. Learn more about the Rebel Author Podcast.

In this episode Sacha poses the questions on the following topics which both Mark and Sacha answer:

  • Favorite rebel in history
  • Favorite literary rebel
  • What have you learned since you started podcasting?
  • What have you learned about yourself since starting podcasting?
  • What's your favorite thing about podcasting?
  • Why do you think Rebellion is important?
  • What kind of rebel are you?
  • A DAD JOKE...

Links of Interest:

Sacha Black is an author, rebel podcaster, speaker and developmental editor.

She has five obsessions; words, expensive shoes, conspiracy theories, self-improvement, and breaking the rules.

Sacha writes books about people with magical powers and other books about the art of writing.

When she's not writing, she can be found laughing inappropriately loud, sniffing musty old books, fangirling film and TV soundtracks, or thinking up new ways to break the rules.

She lives in Hertfordshire, England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 52:32 true 3 155 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Rebel Author Takeover Special Episode! In this episode Sacha Black, host of The Rebel Author Podcast, takes over the Stark Reflections Podcast, renaming it the Rebel Reflections Podcast as part of celebrating the 1st anniversary of her podcast (Sept 25, 2020). HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SACHA!!!! Prior to the takeover, Sacha temporarily hands control back over to Mark, who reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and also a work from this episode's two sponsors....   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   A motivational show for all the creatives out there with an inner rebel. Listen for interviews, industry news, tips, tricks and tools to help you take your creative business to the next level. Learn more about the Rebel Author Podcast.   In this episode Sacha poses the questions on the following topics which both Mark and Sacha answer: Favorite rebel in history Favorite literary rebel What have you learned since you started podcasting? What have you learned about yourself since starting podcasting? What's your favorite thing about podcasting?  Why do you think Rebellion is important? What kind of rebel are you? A DAD JOKE...   Links of Interest: The Rebel Author Podcast Episode 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel with Sacha Black Episode 154 - Memories of and Reflections on T S Paul Episode 144 - 10 Tips for Winning with Wide Publishing Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections     Sacha Black is an author, rebel podcaster, speaker and developmental editor. She has five obsessions; words, expensive shoes, conspiracy theories, self-improvement, and breaking the rules. Sacha writes books about people with magical powers and other books about the art of writing. When she's not writing, she can be found laughing inappropriately loud, sniffing musty old books, fangirling film and TV soundtracks, or thinking up new ways to break the rules. She lives in Hertfordshire, England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Rebel Author Takeover Special Episode! In this episode Sacha Black, host of The Rebel Author Podcast, takes over the Stark Reflections Podcast, renaming it the Rebel Reflections Podcast as part of celebrating the 1st anniversary of her podcast (Sept 25, 2020). HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SACHA!!!! Prior to the takeover, Sacha temporarily hands control back over to Mark, who reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and also a work from this episode's two sponsors....   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   A motivational show for all the creatives out there with an inner rebel. Listen for interviews, industry news, tips, tricks and tools to help you take your creative business to the next level. Learn more about the Rebel Author Podcast.   In this episode Sacha poses the questions on the following topics which both Mark and Sacha answer: Favorite rebel in history Favorite literary rebel What have you learned since you started podcasting? What have you learned about yourself since starting podcasting? What's your favorite thing about podcasting?  Why do you think Rebellion is important? What kind of rebel are you? A DAD JOKE...   Links of Interest: The Rebel Author Podcast Episode 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel with Sacha Black Episode 154 - Memories of and Reflections on T S Paul Episode 144 - 10 Tips for Winning with Wide Publishing Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections     Sacha Black is an author, rebel podcaster, speaker and developmental editor. She has five obsessions; words, expensive shoes, conspiracy theories, self-improvement, and breaking the rules. Sacha writes books about people with magical powers and other books about the art of writing. When she's not writing, she can be found laughing inappropriately loud, sniffing musty old books, fangirling film and TV soundtracks, or thinking up new ways to break the rules. She lives in Hertfordshire, England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 154 - Memories of and Reflections on T S Paul Memories of and Reflections on T S Paul Fri, 18 Sep 2020 18:08:10 +0000 This week the indie author community felt the loss of author T S Paul.

In this episode, Mark shares a few reflections on Scott as well as some highlight clips from an interview video that he recorded as well as Scott's appearance back in episode 13 of this podcast.

 

T S Paul is the author of Science Fiction, Space Opera, Military, Cookbooks, and Paranormal Fiction.

 

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> This week the indie author community felt the loss of author T S Paul.

In this episode, Mark shares a few reflections on Scott as well as some highlight clips from an interview video that he recorded as well as Scott's appearance back in episode 13 of this podcast.

T S Paul is the author of Science Fiction, Space Opera, Military, Cookbooks, and Paranormal Fiction.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 23:06 false 3 154 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This week the indie author community felt the loss of author T S Paul. In this episode, Mark shares a few reflections on Scott as well as some highlight clips from an interview video that he recorded as well as Scott's appearance back in episode 13 of this podcast.   T S Paul is the author of Science Fiction, Space Opera, Military, Cookbooks, and Paranormal Fiction.   Links of Interest: T S Paul's Blog T S Paul's Facebook Page T S Paul Instagram T S Paul's Fergus The Unicorn's Facebook Page T S Paul's Fergus The Unicorn on Twitter Episode 13 - Going your own way with T S Paul Mark's Feed The Obsession Kickstarter YouTube Chat with T S Paul Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0This week the indie author community felt the loss of author T S Paul. In this episode, Mark shares a few reflections on Scott as well as some highlight clips from an interview video that he recorded as well as Scott's appearance back in episode 13 of this podcast.   T S Paul is the author of Science Fiction, Space Opera, Military, Cookbooks, and Paranormal Fiction.   Links of Interest: T S Paul's Blog T S Paul's Facebook Page T S Paul Instagram T S Paul's Fergus The Unicorn's Facebook Page T S Paul's Fergus The Unicorn on Twitter Episode 13 - Going your own way with T S Paul Mark's Feed The Obsession Kickstarter YouTube Chat with T S Paul Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 153 - Thanks for the Inspiration Ron Roberts Thanks for the Inspiration Ron Roberts Wed, 16 Sep 2020 20:36:09 +0000 In this solo "thanks for the inspiration" episode, Mark reflects on how Ron Roberts from Levack, Ontario was an important mentor who inspired him in his reading and his writing life.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast.

As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers.

Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this solo "thanks for the inspiration" episode, Mark reflects on how Ron Roberts from Levack, Ontario was an important mentor who inspired him in his reading and his writing life.

Links of Interest:

Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast.

As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers.

Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 24:39 false 3 153 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo "thanks for the inspiration" episode, Mark reflects on how Ron Roberts from Levack, Ontario was an important mentor who inspired him in his reading and his writing life.   Links of Interest: Tomes of Terror Levack, Ontario (Onaping Falls) Rush: Grace Under Pressure Mark's Feed The Obsession Kickstarter Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast. As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers. Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo "thanks for the inspiration" episode, Mark reflects on how Ron Roberts from Levack, Ontario was an important mentor who inspired him in his reading and his writing life.   Links of Interest: Tomes of Terror Levack, Ontario (Onaping Falls) Rush: Grace Under Pressure Mark's Feed The Obsession Kickstarter Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast. As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers. Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 152 - Drawing Inspiration with Cartoonist Leigh Rubin Drawing Inspiration with Cartoonist Leigh Rubin Fri, 11 Sep 2020 00:54:07 +0000 Mark interviews cartoonist Leigh Rubin of Rubes® the internationally syndicated single-panel cartoon that he has been creating since November 1984.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few comments from recent episodes and Twitter, and the says a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In his personal update, Mark shares:

  • What he is doing on the Obsessions anthology project
  • A forthcoming $0.99 price-drop promo for Stowe Away, the latest release in his Canadian Werewolf series.
  • How he "met" Leigh after creating a short dad joke video entitled "Dramatic Exit" inspired by one of his Rubes® cartoons.

In their conversation, Mark and Leigh talk about:

  • The two things that Leigh excelled at in Kindergaten. Napping and cartooning.
  • Pushing the boundaries in his cartoons from those earliest days.
  • The encouragement received from his third grade teacher, Mrs. Mullin.
  • The two kinds of people an artist usually remembers: the people who encourage you, and the people who don't
  • How seeing a line of greeting cards from Sandra Boynton were part of the inspiration for Leigh to start his own greeting card company
  • All of the work "hitting the street" involved in selling greeting cards, including buying space in industry trade shows, having racks built, and making numerous sales calls
  • Learning about industry practices such as retail slotting fees for prime merchandising space in a store
  • The powerful and positive impression made from a series of terrible musical puns that Leigh drew up, and how that led to Leigh's first book, which migrated into three volumes called: Notable Quotes, Encore, and Amusing Arrangements
  • Selling more than 40,000 copies of his books without having a major publisher or distributor for them
  • The evolution of greeting cards to books, books to a book signing, and a book signing to a daily cartoon gig at a local publisher, which eventually led to being a syndicated cartoonist
  • Working through numerous and consistent rejections with the queries that Leigh continued to send out, until finally picking up 150 different newspapers to start carrying his cartoons
  • Why Leigh investigated the college newspaper scene, and the benefit and down-side of that market
  • Discovering Creators Syndicate and the initial nice personal rejection Leigh received from them
  • Leigh's view that not all rejections are a bad thing
  • The pilot episode of a television show that Leigh created with Ryan Johnson (a movie and television show break-away prop maker) called Drawing Inspiration which is a behind-the-scenes look at their weird jobs that depend entirely on creativity
  • How, once the daily blank cartoon sheet is taped down to Leigh's desk, a cartoon must appear, whether it takes 10 minutes or 5 hours.
  • The cancellation of so many events, and migrating into a virtual event, which Leigh had just done the evening before this interview (link in show notes)
  • How two different cartoonists adapted the same topic/theme into different cartoons (as demonstrated on the aforementioned virtual event)
  • The importance of leaving something to the reader's imagination in humor
  • Why big brands should support artists instead of only sports stars because they are constantly running marathons
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview, Mark reflects Leigh's discipiline of sitting at the empty page for 5 minutes or 5 hours, whatever it takes, the persistence he showed in the fact of rejection, and looking for specific niche markets to break into with his work.

Mark also shares the opportunity for people who comment on the episode show notes at starkreflections.ca to win one of Leigh's signed books.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews cartoonist Leigh Rubin of Rubes® the internationally syndicated single-panel cartoon that he has been creating since November 1984.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few comments from recent episodes and Twitter, and the says a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In his personal update, Mark shares:

  • What he is doing on the Obsessions anthology project
  • A forthcoming $0.99 price-drop promo for Stowe Away, the latest release in his Canadian Werewolf series.
  • How he "met" Leigh after creating a short dad joke video entitled "Dramatic Exit" inspired by one of his Rubes® cartoons.

In their conversation, Mark and Leigh talk about:

  • The two things that Leigh excelled at in Kindergaten. Napping and cartooning.
  • Pushing the boundaries in his cartoons from those earliest days.
  • The encouragement received from his third grade teacher, Mrs. Mullin.
  • The two kinds of people an artist usually remembers: the people who encourage you, and the people who don't
  • How seeing a line of greeting cards from Sandra Boynton were part of the inspiration for Leigh to start his own greeting card company
  • All of the work "hitting the street" involved in selling greeting cards, including buying space in industry trade shows, having racks built, and making numerous sales calls
  • Learning about industry practices such as retail slotting fees for prime merchandising space in a store
  • The powerful and positive impression made from a series of terrible musical puns that Leigh drew up, and how that led to Leigh's first book, which migrated into three volumes called: Notable Quotes, Encore, and Amusing Arrangements
  • Selling more than 40,000 copies of his books without having a major publisher or distributor for them
  • The evolution of greeting cards to books, books to a book signing, and a book signing to a daily cartoon gig at a local publisher, which eventually led to being a syndicated cartoonist
  • Working through numerous and consistent rejections with the queries that Leigh continued to send out, until finally picking up 150 different newspapers to start carrying his cartoons
  • Why Leigh investigated the college newspaper scene, and the benefit and down-side of that market
  • Discovering Creators Syndicate and the initial nice personal rejection Leigh received from them
  • Leigh's view that not all rejections are a bad thing
  • The pilot episode of a television show that Leigh created with Ryan Johnson (a movie and television show break-away prop maker) called Drawing Inspiration which is a behind-the-scenes look at their weird jobs that depend entirely on creativity
  • How, once the daily blank cartoon sheet is taped down to Leigh's desk, a cartoon must appear, whether it takes 10 minutes or 5 hours.
  • The cancellation of so many events, and migrating into a virtual event, which Leigh had just done the evening before this interview (link in show notes)
  • How two different cartoonists adapted the same topic/theme into different cartoons (as demonstrated on the aforementioned virtual event)
  • The importance of leaving something to the reader's imagination in humor
  • Why big brands should support artists instead of only sports stars because they are constantly running marathons
  • And more . . .

After the interview, Mark reflects Leigh's discipiline of sitting at the empty page for 5 minutes or 5 hours, whatever it takes, the persistence he showed in the fact of rejection, and looking for specific niche markets to break into with his work.

Mark also shares the opportunity for people who comment on the episode show notes at starkreflections.ca to win one of Leigh's signed books.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:12:04 false 3 152 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews cartoonist Leigh Rubin of Rubes® the internationally syndicated single-panel cartoon that he has been creating since November 1984. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few comments from recent episodes and Twitter, and the says a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark shares: What he is doing on the Obsessions anthology project A forthcoming $0.99 price-drop promo for Stowe Away, the latest release in his Canadian Werewolf series. How he "met" Leigh after creating a short dad joke video entitled "Dramatic Exit" inspired by one of his Rubes® cartoons. In their conversation, Mark and Leigh talk about: The two things that Leigh excelled at in Kindergaten. Napping and cartooning. Pushing the boundaries in his cartoons from those earliest days. The encouragement received from his third grade teacher, Mrs. Mullin. The two kinds of people an artist usually remembers: the people who encourage you, and the people who don't How seeing a line of greeting cards from Sandra Boynton were part of the inspiration for Leigh to start his own greeting card company All of the work "hitting the street" involved in selling greeting cards, including buying space in industry trade shows, having racks built, and making numerous sales calls Learning about industry practices such as retail slotting fees for prime merchandising space in a store The powerful and positive impression made from a series of terrible musical puns that Leigh drew up, and how that led to Leigh's first book, which migrated into three volumes called: Notable Quotes, Encore, and Amusing Arrangements Selling more than 40,000 copies of his books without having a major publisher or distributor for them The evolution of greeting cards to books, books to a book signing, and a book signing to a daily cartoon gig at a local publisher, which eventually led to being a syndicated cartoonist Working through numerous and consistent rejections with the queries that Leigh continued to send out, until finally picking up 150 different newspapers to start carrying his cartoons Why Leigh investigated the college newspaper scene, and the benefit and down-side of that market Discovering Creators Syndicate and the initial nice personal rejection Leigh received from them Leigh's view that not all rejections are a bad thing The pilot episode of a television show that Leigh created with Ryan Johnson (a movie and television show break-away prop maker) called Drawing Inspiration which is a behind-the-scenes look at their weird jobs that depend entirely on creativity How, once the daily blank cartoon sheet is taped down to Leigh's desk, a cartoon must appear, whether it takes 10 minutes or 5 hours. The cancellation of so many events, and migrating into a virtual event, which Leigh had just done the evening before this interview (link in show notes) How two different cartoonists adapted the same topic/theme into different cartoons (as demonstrated on the aforementioned virtual event) The importance of leaving something to the reader's imagination in humor Why big brands should support artists instead of only sports stars because they are constantly running marathons And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects Leigh's discipiline of sitting at the empty page for 5 minutes or 5 hours, whatever it takes, the persistence he showed in the fact of rejection, and looking for specific niche markets to break into with his work. Mark also shares the opportunity for people who comment on the episode show notes at starkreflections.ca to win one of Leigh's signed books.   Links of Interest: Leigh Rubin's Website Rubes Cartoons Facebook Rubes Cartoons Instagram Rubes Cartoons Twitter Drawing Inspiration - Pilot Episode When Cartoon Worlds Collide Dramatic Exit - Short Dad Joke Film inspired by Leigh's cartoon Episode 151 - Wellness, Well Played with Jennifer Buchanan Mark's Feed The Obsession Kickstarter Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews cartoonist Leigh Rubin of Rubes® the internationally syndicated single-panel cartoon that he has been creating since November 1984. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few comments from recent episodes and Twitter, and the says a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark shares: What he is doing on the Obsessions anthology project A forthcoming $0.99 price-drop promo for Stowe Away, the latest release in his Canadian Werewolf series. How he "met" Leigh after creating a short dad joke video entitled "Dramatic Exit" inspired by one of his Rubes® cartoons. In their conversation, Mark and Leigh talk about: The two things that Leigh excelled at in Kindergaten. Napping and cartooning. Pushing the boundaries in his cartoons from those earliest days. The encouragement received from his third grade teacher, Mrs. Mullin. The two kinds of people an artist usually remembers: the people who encourage you, and the people who don't How seeing a line of greeting cards from Sandra Boynton were part of the inspiration for Leigh to start his own greeting card company All of the work "hitting the street" involved in selling greeting cards, including buying space in industry trade shows, having racks built, and making numerous sales calls Learning about industry practices such as retail slotting fees for prime merchandising space in a store The powerful and positive impression made from a series of terrible musical puns that Leigh drew up, and how that led to Leigh's first book, which migrated into three volumes called: Notable Quotes, Encore, and Amusing Arrangements Selling more than 40,000 copies of his books without having a major publisher or distributor for them The evolution of greeting cards to books, books to a book signing, and a book signing to a daily cartoon gig at a local publisher, which eventually led to being a syndicated cartoonist Working through numerous and consistent rejections with the queries that Leigh continued to send out, until finally picking up 150 different newspapers to start carrying his cartoons Why Leigh investigated the college newspaper scene, and the benefit and down-side of that market Discovering Creators Syndicate and the initial nice personal rejection Leigh received from them Leigh's view that not all rejections are a bad thing The pilot episode of a television show that Leigh created with Ryan Johnson (a movie and television show break-away prop maker) called Drawing Inspiration which is a behind-the-scenes look at their weird jobs that depend entirely on creativity How, once the daily blank cartoon sheet is taped down to Leigh's desk, a cartoon must appear, whether it takes 10 minutes or 5 hours. The cancellation of so many events, and migrating into a virtual event, which Leigh had just done the evening before this interview (link in show notes) How two different cartoonists adapted the same topic/theme into different cartoons (as demonstrated on the aforementioned virtual event) The importance of leaving something to the reader's imagination in humor Why big brands should support artists instead of only sports stars because they are constantly running marathons And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects Leigh's discipiline of sitting at the empty page for 5 minutes or 5 hours, whatever it takes, the persistence he showed in the fact of rejection, and looking for specific niche markets to break into with his work. Mark also shares the opportunity for people who comment on the episode show notes at starkreflections.ca to win one of Leigh's signed books.   Links of Interest: Leigh Rubin's Website Rubes Cartoons Facebook Rubes Cartoons Instagram Rubes Cartoons Twitter Drawing Inspiration - Pilot Episode When Cartoon Worlds Collide Dramatic Exit - Short Dad Joke Film inspired by Leigh's cartoon Episode 151 - Wellness, Well Played with Jennifer Buchanan Mark's Feed The Obsession Kickstarter Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 151 - Wellness, Well Played with Jennifer Buchanan Wellness, Well Played with Jennifer Buchanan Fri, 04 Sep 2020 01:32:12 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Jennifer Buchanan, President and founder of JB Music Therapy about the role music has played in her life, as well as the life-altering moment that inspired the creation of her company which uses music to help others.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, including who the winners are of Michael Arterberry's book from Episode 147, as well as a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In his personal update, Mark shares:

  • Info about a couple of episodes he shared for patrons of the show (a reflections on other podcasts where he shares a clip from and talks about Episode 190 of The Writer's Well with Rachael Herron and J. Thorn (both have been guests on previous episodes of this podcast)
  • An update on the progress made from his recent booklaunch, with the push on the free "first book" in series and the slowly growing sales of the next two books in his Canadian Werewolf series.
  • How Amazon screwed up the great track record for the downloads of the price-matched free first in series title
  • Having had success in getting more than 7000 words written in the past week (after a previous extended dry spell of writing) - this writing is for Lover's Moon, another title in the Canadian Werewolf series.
  • An update on the Obsessions Kickstarter that has reached 153% of its funding goal and is almost halfway to the first stretch goal.

During their conversation, Mark and Jennifer discuss:

  • Jennifer's introduction to music and which instrument she prefers as the most beautiful instrument
  • The experience of hearing the same song via different singers and the uniqueness of the emotional resonance in the listener
  • The underlying biological impact music can have on us
  • The human to human connection that music can bring
  • Understanding that there is some music out there that is specific to you, and might not resonate the same way with others
  • The backstory of Jennifer's music therapy business and how it ties back in to a life-altering moment with her grandfather
  • How, when she was a child, Jennifer was the kind of kid who loved doing special projects
  • The age range of Jennifer's clients and the kinds of therapies that are popular with clients
  • An annual music festival a friend of Jennifer's runs called Farmstock, and how it had to change significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic
  • Jennifer's advice about the creation of a life playlist
  • Wellness Incorporated, Jennifer's most recent book and how it became a bridge between being a music therapist and having to be an entrepreneur
  • Getting an MBA a couple of decades after starting her business
  • And more . . .

 

After the interview Mark reflects on the way music can bring people together and find strong bonds of commonality. He also reflects on the concept of a biographical playlist, and suggests writers might consider the theme music that might play when a character walks into a scene as an interesting exercise for writers.

Links of Interest:

 

Jennifer Buchanan is an award-winning author and clinician.

Described as inspirational, engaging, and thought-provoking, Jennifer's keynotes provide practical strategies, grounded in global research and case studies, that help foster improved well-being within ourselves, our workplaces, and throughout our community.

Jennifer's company JB Music Therapy has been instrumental in the implementation of hundreds of music therapy programs throughout Canada for almost 30 years and has been thrice nominated for the Community Impact Award by the Chamber of Commerce.  Jennifer is the recipient of the two most prestigious Canadian music therapy lifetime service awards: the Franni Award and the Norma Sharpe Award.

She has served as the President for the Canadian Association of Music Therapists for 5 years and has been an invited keynote speaker at national and international conventions speaking on music therapy and health entrepreneurship to a wide variety of education, healthcare, government, small business, and corporate audiences.

As an author of two award-winning books – 'Tune In' and 'Wellness Incorporated' she has appeared as a guest on numerous news and current affairs programs including Fox News Health, NBC, CBS, CBC Radio, CBC Television, CTV, Global TV, and has been featured in publications such as The Guardian, The Huffington Post, Chatelaine Magazine and Canadian Living (read articles and view videos here)

In addition to her Music Therapy education Jennifer has her Executive MBA specializing in social entrepreneurship from the University of Fredricton.  

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Jennifer Buchanan, President and founder of JB Music Therapy about the role music has played in her life, as well as the life-altering moment that inspired the creation of her company which uses music to help others.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, including who the winners are of Michael Arterberry's book from Episode 147, as well as a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In his personal update, Mark shares:

  • Info about a couple of episodes he shared for patrons of the show (a reflections on other podcasts where he shares a clip from and talks about Episode 190 of The Writer's Well with Rachael Herron and J. Thorn (both have been guests on previous episodes of this podcast)
  • An update on the progress made from his recent booklaunch, with the push on the free "first book" in series and the slowly growing sales of the next two books in his Canadian Werewolf series.
  • How Amazon screwed up the great track record for the downloads of the price-matched free first in series title
  • Having had success in getting more than 7000 words written in the past week (after a previous extended dry spell of writing) - this writing is for Lover's Moon, another title in the Canadian Werewolf series.
  • An update on the Obsessions Kickstarter that has reached 153% of its funding goal and is almost halfway to the first stretch goal.

During their conversation, Mark and Jennifer discuss:

  • Jennifer's introduction to music and which instrument she prefers as the most beautiful instrument
  • The experience of hearing the same song via different singers and the uniqueness of the emotional resonance in the listener
  • The underlying biological impact music can have on us
  • The human to human connection that music can bring
  • Understanding that there is some music out there that is specific to you, and might not resonate the same way with others
  • The backstory of Jennifer's music therapy business and how it ties back in to a life-altering moment with her grandfather
  • How, when she was a child, Jennifer was the kind of kid who loved doing special projects
  • The age range of Jennifer's clients and the kinds of therapies that are popular with clients
  • An annual music festival a friend of Jennifer's runs called Farmstock, and how it had to change significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic
  • Jennifer's advice about the creation of a life playlist
  • Wellness Incorporated, Jennifer's most recent book and how it became a bridge between being a music therapist and having to be an entrepreneur
  • Getting an MBA a couple of decades after starting her business
  • And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the way music can bring people together and find strong bonds of commonality. He also reflects on the concept of a biographical playlist, and suggests writers might consider the theme music that might play when a character walks into a scene as an interesting exercise for writers.

Links of Interest:

Jennifer Buchanan is an award-winning author and clinician.

Described as inspirational, engaging, and thought-provoking, Jennifer's keynotes provide practical strategies, grounded in global research and case studies, that help foster improved well-being within ourselves, our workplaces, and throughout our community.

Jennifer's company JB Music Therapy has been instrumental in the implementation of hundreds of music therapy programs throughout Canada for almost 30 years and has been thrice nominated for the Community Impact Award by the Chamber of Commerce. Jennifer is the recipient of the two most prestigious Canadian music therapy lifetime service awards: the Franni Award and the Norma Sharpe Award.

She has served as the President for the Canadian Association of Music Therapists for 5 years and has been an invited keynote speaker at national and international conventions speaking on music therapy and health entrepreneurship to a wide variety of education, healthcare, government, small business, and corporate audiences.

As an author of two award-winning books – 'Tune In' and 'Wellness Incorporated' she has appeared as a guest on numerous news and current affairs programs including Fox News Health, NBC, CBS, CBC Radio, CBC Television, CTV, Global TV, and has been featured in publications such as The Guardian, The Huffington Post, Chatelaine Magazine and Canadian Living (read articles and view videos here)

In addition to her Music Therapy education Jennifer has her Executive MBA specializing in social entrepreneurship from the University of Fredricton.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 55:58 false 3 151 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Jennifer Buchanan, President and founder of JB Music Therapy about the role music has played in her life, as well as the life-altering moment that inspired the creation of her company which uses music to help others. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, including who the winners are of Michael Arterberry's book from Episode 147, as well as a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark shares: Info about a couple of episodes he shared for patrons of the show (a reflections on other podcasts where he shares a clip from and talks about Episode 190 of The Writer's Well with Rachael Herron and J. Thorn (both have been guests on previous episodes of this podcast) An update on the progress made from his recent booklaunch, with the push on the free "first book" in series and the slowly growing sales of the next two books in his Canadian Werewolf series. How Amazon screwed up the great track record for the downloads of the price-matched free first in series title Having had success in getting more than 7000 words written in the past week (after a previous extended dry spell of writing) - this writing is for Lover's Moon, another title in the Canadian Werewolf series. An update on the Obsessions Kickstarter that has reached 153% of its funding goal and is almost halfway to the first stretch goal. During their conversation, Mark and Jennifer discuss: Jennifer's introduction to music and which instrument she prefers as the most beautiful instrument The experience of hearing the same song via different singers and the uniqueness of the emotional resonance in the listener The underlying biological impact music can have on us The human to human connection that music can bring Understanding that there is some music out there that is specific to you, and might not resonate the same way with others The backstory of Jennifer's music therapy business and how it ties back in to a life-altering moment with her grandfather How, when she was a child, Jennifer was the kind of kid who loved doing special projects The age range of Jennifer's clients and the kinds of therapies that are popular with clients An annual music festival a friend of Jennifer's runs called Farmstock, and how it had to change significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic Jennifer's advice about the creation of a life playlist Wellness Incorporated, Jennifer's most recent book and how it became a bridge between being a music therapist and having to be an entrepreneur Getting an MBA a couple of decades after starting her business And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the way music can bring people together and find strong bonds of commonality. He also reflects on the concept of a biographical playlist, and suggests writers might consider the theme music that might play when a character walks into a scene as an interesting exercise for writers. Links of Interest: Jennifer Buchanan's Website Jennifer's Social Media Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Instagram JB Music Therapy JB Music Social Media: Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Episode 150 -Anatomy of a Book Launch Episode 149 - Killing it on Kickstarter with Russell Nohelty Episode 147 - Master Encourager Michael Arterberry Mark's Feed The Obsession Kickstarter Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Jennifer Buchanan is an award-winning author and clinician. Described as inspirational, engaging, and thought-provoking, Jennifer's keynotes provide practical strategies, grounded in global research and case studies, that help foster improved well-being within ourselves, our workplaces, and throughout our community. Jennifer's company JB Music Therapy has been instrumental in the implementation of hundreds of music therapy programs throughout Canada for almost 30 years and has been thrice nominated for the Community Impact Award by the Chamber of Commerce.  Jennifer is the recipient of the two most prestigious Canadian music therapy lifetime service awards: the Franni Award and the Norma Sharpe Award. She has served as the President for the Canadian Association of Music Therapists for 5 years and has been an invited keynote speaker at national and international conventions speaking on music therapy and health entrepreneurship to a wide variety of education, healthcare, government, small business, and corporate audiences. As an author of two award-winning books – 'Tune In' and 'Wellness Incorporated' she has appeared as a guest on numerous news and current affairs programs including Fox News Health, NBC, CBS, CBC Radio, CBC Television, CTV, Global TV, and has been featured in publications such as The Guardian, The Huffington Post, Chatelaine Magazine and Canadian Living (read articles and view videos here) In addition to her Music Therapy education Jennifer has her Executive MBA specializing in social entrepreneurship from the University of Fredricton.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this episode Mark interviews Jennifer Buchanan, President and founder of JB Music Therapy about the role music has played in her life, as well as the life-altering moment that inspired the creation of her company which uses music to help others. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, including who the winners are of Michael Arterberry's book from Episode 147, as well as a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark shares: Info about a couple of episodes he shared for patrons of the show (a reflections on other podcasts where he shares a clip from and talks about Episode 190 of The Writer's Well with Rachael Herron and J. Thorn (both have been guests on previous episodes of this podcast) An update on the progress made from his recent booklaunch, with the push on the free "first book" in series and the slowly growing sales of the next two books in his Canadian Werewolf series. How Amazon screwed up the great track record for the downloads of the price-matched free first in series title Having had success in getting more than 7000 words written in the past week (after a previous extended dry spell of writing) - this writing is for Lover's Moon, another title in the Canadian Werewolf series. An update on the Obsessions Kickstarter that has reached 153% of its funding goal and is almost halfway to the first stretch goal. During their conversation, Mark and Jennifer discuss: Jennifer's introduction to music and which instrument she prefers as the most beautiful instrument The experience of hearing the same song via different singers and the uniqueness of the emotional resonance in the listener The underlying biological impact music can have on us The human to human connection that music can bring Understanding that there is some music out there that is specific to you, and might not resonate the same way with others The backstory of Jennifer's music therapy business and how it ties back in to a life-altering moment with her grandfather How, when she was a child, Jennifer was the kind of kid who loved doing special projects The age range of Jennifer's clients and the kinds of therapies that are popular with clients An annual music festival a friend of Jennifer's runs called Farmstock, and how it had to change significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic Jennifer's advice about the creation of a life playlist Wellness Incorporated, Jennifer's most recent book and how it became a bridge between being a music therapist and having to be an entrepreneur Getting an MBA a couple of decades after starting her business And more . . .   After the interview Mark reflects on the way music can bring people together and find strong bonds of commonality. He also reflects on the concept of a biographical playlist, and suggests writers might consider the theme music that might play when a character walks into a scene as an interesting exercise for writers. Links of Interest: Jennifer Buchanan's Website Jennifer's Social Media Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Instagram JB Music Therapy JB Music Social Media: Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Episode 150 -Anatomy of a Book Launch Episode 149 - Killing it on Kickstarter with Russell Nohelty Episode 147 - Master Encourager Michael Arterberry Mark's Feed The Obsession Kickstarter Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Books2Read Draft2Digital Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections   Jennifer Buchanan is an award-winning author and clinician. Described as inspirational, engaging, and thought-provoking, Jennifer's keynotes provide practical strategies, grounded in global research and case studies, that help foster improved well-being within ourselves, our workplaces, and throughout our community. Jennifer's company JB Music Therapy has been instrumental in the implementation of hundreds of music therapy programs throughout Canada for almost 30 years and has been thrice nominated for the Community Impact Award by the Chamber of Commerce.  Jennifer is the recipient of the two most prestigious Canadian music therapy lifetime service awards: the Franni Award and the Norma Sharpe Award. She has served as the President for the Canadian Association of Music Therapists for 5 years and has been an invited keynote speaker at national and international conventions speaking on music therapy and health entrepreneurship to a wide variety of education, healthcare, government, small business, and corporate audiences. As an author of two award-winning books – 'Tune In' and 'Wellness Incorporated' she has appeared as a guest on numerous news and current affairs programs including Fox News Health, NBC, CBS, CBC Radio, CBC Television, CTV, Global TV, and has been featured in publications such as The Guardian, The Huffington Post, Chatelaine Magazine and Canadian Living (read articles and view videos here) In addition to her Music Therapy education Jennifer has her Executive MBA specializing in social entrepreneurship from the University of Fredricton.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 150 - Anatomy of a Book Launch Anatomy of a Book Launch Fri, 28 Aug 2020 02:37:04 +0000 In this episode, Mark shares the details of a recent book launch, including the series re-branding, the promotion efforts taken in the metadata, the third party promotion sites used, and also shares the good, the bad, and the ugly of the results.

Prior to his personal update and the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In his personal update, Mark shares details about the Kickstarter that he launched on August 25, 2020 called Feed the Obsession, as well as the advice he took from Russell Nohelty (Episode 149's guest), and what advice he didn't employ. Mark's Kickstarter funded in less than 48 hours, and he is now working on the stretch goals.

In his anatomy of a book launch, AKA anatomy of a series re-launch, Mark shares information in the following areas:

  • A Brief history of the stories/books in the "Canadian Werewolf" series
  • Why he went with the re-branding and new covers
  • The actual launch - and multi-product approach he took to release all titles in eBook, Trade Paperback, Hardcover, and Audiobook
  • The Launch related promotions he purchased (including sites like Freebooksy, Fussy Librarian, and others)
  • Goals and disclaimers about his expectations for the promo and short-term VS long-term
  • Results so far (1 week and 2 days in)
  • Other promotional activities such as a virtual book launch, sending out press releases, and one-sheets to libraries

 

Links of Interest:

 

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

 

 

]]> In this episode, Mark shares the details of a recent book launch, including the series re-branding, the promotion efforts taken in the metadata, the third party promotion sites used, and also shares the good, the bad, and the ugly of the results.

Prior to his personal update and the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In his personal update, Mark shares details about the Kickstarter that he launched on August 25, 2020 called Feed the Obsession, as well as the advice he took from Russell Nohelty (Episode 149's guest), and what advice he didn't employ. Mark's Kickstarter funded in less than 48 hours, and he is now working on the stretch goals.

In his anatomy of a book launch, AKA anatomy of a series re-launch, Mark shares information in the following areas:

  • A Brief history of the stories/books in the "Canadian Werewolf" series
  • Why he went with the re-branding and new covers
  • The actual launch - and multi-product approach he took to release all titles in eBook, Trade Paperback, Hardcover, and Audiobook
  • The Launch related promotions he purchased (including sites like Freebooksy, Fussy Librarian, and others)
  • Goals and disclaimers about his expectations for the promo and short-term VS long-term
  • Results so far (1 week and 2 days in)
  • Other promotional activities such as a virtual book launch, sending out press releases, and one-sheets to libraries

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:01:36 false 3 150 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark shares the details of a recent book launch, including the series re-branding, the promotion efforts taken in the metadata, the third party promotion sites used, and also shares the good, the bad, and the ugly of the results. Prior to his personal update and the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark shares details about the Kickstarter that he launched on August 25, 2020 called Feed the Obsession, as well as the advice he took from Russell Nohelty (Episode 149's guest), and what advice he didn't employ. Mark's Kickstarter funded in less than 48 hours, and he is now working on the stretch goals. In his anatomy of a book launch, AKA anatomy of a series re-launch, Mark shares information in the following areas: A Brief history of the stories/books in the "Canadian Werewolf" series Why he went with the re-branding and new covers The actual launch - and multi-product approach he took to release all titles in eBook, Trade Paperback, Hardcover, and Audiobook The Launch related promotions he purchased (including sites like Freebooksy, Fussy Librarian, and others) Goals and disclaimers about his expectations for the promo and short-term VS long-term Results so far (1 week and 2 days in) Other promotional activities such as a virtual book launch, sending out press releases, and one-sheets to libraries   Links of Interest: Episode 149 - Killing it on Kickstarter with Russell Nohelty Mark's Feed The Obsession Kickstarter Space 1975 Kickstarter (Robert Jeschonek) Mark's Virtual Book Launch for Stowe Away (YouTube) Video Trailer for Stowe Away (YouTube) This Time Around: A Canadian Werewolf Story - Teaser (YouTube) Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) 927 Rock Sudbury - This Werewolf is a Super Hero Sudbury Star: Author reflects on how Sudbury shaped his latest book Findaway Voices Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    In this episode, Mark shares the details of a recent book launch, including the series re-branding, the promotion efforts taken in the metadata, the third party promotion sites used, and also shares the good, the bad, and the ugly of the results. Prior to his personal update and the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark shares details about the Kickstarter that he launched on August 25, 2020 called Feed the Obsession, as well as the advice he took from Russell Nohelty (Episode 149's guest), and what advice he didn't employ. Mark's Kickstarter funded in less than 48 hours, and he is now working on the stretch goals. In his anatomy of a book launch, AKA anatomy of a series re-launch, Mark shares information in the following areas: A Brief history of the stories/books in the "Canadian Werewolf" series Why he went with the re-branding and new covers The actual launch - and multi-product approach he took to release all titles in eBook, Trade Paperback, Hardcover, and Audiobook The Launch related promotions he purchased (including sites like Freebooksy, Fussy Librarian, and others) Goals and disclaimers about his expectations for the promo and short-term VS long-term Results so far (1 week and 2 days in) Other promotional activities such as a virtual book launch, sending out press releases, and one-sheets to libraries   Links of Interest: Episode 149 - Killing it on Kickstarter with Russell Nohelty Mark's Feed The Obsession Kickstarter Space 1975 Kickstarter (Robert Jeschonek) Mark's Virtual Book Launch for Stowe Away (YouTube) Video Trailer for Stowe Away (YouTube) This Time Around: A Canadian Werewolf Story - Teaser (YouTube) Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) 927 Rock Sudbury - This Werewolf is a Super Hero Sudbury Star: Author reflects on how Sudbury shaped his latest book Findaway Voices Wide for the Win Submission Form Patreon for Stark Reflections     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 149 - Killing it on Kickstarter with Russell Nohelty Killing it on Kickstarter with Russell Nohelty Fri, 21 Aug 2020 02:22:02 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Russell Nohelty about writing scripts, comics, novels, editing, publishing, and his work optimizing Kickstarter campaigns to raise revenue and connect with fans.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark then shares comments from recent episodes and a personal update.

 

In their conversation, Mark and Russell talk about:

  • How Russell got into writing because he was never told he couldn't pursue the things he was interested in doing
  • Russell's high school work in theatre, writing and working on plays; taking broadcast journalism in college, and his experiences writing and shooting his own short films
  • How getting into a car accident and being unable to do the full film production tasks (except for writing), that funneled Russell into focusing on writing - one of the only things he could do while recovering
  • Being re-introduced to comics after a long hiatus of not reading them
  • How writing and creating comics led to novels and Russell's production company
  • The difference between writing a movie script and a comic script
  • The difference between writing comics and writing novels
  • How comic writers and comic artists connect and collaborate
  • The significant cost involved in indie comic publishing (especially when compared to indie novel publishing)
  • The long term sales Russell has seen selling indie comics - ie, with strong and ongoing backlist sales
  • How Russell's production company started because he wasn't impressed with some of the other companies he'd been working with
  • The origin of the name Wannabe Press
  • Two of the main "norms" in indie comic publishing: Doing Comic-Cons and doing Kickstaters
  • How it's a lot easier to make the couple of thousand dollars needed to ensure a novel pays off on Kickstarter (with the average spend being between $25 and $30 for about 100 people) - which leads to $3000. As opposed to having to sell 1000 copies of a low priced eBook to earn the same amount.
  • One of the great things about Kickstarter is the access you have, after a campaign funds, to the community that supported you
  • How, in a little over 6 months, Russell has raised over $50,000 from three different Kickstarter campaigns with no advertising spend
  • Messaging daily about his Kickstarter campaigns, and how Russell has never received complaints from people who are actually supporting him and buying his books - he only receives complaints from those who AREN'T buying.
  • The importance of building and leveraging a community before you launch a Kickstarter campaign
  • The fact that many thousands of people buy Russell's books, but a much smaller number of people actually help him create those books in the first place
  • How, on Kickstarter, people aren't just buying your book, they are investing in you as a creator and artist they believe in
  • The most common and blatant errors that people make on Kickstarter
  • The importance of starting with the WHY in your Kickstarter campaigns
  • Why you should always have something that people can download immediately
  • The value of always having something that people can offer just a single dollar
  • And more . . .

After the interview, Mark reflects on Russell's comment that earning $500 on a Kickstarter might look like a failure, but it's actually a huge success, especially when compared to the typical results of the average book selling on the major retail platforms.

Links of Interest:

 

Russell Nohelty is a USA Today Bestselling author and publisher at Wannabe Press. He's written comic books like Katrina Hates the Dead, Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter, and Pixie Dust, along with more than a dozen novels, including his Godsverse Chronicles. He also edits the Cthulhu is Hard to Spell anthology series. He has raised over $180,000 on Kickstarter across 12 projects, and has a very entertaining newsletter, which you can join at www.russellnohelty.com/mail and get a few of his books for free. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and dogs.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Russell Nohelty about writing scripts, comics, novels, editing, publishing, and his work optimizing Kickstarter campaigns to raise revenue and connect with fans.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark then shares comments from recent episodes and a personal update.

In their conversation, Mark and Russell talk about:

  • How Russell got into writing because he was never told he couldn't pursue the things he was interested in doing
  • Russell's high school work in theatre, writing and working on plays; taking broadcast journalism in college, and his experiences writing and shooting his own short films
  • How getting into a car accident and being unable to do the full film production tasks (except for writing), that funneled Russell into focusing on writing - one of the only things he could do while recovering
  • Being re-introduced to comics after a long hiatus of not reading them
  • How writing and creating comics led to novels and Russell's production company
  • The difference between writing a movie script and a comic script
  • The difference between writing comics and writing novels
  • How comic writers and comic artists connect and collaborate
  • The significant cost involved in indie comic publishing (especially when compared to indie novel publishing)
  • The long term sales Russell has seen selling indie comics - ie, with strong and ongoing backlist sales
  • How Russell's production company started because he wasn't impressed with some of the other companies he'd been working with
  • The origin of the name Wannabe Press
  • Two of the main "norms" in indie comic publishing: Doing Comic-Cons and doing Kickstaters
  • How it's a lot easier to make the couple of thousand dollars needed to ensure a novel pays off on Kickstarter (with the average spend being between $25 and $30 for about 100 people) - which leads to $3000. As opposed to having to sell 1000 copies of a low priced eBook to earn the same amount.
  • One of the great things about Kickstarter is the access you have, after a campaign funds, to the community that supported you
  • How, in a little over 6 months, Russell has raised over $50,000 from three different Kickstarter campaigns with no advertising spend
  • Messaging daily about his Kickstarter campaigns, and how Russell has never received complaints from people who are actually supporting him and buying his books - he only receives complaints from those who AREN'T buying.
  • The importance of building and leveraging a community before you launch a Kickstarter campaign
  • The fact that many thousands of people buy Russell's books, but a much smaller number of people actually help him create those books in the first place
  • How, on Kickstarter, people aren't just buying your book, they are investing in you as a creator and artist they believe in
  • The most common and blatant errors that people make on Kickstarter
  • The importance of starting with the WHY in your Kickstarter campaigns
  • Why you should always have something that people can download immediately
  • The value of always having something that people can offer just a single dollar
  • And more . . .

After the interview, Mark reflects on Russell's comment that earning $500 on a Kickstarter might look like a failure, but it's actually a huge success, especially when compared to the typical results of the average book selling on the major retail platforms.

Links of Interest:

Russell Nohelty is a USA Today Bestselling author and publisher at Wannabe Press. He's written comic books like Katrina Hates the Dead, Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter, and Pixie Dust, along with more than a dozen novels, including his Godsverse Chronicles. He also edits the Cthulhu is Hard to Spell anthology series. He has raised over $180,000 on Kickstarter across 12 projects, and has a very entertaining newsletter, which you can join at www.russellnohelty.com/mail and get a few of his books for free. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and dogs.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:24:29 false 3 149 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Russell Nohelty about writing scripts, comics, novels, editing, publishing, and his work optimizing Kickstarter campaigns to raise revenue and connect with fans. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark then shares comments from recent episodes and a personal update.   In their conversation, Mark and Russell talk about: How Russell got into writing because he was never told he couldn't pursue the things he was interested in doing Russell's high school work in theatre, writing and working on plays; taking broadcast journalism in college, and his experiences writing and shooting his own short films How getting into a car accident and being unable to do the full film production tasks (except for writing), that funneled Russell into focusing on writing - one of the only things he could do while recovering Being re-introduced to comics after a long hiatus of not reading them How writing and creating comics led to novels and Russell's production company The difference between writing a movie script and a comic script The difference between writing comics and writing novels How comic writers and comic artists connect and collaborate The significant cost involved in indie comic publishing (especially when compared to indie novel publishing) The long term sales Russell has seen selling indie comics - ie, with strong and ongoing backlist sales How Russell's production company started because he wasn't impressed with some of the other companies he'd been working with The origin of the name Wannabe Press Two of the main "norms" in indie comic publishing: Doing Comic-Cons and doing Kickstaters How it's a lot easier to make the couple of thousand dollars needed to ensure a novel pays off on Kickstarter (with the average spend being between $25 and $30 for about 100 people) - which leads to $3000. As opposed to having to sell 1000 copies of a low priced eBook to earn the same amount. One of the great things about Kickstarter is the access you have, after a campaign funds, to the community that supported you How, in a little over 6 months, Russell has raised over $50,000 from three different Kickstarter campaigns with no advertising spend Messaging daily about his Kickstarter campaigns, and how Russell has never received complaints from people who are actually supporting him and buying his books - he only receives complaints from those who AREN'T buying. The importance of building and leveraging a community before you launch a Kickstarter campaign The fact that many thousands of people buy Russell's books, but a much smaller number of people actually help him create those books in the first place How, on Kickstarter, people aren't just buying your book, they are investing in you as a creator and artist they believe in The most common and blatant errors that people make on Kickstarter The importance of starting with the WHY in your Kickstarter campaigns Why you should always have something that people can download immediately The value of always having something that people can offer just a single dollar And more . . . After the interview, Mark reflects on Russell's comment that earning $500 on a Kickstarter might look like a failure, but it's actually a huge success, especially when compared to the typical results of the average book selling on the major retail platforms. Links of Interest: Russell Nohelty's Website The Complete Creative: Kickstarter Russell's Forthcoming Kickstarter Wide for the Win Submission Form Mark's Feed The Obsession Kickstarter EP 148 - AI Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn EP 139 - Dreaming, Singing, and Moving People with Ashley Joanisse EP 116 - Taking the Short Tack with Matty Dalrymple Spirits Untapped Mark Parody Videos Stuck in This House Here with You Mark's Tavern (Cheers Parody) K-Tel Parody: Isolation Hits You Call Me Fever (Parody of "Fever" in mispronunciation of Lefebvre) Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Russell Nohelty is a USA Today Bestselling author and publisher at Wannabe Press. He's written comic books like Katrina Hates the Dead, Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter, and Pixie Dust, along with more than a dozen novels, including his Godsverse Chronicles. He also edits the Cthulhu is Hard to Spell anthology series. He has raised over $180,000 on Kickstarter across 12 projects, and has a very entertaining newsletter, which you can join at www.russellnohelty.com/mail and get a few of his books for free. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and dogs. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Russell Nohelty about writing scripts, comics, novels, editing, publishing, and his work optimizing Kickstarter campaigns to raise revenue and connect with fans. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark then shares comments from recent episodes and a personal update.   In their conversation, Mark and Russell talk about: How Russell got into writing because he was never told he couldn't pursue the things he was interested in doing Russell's high school work in theatre, writing and working on plays; taking broadcast journalism in college, and his experiences writing and shooting his own short films How getting into a car accident and being unable to do the full film production tasks (except for writing), that funneled Russell into focusing on writing - one of the only things he could do while recovering Being re-introduced to comics after a long hiatus of not reading them How writing and creating comics led to novels and Russell's production company The difference between writing a movie script and a comic script The difference between writing comics and writing novels How comic writers and comic artists connect and collaborate The significant cost involved in indie comic publishing (especially when compared to indie novel publishing) The long term sales Russell has seen selling indie comics - ie, with strong and ongoing backlist sales How Russell's production company started because he wasn't impressed with some of the other companies he'd been working with The origin of the name Wannabe Press Two of the main "norms" in indie comic publishing: Doing Comic-Cons and doing Kickstaters How it's a lot easier to make the couple of thousand dollars needed to ensure a novel pays off on Kickstarter (with the average spend being between $25 and $30 for about 100 people) - which leads to $3000. As opposed to having to sell 1000 copies of a low priced eBook to earn the same amount. One of the great things about Kickstarter is the access you have, after a campaign funds, to the community that supported you How, in a little over 6 months, Russell has raised over $50,000 from three different Kickstarter campaigns with no advertising spend Messaging daily about his Kickstarter campaigns, and how Russell has never received complaints from people who are actually supporting him and buying his books - he only receives complaints from those who AREN'T buying. The importance of building and leveraging a community before you launch a Kickstarter campaign The fact that many thousands of people buy Russell's books, but a much smaller number of people actually help him create those books in the first place How, on Kickstarter, people aren't just buying your book, they are investing in you as a creator and artist they believe in The most common and blatant errors that people make on Kickstarter The importance of starting with the WHY in your Kickstarter campaigns Why you should always have something that people can download immediately The value of always having something that people can offer just a single dollar And more . . . After the interview, Mark reflects on Russell's comment that earning $500 on a Kickstarter might look like a failure, but it's actually a huge success, especially when compared to the typical results of the average book selling on the major retail platforms. Links of Interest: Russell Nohelty's Website The Complete Creative: Kickstarter Russell's Forthcoming Kickstarter Wide for the Win Submission Form Mark's Feed The Obsession Kickstarter EP 148 - AI Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn EP 139 - Dreaming, Singing, and Moving People with Ashley Joanisse EP 116 - Taking the Short Tack with Matty Dalrymple Spirits Untapped Mark Parody Videos Stuck in This House Here with You Mark's Tavern (Cheers Parody) K-Tel Parody: Isolation Hits You Call Me Fever (Parody of "Fever" in mispronunciation of Lefebvre) Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Russell Nohelty is a USA Today Bestselling author and publisher at Wannabe Press. He's written comic books like Katrina Hates the Dead, Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter, and Pixie Dust, along with more than a dozen novels, including his Godsverse Chronicles. He also edits the Cthulhu is Hard to Spell anthology series. He has raised over $180,000 on Kickstarter across 12 projects, and has a very entertaining newsletter, which you can join at www.russellnohelty.com/mail and get a few of his books for free. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and dogs. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 148 - A.I. Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn A.I. Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn Fri, 14 Aug 2020 03:16:38 +0000 In this special bonus/additional episode, released between regular weekly episodes of the podcast, Mark has a conversation with Joanna Penn about emerging digital A.I. technologies and what it means for writers.

The initial conversation is using the words that Mark and Joanna would share in conversation, but the voice was generated using their respective Voice Doubles from Descript OverDub.

After the AI Voice Double conversation, the real Mark and Joanna share their thoughts and reflections on the conversation, the process behind creating the computer-generated conversation and what it all means for the publishing and writing communities.

 

Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F.Penn. She's a podcaster and an award-winning creative entrepreneur. Her site, TheCreativePenn.com has been voted in the Top 100 sites for writers by Writer's Digest.

 

Links of Interest:

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this special bonus/additional episode, released between regular weekly episodes of the podcast, Mark has a conversation with Joanna Penn about emerging digital A.I. technologies and what it means for writers.

The initial conversation is using the words that Mark and Joanna would share in conversation, but the voice was generated using their respective Voice Doubles from Descript OverDub.

After the AI Voice Double conversation, the real Mark and Joanna share their thoughts and reflections on the conversation, the process behind creating the computer-generated conversation and what it all means for the publishing and writing communities.

Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F.Penn. She's a podcaster and an award-winning creative entrepreneur. Her site, TheCreativePenn.com has been voted in the Top 100 sites for writers by Writer's Digest.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 28:53 false 3 148 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this special bonus/additional episode, released between regular weekly episodes of the podcast, Mark has a conversation with Joanna Penn about emerging digital A.I. technologies and what it means for writers. The initial conversation is using the words that Mark and Joanna would share in conversation, but the voice was generated using their respective Voice Doubles from Descript OverDub. After the AI Voice Double conversation, the real Mark and Joanna share their thoughts and reflections on the conversation, the process behind creating the computer-generated conversation and what it all means for the publishing and writing communities.   Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F.Penn. She's a podcaster and an award-winning creative entrepreneur. Her site, TheCreativePenn.com has been voted in the Top 100 sites for writers by Writer's Digest.   Links of Interest: The Creative Penn Episode 002 - Living the Healthy Writer's Life with Joanna Penn Episode 103 - 15 Takeaways from the WMG Publishing Master Class The Creative Penn Podcast - Episode 482 - How to Get Your Book Into Libraries and Bookstores with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Descript Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this special bonus/additional episode, released between regular weekly episodes of the podcast, Mark has a conversation with Joanna Penn about emerging digital A.I. technologies and what it means for writers. The initial conversation is using the words that Mark and Joanna would share in conversation, but the voice was generated using their respective Voice Doubles from Descript OverDub. After the AI Voice Double conversation, the real Mark and Joanna share their thoughts and reflections on the conversation, the process behind creating the computer-generated conversation and what it all means for the publishing and writing communities.   Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F.Penn. She's a podcaster and an award-winning creative entrepreneur. Her site, TheCreativePenn.com has been voted in the Top 100 sites for writers by Writer's Digest.   Links of Interest: The Creative Penn Episode 002 - Living the Healthy Writer's Life with Joanna Penn Episode 103 - 15 Takeaways from the WMG Publishing Master Class The Creative Penn Podcast - Episode 482 - How to Get Your Book Into Libraries and Bookstores with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Descript Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 147 - Getting Motivated with Master Encourager Michael Arterberry Getting Motivated with Master Encourager Michael Arterberry Thu, 13 Aug 2020 21:04:38 +0000 Mark interviews Michael Arterberry, Master Encourager, and Dynamic Motivational Speaker.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update and reads a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

 

In their conversation, Mark and Michael talk about:

  • Where Michael's title as "Master Encourager" came from, via a story about a farmer and a donkey
  • How this story relates to Michael's childhood experience in both his home and neighborhood
  • The value of shaking the dirt
  • The way that Michael re-adapted the original donkey story he had heard, added new elements/concepts to it, and made it his own
  • Getting into sports and being gifted as a lead athlete (from the age of 8 until high school graduation)
  • How coaches became parental figures and role models, and his team-mates became his brothers and sisters
  • Michael's gift of being able to feel the pain of others by tuning into the rhythm of a room
  • The importance of story to Michael in speaking engagements, workshops and social gatherings
  • Helping people manage difficulties, particularly during Covid-19
  • How, since the pandemic, Michael has been a guest on more than 75 podcasts
  • How Covid-19 is not a punishment, but perhaps a gift, and a time for pause and self-reflection
  • The experience of Winning the Characters Unite Award
  • Michael's experience of speaking to kids in local schools
  • How, despite being an Alpha personality, Michael has found himself in particular situations where he doesn't have a voice because of the side-effect of being perceived as an "angry black man"
  • Why Michael went with 250 days (rather than 365) for his book and how it came from inspirational and motivation things he'd shared for free daily on his Facebook page
  • Advice that Michael would offer his younger self

 

After the interview, Mark reflects on Michael's use of the "donkey" parable and the effectiveness such a story can have on getting an important message across.

He then shares how listeners can win a copy of Michael's book Be Encouraged: 250 Days of Motivation and Encouragement.

 

Links of Interest:

 

As a teenager, Michael Arterberry was fortunate to receive guidance from positive adult role models who helped him overcome adversities and set high expectations for his future. Grateful for the role these mentors played in his own development, Michael decided to dedicate his professional life to helping people navigate the difficulties of life and launch their future into motion. For more than 25 years, he has been helping teens and adults to use what they have gone through as a catalyst for success rather than an obstacle for failure.

Michael received the 2010 USA Network's Characters Unite Award for exceptional commitment to combating prejudice and discrimination. He is also the recipient of the 2014 100 Men of Color Award for leadership in education, government, mentorship, entrepreneurial success and community service.

In 2008, Michael founded Youth Voices Center, Inc. a non-profit with the mission of helping young people to become active, productive members of society by overcoming their obstacles, their history, stereotypes and even their own self-image and limiting beliefs.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> Mark interviews Michael Arterberry, Master Encourager, and Dynamic Motivational Speaker.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update and reads a word from this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Michael talk about:

  • Where Michael's title as "Master Encourager" came from, via a story about a farmer and a donkey
  • How this story relates to Michael's childhood experience in both his home and neighborhood
  • The value of shaking the dirt
  • The way that Michael re-adapted the original donkey story he had heard, added new elements/concepts to it, and made it his own
  • Getting into sports and being gifted as a lead athlete (from the age of 8 until high school graduation)
  • How coaches became parental figures and role models, and his team-mates became his brothers and sisters
  • Michael's gift of being able to feel the pain of others by tuning into the rhythm of a room
  • The importance of story to Michael in speaking engagements, workshops and social gatherings
  • Helping people manage difficulties, particularly during Covid-19
  • How, since the pandemic, Michael has been a guest on more than 75 podcasts
  • How Covid-19 is not a punishment, but perhaps a gift, and a time for pause and self-reflection
  • The experience of Winning the Characters Unite Award
  • Michael's experience of speaking to kids in local schools
  • How, despite being an Alpha personality, Michael has found himself in particular situations where he doesn't have a voice because of the side-effect of being perceived as an "angry black man"
  • Why Michael went with 250 days (rather than 365) for his book and how it came from inspirational and motivation things he'd shared for free daily on his Facebook page
  • Advice that Michael would offer his younger self

After the interview, Mark reflects on Michael's use of the "donkey" parable and the effectiveness such a story can have on getting an important message across.

He then shares how listeners can win a copy of Michael's book Be Encouraged: 250 Days of Motivation and Encouragement.

Links of Interest:

As a teenager, Michael Arterberry was fortunate to receive guidance from positive adult role models who helped him overcome adversities and set high expectations for his future. Grateful for the role these mentors played in his own development, Michael decided to dedicate his professional life to helping people navigate the difficulties of life and launch their future into motion. For more than 25 years, he has been helping teens and adults to use what they have gone through as a catalyst for success rather than an obstacle for failure.

Michael received the 2010 USA Network's Characters Unite Award for exceptional commitment to combating prejudice and discrimination. He is also the recipient of the 2014 100 Men of Color Award for leadership in education, government, mentorship, entrepreneurial success and community service.

In 2008, Michael founded Youth Voices Center, Inc. a non-profit with the mission of helping young people to become active, productive members of society by overcoming their obstacles, their history, stereotypes and even their own self-image and limiting beliefs.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 54:04 false 3 147 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Michael Arterberry, Master Encourager, and Dynamic Motivational Speaker. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update and reads a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Michael talk about: Where Michael's title as "Master Encourager" came from, via a story about a farmer and a donkey How this story relates to Michael's childhood experience in both his home and neighborhood The value of shaking the dirt The way that Michael re-adapted the original donkey story he had heard, added new elements/concepts to it, and made it his own Getting into sports and being gifted as a lead athlete (from the age of 8 until high school graduation) How coaches became parental figures and role models, and his team-mates became his brothers and sisters Michael's gift of being able to feel the pain of others by tuning into the rhythm of a room The importance of story to Michael in speaking engagements, workshops and social gatherings Helping people manage difficulties, particularly during Covid-19 How, since the pandemic, Michael has been a guest on more than 75 podcasts How Covid-19 is not a punishment, but perhaps a gift, and a time for pause and self-reflection The experience of Winning the Characters Unite Award Michael's experience of speaking to kids in local schools How, despite being an Alpha personality, Michael has found himself in particular situations where he doesn't have a voice because of the side-effect of being perceived as an "angry black man" Why Michael went with 250 days (rather than 365) for his book and how it came from inspirational and motivation things he'd shared for free daily on his Facebook page Advice that Michael would offer his younger self   After the interview, Mark reflects on Michael's use of the "donkey" parable and the effectiveness such a story can have on getting an important message across. He then shares how listeners can win a copy of Michael's book Be Encouraged: 250 Days of Motivation and Encouragement.   Links of Interest: Michael's Website Shake The Dirt Experience Wide for the Win (Pre-Order) Wide for the Win Submission Form Episode 146 - Finding Yourself in Our Song with Meaghan Smith Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) The 2020 Aurora Awards Findaway Voices Findaway Voices: Authors Direct Annoucement Patreon for Stark Reflections   As a teenager, Michael Arterberry was fortunate to receive guidance from positive adult role models who helped him overcome adversities and set high expectations for his future. Grateful for the role these mentors played in his own development, Michael decided to dedicate his professional life to helping people navigate the difficulties of life and launch their future into motion. For more than 25 years, he has been helping teens and adults to use what they have gone through as a catalyst for success rather than an obstacle for failure. Michael received the 2010 USA Network's Characters Unite Award for exceptional commitment to combating prejudice and discrimination. He is also the recipient of the 2014 100 Men of Color Award for leadership in education, government, mentorship, entrepreneurial success and community service. In 2008, Michael founded Youth Voices Center, Inc. a non-profit with the mission of helping young people to become active, productive members of society by overcoming their obstacles, their history, stereotypes and even their own self-image and limiting beliefs.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Michael Arterberry, Master Encourager, and Dynamic Motivational Speaker. Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update and reads a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Michael talk about: Where Michael's title as "Master Encourager" came from, via a story about a farmer and a donkey How this story relates to Michael's childhood experience in both his home and neighborhood The value of shaking the dirt The way that Michael re-adapted the original donkey story he had heard, added new elements/concepts to it, and made it his own Getting into sports and being gifted as a lead athlete (from the age of 8 until high school graduation) How coaches became parental figures and role models, and his team-mates became his brothers and sisters Michael's gift of being able to feel the pain of others by tuning into the rhythm of a room The importance of story to Michael in speaking engagements, workshops and social gatherings Helping people manage difficulties, particularly during Covid-19 How, since the pandemic, Michael has been a guest on more than 75 podcasts How Covid-19 is not a punishment, but perhaps a gift, and a time for pause and self-reflection The experience of Winning the Characters Unite Award Michael's experience of speaking to kids in local schools How, despite being an Alpha personality, Michael has found himself in particular situations where he doesn't have a voice because of the side-effect of being perceived as an "angry black man" Why Michael went with 250 days (rather than 365) for his book and how it came from inspirational and motivation things he'd shared for free daily on his Facebook page Advice that Michael would offer his younger self   After the interview, Mark reflects on Michael's use of the "donkey" parable and the effectiveness such a story can have on getting an important message across. He then shares how listeners can win a copy of Michael's book Be Encouraged: 250 Days of Motivation and Encouragement.   Links of Interest: Michael's Website Shake The Dirt Experience Wide for the Win (Pre-Order) Wide for the Win Submission Form Episode 146 - Finding Yourself in Our Song with Meaghan Smith Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) The 2020 Aurora Awards Findaway Voices Findaway Voices: Authors Direct Annoucement Patreon for Stark Reflections   As a teenager, Michael Arterberry was fortunate to receive guidance from positive adult role models who helped him overcome adversities and set high expectations for his future. Grateful for the role these mentors played in his own development, Michael decided to dedicate his professional life to helping people navigate the difficulties of life and launch their future into motion. For more than 25 years, he has been helping teens and adults to use what they have gone through as a catalyst for success rather than an obstacle for failure. Michael received the 2010 USA Network's Characters Unite Award for exceptional commitment to combating prejudice and discrimination. He is also the recipient of the 2014 100 Men of Color Award for leadership in education, government, mentorship, entrepreneurial success and community service. In 2008, Michael founded Youth Voices Center, Inc. a non-profit with the mission of helping young people to become active, productive members of society by overcoming their obstacles, their history, stereotypes and even their own self-image and limiting beliefs.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 146 - Finding Yourself in Our Song with Meaghan Smith Finding Yourself in Our Song with Meaghan Smith Fri, 07 Aug 2020 01:21:59 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Meaghan Smith about her life as a musician and a painter, about what it's like to win a Juno Award, about collaborating with her husband, releasing music as an indie artist, vs being signed to a label, about the origin of her "Our Story" projects and so much more.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor which includes a new resource about tips on marketing audiobooks.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark also shares comments from recent episodes, shares the winners of a copy of Goal Setting for Writers by Holly Lyne, abd also a personal update which includes:

  • Hosting the 2020 Aurora Awards
  • Work on the forthcoming Wide for the Win
  • Promotional activities related to the August 18th release of his Canadian Werewolf novella Stowe Away
  • Progress on a Kickstarter he'll be launching on Sept 25th

During their conversation, Mark and Meaghan talk about:

  • An interesting way that being in specific beautiful studios can actually be distracting from Meaghan's songwriting prowess
  • How her creativity really flows when she is in discomfort
  • How Meaghan proposes to her Muse that she'll be there in the studio ready to work if it wants to meet her
  • How music has long felt like breathing to Meaghan and it's something she has always done
  • Meaghan's inability to read sheet music due to dyslexia
  • The distinct moment by which Meaghan realized that music was her main path and the giant leap of faith that she took to make her first album
  • How Meaghan learned about sound and recording via the animation program she was in and studying
  • The process for that first album (The Cricket's Orchestra), saving up for four years to hire a producer (Les Cooper), writing the songs on her guitar, spending years scraping by, sleeping on friend's couches while staying in Toronto to record the album
  • The way that Meaghan likes to paint a scene with her music
  • How a song has to come to Meaghan all at the same time when she is song-writing
  • The process of just sitting down and starting to play and building upon that, discovering the elements that work, and the ones that don't
  • Going from playing open mics in Halifax to playing the Viper Room in LA
  • How Meaghan managed the contract so that she retained the rights for her songs, even though a label has the rights to the recordings for the albums
  • The surreal experience of winning a Juno Award, and how she almost didn't end up going to the event
  • Reflections on what winning an award like the Juno Award means, or doesn't mean, and why, though she is appreciative and thankful for the awards that she has won, that she doesn't like to focus on such things
  • The advice a fellow artist gave her to manage anxiety - just think about what you're going to do next
  • How it sometimes feels like she has two muses at times - one for music and another for painting
  • Meaghan's first pregnancy (and the Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) - a pregnancy complication that is characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and possibly dehydration, which she suffered the entire time) which dramatically changed her ability to tour as well as her career as a musician
  • The incredibly powerful love that she felt and feels for her two children
  • The clarifying moment she had, after losing all of the momentum of her growing career, where she wasn't able to write about her own life and started looking other stories and other lives she could write about - which evolved into creating the "Our Song" project work
  • How Meaghan and Jason collaborate on music, and the two different studio spaces where the art is created and produced
  • Advice that Meaghan would give her younger self
  • And more . . .

Mark then reflects upon a couple of things that the conversation made him realize.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Meaghan Smith is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, and visual artist. Her independently produced début album, The Cricket's Orchestra, was released by Warner Music Canada-Sire Records in 2009. Smith, who performs with her husband, Jason Mingo, has been acclaimed for her Christmas concerts, which feature interpretations of traditional carols as well as the songwriter's own popular yuletide composition, "It Snowed." At the 2011 Juno Awards, Smith won in the Best New Artist category. Her album, Have A Heart, released in 2014 won a Video of the Year for the lead single at the 2015 East Coast Music Awards. Smith continues to paint, as well as write and produce music via an independently label, is the proud mother of two boys, and says that making music and painting are among her greatest passions.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews Meaghan Smith about her life as a musician and a painter, about what it's like to win a Juno Award, about collaborating with her husband, releasing music as an indie artist, vs being signed to a label, about the origin of her "Our Story" projects and so much more.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor which includes a new resource about tips on marketing audiobooks.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Mark also shares comments from recent episodes, shares the winners of a copy of Goal Setting for Writers by Holly Lyne, abd also a personal update which includes:

  • Hosting the 2020 Aurora Awards
  • Work on the forthcoming Wide for the Win
  • Promotional activities related to the August 18th release of his Canadian Werewolf novella Stowe Away
  • Progress on a Kickstarter he'll be launching on Sept 25th

During their conversation, Mark and Meaghan talk about:

  • An interesting way that being in specific beautiful studios can actually be distracting from Meaghan's songwriting prowess
  • How her creativity really flows when she is in discomfort
  • How Meaghan proposes to her Muse that she'll be there in the studio ready to work if it wants to meet her
  • How music has long felt like breathing to Meaghan and it's something she has always done
  • Meaghan's inability to read sheet music due to dyslexia
  • The distinct moment by which Meaghan realized that music was her main path and the giant leap of faith that she took to make her first album
  • How Meaghan learned about sound and recording via the animation program she was in and studying
  • The process for that first album (The Cricket's Orchestra), saving up for four years to hire a producer (Les Cooper), writing the songs on her guitar, spending years scraping by, sleeping on friend's couches while staying in Toronto to record the album
  • The way that Meaghan likes to paint a scene with her music
  • How a song has to come to Meaghan all at the same time when she is song-writing
  • The process of just sitting down and starting to play and building upon that, discovering the elements that work, and the ones that don't
  • Going from playing open mics in Halifax to playing the Viper Room in LA
  • How Meaghan managed the contract so that she retained the rights for her songs, even though a label has the rights to the recordings for the albums
  • The surreal experience of winning a Juno Award, and how she almost didn't end up going to the event
  • Reflections on what winning an award like the Juno Award means, or doesn't mean, and why, though she is appreciative and thankful for the awards that she has won, that she doesn't like to focus on such things
  • The advice a fellow artist gave her to manage anxiety - just think about what you're going to do next
  • How it sometimes feels like she has two muses at times - one for music and another for painting
  • Meaghan's first pregnancy (and the Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) - a pregnancy complication that is characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and possibly dehydration, which she suffered the entire time) which dramatically changed her ability to tour as well as her career as a musician
  • The incredibly powerful love that she felt and feels for her two children
  • The clarifying moment she had, after losing all of the momentum of her growing career, where she wasn't able to write about her own life and started looking other stories and other lives she could write about - which evolved into creating the "Our Song" project work
  • How Meaghan and Jason collaborate on music, and the two different studio spaces where the art is created and produced
  • Advice that Meaghan would give her younger self
  • And more . . .

Mark then reflects upon a couple of things that the conversation made him realize.

Links of Interest:

Meaghan Smith is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, and visual artist. Her independently produced début album, The Cricket's Orchestra, was released by Warner Music Canada-Sire Records in 2009. Smith, who performs with her husband, Jason Mingo, has been acclaimed for her Christmas concerts, which feature interpretations of traditional carols as well as the songwriter's own popular yuletide composition, "It Snowed." At the 2011 Juno Awards, Smith won in the Best New Artist category. Her album, Have A Heart, released in 2014 won a Video of the Year for the lead single at the 2015 East Coast Music Awards. Smith continues to paint, as well as write and produce music via an independently label, is the proud mother of two boys, and says that making music and painting are among her greatest passions.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:02:35 false 3 146 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Meaghan Smith about her life as a musician and a painter, about what it's like to win a Juno Award, about collaborating with her husband, releasing music as an indie artist, vs being signed to a label, about the origin of her "Our Story" projects and so much more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor which includes a new resource about tips on marketing audiobooks. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark also shares comments from recent episodes, shares the winners of a copy of Goal Setting for Writers by Holly Lyne, abd also a personal update which includes: Hosting the 2020 Aurora Awards Work on the forthcoming Wide for the Win Promotional activities related to the August 18th release of his Canadian Werewolf novella Stowe Away Progress on a Kickstarter he'll be launching on Sept 25th During their conversation, Mark and Meaghan talk about: An interesting way that being in specific beautiful studios can actually be distracting from Meaghan's songwriting prowess How her creativity really flows when she is in discomfort How Meaghan proposes to her Muse that she'll be there in the studio ready to work if it wants to meet her How music has long felt like breathing to Meaghan and it's something she has always done Meaghan's inability to read sheet music due to dyslexia The distinct moment by which Meaghan realized that music was her main path and the giant leap of faith that she took to make her first album How Meaghan learned about sound and recording via the animation program she was in and studying The process for that first album (The Cricket's Orchestra), saving up for four years to hire a producer (Les Cooper), writing the songs on her guitar, spending years scraping by, sleeping on friend's couches while staying in Toronto to record the album The way that Meaghan likes to paint a scene with her music How a song has to come to Meaghan all at the same time when she is song-writing The process of just sitting down and starting to play and building upon that, discovering the elements that work, and the ones that don't Going from playing open mics in Halifax to playing the Viper Room in LA How Meaghan managed the contract so that she retained the rights for her songs, even though a label has the rights to the recordings for the albums The surreal experience of winning a Juno Award, and how she almost didn't end up going to the event Reflections on what winning an award like the Juno Award means, or doesn't mean, and why, though she is appreciative and thankful for the awards that she has won, that she doesn't like to focus on such things The advice a fellow artist gave her to manage anxiety - just think about what you're going to do next How it sometimes feels like she has two muses at times - one for music and another for painting Meaghan's first pregnancy (and the Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) - a pregnancy complication that is characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and possibly dehydration, which she suffered the entire time) which dramatically changed her ability to tour as well as her career as a musician The incredibly powerful love that she felt and feels for her two children The clarifying moment she had, after losing all of the momentum of her growing career, where she wasn't able to write about her own life and started looking other stories and other lives she could write about - which evolved into creating the "Our Song" project work How Meaghan and Jason collaborate on music, and the two different studio spaces where the art is created and produced Advice that Meaghan would give her younger self And more . . . Mark then reflects upon a couple of things that the conversation made him realize.   Links of Interest: Meaghan Smith's Website Meaghan Smith Art Meaghan's Our Song Website Meaghan's Facebook Page Meaghan on Instagram Wide for the Win (Pre-Order) Wide for the Win Submission Form Episode 145 - Leveraging your IP & Hybrid Publishing with Robert J. Sawyer Episode 144 - 10 Tips for Winning with Wide Publishing Episode 143 - Unstoppable Goals with HB Lyne Episode 142 - Strategies for Launching a Book During a Pandemic with Suzy Vadori Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) The 2020 Aurora Awards Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Meaghan Smith is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, and visual artist. Her independently produced début album, The Cricket's Orchestra, was released by Warner Music Canada-Sire Records in 2009. Smith, who performs with her husband, Jason Mingo, has been acclaimed for her Christmas concerts, which feature interpretations of traditional carols as well as the songwriter's own popular yuletide composition, "It Snowed." At the 2011 Juno Awards, Smith won in the Best New Artist category. Her album, Have A Heart, released in 2014 won a Video of the Year for the lead single at the 2015 East Coast Music Awards. Smith continues to paint, as well as write and produce music via an independently label, is the proud mother of two boys, and says that making music and painting are among her greatest passions.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Meaghan Smith about her life as a musician and a painter, about what it's like to win a Juno Award, about collaborating with her husband, releasing music as an indie artist, vs being signed to a label, about the origin of her "Our Story" projects and so much more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor which includes a new resource about tips on marketing audiobooks. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark also shares comments from recent episodes, shares the winners of a copy of Goal Setting for Writers by Holly Lyne, abd also a personal update which includes: Hosting the 2020 Aurora Awards Work on the forthcoming Wide for the Win Promotional activities related to the August 18th release of his Canadian Werewolf novella Stowe Away Progress on a Kickstarter he'll be launching on Sept 25th During their conversation, Mark and Meaghan talk about: An interesting way that being in specific beautiful studios can actually be distracting from Meaghan's songwriting prowess How her creativity really flows when she is in discomfort How Meaghan proposes to her Muse that she'll be there in the studio ready to work if it wants to meet her How music has long felt like breathing to Meaghan and it's something she has always done Meaghan's inability to read sheet music due to dyslexia The distinct moment by which Meaghan realized that music was her main path and the giant leap of faith that she took to make her first album How Meaghan learned about sound and recording via the animation program she was in and studying The process for that first album (The Cricket's Orchestra), saving up for four years to hire a producer (Les Cooper), writing the songs on her guitar, spending years scraping by, sleeping on friend's couches while staying in Toronto to record the album The way that Meaghan likes to paint a scene with her music How a song has to come to Meaghan all at the same time when she is song-writing The process of just sitting down and starting to play and building upon that, discovering the elements that work, and the ones that don't Going from playing open mics in Halifax to playing the Viper Room in LA How Meaghan managed the contract so that she retained the rights for her songs, even though a label has the rights to the recordings for the albums The surreal experience of winning a Juno Award, and how she almost didn't end up going to the event Reflections on what winning an award like the Juno Award means, or doesn't mean, and why, though she is appreciative and thankful for the awards that she has won, that she doesn't like to focus on such things The advice a fellow artist gave her to manage anxiety - just think about what you're going to do next How it sometimes feels like she has two muses at times - one for music and another for painting Meaghan's first pregnancy (and the Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) - a pregnancy complication that is characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and possibly dehydration, which she suffered the entire time) which dramatically changed her ability to tour as well as her career as a musician The incredibly powerful love that she felt and feels for her two children The clarifying moment she had, after losing all of the momentum of her growing career, where she wasn't able to write about her own life and started looking other stories and other lives she could write about - which evolved into creating the "Our Song" project work How Meaghan and Jason collaborate on music, and the two different studio spaces where the art is created and produced Advice that Meaghan would give her younger self And more . . . Mark then reflects upon a couple of things that the conversation made him realize.   Links of Interest: Meaghan Smith's Website Meaghan Smith Art Meaghan's Our Song Website Meaghan's Facebook Page Meaghan on Instagram Wide for the Win (Pre-Order) Wide for the Win Submission Form Episode 145 - Leveraging your IP & Hybrid Publishing with Robert J. Sawyer Episode 144 - 10 Tips for Winning with Wide Publishing Episode 143 - Unstoppable Goals with HB Lyne Episode 142 - Strategies for Launching a Book During a Pandemic with Suzy Vadori Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) The 2020 Aurora Awards Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Meaghan Smith is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, and visual artist. Her independently produced début album, The Cricket's Orchestra, was released by Warner Music Canada-Sire Records in 2009. Smith, who performs with her husband, Jason Mingo, has been acclaimed for her Christmas concerts, which feature interpretations of traditional carols as well as the songwriter's own popular yuletide composition, "It Snowed." At the 2011 Juno Awards, Smith won in the Best New Artist category. Her album, Have A Heart, released in 2014 won a Video of the Year for the lead single at the 2015 East Coast Music Awards. Smith continues to paint, as well as write and produce music via an independently label, is the proud mother of two boys, and says that making music and painting are among her greatest passions.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 145 - Robert J. Sawyer on Leveraging Your IP & Hybrid Publishing Robert J. Sawyer on Leveraging Your IP & Hybrid Publishing Fri, 31 Jul 2020 01:36:10 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews international bestselling and award winning science-fiction author Robert J. Sawyer about his latest novel release and the multiple ways he has split his IP (Intellectual Property) to optimize his income as a writer.

Long-time listeners might remember Rob from Episode 4 (January 26, 2018) of the podcast, which focused on author branding.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a personal update. He also shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Rob talk about:

  • Rob's history as a writer, including his first short story published in 1980 and first novel published in 1990
  • The 3-way split rights on Rob's previous novel, Quantum Night (2 Publishers, and Rob self-publishing)
  • What Rob learned from dipping his toe into indie publishing Quantum Night four years ago, and how he applied those learnings to the publication of The Oppenheimer Alternative
  • The story about the title of his previous novel: Quantum Night VS The Zombie Philosopher
  • The timing of Rob's latest novel with the 75th Anniversary of The Manhattan Project and the first use of Nuclear weapons in war
  • The decisions Rob made for the print rights of his latest novel related to wanting solid bookstore distribution
  • The split rights selling of the rights of Rob's novel, in print, to two different publishers in Canada and the United States
  • Rob's control of the eBook rights, audiobook rights, film & TV rights
  • The fact that Rob is still waiting on the "advance" payment from his Canadian publisher for a book that was released almost two months ago
  • Rob's negotiation with his US publisher regarding the book's advance - and how that back and forth negotiation resulted in a situation where Rob maintained his eBook rights in lieu of an advance
  • How it took two months of sales of the eBook (that Rob holds the rights to) in order to earn more than what the advance on the book would have been
  • The direct involvement on the design of the book's cover, both for the edition Rob is publishing as well as the one published by his Canadian publisher
  • The research involved in writing his latest novel, which included purchasing over 100 different books about the people behind The Manhattan Project
  • How The Manhattan Project was the most secret project that humanity had taken on at that point in history and how it was almost the most recorded project - meaning there was plenty of recorded dialogue transcripts that Rob was able to use to write realistic dialogue (both word-for-word actual dialogue - about 20% of it was verbatim from transcripts - as well as for creating authentic dialogue of the scenes that Rob invented/imagined)
  • The debate and origin of the terms sci-fi VS SF as short for Science Fiction
  • How Rob likes to think of The Oppenheimer Alternative not as an alternative history novel, but as a Secret History Novel, and how the story is based on a string of events, evidence, and speculation about something else actually happening that hadn't been revealed or uncovered during that time period
  • The importance of how writing this novel had to be a huge challenge that Rob looked forward to tackling
  • The selling of the audiobook rights to Recorded Books
  • The changes that happened in the lead up and launch of this book (and the planned book tour) due to Covid-19
  • Rob's use of Patreon for his most dedicated/passionate fans
  • A new exclusive audio project that Rob is currently negotiating related to a radio drama style project (which brings him back to his roots as a former radio person)

After the podcast Mark reflects on Rob's recognition of the power that he holds as the IP creator, and the many inventive ways he has split his rights.

 

Links of Interest:

 

Robert J. Sawyer — called "the dean of Canadian science fiction" by The Ottawa Citizen and "just about the best science-fiction writer out there these days" by The Denver Rocky Mountain News — is one of only eight writers in history (and the only Canadian) to win all three of the science-fiction field's top honors for best novel of the year. Rob — who holds honorary doctorates from the University of Winnipeg and Laurentian University — has taught writing at the University of Toronto, Ryerson University, Humber College, and The Banff Centre.

 

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> In this episode Mark interviews international bestselling and award winning science-fiction author Robert J. Sawyer about his latest novel release and the multiple ways he has split his IP (Intellectual Property) to optimize his income as a writer.

Long-time listeners might remember Rob from Episode 4 (January 26, 2018) of the podcast, which focused on author branding.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a personal update. He also shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation, Mark and Rob talk about:

  • Rob's history as a writer, including his first short story published in 1980 and first novel published in 1990
  • The 3-way split rights on Rob's previous novel, Quantum Night (2 Publishers, and Rob self-publishing)
  • What Rob learned from dipping his toe into indie publishing Quantum Night four years ago, and how he applied those learnings to the publication of The Oppenheimer Alternative
  • The story about the title of his previous novel: Quantum Night VS The Zombie Philosopher
  • The timing of Rob's latest novel with the 75th Anniversary of The Manhattan Project and the first use of Nuclear weapons in war
  • The decisions Rob made for the print rights of his latest novel related to wanting solid bookstore distribution
  • The split rights selling of the rights of Rob's novel, in print, to two different publishers in Canada and the United States
  • Rob's control of the eBook rights, audiobook rights, film & TV rights
  • The fact that Rob is still waiting on the "advance" payment from his Canadian publisher for a book that was released almost two months ago
  • Rob's negotiation with his US publisher regarding the book's advance - and how that back and forth negotiation resulted in a situation where Rob maintained his eBook rights in lieu of an advance
  • How it took two months of sales of the eBook (that Rob holds the rights to) in order to earn more than what the advance on the book would have been
  • The direct involvement on the design of the book's cover, both for the edition Rob is publishing as well as the one published by his Canadian publisher
  • The research involved in writing his latest novel, which included purchasing over 100 different books about the people behind The Manhattan Project
  • How The Manhattan Project was the most secret project that humanity had taken on at that point in history and how it was almost the most recorded project - meaning there was plenty of recorded dialogue transcripts that Rob was able to use to write realistic dialogue (both word-for-word actual dialogue - about 20% of it was verbatim from transcripts - as well as for creating authentic dialogue of the scenes that Rob invented/imagined)
  • The debate and origin of the terms sci-fi VS SF as short for Science Fiction
  • How Rob likes to think of The Oppenheimer Alternative not as an alternative history novel, but as a Secret History Novel, and how the story is based on a string of events, evidence, and speculation about something else actually happening that hadn't been revealed or uncovered during that time period
  • The importance of how writing this novel had to be a huge challenge that Rob looked forward to tackling
  • The selling of the audiobook rights to Recorded Books
  • The changes that happened in the lead up and launch of this book (and the planned book tour) due to Covid-19
  • Rob's use of Patreon for his most dedicated/passionate fans
  • A new exclusive audio project that Rob is currently negotiating related to a radio drama style project (which brings him back to his roots as a former radio person)

After the podcast Mark reflects on Rob's recognition of the power that he holds as the IP creator, and the many inventive ways he has split his rights.

Links of Interest:

Robert J. Sawyer — called "the dean of Canadian science fiction" by The Ottawa Citizen and "just about the best science-fiction writer out there these days" by The Denver Rocky Mountain News — is one of only eight writers in history (and the only Canadian) to win all three of the science-fiction field's top honors for best novel of the year. Rob — who holds honorary doctorates from the University of Winnipeg and Laurentian University — has taught writing at the University of Toronto, Ryerson University, Humber College, and The Banff Centre.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

]]> 01:13:33 false 3 145 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews international bestselling and award winning science-fiction author Robert J. Sawyer about his latest novel release and the multiple ways he has split his IP (Intellectual Property) to optimize his income as a writer. Long-time listeners might remember Rob from Episode 4 (January 26, 2018) of the podcast, which focused on author branding. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a personal update. He also shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Rob talk about: Rob's history as a writer, including his first short story published in 1980 and first novel published in 1990 The 3-way split rights on Rob's previous novel, Quantum Night (2 Publishers, and Rob self-publishing) What Rob learned from dipping his toe into indie publishing Quantum Night four years ago, and how he applied those learnings to the publication of The Oppenheimer Alternative The story about the title of his previous novel: Quantum Night VS The Zombie Philosopher The timing of Rob's latest novel with the 75th Anniversary of The Manhattan Project and the first use of Nuclear weapons in war The decisions Rob made for the print rights of his latest novel related to wanting solid bookstore distribution The split rights selling of the rights of Rob's novel, in print, to two different publishers in Canada and the United States Rob's control of the eBook rights, audiobook rights, film & TV rights The fact that Rob is still waiting on the "advance" payment from his Canadian publisher for a book that was released almost two months ago Rob's negotiation with his US publisher regarding the book's advance - and how that back and forth negotiation resulted in a situation where Rob maintained his eBook rights in lieu of an advance How it took two months of sales of the eBook (that Rob holds the rights to) in order to earn more than what the advance on the book would have been The direct involvement on the design of the book's cover, both for the edition Rob is publishing as well as the one published by his Canadian publisher The research involved in writing his latest novel, which included purchasing over 100 different books about the people behind The Manhattan Project How The Manhattan Project was the most secret project that humanity had taken on at that point in history and how it was almost the most recorded project - meaning there was plenty of recorded dialogue transcripts that Rob was able to use to write realistic dialogue (both word-for-word actual dialogue - about 20% of it was verbatim from transcripts - as well as for creating authentic dialogue of the scenes that Rob invented/imagined) The debate and origin of the terms sci-fi VS SF as short for Science Fiction How Rob likes to think of The Oppenheimer Alternative not as an alternative history novel, but as a Secret History Novel, and how the story is based on a string of events, evidence, and speculation about something else actually happening that hadn't been revealed or uncovered during that time period The importance of how writing this novel had to be a huge challenge that Rob looked forward to tackling The selling of the audiobook rights to Recorded Books The changes that happened in the lead up and launch of this book (and the planned book tour) due to Covid-19 Rob's use of Patreon for his most dedicated/passionate fans A new exclusive audio project that Rob is currently negotiating related to a radio drama style project (which brings him back to his roots as a former radio person) After the podcast Mark reflects on Rob's recognition of the power that he holds as the IP creator, and the many inventive ways he has split his rights.   Links of Interest: Robert J. Sawyer's Website Wide for the Win (Pre-Order) Wide for the Win Submission Form Episode 4 - Optimizing Your Author Brand with Robert J. Sawyer Episode 144 - 10 Tips for Winning with Wide Publishing Episode 143 - Unstoppable Goals with HB Lyne Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Bakka Phoenix Books Words Worth Books Bibliofic Designs Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Robert J. Sawyer — called "the dean of Canadian science fiction" by The Ottawa Citizen and "just about the best science-fiction writer out there these days" by The Denver Rocky Mountain News — is one of only eight writers in history (and the only Canadian) to win all three of the science-fiction field's top honors for best novel of the year. Rob — who holds honorary doctorates from the University of Winnipeg and Laurentian University — has taught writing at the University of Toronto, Ryerson University, Humber College, and The Banff Centre.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews international bestselling and award winning science-fiction author Robert J. Sawyer about his latest novel release and the multiple ways he has split his IP (Intellectual Property) to optimize his income as a writer. Long-time listeners might remember Rob from Episode 4 (January 26, 2018) of the podcast, which focused on author branding. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a personal update. He also shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Rob talk about: Rob's history as a writer, including his first short story published in 1980 and first novel published in 1990 The 3-way split rights on Rob's previous novel, Quantum Night (2 Publishers, and Rob self-publishing) What Rob learned from dipping his toe into indie publishing Quantum Night four years ago, and how he applied those learnings to the publication of The Oppenheimer Alternative The story about the title of his previous novel: Quantum Night VS The Zombie Philosopher The timing of Rob's latest novel with the 75th Anniversary of The Manhattan Project and the first use of Nuclear weapons in war The decisions Rob made for the print rights of his latest novel related to wanting solid bookstore distribution The split rights selling of the rights of Rob's novel, in print, to two different publishers in Canada and the United States Rob's control of the eBook rights, audiobook rights, film & TV rights The fact that Rob is still waiting on the "advance" payment from his Canadian publisher for a book that was released almost two months ago Rob's negotiation with his US publisher regarding the book's advance - and how that back and forth negotiation resulted in a situation where Rob maintained his eBook rights in lieu of an advance How it took two months of sales of the eBook (that Rob holds the rights to) in order to earn more than what the advance on the book would have been The direct involvement on the design of the book's cover, both for the edition Rob is publishing as well as the one published by his Canadian publisher The research involved in writing his latest novel, which included purchasing over 100 different books about the people behind The Manhattan Project How The Manhattan Project was the most secret project that humanity had taken on at that point in history and how it was almost the most recorded project - meaning there was plenty of recorded dialogue transcripts that Rob was able to use to write realistic dialogue (both word-for-word actual dialogue - about 20% of it was verbatim from transcripts - as well as for creating authentic dialogue of the scenes that Rob invented/imagined) The debate and origin of the terms sci-fi VS SF as short for Science Fiction How Rob likes to think of The Oppenheimer Alternative not as an alternative history novel, but as a Secret History Novel, and how the story is based on a string of events, evidence, and speculation about something else actually happening that hadn't been revealed or uncovered during that time period The importance of how writing this novel had to be a huge challenge that Rob looked forward to tackling The selling of the audiobook rights to Recorded Books The changes that happened in the lead up and launch of this book (and the planned book tour) due to Covid-19 Rob's use of Patreon for his most dedicated/passionate fans A new exclusive audio project that Rob is currently negotiating related to a radio drama style project (which brings him back to his roots as a former radio person) After the podcast Mark reflects on Rob's recognition of the power that he holds as the IP creator, and the many inventive ways he has split his rights.   Links of Interest: Robert J. Sawyer's Website Wide for the Win (Pre-Order) Wide for the Win Submission Form Episode 4 - Optimizing Your Author Brand with Robert J. Sawyer Episode 144 - 10 Tips for Winning with Wide Publishing Episode 143 - Unstoppable Goals with HB Lyne Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Bakka Phoenix Books Words Worth Books Bibliofic Designs Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Robert J. Sawyer — called "the dean of Canadian science fiction" by The Ottawa Citizen and "just about the best science-fiction writer out there these days" by The Denver Rocky Mountain News — is one of only eight writers in history (and the only Canadian) to win all three of the science-fiction field's top honors for best novel of the year. Rob — who holds honorary doctorates from the University of Winnipeg and Laurentian University — has taught writing at the University of Toronto, Ryerson University, Humber College, and The Banff Centre.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 144 - 10 Tips for Winning with Wide Publishing 10 Tips for Winning with Wide Publishing Fri, 24 Jul 2020 00:51:44 +0000
  • Are you looking for ways to stop being dependent upon Amazon for your author earnings income?
  • Are you hoping to expand and grow your sales on multiple platforms in global territories?
  • Do you need strategies to help you get started NOW in terms of creating a successful "publish wide" author plan?
  • Would you like to increase and optimize your sales on Apple Books, Kobo, Nook, Google Play and more?

    • Then this episode which features a reading of an article by Erin Wright called "Top 10 Tips to Going Wide."

    Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    In his personal update, Mark shares the progress he has made on the "Canadian Werewolf" series, including a cover rebranding, a pre-order for mid August, and another pre-order for Feb 2021.

    He also shares the fact he has started work on a book called WIDE FOR THE WIN which will also be published in early 2021.

    The tips shared are:

    1. Stop jumping and out of KU
    2. Stop giving away Amazon gift cards of Kindle eReaders
    3. Stop advertising in paid newsletters that only include Amazon
    4. Stop linking to just Amazon
    5. Stop buying your books on Amazon
    6. Stop cross-promoting with other authors who are KU exclusive
    7. Stop targeting KU authors in your ads
    8. Stop spending money on AMS ads
    9. Stop having an ARC team that only reviews on Amazon
    10. Stop trying to learn from authors who are KU exclusive

    After sharing the article, Mark reflects on the basic strategy that Erin employs across all of the tips.

    Links of Interest:

     

     

    USA Today Bestselling author Erin Wright has worked every job under the sun, including library director, barista, teacher, website designer, and ranch hand helping brand cattle, before settling into the career she's always dreamed about: Author. She still loves coffee, doesn't love the smell of cow flesh burning, and has embarked on the adventure of a lifetime, traveling the country full-time in an RV. (No one has died yet in the confined 250-square-foot space – which she considers a real win – but let's be real, next week isn't looking so good…) Find her updates on ErinWright.net, where you can sign up for her newsletter along with the requisite pictures of Jasmine the Writing Cat, her kitty cat muse and snuggle buddy extraordinaire.

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>
  • Are you looking for ways to stop being dependent upon Amazon for your author earnings income?
  • Are you hoping to expand and grow your sales on multiple platforms in global territories?
  • Do you need strategies to help you get started NOW in terms of creating a successful "publish wide" author plan?
  • Would you like to increase and optimize your sales on Apple Books, Kobo, Nook, Google Play and more?

    • Then this episode which features a reading of an article by Erin Wright called "Top 10 Tips to Going Wide."

    Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update, Mark shares the progress he has made on the "Canadian Werewolf" series, including a cover rebranding, a pre-order for mid August, and another pre-order for Feb 2021.

    He also shares the fact he has started work on a book called WIDE FOR THE WIN which will also be published in early 2021.

    The tips shared are:

    1. Stop jumping and out of KU
    2. Stop giving away Amazon gift cards of Kindle eReaders
    3. Stop advertising in paid newsletters that only include Amazon
    4. Stop linking to just Amazon
    5. Stop buying your books on Amazon
    6. Stop cross-promoting with other authors who are KU exclusive
    7. Stop targeting KU authors in your ads
    8. Stop spending money on AMS ads
    9. Stop having an ARC team that only reviews on Amazon
    10. Stop trying to learn from authors who are KU exclusive

    After sharing the article, Mark reflects on the basic strategy that Erin employs across all of the tips.

    Links of Interest:

    USA Today Bestselling author Erin Wright has worked every job under the sun, including library director, barista, teacher, website designer, and ranch hand helping brand cattle, before settling into the career she's always dreamed about: Author. She still loves coffee, doesn't love the smell of cow flesh burning, and has embarked on the adventure of a lifetime, traveling the country full-time in an RV. (No one has died yet in the confined 250-square-foot space – which she considers a real win – but let's be real, next week isn't looking so good…) Find her updates on ErinWright.net, where you can sign up for her newsletter along with the requisite pictures of Jasmine the Writing Cat, her kitty cat muse and snuggle buddy extraordinaire.

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     35:53 false 3 144 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Are you looking for ways to stop being dependent upon Amazon for your author earnings income? Are you hoping to expand and grow your sales on multiple platforms in global territories? Do you need strategies to help you get started NOW in terms of creating a successful "publish wide" author plan? Would you like to increase and optimize your sales on Apple Books, Kobo, Nook, Google Play and more? Then this episode which features a reading of an article by Erin Wright called "Top 10 Tips to Going Wide." Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In his personal update, Mark shares the progress he has made on the "Canadian Werewolf" series, including a cover rebranding, a pre-order for mid August, and another pre-order for Feb 2021. He also shares the fact he has started work on a book called WIDE FOR THE WIN which will also be published in early 2021. The tips shared are: Stop jumping and out of KU Stop giving away Amazon gift cards of Kindle eReaders Stop advertising in paid newsletters that only include Amazon Stop linking to just Amazon Stop buying your books on Amazon Stop cross-promoting with other authors who are KU exclusive Stop targeting KU authors in your ads Stop spending money on AMS ads Stop having an ARC team that only reviews on Amazon Stop trying to learn from authors who are KU exclusive After sharing the article, Mark reflects on the basic strategy that Erin employs across all of the tips. Links of Interest: Erin Wright's Website Top 10 Tips to Going Wide - Erin's Article on Hidden Gems Wide for the Win Facebook Group Episode 143 - Unstoppable Goals with HB Lyne Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Wide for the Win Submission Form Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections     USA Today Bestselling author Erin Wright has worked every job under the sun, including library director, barista, teacher, website designer, and ranch hand helping brand cattle, before settling into the career she's always dreamed about: Author. She still loves coffee, doesn't love the smell of cow flesh burning, and has embarked on the adventure of a lifetime, traveling the country full-time in an RV. (No one has died yet in the confined 250-square-foot space – which she considers a real win – but let's be real, next week isn't looking so good…) Find her updates on ErinWright.net, where you can sign up for her newsletter along with the requisite pictures of Jasmine the Writing Cat, her kitty cat muse and snuggle buddy extraordinaire.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Are you looking for ways to stop being dependent upon Amazon for your author earnings income? Are you hoping to expand and grow your sales on multiple platforms in global territories? Do you need strategies to help you get started NOW in terms of creating a successful "publish wide" author plan? Would you like to increase and optimize your sales on Apple Books, Kobo, Nook, Google Play and more? Then this episode which features a reading of an article by Erin Wright called "Top 10 Tips to Going Wide." Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In his personal update, Mark shares the progress he has made on the "Canadian Werewolf" series, including a cover rebranding, a pre-order for mid August, and another pre-order for Feb 2021. He also shares the fact he has started work on a book called WIDE FOR THE WIN which will also be published in early 2021. The tips shared are: Stop jumping and out of KU Stop giving away Amazon gift cards of Kindle eReaders Stop advertising in paid newsletters that only include Amazon Stop linking to just Amazon Stop buying your books on Amazon Stop cross-promoting with other authors who are KU exclusive Stop targeting KU authors in your ads Stop spending money on AMS ads Stop having an ARC team that only reviews on Amazon Stop trying to learn from authors who are KU exclusive After sharing the article, Mark reflects on the basic strategy that Erin employs across all of the tips. Links of Interest: Erin Wright's Website Top 10 Tips to Going Wide - Erin's Article on Hidden Gems Wide for the Win Facebook Group Episode 143 - Unstoppable Goals with HB Lyne Mark's Canadian Werewolf Series This Time Around (Book 0) A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1) Stowe Away (Book 1.5) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles (Book 2) Wide for the Win Submission Form Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections     USA Today Bestselling author Erin Wright has worked every job under the sun, including library director, barista, teacher, website designer, and ranch hand helping brand cattle, before settling into the career she's always dreamed about: Author. She still loves coffee, doesn't love the smell of cow flesh burning, and has embarked on the adventure of a lifetime, traveling the country full-time in an RV. (No one has died yet in the confined 250-square-foot space – which she considers a real win – but let's be real, next week isn't looking so good…) Find her updates on ErinWright.net, where you can sign up for her newsletter along with the requisite pictures of Jasmine the Writing Cat, her kitty cat muse and snuggle buddy extraordinaire.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 143 - Unstoppable Goals with HB Lyne Unstoppable Goals with HB Lyne Fri, 17 Jul 2020 01:35:17 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews urban fantasy author and podcaster HB Lyne about her fiction, her forthcoming title GOAL SETTING FOR WRITERS, and more.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the interview Holly and Mark talk about:

    • When and how Holly got into writing in the first place - writing since she could hold a pen
    • Making up stories that her young friend would illustrate
    • Writing screenplays and theatre when when was a teenager, and going off to University with a goal to write and direct movies
    • Writing her first book and how she wanted to share it straight away, and didn't want to wait and go through all the hoops, bells, and whistles of traditional publishing
    • Holly's first series, with four books, and why had to plan on rebranding, despite having had paid for beautiful covers for the first set, as well as brilliantly conceived titles
    • The rebranding of the series name, the titles, and the covers and what Holly's plan is (rapid release of the three books, then the new fourth book in the fall of 2020)
    • Holly's first non-fiction book, Goal Setting for Writers, which is coming on July 31, 2020
    • The mind-set shift required to move from writing fiction to non-fiction
    • How Holly does all of her planning doing the bullet journal system
    • How, when we write by hand, we retain much more than when we are typing
    • The challenge of imposter syndrome
    • The Unstoppable Authors Podcast that Holly co-hosts with Angeline Trevena
    • And more . . .

     

    After the interview Mark shares a reflection on Holly's rebranding as well as his own recent decision to rebrand a series in the same genre.

    He also shares a chance for listeners to win a copy of Holly's book on goal setting for writers by leaving a comment on this episode by EOD July 31, 2020.

    Patrons are also automatically entered for their own chance to win another copy of the book.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    H.B. Lyne lives in Yorkshire, UK, with her husband, two children and cat. When not juggling family commitments, she writes dark urban fantasy novels, purging her imagination of its demons. Inspired by the King of Horror himself, Holly aspires to be at least half as prolific and successful and promises to limit herself to only one tome of The Stand-like proportions in her career. Holly is a proud geek, podcaster and bullet journal enthusiast with a knack for organisation and getting stuff done.

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews urban fantasy author and podcaster HB Lyne about her fiction, her forthcoming title GOAL SETTING FOR WRITERS, and more.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the interview Holly and Mark talk about:

    • When and how Holly got into writing in the first place - writing since she could hold a pen
    • Making up stories that her young friend would illustrate
    • Writing screenplays and theatre when when was a teenager, and going off to University with a goal to write and direct movies
    • Writing her first book and how she wanted to share it straight away, and didn't want to wait and go through all the hoops, bells, and whistles of traditional publishing
    • Holly's first series, with four books, and why had to plan on rebranding, despite having had paid for beautiful covers for the first set, as well as brilliantly conceived titles
    • The rebranding of the series name, the titles, and the covers and what Holly's plan is (rapid release of the three books, then the new fourth book in the fall of 2020)
    • Holly's first non-fiction book, Goal Setting for Writers, which is coming on July 31, 2020
    • The mind-set shift required to move from writing fiction to non-fiction
    • How Holly does all of her planning doing the bullet journal system
    • How, when we write by hand, we retain much more than when we are typing
    • The challenge of imposter syndrome
    • The Unstoppable Authors Podcast that Holly co-hosts with Angeline Trevena
    • And more . . .

    After the interview Mark shares a reflection on Holly's rebranding as well as his own recent decision to rebrand a series in the same genre.

    He also shares a chance for listeners to win a copy of Holly's book on goal setting for writers by leaving a comment on this episode by EOD July 31, 2020.

    Patrons are also automatically entered for their own chance to win another copy of the book.

    Links of Interest:

    H.B. Lyne lives in Yorkshire, UK, with her husband, two children and cat. When not juggling family commitments, she writes dark urban fantasy novels, purging her imagination of its demons. Inspired by the King of Horror himself, Holly aspires to be at least half as prolific and successful and promises to limit herself to only one tome of The Stand-like proportions in her career. Holly is a proud geek, podcaster and bullet journal enthusiast with a knack for organisation and getting stuff done.

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     44:20 false 3 143 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews urban fantasy author and podcaster HB Lyne about her fiction, her forthcoming title GOAL SETTING FOR WRITERS, and more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the interview Holly and Mark talk about: When and how Holly got into writing in the first place - writing since she could hold a pen Making up stories that her young friend would illustrate Writing screenplays and theatre when when was a teenager, and going off to University with a goal to write and direct movies Writing her first book and how she wanted to share it straight away, and didn't want to wait and go through all the hoops, bells, and whistles of traditional publishing Holly's first series, with four books, and why had to plan on rebranding, despite having had paid for beautiful covers for the first set, as well as brilliantly conceived titles The rebranding of the series name, the titles, and the covers and what Holly's plan is (rapid release of the three books, then the new fourth book in the fall of 2020) Holly's first non-fiction book, Goal Setting for Writers, which is coming on July 31, 2020 The mind-set shift required to move from writing fiction to non-fiction How Holly does all of her planning doing the bullet journal system How, when we write by hand, we retain much more than when we are typing The challenge of imposter syndrome The Unstoppable Authors Podcast that Holly co-hosts with Angeline Trevena And more . . .   After the interview Mark shares a reflection on Holly's rebranding as well as his own recent decision to rebrand a series in the same genre. He also shares a chance for listeners to win a copy of Holly's book on goal setting for writers by leaving a comment on this episode by EOD July 31, 2020. Patrons are also automatically entered for their own chance to win another copy of the book.   Links of Interest: HB Lyne's Website HB Lyne Instagram HB Lyne Facebook Unstoppable Authors Podcast Episode 142 - Strategies for Launching a Book During a Pandemic with Suzy Vadori Episode 139 - Dreaming, Singing, and Moving People with Ashley Joanisse   Findaway Voices Blog on Mastering Audio Patreon for Stark Reflections   H.B. Lyne lives in Yorkshire, UK, with her husband, two children and cat. When not juggling family commitments, she writes dark urban fantasy novels, purging her imagination of its demons. Inspired by the King of Horror himself, Holly aspires to be at least half as prolific and successful and promises to limit herself to only one tome of The Stand-like proportions in her career. Holly is a proud geek, podcaster and bullet journal enthusiast with a knack for organisation and getting stuff done.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews urban fantasy author and podcaster HB Lyne about her fiction, her forthcoming title GOAL SETTING FOR WRITERS, and more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the interview Holly and Mark talk about: When and how Holly got into writing in the first place - writing since she could hold a pen Making up stories that her young friend would illustrate Writing screenplays and theatre when when was a teenager, and going off to University with a goal to write and direct movies Writing her first book and how she wanted to share it straight away, and didn't want to wait and go through all the hoops, bells, and whistles of traditional publishing Holly's first series, with four books, and why had to plan on rebranding, despite having had paid for beautiful covers for the first set, as well as brilliantly conceived titles The rebranding of the series name, the titles, and the covers and what Holly's plan is (rapid release of the three books, then the new fourth book in the fall of 2020) Holly's first non-fiction book, Goal Setting for Writers, which is coming on July 31, 2020 The mind-set shift required to move from writing fiction to non-fiction How Holly does all of her planning doing the bullet journal system How, when we write by hand, we retain much more than when we are typing The challenge of imposter syndrome The Unstoppable Authors Podcast that Holly co-hosts with Angeline Trevena And more . . .   After the interview Mark shares a reflection on Holly's rebranding as well as his own recent decision to rebrand a series in the same genre. He also shares a chance for listeners to win a copy of Holly's book on goal setting for writers by leaving a comment on this episode by EOD July 31, 2020. Patrons are also automatically entered for their own chance to win another copy of the book.   Links of Interest: HB Lyne's Website HB Lyne Instagram HB Lyne Facebook Unstoppable Authors Podcast Episode 142 - Strategies for Launching a Book During a Pandemic with Suzy Vadori Episode 139 - Dreaming, Singing, and Moving People with Ashley Joanisse   Findaway Voices Blog on Mastering Audio Patreon for Stark Reflections   H.B. Lyne lives in Yorkshire, UK, with her husband, two children and cat. When not juggling family commitments, she writes dark urban fantasy novels, purging her imagination of its demons. Inspired by the King of Horror himself, Holly aspires to be at least half as prolific and successful and promises to limit herself to only one tome of The Stand-like proportions in her career. Holly is a proud geek, podcaster and bullet journal enthusiast with a knack for organisation and getting stuff done.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 142 - Strategies for Launching a Book During a Pandemic with Suzy Vadori Strategies for Launching a Book During a Pandemic with Suzy Vadori Thu, 09 Jul 2020 21:57:55 +0000 In this episode mark interviews Suzy Vadori about the massive in person book launches she has done for the first two books in her The Fountain trilogy and the way she had to pivot away from the original plans of a major launch for book three, Wall of Wishes, due to the global pandemic.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, reads some recent comments on the podcast, and offers a bit of a personal update.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    Mark also shares that the podcast has surpassed 50,000 downloads, has been downloaded in over 100 countries, and he thanks listeners for helping him achieve those stats.

    In their interview, Mark and Suzy talk about:

    • The giant Wall of Wishes backdrop Suzy and her kids created for the special at home video launch sessions she was doing
    • The Fountain trilogy and where Suzy's new book "Wall of Wishes" fits into it
    • The "ride" of pubishing the trilogy starting with "The Fountain" in 2015 - and how that eventually led to writing full time
    • How, with the first two books in the trilogy, Suzy sold far more print books than eBooks, despite her small press publisher not having full proper bookstore distribution warehousing and channels
    • The way that kids read more print books than digital books
      - Selling thousands of copies of her print books by doing multiple in person events throughout the year
    • Two two tours every year sponsored by the Alberta Book Society
    • The talks Suzy does at the schools, which aren't just about her books, but about the possibilities that exists in multiple careers for curious students
    • Earning a speakers fee as a fiction author - and the importance of not speaking for free
    • The special things that Suzy has done for in person book launch events, such as the party for over 300 people at a local brewery (with a free beer offer for guests), and the giant prop fountain that she toured bookstores with
    • Hitting the bestseller list from a major launch event because the book sales were done through a local indie bookstore (that reports into the local newspapers bestseller list, which also rolls into the national newspaper bestseller lists)
    • Partnering with local bookstore Owls Nest for a virtual book launch that was being broadcast live from the vacant bookstore (featuring Suzy and bookstore manager Stacey Kondla) in a physically distancing-safe manner
    • Why Suzy started filling the fountain with lollypops after discovering a couple of issues with water
    • The pennies Suzy has collected to allow people to make a wish in the fountain - an excellent ice-breaker (at least pre-Covid)
    • How Suzy took over the reins for book three in this trilogy from her publisher without ruining the existing solid relationship she had with them
    • The challenge of what was going to happen with a book launch originally planned for April 2020 - and then the global pandemic hit, throwing all those plans into a tail spin
    • Earning the rank of Aurora Awards finalist for the first two books in the series, and winning the Bronze Medalian from Reader's Favourite for Best Young Adult Romance (which came with an actual medal that Suzy wore all over the place, and also brings it to school events)
    • The listing of custom programs Suzy offers for author talks which appear on her website (include link)
    • The value of tenacity and the ability to pivot
    • The importance of playing to your strengths
    • And more . . .

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects on two of the things Suzy mentioned:

    • "If you're entertaining as an author, then presumably your books are also entertaining"
    • "Play to your strengths..."

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    Suzy is a Book Coach, Editor, Public Speaker and the Calgary Bestselling Author of The Fountain Series (The Fountain, The West Woods, Wall of Wishes). This fantastical Young Adult Series has received two Aurora Nominations for Best Young Adult Novel, as well as Five Stars and a bronze medallion from Readers' Favorite Book Awards.

    Suzy lives in Calgary, Canada with her husband and three children and is an involved member in the writing community. She is a Program Manager for Calgary's When Words Collide (WWC), teaches writing at Alexandra Writers' Centre Society, and is a touring member of the Young Alberta Book Society. Suzy is also the founder of WriteIt! creative writing programs in schools.

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode mark interviews Suzy Vadori about the massive in person book launches she has done for the first two books in her The Fountain trilogy and the way she had to pivot away from the original plans of a major launch for book three, Wall of Wishes, due to the global pandemic.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, reads some recent comments on the podcast, and offers a bit of a personal update.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Mark also shares that the podcast has surpassed 50,000 downloads, has been downloaded in over 100 countries, and he thanks listeners for helping him achieve those stats.

    In their interview, Mark and Suzy talk about:

    • The giant Wall of Wishes backdrop Suzy and her kids created for the special at home video launch sessions she was doing
    • The Fountain trilogy and where Suzy's new book "Wall of Wishes" fits into it
    • The "ride" of pubishing the trilogy starting with "The Fountain" in 2015 - and how that eventually led to writing full time
    • How, with the first two books in the trilogy, Suzy sold far more print books than eBooks, despite her small press publisher not having full proper bookstore distribution warehousing and channels
    • The way that kids read more print books than digital books - Selling thousands of copies of her print books by doing multiple in person events throughout the year
    • Two two tours every year sponsored by the Alberta Book Society
    • The talks Suzy does at the schools, which aren't just about her books, but about the possibilities that exists in multiple careers for curious students
    • Earning a speakers fee as a fiction author - and the importance of not speaking for free
    • The special things that Suzy has done for in person book launch events, such as the party for over 300 people at a local brewery (with a free beer offer for guests), and the giant prop fountain that she toured bookstores with
    • Hitting the bestseller list from a major launch event because the book sales were done through a local indie bookstore (that reports into the local newspapers bestseller list, which also rolls into the national newspaper bestseller lists)
    • Partnering with local bookstore Owls Nest for a virtual book launch that was being broadcast live from the vacant bookstore (featuring Suzy and bookstore manager Stacey Kondla) in a physically distancing-safe manner
    • Why Suzy started filling the fountain with lollypops after discovering a couple of issues with water
    • The pennies Suzy has collected to allow people to make a wish in the fountain - an excellent ice-breaker (at least pre-Covid)
    • How Suzy took over the reins for book three in this trilogy from her publisher without ruining the existing solid relationship she had with them
    • The challenge of what was going to happen with a book launch originally planned for April 2020 - and then the global pandemic hit, throwing all those plans into a tail spin
    • Earning the rank of Aurora Awards finalist for the first two books in the series, and winning the Bronze Medalian from Reader's Favourite for Best Young Adult Romance (which came with an actual medal that Suzy wore all over the place, and also brings it to school events)
    • The listing of custom programs Suzy offers for author talks which appear on her website (include link)
    • The value of tenacity and the ability to pivot
    • The importance of playing to your strengths
    • And more . . .

    After the interview, Mark reflects on two of the things Suzy mentioned:

    • "If you're entertaining as an author, then presumably your books are also entertaining"
    • "Play to your strengths..."

    Links of Interest:

    Suzy is a Book Coach, Editor, Public Speaker and the Calgary Bestselling Author of The Fountain Series (The Fountain, The West Woods, Wall of Wishes). This fantastical Young Adult Series has received two Aurora Nominations for Best Young Adult Novel, as well as Five Stars and a bronze medallion from Readers' Favorite Book Awards.

    Suzy lives in Calgary, Canada with her husband and three children and is an involved member in the writing community. She is a Program Manager for Calgary's When Words Collide (WWC), teaches writing at Alexandra Writers' Centre Society, and is a touring member of the Young Alberta Book Society. Suzy is also the founder of WriteIt! creative writing programs in schools.

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     01:00:46 false 3 142 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode mark interviews Suzy Vadori about the massive in person book launches she has done for the first two books in her The Fountain trilogy and the way she had to pivot away from the original plans of a major launch for book three, Wall of Wishes, due to the global pandemic. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, reads some recent comments on the podcast, and offers a bit of a personal update. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Mark also shares that the podcast has surpassed 50,000 downloads, has been downloaded in over 100 countries, and he thanks listeners for helping him achieve those stats. In their interview, Mark and Suzy talk about: The giant Wall of Wishes backdrop Suzy and her kids created for the special at home video launch sessions she was doing The Fountain trilogy and where Suzy's new book "Wall of Wishes" fits into it The "ride" of pubishing the trilogy starting with "The Fountain" in 2015 - and how that eventually led to writing full time How, with the first two books in the trilogy, Suzy sold far more print books than eBooks, despite her small press publisher not having full proper bookstore distribution warehousing and channels The way that kids read more print books than digital books - Selling thousands of copies of her print books by doing multiple in person events throughout the year Two two tours every year sponsored by the Alberta Book Society The talks Suzy does at the schools, which aren't just about her books, but about the possibilities that exists in multiple careers for curious students Earning a speakers fee as a fiction author - and the importance of not speaking for free The special things that Suzy has done for in person book launch events, such as the party for over 300 people at a local brewery (with a free beer offer for guests), and the giant prop fountain that she toured bookstores with Hitting the bestseller list from a major launch event because the book sales were done through a local indie bookstore (that reports into the local newspapers bestseller list, which also rolls into the national newspaper bestseller lists) Partnering with local bookstore Owls Nest for a virtual book launch that was being broadcast live from the vacant bookstore (featuring Suzy and bookstore manager Stacey Kondla) in a physically distancing-safe manner Why Suzy started filling the fountain with lollypops after discovering a couple of issues with water The pennies Suzy has collected to allow people to make a wish in the fountain - an excellent ice-breaker (at least pre-Covid) How Suzy took over the reins for book three in this trilogy from her publisher without ruining the existing solid relationship she had with them The challenge of what was going to happen with a book launch originally planned for April 2020 - and then the global pandemic hit, throwing all those plans into a tail spin Earning the rank of Aurora Awards finalist for the first two books in the series, and winning the Bronze Medalian from Reader's Favourite for Best Young Adult Romance (which came with an actual medal that Suzy wore all over the place, and also brings it to school events) The listing of custom programs Suzy offers for author talks which appear on her website (include link) The value of tenacity and the ability to pivot The importance of playing to your strengths And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects on two of the things Suzy mentioned: "If you're entertaining as an author, then presumably your books are also entertaining" "Play to your strengths..."   Links of Interest: Suzy Vadori's Website Social Media Facebook Twitter Instagram Video of this Interview Owl's Nest Books Wild Rose Brewery Episode 139 - Dreaming, Singing, and Moving People with Ashley Joanisse Ashley's YouTubeChannel Hey Bartender American Dream Blue Wave - American Resistance Song Episode 140 - Writing Your Memoir with Rachael Herron Mark's Tavern (A Cheers Parody) Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Suzy is a Book Coach, Editor, Public Speaker and the Calgary Bestselling Author of The Fountain Series (The Fountain, The West Woods, Wall of Wishes). This fantastical Young Adult Series has received two Aurora Nominations for Best Young Adult Novel, as well as Five Stars and a bronze medallion from Readers' Favorite Book Awards. Suzy lives in Calgary, Canada with her husband and three children and is an involved member in the writing community. She is a Program Manager for Calgary's When Words Collide (WWC), teaches writing at Alexandra Writers' Centre Society, and is a touring member of the Young Alberta Book Society. Suzy is also the founder of WriteIt! creative writing programs in schools.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode mark interviews Suzy Vadori about the massive in person book launches she has done for the first two books in her The Fountain trilogy and the way she had to pivot away from the original plans of a major launch for book three, Wall of Wishes, due to the global pandemic. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, reads some recent comments on the podcast, and offers a bit of a personal update. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Mark also shares that the podcast has surpassed 50,000 downloads, has been downloaded in over 100 countries, and he thanks listeners for helping him achieve those stats. In their interview, Mark and Suzy talk about: The giant Wall of Wishes backdrop Suzy and her kids created for the special at home video launch sessions she was doing The Fountain trilogy and where Suzy's new book "Wall of Wishes" fits into it The "ride" of pubishing the trilogy starting with "The Fountain" in 2015 - and how that eventually led to writing full time How, with the first two books in the trilogy, Suzy sold far more print books than eBooks, despite her small press publisher not having full proper bookstore distribution warehousing and channels The way that kids read more print books than digital books - Selling thousands of copies of her print books by doing multiple in person events throughout the year Two two tours every year sponsored by the Alberta Book Society The talks Suzy does at the schools, which aren't just about her books, but about the possibilities that exists in multiple careers for curious students Earning a speakers fee as a fiction author - and the importance of not speaking for free The special things that Suzy has done for in person book launch events, such as the party for over 300 people at a local brewery (with a free beer offer for guests), and the giant prop fountain that she toured bookstores with Hitting the bestseller list from a major launch event because the book sales were done through a local indie bookstore (that reports into the local newspapers bestseller list, which also rolls into the national newspaper bestseller lists) Partnering with local bookstore Owls Nest for a virtual book launch that was being broadcast live from the vacant bookstore (featuring Suzy and bookstore manager Stacey Kondla) in a physically distancing-safe manner Why Suzy started filling the fountain with lollypops after discovering a couple of issues with water The pennies Suzy has collected to allow people to make a wish in the fountain - an excellent ice-breaker (at least pre-Covid) How Suzy took over the reins for book three in this trilogy from her publisher without ruining the existing solid relationship she had with them The challenge of what was going to happen with a book launch originally planned for April 2020 - and then the global pandemic hit, throwing all those plans into a tail spin Earning the rank of Aurora Awards finalist for the first two books in the series, and winning the Bronze Medalian from Reader's Favourite for Best Young Adult Romance (which came with an actual medal that Suzy wore all over the place, and also brings it to school events) The listing of custom programs Suzy offers for author talks which appear on her website (include link) The value of tenacity and the ability to pivot The importance of playing to your strengths And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects on two of the things Suzy mentioned: "If you're entertaining as an author, then presumably your books are also entertaining" "Play to your strengths..."   Links of Interest: Suzy Vadori's Website Social Media Facebook Twitter Instagram Video of this Interview Owl's Nest Books Wild Rose Brewery Episode 139 - Dreaming, Singing, and Moving People with Ashley Joanisse Ashley's YouTubeChannel Hey Bartender American Dream Blue Wave - American Resistance Song Episode 140 - Writing Your Memoir with Rachael Herron Mark's Tavern (A Cheers Parody) Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Suzy is a Book Coach, Editor, Public Speaker and the Calgary Bestselling Author of The Fountain Series (The Fountain, The West Woods, Wall of Wishes). This fantastical Young Adult Series has received two Aurora Nominations for Best Young Adult Novel, as well as Five Stars and a bronze medallion from Readers' Favorite Book Awards. Suzy lives in Calgary, Canada with her husband and three children and is an involved member in the writing community. She is a Program Manager for Calgary's When Words Collide (WWC), teaches writing at Alexandra Writers' Centre Society, and is a touring member of the Young Alberta Book Society. Suzy is also the founder of WriteIt! creative writing programs in schools.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 141 - Homemade Game Guru Luanga 'Lue' Nuwame Homemade Game Guru Luanga 'Lue' Nuwame Thu, 02 Jul 2020 23:00:00 +0000 Mark interviews Luanga Nuwame (or Lue, as most of his friends affectionately know him), a 43-year old Canadian comic book publisher and writer, YouTube cardboard craft artist, board game developer, and author.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, reveals the Patreon winner of a "story stuck" consultation with Clark Chamberlain, and shares a personal update including the creation of a short Cheers parody called Mark's Tavern.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    In their discussion, Mark and Lue talk about:

    • How writing was a great outlet for Lue, particularly when he was younger, suffered from depression, didn't know how else to emote
    • The joy of being able to escape into fantasy by creating different stories
    • How Silver Surfer #4 was what started Lue's love of comic books as a medium that could be truly appreciated on multiple levels
    • Lue's Paper, Rock, Scissors comic book and how playing the game with someone from Mongolia inspired Lue that it was a universal game that transcended language and culture
    • Wondering what might happen if Paper, Rock, and Scissors were given human attributes and the story was set in space
    • Coming up with how paper could defeat rock - it's obvious, rocks are claustrophobic
    • How Lue found artist collaborators to work with who illustrated his comic books
    • Getting into YouTube in 2008 and then discovering what could be done with cardboard crafting, and the accompanying videos showing how to make these crafts
    • Creating a modular board game of huge octagons that can fill the entire living room and yet still stack and be tucked away when not in use
    • The "Beautiful Canada" collectible series that Lue created celebrating the uniqueness of each province
    • How Lue makes all of his unique cardboard crafts by hand
    • The way that Lue learned how to interact with people when at his author/artist table
    • The sense of community and networking that happens at these in person events, not just with the general public, but with fellow writers and artists
    • The difficulty Lue has been facing with the recent loss of in person events due to the global pandemic
    • Lue's book The Cardboard Bible where he provides designs and templates to help others with their own cardboard creations
    • And so much more . . .

    After the interview, Mark reflects on how Lue learned and developed from a past failure, and also how he has adapted and innovated with cardboard in a unique and inspiring way that writers can learn from.

    Links of Interest:

     

     

     

    Luanga Nuwame (or Lue, as most of his friends affectionately know him), is a 43-year old Canadian comic book publisher and writer, YouTube cardboard craft artist, board game developer, and author.

    Residing in Mississauga, Ontario, Nuwame operates the Homemade Game Guru YouTube channel to showcase his love for making all sorts of crazy creations out of cardboard. Be it furniture, exercise equipment, geek crafts, or swimming pools, there is no limit to what Nuwame can make out of cardboard. Nuwame's past cardboard designs have been featured on CBC News, CTV News, Make Magazine, The Toronto Star, Global News and Readers Digest. He achieved a world's record from The World's Record Academy in 2009 for the 'World's Largest Board Game Made by One Person'.

    Nuwame is also the founder of Zelpha Comics (named after his grandmother) and he acts as the principal writer and letterer for all published issues. He created the series Paper Rock Scissors N' Stuff Wars (the classic hand game brought to life on a distant planet), Enter the World of Mephistopheles (a new horror series) and The Adventures of Little Petalianne (a children's comic series).

    Beyond comics, Nuwame is a self-published author of a wide range of books. His novels include The Fantabulously Awesome Life of a Charity Donation Truck Driver (an expose on the clothing donation business), The Boy With Zero Self-Esteem (a memoir about his past battles with depression and loneliness), Hi, My Name is Karma (a short story 'thriller'), Smoking a 'J' With Jesus (religious criticisms), and multiple The Adventures of Little Petalianne children's books.

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark interviews Luanga Nuwame (or Lue, as most of his friends affectionately know him), a 43-year old Canadian comic book publisher and writer, YouTube cardboard craft artist, board game developer, and author.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, reveals the Patreon winner of a "story stuck" consultation with Clark Chamberlain, and shares a personal update including the creation of a short Cheers parody called Mark's Tavern.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their discussion, Mark and Lue talk about:

    • How writing was a great outlet for Lue, particularly when he was younger, suffered from depression, didn't know how else to emote
    • The joy of being able to escape into fantasy by creating different stories
    • How Silver Surfer #4 was what started Lue's love of comic books as a medium that could be truly appreciated on multiple levels
    • Lue's Paper, Rock, Scissors comic book and how playing the game with someone from Mongolia inspired Lue that it was a universal game that transcended language and culture
    • Wondering what might happen if Paper, Rock, and Scissors were given human attributes and the story was set in space
    • Coming up with how paper could defeat rock - it's obvious, rocks are claustrophobic
    • How Lue found artist collaborators to work with who illustrated his comic books
    • Getting into YouTube in 2008 and then discovering what could be done with cardboard crafting, and the accompanying videos showing how to make these crafts
    • Creating a modular board game of huge octagons that can fill the entire living room and yet still stack and be tucked away when not in use
    • The "Beautiful Canada" collectible series that Lue created celebrating the uniqueness of each province
    • How Lue makes all of his unique cardboard crafts by hand
    • The way that Lue learned how to interact with people when at his author/artist table
    • The sense of community and networking that happens at these in person events, not just with the general public, but with fellow writers and artists
    • The difficulty Lue has been facing with the recent loss of in person events due to the global pandemic
    • Lue's book The Cardboard Bible where he provides designs and templates to help others with their own cardboard creations
    • And so much more . . .

    After the interview, Mark reflects on how Lue learned and developed from a past failure, and also how he has adapted and innovated with cardboard in a unique and inspiring way that writers can learn from.

    Links of Interest:

    Luanga Nuwame (or Lue, as most of his friends affectionately know him), is a 43-year old Canadian comic book publisher and writer, YouTube cardboard craft artist, board game developer, and author.

    Residing in Mississauga, Ontario, Nuwame operates the Homemade Game Guru YouTube channel to showcase his love for making all sorts of crazy creations out of cardboard. Be it furniture, exercise equipment, geek crafts, or swimming pools, there is no limit to what Nuwame can make out of cardboard. Nuwame's past cardboard designs have been featured on CBC News, CTV News, Make Magazine, The Toronto Star, Global News and Readers Digest. He achieved a world's record from The World's Record Academy in 2009 for the 'World's Largest Board Game Made by One Person'.

    Nuwame is also the founder of Zelpha Comics (named after his grandmother) and he acts as the principal writer and letterer for all published issues. He created the series Paper Rock Scissors N' Stuff Wars (the classic hand game brought to life on a distant planet), Enter the World of Mephistopheles (a new horror series) and The Adventures of Little Petalianne (a children's comic series).

    Beyond comics, Nuwame is a self-published author of a wide range of books. His novels include The Fantabulously Awesome Life of a Charity Donation Truck Driver (an expose on the clothing donation business), The Boy With Zero Self-Esteem (a memoir about his past battles with depression and loneliness), Hi, My Name is Karma (a short story 'thriller'), Smoking a 'J' With Jesus (religious criticisms), and multiple The Adventures of Little Petalianne children's books.

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     56:33 false 3 141 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Luanga Nuwame (or Lue, as most of his friends affectionately know him), a 43-year old Canadian comic book publisher and writer, YouTube cardboard craft artist, board game developer, and author. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, reveals the Patreon winner of a "story stuck" consultation with Clark Chamberlain, and shares a personal update including the creation of a short Cheers parody called Mark's Tavern. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their discussion, Mark and Lue talk about: How writing was a great outlet for Lue, particularly when he was younger, suffered from depression, didn't know how else to emote The joy of being able to escape into fantasy by creating different stories How Silver Surfer #4 was what started Lue's love of comic books as a medium that could be truly appreciated on multiple levels Lue's Paper, Rock, Scissors comic book and how playing the game with someone from Mongolia inspired Lue that it was a universal game that transcended language and culture Wondering what might happen if Paper, Rock, and Scissors were given human attributes and the story was set in space Coming up with how paper could defeat rock - it's obvious, rocks are claustrophobic How Lue found artist collaborators to work with who illustrated his comic books Getting into YouTube in 2008 and then discovering what could be done with cardboard crafting, and the accompanying videos showing how to make these crafts Creating a modular board game of huge octagons that can fill the entire living room and yet still stack and be tucked away when not in use The "Beautiful Canada" collectible series that Lue created celebrating the uniqueness of each province How Lue makes all of his unique cardboard crafts by hand The way that Lue learned how to interact with people when at his author/artist table The sense of community and networking that happens at these in person events, not just with the general public, but with fellow writers and artists The difficulty Lue has been facing with the recent loss of in person events due to the global pandemic Lue's book The Cardboard Bible where he provides designs and templates to help others with their own cardboard creations And so much more . . . After the interview, Mark reflects on how Lue learned and developed from a past failure, and also how he has adapted and innovated with cardboard in a unique and inspiring way that writers can learn from. Links of Interest: Lue's Website Lue's YouTube Channel Lue's Amazon Author Page The Cardboard Bible Episode 140 - Writing Your Memoir with Rachael Herron Mark's Tavern (A Cheers Parody) Mark's Stupid Dad Joke Short Film "The Things We Miss Most" Night Cries (Audio Book) Findaway Voices Story Stuck Consulation Up, Up, And Away Superhero Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections       Luanga Nuwame (or Lue, as most of his friends affectionately know him), is a 43-year old Canadian comic book publisher and writer, YouTube cardboard craft artist, board game developer, and author. Residing in Mississauga, Ontario, Nuwame operates the Homemade Game Guru YouTube channel to showcase his love for making all sorts of crazy creations out of cardboard. Be it furniture, exercise equipment, geek crafts, or swimming pools, there is no limit to what Nuwame can make out of cardboard. Nuwame's past cardboard designs have been featured on CBC News, CTV News, Make Magazine, The Toronto Star, Global News and Readers Digest. He achieved a world's record from The World's Record Academy in 2009 for the 'World's Largest Board Game Made by One Person'. Nuwame is also the founder of Zelpha Comics (named after his grandmother) and he acts as the principal writer and letterer for all published issues. He created the series Paper Rock Scissors N' Stuff Wars (the classic hand game brought to life on a distant planet), Enter the World of Mephistopheles (a new horror series) and The Adventures of Little Petalianne (a children's comic series). Beyond comics, Nuwame is a self-published author of a wide range of books. His novels include The Fantabulously Awesome Life of a Charity Donation Truck Driver (an expose on the clothing donation business), The Boy With Zero Self-Esteem (a memoir about his past battles with depression and loneliness), Hi, My Name is Karma (a short story 'thriller'), Smoking a 'J' With Jesus (religious criticisms), and multiple The Adventures of Little Petalianne children's books.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Luanga Nuwame (or Lue, as most of his friends affectionately know him), a 43-year old Canadian comic book publisher and writer, YouTube cardboard craft artist, board game developer, and author. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, reveals the Patreon winner of a "story stuck" consultation with Clark Chamberlain, and shares a personal update including the creation of a short Cheers parody called Mark's Tavern. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their discussion, Mark and Lue talk about: How writing was a great outlet for Lue, particularly when he was younger, suffered from depression, didn't know how else to emote The joy of being able to escape into fantasy by creating different stories How Silver Surfer #4 was what started Lue's love of comic books as a medium that could be truly appreciated on multiple levels Lue's Paper, Rock, Scissors comic book and how playing the game with someone from Mongolia inspired Lue that it was a universal game that transcended language and culture Wondering what might happen if Paper, Rock, and Scissors were given human attributes and the story was set in space Coming up with how paper could defeat rock - it's obvious, rocks are claustrophobic How Lue found artist collaborators to work with who illustrated his comic books Getting into YouTube in 2008 and then discovering what could be done with cardboard crafting, and the accompanying videos showing how to make these crafts Creating a modular board game of huge octagons that can fill the entire living room and yet still stack and be tucked away when not in use The "Beautiful Canada" collectible series that Lue created celebrating the uniqueness of each province How Lue makes all of his unique cardboard crafts by hand The way that Lue learned how to interact with people when at his author/artist table The sense of community and networking that happens at these in person events, not just with the general public, but with fellow writers and artists The difficulty Lue has been facing with the recent loss of in person events due to the global pandemic Lue's book The Cardboard Bible where he provides designs and templates to help others with their own cardboard creations And so much more . . . After the interview, Mark reflects on how Lue learned and developed from a past failure, and also how he has adapted and innovated with cardboard in a unique and inspiring way that writers can learn from. Links of Interest: Lue's Website Lue's YouTube Channel Lue's Amazon Author Page The Cardboard Bible Episode 140 - Writing Your Memoir with Rachael Herron Mark's Tavern (A Cheers Parody) Mark's Stupid Dad Joke Short Film "The Things We Miss Most" Night Cries (Audio Book) Findaway Voices Story Stuck Consulation Up, Up, And Away Superhero Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections       Luanga Nuwame (or Lue, as most of his friends affectionately know him), is a 43-year old Canadian comic book publisher and writer, YouTube cardboard craft artist, board game developer, and author. Residing in Mississauga, Ontario, Nuwame operates the Homemade Game Guru YouTube channel to showcase his love for making all sorts of crazy creations out of cardboard. Be it furniture, exercise equipment, geek crafts, or swimming pools, there is no limit to what Nuwame can make out of cardboard. Nuwame's past cardboard designs have been featured on CBC News, CTV News, Make Magazine, The Toronto Star, Global News and Readers Digest. He achieved a world's record from The World's Record Academy in 2009 for the 'World's Largest Board Game Made by One Person'. Nuwame is also the founder of Zelpha Comics (named after his grandmother) and he acts as the principal writer and letterer for all published issues. He created the series Paper Rock Scissors N' Stuff Wars (the classic hand game brought to life on a distant planet), Enter the World of Mephistopheles (a new horror series) and The Adventures of Little Petalianne (a children's comic series). Beyond comics, Nuwame is a self-published author of a wide range of books. His novels include The Fantabulously Awesome Life of a Charity Donation Truck Driver (an expose on the clothing donation business), The Boy With Zero Self-Esteem (a memoir about his past battles with depression and loneliness), Hi, My Name is Karma (a short story 'thriller'), Smoking a 'J' With Jesus (religious criticisms), and multiple The Adventures of Little Petalianne children's books.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 140 - Rachael Herron on Writing Your Memoir Rachael Herron on Writing Your Memoir Fri, 26 Jun 2020 02:08:05 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Rachael Herron about her writing, her multiple pseudonyms, being a hybrid author, and writing memoirs.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares some comments from recent episodes and via Twitter, some information about an offer the Clark Chamberlain has for his Story Stuck Consultation, and a personal update.

    He also thanks new patron Johanna Rothman as well as all existing patrons for the podcast, and lets his patrons know that they were automatically entered in a chance to win a story stuck consultation from Clark.

    In their conversation, Mark and Rachael discuss:

    • The thought that being a writer is like having homework for the rest of your life
    • Rachael's thriller (Hush Little Baby) that she just turned into her editor at Penguin Random House and which comes out in May 2021
    • Getting over the "who cares" issues she was having working on this novel in the middle of a global pandemic and a world-wide drive to end systemic racism by recognizing that it's okay to delve deep into a focused project like this
    • How willpower can be a finite, exhaustible resource
    • How a good writer can take people out of their normal world and the feeling when a reader reaches out to let Rachael know that her book has moved them or helped them
    • The feeling when you're reading a book that the person who wrote it "just gets you"
    • The value of feeling seen and heard, of community, and of responding to reader emails
    • Being involved in blogging from the early days, and the connections that can come out of that
    • The fact that, despite appearing to share everything socially and on blogs, podcasts, etc, the content is actually curated - but that it's still authentic
    • Rachael's book "Fast Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours"
    • The importance of recognizing that there are plenty of people who want to write a memoir but who don't want to writers
    • How there are so many genres within memoir
    • One of the principal tenants of a good memoir - in that you treat yourself more critically than anyone else, and that you give and show grace to anyone who might have done you wrong
    • How when you write about the most uncomfortable things how people really lean in to listen
    • How Rachael's book "Letters to New Authors" is based on a series of emails she created to encourage other writers
    • Being a fully hybrid author, and the mental shift involved when Rachael moves between traditional and indie publishing
    • How not having control of little things can drive Rachael crazy with some of her books
    • How Rachael's books, both, traditionally published and indie published, tend to sell better in eBook format
    • The advice that Rachael would give to her younger self
    • Ira Glass's theory of "the gap"
    • And so much more . . .

    After the interview Mark reflects on writing about uncomfortable things.

    Links of Interest:

     

    Rachael Herron is the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thrillers (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing.

    She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she teaches writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford. She is a proud member of the NaNoWriMo Writer's Board and is the host and co-host of two awesome podcasts for writers.

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews Rachael Herron about her writing, her multiple pseudonyms, being a hybrid author, and writing memoirs.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares some comments from recent episodes and via Twitter, some information about an offer the Clark Chamberlain has for his Story Stuck Consultation, and a personal update.

    He also thanks new patron Johanna Rothman as well as all existing patrons for the podcast, and lets his patrons know that they were automatically entered in a chance to win a story stuck consultation from Clark.

    In their conversation, Mark and Rachael discuss:

    • The thought that being a writer is like having homework for the rest of your life
    • Rachael's thriller (Hush Little Baby) that she just turned into her editor at Penguin Random House and which comes out in May 2021
    • Getting over the "who cares" issues she was having working on this novel in the middle of a global pandemic and a world-wide drive to end systemic racism by recognizing that it's okay to delve deep into a focused project like this
    • How willpower can be a finite, exhaustible resource
    • How a good writer can take people out of their normal world and the feeling when a reader reaches out to let Rachael know that her book has moved them or helped them
    • The feeling when you're reading a book that the person who wrote it "just gets you"
    • The value of feeling seen and heard, of community, and of responding to reader emails
    • Being involved in blogging from the early days, and the connections that can come out of that
    • The fact that, despite appearing to share everything socially and on blogs, podcasts, etc, the content is actually curated - but that it's still authentic
    • Rachael's book "Fast Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours"
    • The importance of recognizing that there are plenty of people who want to write a memoir but who don't want to writers
    • How there are so many genres within memoir
    • One of the principal tenants of a good memoir - in that you treat yourself more critically than anyone else, and that you give and show grace to anyone who might have done you wrong
    • How when you write about the most uncomfortable things how people really lean in to listen
    • How Rachael's book "Letters to New Authors" is based on a series of emails she created to encourage other writers
    • Being a fully hybrid author, and the mental shift involved when Rachael moves between traditional and indie publishing
    • How not having control of little things can drive Rachael crazy with some of her books
    • How Rachael's books, both, traditionally published and indie published, tend to sell better in eBook format
    • The advice that Rachael would give to her younger self
    • Ira Glass's theory of "the gap"
    • And so much more . . .

    After the interview Mark reflects on writing about uncomfortable things.

    Links of Interest:

    Rachael Herron is the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thrillers (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing.

    She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she teaches writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford. She is a proud member of the NaNoWriMo Writer's Board and is the host and co-host of two awesome podcasts for writers.

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     01:15:34 false 3 140 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Rachael Herron about her writing, her multiple pseudonyms, being a hybrid author, and writing memoirs. Prior to the interview, Mark shares some comments from recent episodes and via Twitter, some information about an offer the Clark Chamberlain has for his Story Stuck Consultation, and a personal update. He also thanks new patron Johanna Rothman as well as all existing patrons for the podcast, and lets his patrons know that they were automatically entered in a chance to win a story stuck consultation from Clark. In their conversation, Mark and Rachael discuss: The thought that being a writer is like having homework for the rest of your life Rachael's thriller (Hush Little Baby) that she just turned into her editor at Penguin Random House and which comes out in May 2021 Getting over the "who cares" issues she was having working on this novel in the middle of a global pandemic and a world-wide drive to end systemic racism by recognizing that it's okay to delve deep into a focused project like this How willpower can be a finite, exhaustible resource How a good writer can take people out of their normal world and the feeling when a reader reaches out to let Rachael know that her book has moved them or helped them The feeling when you're reading a book that the person who wrote it "just gets you" The value of feeling seen and heard, of community, and of responding to reader emails Being involved in blogging from the early days, and the connections that can come out of that The fact that, despite appearing to share everything socially and on blogs, podcasts, etc, the content is actually curated - but that it's still authentic Rachael's book "Fast Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours" The importance of recognizing that there are plenty of people who want to write a memoir but who don't want to writers How there are so many genres within memoir One of the principal tenants of a good memoir - in that you treat yourself more critically than anyone else, and that you give and show grace to anyone who might have done you wrong How when you write about the most uncomfortable things how people really lean in to listen How Rachael's book "Letters to New Authors" is based on a series of emails she created to encourage other writers Being a fully hybrid author, and the mental shift involved when Rachael moves between traditional and indie publishing How not having control of little things can drive Rachael crazy with some of her books How Rachael's books, both, traditionally published and indie published, tend to sell better in eBook format The advice that Rachael would give to her younger self Ira Glass's theory of "the gap" And so much more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on writing about uncomfortable things. Links of Interest: Rachael Herron's Website Rachael's Resources for Writers (Including a weekly encouragement newsletter) Rachael's Essays on the Creative Life (Patreon) Rachael's Podcasts How Do You Write? The Writer's Well Rachael interviewed by Mark on the Draft2Digital Spotlight The Writer's Well EP 178 - If You Couldn't Write Books, How Would You Be Creative? (Mark guest co-host) Episode 137 - Dreaming, Singing, and Moving People with Ashley Joanisse Episode 138 - Cash Flow for Creators with Michael W. Lucas Mark's Stupid Dad Joke Short Film "The Things We Miss Most" Public Lending Right Program Canada Public Lending Right International Story Stuck Consulation Up, Up, And Away Superhero Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections   Rachael Herron is the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thrillers (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she teaches writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford. She is a proud member of the NaNoWriMo Writer's Board and is the host and co-host of two awesome podcasts for writers.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Rachael Herron about her writing, her multiple pseudonyms, being a hybrid author, and writing memoirs. Prior to the interview, Mark shares some comments from recent episodes and via Twitter, some information about an offer the Clark Chamberlain has for his Story Stuck Consultation, and a personal update. He also thanks new patron Johanna Rothman as well as all existing patrons for the podcast, and lets his patrons know that they were automatically entered in a chance to win a story stuck consultation from Clark. In their conversation, Mark and Rachael discuss: The thought that being a writer is like having homework for the rest of your life Rachael's thriller (Hush Little Baby) that she just turned into her editor at Penguin Random House and which comes out in May 2021 Getting over the "who cares" issues she was having working on this novel in the middle of a global pandemic and a world-wide drive to end systemic racism by recognizing that it's okay to delve deep into a focused project like this How willpower can be a finite, exhaustible resource How a good writer can take people out of their normal world and the feeling when a reader reaches out to let Rachael know that her book has moved them or helped them The feeling when you're reading a book that the person who wrote it "just gets you" The value of feeling seen and heard, of community, and of responding to reader emails Being involved in blogging from the early days, and the connections that can come out of that The fact that, despite appearing to share everything socially and on blogs, podcasts, etc, the content is actually curated - but that it's still authentic Rachael's book "Fast Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours" The importance of recognizing that there are plenty of people who want to write a memoir but who don't want to writers How there are so many genres within memoir One of the principal tenants of a good memoir - in that you treat yourself more critically than anyone else, and that you give and show grace to anyone who might have done you wrong How when you write about the most uncomfortable things how people really lean in to listen How Rachael's book "Letters to New Authors" is based on a series of emails she created to encourage other writers Being a fully hybrid author, and the mental shift involved when Rachael moves between traditional and indie publishing How not having control of little things can drive Rachael crazy with some of her books How Rachael's books, both, traditionally published and indie published, tend to sell better in eBook format The advice that Rachael would give to her younger self Ira Glass's theory of "the gap" And so much more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on writing about uncomfortable things. Links of Interest: Rachael Herron's Website Rachael's Resources for Writers (Including a weekly encouragement newsletter) Rachael's Essays on the Creative Life (Patreon) Rachael's Podcasts How Do You Write? The Writer's Well Rachael interviewed by Mark on the Draft2Digital Spotlight The Writer's Well EP 178 - If You Couldn't Write Books, How Would You Be Creative? (Mark guest co-host) Episode 137 - Dreaming, Singing, and Moving People with Ashley Joanisse Episode 138 - Cash Flow for Creators with Michael W. Lucas Mark's Stupid Dad Joke Short Film "The Things We Miss Most" Public Lending Right Program Canada Public Lending Right International Story Stuck Consulation Up, Up, And Away Superhero Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections   Rachael Herron is the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thrillers (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she teaches writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford. She is a proud member of the NaNoWriMo Writer's Board and is the host and co-host of two awesome podcasts for writers.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 139 - Dreaming, Singing, and Moving People with Ashley Joanisse Dreaming, Singing, and Moving People with Ashley Joanisse Thu, 18 Jun 2020 21:22:36 +0000 Mark interviews Ashley Joanisse, a Canadian Country Singer-Songwriter who writes songs about politics, love, and life.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes new patron Krista D. Ball, thanks patrons, and reads a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update, Mark shares a new StoryBundle that he is a part of, which launched on June 18, 2020, as well as a pair of videos he recently released focusing on how to pronounce his last name.

    In their conversation, Ashley and Mark talk about:

    • Where Ashley's love of music first started
    • The fact that Ashley always payed close attention to the lyrics of the songs she listened to
    • The strong desire to write her own music rather than cover someone else's songs
    • The little journey that Ashley kept since she was about thirteen years old, constantly jotting down poems, notes, song lyrics, and other things that inspired her
    • Writing a chorus that might stay in the journal for several years before the lyrics for the rest of the song came to her
    • Ashley's introduction to music in the 8th grade, and first learning how to play chords on the guitar
    • Playing by ear - she has not yet learned how to read music
    • The first guitar class Ashley was in where the instructor laid out a rule that nobody was allowed to play "Smoke on the Water"
    • The very first song that Ashley nailed, which was "Outsider" by Taylor Swift
    • How Mark learned about Ashley when she was putting out a collaborative call for people to submit video clips for a forthcoming video release
    • Ashley's first single, "Hey Bartender!"
    • How the song reminds Mark of a classic tune like "Piano Man" from Billy Joel
    • The way that the music video was partially inspired by the clips Ashley received from friends and strangers
    • How "Hey Bartender" was written and recorded two years ago and was produced about one year previously and the depression and circumstances that delayed the release
    • The way that the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic inspired her out of the funk she had been stuck within
    • The logistics of how Ashley created the video for "Hey Bartender" completely on her own
    • How Ashley pulled off a video where she played two different characters (bartender and patron) in the same shot (and the way she learned how to do it)
    • The difficulty for an artist when you put something out and you get virtually no response to the effort (something that is common for writers, musicians and other artists)
    • (A little mix up where Mark's Google device starts playing a song)
    • Ashley's latest song, titled "American Dream" which is a song inspired by tweets from the 45h president of the United States
    • How this song allows her to express something she feels so intensely and how listening to the song can perhaps help others who feel the same way
    • The way that "American Dream" is like the Arkells song "People's Champ" in that it's a powerful and catchy song, but there's an underlying meaning that some listeners might not actually pick up on
    • How Ashley felt so strongly about releasing this song that she went out and bought professional equipment to produce it
    • The mechanics of how Ashley recorded the song and produced the video for "American Dream"
    • Why it's important to actually sing instead of lip syncing when you're trying to lip sync to an audio track for a music video
    • Mark's impression of how bad the lip syncing on Grease 2 was
    • The way that feedback from her two recent releases has further inspired her to want to continue to write and record more songs
    • The irony of two negative things (a global pandemic and a narcissistic president who feeds on ignorance, fear, and lies) that inspired art, and got Ashley out of the depression she had been in
    • Why Taylor Swift is a major influence on Ashley
    • The advice that Ashley would give to her younger self
    • And more . . .

    After the interview, Mark reflects on two of the things Ashley spoke about. The idea that if you stop, you'll never ever write that song that might move people, and how writing and music is a way to allow people to have a voice, to say things they are thinking and feeling about, which can empower writers/musicians and readers/listeners.

    Links of Interest:

     

    Ashley Joanisse is a Canadian Country Singer-Songwriter who writes songs about politics, love, and life. She is an activist for human rights, and feels that we need to take a stand against hate and injustice anytime we can!

    Ashley has always had an interest in music since she was a little girl and her passions remain music and writing. Ashley grew up in Mattawa, Ontario a very small that helped her to become who she is today; just a small town girl living in a lonely world.

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark interviews Ashley Joanisse, a Canadian Country Singer-Songwriter who writes songs about politics, love, and life.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes new patron Krista D. Ball, thanks patrons, and reads a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update, Mark shares a new StoryBundle that he is a part of, which launched on June 18, 2020, as well as a pair of videos he recently released focusing on how to pronounce his last name.

    In their conversation, Ashley and Mark talk about:

    • Where Ashley's love of music first started
    • The fact that Ashley always payed close attention to the lyrics of the songs she listened to
    • The strong desire to write her own music rather than cover someone else's songs
    • The little journey that Ashley kept since she was about thirteen years old, constantly jotting down poems, notes, song lyrics, and other things that inspired her
    • Writing a chorus that might stay in the journal for several years before the lyrics for the rest of the song came to her
    • Ashley's introduction to music in the 8th grade, and first learning how to play chords on the guitar
    • Playing by ear - she has not yet learned how to read music
    • The first guitar class Ashley was in where the instructor laid out a rule that nobody was allowed to play "Smoke on the Water"
    • The very first song that Ashley nailed, which was "Outsider" by Taylor Swift
    • How Mark learned about Ashley when she was putting out a collaborative call for people to submit video clips for a forthcoming video release
    • Ashley's first single, "Hey Bartender!"
    • How the song reminds Mark of a classic tune like "Piano Man" from Billy Joel
    • The way that the music video was partially inspired by the clips Ashley received from friends and strangers
    • How "Hey Bartender" was written and recorded two years ago and was produced about one year previously and the depression and circumstances that delayed the release
    • The way that the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic inspired her out of the funk she had been stuck within
    • The logistics of how Ashley created the video for "Hey Bartender" completely on her own
    • How Ashley pulled off a video where she played two different characters (bartender and patron) in the same shot (and the way she learned how to do it)
    • The difficulty for an artist when you put something out and you get virtually no response to the effort (something that is common for writers, musicians and other artists)
    • (A little mix up where Mark's Google device starts playing a song)
    • Ashley's latest song, titled "American Dream" which is a song inspired by tweets from the 45h president of the United States
    • How this song allows her to express something she feels so intensely and how listening to the song can perhaps help others who feel the same way
    • The way that "American Dream" is like the Arkells song "People's Champ" in that it's a powerful and catchy song, but there's an underlying meaning that some listeners might not actually pick up on
    • How Ashley felt so strongly about releasing this song that she went out and bought professional equipment to produce it
    • The mechanics of how Ashley recorded the song and produced the video for "American Dream"
    • Why it's important to actually sing instead of lip syncing when you're trying to lip sync to an audio track for a music video
    • Mark's impression of how bad the lip syncing on Grease 2 was
    • The way that feedback from her two recent releases has further inspired her to want to continue to write and record more songs
    • The irony of two negative things (a global pandemic and a narcissistic president who feeds on ignorance, fear, and lies) that inspired art, and got Ashley out of the depression she had been in
    • Why Taylor Swift is a major influence on Ashley
    • The advice that Ashley would give to her younger self
    • And more . . .

    After the interview, Mark reflects on two of the things Ashley spoke about. The idea that if you stop, you'll never ever write that song that might move people, and how writing and music is a way to allow people to have a voice, to say things they are thinking and feeling about, which can empower writers/musicians and readers/listeners.

    Links of Interest:

    Ashley Joanisse is a Canadian Country Singer-Songwriter who writes songs about politics, love, and life. She is an activist for human rights, and feels that we need to take a stand against hate and injustice anytime we can!

    Ashley has always had an interest in music since she was a little girl and her passions remain music and writing. Ashley grew up in Mattawa, Ontario a very small that helped her to become who she is today; just a small town girl living in a lonely world.

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     59:51 false 3 139 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Ashley Joanisse, a Canadian Country Singer-Songwriter who writes songs about politics, love, and life. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes new patron Krista D. Ball, thanks patrons, and reads a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark shares a new StoryBundle that he is a part of, which launched on June 18, 2020, as well as a pair of videos he recently released focusing on how to pronounce his last name. In their conversation, Ashley and Mark talk about: Where Ashley's love of music first started The fact that Ashley always payed close attention to the lyrics of the songs she listened to The strong desire to write her own music rather than cover someone else's songs The little journey that Ashley kept since she was about thirteen years old, constantly jotting down poems, notes, song lyrics, and other things that inspired her Writing a chorus that might stay in the journal for several years before the lyrics for the rest of the song came to her Ashley's introduction to music in the 8th grade, and first learning how to play chords on the guitar Playing by ear - she has not yet learned how to read music The first guitar class Ashley was in where the instructor laid out a rule that nobody was allowed to play "Smoke on the Water" The very first song that Ashley nailed, which was "Outsider" by Taylor Swift How Mark learned about Ashley when she was putting out a collaborative call for people to submit video clips for a forthcoming video release Ashley's first single, "Hey Bartender!" How the song reminds Mark of a classic tune like "Piano Man" from Billy Joel The way that the music video was partially inspired by the clips Ashley received from friends and strangers How "Hey Bartender" was written and recorded two years ago and was produced about one year previously and the depression and circumstances that delayed the release The way that the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic inspired her out of the funk she had been stuck within The logistics of how Ashley created the video for "Hey Bartender" completely on her own How Ashley pulled off a video where she played two different characters (bartender and patron) in the same shot (and the way she learned how to do it) The difficulty for an artist when you put something out and you get virtually no response to the effort (something that is common for writers, musicians and other artists) (A little mix up where Mark's Google device starts playing a song) Ashley's latest song, titled "American Dream" which is a song inspired by tweets from the 45h president of the United States How this song allows her to express something she feels so intensely and how listening to the song can perhaps help others who feel the same way The way that "American Dream" is like the Arkells song "People's Champ" in that it's a powerful and catchy song, but there's an underlying meaning that some listeners might not actually pick up on How Ashley felt so strongly about releasing this song that she went out and bought professional equipment to produce it The mechanics of how Ashley recorded the song and produced the video for "American Dream" Why it's important to actually sing instead of lip syncing when you're trying to lip sync to an audio track for a music video Mark's impression of how bad the lip syncing on Grease 2 was The way that feedback from her two recent releases has further inspired her to want to continue to write and record more songs The irony of two negative things (a global pandemic and a narcissistic president who feeds on ignorance, fear, and lies) that inspired art, and got Ashley out of the depression she had been in Why Taylor Swift is a major influence on Ashley The advice that Ashley would give to her younger self And more . . . After the interview, Mark reflects on two of the things Ashley spoke about. The idea that if you stop, you'll never ever write that song that might move people, and how writing and music is a way to allow people to have a voice, to say things they are thinking and feeling about, which can empower writers/musicians and readers/listeners. Links of Interest: Ashley Joanisse Facebook Page Twitter Instagram YouTube Hey Bartender Music Video American Dream Music Video Episode 138 - Cash Flow for Creators with Michael W. Lucas Mark's Recent Videos How to Pronounce Lefebvre You Call Me Fever Music Video (Parody of Fever) Up, Up, And Away Superhero Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections   Ashley Joanisse is a Canadian Country Singer-Songwriter who writes songs about politics, love, and life. She is an activist for human rights, and feels that we need to take a stand against hate and injustice anytime we can! Ashley has always had an interest in music since she was a little girl and her passions remain music and writing. Ashley grew up in Mattawa, Ontario a very small that helped her to become who she is today; just a small town girl living in a lonely world.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Ashley Joanisse, a Canadian Country Singer-Songwriter who writes songs about politics, love, and life. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes new patron Krista D. Ball, thanks patrons, and reads a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark shares a new StoryBundle that he is a part of, which launched on June 18, 2020, as well as a pair of videos he recently released focusing on how to pronounce his last name. In their conversation, Ashley and Mark talk about: Where Ashley's love of music first started The fact that Ashley always payed close attention to the lyrics of the songs she listened to The strong desire to write her own music rather than cover someone else's songs The little journey that Ashley kept since she was about thirteen years old, constantly jotting down poems, notes, song lyrics, and other things that inspired her Writing a chorus that might stay in the journal for several years before the lyrics for the rest of the song came to her Ashley's introduction to music in the 8th grade, and first learning how to play chords on the guitar Playing by ear - she has not yet learned how to read music The first guitar class Ashley was in where the instructor laid out a rule that nobody was allowed to play "Smoke on the Water" The very first song that Ashley nailed, which was "Outsider" by Taylor Swift How Mark learned about Ashley when she was putting out a collaborative call for people to submit video clips for a forthcoming video release Ashley's first single, "Hey Bartender!" How the song reminds Mark of a classic tune like "Piano Man" from Billy Joel The way that the music video was partially inspired by the clips Ashley received from friends and strangers How "Hey Bartender" was written and recorded two years ago and was produced about one year previously and the depression and circumstances that delayed the release The way that the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic inspired her out of the funk she had been stuck within The logistics of how Ashley created the video for "Hey Bartender" completely on her own How Ashley pulled off a video where she played two different characters (bartender and patron) in the same shot (and the way she learned how to do it) The difficulty for an artist when you put something out and you get virtually no response to the effort (something that is common for writers, musicians and other artists) (A little mix up where Mark's Google device starts playing a song) Ashley's latest song, titled "American Dream" which is a song inspired by tweets from the 45h president of the United States How this song allows her to express something she feels so intensely and how listening to the song can perhaps help others who feel the same way The way that "American Dream" is like the Arkells song "People's Champ" in that it's a powerful and catchy song, but there's an underlying meaning that some listeners might not actually pick up on How Ashley felt so strongly about releasing this song that she went out and bought professional equipment to produce it The mechanics of how Ashley recorded the song and produced the video for "American Dream" Why it's important to actually sing instead of lip syncing when you're trying to lip sync to an audio track for a music video Mark's impression of how bad the lip syncing on Grease 2 was The way that feedback from her two recent releases has further inspired her to want to continue to write and record more songs The irony of two negative things (a global pandemic and a narcissistic president who feeds on ignorance, fear, and lies) that inspired art, and got Ashley out of the depression she had been in Why Taylor Swift is a major influence on Ashley The advice that Ashley would give to her younger self And more . . . After the interview, Mark reflects on two of the things Ashley spoke about. The idea that if you stop, you'll never ever write that song that might move people, and how writing and music is a way to allow people to have a voice, to say things they are thinking and feeling about, which can empower writers/musicians and readers/listeners. Links of Interest: Ashley Joanisse Facebook Page Twitter Instagram YouTube Hey Bartender Music Video American Dream Music Video Episode 138 - Cash Flow for Creators with Michael W. Lucas Mark's Recent Videos How to Pronounce Lefebvre You Call Me Fever Music Video (Parody of Fever) Up, Up, And Away Superhero Storybundle Patreon for Stark Reflections   Ashley Joanisse is a Canadian Country Singer-Songwriter who writes songs about politics, love, and life. She is an activist for human rights, and feels that we need to take a stand against hate and injustice anytime we can! Ashley has always had an interest in music since she was a little girl and her passions remain music and writing. Ashley grew up in Mattawa, Ontario a very small that helped her to become who she is today; just a small town girl living in a lonely world.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 138 - Cash Flow for Creators with Michael W. Lucas Cash Flow for Creators with Michael W. Lucas Fri, 12 Jun 2020 01:32:49 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews Michael W. Lucas about he books he has written which range range from crime and SF thrillers to arcane tomes on how to build your own Verizon. They also chat quite a bit about Michael's latest book: Cash Flow for Creators.

    In the opening of the episode, Mark shares some comments from recent episodes, as well as a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    Immediately prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update about his recent appearance on the overnight radio program Coast to Coast with George Noory, and all the positive results that came from that.

    In their conversation, Michael and Mark talk about:

    • How writing for Michael started when he was about 4 and realized that books were created by human beings and this was something people could grow up to do
    • The evolution of getting to full time writer via rejection notices, selling more and more things, and working on the craft
    • Michael's start in writing writing for table top games
    • The styles of fiction that Michael writes and where his heart is in writing
    • The many "what ifs" that Michael enjoys, such as "What if there were Orcs in 1927 Detroit running booze across the border?"
    • What happened to make leaving the full-time role as a writer possible, which involved a lot of watching
    • Michael's new book for writers called CALL FLOW FOR CREATORS and why it was written out of self-defense
    • The reality that making a living is about cashflow
    • How evening out cashflow helps reduce the highs and lows of the typical cycle of a writer's income
    • The importance of looking at one's lifestyle, where they live, how they want to live, when making decisions regarding the amount of money they need to make, the expenses they are willing to live with, etc
    • The special editions that Michael does of some of his books, made specifically for his readers
    • How, if you can do something special that speaks to your people, how Michael would encourage you to give it a try
    • The way that Michael does his crowd-funding a little differently, using disintermediation, rather than using IndieGoGo or Kickstarter
    • How not only are all of Michael's books published wide everywhere, but that they are all also available for sale direct
    • The sponsorships that Michael does that includes surprises, such as a gift he will send you upon the book's publication
    • And more . . .

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things that Michael spoke about, including when you know your fans, you can feed them the right things that they value, and how people will support you and they WANT you to succeed - if you treat your readers well.

    Mark then shares details about how listeners can win a copy of Michael's book Cashflow for Creators.

    Links of Interest:

     

    Michael W Lucas has written 30-odd books, ranging from crime and SF thrillers to arcane tomes on how to build your own Verizon. His latest book is "Cash Flow for Creators."

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark interviews Michael W. Lucas about he books he has written which range range from crime and SF thrillers to arcane tomes on how to build your own Verizon. They also chat quite a bit about Michael's latest book: Cash Flow for Creators.

    In the opening of the episode, Mark shares some comments from recent episodes, as well as a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Immediately prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update about his recent appearance on the overnight radio program Coast to Coast with George Noory, and all the positive results that came from that.

    In their conversation, Michael and Mark talk about:

    • How writing for Michael started when he was about 4 and realized that books were created by human beings and this was something people could grow up to do
    • The evolution of getting to full time writer via rejection notices, selling more and more things, and working on the craft
    • Michael's start in writing writing for table top games
    • The styles of fiction that Michael writes and where his heart is in writing
    • The many "what ifs" that Michael enjoys, such as "What if there were Orcs in 1927 Detroit running booze across the border?"
    • What happened to make leaving the full-time role as a writer possible, which involved a lot of watching
    • Michael's new book for writers called CALL FLOW FOR CREATORS and why it was written out of self-defense
    • The reality that making a living is about cashflow
    • How evening out cashflow helps reduce the highs and lows of the typical cycle of a writer's income
    • The importance of looking at one's lifestyle, where they live, how they want to live, when making decisions regarding the amount of money they need to make, the expenses they are willing to live with, etc
    • The special editions that Michael does of some of his books, made specifically for his readers
    • How, if you can do something special that speaks to your people, how Michael would encourage you to give it a try
    • The way that Michael does his crowd-funding a little differently, using disintermediation, rather than using IndieGoGo or Kickstarter
    • How not only are all of Michael's books published wide everywhere, but that they are all also available for sale direct
    • The sponsorships that Michael does that includes surprises, such as a gift he will send you upon the book's publication
    • And more . . .

    After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things that Michael spoke about, including when you know your fans, you can feed them the right things that they value, and how people will support you and they WANT you to succeed - if you treat your readers well.

    Mark then shares details about how listeners can win a copy of Michael's book Cashflow for Creators.

    Links of Interest:

    Michael W Lucas has written 30-odd books, ranging from crime and SF thrillers to arcane tomes on how to build your own Verizon. His latest book is "Cash Flow for Creators."

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     51:10 false 3 138 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews Michael W. Lucas about he books he has written which range range from crime and SF thrillers to arcane tomes on how to build your own Verizon. They also chat quite a bit about Michael's latest book: Cash Flow for Creators. In the opening of the episode, Mark shares some comments from recent episodes, as well as a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Immediately prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update about his recent appearance on the overnight radio program Coast to Coast with George Noory, and all the positive results that came from that. In their conversation, Michael and Mark talk about: How writing for Michael started when he was about 4 and realized that books were created by human beings and this was something people could grow up to do The evolution of getting to full time writer via rejection notices, selling more and more things, and working on the craft Michael's start in writing writing for table top games The styles of fiction that Michael writes and where his heart is in writing The many "what ifs" that Michael enjoys, such as "What if there were Orcs in 1927 Detroit running booze across the border?" What happened to make leaving the full-time role as a writer possible, which involved a lot of watching Michael's new book for writers called CALL FLOW FOR CREATORS and why it was written out of self-defense The reality that making a living is about cashflow How evening out cashflow helps reduce the highs and lows of the typical cycle of a writer's income The importance of looking at one's lifestyle, where they live, how they want to live, when making decisions regarding the amount of money they need to make, the expenses they are willing to live with, etc The special editions that Michael does of some of his books, made specifically for his readers How, if you can do something special that speaks to your people, how Michael would encourage you to give it a try The way that Michael does his crowd-funding a little differently, using disintermediation, rather than using IndieGoGo or Kickstarter How not only are all of Michael's books published wide everywhere, but that they are all also available for sale direct The sponsorships that Michael does that includes surprises, such as a gift he will send you upon the book's publication And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things that Michael spoke about, including when you know your fans, you can feed them the right things that they value, and how people will support you and they WANT you to succeed - if you treat your readers well. Mark then shares details about how listeners can win a copy of Michael's book Cashflow for Creators. Links of Interest: Michael's Website Episode 137 - Action Sequences and Sex Scenes with Joshua Essoe Joshua's Kickstarter Project: Essoe's Guide to Writing: Action Sequences and Sex Scenes! Coast to Coast AM with George Noory (June 5, 2020) Patreon for Stark Reflections   Michael W Lucas has written 30-odd books, ranging from crime and SF thrillers to arcane tomes on how to build your own Verizon. His latest book is "Cash Flow for Creators."   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode, Mark interviews Michael W. Lucas about he books he has written which range range from crime and SF thrillers to arcane tomes on how to build your own Verizon. They also chat quite a bit about Michael's latest book: Cash Flow for Creators. In the opening of the episode, Mark shares some comments from recent episodes, as well as a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Immediately prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update about his recent appearance on the overnight radio program Coast to Coast with George Noory, and all the positive results that came from that. In their conversation, Michael and Mark talk about: How writing for Michael started when he was about 4 and realized that books were created by human beings and this was something people could grow up to do The evolution of getting to full time writer via rejection notices, selling more and more things, and working on the craft Michael's start in writing writing for table top games The styles of fiction that Michael writes and where his heart is in writing The many "what ifs" that Michael enjoys, such as "What if there were Orcs in 1927 Detroit running booze across the border?" What happened to make leaving the full-time role as a writer possible, which involved a lot of watching Michael's new book for writers called CALL FLOW FOR CREATORS and why it was written out of self-defense The reality that making a living is about cashflow How evening out cashflow helps reduce the highs and lows of the typical cycle of a writer's income The importance of looking at one's lifestyle, where they live, how they want to live, when making decisions regarding the amount of money they need to make, the expenses they are willing to live with, etc The special editions that Michael does of some of his books, made specifically for his readers How, if you can do something special that speaks to your people, how Michael would encourage you to give it a try The way that Michael does his crowd-funding a little differently, using disintermediation, rather than using IndieGoGo or Kickstarter How not only are all of Michael's books published wide everywhere, but that they are all also available for sale direct The sponsorships that Michael does that includes surprises, such as a gift he will send you upon the book's publication And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things that Michael spoke about, including when you know your fans, you can feed them the right things that they value, and how people will support you and they WANT you to succeed - if you treat your readers well. Mark then shares details about how listeners can win a copy of Michael's book Cashflow for Creators. Links of Interest: Michael's Website Episode 137 - Action Sequences and Sex Scenes with Joshua Essoe Joshua's Kickstarter Project: Essoe's Guide to Writing: Action Sequences and Sex Scenes! Coast to Coast AM with George Noory (June 5, 2020) Patreon for Stark Reflections   Michael W Lucas has written 30-odd books, ranging from crime and SF thrillers to arcane tomes on how to build your own Verizon. His latest book is "Cash Flow for Creators."   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 137 - Action Sequences & Sex Scenes with Joshua Essoe Action Sequences & Sex Scenes with Joshua Essoe Fri, 05 Jun 2020 02:47:32 +0000 Mark interviews editor Joshua Essoe who has edited for bestsellers, Piers Anthony and David Farland, for Dean Lorey, lead writer of Arrested Development, as well as numerous Writers of the Future winners, and USA Today bestsellers.

    Prior to the interview, Mark reads some comments from recent episodes, reveals the winner of Sacha Black's Anatomy of Prose and says a word about this episode's sponsors, the patrons of the podcast.

    Mark also shares a person update that includes:

    • Work being done on his Canadian Werewolf series of books
    • A new non-fiction writing project he will be releasing in the Fall of 2020:  Wide for the Win

    In their conversation, Mark and Joshua talk about:

    • How, 11 years ago, Joshua accidentally fell into the role of editor
    • Joshua's previous role as an old book restorer
    • Being a book nerd since Joshua was 7 years old
    • Asking Brandon Sanderson to read one of his stories and the generous and constructive feedback he was offered
    • Advice from Superstars Writing Seminars that led Joshua to deciding to take on a new challenge, editing a fellow author's fantasy novel
    • Setting a goal of editing one of David Farland's novels
    • The difference between restoring old books and working as an editor
    • The genres that Joshua specializes in as an editor (science fiction, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction)
    • The importance of aligning your writing and your goals with the right editor
    • The new book project Joshua is releasing and how he is launching it using Kickstarter
    • The first book: Action Sequences and Sex Scenes and why Joshua is releasing that one first
    • And more . . .

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the huge success Joshua saw on his Kickstarter project within the first 6 hours and first four days and a quote from the artist James A. Owen, who designed his new non-fiction books.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    Joshua Essoe has edited for bestsellers, Piers Anthony and David Farland, including the multi-award-winning novel, Nightingale. He's also edited for Dean Lorey, lead writer of Arrested Development, Mark Leslie Lefebvre, former director at Kobo, numerous Writers of the Future winners, USA Today bestsellers, and many other top-notch independents.

    He was lead editor at Urban Fantasy Magazine from 2014-2015. From 2012-2015 he recorded the weekly writing podcast Hide and Create with co-hosts Michael J. Sullivan, Diana Rowland, Jay Wells, and Debbie Viguie.


    You can find Joshua teaching about pitches, back cover copy, and editing every year at the Superstars Writing Seminars in CO. His approach to editing is to help you make your story the best version of itself it can be.


    Joshua is also a writer. He was a 2014 finalist in the Writers of the Future contest, and is in the process of releasing his first in a series of non-fiction books on editing for writers.

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark interviews editor Joshua Essoe who has edited for bestsellers, Piers Anthony and David Farland, for Dean Lorey, lead writer of Arrested Development, as well as numerous Writers of the Future winners, and USA Today bestsellers.

    Prior to the interview, Mark reads some comments from recent episodes, reveals the winner of Sacha Black's Anatomy of Prose and says a word about this episode's sponsors, the patrons of the podcast.

    Mark also shares a person update that includes:

    • Work being done on his Canadian Werewolf series of books
    • A new non-fiction writing project he will be releasing in the Fall of 2020: Wide for the Win

    In their conversation, Mark and Joshua talk about:

    • How, 11 years ago, Joshua accidentally fell into the role of editor
    • Joshua's previous role as an old book restorer
    • Being a book nerd since Joshua was 7 years old
    • Asking Brandon Sanderson to read one of his stories and the generous and constructive feedback he was offered
    • Advice from Superstars Writing Seminars that led Joshua to deciding to take on a new challenge, editing a fellow author's fantasy novel
    • Setting a goal of editing one of David Farland's novels
    • The difference between restoring old books and working as an editor
    • The genres that Joshua specializes in as an editor (science fiction, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction)
    • The importance of aligning your writing and your goals with the right editor
    • The new book project Joshua is releasing and how he is launching it using Kickstarter
    • The first book: Action Sequences and Sex Scenes and why Joshua is releasing that one first
    • And more . . .

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the huge success Joshua saw on his Kickstarter project within the first 6 hours and first four days and a quote from the artist James A. Owen, who designed his new non-fiction books.

    Links of Interest:

    Joshua Essoe has edited for bestsellers, Piers Anthony and David Farland, including the multi-award-winning novel, Nightingale. He's also edited for Dean Lorey, lead writer of Arrested Development, Mark Leslie Lefebvre, former director at Kobo, numerous Writers of the Future winners, USA Today bestsellers, and many other top-notch independents.

    He was lead editor at Urban Fantasy Magazine from 2014-2015. From 2012-2015 he recorded the weekly writing podcast Hide and Create with co-hosts Michael J. Sullivan, Diana Rowland, Jay Wells, and Debbie Viguie.

    You can find Joshua teaching about pitches, back cover copy, and editing every year at the Superstars Writing Seminars in CO. His approach to editing is to help you make your story the best version of itself it can be.

    Joshua is also a writer. He was a 2014 finalist in the Writers of the Future contest, and is in the process of releasing his first in a series of non-fiction books on editing for writers.

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     47:01 false 3 2020 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews editor Joshua Essoe who has edited for bestsellers, Piers Anthony and David Farland, for Dean Lorey, lead writer of Arrested Development, as well as numerous Writers of the Future winners, and USA Today bestsellers. Prior to the interview, Mark reads some comments from recent episodes, reveals the winner of Sacha Black's Anatomy of Prose and says a word about this episode's sponsors, the patrons of the podcast. Mark also shares a person update that includes: Work being done on his Canadian Werewolf series of books A new non-fiction writing project he will be releasing in the Fall of 2020:  Wide for the Win In their conversation, Mark and Joshua talk about: How, 11 years ago, Joshua accidentally fell into the role of editor Joshua's previous role as an old book restorer Being a book nerd since Joshua was 7 years old Asking Brandon Sanderson to read one of his stories and the generous and constructive feedback he was offered Advice from Superstars Writing Seminars that led Joshua to deciding to take on a new challenge, editing a fellow author's fantasy novel Setting a goal of editing one of David Farland's novels The difference between restoring old books and working as an editor The genres that Joshua specializes in as an editor (science fiction, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction) The importance of aligning your writing and your goals with the right editor The new book project Joshua is releasing and how he is launching it using Kickstarter The first book: Action Sequences and Sex Scenes and why Joshua is releasing that one first And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects on the huge success Joshua saw on his Kickstarter project within the first 6 hours and first four days and a quote from the artist James A. Owen, who designed his new non-fiction books.   Links of Interest: Joshua Essoe's Website Joshua's Kickstarter Project: Essoe's Guide to Writing: Action Sequences and Sex Scenes! Episode 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel with Sacha Black Episode 135 - Creative Collaborations in FerroCity with Joe Scacciaferro Career Author Summit Patreon for Stark Reflections   Joshua Essoe has edited for bestsellers, Piers Anthony and David Farland, including the multi-award-winning novel, Nightingale. He's also edited for Dean Lorey, lead writer of Arrested Development, Mark Leslie Lefebvre, former director at Kobo, numerous Writers of the Future winners, USA Today bestsellers, and many other top-notch independents. He was lead editor at Urban Fantasy Magazine from 2014-2015. From 2012-2015 he recorded the weekly writing podcast Hide and Create with co-hosts Michael J. Sullivan, Diana Rowland, Jay Wells, and Debbie Viguie. You can find Joshua teaching about pitches, back cover copy, and editing every year at the Superstars Writing Seminars in CO. His approach to editing is to help you make your story the best version of itself it can be. Joshua is also a writer. He was a 2014 finalist in the Writers of the Future contest, and is in the process of releasing his first in a series of non-fiction books on editing for writers.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews editor Joshua Essoe who has edited for bestsellers, Piers Anthony and David Farland, for Dean Lorey, lead writer of Arrested Development, as well as numerous Writers of the Future winners, and USA Today bestsellers. Prior to the interview, Mark reads some comments from recent episodes, reveals the winner of Sacha Black's Anatomy of Prose and says a word about this episode's sponsors, the patrons of the podcast. Mark also shares a person update that includes: Work being done on his Canadian Werewolf series of books A new non-fiction writing project he will be releasing in the Fall of 2020:  Wide for the Win In their conversation, Mark and Joshua talk about: How, 11 years ago, Joshua accidentally fell into the role of editor Joshua's previous role as an old book restorer Being a book nerd since Joshua was 7 years old Asking Brandon Sanderson to read one of his stories and the generous and constructive feedback he was offered Advice from Superstars Writing Seminars that led Joshua to deciding to take on a new challenge, editing a fellow author's fantasy novel Setting a goal of editing one of David Farland's novels The difference between restoring old books and working as an editor The genres that Joshua specializes in as an editor (science fiction, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction) The importance of aligning your writing and your goals with the right editor The new book project Joshua is releasing and how he is launching it using Kickstarter The first book: Action Sequences and Sex Scenes and why Joshua is releasing that one first And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects on the huge success Joshua saw on his Kickstarter project within the first 6 hours and first four days and a quote from the artist James A. Owen, who designed his new non-fiction books.   Links of Interest: Joshua Essoe's Website Joshua's Kickstarter Project: Essoe's Guide to Writing: Action Sequences and Sex Scenes! Episode 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel with Sacha Black Episode 135 - Creative Collaborations in FerroCity with Joe Scacciaferro Career Author Summit Patreon for Stark Reflections   Joshua Essoe has edited for bestsellers, Piers Anthony and David Farland, including the multi-award-winning novel, Nightingale. He's also edited for Dean Lorey, lead writer of Arrested Development, Mark Leslie Lefebvre, former director at Kobo, numerous Writers of the Future winners, USA Today bestsellers, and many other top-notch independents. He was lead editor at Urban Fantasy Magazine from 2014-2015. From 2012-2015 he recorded the weekly writing podcast Hide and Create with co-hosts Michael J. Sullivan, Diana Rowland, Jay Wells, and Debbie Viguie. You can find Joshua teaching about pitches, back cover copy, and editing every year at the Superstars Writing Seminars in CO. His approach to editing is to help you make your story the best version of itself it can be. Joshua is also a writer. He was a 2014 finalist in the Writers of the Future contest, and is in the process of releasing his first in a series of non-fiction books on editing for writers.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 136 - Great Sales at Google with Brian Rathbone Great Sales at Google with Brian Rathbone Fri, 29 May 2020 02:57:42 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Brian Rathbone who is an international #1 Bestselling author on Google Play with both audiobooks and eBooks. Brian talks about the strategies and things he has learned about success in selling audiobooks, a market he has been playing in for two decades now, so he has a lot of learning to share there - as well as how he reached #1 on Google Play, a market that a lot of authors are struggling to learn and understand.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and reminds listeners of their chance to win a signed copy of Sacha Black's latest book, Anatomy of Prose, by commenting on Episode 133 as per the episode and show notes details, prior to the end of day Friday May 29, 2020.

    This episode is sponsored by the wonderful patrons of the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast.

    You can learn how you can become a patron, gain access to special patron-only prizes and also receive bonus patron-only episodes of the podcast as well as other additional text and video patron content at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

    In their conversation, Brian and Mark discuss:

    • How Brian got into his writing career, and the programming career he had prior to that
    • The day that Brian started typing the first novel one day while sitting in the Atlanta airport in 2005 and felt a change coming
    • The various jobs and roles that Brian worked at and played over the years
    • How Brian ended up falling into the role of helping other writers by publishing their work and creating tools to help small publishers
    • The royalty calculation software that Brian started to develop
    • Brian's early introduction to audio via podiobooks years before audiobooks started to be a growing option for indie authors
    • Some of the successes that Brian has had with audio promotions using a "loss leader" model for the first book in a series
    • How his "first free book in series" led to being ranked as the #1 downloaded free audiobook on Google Play, and the resulting sales of the rest of the series from that
    • What happened when Brian took an entire audiobook digital box set trilogy that sold for close to $30 and making it 99 cents for a full month via a Chirp promotion
    • The importance of including a sample at the end of an audiobook to lead the person to the next audiobook
    • Methods and techniques that Brian has learned work really well and have helped him become a top seller on Google Play
    • Things Brian has learned that he would tell his younger self
    • And more

    After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Brian talked about, including the unique metadata fields that different retailers might focus on or use in a different way to help prop up a book in bold new ways.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    #1 International bestselling fantasy author Brian Rathbone is a bit odd. After growing up training standard bred racehorses, he went to work at a nuclear plant before helping to build the Internet. When he isn't writing, Brian tells a few too many bad dragon jokes on Twitter and spends a lot of time thinking about unicorns.

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews Brian Rathbone who is an international #1 Bestselling author on Google Play with both audiobooks and eBooks. Brian talks about the strategies and things he has learned about success in selling audiobooks, a market he has been playing in for two decades now, so he has a lot of learning to share there - as well as how he reached #1 on Google Play, a market that a lot of authors are struggling to learn and understand.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and reminds listeners of their chance to win a signed copy of Sacha Black's latest book, Anatomy of Prose, by commenting on Episode 133 as per the episode and show notes details, prior to the end of day Friday May 29, 2020.

    This episode is sponsored by the wonderful patrons of the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast.

    You can learn how you can become a patron, gain access to special patron-only prizes and also receive bonus patron-only episodes of the podcast as well as other additional text and video patron content at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

    In their conversation, Brian and Mark discuss:

    • How Brian got into his writing career, and the programming career he had prior to that
    • The day that Brian started typing the first novel one day while sitting in the Atlanta airport in 2005 and felt a change coming
    • The various jobs and roles that Brian worked at and played over the years
    • How Brian ended up falling into the role of helping other writers by publishing their work and creating tools to help small publishers
    • The royalty calculation software that Brian started to develop
    • Brian's early introduction to audio via podiobooks years before audiobooks started to be a growing option for indie authors
    • Some of the successes that Brian has had with audio promotions using a "loss leader" model for the first book in a series
    • How his "first free book in series" led to being ranked as the #1 downloaded free audiobook on Google Play, and the resulting sales of the rest of the series from that
    • What happened when Brian took an entire audiobook digital box set trilogy that sold for close to $30 and making it 99 cents for a full month via a Chirp promotion
    • The importance of including a sample at the end of an audiobook to lead the person to the next audiobook
    • Methods and techniques that Brian has learned work really well and have helped him become a top seller on Google Play
    • Things Brian has learned that he would tell his younger self
    • And more

    After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Brian talked about, including the unique metadata fields that different retailers might focus on or use in a different way to help prop up a book in bold new ways.

    Links of Interest:

    #1 International bestselling fantasy author Brian Rathbone is a bit odd. After growing up training standard bred racehorses, he went to work at a nuclear plant before helping to build the Internet. When he isn't writing, Brian tells a few too many bad dragon jokes on Twitter and spends a lot of time thinking about unicorns.

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     49:28 false 3 136 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Brian Rathbone who is an international #1 Bestselling author on Google Play with both audiobooks and eBooks. Brian talks about the strategies and things he has learned about success in selling audiobooks, a market he has been playing in for two decades now, so he has a lot of learning to share there - as well as how he reached #1 on Google Play, a market that a lot of authors are struggling to learn and understand. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and reminds listeners of their chance to win a signed copy of Sacha Black's latest book, Anatomy of Prose, by commenting on Episode 133 as per the episode and show notes details, prior to the end of day Friday May 29, 2020. This episode is sponsored by the wonderful patrons of the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast. You can learn how you can become a patron, gain access to special patron-only prizes and also receive bonus patron-only episodes of the podcast as well as other additional text and video patron content at www.patreon.com/starkreflections. In their conversation, Brian and Mark discuss: How Brian got into his writing career, and the programming career he had prior to that The day that Brian started typing the first novel one day while sitting in the Atlanta airport in 2005 and felt a change coming The various jobs and roles that Brian worked at and played over the years How Brian ended up falling into the role of helping other writers by publishing their work and creating tools to help small publishers The royalty calculation software that Brian started to develop Brian's early introduction to audio via podiobooks years before audiobooks started to be a growing option for indie authors Some of the successes that Brian has had with audio promotions using a "loss leader" model for the first book in a series How his "first free book in series" led to being ranked as the #1 downloaded free audiobook on Google Play, and the resulting sales of the rest of the series from that What happened when Brian took an entire audiobook digital box set trilogy that sold for close to $30 and making it 99 cents for a full month via a Chirp promotion The importance of including a sample at the end of an audiobook to lead the person to the next audiobook Methods and techniques that Brian has learned work really well and have helped him become a top seller on Google Play Things Brian has learned that he would tell his younger self And more After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Brian talked about, including the unique metadata fields that different retailers might focus on or use in a different way to help prop up a book in bold new ways.   Links of Interest: Brian Rathbone's Website Brian on Twitter Episode 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel with Sacha Black Patreon for Stark Reflections Career Author Summit 20BooksVegas   #1 International bestselling fantasy author Brian Rathbone is a bit odd. After growing up training standard bred racehorses, he went to work at a nuclear plant before helping to build the Internet. When he isn't writing, Brian tells a few too many bad dragon jokes on Twitter and spends a lot of time thinking about unicorns.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Brian Rathbone who is an international #1 Bestselling author on Google Play with both audiobooks and eBooks. Brian talks about the strategies and things he has learned about success in selling audiobooks, a market he has been playing in for two decades now, so he has a lot of learning to share there - as well as how he reached #1 on Google Play, a market that a lot of authors are struggling to learn and understand. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and reminds listeners of their chance to win a signed copy of Sacha Black's latest book, Anatomy of Prose, by commenting on Episode 133 as per the episode and show notes details, prior to the end of day Friday May 29, 2020. This episode is sponsored by the wonderful patrons of the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast. You can learn how you can become a patron, gain access to special patron-only prizes and also receive bonus patron-only episodes of the podcast as well as other additional text and video patron content at www.patreon.com/starkreflections. In their conversation, Brian and Mark discuss: How Brian got into his writing career, and the programming career he had prior to that The day that Brian started typing the first novel one day while sitting in the Atlanta airport in 2005 and felt a change coming The various jobs and roles that Brian worked at and played over the years How Brian ended up falling into the role of helping other writers by publishing their work and creating tools to help small publishers The royalty calculation software that Brian started to develop Brian's early introduction to audio via podiobooks years before audiobooks started to be a growing option for indie authors Some of the successes that Brian has had with audio promotions using a "loss leader" model for the first book in a series How his "first free book in series" led to being ranked as the #1 downloaded free audiobook on Google Play, and the resulting sales of the rest of the series from that What happened when Brian took an entire audiobook digital box set trilogy that sold for close to $30 and making it 99 cents for a full month via a Chirp promotion The importance of including a sample at the end of an audiobook to lead the person to the next audiobook Methods and techniques that Brian has learned work really well and have helped him become a top seller on Google Play Things Brian has learned that he would tell his younger self And more After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Brian talked about, including the unique metadata fields that different retailers might focus on or use in a different way to help prop up a book in bold new ways.   Links of Interest: Brian Rathbone's Website Brian on Twitter Episode 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel with Sacha Black Patreon for Stark Reflections Career Author Summit 20BooksVegas   #1 International bestselling fantasy author Brian Rathbone is a bit odd. After growing up training standard bred racehorses, he went to work at a nuclear plant before helping to build the Internet. When he isn't writing, Brian tells a few too many bad dragon jokes on Twitter and spends a lot of time thinking about unicorns.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 135 - Creative Collaborations in FerroCity with Joe Scacciaferro Creative Collaborations in FerroCity with Joe Scacciaferro Fri, 22 May 2020 02:09:10 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Joe Scacciaferro who has been in the media and entertainment business for over 30 years, has founded and run several successful media and entertainment production and technical support companies, most noticeably FerroProductions, and is behind the collaborative platform FerroCity.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares some comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    In the interview Mark and Joe talk about:

    • How story has always been important in Joe's life, and how that sometimes backfired when he was a young child
    • The way that everything is a story, and the more that we are comfortable with story, the better we can engage with others
    • Joe's musical background, and how story through music was one of his first loves and felt natural to him
    • The prominence of unplanned transitions in Joe's life
    • How it can be ALL about the journey
    • Different types of collaborations that creative storytellers can work on together in music verses prose writing
    • The critical nature of music and how it impacts a visual storytelling medium
    • The different types of documentary projects that Joe has worked on over the years
    • Fascinating answers you can get from some basic simple questions
    • The critical balance of skill combined with a solid community
    • How everything you learn is important to everything you do
    • The way that the collaborative community of FerroCity is the culmination of Joe's entire career
    • How the platform FerroCity helps connect the community together and learn from the way people engage with it
    • How writers who are interested in checking it out can begin to participate in the FerroCity community and platform
    • Why Joe says that you can't learn anything unless it's entertaining
    • The three phases of FerroCity that are being rolled out the spring/summer of 2020
    • Why Mark calls this platform a type of "Field of Dreams"
    • How a team can synergize over a single posting on a platform like this
    • The camaraderie that comes from working alongside other team members

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the universal nature of storytelling, and the unimagined and unforeseen benefits that can result from creative collaboration.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    Joe Scacciaferro has been in the media and entertainment business for over 30 years and has founded and run several successful media and entertainment production and technical support companies, most noticeably FerroProductions.

    He has been honored with 5 Emmys, 9 Emmy nominations, co-authored 15 books on the creative use of music technology, written music scores for broadcast programming, produced dozens of network sports shows / documentaries and been honored with two super bowl rings from the NY Giants for his programming efforts during the past 20 years.

    Joe's creative abilities are self-evident based on the longevity and diverse successes of his career. But when asked about his single greatest professional accomplishment, he will always point to enormous career successes of his interns.

    He is a strong believer in creative collaboration, and networking opportunities, and he shares an exciting new project called FerroCity, which represents the culmination of his extraordinary career and life.

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews Joe Scacciaferro who has been in the media and entertainment business for over 30 years, has founded and run several successful media and entertainment production and technical support companies, most noticeably FerroProductions, and is behind the collaborative platform FerroCity.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares some comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the interview Mark and Joe talk about:

    • How story has always been important in Joe's life, and how that sometimes backfired when he was a young child
    • The way that everything is a story, and the more that we are comfortable with story, the better we can engage with others
    • Joe's musical background, and how story through music was one of his first loves and felt natural to him
    • The prominence of unplanned transitions in Joe's life
    • How it can be ALL about the journey
    • Different types of collaborations that creative storytellers can work on together in music verses prose writing
    • The critical nature of music and how it impacts a visual storytelling medium
    • The different types of documentary projects that Joe has worked on over the years
    • Fascinating answers you can get from some basic simple questions
    • The critical balance of skill combined with a solid community
    • How everything you learn is important to everything you do
    • The way that the collaborative community of FerroCity is the culmination of Joe's entire career
    • How the platform FerroCity helps connect the community together and learn from the way people engage with it
    • How writers who are interested in checking it out can begin to participate in the FerroCity community and platform
    • Why Joe says that you can't learn anything unless it's entertaining
    • The three phases of FerroCity that are being rolled out the spring/summer of 2020
    • Why Mark calls this platform a type of "Field of Dreams"
    • How a team can synergize over a single posting on a platform like this
    • The camaraderie that comes from working alongside other team members

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the universal nature of storytelling, and the unimagined and unforeseen benefits that can result from creative collaboration.

    Links of Interest:

    Joe Scacciaferro has been in the media and entertainment business for over 30 years and has founded and run several successful media and entertainment production and technical support companies, most noticeably FerroProductions.

    He has been honored with 5 Emmys, 9 Emmy nominations, co-authored 15 books on the creative use of music technology, written music scores for broadcast programming, produced dozens of network sports shows / documentaries and been honored with two super bowl rings from the NY Giants for his programming efforts during the past 20 years.

    Joe's creative abilities are self-evident based on the longevity and diverse successes of his career. But when asked about his single greatest professional accomplishment, he will always point to enormous career successes of his interns.

    He is a strong believer in creative collaboration, and networking opportunities, and he shares an exciting new project called FerroCity, which represents the culmination of his extraordinary career and life.

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     01:00:23 false 3 135 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Joe Scacciaferro who has been in the media and entertainment business for over 30 years, has founded and run several successful media and entertainment production and technical support companies, most noticeably FerroProductions, and is behind the collaborative platform FerroCity. Prior to the interview, Mark shares some comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In the interview Mark and Joe talk about: How story has always been important in Joe's life, and how that sometimes backfired when he was a young child The way that everything is a story, and the more that we are comfortable with story, the better we can engage with others Joe's musical background, and how story through music was one of his first loves and felt natural to him The prominence of unplanned transitions in Joe's life How it can be ALL about the journey Different types of collaborations that creative storytellers can work on together in music verses prose writing The critical nature of music and how it impacts a visual storytelling medium The different types of documentary projects that Joe has worked on over the years Fascinating answers you can get from some basic simple questions The critical balance of skill combined with a solid community How everything you learn is important to everything you do The way that the collaborative community of FerroCity is the culmination of Joe's entire career How the platform FerroCity helps connect the community together and learn from the way people engage with it How writers who are interested in checking it out can begin to participate in the FerroCity community and platform Why Joe says that you can't learn anything unless it's entertaining The three phases of FerroCity that are being rolled out the spring/summer of 2020 Why Mark calls this platform a type of "Field of Dreams" How a team can synergize over a single posting on a platform like this The camaraderie that comes from working alongside other team members After the interview, Mark reflects on the universal nature of storytelling, and the unimagined and unforeseen benefits that can result from creative collaboration.   Links of Interest: FerroCity Ferro Productions Episode 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel with Sacha Black Episode 97 - 10 Tips for Marketing and Making Money off Your Short Fiction The Stay Home Story Summit Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Isolation Parody Songs (K-Tel Spoof Commercial) Spud Wars: A New Helplessness (Parody Movie Trailer) Stuck in this House here with You (Parody Music Video) Dad Joke Short: The Things We Miss Most Dad Joke Short: Dramatic Exit Dad Joke Short: Skeleton Jokes Career Author Summit Bookfunnel 20BooksVegas   Joe Scacciaferro has been in the media and entertainment business for over 30 years and has founded and run several successful media and entertainment production and technical support companies, most noticeably FerroProductions. He has been honored with 5 Emmys, 9 Emmy nominations, co-authored 15 books on the creative use of music technology, written music scores for broadcast programming, produced dozens of network sports shows / documentaries and been honored with two super bowl rings from the NY Giants for his programming efforts during the past 20 years. Joe's creative abilities are self-evident based on the longevity and diverse successes of his career. But when asked about his single greatest professional accomplishment, he will always point to enormous career successes of his interns. He is a strong believer in creative collaboration, and networking opportunities, and he shares an exciting new project called FerroCity, which represents the culmination of his extraordinary career and life.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Joe Scacciaferro who has been in the media and entertainment business for over 30 years, has founded and run several successful media and entertainment production and technical support companies, most noticeably FerroProductions, and is behind the collaborative platform FerroCity. Prior to the interview, Mark shares some comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In the interview Mark and Joe talk about: How story has always been important in Joe's life, and how that sometimes backfired when he was a young child The way that everything is a story, and the more that we are comfortable with story, the better we can engage with others Joe's musical background, and how story through music was one of his first loves and felt natural to him The prominence of unplanned transitions in Joe's life How it can be ALL about the journey Different types of collaborations that creative storytellers can work on together in music verses prose writing The critical nature of music and how it impacts a visual storytelling medium The different types of documentary projects that Joe has worked on over the years Fascinating answers you can get from some basic simple questions The critical balance of skill combined with a solid community How everything you learn is important to everything you do The way that the collaborative community of FerroCity is the culmination of Joe's entire career How the platform FerroCity helps connect the community together and learn from the way people engage with it How writers who are interested in checking it out can begin to participate in the FerroCity community and platform Why Joe says that you can't learn anything unless it's entertaining The three phases of FerroCity that are being rolled out the spring/summer of 2020 Why Mark calls this platform a type of "Field of Dreams" How a team can synergize over a single posting on a platform like this The camaraderie that comes from working alongside other team members After the interview, Mark reflects on the universal nature of storytelling, and the unimagined and unforeseen benefits that can result from creative collaboration.   Links of Interest: FerroCity Ferro Productions Episode 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel with Sacha Black Episode 97 - 10 Tips for Marketing and Making Money off Your Short Fiction The Stay Home Story Summit Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Isolation Parody Songs (K-Tel Spoof Commercial) Spud Wars: A New Helplessness (Parody Movie Trailer) Stuck in this House here with You (Parody Music Video) Dad Joke Short: The Things We Miss Most Dad Joke Short: Dramatic Exit Dad Joke Short: Skeleton Jokes Career Author Summit Bookfunnel 20BooksVegas   Joe Scacciaferro has been in the media and entertainment business for over 30 years and has founded and run several successful media and entertainment production and technical support companies, most noticeably FerroProductions. He has been honored with 5 Emmys, 9 Emmy nominations, co-authored 15 books on the creative use of music technology, written music scores for broadcast programming, produced dozens of network sports shows / documentaries and been honored with two super bowl rings from the NY Giants for his programming efforts during the past 20 years. Joe's creative abilities are self-evident based on the longevity and diverse successes of his career. But when asked about his single greatest professional accomplishment, he will always point to enormous career successes of his interns. He is a strong believer in creative collaboration, and networking opportunities, and he shares an exciting new project called FerroCity, which represents the culmination of his extraordinary career and life.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 134 - Pitching Your Book To Different Media with Melissa Dalton Martinez Pitching Your Book To Different Media with Melissa Dalton Martinez Fri, 15 May 2020 13:42:24 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews Melissa Dalton Martinez, a publishing industry PR and marketing manager, marketing consultant, and media professional.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a word about this episode's sponsor (the awesome Patrons of this podcast), and a personal update.

    In his personal update, Mark talks about the creative collaborative projects that he and his partner Liz have been working on - parody music videos, and how a chance in perspective looking at a bowl filled with broken egg yolks resulted in an unexpected and delicious breakfast that was better than what was originally planned.

     

    In their interview Mark and Melissa talk about:

    • Where the show that Melissa runs "The Book Break" runs and what the content of the episodes are
    • How Melissa helps authors get onto various different media and the coaching that she does to prepare them for their appearances
    • Melissa's entrance into the publishing world as a PAR representative in 2003
    • How Melissa is one of those "one more chapter" readers at bed time
    • Why it is easier than ever right now to get interviewed by local media
    • The way that Melissa can spin a story off of anything, and usually creates a minimum of about five story options before she begins to pitch to a particular media outlet
    • Advice for the best way to approach pitching to media or a podcast as a potential guest
    • How an author should go about crafting a pitch to a media professional
    • The importance of going with what you know, and understanding the types of shows that the media outlet you are pitching has recently released
    • Melissa's favorite way to craft a pitch
    • How it is the guest's job to make it easy for the host/producer of the media outlet you are pitching to
    • The reason why it's important to create a list of questions for the media outlet you are pitching to (and sometimes, also the answers you'll provide)
    • Why it is important, whenever you're doing an interview to act as if the interview is live
    • Methods of sending materials, such as pictures, to the producers, ahead of the broadcast, with suggestions of where the images might best be inserted within a segment
    • The importance of the right author photo that is appropriate and relevant for your author brand
    • Why a high resolution image is really important for television
    • The way that professional reviews work, which ones are out there, and the options that an author has for a paid professional review
    • Why professional reviews in spots such as Kirkus are important for library acquisition of books
    • And more....

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of how it is the guest's job to make it as easy on the host, on the producer, as possible. in the same way that it's the book's description's job to make it as easy as possible for the ideal reader to want to have to buy and read a book.

    He also talks about how, with the Covid-19 related isolation taking place, that authors have greater opportunity for various media outlets that, prior, would have only been possible with physical proximity and having to be in the studio.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    Melissa Dalton Martinez has worked in the publishing industry on and off as a PR and marketing manager, marketing consultant, and media professional since 2000.

    After graduating college in 2003, Melissa has helped others grow their careers, run her own businesses, spoken at countless conferences, helped coordinate many events, worked with radio, TV, newspapers, movies, podcasts, YouTube shows, and even became the producer and host of her own TV mini-series, The Book Break.

    In addition to The Book Break, Melissa works as a private marketing, branding, and media consultant; a marketing expert for Eschler Editing; and a book reviewer for various media outlets.

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark interviews Melissa Dalton Martinez, a publishing industry PR and marketing manager, marketing consultant, and media professional.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a word about this episode's sponsor (the awesome Patrons of this podcast), and a personal update.

    In his personal update, Mark talks about the creative collaborative projects that he and his partner Liz have been working on - parody music videos, and how a chance in perspective looking at a bowl filled with broken egg yolks resulted in an unexpected and delicious breakfast that was better than what was originally planned.

    In their interview Mark and Melissa talk about:

    • Where the show that Melissa runs "The Book Break" runs and what the content of the episodes are
    • How Melissa helps authors get onto various different media and the coaching that she does to prepare them for their appearances
    • Melissa's entrance into the publishing world as a PAR representative in 2003
    • How Melissa is one of those "one more chapter" readers at bed time
    • Why it is easier than ever right now to get interviewed by local media
    • The way that Melissa can spin a story off of anything, and usually creates a minimum of about five story options before she begins to pitch to a particular media outlet
    • Advice for the best way to approach pitching to media or a podcast as a potential guest
    • How an author should go about crafting a pitch to a media professional
    • The importance of going with what you know, and understanding the types of shows that the media outlet you are pitching has recently released
    • Melissa's favorite way to craft a pitch
    • How it is the guest's job to make it easy for the host/producer of the media outlet you are pitching to
    • The reason why it's important to create a list of questions for the media outlet you are pitching to (and sometimes, also the answers you'll provide)
    • Why it is important, whenever you're doing an interview to act as if the interview is live
    • Methods of sending materials, such as pictures, to the producers, ahead of the broadcast, with suggestions of where the images might best be inserted within a segment
    • The importance of the right author photo that is appropriate and relevant for your author brand
    • Why a high resolution image is really important for television
    • The way that professional reviews work, which ones are out there, and the options that an author has for a paid professional review
    • Why professional reviews in spots such as Kirkus are important for library acquisition of books
    • And more....

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of how it is the guest's job to make it as easy on the host, on the producer, as possible. in the same way that it's the book's description's job to make it as easy as possible for the ideal reader to want to have to buy and read a book.

    He also talks about how, with the Covid-19 related isolation taking place, that authors have greater opportunity for various media outlets that, prior, would have only been possible with physical proximity and having to be in the studio.

    Links of Interest:

    Melissa Dalton Martinez has worked in the publishing industry on and off as a PR and marketing manager, marketing consultant, and media professional since 2000.

    After graduating college in 2003, Melissa has helped others grow their careers, run her own businesses, spoken at countless conferences, helped coordinate many events, worked with radio, TV, newspapers, movies, podcasts, YouTube shows, and even became the producer and host of her own TV mini-series, The Book Break.

    In addition to The Book Break, Melissa works as a private marketing, branding, and media consultant; a marketing expert for Eschler Editing; and a book reviewer for various media outlets.

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     51:13 false 3 134 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews Melissa Dalton Martinez, a publishing industry PR and marketing manager, marketing consultant, and media professional. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a word about this episode's sponsor (the awesome Patrons of this podcast), and a personal update. In his personal update, Mark talks about the creative collaborative projects that he and his partner Liz have been working on - parody music videos, and how a chance in perspective looking at a bowl filled with broken egg yolks resulted in an unexpected and delicious breakfast that was better than what was originally planned.   In their interview Mark and Melissa talk about: Where the show that Melissa runs "The Book Break" runs and what the content of the episodes are How Melissa helps authors get onto various different media and the coaching that she does to prepare them for their appearances Melissa's entrance into the publishing world as a PAR representative in 2003 How Melissa is one of those "one more chapter" readers at bed time Why it is easier than ever right now to get interviewed by local media The way that Melissa can spin a story off of anything, and usually creates a minimum of about five story options before she begins to pitch to a particular media outlet Advice for the best way to approach pitching to media or a podcast as a potential guest How an author should go about crafting a pitch to a media professional The importance of going with what you know, and understanding the types of shows that the media outlet you are pitching has recently released Melissa's favorite way to craft a pitch How it is the guest's job to make it easy for the host/producer of the media outlet you are pitching to The reason why it's important to create a list of questions for the media outlet you are pitching to (and sometimes, also the answers you'll provide) Why it is important, whenever you're doing an interview to act as if the interview is live Methods of sending materials, such as pictures, to the producers, ahead of the broadcast, with suggestions of where the images might best be inserted within a segment The importance of the right author photo that is appropriate and relevant for your author brand Why a high resolution image is really important for television The way that professional reviews work, which ones are out there, and the options that an author has for a paid professional review Why professional reviews in spots such as Kirkus are important for library acquisition of books And more.... After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of how it is the guest's job to make it as easy on the host, on the producer, as possible. in the same way that it's the book's description's job to make it as easy as possible for the ideal reader to want to have to buy and read a book. He also talks about how, with the Covid-19 related isolation taking place, that authors have greater opportunity for various media outlets that, prior, would have only been possible with physical proximity and having to be in the studio.   Links of Interest: Melissa's Website: The Book Break Sacha Black's Podcasts Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Isolation Parody Songs (K-Tel Spoof Commercial) Spud Wars: A New Helplessness (Parody Movie Trailer) Stuck in this House here with You (Parody Music Video)   Melissa Dalton Martinez has worked in the publishing industry on and off as a PR and marketing manager, marketing consultant, and media professional since 2000. After graduating college in 2003, Melissa has helped others grow their careers, run her own businesses, spoken at countless conferences, helped coordinate many events, worked with radio, TV, newspapers, movies, podcasts, YouTube shows, and even became the producer and host of her own TV mini-series, The Book Break. In addition to The Book Break, Melissa works as a private marketing, branding, and media consultant; a marketing expert for Eschler Editing; and a book reviewer for various media outlets.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode, Mark interviews Melissa Dalton Martinez, a publishing industry PR and marketing manager, marketing consultant, and media professional. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a word about this episode's sponsor (the awesome Patrons of this podcast), and a personal update. In his personal update, Mark talks about the creative collaborative projects that he and his partner Liz have been working on - parody music videos, and how a chance in perspective looking at a bowl filled with broken egg yolks resulted in an unexpected and delicious breakfast that was better than what was originally planned.   In their interview Mark and Melissa talk about: Where the show that Melissa runs "The Book Break" runs and what the content of the episodes are How Melissa helps authors get onto various different media and the coaching that she does to prepare them for their appearances Melissa's entrance into the publishing world as a PAR representative in 2003 How Melissa is one of those "one more chapter" readers at bed time Why it is easier than ever right now to get interviewed by local media The way that Melissa can spin a story off of anything, and usually creates a minimum of about five story options before she begins to pitch to a particular media outlet Advice for the best way to approach pitching to media or a podcast as a potential guest How an author should go about crafting a pitch to a media professional The importance of going with what you know, and understanding the types of shows that the media outlet you are pitching has recently released Melissa's favorite way to craft a pitch How it is the guest's job to make it easy for the host/producer of the media outlet you are pitching to The reason why it's important to create a list of questions for the media outlet you are pitching to (and sometimes, also the answers you'll provide) Why it is important, whenever you're doing an interview to act as if the interview is live Methods of sending materials, such as pictures, to the producers, ahead of the broadcast, with suggestions of where the images might best be inserted within a segment The importance of the right author photo that is appropriate and relevant for your author brand Why a high resolution image is really important for television The way that professional reviews work, which ones are out there, and the options that an author has for a paid professional review Why professional reviews in spots such as Kirkus are important for library acquisition of books And more.... After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of how it is the guest's job to make it as easy on the host, on the producer, as possible. in the same way that it's the book's description's job to make it as easy as possible for the ideal reader to want to have to buy and read a book. He also talks about how, with the Covid-19 related isolation taking place, that authors have greater opportunity for various media outlets that, prior, would have only been possible with physical proximity and having to be in the studio.   Links of Interest: Melissa's Website: The Book Break Sacha Black's Podcasts Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Isolation Parody Songs (K-Tel Spoof Commercial) Spud Wars: A New Helplessness (Parody Movie Trailer) Stuck in this House here with You (Parody Music Video)   Melissa Dalton Martinez has worked in the publishing industry on and off as a PR and marketing manager, marketing consultant, and media professional since 2000. After graduating college in 2003, Melissa has helped others grow their careers, run her own businesses, spoken at countless conferences, helped coordinate many events, worked with radio, TV, newspapers, movies, podcasts, YouTube shows, and even became the producer and host of her own TV mini-series, The Book Break. In addition to The Book Break, Melissa works as a private marketing, branding, and media consultant; a marketing expert for Eschler Editing; and a book reviewer for various media outlets.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 133 - Anatomy of a Rebel with Sacha Black Anatomy of a Rebel with Sacha Black Fri, 08 May 2020 00:58:28 +0000 Mark interviews Sacha Black about her role and brand as a Rebel Author, about her writing, her podcast, and about her books for writers on crafting heroes, villains, and prose.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, talking about recent birthday activities, a recent Star Wars parody video he created, and what that type of creation means to him as a writer.

    He then shares some comments from recent episodes and a word from this podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Sacha and Mark talk about:

    • Where Sacha's "Rebel Author" brand came from, and how she has always been a bit of a rebel
    • How, the best way to get Sacha to do something is to ask her not to do it
    • The way that being an indie author is a bit rebellious in and of itself
    • The thrill of being a little bit naughty
    • How people are able to connect when you are being more authentic
    • Being on the border of introvert/extrovert and the connection with others that Sacha values from running her podcast
    • The appearance of confidence from the outside, and how the indie author community has allowed Sacha to regain some confidence
    • Being very intentional about wanting to leave her full time job to become a full time writer, and the planning and staging she worked on to get there
    • Sacha's life of being passionate about reading and writing
    • How a character Sacha originally wrote when she was 9 years old became the protagonist in her first novel
    • The randomness in the way that characters Sacha creates come to her
    • The combination of terrible memory and super geek that is part of Sacha's process as a writer
    • How she never intended to write non-fiction, but completely fell in love with it
    • The way that an overnight 100K of hits on a series of blog posts she wrote about villains led to filling a hole in the market and a path of loving writing non-fiction
    • How Sacha's new non-fiction title, The Anatomy of Prose, started off as a labor of love
    • The purposeful branding on the covers of these three non-fiction books for writers and how they incorporate three core values
    • The process of recording the audiobooks herself
    • How Sacha and her wife have negotiated the landscape of raising a six year old and each of them getting their work done
    • Katie Forest's book called Time Management for Writers and what she has to say about times of crisis
    • How the hardest thing for Sacha in terms of her work-life balance is letting go of the parental guilt
    • The challenge of finding books for a young reader whose comprehension for words has surpassed most content meant for people their age
    • The fact that if Sacha is terrified of something she is compelled to jump right in
    • Using made-up swear words

     

    After the interview, Marks a few reflections about things the chat with Sacha made him think about.

    He also shares how listeners can win a signed copy of Sacha's latest book by commenting on this episode. (Opportunity to win ends May 29, 2020 when a random drawing of commenters will take place).

    He also thanks Patrons of the show and shares that Patrons will be automatically entered in a chance to win a set of Sacha's three books for writers, just by being patrons. The random draw for that will take place at the same time.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

     

    Sacha Black is an author, rebel podcaster, speaker and developmental editor.

    She has five obsessions; words, expensive shoes, conspiracy theories, self-improvement, and breaking the rules.

    Sacha writes books about people with magical powers and other books about the art of writing.

    When she's not writing, she can be found laughing inappropriately loud, sniffing musty old books, fangirling film and TV soundtracks, or thinking up new ways to break the rules.

    She lives in Hertfordshire, England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son.

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark interviews Sacha Black about her role and brand as a Rebel Author, about her writing, her podcast, and about her books for writers on crafting heroes, villains, and prose.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, talking about recent birthday activities, a recent Star Wars parody video he created, and what that type of creation means to him as a writer.

    He then shares some comments from recent episodes and a word from this podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Sacha and Mark talk about:

    • Where Sacha's "Rebel Author" brand came from, and how she has always been a bit of a rebel
    • How, the best way to get Sacha to do something is to ask her not to do it
    • The way that being an indie author is a bit rebellious in and of itself
    • The thrill of being a little bit naughty
    • How people are able to connect when you are being more authentic
    • Being on the border of introvert/extrovert and the connection with others that Sacha values from running her podcast
    • The appearance of confidence from the outside, and how the indie author community has allowed Sacha to regain some confidence
    • Being very intentional about wanting to leave her full time job to become a full time writer, and the planning and staging she worked on to get there
    • Sacha's life of being passionate about reading and writing
    • How a character Sacha originally wrote when she was 9 years old became the protagonist in her first novel
    • The randomness in the way that characters Sacha creates come to her
    • The combination of terrible memory and super geek that is part of Sacha's process as a writer
    • How she never intended to write non-fiction, but completely fell in love with it
    • The way that an overnight 100K of hits on a series of blog posts she wrote about villains led to filling a hole in the market and a path of loving writing non-fiction
    • How Sacha's new non-fiction title, The Anatomy of Prose, started off as a labor of love
    • The purposeful branding on the covers of these three non-fiction books for writers and how they incorporate three core values
    • The process of recording the audiobooks herself
    • How Sacha and her wife have negotiated the landscape of raising a six year old and each of them getting their work done
    • Katie Forest's book called Time Management for Writers and what she has to say about times of crisis
    • How the hardest thing for Sacha in terms of her work-life balance is letting go of the parental guilt
    • The challenge of finding books for a young reader whose comprehension for words has surpassed most content meant for people their age
    • The fact that if Sacha is terrified of something she is compelled to jump right in
    • Using made-up swear words

    After the interview, Marks a few reflections about things the chat with Sacha made him think about.

    He also shares how listeners can win a signed copy of Sacha's latest book by commenting on this episode. (Opportunity to win ends May 29, 2020 when a random drawing of commenters will take place).

    He also thanks Patrons of the show and shares that Patrons will be automatically entered in a chance to win a set of Sacha's three books for writers, just by being patrons. The random draw for that will take place at the same time.

    Links of Interest:

    Sacha Black is an author, rebel podcaster, speaker and developmental editor.

    She has five obsessions; words, expensive shoes, conspiracy theories, self-improvement, and breaking the rules.

    Sacha writes books about people with magical powers and other books about the art of writing.

    When she's not writing, she can be found laughing inappropriately loud, sniffing musty old books, fangirling film and TV soundtracks, or thinking up new ways to break the rules.

    She lives in Hertfordshire, England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son.

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     57:44 false 3 133 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Sacha Black about her role and brand as a Rebel Author, about her writing, her podcast, and about her books for writers on crafting heroes, villains, and prose. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, talking about recent birthday activities, a recent Star Wars parody video he created, and what that type of creation means to him as a writer. He then shares some comments from recent episodes and a word from this podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Sacha and Mark talk about: Where Sacha's "Rebel Author" brand came from, and how she has always been a bit of a rebel How, the best way to get Sacha to do something is to ask her not to do it The way that being an indie author is a bit rebellious in and of itself The thrill of being a little bit naughty How people are able to connect when you are being more authentic Being on the border of introvert/extrovert and the connection with others that Sacha values from running her podcast The appearance of confidence from the outside, and how the indie author community has allowed Sacha to regain some confidence Being very intentional about wanting to leave her full time job to become a full time writer, and the planning and staging she worked on to get there Sacha's life of being passionate about reading and writing How a character Sacha originally wrote when she was 9 years old became the protagonist in her first novel The randomness in the way that characters Sacha creates come to her The combination of terrible memory and super geek that is part of Sacha's process as a writer How she never intended to write non-fiction, but completely fell in love with it The way that an overnight 100K of hits on a series of blog posts she wrote about villains led to filling a hole in the market and a path of loving writing non-fiction How Sacha's new non-fiction title, The Anatomy of Prose, started off as a labor of love The purposeful branding on the covers of these three non-fiction books for writers and how they incorporate three core values The process of recording the audiobooks herself How Sacha and her wife have negotiated the landscape of raising a six year old and each of them getting their work done Katie Forest's book called Time Management for Writers and what she has to say about times of crisis How the hardest thing for Sacha in terms of her work-life balance is letting go of the parental guilt The challenge of finding books for a young reader whose comprehension for words has surpassed most content meant for people their age The fact that if Sacha is terrified of something she is compelled to jump right in Using made-up swear words   After the interview, Marks a few reflections about things the chat with Sacha made him think about. He also shares how listeners can win a signed copy of Sacha's latest book by commenting on this episode. (Opportunity to win ends May 29, 2020 when a random drawing of commenters will take place). He also thanks Patrons of the show and shares that Patrons will be automatically entered in a chance to win a set of Sacha's three books for writers, just by being patrons. The random draw for that will take place at the same time.   Links of Interest: Sacha Black's Website Sacha's Podcasts Sacha's Facebook Author Profile Sacha on Instagram Episode 132 - Lauding the Art of Music with Martin Popoff Episode 130 - Grace Under Pressure with Kevin J Anderson Episode 97 - 10 Tips for Marketing and Making Money off Your Short Fiction The Creative Penn - EP 487 - Writing and Selling Short Fiction with Matty Dalrymple Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's Proposal Video (Song "Liz" by Alicia Witt) Spud Wars: A New Helplessness (Parody Movie Trailer) Stuck in this House here with You (Parody Music Video)     Sacha Black is an author, rebel podcaster, speaker and developmental editor. She has five obsessions; words, expensive shoes, conspiracy theories, self-improvement, and breaking the rules. Sacha writes books about people with magical powers and other books about the art of writing. When she's not writing, she can be found laughing inappropriately loud, sniffing musty old books, fangirling film and TV soundtracks, or thinking up new ways to break the rules. She lives in Hertfordshire, England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Sacha Black about her role and brand as a Rebel Author, about her writing, her podcast, and about her books for writers on crafting heroes, villains, and prose. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, talking about recent birthday activities, a recent Star Wars parody video he created, and what that type of creation means to him as a writer. He then shares some comments from recent episodes and a word from this podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Sacha and Mark talk about: Where Sacha's "Rebel Author" brand came from, and how she has always been a bit of a rebel How, the best way to get Sacha to do something is to ask her not to do it The way that being an indie author is a bit rebellious in and of itself The thrill of being a little bit naughty How people are able to connect when you are being more authentic Being on the border of introvert/extrovert and the connection with others that Sacha values from running her podcast The appearance of confidence from the outside, and how the indie author community has allowed Sacha to regain some confidence Being very intentional about wanting to leave her full time job to become a full time writer, and the planning and staging she worked on to get there Sacha's life of being passionate about reading and writing How a character Sacha originally wrote when she was 9 years old became the protagonist in her first novel The randomness in the way that characters Sacha creates come to her The combination of terrible memory and super geek that is part of Sacha's process as a writer How she never intended to write non-fiction, but completely fell in love with it The way that an overnight 100K of hits on a series of blog posts she wrote about villains led to filling a hole in the market and a path of loving writing non-fiction How Sacha's new non-fiction title, The Anatomy of Prose, started off as a labor of love The purposeful branding on the covers of these three non-fiction books for writers and how they incorporate three core values The process of recording the audiobooks herself How Sacha and her wife have negotiated the landscape of raising a six year old and each of them getting their work done Katie Forest's book called Time Management for Writers and what she has to say about times of crisis How the hardest thing for Sacha in terms of her work-life balance is letting go of the parental guilt The challenge of finding books for a young reader whose comprehension for words has surpassed most content meant for people their age The fact that if Sacha is terrified of something she is compelled to jump right in Using made-up swear words   After the interview, Marks a few reflections about things the chat with Sacha made him think about. He also shares how listeners can win a signed copy of Sacha's latest book by commenting on this episode. (Opportunity to win ends May 29, 2020 when a random drawing of commenters will take place). He also thanks Patrons of the show and shares that Patrons will be automatically entered in a chance to win a set of Sacha's three books for writers, just by being patrons. The random draw for that will take place at the same time.   Links of Interest: Sacha Black's Website Sacha's Podcasts Sacha's Facebook Author Profile Sacha on Instagram Episode 132 - Lauding the Art of Music with Martin Popoff Episode 130 - Grace Under Pressure with Kevin J Anderson Episode 97 - 10 Tips for Marketing and Making Money off Your Short Fiction The Creative Penn - EP 487 - Writing and Selling Short Fiction with Matty Dalrymple Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's Proposal Video (Song "Liz" by Alicia Witt) Spud Wars: A New Helplessness (Parody Movie Trailer) Stuck in this House here with You (Parody Music Video)     Sacha Black is an author, rebel podcaster, speaker and developmental editor. She has five obsessions; words, expensive shoes, conspiracy theories, self-improvement, and breaking the rules. Sacha writes books about people with magical powers and other books about the art of writing. When she's not writing, she can be found laughing inappropriately loud, sniffing musty old books, fangirling film and TV soundtracks, or thinking up new ways to break the rules. She lives in Hertfordshire, England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 132 - Lauding the Art of Music with Martin Popoff Lauding the Art of Music with Martin Popoff Thu, 30 Apr 2020 22:27:10 +0000 Mark interviews Martin Popoff about his latest book ANTHEM: Rush in the 70's as well as a lifetime of passion writing about music.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and some comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    In their conversation, Martin and Mark talk about:

    • Martin's introduction to music when he was six or seven years old
    • Turning people into metal-heads when Martin was working at a record store about the age of fifteen
    • How people learned about music and records prior to the internet
    • How Martin's love and passion for music evoled into life of writing about music, which he started to do full time in 2000
    • Martin's first book, which was a self-published book of a collection of record reviews, which later got picked up by a traditional publisher in 1997
    • Writing 9 or 10 music books per year
    • The style of music review that Martin prefers to write
    • The importance of talking about and lauding the art of the entire music production when writing a book about musicians and their work
    • The interesting nature of the narrative of the story of a band and the narrative of a band's concept album
    • How Martin values letting the band speak for themselves in the books he writes about them, relying on actual quotes from lengthy interviews, rather than blatantly injecting his own theory into the narrative
    • The different listening experiences of listening to a full album start to finish from a vinyl LP and listening to it in custom single song chunks in a digital era
    • The recent collaborative Canadian multi-location/self-isolation version of "Lean on Me" from Canada Strong
    • Martin's original 2003 Rush biography: Contents Under Pressure which is now out of date and out of print
    • How the desire to write a single comprehensive updated book about Rush resulted in well over 350,000 words and 3 volumes. Anthem: Rush in the 70s. (May 202) Limelight: Rush in the 80s (Oct 2020) Drive: Rush in the 90s (In the End) (Spring 2021)
    • The use of interview footage from Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
    • Something that surprised Martin in writing these volumes
    • How there is nobody who sounds like Rush and that are, in many ways, their own unique genre in music
    • What a good gate-way Rush song might be for someone who doesn't think their music is accessible
    • Martin's Podcast: History in Five Songs
    • What music Martin listens to when he is writing

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the volume of publishing Martin has done, which is atypical for a traditionally published author; he also reflects on the dynamic nature of the relationship and flexibility he has with his publisher.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark interviews Martin Popoff about his latest book ANTHEM: Rush in the 70's as well as a lifetime of passion writing about music.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and some comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Martin and Mark talk about:

    • Martin's introduction to music when he was six or seven years old
    • Turning people into metal-heads when Martin was working at a record store about the age of fifteen
    • How people learned about music and records prior to the internet
    • How Martin's love and passion for music evoled into life of writing about music, which he started to do full time in 2000
    • Martin's first book, which was a self-published book of a collection of record reviews, which later got picked up by a traditional publisher in 1997
    • Writing 9 or 10 music books per year
    • The style of music review that Martin prefers to write
    • The importance of talking about and lauding the art of the entire music production when writing a book about musicians and their work
    • The interesting nature of the narrative of the story of a band and the narrative of a band's concept album
    • How Martin values letting the band speak for themselves in the books he writes about them, relying on actual quotes from lengthy interviews, rather than blatantly injecting his own theory into the narrative
    • The different listening experiences of listening to a full album start to finish from a vinyl LP and listening to it in custom single song chunks in a digital era
    • The recent collaborative Canadian multi-location/self-isolation version of "Lean on Me" from Canada Strong
    • Martin's original 2003 Rush biography: Contents Under Pressure which is now out of date and out of print
    • How the desire to write a single comprehensive updated book about Rush resulted in well over 350,000 words and 3 volumes. Anthem: Rush in the 70s. (May 202) Limelight: Rush in the 80s (Oct 2020) Drive: Rush in the 90s (In the End) (Spring 2021)
    • The use of interview footage from Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
    • Something that surprised Martin in writing these volumes
    • How there is nobody who sounds like Rush and that are, in many ways, their own unique genre in music
    • What a good gate-way Rush song might be for someone who doesn't think their music is accessible
    • Martin's Podcast: History in Five Songs
    • What music Martin listens to when he is writing

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the volume of publishing Martin has done, which is atypical for a traditionally published author; he also reflects on the dynamic nature of the relationship and flexibility he has with his publisher.

    Links of Interest:

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     53:06 false 3 133 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Martin Popoff about his latest book ANTHEM: Rush in the 70's as well as a lifetime of passion writing about music. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and some comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Martin and Mark talk about: Martin's introduction to music when he was six or seven years old Turning people into metal-heads when Martin was working at a record store about the age of fifteen How people learned about music and records prior to the internet How Martin's love and passion for music evoled into life of writing about music, which he started to do full time in 2000 Martin's first book, which was a self-published book of a collection of record reviews, which later got picked up by a traditional publisher in 1997 Writing 9 or 10 music books per year The style of music review that Martin prefers to write The importance of talking about and lauding the art of the entire music production when writing a book about musicians and their work The interesting nature of the narrative of the story of a band and the narrative of a band's concept album How Martin values letting the band speak for themselves in the books he writes about them, relying on actual quotes from lengthy interviews, rather than blatantly injecting his own theory into the narrative The different listening experiences of listening to a full album start to finish from a vinyl LP and listening to it in custom single song chunks in a digital era The recent collaborative Canadian multi-location/self-isolation version of "Lean on Me" from Canada Strong Martin's original 2003 Rush biography: Contents Under Pressure which is now out of date and out of print How the desire to write a single comprehensive updated book about Rush resulted in well over 350,000 words and 3 volumes. Anthem: Rush in the 70s. (May 202) Limelight: Rush in the 80s (Oct 2020) Drive: Rush in the 90s (In the End) (Spring 2021) The use of interview footage from Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage Something that surprised Martin in writing these volumes How there is nobody who sounds like Rush and that are, in many ways, their own unique genre in music What a good gate-way Rush song might be for someone who doesn't think their music is accessible Martin's Podcast: History in Five Songs What music Martin listens to when he is writing   After the interview, Mark reflects on the volume of publishing Martin has done, which is atypical for a traditionally published author; he also reflects on the dynamic nature of the relationship and flexibility he has with his publisher.   Links of Interest: Martin Popoff's Website Martin's Podcast: History in Five Songs Episode 130 - Grace Under Pressure with Kevin J Anderson Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Martin Popoff about his latest book ANTHEM: Rush in the 70's as well as a lifetime of passion writing about music. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and some comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Martin and Mark talk about: Martin's introduction to music when he was six or seven years old Turning people into metal-heads when Martin was working at a record store about the age of fifteen How people learned about music and records prior to the internet How Martin's love and passion for music evoled into life of writing about music, which he started to do full time in 2000 Martin's first book, which was a self-published book of a collection of record reviews, which later got picked up by a traditional publisher in 1997 Writing 9 or 10 music books per year The style of music review that Martin prefers to write The importance of talking about and lauding the art of the entire music production when writing a book about musicians and their work The interesting nature of the narrative of the story of a band and the narrative of a band's concept album How Martin values letting the band speak for themselves in the books he writes about them, relying on actual quotes from lengthy interviews, rather than blatantly injecting his own theory into the narrative The different listening experiences of listening to a full album start to finish from a vinyl LP and listening to it in custom single song chunks in a digital era The recent collaborative Canadian multi-location/self-isolation version of "Lean on Me" from Canada Strong Martin's original 2003 Rush biography: Contents Under Pressure which is now out of date and out of print How the desire to write a single comprehensive updated book about Rush resulted in well over 350,000 words and 3 volumes. Anthem: Rush in the 70s. (May 202) Limelight: Rush in the 80s (Oct 2020) Drive: Rush in the 90s (In the End) (Spring 2021) The use of interview footage from Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage Something that surprised Martin in writing these volumes How there is nobody who sounds like Rush and that are, in many ways, their own unique genre in music What a good gate-way Rush song might be for someone who doesn't think their music is accessible Martin's Podcast: History in Five Songs What music Martin listens to when he is writing   After the interview, Mark reflects on the volume of publishing Martin has done, which is atypical for a traditionally published author; he also reflects on the dynamic nature of the relationship and flexibility he has with his publisher.   Links of Interest: Martin Popoff's Website Martin's Podcast: History in Five Songs Episode 130 - Grace Under Pressure with Kevin J Anderson Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 131 - Thanks for the Inspriation Todd Anderson Thanks for the Inspriation Todd Anderson Fri, 24 Apr 2020 02:00:00 +0000 In this solo "thanks for the inspiration" episode, Mark reflects on how Todd Anderson was an important colleague whose influence, mentorship, and leadership resulted in a critical shift in his career.

    Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, some comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

     

    Links of Interest:

     

     

    Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast.

    As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers.

    Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing.

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this solo "thanks for the inspiration" episode, Mark reflects on how Todd Anderson was an important colleague whose influence, mentorship, and leadership resulted in a critical shift in his career.

    Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, some comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Links of Interest:

    Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast.

    As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers.

    Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing.

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     34:05 false 3 131 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo "thanks for the inspiration" episode, Mark reflects on how Todd Anderson was an important colleague whose influence, mentorship, and leadership resulted in a critical shift in his career. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, some comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.     Links of Interest: The FISH Philosophy of Customer Service Episode 130 - Grace Under Pressure with Kevin J Anderson Mark's Audiobooks (on sale) at Nook The 7 P's of Publishing Success Evasion Campus Chills Anthology Campus Chills Book Launches Espresso Book Machine / On Demand Books Examining Alternative Futures for Publishing Tell Me About The Early Days of Self Publishing Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections     Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast. As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers. Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo "thanks for the inspiration" episode, Mark reflects on how Todd Anderson was an important colleague whose influence, mentorship, and leadership resulted in a critical shift in his career. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, some comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.     Links of Interest: The FISH Philosophy of Customer Service Episode 130 - Grace Under Pressure with Kevin J Anderson Mark's Audiobooks (on sale) at Nook The 7 P's of Publishing Success Evasion Campus Chills Anthology Campus Chills Book Launches Espresso Book Machine / On Demand Books Examining Alternative Futures for Publishing Tell Me About The Early Days of Self Publishing Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections     Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast. As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers. Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 130 - Writing Through Change, Tragedy, & Trauma with Kevin J. Anderson Writing Through Change, Tragedy, & Trauma with Kevin J. Anderson Fri, 17 Apr 2020 03:24:15 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews author Kevin J. Anderson about dictating his first drafts, about adapting to change in the publishing industry and about writing through personal tragedy, grief, and trauma.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and goes into detail about the challenges he has faced with not being able to focus or write in the past several weeks, falling behind in several writing deadlines.

    But he talks about how he has continued to be creative, and that creators will always create. He shares a writing warm-up practice he has started again - writing parody lyrics to songs and poetry.

    He then shares the experience of doing that recently and collaborating with Liz, the opening and closing voice of the podcast, and his fiance.

    He shares the music video they created on Easter Sunday and how working on that project has reinvigorated his own creative spirit and energy; particularly as a reminder for the fact that the world needs writers, and the smiles this parody song and video have inspired is an example of why writers do what they do.

    Stuck in the Middle with You - Parody

    Mark then shares the audio for the song as well as the fact he will be teaching an online class on April 22nd in a series from Jane Friedman.

    After the song, Mark shares listener comments from recent episodes and then offers a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Mark and Kevin talk about:

    • Finally getting around to this interview, as it's something they've been meaning to do for years, and are finally getting to
    • How Kevin has always been a dictator when it comes to his writing, dictating while taking long walks or hikes in the Colorado mountains
    • The fact that Kevin can still do his regular writing during these self-isolation times the same way he always has
    • The importance of trying dictation for more than just a short time, or once or twice, paralleling it to the way writers have learned typing and keyboarding skills
    • Tips for getting started in dictation, such as using dictation for a brainstorming session
    • Keeping so many different book projects that are in different stages (as a hybrid author with multiple traditional and indie-publishing projects on the go)
    • How Kevin's first published novel has much of the RUSH album "Grade Under Pressure" woven into it, and how that book is what ultimately connected Kevin to RUSH drummer and lyricist, Neil Peart
    • The thirty-plus year relationship that Kevin had with Neil Peart and the co-authoring they have done together
    • How the recent Drumbeats project of Kevin and Neil's first collaboration is being re-released in a special limited edition print run
    • Managing writing through times of loss, grief, stress and anxiety
    • How the new Dune film, and the paperback release of one of Kevin's traditionally published books are being affected and delayed by Covid-19
    • The masters in publishing program that Kevin is teaching for Western Colorado University and the publishing projects that the students are working on for that
    • How Superstars Writing Seminars originated with Kevin, his wife Rebecca Moesta, Brandon Sanderson, David Farland, and Eric Flint getting together to figure out the changes in the publishing industry about twelve years ago
    • And more . . .

    After the interview, Mark reflects on how he and Kevin had kept putting off doing this interview for years, and the parallel to how Kevin and Neil had always put the Drumbeats special edition project on the back burner.

    He talks about other projects and things he'd continued to put off, and what thinking about that inspires.

    Mark then shares an opportunity for listeners to win one of two copies of Kevin's book. A book for writers (On Being a Dictator) and the special limited edition book (Drumbeats).

    Commenters and Patrons will be entered in a draw for the prizes which will be done after midnight Eastern time on Friday May 1, 2020.

    Links of Interest:

     

    Kevin J. Anderson has published more than 165 books, 56 of which have been national or international bestsellers.

    He has written numerous novels in the Star Wars, X-Files, and Dune universes, as well as unique steampunk fantasy novels Clockwork Angels and Clockwork Lives, written with legendary rock drummer Neil Peart, based on the concept album by the band Rush.

    Kevin's original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series, the Terra Incognita fantasy trilogy, the Saga of Shadows trilogy, and his humorous horror series featuring Dan Shamble, Zombie PI. He has edited numerous anthologies, written comics and games, and the lyrics to two rock CDs. Anderson and his wife Rebecca Moesta are the publishers of WordFire Press. His most recent novels are Stake, Kill Zone, and Spine of the Dragon.

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews author Kevin J. Anderson about dictating his first drafts, about adapting to change in the publishing industry and about writing through personal tragedy, grief, and trauma.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and goes into detail about the challenges he has faced with not being able to focus or write in the past several weeks, falling behind in several writing deadlines.

    But he talks about how he has continued to be creative, and that creators will always create. He shares a writing warm-up practice he has started again - writing parody lyrics to songs and poetry.

    He then shares the experience of doing that recently and collaborating with Liz, the opening and closing voice of the podcast, and his fiance.

    He shares the music video they created on Easter Sunday and how working on that project has reinvigorated his own creative spirit and energy; particularly as a reminder for the fact that the world needs writers, and the smiles this parody song and video have inspired is an example of why writers do what they do.

    Mark then shares the audio for the song as well as the fact he will be teaching an online class on April 22nd in a series from Jane Friedman.

    After the song, Mark shares listener comments from recent episodes and then offers a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Mark and Kevin talk about:

    • Finally getting around to this interview, as it's something they've been meaning to do for years, and are finally getting to
    • How Kevin has always been a dictator when it comes to his writing, dictating while taking long walks or hikes in the Colorado mountains
    • The fact that Kevin can still do his regular writing during these self-isolation times the same way he always has
    • The importance of trying dictation for more than just a short time, or once or twice, paralleling it to the way writers have learned typing and keyboarding skills
    • Tips for getting started in dictation, such as using dictation for a brainstorming session
    • Keeping so many different book projects that are in different stages (as a hybrid author with multiple traditional and indie-publishing projects on the go)
    • How Kevin's first published novel has much of the RUSH album "Grade Under Pressure" woven into it, and how that book is what ultimately connected Kevin to RUSH drummer and lyricist, Neil Peart
    • The thirty-plus year relationship that Kevin had with Neil Peart and the co-authoring they have done together
    • How the recent Drumbeats project of Kevin and Neil's first collaboration is being re-released in a special limited edition print run
    • Managing writing through times of loss, grief, stress and anxiety
    • How the new Dune film, and the paperback release of one of Kevin's traditionally published books are being affected and delayed by Covid-19
    • The masters in publishing program that Kevin is teaching for Western Colorado University and the publishing projects that the students are working on for that
    • How Superstars Writing Seminars originated with Kevin, his wife Rebecca Moesta, Brandon Sanderson, David Farland, and Eric Flint getting together to figure out the changes in the publishing industry about twelve years ago
    • And more . . .

    After the interview, Mark reflects on how he and Kevin had kept putting off doing this interview for years, and the parallel to how Kevin and Neil had always put the Drumbeats special edition project on the back burner.

    He talks about other projects and things he'd continued to put off, and what thinking about that inspires.

    Mark then shares an opportunity for listeners to win one of two copies of Kevin's book. A book for writers (On Being a Dictator) and the special limited edition book (Drumbeats).

    Commenters and Patrons will be entered in a draw for the prizes which will be done after midnight Eastern time on Friday May 1, 2020.

    Links of Interest:

    Kevin J. Anderson has published more than 165 books, 56 of which have been national or international bestsellers.

    He has written numerous novels in the Star Wars, X-Files, and Dune universes, as well as unique steampunk fantasy novels Clockwork Angels and Clockwork Lives, written with legendary rock drummer Neil Peart, based on the concept album by the band Rush.

    Kevin's original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series, the Terra Incognita fantasy trilogy, the Saga of Shadows trilogy, and his humorous horror series featuring Dan Shamble, Zombie PI. He has edited numerous anthologies, written comics and games, and the lyrics to two rock CDs. Anderson and his wife Rebecca Moesta are the publishers of WordFire Press. His most recent novels are Stake, Kill Zone, and Spine of the Dragon.

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     01:13:35 false 3 130 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews author Kevin J. Anderson about dictating his first drafts, about adapting to change in the publishing industry and about writing through personal tragedy, grief, and trauma. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and goes into detail about the challenges he has faced with not being able to focus or write in the past several weeks, falling behind in several writing deadlines. But he talks about how he has continued to be creative, and that creators will always create. He shares a writing warm-up practice he has started again - writing parody lyrics to songs and poetry. He then shares the experience of doing that recently and collaborating with Liz, the opening and closing voice of the podcast, and his fiance. He shares the music video they created on Easter Sunday and how working on that project has reinvigorated his own creative spirit and energy; particularly as a reminder for the fact that the world needs writers, and the smiles this parody song and video have inspired is an example of why writers do what they do. Mark then shares the audio for the song as well as the fact he will be teaching an online class on April 22nd in a series from Jane Friedman. After the song, Mark shares listener comments from recent episodes and then offers a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Kevin talk about: Finally getting around to this interview, as it's something they've been meaning to do for years, and are finally getting to How Kevin has always been a dictator when it comes to his writing, dictating while taking long walks or hikes in the Colorado mountains The fact that Kevin can still do his regular writing during these self-isolation times the same way he always has The importance of trying dictation for more than just a short time, or once or twice, paralleling it to the way writers have learned typing and keyboarding skills Tips for getting started in dictation, such as using dictation for a brainstorming session Keeping so many different book projects that are in different stages (as a hybrid author with multiple traditional and indie-publishing projects on the go) How Kevin's first published novel has much of the RUSH album "Grade Under Pressure" woven into it, and how that book is what ultimately connected Kevin to RUSH drummer and lyricist, Neil Peart The thirty-plus year relationship that Kevin had with Neil Peart and the co-authoring they have done together How the recent Drumbeats project of Kevin and Neil's first collaboration is being re-released in a special limited edition print run Managing writing through times of loss, grief, stress and anxiety How the new Dune film, and the paperback release of one of Kevin's traditionally published books are being affected and delayed by Covid-19 The masters in publishing program that Kevin is teaching for Western Colorado University and the publishing projects that the students are working on for that How Superstars Writing Seminars originated with Kevin, his wife Rebecca Moesta, Brandon Sanderson, David Farland, and Eric Flint getting together to figure out the changes in the publishing industry about twelve years ago And more . . . After the interview, Mark reflects on how he and Kevin had kept putting off doing this interview for years, and the parallel to how Kevin and Neil had always put the Drumbeats special edition project on the back burner. He talks about other projects and things he'd continued to put off, and what thinking about that inspires. Mark then shares an opportunity for listeners to win one of two copies of Kevin's book. A book for writers (On Being a Dictator) and the special limited edition book (Drumbeats). Commenters and Patrons will be entered in a draw for the prizes which will be done after midnight Eastern time on Friday May 1, 2020. Links of Interest: Kevin J. Anderson's Website WordFire Press Kevin in Twitter Superstars Writing Seminars Steve Otis - Artist Mark's Audiobooks (on sale) at Nook The 7 P's of Publishing Success Evasion Jane Friedman's Online Class: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction Episode 114 - Thanks for the Inspiration, Neil Peart Episode 125 -Simplifying, Streamlining, and Organizing with Janice Savage Episode 128 - Healthy Home Workspaces with Roland Denzel Episode 129 - Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Kevin J. Anderson has published more than 165 books, 56 of which have been national or international bestsellers. He has written numerous novels in the Star Wars, X-Files, and Dune universes, as well as unique steampunk fantasy novels Clockwork Angels and Clockwork Lives, written with legendary rock drummer Neil Peart, based on the concept album by the band Rush. Kevin's original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series, the Terra Incognita fantasy trilogy, the Saga of Shadows trilogy, and his humorous horror series featuring Dan Shamble, Zombie PI. He has edited numerous anthologies, written comics and games, and the lyrics to two rock CDs. Anderson and his wife Rebecca Moesta are the publishers of WordFire Press. His most recent novels are Stake, Kill Zone, and Spine of the Dragon.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews author Kevin J. Anderson about dictating his first drafts, about adapting to change in the publishing industry and about writing through personal tragedy, grief, and trauma. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and goes into detail about the challenges he has faced with not being able to focus or write in the past several weeks, falling behind in several writing deadlines. But he talks about how he has continued to be creative, and that creators will always create. He shares a writing warm-up practice he has started again - writing parody lyrics to songs and poetry. He then shares the experience of doing that recently and collaborating with Liz, the opening and closing voice of the podcast, and his fiance. He shares the music video they created on Easter Sunday and how working on that project has reinvigorated his own creative spirit and energy; particularly as a reminder for the fact that the world needs writers, and the smiles this parody song and video have inspired is an example of why writers do what they do. Mark then shares the audio for the song as well as the fact he will be teaching an online class on April 22nd in a series from Jane Friedman. After the song, Mark shares listener comments from recent episodes and then offers a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Kevin talk about: Finally getting around to this interview, as it's something they've been meaning to do for years, and are finally getting to How Kevin has always been a dictator when it comes to his writing, dictating while taking long walks or hikes in the Colorado mountains The fact that Kevin can still do his regular writing during these self-isolation times the same way he always has The importance of trying dictation for more than just a short time, or once or twice, paralleling it to the way writers have learned typing and keyboarding skills Tips for getting started in dictation, such as using dictation for a brainstorming session Keeping so many different book projects that are in different stages (as a hybrid author with multiple traditional and indie-publishing projects on the go) How Kevin's first published novel has much of the RUSH album "Grade Under Pressure" woven into it, and how that book is what ultimately connected Kevin to RUSH drummer and lyricist, Neil Peart The thirty-plus year relationship that Kevin had with Neil Peart and the co-authoring they have done together How the recent Drumbeats project of Kevin and Neil's first collaboration is being re-released in a special limited edition print run Managing writing through times of loss, grief, stress and anxiety How the new Dune film, and the paperback release of one of Kevin's traditionally published books are being affected and delayed by Covid-19 The masters in publishing program that Kevin is teaching for Western Colorado University and the publishing projects that the students are working on for that How Superstars Writing Seminars originated with Kevin, his wife Rebecca Moesta, Brandon Sanderson, David Farland, and Eric Flint getting together to figure out the changes in the publishing industry about twelve years ago And more . . . After the interview, Mark reflects on how he and Kevin had kept putting off doing this interview for years, and the parallel to how Kevin and Neil had always put the Drumbeats special edition project on the back burner. He talks about other projects and things he'd continued to put off, and what thinking about that inspires. Mark then shares an opportunity for listeners to win one of two copies of Kevin's book. A book for writers (On Being a Dictator) and the special limited edition book (Drumbeats). Commenters and Patrons will be entered in a draw for the prizes which will be done after midnight Eastern time on Friday May 1, 2020. Links of Interest: Kevin J. Anderson's Website WordFire Press Kevin in Twitter Superstars Writing Seminars Steve Otis - Artist Mark's Audiobooks (on sale) at Nook The 7 P's of Publishing Success Evasion Jane Friedman's Online Class: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction Episode 114 - Thanks for the Inspiration, Neil Peart Episode 125 -Simplifying, Streamlining, and Organizing with Janice Savage Episode 128 - Healthy Home Workspaces with Roland Denzel Episode 129 - Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Kevin J. Anderson has published more than 165 books, 56 of which have been national or international bestsellers. He has written numerous novels in the Star Wars, X-Files, and Dune universes, as well as unique steampunk fantasy novels Clockwork Angels and Clockwork Lives, written with legendary rock drummer Neil Peart, based on the concept album by the band Rush. Kevin's original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series, the Terra Incognita fantasy trilogy, the Saga of Shadows trilogy, and his humorous horror series featuring Dan Shamble, Zombie PI. He has edited numerous anthologies, written comics and games, and the lyrics to two rock CDs. Anderson and his wife Rebecca Moesta are the publishers of WordFire Press. His most recent novels are Stake, Kill Zone, and Spine of the Dragon.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 129 - Bonus Episode - Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting - By Julio Vincent Gambuto Tue, 14 Apr 2020 20:49:57 +0000 In this additional "between episodes" addition, Mark shares a Medium article with the following important message.

    "From one citizen to another, I beg of you: take a deep breath, ignore the deafening noise, and think deeply about what you want to put back into your life. This is our chance to define a new version of normal, a rare and truly sacred (yes, sacred) opportunity to get rid of the bullshit and to only bring back what works for us, what makes our lives richer, what makes our kids happier, what makes us truly proud.

    We get to Marie Kondo the shit out of it all. We care deeply about one another. That is clear. That can be seen in every supportive Facebook post, in every meal dropped off for a neighbor, in every Zoom birthday party.

    We are a good people. And as a good people, we want to define — on our own terms — what this country looks like in five, 10, 50 years. This is our chance to do that, the biggest one we have ever gotten. And the best one we'll ever get."

    The message is from the article "Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting" by Julio Vincent Gambuto.

     

    Mark then reflects on the importance of this moment in time and the "reset" that can happen.

     

    This episode contains explicit language which may offend some listeners.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The son of a bus-driver-slash-bread-baker, Julio Vincent ("Julie") grew up in a large Italian family on New York's Staten Island, where aunts, uncles, and cousins gathered often around Mom's seafoam-green formica kitchen table for "cake and coffee" — always an Entenmann's crumb cake — to tell stories, argue about the Mets, and play cards with the neighbors.

    After seven years on merit scholarship at the prestigious Staten Island Academy, Julie left the borough for Harvard, where he graduated with a BA in English and American Literature and Language, with honors. He completed his training as a film director at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he was honored as an Annenberg Fellow.

    Julio Vincent recently completed post-production on his first feature film, Team Marco, and is currently developing the feature family comedy, The Julie Stories.

    In 2017, Julio founded Boro Five, an independent film and television content production company. He serves as Executive Producer of the company's slate.

    Julio has written and produced film and television content for Nickelodeon, PBS, E! Entertainment, and James Franco's Rabbit Bandini. Learn more below.

    Julio lives in New York City.

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this additional "between episodes" addition, Mark shares a Medium article with the following important message.

    "From one citizen to another, I beg of you: take a deep breath, ignore the deafening noise, and think deeply about what you want to put back into your life. This is our chance to define a new version of normal, a rare and truly sacred (yes, sacred) opportunity to get rid of the bullshit and to only bring back what works for us, what makes our lives richer, what makes our kids happier, what makes us truly proud.

    We get to Marie Kondo the shit out of it all. We care deeply about one another. That is clear. That can be seen in every supportive Facebook post, in every meal dropped off for a neighbor, in every Zoom birthday party.

    We are a good people. And as a good people, we want to define — on our own terms — what this country looks like in five, 10, 50 years. This is our chance to do that, the biggest one we have ever gotten. And the best one we'll ever get."

    The message is from the article "Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting" by Julio Vincent Gambuto.

    Mark then reflects on the importance of this moment in time and the "reset" that can happen.

    This episode contains explicit language which may offend some listeners.

    Links of Interest:

    The son of a bus-driver-slash-bread-baker, Julio Vincent ("Julie") grew up in a large Italian family on New York's Staten Island, where aunts, uncles, and cousins gathered often around Mom's seafoam-green formica kitchen table for "cake and coffee" — always an Entenmann's crumb cake — to tell stories, argue about the Mets, and play cards with the neighbors.

    After seven years on merit scholarship at the prestigious Staten Island Academy, Julie left the borough for Harvard, where he graduated with a BA in English and American Literature and Language, with honors. He completed his training as a film director at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he was honored as an Annenberg Fellow.

    Julio Vincent recently completed post-production on his first feature film, Team Marco, and is currently developing the feature family comedy, The Julie Stories.

    In 2017, Julio founded Boro Five, an independent film and television content production company. He serves as Executive Producer of the company's slate.

    Julio has written and produced film and television content for Nickelodeon, PBS, E! Entertainment, and James Franco's Rabbit Bandini. Learn more below.

    Julio lives in New York City.

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     18:31 true 3 129 bonus Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this additional "between episodes" addition, Mark shares a Medium article with the following important message. "From one citizen to another, I beg of you: take a deep breath, ignore the deafening noise, and think deeply about what you want to put back into your life. This is our chance to define a new version of normal, a rare and truly sacred (yes, sacred) opportunity to get rid of the bullshit and to only bring back what works for us, what makes our lives richer, what makes our kids happier, what makes us truly proud. We get to Marie Kondo the shit out of it all. We care deeply about one another. That is clear. That can be seen in every supportive Facebook post, in every meal dropped off for a neighbor, in every Zoom birthday party. We are a good people. And as a good people, we want to define — on our own terms — what this country looks like in five, 10, 50 years. This is our chance to do that, the biggest one we have ever gotten. And the best one we'll ever get." The message is from the article "Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting" by Julio Vincent Gambuto.   Mark then reflects on the importance of this moment in time and the "reset" that can happen.   This episode contains explicit language which may offend some listeners.   Links of Interest: Julio's Medium Article Julio Vincent's Website Patreon for Stark Reflections   The son of a bus-driver-slash-bread-baker, Julio Vincent ("Julie") grew up in a large Italian family on New York's Staten Island, where aunts, uncles, and cousins gathered often around Mom's seafoam-green formica kitchen table for "cake and coffee" — always an Entenmann's crumb cake — to tell stories, argue about the Mets, and play cards with the neighbors. After seven years on merit scholarship at the prestigious Staten Island Academy, Julie left the borough for Harvard, where he graduated with a BA in English and American Literature and Language, with honors. He completed his training as a film director at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he was honored as an Annenberg Fellow. Julio Vincent recently completed post-production on his first feature film, Team Marco, and is currently developing the feature family comedy, The Julie Stories. In 2017, Julio founded Boro Five, an independent film and television content production company. He serves as Executive Producer of the company's slate. Julio has written and produced film and television content for Nickelodeon, PBS, E! Entertainment, and James Franco's Rabbit Bandini. Learn more below. Julio lives in New York City.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this additional "between episodes" addition, Mark shares a Medium article with the following important message. "From one citizen to another, I beg of you: take a deep breath, ignore the deafening noise, and think deeply about what you want to put back into your life. This is our chance to define a new version of normal, a rare and truly sacred (yes, sacred) opportunity to get rid of the bullshit and to only bring back what works for us, what makes our lives richer, what makes our kids happier, what makes us truly proud. We get to Marie Kondo the shit out of it all. We care deeply about one another. That is clear. That can be seen in every supportive Facebook post, in every meal dropped off for a neighbor, in every Zoom birthday party. We are a good people. And as a good people, we want to define — on our own terms — what this country looks like in five, 10, 50 years. This is our chance to do that, the biggest one we have ever gotten. And the best one we'll ever get." The message is from the article "Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting" by Julio Vincent Gambuto.   Mark then reflects on the importance of this moment in time and the "reset" that can happen.   This episode contains explicit language which may offend some listeners.   Links of Interest: Julio's Medium Article Julio Vincent's Website Patreon for Stark Reflections   The son of a bus-driver-slash-bread-baker, Julio Vincent ("Julie") grew up in a large Italian family on New York's Staten Island, where aunts, uncles, and cousins gathered often around Mom's seafoam-green formica kitchen table for "cake and coffee" — always an Entenmann's crumb cake — to tell stories, argue about the Mets, and play cards with the neighbors. After seven years on merit scholarship at the prestigious Staten Island Academy, Julie left the borough for Harvard, where he graduated with a BA in English and American Literature and Language, with honors. He completed his training as a film director at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he was honored as an Annenberg Fellow. Julio Vincent recently completed post-production on his first feature film, Team Marco, and is currently developing the feature family comedy, The Julie Stories. In 2017, Julio founded Boro Five, an independent film and television content production company. He serves as Executive Producer of the company's slate. Julio has written and produced film and television content for Nickelodeon, PBS, E! Entertainment, and James Franco's Rabbit Bandini. Learn more below. Julio lives in New York City.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 128 - Healthy Home Workspaces with Roland Denzel Healthly Home Workspaces with Roland Denzel Fri, 10 Apr 2020 02:07:30 +0000 In this episode Mark shares a live chat with Roland Denzel, AKA the Indestructable Author, from April 2, 2020 about Strategies for a Healthy Home Workspace. Roland shares what people can do to maintain health and exercise with limited space and no equipment; fundamentals of creating an ergonomic workspace in your home, and much more.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a reflection on how he feels Covid-19 is going to become a major tipping point for the way that people consume books and move from print-book puritans to eReading adoptions. He also shares the fact that it's likely the major publishers are going to be forced to finally properly dip their toes into the eBook pool.

    Mark then shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor.

     

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    In their conversation, Mark and Roland talk about:

    • Roland's background as a writer and health coach and advocate focusing on the nutrition and habit side of things
    • His plans for writing a series and stacking them for a consistent release schedule
    • Taking a "Supercharge your Protagonist" course with H Claire Taylor to help improve his fiction
    • The side-effects of living behind a keyboard for thirty years that include carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar neuropathy
    • How moving around for as little as 5 minutes every thirty minutes or so can reduce your blood sugar by up to 20% and improve insulin sensitivie by as much as 20%
    • How coffee isn't the big problem that many people say it is, and can be useful because if you drink it, you're likely getting up to go to the washroom more often, and thus moving more
    • The Pomodoro technique which follows 25 / 5 - 25 minutes of work, followed by 5 minutes of a break, or rest
    • How just a little bit of planning can help you maintain better health and productivity
    • Roland's perspective on ergonomics
    • The importance of what Roland calls "the dynamic office"
    • Things people can do to get exercise without equipment, in limited space, or without being able to go to the gym
    • How much people underestimate the value of walking
    • How important it is to make changes from a sedentary lifestyle in small steps or stages
    • In general how the healthier you are, the easier it is to focus
    • Strategies for dealing with anxiety in a limited or shared work space
    • And more...

    After the interview, Mark shares a few personal updates, including his recent appearance on The Creative Penn and The Indy Author Podcasts, the weekday Draft2Digital Spotlights he has been participating in, and a forthcoming online course he will be teaching in a series from Jane Friedman.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    Roland Denzel is a coach, a nutritionist, and a restorative exercise specialist who also happens to be a writer. He has fought off carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuropathy, and plantar fasciitis, all while "keeping his butt in the chair" long enough to work a full-time job and release more than ten books.

    He coaches authors and other awesome humans about ergonomics, healthy lifestyle, balance, and overcoming physical and mental limitations to be healthier, happier, and more productive.

     

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark shares a live chat with Roland Denzel, AKA the Indestructable Author, from April 2, 2020 about Strategies for a Healthy Home Workspace. Roland shares what people can do to maintain health and exercise with limited space and no equipment; fundamentals of creating an ergonomic workspace in your home, and much more.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a reflection on how he feels Covid-19 is going to become a major tipping point for the way that people consume books and move from print-book puritans to eReading adoptions. He also shares the fact that it's likely the major publishers are going to be forced to finally properly dip their toes into the eBook pool.

    Mark then shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Mark and Roland talk about:

    • Roland's background as a writer and health coach and advocate focusing on the nutrition and habit side of things
    • His plans for writing a series and stacking them for a consistent release schedule
    • Taking a "Supercharge your Protagonist" course with H Claire Taylor to help improve his fiction
    • The side-effects of living behind a keyboard for thirty years that include carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar neuropathy
    • How moving around for as little as 5 minutes every thirty minutes or so can reduce your blood sugar by up to 20% and improve insulin sensitivie by as much as 20%
    • How coffee isn't the big problem that many people say it is, and can be useful because if you drink it, you're likely getting up to go to the washroom more often, and thus moving more
    • The Pomodoro technique which follows 25 / 5 - 25 minutes of work, followed by 5 minutes of a break, or rest
    • How just a little bit of planning can help you maintain better health and productivity
    • Roland's perspective on ergonomics
    • The importance of what Roland calls "the dynamic office"
    • Things people can do to get exercise without equipment, in limited space, or without being able to go to the gym
    • How much people underestimate the value of walking
    • How important it is to make changes from a sedentary lifestyle in small steps or stages
    • In general how the healthier you are, the easier it is to focus
    • Strategies for dealing with anxiety in a limited or shared work space
    • And more...

    After the interview, Mark shares a few personal updates, including his recent appearance on The Creative Penn and The Indy Author Podcasts, the weekday Draft2Digital Spotlights he has been participating in, and a forthcoming online course he will be teaching in a series from Jane Friedman.

    Links of Interest:

    Roland Denzel is a coach, a nutritionist, and a restorative exercise specialist who also happens to be a writer. He has fought off carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuropathy, and plantar fasciitis, all while "keeping his butt in the chair" long enough to work a full-time job and release more than ten books.

    He coaches authors and other awesome humans about ergonomics, healthy lifestyle, balance, and overcoming physical and mental limitations to be healthier, happier, and more productive.

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     55:08 false 3 128 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark shares a live chat with Roland Denzel, AKA the Indestructable Author, from April 2, 2020 about Strategies for a Healthy Home Workspace. Roland shares what people can do to maintain health and exercise with limited space and no equipment; fundamentals of creating an ergonomic workspace in your home, and much more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a reflection on how he feels Covid-19 is going to become a major tipping point for the way that people consume books and move from print-book puritans to eReading adoptions. He also shares the fact that it's likely the major publishers are going to be forced to finally properly dip their toes into the eBook pool. Mark then shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Roland talk about: Roland's background as a writer and health coach and advocate focusing on the nutrition and habit side of things His plans for writing a series and stacking them for a consistent release schedule Taking a "Supercharge your Protagonist" course with H Claire Taylor to help improve his fiction The side-effects of living behind a keyboard for thirty years that include carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar neuropathy How moving around for as little as 5 minutes every thirty minutes or so can reduce your blood sugar by up to 20% and improve insulin sensitivie by as much as 20% How coffee isn't the big problem that many people say it is, and can be useful because if you drink it, you're likely getting up to go to the washroom more often, and thus moving more The Pomodoro technique which follows 25 / 5 - 25 minutes of work, followed by 5 minutes of a break, or rest How just a little bit of planning can help you maintain better health and productivity Roland's perspective on ergonomics The importance of what Roland calls "the dynamic office" Things people can do to get exercise without equipment, in limited space, or without being able to go to the gym How much people underestimate the value of walking How important it is to make changes from a sedentary lifestyle in small steps or stages In general how the healthier you are, the easier it is to focus Strategies for dealing with anxiety in a limited or shared work space And more... After the interview, Mark shares a few personal updates, including his recent appearance on The Creative Penn and The Indy Author Podcasts, the weekday Draft2Digital Spotlights he has been participating in, and a forthcoming online course he will be teaching in a series from Jane Friedman.   Links of Interest: Roland Denzel's Indestructable Author Website Episode 127 - Blaze Ward Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Online Course (via Jane Friedman) - Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction The Creative Penn Podcast - Mark's Appearances Episode 482 Episode 408 Episode 300 Episode 262 Episode 178 Episode 143 The Indy Author Podcast - Mark's Appearances Episode 20 Episode 14   Roland Denzel is a coach, a nutritionist, and a restorative exercise specialist who also happens to be a writer. He has fought off carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuropathy, and plantar fasciitis, all while "keeping his butt in the chair" long enough to work a full-time job and release more than ten books. He coaches authors and other awesome humans about ergonomics, healthy lifestyle, balance, and overcoming physical and mental limitations to be healthier, happier, and more productive.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark shares a live chat with Roland Denzel, AKA the Indestructable Author, from April 2, 2020 about Strategies for a Healthy Home Workspace. Roland shares what people can do to maintain health and exercise with limited space and no equipment; fundamentals of creating an ergonomic workspace in your home, and much more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a reflection on how he feels Covid-19 is going to become a major tipping point for the way that people consume books and move from print-book puritans to eReading adoptions. He also shares the fact that it's likely the major publishers are going to be forced to finally properly dip their toes into the eBook pool. Mark then shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Roland talk about: Roland's background as a writer and health coach and advocate focusing on the nutrition and habit side of things His plans for writing a series and stacking them for a consistent release schedule Taking a "Supercharge your Protagonist" course with H Claire Taylor to help improve his fiction The side-effects of living behind a keyboard for thirty years that include carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar neuropathy How moving around for as little as 5 minutes every thirty minutes or so can reduce your blood sugar by up to 20% and improve insulin sensitivie by as much as 20% How coffee isn't the big problem that many people say it is, and can be useful because if you drink it, you're likely getting up to go to the washroom more often, and thus moving more The Pomodoro technique which follows 25 / 5 - 25 minutes of work, followed by 5 minutes of a break, or rest How just a little bit of planning can help you maintain better health and productivity Roland's perspective on ergonomics The importance of what Roland calls "the dynamic office" Things people can do to get exercise without equipment, in limited space, or without being able to go to the gym How much people underestimate the value of walking How important it is to make changes from a sedentary lifestyle in small steps or stages In general how the healthier you are, the easier it is to focus Strategies for dealing with anxiety in a limited or shared work space And more... After the interview, Mark shares a few personal updates, including his recent appearance on The Creative Penn and The Indy Author Podcasts, the weekday Draft2Digital Spotlights he has been participating in, and a forthcoming online course he will be teaching in a series from Jane Friedman.   Links of Interest: Roland Denzel's Indestructable Author Website Episode 127 - Blaze Ward Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Online Course (via Jane Friedman) - Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction The Creative Penn Podcast - Mark's Appearances Episode 482 Episode 408 Episode 300 Episode 262 Episode 178 Episode 143 The Indy Author Podcast - Mark's Appearances Episode 20 Episode 14   Roland Denzel is a coach, a nutritionist, and a restorative exercise specialist who also happens to be a writer. He has fought off carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuropathy, and plantar fasciitis, all while "keeping his butt in the chair" long enough to work a full-time job and release more than ten books. He coaches authors and other awesome humans about ergonomics, healthy lifestyle, balance, and overcoming physical and mental limitations to be healthier, happier, and more productive.     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 127 - Consistency in Word Count & Publishing with Blaze Ward Consistency in Word Count & Publishing with Blaze Ward Fri, 03 Apr 2020 02:27:04 +0000 In this episode, Mark has an in depth conversation with author Blaze Ward.

    Blaze Ward writes science fiction in multiple universes. He also writes odd bits of high fantasy with swords and orcs. In addition, he is the Editor and Publisher of Boundary Shock Quarterly Magazine and many other magazines and publishing projects.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes.

    He also announced the winner of the book and workbook for THREE STORY METHOD from J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon from a random selection of commenters from Episode 123. In addition, the Patreon winner is also announced.

    In their conversation Mark and Blaze discuss:

    • When Blaze started to kick into full production schedule for his writing
    • Writing 400,000 words a year while he was employed and working full time, and how he ramped it up to 100,000 words a month, which he has consistently reached for the past two years
    • The daily/weekly schedule that Blaze keeps in order to write 4000 words a day Monday through Saturday
    • The plan for Blaze to write 14 novels and 40 stories in 2020
    • Mal Cooper, who wrote 40 novels in 2018, and makes Blaze look like a slacker
    • The thrill of "getting to go write" when Blaze wakes up in the morning
    • P Time and L Time (Personal Time and Linear Time)
    • The plans for ensuring that his heirs will continue to benefit from the works that Blaze has written
    • The various different novels in different series' that Blaze has written and is working on
    • Why Blaze isn't playing the "exclusive to Kindle" game in publishing and has chosen to go wide
    • Selling short stories that are not available anywhere else directly on his website
    • How Blaze is using Patron (to provide his $5/month patrons content a full year before it is available to anyone else)
    • Boundary Shock quarterly magazine, which Blaze edits, including the inspiration for creating it and the logisitics of filling each issue of that magazine and others with content using a syndicate of fifteen other writers
    • The different newsletters that Blaze sends out
    • Some of the financial changes that Blaze and his wife Leah (also an author), have recently made regarding translations and travel to writer conferences
    • And more...

    After the conversation, Mark reflects on comparisonitis and discipline.

    This episode was sponsored by the wonderful patrons of the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast who support this show and gain access to additional content over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark has an in depth conversation with author Blaze Ward.

    Blaze Ward writes science fiction in multiple universes. He also writes odd bits of high fantasy with swords and orcs. In addition, he is the Editor and Publisher of Boundary Shock Quarterly Magazine and many other magazines and publishing projects.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes.

    He also announced the winner of the book and workbook for THREE STORY METHOD from J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon from a random selection of commenters from Episode 123. In addition, the Patreon winner is also announced.

    In their conversation Mark and Blaze discuss:

    • When Blaze started to kick into full production schedule for his writing
    • Writing 400,000 words a year while he was employed and working full time, and how he ramped it up to 100,000 words a month, which he has consistently reached for the past two years
    • The daily/weekly schedule that Blaze keeps in order to write 4000 words a day Monday through Saturday
    • The plan for Blaze to write 14 novels and 40 stories in 2020
    • Mal Cooper, who wrote 40 novels in 2018, and makes Blaze look like a slacker
    • The thrill of "getting to go write" when Blaze wakes up in the morning
    • P Time and L Time (Personal Time and Linear Time)
    • The plans for ensuring that his heirs will continue to benefit from the works that Blaze has written
    • The various different novels in different series' that Blaze has written and is working on
    • Why Blaze isn't playing the "exclusive to Kindle" game in publishing and has chosen to go wide
    • Selling short stories that are not available anywhere else directly on his website
    • How Blaze is using Patron (to provide his $5/month patrons content a full year before it is available to anyone else)
    • Boundary Shock quarterly magazine, which Blaze edits, including the inspiration for creating it and the logisitics of filling each issue of that magazine and others with content using a syndicate of fifteen other writers
    • The different newsletters that Blaze sends out
    • Some of the financial changes that Blaze and his wife Leah (also an author), have recently made regarding translations and travel to writer conferences
    • And more...

    After the conversation, Mark reflects on comparisonitis and discipline.

    This episode was sponsored by the wonderful patrons of the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast who support this show and gain access to additional content over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

    Links of Interest:

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     57:59 false 3 127 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark has an in depth conversation with author Blaze Ward. Blaze Ward writes science fiction in multiple universes. He also writes odd bits of high fantasy with swords and orcs. In addition, he is the Editor and Publisher of Boundary Shock Quarterly Magazine and many other magazines and publishing projects. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes. He also announced the winner of the book and workbook for THREE STORY METHOD from J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon from a random selection of commenters from Episode 123. In addition, the Patreon winner is also announced. In their conversation Mark and Blaze discuss: When Blaze started to kick into full production schedule for his writing Writing 400,000 words a year while he was employed and working full time, and how he ramped it up to 100,000 words a month, which he has consistently reached for the past two years The daily/weekly schedule that Blaze keeps in order to write 4000 words a day Monday through Saturday The plan for Blaze to write 14 novels and 40 stories in 2020 Mal Cooper, who wrote 40 novels in 2018, and makes Blaze look like a slacker The thrill of "getting to go write" when Blaze wakes up in the morning P Time and L Time (Personal Time and Linear Time) The plans for ensuring that his heirs will continue to benefit from the works that Blaze has written The various different novels in different series' that Blaze has written and is working on Why Blaze isn't playing the "exclusive to Kindle" game in publishing and has chosen to go wide Selling short stories that are not available anywhere else directly on his website How Blaze is using Patron (to provide his $5/month patrons content a full year before it is available to anyone else) Boundary Shock quarterly magazine, which Blaze edits, including the inspiration for creating it and the logisitics of filling each issue of that magazine and others with content using a syndicate of fifteen other writers The different newsletters that Blaze sends out Some of the financial changes that Blaze and his wife Leah (also an author), have recently made regarding translations and travel to writer conferences And more... After the conversation, Mark reflects on comparisonitis and discipline. This episode was sponsored by the wonderful patrons of the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast who support this show and gain access to additional content over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.   Links of Interest: Blaze Ward's Website Episode 126 - Thanks for the Laughs and Inspiration Episode 125 - Simplifying, Streamlining and Organizing with Janice Savage Episode 123 - Three Story Method with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode, Mark has an in depth conversation with author Blaze Ward. Blaze Ward writes science fiction in multiple universes. He also writes odd bits of high fantasy with swords and orcs. In addition, he is the Editor and Publisher of Boundary Shock Quarterly Magazine and many other magazines and publishing projects. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes. He also announced the winner of the book and workbook for THREE STORY METHOD from J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon from a random selection of commenters from Episode 123. In addition, the Patreon winner is also announced. In their conversation Mark and Blaze discuss: When Blaze started to kick into full production schedule for his writing Writing 400,000 words a year while he was employed and working full time, and how he ramped it up to 100,000 words a month, which he has consistently reached for the past two years The daily/weekly schedule that Blaze keeps in order to write 4000 words a day Monday through Saturday The plan for Blaze to write 14 novels and 40 stories in 2020 Mal Cooper, who wrote 40 novels in 2018, and makes Blaze look like a slacker The thrill of "getting to go write" when Blaze wakes up in the morning P Time and L Time (Personal Time and Linear Time) The plans for ensuring that his heirs will continue to benefit from the works that Blaze has written The various different novels in different series' that Blaze has written and is working on Why Blaze isn't playing the "exclusive to Kindle" game in publishing and has chosen to go wide Selling short stories that are not available anywhere else directly on his website How Blaze is using Patron (to provide his $5/month patrons content a full year before it is available to anyone else) Boundary Shock quarterly magazine, which Blaze edits, including the inspiration for creating it and the logisitics of filling each issue of that magazine and others with content using a syndicate of fifteen other writers The different newsletters that Blaze sends out Some of the financial changes that Blaze and his wife Leah (also an author), have recently made regarding translations and travel to writer conferences And more... After the conversation, Mark reflects on comparisonitis and discipline. This episode was sponsored by the wonderful patrons of the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast who support this show and gain access to additional content over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.   Links of Interest: Blaze Ward's Website Episode 126 - Thanks for the Laughs and Inspiration Episode 125 - Simplifying, Streamlining and Organizing with Janice Savage Episode 123 - Three Story Method with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon Patreon for Stark Reflections   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 126 - Thanks for the Inspiration and the Laughs Thanks for the Inspiration and the Laughs Sat, 28 Mar 2020 14:47:49 +0000 Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast.

    As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers.

    Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing.

    In this bonus episode of the podcast, Mark thanks the creative spirits who have produced musical parodies about Covid-19 and the current global situation. Because laughter is important.

     

    Yes, these are dark times, but laughter is important.
    It connects people. And laughter has been shown to actually stimulate positive activity in a person's immune system.

    I know we're all scared, we're uncertain, we aren't sure what's coming, for us, and for those we know and love. Things seem to be spinning out of control. But we can always control where we focus and how we respond.

    I choose love, compassion, and humor.

    And I choose to thank all of these amazing creative people who took the time to spread their own passion, through humor, to help others find smiles and laughs in these trying times.

     

    Mark introduces the following musical parodies in this order:

     

    • Covid-19 - The Taylor's - Parody of "Come On, Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners.
    • My Corona - Parody of "My Sharona by The Knack
    • Quarantine - Parody of "Let It Be" by The Beatles
    • Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (with new lyrics!) Parody of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke from the movie Mary Poppins
    • One Week of COVID 19 - Parody of "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies
    • My Corona Home - Parody of "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys from the movie Cocktail
    • Coronavirus Rhapsody - Parody of "Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

     

    Mark then closes out the show with a thanks to all of the first responders and medical and health professionals on the front lines as well as essential services personnel who continue to risk their own safety and welfare for the good of society.

    And he again thanks the creative folks who wrote, performed, and shared these songs (and so many others not included here) to help inspire smiles and laughter in others during these trying times.

     

    This episode was sponsored by the wonderful patrons of the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast who support this show and gain access to additional content over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

     

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast.

    As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers.

    Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing.

    In this bonus episode of the podcast, Mark thanks the creative spirits who have produced musical parodies about Covid-19 and the current global situation. Because laughter is important.

    Yes, these are dark times, but laughter is important. It connects people. And laughter has been shown to actually stimulate positive activity in a person's immune system.

    I know we're all scared, we're uncertain, we aren't sure what's coming, for us, and for those we know and love. Things seem to be spinning out of control. But we can always control where we focus and how we respond.

    I choose love, compassion, and humor.

    And I choose to thank all of these amazing creative people who took the time to spread their own passion, through humor, to help others find smiles and laughs in these trying times.

    Mark introduces the following musical parodies in this order:

    • Covid-19 - The Taylor's - Parody of "Come On, Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners.
    • My Corona - Parody of "My Sharona by The Knack
    • Quarantine - Parody of "Let It Be" by The Beatles
    • Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (with new lyrics!) Parody of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke from the movie Mary Poppins
    • One Week of COVID 19 - Parody of "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies
    • My Corona Home - Parody of "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys from the movie Cocktail
    • Coronavirus Rhapsody - Parody of "Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

    Mark then closes out the show with a thanks to all of the first responders and medical and health professionals on the front lines as well as essential services personnel who continue to risk their own safety and welfare for the good of society.

    And he again thanks the creative folks who wrote, performed, and shared these songs (and so many others not included here) to help inspire smiles and laughter in others during these trying times.

    This episode was sponsored by the wonderful patrons of the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast who support this show and gain access to additional content over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

    The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     35:53 false 3 126 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast. As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers. Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing. In this bonus episode of the podcast, Mark thanks the creative spirits who have produced musical parodies about Covid-19 and the current global situation. Because laughter is important.   Yes, these are dark times, but laughter is important. It connects people. And laughter has been shown to actually stimulate positive activity in a person's immune system. I know we're all scared, we're uncertain, we aren't sure what's coming, for us, and for those we know and love. Things seem to be spinning out of control. But we can always control where we focus and how we respond. I choose love, compassion, and humor. And I choose to thank all of these amazing creative people who took the time to spread their own passion, through humor, to help others find smiles and laughs in these trying times.   Mark introduces the following musical parodies in this order:   Covid-19 - The Taylor's - Parody of "Come On, Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners. JJ Mason Taylor (The Taylor Family) YouTube Video My Corona - Parody of "My Sharona by The Knack Kevin Brandow Lyrics by Chelsea Brandow YouTube Video Quarantine - Parody of "Let It Be" by The Beatles Joe Cron YouTube Video Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (with new lyrics!) Parody of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke from the movie Mary Poppins Daniel Matarazzo You Tube Video One Week of COVID 19 - Parody of "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies Pepper Coyote Adapted original lyrics by @daniAwesome YouTube Video My Corona Home - Parody of "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys from the movie Cocktail Jon Pumper YouTube Video Coronavirus Rhapsody - Parody of "Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen Adrian Grimes Lyrics by Dana Jay Bein YouTube Video   Mark then closes out the show with a thanks to all of the first responders and medical and health professionals on the front lines as well as essential services personnel who continue to risk their own safety and welfare for the good of society. And he again thanks the creative folks who wrote, performed, and shared these songs (and so many others not included here) to help inspire smiles and laughter in others during these trying times.   This episode was sponsored by the wonderful patrons of the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast who support this show and gain access to additional content over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast. As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers. Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing. In this bonus episode of the podcast, Mark thanks the creative spirits who have produced musical parodies about Covid-19 and the current global situation. Because laughter is important.   Yes, these are dark times, but laughter is important. It connects people. And laughter has been shown to actually stimulate positive activity in a person's immune system. I know we're all scared, we're uncertain, we aren't sure what's coming, for us, and for those we know and love. Things seem to be spinning out of control. But we can always control where we focus and how we respond. I choose love, compassion, and humor. And I choose to thank all of these amazing creative people who took the time to spread their own passion, through humor, to help others find smiles and laughs in these trying times.   Mark introduces the following musical parodies in this order:   Covid-19 - The Taylor's - Parody of "Come On, Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners. JJ Mason Taylor (The Taylor Family) YouTube Video My Corona - Parody of "My Sharona by The Knack Kevin Brandow Lyrics by Chelsea Brandow YouTube Video Quarantine - Parody of "Let It Be" by The Beatles Joe Cron YouTube Video Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (with new lyrics!) Parody of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke from the movie Mary Poppins Daniel Matarazzo You Tube Video One Week of COVID 19 - Parody of "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies Pepper Coyote Adapted original lyrics by @daniAwesome YouTube Video My Corona Home - Parody of "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys from the movie Cocktail Jon Pumper YouTube Video Coronavirus Rhapsody - Parody of "Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen Adrian Grimes Lyrics by Dana Jay Bein YouTube Video   Mark then closes out the show with a thanks to all of the first responders and medical and health professionals on the front lines as well as essential services personnel who continue to risk their own safety and welfare for the good of society. And he again thanks the creative folks who wrote, performed, and shared these songs (and so many others not included here) to help inspire smiles and laughter in others during these trying times.   This episode was sponsored by the wonderful patrons of the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast who support this show and gain access to additional content over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 125 - Simplifying, Streamlining, & Organizing with Janice Savage Simplifying, Streamlining, & Organizing with Janice Savage Thu, 26 Mar 2020 22:50:50 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews Janice Savage, Savvy Concierge about strategies that enable work-life balance which translates into more personal time and less stress.

    Prior to the interview, Mark reads a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    He then reads comments from recent episodes, reminding listeners they still have a chance to win a copy of THREE STORY METHOD and the accompanying workbook from J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon by commenting on Episode 123 before the end of March 2020.

    He also shares a brief personal update that includes the adaptation of the Career Author Summit in Nashville in May (where Mark is a featured speaker) to a virtual event, as well as being a guest on the Rebel Author Podcast with Sacha Black.

    In their conversation, Mark and Janice talk about:

    • How Janice loves being in a position to do something to help other people, which organically grew into her business
    • How Janice pays attention and listens to both what people say, as well as the things that people don't say, as part of her process of helping them
    • The value of being invited into the personal workspace of the people that Janice works with
    • The importance of, before looking at someone's space, you take a look at their values
    • What "clutter" does to us (makes us stressed, takes away our focus) - space, mind, physical clutter
    • How having clutter in our minds and physically, it takes away from the creative process
    • Examining a workspace for all of the things that can cause distraction
    • The importance of making a specific system that works for you, your preferences, your goals, your work space
    • How routine and the right habits build success
    • The complimentary consult that Janice offers her potential clients
    • How small changes can make a huge impact
    • The importance of having an accountability partner
    • The value of SNAP (The "Sunday Night Plan") - which is a written-down plan for the forthcoming week
    • Ideas for managing an email inbox without getting stressed or overwhelmed
    • And more . . .

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of building up solid habits or an impactful routine.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    Janice Savage, founder of Savvy Concierge, is a Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Manager. She alleviates the stress and that feeling of being overwhelmed that her busy clientele experience.

    Janice has taken the strategies and tips she developed first by raising four kids and then by working one-on-one with her clientele to introduce Savvy Principles to Simplify Your Life.

    She has recently segued into speaking opportunities, educational presentations and conducting workshops where she shares her expertise with larger audiences. By empowering the audience to attain their goals through an organized and decluttered personal and professional life she is spreading her message – Simplify Your Life.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark interviews Janice Savage, Savvy Concierge about strategies that enable work-life balance which translates into more personal time and less stress.

    Prior to the interview, Mark reads a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    He then reads comments from recent episodes, reminding listeners they still have a chance to win a copy of THREE STORY METHOD and the accompanying workbook from J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon by commenting on Episode 123 before the end of March 2020.

    He also shares a brief personal update that includes the adaptation of the Career Author Summit in Nashville in May (where Mark is a featured speaker) to a virtual event, as well as being a guest on the Rebel Author Podcast with Sacha Black.

    In their conversation, Mark and Janice talk about:

    • How Janice loves being in a position to do something to help other people, which organically grew into her business
    • How Janice pays attention and listens to both what people say, as well as the things that people don't say, as part of her process of helping them
    • The value of being invited into the personal workspace of the people that Janice works with
    • The importance of, before looking at someone's space, you take a look at their values
    • What "clutter" does to us (makes us stressed, takes away our focus) - space, mind, physical clutter
    • How having clutter in our minds and physically, it takes away from the creative process
    • Examining a workspace for all of the things that can cause distraction
    • The importance of making a specific system that works for you, your preferences, your goals, your work space
    • How routine and the right habits build success
    • The complimentary consult that Janice offers her potential clients
    • How small changes can make a huge impact
    • The importance of having an accountability partner
    • The value of SNAP (The "Sunday Night Plan") - which is a written-down plan for the forthcoming week
    • Ideas for managing an email inbox without getting stressed or overwhelmed
    • And more . . .

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of building up solid habits or an impactful routine.

    Links of Interest:

    Janice Savage, founder of Savvy Concierge, is a Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Manager. She alleviates the stress and that feeling of being overwhelmed that her busy clientele experience.

    Janice has taken the strategies and tips she developed first by raising four kids and then by working one-on-one with her clientele to introduce Savvy Principles to Simplify Your Life.

    She has recently segued into speaking opportunities, educational presentations and conducting workshops where she shares her expertise with larger audiences. By empowering the audience to attain their goals through an organized and decluttered personal and professional life she is spreading her message – Simplify Your Life.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     46:48 false 3 125 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews Janice Savage, Savvy Concierge about strategies that enable work-life balance which translates into more personal time and less stress. Prior to the interview, Mark reads a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. He then reads comments from recent episodes, reminding listeners they still have a chance to win a copy of THREE STORY METHOD and the accompanying workbook from J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon by commenting on Episode 123 before the end of March 2020. He also shares a brief personal update that includes the adaptation of the Career Author Summit in Nashville in May (where Mark is a featured speaker) to a virtual event, as well as being a guest on the Rebel Author Podcast with Sacha Black. In their conversation, Mark and Janice talk about: How Janice loves being in a position to do something to help other people, which organically grew into her business How Janice pays attention and listens to both what people say, as well as the things that people don't say, as part of her process of helping them The value of being invited into the personal workspace of the people that Janice works with The importance of, before looking at someone's space, you take a look at their values What "clutter" does to us (makes us stressed, takes away our focus) - space, mind, physical clutter How having clutter in our minds and physically, it takes away from the creative process Examining a workspace for all of the things that can cause distraction The importance of making a specific system that works for you, your preferences, your goals, your work space How routine and the right habits build success The complimentary consult that Janice offers her potential clients How small changes can make a huge impact The importance of having an accountability partner The value of SNAP (The "Sunday Night Plan") - which is a written-down plan for the forthcoming week Ideas for managing an email inbox without getting stressed or overwhelmed And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of building up solid habits or an impactful routine.   Links of Interest: Janice's Website - Savvy Concierge Findaway Voices Library Promotion Opportunity (Expires after March 29, 2020) Episode 123 - Three Story Method with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon Episode 124 - Lindsay Flanagan on Working with an Editor The Rebel Author Podcast - Episode 21 - How to Get Your Book Into Libraries Patreon for Stark Reflections   Janice Savage, founder of Savvy Concierge, is a Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Manager. She alleviates the stress and that feeling of being overwhelmed that her busy clientele experience. Janice has taken the strategies and tips she developed first by raising four kids and then by working one-on-one with her clientele to introduce Savvy Principles to Simplify Your Life. She has recently segued into speaking opportunities, educational presentations and conducting workshops where she shares her expertise with larger audiences. By empowering the audience to attain their goals through an organized and decluttered personal and professional life she is spreading her message – Simplify Your Life.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode, Mark interviews Janice Savage, Savvy Concierge about strategies that enable work-life balance which translates into more personal time and less stress. Prior to the interview, Mark reads a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. He then reads comments from recent episodes, reminding listeners they still have a chance to win a copy of THREE STORY METHOD and the accompanying workbook from J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon by commenting on Episode 123 before the end of March 2020. He also shares a brief personal update that includes the adaptation of the Career Author Summit in Nashville in May (where Mark is a featured speaker) to a virtual event, as well as being a guest on the Rebel Author Podcast with Sacha Black. In their conversation, Mark and Janice talk about: How Janice loves being in a position to do something to help other people, which organically grew into her business How Janice pays attention and listens to both what people say, as well as the things that people don't say, as part of her process of helping them The value of being invited into the personal workspace of the people that Janice works with The importance of, before looking at someone's space, you take a look at their values What "clutter" does to us (makes us stressed, takes away our focus) - space, mind, physical clutter How having clutter in our minds and physically, it takes away from the creative process Examining a workspace for all of the things that can cause distraction The importance of making a specific system that works for you, your preferences, your goals, your work space How routine and the right habits build success The complimentary consult that Janice offers her potential clients How small changes can make a huge impact The importance of having an accountability partner The value of SNAP (The "Sunday Night Plan") - which is a written-down plan for the forthcoming week Ideas for managing an email inbox without getting stressed or overwhelmed And more . . .   After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of building up solid habits or an impactful routine.   Links of Interest: Janice's Website - Savvy Concierge Findaway Voices Library Promotion Opportunity (Expires after March 29, 2020) Episode 123 - Three Story Method with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon Episode 124 - Lindsay Flanagan on Working with an Editor The Rebel Author Podcast - Episode 21 - How to Get Your Book Into Libraries Patreon for Stark Reflections   Janice Savage, founder of Savvy Concierge, is a Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Manager. She alleviates the stress and that feeling of being overwhelmed that her busy clientele experience. Janice has taken the strategies and tips she developed first by raising four kids and then by working one-on-one with her clientele to introduce Savvy Principles to Simplify Your Life. She has recently segued into speaking opportunities, educational presentations and conducting workshops where she shares her expertise with larger audiences. By empowering the audience to attain their goals through an organized and decluttered personal and professional life she is spreading her message – Simplify Your Life.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 124 - Lindsay Flanagan on Working with an Editor Lindsay Flanagan on Working with an Editor Thu, 19 Mar 2020 23:47:42 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews Lindsay Flanagan, an editor that he had the privilege of working with.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a public service announcement from CDC regarding Covid-19, a number of comments from previous episodes, a new Patron (Katie), and injects a bit of a personal writing update in with those comments. Mark also reminds listeners of their chance to win a copy of THREE STORY METHOD from J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon by commenting on Episode 123 before the end of March 2020.

    He then shares a tip from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    In their conversation, Lindsay and Mark talk about:

    • How Lindsay had always been into writing, studying English Language and Literature, how her career took her away from that, and her eventual return back to the world of writing and editing
    • The role-flip that Lindsay and her husband took about who the main bread-winner would be, and who would do more freelance-style work
    • How Lindsay had been impressed by the professionalism and style of Angela Eschler of Eschler Editing
    • How Lindsay's choice, in editing, always comes back to story and to language
    • The one day a week that Lindsay keeps aside for her personal writing projects
    • A high level review of the different types of editing, such as substantive/developmental, line editing, copy editing, and proofreading
    • How Mark and Lindsay professionally met as writer and editor
    • The things that Lindsay looks for in a writer client and what writers should look for when sourcing an editor
    • The style and genres of fiction that Lindsay prefers to work on when editing
    • How some clients at Eschler Editing are authors who want to ensure their work is polished professionally before they submit it to the traditional publisher market, while others are indie-published authors who want a professional edit before they self-publish the book
    • How two different 80,000 word manuscripts might be given two different cost estimates depending on the shape the manuscript is in when it is turned in, which is why an edit can cost anywhere from $300 to $2000
    • The important that a writer always gets a sample edit from an editor that they are considering working with
    • Why a professional edit is so important
    • The way that an editor can help a writer understand differing changes in the marketplace for trends within specific genres
    • Some of the most common mistakes that writers often make in their writing
    • That all too important question an editor often asks: "But what is this doing to move your story move forward or your character to grow?"
    • Some of the free resources available for writers at EscherEditing.com
    • And more . . .

    After the interview, Mark shares his reflections on the importance of working with an editor who is properly aligned to your specifc writing and genre, in the same way that a writer needs to be thinking about their very specific target audience prior to working on marketing their book.

    Links of Interest:

     

    Lindsay Flanagan is a freelance writer and editor, who, after earning a Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing, left her career of over a decade to pursue her dream job in the publishing world. She joined the Eschler Editing team in 2014 as an editor and project manager. She also edits for Immortal Works and Champagne Book Group. Because she's a glutton for knowledge, she's also interning with Corvisiero Literary Agency.


    Angela Eschler, founder of the award-winning Eschler Editing and manager of the boutique publisher Scrivener Books, has more than twenty years of experience in the publishing industry, including nearly a decade working in-house at traditional publishers. She now works as a freelance editor and industry coach for authors, editors, publishers, and other organizations and has edited over a thousand manuscripts from diverse genres. A published author herself, Angela's work has been featured on television, radio, and in documentary film.

    The E. Team is comprised of highly skilled writers, editors, designers and publishing and promotion professionals that hail from diverse segments of the publishing industry. They've amassed advanced degrees in literature or writing, been published, received distinguished awards, and worked additionally in related industry fields as librarians, reporters, or writing professors. Most importantly, as vetted genre experts, they know what it takes to make it in publishing.

    So no matter if you want to self-pub or get an agent, we'll help you learn to stand out, be discovered, and make a bigger impact. Why? Because filling the world with powerful books is vital. Writers are important; they've changed history, they've changed our lives, and we want to ensure they keep changing the world one reader at a time. That's our story. Now, let's make sure your story is heard.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark interviews Lindsay Flanagan, an editor that he had the privilege of working with.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a public service announcement from CDC regarding Covid-19, a number of comments from previous episodes, a new Patron (Katie), and injects a bit of a personal writing update in with those comments. Mark also reminds listeners of their chance to win a copy of THREE STORY METHOD from J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon by commenting on Episode 123 before the end of March 2020.

    He then shares a tip from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Lindsay and Mark talk about:

    • How Lindsay had always been into writing, studying English Language and Literature, how her career took her away from that, and her eventual return back to the world of writing and editing
    • The role-flip that Lindsay and her husband took about who the main bread-winner would be, and who would do more freelance-style work
    • How Lindsay had been impressed by the professionalism and style of Angela Eschler of Eschler Editing
    • How Lindsay's choice, in editing, always comes back to story and to language
    • The one day a week that Lindsay keeps aside for her personal writing projects
    • A high level review of the different types of editing, such as substantive/developmental, line editing, copy editing, and proofreading
    • How Mark and Lindsay professionally met as writer and editor
    • The things that Lindsay looks for in a writer client and what writers should look for when sourcing an editor
    • The style and genres of fiction that Lindsay prefers to work on when editing
    • How some clients at Eschler Editing are authors who want to ensure their work is polished professionally before they submit it to the traditional publisher market, while others are indie-published authors who want a professional edit before they self-publish the book
    • How two different 80,000 word manuscripts might be given two different cost estimates depending on the shape the manuscript is in when it is turned in, which is why an edit can cost anywhere from $300 to $2000
    • The important that a writer always gets a sample edit from an editor that they are considering working with
    • Why a professional edit is so important
    • The way that an editor can help a writer understand differing changes in the marketplace for trends within specific genres
    • Some of the most common mistakes that writers often make in their writing
    • That all too important question an editor often asks: "But what is this doing to move your story move forward or your character to grow?"
    • Some of the free resources available for writers at EscherEditing.com
    • And more . . .

    After the interview, Mark shares his reflections on the importance of working with an editor who is properly aligned to your specifc writing and genre, in the same way that a writer needs to be thinking about their very specific target audience prior to working on marketing their book.

    Links of Interest:

    Lindsay Flanagan is a freelance writer and editor, who, after earning a Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing, left her career of over a decade to pursue her dream job in the publishing world. She joined the Eschler Editing team in 2014 as an editor and project manager. She also edits for Immortal Works and Champagne Book Group. Because she's a glutton for knowledge, she's also interning with Corvisiero Literary Agency.

    Angela Eschler, founder of the award-winning Eschler Editing and manager of the boutique publisher Scrivener Books, has more than twenty years of experience in the publishing industry, including nearly a decade working in-house at traditional publishers. She now works as a freelance editor and industry coach for authors, editors, publishers, and other organizations and has edited over a thousand manuscripts from diverse genres. A published author herself, Angela's work has been featured on television, radio, and in documentary film.

    The E. Team is comprised of highly skilled writers, editors, designers and publishing and promotion professionals that hail from diverse segments of the publishing industry. They've amassed advanced degrees in literature or writing, been published, received distinguished awards, and worked additionally in related industry fields as librarians, reporters, or writing professors. Most importantly, as vetted genre experts, they know what it takes to make it in publishing.

    So no matter if you want to self-pub or get an agent, we'll help you learn to stand out, be discovered, and make a bigger impact. Why? Because filling the world with powerful books is vital. Writers are important; they've changed history, they've changed our lives, and we want to ensure they keep changing the world one reader at a time. That's our story. Now, let's make sure your story is heard.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     49:12 false 3 124 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews Lindsay Flanagan, an editor that he had the privilege of working with. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a public service announcement from CDC regarding Covid-19, a number of comments from previous episodes, a new Patron (Katie), and injects a bit of a personal writing update in with those comments. Mark also reminds listeners of their chance to win a copy of THREE STORY METHOD from J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon by commenting on Episode 123 before the end of March 2020. He then shares a tip from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Lindsay and Mark talk about: How Lindsay had always been into writing, studying English Language and Literature, how her career took her away from that, and her eventual return back to the world of writing and editing The role-flip that Lindsay and her husband took about who the main bread-winner would be, and who would do more freelance-style work How Lindsay had been impressed by the professionalism and style of Angela Eschler of Eschler Editing How Lindsay's choice, in editing, always comes back to story and to language The one day a week that Lindsay keeps aside for her personal writing projects A high level review of the different types of editing, such as substantive/developmental, line editing, copy editing, and proofreading How Mark and Lindsay professionally met as writer and editor The things that Lindsay looks for in a writer client and what writers should look for when sourcing an editor The style and genres of fiction that Lindsay prefers to work on when editing How some clients at Eschler Editing are authors who want to ensure their work is polished professionally before they submit it to the traditional publisher market, while others are indie-published authors who want a professional edit before they self-publish the book How two different 80,000 word manuscripts might be given two different cost estimates depending on the shape the manuscript is in when it is turned in, which is why an edit can cost anywhere from $300 to $2000 The important that a writer always gets a sample edit from an editor that they are considering working with Why a professional edit is so important The way that an editor can help a writer understand differing changes in the marketplace for trends within specific genres Some of the most common mistakes that writers often make in their writing That all too important question an editor often asks: "But what is this doing to move your story move forward or your character to grow?" Some of the free resources available for writers at EscherEditing.com And more . . . After the interview, Mark shares his reflections on the importance of working with an editor who is properly aligned to your specifc writing and genre, in the same way that a writer needs to be thinking about their very specific target audience prior to working on marketing their book. Links of Interest: Eschler Editing Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Lindsay Flanagan (Twitter) Angela Eschler (LinkedIn) Findaway Voices Episode 123 - Three Story Method with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon What the Internet Is Doing To Our Brains Patreon for Stark Reflections   Lindsay Flanagan is a freelance writer and editor, who, after earning a Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing, left her career of over a decade to pursue her dream job in the publishing world. She joined the Eschler Editing team in 2014 as an editor and project manager. She also edits for Immortal Works and Champagne Book Group. Because she's a glutton for knowledge, she's also interning with Corvisiero Literary Agency. Angela Eschler, founder of the award-winning Eschler Editing and manager of the boutique publisher Scrivener Books, has more than twenty years of experience in the publishing industry, including nearly a decade working in-house at traditional publishers. She now works as a freelance editor and industry coach for authors, editors, publishers, and other organizations and has edited over a thousand manuscripts from diverse genres. A published author herself, Angela's work has been featured on television, radio, and in documentary film. The E. Team is comprised of highly skilled writers, editors, designers and publishing and promotion professionals that hail from diverse segments of the publishing industry. They've amassed advanced degrees in literature or writing, been published, received distinguished awards, and worked additionally in related industry fields as librarians, reporters, or writing professors. Most importantly, as vetted genre experts, they know what it takes to make it in publishing. So no matter if you want to self-pub or get an agent, we'll help you learn to stand out, be discovered, and make a bigger impact. Why? Because filling the world with powerful books is vital. Writers are important; they've changed history, they've changed our lives, and we want to ensure they keep changing the world one reader at a time. That's our story. Now, let's make sure your story is heard.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode, Mark interviews Lindsay Flanagan, an editor that he had the privilege of working with. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a public service announcement from CDC regarding Covid-19, a number of comments from previous episodes, a new Patron (Katie), and injects a bit of a personal writing update in with those comments. Mark also reminds listeners of their chance to win a copy of THREE STORY METHOD from J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon by commenting on Episode 123 before the end of March 2020. He then shares a tip from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Lindsay and Mark talk about: How Lindsay had always been into writing, studying English Language and Literature, how her career took her away from that, and her eventual return back to the world of writing and editing The role-flip that Lindsay and her husband took about who the main bread-winner would be, and who would do more freelance-style work How Lindsay had been impressed by the professionalism and style of Angela Eschler of Eschler Editing How Lindsay's choice, in editing, always comes back to story and to language The one day a week that Lindsay keeps aside for her personal writing projects A high level review of the different types of editing, such as substantive/developmental, line editing, copy editing, and proofreading How Mark and Lindsay professionally met as writer and editor The things that Lindsay looks for in a writer client and what writers should look for when sourcing an editor The style and genres of fiction that Lindsay prefers to work on when editing How some clients at Eschler Editing are authors who want to ensure their work is polished professionally before they submit it to the traditional publisher market, while others are indie-published authors who want a professional edit before they self-publish the book How two different 80,000 word manuscripts might be given two different cost estimates depending on the shape the manuscript is in when it is turned in, which is why an edit can cost anywhere from $300 to $2000 The important that a writer always gets a sample edit from an editor that they are considering working with Why a professional edit is so important The way that an editor can help a writer understand differing changes in the marketplace for trends within specific genres Some of the most common mistakes that writers often make in their writing That all too important question an editor often asks: "But what is this doing to move your story move forward or your character to grow?" Some of the free resources available for writers at EscherEditing.com And more . . . After the interview, Mark shares his reflections on the importance of working with an editor who is properly aligned to your specifc writing and genre, in the same way that a writer needs to be thinking about their very specific target audience prior to working on marketing their book. Links of Interest: Eschler Editing Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Lindsay Flanagan (Twitter) Angela Eschler (LinkedIn) Findaway Voices Episode 123 - Three Story Method with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon What the Internet Is Doing To Our Brains Patreon for Stark Reflections   Lindsay Flanagan is a freelance writer and editor, who, after earning a Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing, left her career of over a decade to pursue her dream job in the publishing world. She joined the Eschler Editing team in 2014 as an editor and project manager. She also edits for Immortal Works and Champagne Book Group. Because she's a glutton for knowledge, she's also interning with Corvisiero Literary Agency. Angela Eschler, founder of the award-winning Eschler Editing and manager of the boutique publisher Scrivener Books, has more than twenty years of experience in the publishing industry, including nearly a decade working in-house at traditional publishers. She now works as a freelance editor and industry coach for authors, editors, publishers, and other organizations and has edited over a thousand manuscripts from diverse genres. A published author herself, Angela's work has been featured on television, radio, and in documentary film. The E. Team is comprised of highly skilled writers, editors, designers and publishing and promotion professionals that hail from diverse segments of the publishing industry. They've amassed advanced degrees in literature or writing, been published, received distinguished awards, and worked additionally in related industry fields as librarians, reporters, or writing professors. Most importantly, as vetted genre experts, they know what it takes to make it in publishing. So no matter if you want to self-pub or get an agent, we'll help you learn to stand out, be discovered, and make a bigger impact. Why? Because filling the world with powerful books is vital. Writers are important; they've changed history, they've changed our lives, and we want to ensure they keep changing the world one reader at a time. That's our story. Now, let's make sure your story is heard.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 123 - Three Story Method with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon Three Story Method with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon Fri, 13 Mar 2020 01:06:07 +0000 Storytelling doesn't have to be complicated. In this episode, Mark chats with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon about their new book THREE STORY METHOD which proves that storytelling can be straightforward.

    Bohannon and Thorn are successful co-authors, are the minds behind the Authors on a Train, Vampires of New Orleans, Sci-Fi Seattle, Night of the Writing Dead and Cleveland Rock Apocalypse writing retreats. They also launched their Career Author podcast in January 2018, the same week that the Stark Reflections Podcast was launched.

    Prior to the interview, Mark waxes poetic about the previous times J. and Zach were on the podcast, including episode 74, where Mark had shared details about how he had proposed to his girlfriend Liz on the 50th birthday during an Alicia Witt concert, with a song Alicia wrote for him to use for the occasion. He also shares a short clip from the chorus of the song.

    Mark then talks about working on getting a representative from Google Play Books to come on in a future episode, and reminds writers that it's easier than ever to create a direct Google Play account for publishing:

    • New publishers can visit g.co/play/publish and create an account in just a few easy steps
    • There's no longer an invite code or waiting period when setting up a new publisher account

    Mark also shares a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Mark, J., and Zach talk about:

    • The origin of Three Story Method and how the process for it was developed over the course of publishing a dozen books together
    • The importance of a having a process that can be used in a similar way for multiple different projects
    • How the book is meant for getting from an idea to a first draft of a manuscript and should be all that a writer needs. There's no up-selling or courses associated with it
    • The accompanying workbook that can either be downloaded for free or purchased for the lowest price they could set on Amazon for it
    • Ongoing dedication to learning, and re-learning, and continuing to refine the craft of writing
    • The importance of starting off with a good book before you even begin or consider heavy marketing
    • The value of the community that comes from running a weekly podcast
    • Why they value tight-knit, intimate groups when it comes to hosting author gatherings
    • The experience of brainstorming a universe for an anthology in a room full of engaged authors
    • J.'s ways and Zach's hacks (a bit they do on their own podcast)
    • ....and more....

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of life-long learning of both the business and the craft of writing.

    He then shares how listeners have until the end of day March 31, 2020 to leave a comment on the show notes for Episode 123 at www.starkreflections.ca for a chance to win a free copy of Three Story Method and the accompanying workshop, courtesy of J. and Zach.

    Mark asks that commenters leave either a "Way" or a "Hack" that they've found useful for either the business or the craft of writing (in honour of the J.'s Ways and Zach's Hacks bit that the two regularly do on their own podcast.

    Mark also mentions that Patrons who support this podcast over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections are all automatically entered into a drawn to win the same prize. $1 / month patrons will be entered in for one chance. $3 /month patrons will be entered in twice. $5 / month patrons will be entered in 3 times.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Storytelling doesn't have to be complicated. In this episode, Mark chats with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon about their new book THREE STORY METHOD which proves that storytelling can be straightforward.

    Bohannon and Thorn are successful co-authors, are the minds behind the Authors on a Train, Vampires of New Orleans, Sci-Fi Seattle, Night of the Writing Dead and Cleveland Rock Apocalypse writing retreats. They also launched their Career Author podcast in January 2018, the same week that the Stark Reflections Podcast was launched.

    Prior to the interview, Mark waxes poetic about the previous times J. and Zach were on the podcast, including episode 74, where Mark had shared details about how he had proposed to his girlfriend Liz on the 50th birthday during an Alicia Witt concert, with a song Alicia wrote for him to use for the occasion. He also shares a short clip from the chorus of the song.

    Mark then talks about working on getting a representative from Google Play Books to come on in a future episode, and reminds writers that it's easier than ever to create a direct Google Play account for publishing:

    • New publishers can visit g.co/play/publish and create an account in just a few easy steps
    • There's no longer an invite code or waiting period when setting up a new publisher account

    Mark also shares a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Mark, J., and Zach talk about:

    • The origin of Three Story Method and how the process for it was developed over the course of publishing a dozen books together
    • The importance of a having a process that can be used in a similar way for multiple different projects
    • How the book is meant for getting from an idea to a first draft of a manuscript and should be all that a writer needs. There's no up-selling or courses associated with it
    • The accompanying workbook that can either be downloaded for free or purchased for the lowest price they could set on Amazon for it
    • Ongoing dedication to learning, and re-learning, and continuing to refine the craft of writing
    • The importance of starting off with a good book before you even begin or consider heavy marketing
    • The value of the community that comes from running a weekly podcast
    • Why they value tight-knit, intimate groups when it comes to hosting author gatherings
    • The experience of brainstorming a universe for an anthology in a room full of engaged authors
    • J.'s ways and Zach's hacks (a bit they do on their own podcast)
    • ....and more....

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of life-long learning of both the business and the craft of writing.

    He then shares how listeners have until the end of day March 31, 2020 to leave a comment on the show notes for Episode 123 at www.starkreflections.ca for a chance to win a free copy of Three Story Method and the accompanying workshop, courtesy of J. and Zach.

    Mark asks that commenters leave either a "Way" or a "Hack" that they've found useful for either the business or the craft of writing (in honour of the J.'s Ways and Zach's Hacks bit that the two regularly do on their own podcast.

    Mark also mentions that Patrons who support this podcast over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections are all automatically entered into a drawn to win the same prize. $1 / month patrons will be entered in for one chance. $3 /month patrons will be entered in twice. $5 / month patrons will be entered in 3 times.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     41:46 false 3 123 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Storytelling doesn't have to be complicated. In this episode, Mark chats with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon about their new book THREE STORY METHOD which proves that storytelling can be straightforward. Bohannon and Thorn are successful co-authors, are the minds behind the Authors on a Train, Vampires of New Orleans, Sci-Fi Seattle, Night of the Writing Dead and Cleveland Rock Apocalypse writing retreats. They also launched their Career Author podcast in January 2018, the same week that the Stark Reflections Podcast was launched. Prior to the interview, Mark waxes poetic about the previous times J. and Zach were on the podcast, including episode 74, where Mark had shared details about how he had proposed to his girlfriend Liz on the 50th birthday during an Alicia Witt concert, with a song Alicia wrote for him to use for the occasion. He also shares a short clip from the chorus of the song. Mark then talks about working on getting a representative from Google Play Books to come on in a future episode, and reminds writers that it's easier than ever to create a direct Google Play account for publishing: New publishers can visit g.co/play/publish and create an account in just a few easy steps There's no longer an invite code or waiting period when setting up a new publisher account Mark also shares a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark, J., and Zach talk about: The origin of Three Story Method and how the process for it was developed over the course of publishing a dozen books together The importance of a having a process that can be used in a similar way for multiple different projects How the book is meant for getting from an idea to a first draft of a manuscript and should be all that a writer needs. There's no up-selling or courses associated with it The accompanying workbook that can either be downloaded for free or purchased for the lowest price they could set on Amazon for it Ongoing dedication to learning, and re-learning, and continuing to refine the craft of writing The importance of starting off with a good book before you even begin or consider heavy marketing The value of the community that comes from running a weekly podcast Why they value tight-knit, intimate groups when it comes to hosting author gatherings The experience of brainstorming a universe for an anthology in a room full of engaged authors J.'s ways and Zach's hacks (a bit they do on their own podcast) ....and more.... After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of life-long learning of both the business and the craft of writing. He then shares how listeners have until the end of day March 31, 2020 to leave a comment on the show notes for Episode 123 at www.starkreflections.ca for a chance to win a free copy of Three Story Method and the accompanying workshop, courtesy of J. and Zach. Mark asks that commenters leave either a "Way" or a "Hack" that they've found useful for either the business or the craft of writing (in honour of the J.'s Ways and Zach's Hacks bit that the two regularly do on their own podcast. Mark also mentions that Patrons who support this podcast over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections are all automatically entered into a drawn to win the same prize. $1 / month patrons will be entered in for one chance. $3 /month patrons will be entered in twice. $5 / month patrons will be entered in 3 times.   Links of Interest: The Career Author Podcast Three Story Method Findaway Voices Episode 116 - Taking the Short Tack with Matty Dalrymple Episode 21 - Real World Connections in a Digital World with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon Episode 74 - Perspectives on the Past, Present, and Future of Publishing (with J, Zach, Mark, Jim Kukral and T.W. Piperbrook) Alicia Witt Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Storytelling doesn't have to be complicated. In this episode, Mark chats with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon about their new book THREE STORY METHOD which proves that storytelling can be straightforward. Bohannon and Thorn are successful co-authors, are the minds behind the Authors on a Train, Vampires of New Orleans, Sci-Fi Seattle, Night of the Writing Dead and Cleveland Rock Apocalypse writing retreats. They also launched their Career Author podcast in January 2018, the same week that the Stark Reflections Podcast was launched. Prior to the interview, Mark waxes poetic about the previous times J. and Zach were on the podcast, including episode 74, where Mark had shared details about how he had proposed to his girlfriend Liz on the 50th birthday during an Alicia Witt concert, with a song Alicia wrote for him to use for the occasion. He also shares a short clip from the chorus of the song. Mark then talks about working on getting a representative from Google Play Books to come on in a future episode, and reminds writers that it's easier than ever to create a direct Google Play account for publishing: New publishers can visit g.co/play/publish and create an account in just a few easy steps There's no longer an invite code or waiting period when setting up a new publisher account Mark also shares a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark, J., and Zach talk about: The origin of Three Story Method and how the process for it was developed over the course of publishing a dozen books together The importance of a having a process that can be used in a similar way for multiple different projects How the book is meant for getting from an idea to a first draft of a manuscript and should be all that a writer needs. There's no up-selling or courses associated with it The accompanying workbook that can either be downloaded for free or purchased for the lowest price they could set on Amazon for it Ongoing dedication to learning, and re-learning, and continuing to refine the craft of writing The importance of starting off with a good book before you even begin or consider heavy marketing The value of the community that comes from running a weekly podcast Why they value tight-knit, intimate groups when it comes to hosting author gatherings The experience of brainstorming a universe for an anthology in a room full of engaged authors J.'s ways and Zach's hacks (a bit they do on their own podcast) ....and more.... After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of life-long learning of both the business and the craft of writing. He then shares how listeners have until the end of day March 31, 2020 to leave a comment on the show notes for Episode 123 at www.starkreflections.ca for a chance to win a free copy of Three Story Method and the accompanying workshop, courtesy of J. and Zach. Mark asks that commenters leave either a "Way" or a "Hack" that they've found useful for either the business or the craft of writing (in honour of the J.'s Ways and Zach's Hacks bit that the two regularly do on their own podcast. Mark also mentions that Patrons who support this podcast over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections are all automatically entered into a drawn to win the same prize. $1 / month patrons will be entered in for one chance. $3 /month patrons will be entered in twice. $5 / month patrons will be entered in 3 times.   Links of Interest: The Career Author Podcast Three Story Method Findaway Voices Episode 116 - Taking the Short Tack with Matty Dalrymple Episode 21 - Real World Connections in a Digital World with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon Episode 74 - Perspectives on the Past, Present, and Future of Publishing (with J, Zach, Mark, Jim Kukral and T.W. Piperbrook) Alicia Witt Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 122 - Evan Gow on StoryOrigin Evan Gow on StoryOrigin Fri, 06 Mar 2020 02:28:56 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Evan Gow, founder of StoryOrigin, about the platform and the many tools and offerings it has for authors.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares the two winners of the book TAKING THE SHORT TACK: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction written by Mark and Matty Dalrymple. One winner was randomly selected from those who left comments on Episode 116, and the other was select from among the patrons of the podcast.

    Mark then shares a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    He then shares a personal update that includes writing projects, revised book covers, and the cancellation of the London Book Fair.

    In their conversation, Evan and Mark discuss:

    • The origin of StoryOrigin, which started in high school and then a college entrepreneur program called "Three Day Startup" in Austin, Texas
    • How Evan determined the different needs and desires of indie authors in order to build his suite of what StoryOrigin offers them
    • The confusing term "newsletter swap" and an explanation of what one actually is
    • The transparency that is available for authors who are wanting to collaborate on newsletter swaps or group promotions
    • The strategy for beginning authors to start by creating a reader magnet, and what a reader magnet might be
      - Using StoryOrigin for distribution of promo codes from Audible US, UK and Findaway Voices
    • The ability to make an informed decision regarding potential reviewers who are requesting codes to review your book after receiving a free download code
    • Some of the things authors were quick to adopt that Evan was surprised by
    • The goal-tracking tools within StoryOrigin
    • The open and free beta that StoryOrigin is currently in, as well as the transparent plans Evan has for charging authors for these tools

    After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things that Evan had mentioned in the interview.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    Evan Gow is the indie developer of StoryOrigin, a marketing tool and community of authors that work together to build their mailing lists, increase sales, find reviewers, and stay on top of deadlines.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews Evan Gow, founder of StoryOrigin, about the platform and the many tools and offerings it has for authors.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares the two winners of the book TAKING THE SHORT TACK: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction written by Mark and Matty Dalrymple. One winner was randomly selected from those who left comments on Episode 116, and the other was select from among the patrons of the podcast.

    Mark then shares a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    He then shares a personal update that includes writing projects, revised book covers, and the cancellation of the London Book Fair.

    In their conversation, Evan and Mark discuss:

    • The origin of StoryOrigin, which started in high school and then a college entrepreneur program called "Three Day Startup" in Austin, Texas
    • How Evan determined the different needs and desires of indie authors in order to build his suite of what StoryOrigin offers them
    • The confusing term "newsletter swap" and an explanation of what one actually is
    • The transparency that is available for authors who are wanting to collaborate on newsletter swaps or group promotions
    • The strategy for beginning authors to start by creating a reader magnet, and what a reader magnet might be - Using StoryOrigin for distribution of promo codes from Audible US, UK and Findaway Voices
    • The ability to make an informed decision regarding potential reviewers who are requesting codes to review your book after receiving a free download code
    • Some of the things authors were quick to adopt that Evan was surprised by
    • The goal-tracking tools within StoryOrigin
    • The open and free beta that StoryOrigin is currently in, as well as the transparent plans Evan has for charging authors for these tools

    After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things that Evan had mentioned in the interview.

    Links of Interest:

    Evan Gow is the indie developer of StoryOrigin, a marketing tool and community of authors that work together to build their mailing lists, increase sales, find reviewers, and stay on top of deadlines.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     48:09 false 3 122 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Evan Gow, founder of StoryOrigin, about the platform and the many tools and offerings it has for authors. Prior to the interview, Mark shares the two winners of the book TAKING THE SHORT TACK: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction written by Mark and Matty Dalrymple. One winner was randomly selected from those who left comments on Episode 116, and the other was select from among the patrons of the podcast. Mark then shares a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. He then shares a personal update that includes writing projects, revised book covers, and the cancellation of the London Book Fair. In their conversation, Evan and Mark discuss: The origin of StoryOrigin, which started in high school and then a college entrepreneur program called "Three Day Startup" in Austin, Texas How Evan determined the different needs and desires of indie authors in order to build his suite of what StoryOrigin offers them The confusing term "newsletter swap" and an explanation of what one actually is The transparency that is available for authors who are wanting to collaborate on newsletter swaps or group promotions The strategy for beginning authors to start by creating a reader magnet, and what a reader magnet might be - Using StoryOrigin for distribution of promo codes from Audible US, UK and Findaway Voices The ability to make an informed decision regarding potential reviewers who are requesting codes to review your book after receiving a free download code Some of the things authors were quick to adopt that Evan was surprised by The goal-tracking tools within StoryOrigin The open and free beta that StoryOrigin is currently in, as well as the transparent plans Evan has for charging authors for these tools After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things that Evan had mentioned in the interview.   Links of Interest: StoryOrigin Findaway Voices Episode 116 - Taking the Short Tack with Matty Dalrymple Patreon for Stark Reflections   Evan Gow is the indie developer of StoryOrigin, a marketing tool and community of authors that work together to build their mailing lists, increase sales, find reviewers, and stay on top of deadlines.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Evan Gow, founder of StoryOrigin, about the platform and the many tools and offerings it has for authors. Prior to the interview, Mark shares the two winners of the book TAKING THE SHORT TACK: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction written by Mark and Matty Dalrymple. One winner was randomly selected from those who left comments on Episode 116, and the other was select from among the patrons of the podcast. Mark then shares a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. He then shares a personal update that includes writing projects, revised book covers, and the cancellation of the London Book Fair. In their conversation, Evan and Mark discuss: The origin of StoryOrigin, which started in high school and then a college entrepreneur program called "Three Day Startup" in Austin, Texas How Evan determined the different needs and desires of indie authors in order to build his suite of what StoryOrigin offers them The confusing term "newsletter swap" and an explanation of what one actually is The transparency that is available for authors who are wanting to collaborate on newsletter swaps or group promotions The strategy for beginning authors to start by creating a reader magnet, and what a reader magnet might be - Using StoryOrigin for distribution of promo codes from Audible US, UK and Findaway Voices The ability to make an informed decision regarding potential reviewers who are requesting codes to review your book after receiving a free download code Some of the things authors were quick to adopt that Evan was surprised by The goal-tracking tools within StoryOrigin The open and free beta that StoryOrigin is currently in, as well as the transparent plans Evan has for charging authors for these tools After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things that Evan had mentioned in the interview.   Links of Interest: StoryOrigin Findaway Voices Episode 116 - Taking the Short Tack with Matty Dalrymple Patreon for Stark Reflections   Evan Gow is the indie developer of StoryOrigin, a marketing tool and community of authors that work together to build their mailing lists, increase sales, find reviewers, and stay on top of deadlines.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 121 - Reinventing Yourself and Currency for Everyone with Sir John Hargrave Reinventing Yourself and Currency for Everyone with Sir John Hargrave Fri, 28 Feb 2020 11:38:55 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Sir John Hargrave, the author of MIND HACKING, SIR JOHN HARGRAVE'S MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL and the bestselling book BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYONE.

    Prior to the interview, Mark discusses listener comments from recent episodes and also shares a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Mark offers a personal update in which he shares a writing tip gleaned from Dean Wesley Smith at the recent WMG Publishing anthology workshop in Vegas that Mark had been speaking at earlier in the week.

    He also shares the result of this year's PLR Program (Public Lending Right Program) check.

    In their discussion John and Mark chat about:

    • The origin (which was a prank) where the name Sir John Hargrave came from
    • The concept of reinventing yourself and how John went from being a human author to a geeky self-help author, to discussing rebuilding the global economy
    • The common threads that move through all of John's books
    • The many mini careers that people tend to have in today's day and age that draw upon the same core skills. In John's case they are humor and technology
    • How BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYBODY is about the reinvention of the self as an accessible book with humor
    • What blockchain is and how John got into the technology
    • The interesting origin of Bitcoin and the mystery of the creator who has vanished
    • The concept of "one world money"
    • How John had to write the book BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYONE twice
    • The great promotional opportunity that John had for the book
    • Finding the strength to go on when things are dark, and how you successfully respond to challenges
    • How John had done his own audiobook using a professional recording studio that his son created in their home
    • The new book BLOCKCHAIN SUCCESS STORIES that John is co-authoring for O'Reilly
    • And more...

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects on something John mentioned in the interview regarding persistence and personal growth in the face of adversity, and reads from two poems that he feels address the sentiment: "If" by Rudyard Kipling and "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou.

    Links of Interest:

     


    Sir John Hargrave is author of MIND HACKING, SIR JOHN HARGRAVE'S MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL and the bestselling book BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYONE. He is also the CEO of Media Shower, his company publishes the blockchain investor website, Bitcoin Market Journal which reaches 100,000 blockchain investors monthly. He is a frequent speaker, lecturer, and was a hoot to interview.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews Sir John Hargrave, the author of MIND HACKING, SIR JOHN HARGRAVE'S MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL and the bestselling book BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYONE.

    Prior to the interview, Mark discusses listener comments from recent episodes and also shares a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Mark offers a personal update in which he shares a writing tip gleaned from Dean Wesley Smith at the recent WMG Publishing anthology workshop in Vegas that Mark had been speaking at earlier in the week.

    He also shares the result of this year's PLR Program (Public Lending Right Program) check.

    In their discussion John and Mark chat about:

    • The origin (which was a prank) where the name Sir John Hargrave came from
    • The concept of reinventing yourself and how John went from being a human author to a geeky self-help author, to discussing rebuilding the global economy
    • The common threads that move through all of John's books
    • The many mini careers that people tend to have in today's day and age that draw upon the same core skills. In John's case they are humor and technology
    • How BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYBODY is about the reinvention of the self as an accessible book with humor
    • What blockchain is and how John got into the technology
    • The interesting origin of Bitcoin and the mystery of the creator who has vanished
    • The concept of "one world money"
    • How John had to write the book BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYONE twice
    • The great promotional opportunity that John had for the book
    • Finding the strength to go on when things are dark, and how you successfully respond to challenges
    • How John had done his own audiobook using a professional recording studio that his son created in their home
    • The new book BLOCKCHAIN SUCCESS STORIES that John is co-authoring for O'Reilly
    • And more...

    After the interview, Mark reflects on something John mentioned in the interview regarding persistence and personal growth in the face of adversity, and reads from two poems that he feels address the sentiment: "If" by Rudyard Kipling and "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou.

    Links of Interest:

    Sir John Hargrave is author of MIND HACKING, SIR JOHN HARGRAVE'S MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL and the bestselling book BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYONE. He is also the CEO of Media Shower, his company publishes the blockchain investor website, Bitcoin Market Journal which reaches 100,000 blockchain investors monthly. He is a frequent speaker, lecturer, and was a hoot to interview.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     51:44 false 3 121 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Sir John Hargrave, the author of MIND HACKING, SIR JOHN HARGRAVE'S MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL and the bestselling book BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYONE. Prior to the interview, Mark discusses listener comments from recent episodes and also shares a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark offers a personal update in which he shares a writing tip gleaned from Dean Wesley Smith at the recent WMG Publishing anthology workshop in Vegas that Mark had been speaking at earlier in the week. He also shares the result of this year's PLR Program (Public Lending Right Program) check. In their discussion John and Mark chat about: The origin (which was a prank) where the name Sir John Hargrave came from The concept of reinventing yourself and how John went from being a human author to a geeky self-help author, to discussing rebuilding the global economy The common threads that move through all of John's books The many mini careers that people tend to have in today's day and age that draw upon the same core skills. In John's case they are humor and technology How BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYBODY is about the reinvention of the self as an accessible book with humor What blockchain is and how John got into the technology The interesting origin of Bitcoin and the mystery of the creator who has vanished The concept of "one world money" How John had to write the book BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYONE twice The great promotional opportunity that John had for the book Finding the strength to go on when things are dark, and how you successfully respond to challenges How John had done his own audiobook using a professional recording studio that his son created in their home The new book BLOCKCHAIN SUCCESS STORIES that John is co-authoring for O'Reilly And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on something John mentioned in the interview regarding persistence and personal growth in the face of adversity, and reads from two poems that he feels address the sentiment: "If" by Rudyard Kipling and "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou. Links of Interest: Sir John Hargrave's Website Media Shower Blockchain for Everyone WMG Publishing Workshops Findaway Voices Twisted by Jeffrey Deaver The Sixth Sense Strangers to Superfans by David Gaughran Public Lending Right Program PLR International PLR Program Canada PLR Video (1:34) More detailed PLR Video (7:04) Patreon for Stark Reflections   Sir John Hargrave is author of MIND HACKING, SIR JOHN HARGRAVE'S MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL and the bestselling book BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYONE. He is also the CEO of Media Shower, his company publishes the blockchain investor website, Bitcoin Market Journal which reaches 100,000 blockchain investors monthly. He is a frequent speaker, lecturer, and was a hoot to interview.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Sir John Hargrave, the author of MIND HACKING, SIR JOHN HARGRAVE'S MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL and the bestselling book BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYONE. Prior to the interview, Mark discusses listener comments from recent episodes and also shares a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark offers a personal update in which he shares a writing tip gleaned from Dean Wesley Smith at the recent WMG Publishing anthology workshop in Vegas that Mark had been speaking at earlier in the week. He also shares the result of this year's PLR Program (Public Lending Right Program) check. In their discussion John and Mark chat about: The origin (which was a prank) where the name Sir John Hargrave came from The concept of reinventing yourself and how John went from being a human author to a geeky self-help author, to discussing rebuilding the global economy The common threads that move through all of John's books The many mini careers that people tend to have in today's day and age that draw upon the same core skills. In John's case they are humor and technology How BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYBODY is about the reinvention of the self as an accessible book with humor What blockchain is and how John got into the technology The interesting origin of Bitcoin and the mystery of the creator who has vanished The concept of "one world money" How John had to write the book BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYONE twice The great promotional opportunity that John had for the book Finding the strength to go on when things are dark, and how you successfully respond to challenges How John had done his own audiobook using a professional recording studio that his son created in their home The new book BLOCKCHAIN SUCCESS STORIES that John is co-authoring for O'Reilly And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on something John mentioned in the interview regarding persistence and personal growth in the face of adversity, and reads from two poems that he feels address the sentiment: "If" by Rudyard Kipling and "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou. Links of Interest: Sir John Hargrave's Website Media Shower Blockchain for Everyone WMG Publishing Workshops Findaway Voices Twisted by Jeffrey Deaver The Sixth Sense Strangers to Superfans by David Gaughran Public Lending Right Program PLR International PLR Program Canada PLR Video (1:34) More detailed PLR Video (7:04) Patreon for Stark Reflections   Sir John Hargrave is author of MIND HACKING, SIR JOHN HARGRAVE'S MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL and the bestselling book BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYONE. He is also the CEO of Media Shower, his company publishes the blockchain investor website, Bitcoin Market Journal which reaches 100,000 blockchain investors monthly. He is a frequent speaker, lecturer, and was a hoot to interview.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 120 - Writing All The Things WIth Leah Cutter Writing All The Things With Leah Cutter Fri, 21 Feb 2020 05:49:53 +0000 In this episode, Mark has a chat with Leah Cutter who writes page-turning, wildly imaginative fiction set in exotic locations, such as a magical New Orleans, the ancient Orient, rural Kentucky, Seattle, Minneapolis, and many others.

    Prior to the main episode content, Mark shares a quick personal update that includes details related to his writing income for 2019.

    2019 Writing Income
    64.97% Self Published
    15.03% Traditional Publishing
    20.00% Mixed Self and Trad

    He also shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their discussion Leah and Mark discuss:

    • Leah's choice of doing the interview and some writing at a local coffee shop
    • How Leah does the majority of her writing during the week in the tiny house she lives and works in during the week
    • Leah's 8 year old document that stated that when she grew up she wanted to be a writer
    • The way that Leah only writes on one specific project at a time (despite writing broadly in multiple genres)
    • How each new project she works on must pass "the giggle test" and how she can't write something that she's not truly excited about
    • Leah's writer tagline as "Writer/Traveler"
    • How many projects Leah publishers in a given year
    • The decision Leah made to publish something new once a month every month for the past three years
    • How Leah knows if a project is going to be a story, a novella, or a novel
    • The fact that Leah has a seperate writing computer and a separate writing desk in her tiny house where she divides up the different types of work
    • The "Business for Breakfast" books that Leah has published
    • The strategy of publishing to the 30 day Amazon pulse while still publishing wide to other platforms
    • The two flavors of newsletters that Leah produces based on things she learned from Tammi Lebreque's Newsletter Ninja course
    • ...and more...


    After the interview, Mark reflects on Leah'a positive attitude, her passion, and the dual newsletters that she produces each month for her followers.

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark has a chat with Leah Cutter who writes page-turning, wildly imaginative fiction set in exotic locations, such as a magical New Orleans, the ancient Orient, rural Kentucky, Seattle, Minneapolis, and many others.

    Prior to the main episode content, Mark shares a quick personal update that includes details related to his writing income for 2019.

    2019 Writing Income 64.97% Self Published 15.03% Traditional Publishing 20.00% Mixed Self and Trad

    He also shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their discussion Leah and Mark discuss:

    • Leah's choice of doing the interview and some writing at a local coffee shop
    • How Leah does the majority of her writing during the week in the tiny house she lives and works in during the week
    • Leah's 8 year old document that stated that when she grew up she wanted to be a writer
    • The way that Leah only writes on one specific project at a time (despite writing broadly in multiple genres)
    • How each new project she works on must pass "the giggle test" and how she can't write something that she's not truly excited about
    • Leah's writer tagline as "Writer/Traveler"
    • How many projects Leah publishers in a given year
    • The decision Leah made to publish something new once a month every month for the past three years
    • How Leah knows if a project is going to be a story, a novella, or a novel
    • The fact that Leah has a seperate writing computer and a separate writing desk in her tiny house where she divides up the different types of work
    • The "Business for Breakfast" books that Leah has published
    • The strategy of publishing to the 30 day Amazon pulse while still publishing wide to other platforms
    • The two flavors of newsletters that Leah produces based on things she learned from Tammi Lebreque's Newsletter Ninja course
    • ...and more...

    After the interview, Mark reflects on Leah'a positive attitude, her passion, and the dual newsletters that she produces each month for her followers.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     44:45 false 3 120 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark has a chat with Leah Cutter who writes page-turning, wildly imaginative fiction set in exotic locations, such as a magical New Orleans, the ancient Orient, rural Kentucky, Seattle, Minneapolis, and many others. Prior to the main episode content, Mark shares a quick personal update that includes details related to his writing income for 2019. 2019 Writing Income 64.97% Self Published 15.03% Traditional Publishing 20.00% Mixed Self and Trad He also shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their discussion Leah and Mark discuss: Leah's choice of doing the interview and some writing at a local coffee shop How Leah does the majority of her writing during the week in the tiny house she lives and works in during the week Leah's 8 year old document that stated that when she grew up she wanted to be a writer The way that Leah only writes on one specific project at a time (despite writing broadly in multiple genres) How each new project she works on must pass "the giggle test" and how she can't write something that she's not truly excited about Leah's writer tagline as "Writer/Traveler" How many projects Leah publishers in a given year The decision Leah made to publish something new once a month every month for the past three years How Leah knows if a project is going to be a story, a novella, or a novel The fact that Leah has a seperate writing computer and a separate writing desk in her tiny house where she divides up the different types of work The "Business for Breakfast" books that Leah has published The strategy of publishing to the 30 day Amazon pulse while still publishing wide to other platforms The two flavors of newsletters that Leah produces based on things she learned from Tammi Lebreque's Newsletter Ninja course ...and more... After the interview, Mark reflects on Leah'a positive attitude, her passion, and the dual newsletters that she produces each month for her followers. Links of Interest: Leah Cutter's Website WMG Publishing Workshops Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode, Mark has a chat with Leah Cutter who writes page-turning, wildly imaginative fiction set in exotic locations, such as a magical New Orleans, the ancient Orient, rural Kentucky, Seattle, Minneapolis, and many others. Prior to the main episode content, Mark shares a quick personal update that includes details related to his writing income for 2019. 2019 Writing Income 64.97% Self Published 15.03% Traditional Publishing 20.00% Mixed Self and Trad He also shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their discussion Leah and Mark discuss: Leah's choice of doing the interview and some writing at a local coffee shop How Leah does the majority of her writing during the week in the tiny house she lives and works in during the week Leah's 8 year old document that stated that when she grew up she wanted to be a writer The way that Leah only writes on one specific project at a time (despite writing broadly in multiple genres) How each new project she works on must pass "the giggle test" and how she can't write something that she's not truly excited about Leah's writer tagline as "Writer/Traveler" How many projects Leah publishers in a given year The decision Leah made to publish something new once a month every month for the past three years How Leah knows if a project is going to be a story, a novella, or a novel The fact that Leah has a seperate writing computer and a separate writing desk in her tiny house where she divides up the different types of work The "Business for Breakfast" books that Leah has published The strategy of publishing to the 30 day Amazon pulse while still publishing wide to other platforms The two flavors of newsletters that Leah produces based on things she learned from Tammi Lebreque's Newsletter Ninja course ...and more... After the interview, Mark reflects on Leah'a positive attitude, her passion, and the dual newsletters that she produces each month for her followers. Links of Interest: Leah Cutter's Website WMG Publishing Workshops Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 119 - Super Reflections on Superstars Writing Seminars 2020 Super Reflections on Superstars Writing Seminars 2020 Fri, 14 Feb 2020 03:15:31 +0000 In this episode Mark shares a few tidbits from the 2020 Superstars Writing Seminars conference held in early February in Colorado Springs.

    Prior to the main episode content, he shares a personal update about his writing (or lack thereof) as well as a few comments from listeners from previous episodes.

    Just before the main topic, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In this episode, Mark discusses things that were mentioned by the following instructors/attendees of the conference during various presentations and panels.

    • Nick Thacker
    • Michael Anderle
    • Brian Meeks
    • Tara Cremin
    • Kevin Ikenberry
    • Rebecca Moesta
    • James A. Owen
    • Kevin J. Anderson

    Mark mentions that this is just the tip of the iceberg of the amazing content that was packed into several days for this conference.

    He closes by reflecting upon the Rush lyrics that opened out the episode, explaining the way Kevin Anderson had been using them to inspire writers, and what the lyrics meant to mark in the writer context.

    Mark closes by offering an ambassador code that people can use to get $100 off registration of Superstars Writing Seminars 2021. (MARK9776).

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark shares a few tidbits from the 2020 Superstars Writing Seminars conference held in early February in Colorado Springs.

    Prior to the main episode content, he shares a personal update about his writing (or lack thereof) as well as a few comments from listeners from previous episodes.

    Just before the main topic, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In this episode, Mark discusses things that were mentioned by the following instructors/attendees of the conference during various presentations and panels.

    • Nick Thacker
    • Michael Anderle
    • Brian Meeks
    • Tara Cremin
    • Kevin Ikenberry
    • Rebecca Moesta
    • James A. Owen
    • Kevin J. Anderson

    Mark mentions that this is just the tip of the iceberg of the amazing content that was packed into several days for this conference.

    He closes by reflecting upon the Rush lyrics that opened out the episode, explaining the way Kevin Anderson had been using them to inspire writers, and what the lyrics meant to mark in the writer context.

    Mark closes by offering an ambassador code that people can use to get $100 off registration of Superstars Writing Seminars 2021. (MARK9776).

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     39:22 false 3 119 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark shares a few tidbits from the 2020 Superstars Writing Seminars conference held in early February in Colorado Springs. Prior to the main episode content, he shares a personal update about his writing (or lack thereof) as well as a few comments from listeners from previous episodes. Just before the main topic, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In this episode, Mark discusses things that were mentioned by the following instructors/attendees of the conference during various presentations and panels. Nick Thacker Michael Anderle Brian Meeks Tara Cremin Kevin Ikenberry Rebecca Moesta James A. Owen Kevin J. Anderson Mark mentions that this is just the tip of the iceberg of the amazing content that was packed into several days for this conference. He closes by reflecting upon the Rush lyrics that opened out the episode, explaining the way Kevin Anderson had been using them to inspire writers, and what the lyrics meant to mark in the writer context. Mark closes by offering an ambassador code that people can use to get $100 off registration of Superstars Writing Seminars 2021. (MARK9776).   Links of Interest: Episode 118 - Wish I'd Known Then with Jami Albright and Sara Rosett Wish I'd Known for Writers (Podcast Website) Episode 116 - Taking the Short Tack with Matty Dalrymple Adam Croft's Online Mini Courses (Affiliate Link) (Be sure to use "STARK" coupon code to save 50%) Superstars Writing Seminars Special link to get $100 off registration for 2021 Amazing Monster Tales: Monster Road Trip A Canadian Werewolf in New York This Time Around (Free Short Story) Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark shares a few tidbits from the 2020 Superstars Writing Seminars conference held in early February in Colorado Springs. Prior to the main episode content, he shares a personal update about his writing (or lack thereof) as well as a few comments from listeners from previous episodes. Just before the main topic, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In this episode, Mark discusses things that were mentioned by the following instructors/attendees of the conference during various presentations and panels. Nick Thacker Michael Anderle Brian Meeks Tara Cremin Kevin Ikenberry Rebecca Moesta James A. Owen Kevin J. Anderson Mark mentions that this is just the tip of the iceberg of the amazing content that was packed into several days for this conference. He closes by reflecting upon the Rush lyrics that opened out the episode, explaining the way Kevin Anderson had been using them to inspire writers, and what the lyrics meant to mark in the writer context. Mark closes by offering an ambassador code that people can use to get $100 off registration of Superstars Writing Seminars 2021. (MARK9776).   Links of Interest: Episode 118 - Wish I'd Known Then with Jami Albright and Sara Rosett Wish I'd Known for Writers (Podcast Website) Episode 116 - Taking the Short Tack with Matty Dalrymple Adam Croft's Online Mini Courses (Affiliate Link) (Be sure to use "STARK" coupon code to save 50%) Superstars Writing Seminars Special link to get $100 off registration for 2021 Amazing Monster Tales: Monster Road Trip A Canadian Werewolf in New York This Time Around (Free Short Story) Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 118 - Wish I'd Known Then WIth Jami Albright and Sara Rosett Wish I'd Known Then WIth Jami Albright and Sara Rosett Thu, 06 Feb 2020 23:00:00 +0000 This episode features a conversation with Jami Albright and Sara Rosett.

    Jami is the multiple award-winning author of the Brides on the Run series–a fun, sexy, snarky, laugh-out-loud good time. USA Today and Audible bestselling author Sara Rosett writes lighthearted mysteries with atmospheric settings, fun characters, and puzzling whodunit.

    The two are the best of friends, and Mark talks with them about their writing, their friendship, and their new podcast Wish I'd Known Then for Writers.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares an audiobook marketing tip from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Mark then shares a personal update, which includes:

    • Flying to Colorado Springs for the 2020 Superstars Writing Seminars where he is a returning guest instructor
    • The release (on Feb 4th) of TAKING THE SHORT TACK (a book on how writers can leverage short fiction for marketing and revenue), which he co-authored with Matty Dalrymple

    He then announces the winners of two different prizes that were randomly drawn from listeners who left comments on two previous episodes as well as patrons of the show who support the podcast over at http://patreon.com/starkreflections.

    During their conversation, Jami, Sara, and Mark discuss:

    • How they first got into writing, and their unique entrances and pathways into the writing world, as well as the unique genres they write in
    • The runaway bride trope/theme in romantic comedy and the potential double standard of runaway groom not being as popular
    • The cozy mystery genre and the way certain readers have specific preferences for how a series is structured
    • What it would take for either of them to say "yes" to a traditional publishing contract
    • Why a traditional publisher wouldn't be able to afford an advance for what Jami makes in a money off of her indie eBook sales
    • How Sara ended up with POD print titles in a bookstore and how she managed returns with a returnable status for the US and Canada only and non-returnable for the rest of world
    • How Sara and Jami first met at the Smarter Artist Conference in Austin, TX and learned that they both lived in Austin about ten minutes away from one another
    • The ongoing "ladies that lunch" they participate in, often with other local writers
    • The importance of having other writer friends
    • Why they both enjoy attending writer gatherings and writer conferences
    • The origin of the new podcast that Jami and Sara started called Wish I'd Known Then for Writers
    • What they each wish they'd know then, before they got into writing

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects on something Sara mentioned about changes in the industry. Be warned, attentive listener, because Mark uses that as an excuse to quote Rush lyrics.  ;)

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    Jami Albright is a born and raised Texas girl and is the multiple award-winning author of The Brides on the Run series--a fun, sexy, snarky, laugh-out-loud good time. If you don't snort with laughter, then she hasn't done her job.

    USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett writes lighthearted mysteries for readers who enjoy atmospheric settings, fun characters, and puzzling whodunits. Sara loves all things bookish, considers dark chocolate a daily requirement

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     This episode features a conversation with Jami Albright and Sara Rosett.

    Jami is the multiple award-winning author of the Brides on the Run series–a fun, sexy, snarky, laugh-out-loud good time. USA Today and Audible bestselling author Sara Rosett writes lighthearted mysteries with atmospheric settings, fun characters, and puzzling whodunit.

    The two are the best of friends, and Mark talks with them about their writing, their friendship, and their new podcast Wish I'd Known Then for Writers.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares an audiobook marketing tip from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Mark then shares a personal update, which includes:

    • Flying to Colorado Springs for the 2020 Superstars Writing Seminars where he is a returning guest instructor
    • The release (on Feb 4th) of TAKING THE SHORT TACK (a book on how writers can leverage short fiction for marketing and revenue), which he co-authored with Matty Dalrymple

    He then announces the winners of two different prizes that were randomly drawn from listeners who left comments on two previous episodes as well as patrons of the show who support the podcast over at http://patreon.com/starkreflections.

    During their conversation, Jami, Sara, and Mark discuss:

    • How they first got into writing, and their unique entrances and pathways into the writing world, as well as the unique genres they write in
    • The runaway bride trope/theme in romantic comedy and the potential double standard of runaway groom not being as popular
    • The cozy mystery genre and the way certain readers have specific preferences for how a series is structured
    • What it would take for either of them to say "yes" to a traditional publishing contract
    • Why a traditional publisher wouldn't be able to afford an advance for what Jami makes in a money off of her indie eBook sales
    • How Sara ended up with POD print titles in a bookstore and how she managed returns with a returnable status for the US and Canada only and non-returnable for the rest of world
    • How Sara and Jami first met at the Smarter Artist Conference in Austin, TX and learned that they both lived in Austin about ten minutes away from one another
    • The ongoing "ladies that lunch" they participate in, often with other local writers
    • The importance of having other writer friends
    • Why they both enjoy attending writer gatherings and writer conferences
    • The origin of the new podcast that Jami and Sara started called Wish I'd Known Then for Writers
    • What they each wish they'd know then, before they got into writing

    After the interview, Mark reflects on something Sara mentioned about changes in the industry. Be warned, attentive listener, because Mark uses that as an excuse to quote Rush lyrics. ;)

    Links of Interest:

    Jami Albright is a born and raised Texas girl and is the multiple award-winning author of The Brides on the Run series--a fun, sexy, snarky, laugh-out-loud good time. If you don't snort with laughter, then she hasn't done her job.

    USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett writes lighthearted mysteries for readers who enjoy atmospheric settings, fun characters, and puzzling whodunits. Sara loves all things bookish, considers dark chocolate a daily requirement

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     01:00:16 false 2 118 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This episode features a conversation with Jami Albright and Sara Rosett. Jami is the multiple award-winning author of the Brides on the Run series–a fun, sexy, snarky, laugh-out-loud good time. USA Today and Audible bestselling author Sara Rosett writes lighthearted mysteries with atmospheric settings, fun characters, and puzzling whodunit. The two are the best of friends, and Mark talks with them about their writing, their friendship, and their new podcast Wish I'd Known Then for Writers. Prior to the interview, Mark shares an audiobook marketing tip from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark then shares a personal update, which includes: Flying to Colorado Springs for the 2020 Superstars Writing Seminars where he is a returning guest instructor The release (on Feb 4th) of TAKING THE SHORT TACK (a book on how writers can leverage short fiction for marketing and revenue), which he co-authored with Matty Dalrymple He then announces the winners of two different prizes that were randomly drawn from listeners who left comments on two previous episodes as well as patrons of the show who support the podcast over at http://patreon.com/starkreflections. During their conversation, Jami, Sara, and Mark discuss: How they first got into writing, and their unique entrances and pathways into the writing world, as well as the unique genres they write in The runaway bride trope/theme in romantic comedy and the potential double standard of runaway groom not being as popular The cozy mystery genre and the way certain readers have specific preferences for how a series is structured What it would take for either of them to say "yes" to a traditional publishing contract Why a traditional publisher wouldn't be able to afford an advance for what Jami makes in a money off of her indie eBook sales How Sara ended up with POD print titles in a bookstore and how she managed returns with a returnable status for the US and Canada only and non-returnable for the rest of world How Sara and Jami first met at the Smarter Artist Conference in Austin, TX and learned that they both lived in Austin about ten minutes away from one another The ongoing "ladies that lunch" they participate in, often with other local writers The importance of having other writer friends Why they both enjoy attending writer gatherings and writer conferences The origin of the new podcast that Jami and Sara started called Wish I'd Known Then for Writers What they each wish they'd know then, before they got into writing   After the interview, Mark reflects on something Sara mentioned about changes in the industry. Be warned, attentive listener, because Mark uses that as an excuse to quote Rush lyrics.  ;)   Links of Interest: Jami Albright's Website Sarah Rosett's Website Wish I'd Known for Writers (Podcast Website) Episode 115 - Embracing the Indie Author Mindset with Adam Croft Adam Croft's Online Mini Courses (Affiliate Link) (Be sure to use "STARK" coupon code to save 50%) Superstars Writing Seminars Findaway Voices Chirp Deals Tips Article NPR Podast: How I Built This with Guy Raz NINC Conference 20BooksVegas Patreon for Stark Reflections   Jami Albright is a born and raised Texas girl and is the multiple award-winning author of The Brides on the Run series--a fun, sexy, snarky, laugh-out-loud good time. If you don't snort with laughter, then she hasn't done her job. USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett writes lighthearted mysteries for readers who enjoy atmospheric settings, fun characters, and puzzling whodunits. Sara loves all things bookish, considers dark chocolate a daily requirement   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0This episode features a conversation with Jami Albright and Sara Rosett. Jami is the multiple award-winning author of the Brides on the Run series–a fun, sexy, snarky, laugh-out-loud good time. USA Today and Audible bestselling author Sara Rosett writes lighthearted mysteries with atmospheric settings, fun characters, and puzzling whodunit. The two are the best of friends, and Mark talks with them about their writing, their friendship, and their new podcast Wish I'd Known Then for Writers. Prior to the interview, Mark shares an audiobook marketing tip from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark then shares a personal update, which includes: Flying to Colorado Springs for the 2020 Superstars Writing Seminars where he is a returning guest instructor The release (on Feb 4th) of TAKING THE SHORT TACK (a book on how writers can leverage short fiction for marketing and revenue), which he co-authored with Matty Dalrymple He then announces the winners of two different prizes that were randomly drawn from listeners who left comments on two previous episodes as well as patrons of the show who support the podcast over at http://patreon.com/starkreflections. During their conversation, Jami, Sara, and Mark discuss: How they first got into writing, and their unique entrances and pathways into the writing world, as well as the unique genres they write in The runaway bride trope/theme in romantic comedy and the potential double standard of runaway groom not being as popular The cozy mystery genre and the way certain readers have specific preferences for how a series is structured What it would take for either of them to say "yes" to a traditional publishing contract Why a traditional publisher wouldn't be able to afford an advance for what Jami makes in a money off of her indie eBook sales How Sara ended up with POD print titles in a bookstore and how she managed returns with a returnable status for the US and Canada only and non-returnable for the rest of world How Sara and Jami first met at the Smarter Artist Conference in Austin, TX and learned that they both lived in Austin about ten minutes away from one another The ongoing "ladies that lunch" they participate in, often with other local writers The importance of having other writer friends Why they both enjoy attending writer gatherings and writer conferences The origin of the new podcast that Jami and Sara started called Wish I'd Known Then for Writers What they each wish they'd know then, before they got into writing   After the interview, Mark reflects on something Sara mentioned about changes in the industry. Be warned, attentive listener, because Mark uses that as an excuse to quote Rush lyrics.  ;)   Links of Interest: Jami Albright's Website Sarah Rosett's Website Wish I'd Known for Writers (Podcast Website) Episode 115 - Embracing the Indie Author Mindset with Adam Croft Adam Croft's Online Mini Courses (Affiliate Link) (Be sure to use "STARK" coupon code to save 50%) Superstars Writing Seminars Findaway Voices Chirp Deals Tips Article NPR Podast: How I Built This with Guy Raz NINC Conference 20BooksVegas Patreon for Stark Reflections   Jami Albright is a born and raised Texas girl and is the multiple award-winning author of The Brides on the Run series--a fun, sexy, snarky, laugh-out-loud good time. If you don't snort with laughter, then she hasn't done her job. USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett writes lighthearted mysteries for readers who enjoy atmospheric settings, fun characters, and puzzling whodunits. Sara loves all things bookish, considers dark chocolate a daily requirement   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 117 - Multi-Layered Collaboration with Kerrie Flanagan, Chuck Harrelson, and MacLeod Andrews Multi-Layered Collaboration with Kerrie Flanagan, Chuck Harrelson, and MacLeod Andrews Fri, 31 Jan 2020 01:26:54 +0000 Mark has a conversation with Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson who are collaborating yet again under the author name C.G. Harris, and their mutual collaboration with audiobook narrator MacLeod Andrews.

    They discuss the book The Nine, which is the first book in The Judas Files series, which is narrated by MacLeod, a multi-award-winning narrator.

    Prior to the conversation, Mark shares a few personal updates, which include:

    • Heading to Colorado to attend Superstars Writing Seminars as a guest instructor the first week of February
    • A forthcoming two hour keynote he has been booked into for the spring
    • A virtual talk he'll be doing at one conference in Alberta while he is attending another conference in Colorado

    Mark then shares a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the interview, Mark, Kerrie, Chuck and MacLeod talk about:

    • The origin of Kerrie and Chuck starting to write together, originally for a romantic comedy series of three books under the name C.K. Wiles
    • Where the name C.G. Harris came from (as well as Mark's continued mispronunciation of C.G. Harris as "C.J. Harris" and his feeble excuse that that's the way Canadians pronounce it)
    • MacLeod's background as an actor and how he got involved in recording audiobooks, which he had never thought of as a possible career path
    • The 12 books that MacLeod had done with Brilliance audio and how that turned into a full time profession, allowing him to leave cater waitering
    • The decision to do this collaboration with Findaway Voices, and how this project was the first one MacLeod had done in a more independent fashion
    • The full service studio in Los Angeles that MacLeod used to record THE NINE
    • How this series was something that Kerrie and Chuck wanted to be similar to or appeal to fans of Jim Butcher's "The Dresden Files"
    • The decision to reach out to MacLeod to see if he would be interested in narrating THE NINE
    • How the collaboration between writers and narrator began and progressed, and the way that Kerrie and Chuck enjoyed the playful experimentation that MacLeod did on this project and also fully trusted him
    • How the Voices Share royalty splitting option worked for them via Findaway Voices
    • What THE NINE is all about and the plans for the 12 books in The Judas Files series
    • The way that comedy plays a role in a dark novel such as this one
    • The desire to do a simultaneous release of the print, eBook and audiobook for Book 2 in the series in August 2020
    • The plans for the next two books in the series coming relatively quickly after that (November and December)

    After the conversation, Mark talks about how Chuck was a fan of MacLeod's previous audiobooks and had the idea to ask if he would be interested in working with them. He reflects on the importance of asking.

    Links of Interest:

     

    C.G. Harris is an award winning science-fiction and fantasy author from Colorado who draws inspiration from favorites, Jim Butcher, Richard Kadrey and Brandon Sanderson. For nearly a decade, Harris has escaped the humdrum of the real world by creating fictional characters and made-up realities. When not writing, Harris enjoys sipping scotch while watching the twisted humor of Drunk History. Seeing our past through the bottom of a whisky glass is more entertaining than reading a dusty textbook. C.G. Harris is the pen name and combined persona created by authors, Chuck Harrelson and Kerrie Flanagan. Together they have published, The Judas Files, a gritty urban fantasy series and The Rax, an apocalyptic science fiction series.

    MacLeod Andrews is a multiple Audie, Earphone, and SOVAS award winning audiobook narrator, as well as an award winning film actor and producer. He's perhaps most recognized in audio for narrating the Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey and The Reckoners series by Brandon Sanderson. His films They Look Like People and The Siren have played festivals all around the world and are available for streaming on major platforms domestically and abroad. He has a cat named Luna, a well known affinity for chocolate chip cookies, and rations his social media fix to twitter.

    Chuck Harrelson spent almost thirty years as a fire fighter, mostly for Space Command in the Department of defense. He has amassed a wealth of knowledge over the years as he not only excelled in his job but also spent his off time honing his craft as a successful science fiction and fantasy author. He is now retired and writes full time, publishing his novels with writing partner Kerrie Flanagan. Chuck resides in Denver Colorado and is an active member of both the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and the Northern Colorado Writers Group. His past manuscripts won the 2014 Top of The Mountain Book Award competition, the Ballot Press Competition and one was a finalist at the 2016 San Diego Writers Conference.

    Kerrie Flanagan is an author, writing consultant, presenter, and freelance writer with over 20 years' experience in the publishing industry. She's the author of, The Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing and creator of the Magazine Writing Blueprint. In addition, she has published twelve other books, including three series' with her co-author Chuck Harrelson, under the pen names, C.K. Wiles and C.G. Harris. Their book, Showtime Rendezvous, was a finalist in The Beverly contest and also received an Honorable Mention for the Writer's Digest self-published books awards. Her articles and essays have appeared in publications and anthologies including Writer's Digest, Alaska Magazine, The Writer, FamilyFun, and six Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Over the years, she has worked with hundreds of authors through classes and individual consultations. Her background in teaching, and enjoyment of helping writers has led her to present at writing conferences across the country and teach continuing studies classes through Stanford University. Now as a member of the Writing Day Workshop team, I help coordinate one-day writing conference throughout the country. www.KerrieFlanagan.com.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark has a conversation with Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson who are collaborating yet again under the author name C.G. Harris, and their mutual collaboration with audiobook narrator MacLeod Andrews.

    They discuss the book The Nine, which is the first book in The Judas Files series, which is narrated by MacLeod, a multi-award-winning narrator.

    Prior to the conversation, Mark shares a few personal updates, which include:

    • Heading to Colorado to attend Superstars Writing Seminars as a guest instructor the first week of February
    • A forthcoming two hour keynote he has been booked into for the spring
    • A virtual talk he'll be doing at one conference in Alberta while he is attending another conference in Colorado

    Mark then shares a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the interview, Mark, Kerrie, Chuck and MacLeod talk about:

    • The origin of Kerrie and Chuck starting to write together, originally for a romantic comedy series of three books under the name C.K. Wiles
    • Where the name C.G. Harris came from (as well as Mark's continued mispronunciation of C.G. Harris as "C.J. Harris" and his feeble excuse that that's the way Canadians pronounce it)
    • MacLeod's background as an actor and how he got involved in recording audiobooks, which he had never thought of as a possible career path
    • The 12 books that MacLeod had done with Brilliance audio and how that turned into a full time profession, allowing him to leave cater waitering
    • The decision to do this collaboration with Findaway Voices, and how this project was the first one MacLeod had done in a more independent fashion
    • The full service studio in Los Angeles that MacLeod used to record THE NINE
    • How this series was something that Kerrie and Chuck wanted to be similar to or appeal to fans of Jim Butcher's "The Dresden Files"
    • The decision to reach out to MacLeod to see if he would be interested in narrating THE NINE
    • How the collaboration between writers and narrator began and progressed, and the way that Kerrie and Chuck enjoyed the playful experimentation that MacLeod did on this project and also fully trusted him
    • How the Voices Share royalty splitting option worked for them via Findaway Voices
    • What THE NINE is all about and the plans for the 12 books in The Judas Files series
    • The way that comedy plays a role in a dark novel such as this one
    • The desire to do a simultaneous release of the print, eBook and audiobook for Book 2 in the series in August 2020
    • The plans for the next two books in the series coming relatively quickly after that (November and December)

    After the conversation, Mark talks about how Chuck was a fan of MacLeod's previous audiobooks and had the idea to ask if he would be interested in working with them. He reflects on the importance of asking.

    Links of Interest:

    C.G. Harris is an award winning science-fiction and fantasy author from Colorado who draws inspiration from favorites, Jim Butcher, Richard Kadrey and Brandon Sanderson. For nearly a decade, Harris has escaped the humdrum of the real world by creating fictional characters and made-up realities. When not writing, Harris enjoys sipping scotch while watching the twisted humor of Drunk History. Seeing our past through the bottom of a whisky glass is more entertaining than reading a dusty textbook. C.G. Harris is the pen name and combined persona created by authors, Chuck Harrelson and Kerrie Flanagan. Together they have published, The Judas Files, a gritty urban fantasy series and The Rax, an apocalyptic science fiction series.

    MacLeod Andrews is a multiple Audie, Earphone, and SOVAS award winning audiobook narrator, as well as an award winning film actor and producer. He's perhaps most recognized in audio for narrating the Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey and The Reckoners series by Brandon Sanderson. His films They Look Like People and The Siren have played festivals all around the world and are available for streaming on major platforms domestically and abroad. He has a cat named Luna, a well known affinity for chocolate chip cookies, and rations his social media fix to twitter.

    Chuck Harrelson spent almost thirty years as a fire fighter, mostly for Space Command in the Department of defense. He has amassed a wealth of knowledge over the years as he not only excelled in his job but also spent his off time honing his craft as a successful science fiction and fantasy author. He is now retired and writes full time, publishing his novels with writing partner Kerrie Flanagan. Chuck resides in Denver Colorado and is an active member of both the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and the Northern Colorado Writers Group. His past manuscripts won the 2014 Top of The Mountain Book Award competition, the Ballot Press Competition and one was a finalist at the 2016 San Diego Writers Conference.

    Kerrie Flanagan is an author, writing consultant, presenter, and freelance writer with over 20 years' experience in the publishing industry. She's the author of, The Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing and creator of the Magazine Writing Blueprint. In addition, she has published twelve other books, including three series' with her co-author Chuck Harrelson, under the pen names, C.K. Wiles and C.G. Harris. Their book, Showtime Rendezvous, was a finalist in The Beverly contest and also received an Honorable Mention for the Writer's Digest self-published books awards. Her articles and essays have appeared in publications and anthologies including Writer's Digest, Alaska Magazine, The Writer, FamilyFun, and six Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Over the years, she has worked with hundreds of authors through classes and individual consultations. Her background in teaching, and enjoyment of helping writers has led her to present at writing conferences across the country and teach continuing studies classes through Stanford University. Now as a member of the Writing Day Workshop team, I help coordinate one-day writing conference throughout the country. www.KerrieFlanagan.com.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     54:29 false 3 117 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark has a conversation with Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson who are collaborating yet again under the author name C.G. Harris, and their mutual collaboration with audiobook narrator MacLeod Andrews. They discuss the book The Nine, which is the first book in The Judas Files series, which is narrated by MacLeod, a multi-award-winning narrator. Prior to the conversation, Mark shares a few personal updates, which include: Heading to Colorado to attend Superstars Writing Seminars as a guest instructor the first week of February A forthcoming two hour keynote he has been booked into for the spring A virtual talk he'll be doing at one conference in Alberta while he is attending another conference in Colorado Mark then shares a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the interview, Mark, Kerrie, Chuck and MacLeod talk about: The origin of Kerrie and Chuck starting to write together, originally for a romantic comedy series of three books under the name C.K. Wiles Where the name C.G. Harris came from (as well as Mark's continued mispronunciation of C.G. Harris as "C.J. Harris" and his feeble excuse that that's the way Canadians pronounce it) MacLeod's background as an actor and how he got involved in recording audiobooks, which he had never thought of as a possible career path The 12 books that MacLeod had done with Brilliance audio and how that turned into a full time profession, allowing him to leave cater waitering The decision to do this collaboration with Findaway Voices, and how this project was the first one MacLeod had done in a more independent fashion The full service studio in Los Angeles that MacLeod used to record THE NINE How this series was something that Kerrie and Chuck wanted to be similar to or appeal to fans of Jim Butcher's "The Dresden Files" The decision to reach out to MacLeod to see if he would be interested in narrating THE NINE How the collaboration between writers and narrator began and progressed, and the way that Kerrie and Chuck enjoyed the playful experimentation that MacLeod did on this project and also fully trusted him How the Voices Share royalty splitting option worked for them via Findaway Voices What THE NINE is all about and the plans for the 12 books in The Judas Files series The way that comedy plays a role in a dark novel such as this one The desire to do a simultaneous release of the print, eBook and audiobook for Book 2 in the series in August 2020 The plans for the next two books in the series coming relatively quickly after that (November and December) After the conversation, Mark talks about how Chuck was a fan of MacLeod's previous audiobooks and had the idea to ask if he would be interested in working with them. He reflects on the importance of asking. Links of Interest: C.G. Harris (Website) Kerrie Flanagan (Website) MacLeod Andrews (Website) MacLeod on Twitter Episode 115 - Embracing the Indie Author Mindset with Adam Croft Adam Croft's Online Mini Courses (Affiliate Link) (Be sure to use "STARK" coupon code to save 50%) Superstars Writing Seminars Liberty State Fiction Writers Conference Wordbridge Conference Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   C.G. Harris is an award winning science-fiction and fantasy author from Colorado who draws inspiration from favorites, Jim Butcher, Richard Kadrey and Brandon Sanderson. For nearly a decade, Harris has escaped the humdrum of the real world by creating fictional characters and made-up realities. When not writing, Harris enjoys sipping scotch while watching the twisted humor of Drunk History. Seeing our past through the bottom of a whisky glass is more entertaining than reading a dusty textbook. C.G. Harris is the pen name and combined persona created by authors, Chuck Harrelson and Kerrie Flanagan. Together they have published, The Judas Files, a gritty urban fantasy series and The Rax, an apocalyptic science fiction series. MacLeod Andrews is a multiple Audie, Earphone, and SOVAS award winning audiobook narrator, as well as an award winning film actor and producer. He's perhaps most recognized in audio for narrating the Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey and The Reckoners series by Brandon Sanderson. His films They Look Like People and The Siren have played festivals all around the world and are available for streaming on major platforms domestically and abroad. He has a cat named Luna, a well known affinity for chocolate chip cookies, and rations his social media fix to twitter. Chuck Harrelson spent almost thirty years as a fire fighter, mostly for Space Command in the Department of defense. He has amassed a wealth of knowledge over the years as he not only excelled in his job but also spent his off time honing his craft as a successful science fiction and fantasy author. He is now retired and writes full time, publishing his novels with writing partner Kerrie Flanagan. Chuck resides in Denver Colorado and is an active member of both the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and the Northern Colorado Writers Group. His past manuscripts won the 2014 Top of The Mountain Book Award competition, the Ballot Press Competition and one was a finalist at the 2016 San Diego Writers Conference. Kerrie Flanagan is an author, writing consultant, presenter, and freelance writer with over 20 years' experience in the publishing industry. She's the author of, The Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing and creator of the Magazine Writing Blueprint. In addition, she has published twelve other books, including three series' with her co-author Chuck Harrelson, under the pen names, C.K. Wiles and C.G. Harris. Their book, Showtime Rendezvous, was a finalist in The Beverly contest and also received an Honorable Mention for the Writer's Digest self-published books awards. Her articles and essays have appeared in publications and anthologies including Writer's Digest, Alaska Magazine, The Writer, FamilyFun, and six Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Over the years, she has worked with hundreds of authors through classes and individual consultations. Her background in teaching, and enjoyment of helping writers has led her to present at writing conferences across the country and teach continuing studies classes through Stanford University. Now as a member of the Writing Day Workshop team, I help coordinate one-day writing conference throughout the country. www.KerrieFlanagan.com.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark has a conversation with Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson who are collaborating yet again under the author name C.G. Harris, and their mutual collaboration with audiobook narrator MacLeod Andrews. They discuss the book The Nine, which is the first book in The Judas Files series, which is narrated by MacLeod, a multi-award-winning narrator. Prior to the conversation, Mark shares a few personal updates, which include: Heading to Colorado to attend Superstars Writing Seminars as a guest instructor the first week of February A forthcoming two hour keynote he has been booked into for the spring A virtual talk he'll be doing at one conference in Alberta while he is attending another conference in Colorado Mark then shares a word from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the interview, Mark, Kerrie, Chuck and MacLeod talk about: The origin of Kerrie and Chuck starting to write together, originally for a romantic comedy series of three books under the name C.K. Wiles Where the name C.G. Harris came from (as well as Mark's continued mispronunciation of C.G. Harris as "C.J. Harris" and his feeble excuse that that's the way Canadians pronounce it) MacLeod's background as an actor and how he got involved in recording audiobooks, which he had never thought of as a possible career path The 12 books that MacLeod had done with Brilliance audio and how that turned into a full time profession, allowing him to leave cater waitering The decision to do this collaboration with Findaway Voices, and how this project was the first one MacLeod had done in a more independent fashion The full service studio in Los Angeles that MacLeod used to record THE NINE How this series was something that Kerrie and Chuck wanted to be similar to or appeal to fans of Jim Butcher's "The Dresden Files" The decision to reach out to MacLeod to see if he would be interested in narrating THE NINE How the collaboration between writers and narrator began and progressed, and the way that Kerrie and Chuck enjoyed the playful experimentation that MacLeod did on this project and also fully trusted him How the Voices Share royalty splitting option worked for them via Findaway Voices What THE NINE is all about and the plans for the 12 books in The Judas Files series The way that comedy plays a role in a dark novel such as this one The desire to do a simultaneous release of the print, eBook and audiobook for Book 2 in the series in August 2020 The plans for the next two books in the series coming relatively quickly after that (November and December) After the conversation, Mark talks about how Chuck was a fan of MacLeod's previous audiobooks and had the idea to ask if he would be interested in working with them. He reflects on the importance of asking. Links of Interest: C.G. Harris (Website) Kerrie Flanagan (Website) MacLeod Andrews (Website) MacLeod on Twitter Episode 115 - Embracing the Indie Author Mindset with Adam Croft Adam Croft's Online Mini Courses (Affiliate Link) (Be sure to use "STARK" coupon code to save 50%) Superstars Writing Seminars Liberty State Fiction Writers Conference Wordbridge Conference Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   C.G. Harris is an award winning science-fiction and fantasy author from Colorado who draws inspiration from favorites, Jim Butcher, Richard Kadrey and Brandon Sanderson. For nearly a decade, Harris has escaped the humdrum of the real world by creating fictional characters and made-up realities. When not writing, Harris enjoys sipping scotch while watching the twisted humor of Drunk History. Seeing our past through the bottom of a whisky glass is more entertaining than reading a dusty textbook. C.G. Harris is the pen name and combined persona created by authors, Chuck Harrelson and Kerrie Flanagan. Together they have published, The Judas Files, a gritty urban fantasy series and The Rax, an apocalyptic science fiction series. MacLeod Andrews is a multiple Audie, Earphone, and SOVAS award winning audiobook narrator, as well as an award winning film actor and producer. He's perhaps most recognized in audio for narrating the Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey and The Reckoners series by Brandon Sanderson. His films They Look Like People and The Siren have played festivals all around the world and are available for streaming on major platforms domestically and abroad. He has a cat named Luna, a well known affinity for chocolate chip cookies, and rations his social media fix to twitter. Chuck Harrelson spent almost thirty years as a fire fighter, mostly for Space Command in the Department of defense. He has amassed a wealth of knowledge over the years as he not only excelled in his job but also spent his off time honing his craft as a successful science fiction and fantasy author. He is now retired and writes full time, publishing his novels with writing partner Kerrie Flanagan. Chuck resides in Denver Colorado and is an active member of both the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and the Northern Colorado Writers Group. His past manuscripts won the 2014 Top of The Mountain Book Award competition, the Ballot Press Competition and one was a finalist at the 2016 San Diego Writers Conference. Kerrie Flanagan is an author, writing consultant, presenter, and freelance writer with over 20 years' experience in the publishing industry. She's the author of, The Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing and creator of the Magazine Writing Blueprint. In addition, she has published twelve other books, including three series' with her co-author Chuck Harrelson, under the pen names, C.K. Wiles and C.G. Harris. Their book, Showtime Rendezvous, was a finalist in The Beverly contest and also received an Honorable Mention for the Writer's Digest self-published books awards. Her articles and essays have appeared in publications and anthologies including Writer's Digest, Alaska Magazine, The Writer, FamilyFun, and six Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Over the years, she has worked with hundreds of authors through classes and individual consultations. Her background in teaching, and enjoyment of helping writers has led her to present at writing conferences across the country and teach continuing studies classes through Stanford University. Now as a member of the Writing Day Workshop team, I help coordinate one-day writing conference throughout the country. www.KerrieFlanagan.com.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 116 - Taking the Short Tack with Matty Dalrymple Tacking the Short Tack with Matty Dalrymple Fri, 24 Jan 2020 03:15:19 +0000 Mark has a conversation with Matty Dalrymple about her new collaborative book project.

    Matty is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers and the Ann Kinear Suspense Novels. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Brandywine Valley Writers Group. She lives with her husband Wade and their three loveable puppies in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which is the setting for two of her Lizzy Ballard Thrillers.

    Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes and reminds listeners of the chance to win prizes for leaving comments on recent episodes thanks to his amazing patrons. Then he shares a word from this episode's corporate sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Mark and Matty talk about:

    • How and why they both got into writing short fiction
    • Their experiences with collaboration (which includes Matty admitting she never thought she would collaborate with another author, at least not for a fiction project
    • How they connected and the way that their new book project came about
    • After several minutes about teasing the mention, Matty and Mark reveal the name of their new book, coming Feb 2020: Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction
    • The origin of the imprint for the book "William Kingsfield Publishers"
    • Mark's consistent DIY approach to publishing, which started when working at his high school newspaper
    • The importance of actually asking for something when you have an idea (ie, in the case of an idea for a book and a collaboration)
    • The way that they collaborated and the tools they used along the way
    • The discipline and organization that Matty brought into Mark's work process for this project
    • The process of the writing of the book and the back-and-forth communication of the changes, and how they smoothed the differences in writing style
    • The possibility of future collaborations now that they have learned one another's styles
    • The origin of the title and the references to sailing inherent in the term "the short tack"
    • The importance of focusing on building relationships rather than just selling a book
    • Who the book is for, and how it can be used by authors in different ways
    • The importance of a contract for two authors who are collaborating
    • Why they decided to publish the book through Draft2Digital via a beta program that allows for payment splitting
    • The great learning experience that this project was for both Matty and Mark

    After the conversation Mark reflects on one of the nautical concepts that Matty referenced and how it relates to authors.

    Links of Interest:

     

    Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers Rock Paper Scissors, Snakes and Ladders, and The Iron Ring; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels The Sense of Death and The Sense of Reckoning; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including Close These Eyes and Write in Water. Matty lives with her husband, Wade Walton, their two Labrador Retrievers (Juno and Sophie), and their terrier (Griffin) in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which is the setting for much of the action in The Sense of Death and Rock Paper Scissors. They enjoy vacationing on Mt. Desert Island, Maine, where The Sense of Reckoning and Close These Eyes take place, and Sedona, Arizona, the setting for much of Snakes and Ladders​ and The Iron Ring.

    Matty is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Brandywine Valley Writers Group.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark has a conversation with Matty Dalrymple about her new collaborative book project.

    Matty is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers and the Ann Kinear Suspense Novels. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Brandywine Valley Writers Group. She lives with her husband Wade and their three loveable puppies in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which is the setting for two of her Lizzy Ballard Thrillers.

    Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes and reminds listeners of the chance to win prizes for leaving comments on recent episodes thanks to his amazing patrons. Then he shares a word from this episode's corporate sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Mark and Matty talk about:

    • How and why they both got into writing short fiction
    • Their experiences with collaboration (which includes Matty admitting she never thought she would collaborate with another author, at least not for a fiction project
    • How they connected and the way that their new book project came about
    • After several minutes about teasing the mention, Matty and Mark reveal the name of their new book, coming Feb 2020: Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction
    • The origin of the imprint for the book "William Kingsfield Publishers"
    • Mark's consistent DIY approach to publishing, which started when working at his high school newspaper
    • The importance of actually asking for something when you have an idea (ie, in the case of an idea for a book and a collaboration)
    • The way that they collaborated and the tools they used along the way
    • The discipline and organization that Matty brought into Mark's work process for this project
    • The process of the writing of the book and the back-and-forth communication of the changes, and how they smoothed the differences in writing style
    • The possibility of future collaborations now that they have learned one another's styles
    • The origin of the title and the references to sailing inherent in the term "the short tack"
    • The importance of focusing on building relationships rather than just selling a book
    • Who the book is for, and how it can be used by authors in different ways
    • The importance of a contract for two authors who are collaborating
    • Why they decided to publish the book through Draft2Digital via a beta program that allows for payment splitting
    • The great learning experience that this project was for both Matty and Mark

    After the conversation Mark reflects on one of the nautical concepts that Matty referenced and how it relates to authors.

    Links of Interest:

    Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers Rock Paper Scissors, Snakes and Ladders, and The Iron Ring; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels The Sense of Death and The Sense of Reckoning; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including Close These Eyes and Write in Water. Matty lives with her husband, Wade Walton, their two Labrador Retrievers (Juno and Sophie), and their terrier (Griffin) in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which is the setting for much of the action in The Sense of Death and Rock Paper Scissors. They enjoy vacationing on Mt. Desert Island, Maine, where The Sense of Reckoning and Close These Eyes take place, and Sedona, Arizona, the setting for much of Snakes and Ladders​ and The Iron Ring.

    Matty is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Brandywine Valley Writers Group.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     01:08:45 false 3 116 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark has a conversation with Matty Dalrymple about her new collaborative book project. Matty is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers and the Ann Kinear Suspense Novels. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Brandywine Valley Writers Group. She lives with her husband Wade and their three loveable puppies in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which is the setting for two of her Lizzy Ballard Thrillers. Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes and reminds listeners of the chance to win prizes for leaving comments on recent episodes thanks to his amazing patrons. Then he shares a word from this episode's corporate sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Matty talk about: How and why they both got into writing short fiction Their experiences with collaboration (which includes Matty admitting she never thought she would collaborate with another author, at least not for a fiction project How they connected and the way that their new book project came about After several minutes about teasing the mention, Matty and Mark reveal the name of their new book, coming Feb 2020: Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction The origin of the imprint for the book "William Kingsfield Publishers" Mark's consistent DIY approach to publishing, which started when working at his high school newspaper The importance of actually asking for something when you have an idea (ie, in the case of an idea for a book and a collaboration) The way that they collaborated and the tools they used along the way The discipline and organization that Matty brought into Mark's work process for this project The process of the writing of the book and the back-and-forth communication of the changes, and how they smoothed the differences in writing style The possibility of future collaborations now that they have learned one another's styles The origin of the title and the references to sailing inherent in the term "the short tack" The importance of focusing on building relationships rather than just selling a book Who the book is for, and how it can be used by authors in different ways The importance of a contract for two authors who are collaborating Why they decided to publish the book through Draft2Digital via a beta program that allows for payment splitting The great learning experience that this project was for both Matty and Mark After the conversation Mark reflects on one of the nautical concepts that Matty referenced and how it relates to authors. Links of Interest: Matty Dalrymple The Indy Author Taking the Short Tack Adam Croft's Online Mini Courses (Affiliate Link) (Be sure to use "STARK" coupon code to save 50%) Episode 113 - Productivity for Authors: A Panel Discussion Episode 114 - Thanks for the Inspiration Neil Peart Episode 115 - Embracing the Indie Author Mindset with Adam Croft Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers Rock Paper Scissors, Snakes and Ladders, and The Iron Ring; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels The Sense of Death and The Sense of Reckoning; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including Close These Eyes and Write in Water. Matty lives with her husband, Wade Walton, their two Labrador Retrievers (Juno and Sophie), and their terrier (Griffin) in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which is the setting for much of the action in The Sense of Death and Rock Paper Scissors. They enjoy vacationing on Mt. Desert Island, Maine, where The Sense of Reckoning and Close These Eyes take place, and Sedona, Arizona, the setting for much of Snakes and Ladders​ and The Iron Ring. Matty is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Brandywine Valley Writers Group.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark has a conversation with Matty Dalrymple about her new collaborative book project. Matty is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers and the Ann Kinear Suspense Novels. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Brandywine Valley Writers Group. She lives with her husband Wade and their three loveable puppies in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which is the setting for two of her Lizzy Ballard Thrillers. Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes and reminds listeners of the chance to win prizes for leaving comments on recent episodes thanks to his amazing patrons. Then he shares a word from this episode's corporate sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Matty talk about: How and why they both got into writing short fiction Their experiences with collaboration (which includes Matty admitting she never thought she would collaborate with another author, at least not for a fiction project How they connected and the way that their new book project came about After several minutes about teasing the mention, Matty and Mark reveal the name of their new book, coming Feb 2020: Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction The origin of the imprint for the book "William Kingsfield Publishers" Mark's consistent DIY approach to publishing, which started when working at his high school newspaper The importance of actually asking for something when you have an idea (ie, in the case of an idea for a book and a collaboration) The way that they collaborated and the tools they used along the way The discipline and organization that Matty brought into Mark's work process for this project The process of the writing of the book and the back-and-forth communication of the changes, and how they smoothed the differences in writing style The possibility of future collaborations now that they have learned one another's styles The origin of the title and the references to sailing inherent in the term "the short tack" The importance of focusing on building relationships rather than just selling a book Who the book is for, and how it can be used by authors in different ways The importance of a contract for two authors who are collaborating Why they decided to publish the book through Draft2Digital via a beta program that allows for payment splitting The great learning experience that this project was for both Matty and Mark After the conversation Mark reflects on one of the nautical concepts that Matty referenced and how it relates to authors. Links of Interest: Matty Dalrymple The Indy Author Taking the Short Tack Adam Croft's Online Mini Courses (Affiliate Link) (Be sure to use "STARK" coupon code to save 50%) Episode 113 - Productivity for Authors: A Panel Discussion Episode 114 - Thanks for the Inspiration Neil Peart Episode 115 - Embracing the Indie Author Mindset with Adam Croft Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers Rock Paper Scissors, Snakes and Ladders, and The Iron Ring; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels The Sense of Death and The Sense of Reckoning; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including Close These Eyes and Write in Water. Matty lives with her husband, Wade Walton, their two Labrador Retrievers (Juno and Sophie), and their terrier (Griffin) in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which is the setting for much of the action in The Sense of Death and Rock Paper Scissors. They enjoy vacationing on Mt. Desert Island, Maine, where The Sense of Reckoning and Close These Eyes take place, and Sedona, Arizona, the setting for much of Snakes and Ladders​ and The Iron Ring. Matty is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Brandywine Valley Writers Group.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 115 - Embracing the Indie Author Mindset with Adam Croft Embracing the Indie Author Mindset with Adam Croft Thu, 16 Jan 2020 18:55:24 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Adam Croft and talks about the important and significant change in Adam's mindset that allowed him to become a successful best-selling author.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a marketing/release strategy tip from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Mark then shares and talks about some of the comments from Episode 113 and reminds listeners of the chance to win a copy of Joanna Penn's PRODUCTIVITY FOR AUTHORS by commenting on that episode show notes at www.starkreflections.ca by Jan 31, 2020.

    Within that comment talk, he shares a short clip from a podcast he had started in 2006 (and then abandoned in 2011 after only 18 episodes) called Prelude to a Scream.

     

    In their conversation, Mark and Adam talk about:

    • How long it took to plan out the interview (based on both Mark and Adam being disorganized)
    • The beginning of Adam's journey into writing - from school and then 2008 when he wrote his first book and 2010, the early days of digital publishing
    • Adam's first book TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT, and the planning of the 10th book in that series
    • How Adam spent 5 years floundering about and not really sure what he was doing in the early days
    • The recognition of how his writing itself was a small business, and not a hobby - and how that led to an important and significant change
    • The importance of changing his way of thinking, and bringing the business mindset into his writing
    • The value of taking courses and learning, such as Mark Dawson's Facebook Ads for Authors course
    • How a stand-alone book (instead of a series) was the first big breakaway for Adam, because of the dramatic and attention-grabbing/marketing hook: "Could you murder your wife to save your daughter?" (This was HER LAST TOMORROW)
    • Questions, and how they need to be psychologically answered, as a log-line/hook for getting a potential reader's attention
    • The tag line for TELL ME I'M WRONG: "What if you discovered your husband was a serial killer?"
    • Adam's translated novels in Portuguese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, and Korean
    • The comparison between sending Adam's son to pre-school and the releasing of a novel (regularly considered an author's "baby") out into the world
    • Trying not to have an emotional attachment to any novel, but consider it as a commercial/business enterprise
    • The "imposter syndrome" that continues to plague Adam with each new novel release
    • The two or three "life changing" books Adam has released that did blockbuster sales numbers, and the many other books which have done well, but weren't nearly as remarkable - and the candid nature he has always shared that
    • How Adam deals with the ins and outs and highs and lows of the waves of sales trends in publishing
    • The importance of preparing for the long term, which is an important element in the indie author mindset
    • The value of "evergreen" and a solid residual revenue
      - The partnership with Kobo to have a few of his books translated into Dutch (for the Netherlands market with Kobo's partner BOL.com)
    • The courses Adam runs as well as the Indie Author Mindset Facebook group
    • Why Adam has created simple and short courses, but why he isn't interested in creating any sort of "super" course
    • The more organic long term approach that Adam has taken with his writing business
    • Understanding the multiple paths to success and how different roads work best for different authors
    • The way that Adam balances his writing, his family, and helping other writers

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects on something Adam said: "No book is going to sell a negative amount of copies." Of course, Mark manages to work in a reference to Monty Python during that reflection.

    Then he shares a coupon code listeners can use to get 50% off of any of Adam's courses, as well as a giveaway. (Use the code "STARK" at checkout to save 50% off any of Adam's online mini-courses)

    Mark then shares the opportunity for listeners of the podcast to win a generous giveaway from Adam for his course on Productivity for Writers.

    ----> Adam is offering one lucky listener a chance to win a free course. All patrons of the podcast will automatically be entered in a chance to win. And anyone who comments on this episode at starkreflections.ca by the end of day Jan 31, 2020 will also be entered into that random draw.

    Patrons at the $1 per month level, will get 1 entry
    Patrons at the $3 per month level will get 2 entries
    Patrons at the $5 per month level will get 3 entries

    Patrons that comment will get an additional entry.

    All entries will be assigned a number and a random number generation will pick the winter. I'll announce the winner in a forhtcoming episode.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    About Adam Croft - With almost two million books sold to date, Adam Croft is one of the most successful independently published authors in the world, and one of the biggest selling authors of the past few years, having sold books in over 120 different countries.

    His 2015 worldwide bestseller Her Last Tomorrow became one of the bestselling books of the year, peaking at number 12 in the combined paperback fiction and non-fiction chart.

    Adam lives in the UK with his wife and their child, and continues to write fiction, co-host the Partners in Crime podcast with Robert Daws and write books and create courses to help other authors.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews Adam Croft and talks about the important and significant change in Adam's mindset that allowed him to become a successful best-selling author.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a marketing/release strategy tip from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Mark then shares and talks about some of the comments from Episode 113 and reminds listeners of the chance to win a copy of Joanna Penn's PRODUCTIVITY FOR AUTHORS by commenting on that episode show notes at www.starkreflections.ca by Jan 31, 2020.

    Within that comment talk, he shares a short clip from a podcast he had started in 2006 (and then abandoned in 2011 after only 18 episodes) called Prelude to a Scream.

    In their conversation, Mark and Adam talk about:

    • How long it took to plan out the interview (based on both Mark and Adam being disorganized)
    • The beginning of Adam's journey into writing - from school and then 2008 when he wrote his first book and 2010, the early days of digital publishing
    • Adam's first book TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT, and the planning of the 10th book in that series
    • How Adam spent 5 years floundering about and not really sure what he was doing in the early days
    • The recognition of how his writing itself was a small business, and not a hobby - and how that led to an important and significant change
    • The importance of changing his way of thinking, and bringing the business mindset into his writing
    • The value of taking courses and learning, such as Mark Dawson's Facebook Ads for Authors course
    • How a stand-alone book (instead of a series) was the first big breakaway for Adam, because of the dramatic and attention-grabbing/marketing hook: "Could you murder your wife to save your daughter?" (This was HER LAST TOMORROW)
    • Questions, and how they need to be psychologically answered, as a log-line/hook for getting a potential reader's attention
    • The tag line for TELL ME I'M WRONG: "What if you discovered your husband was a serial killer?"
    • Adam's translated novels in Portuguese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, and Korean
    • The comparison between sending Adam's son to pre-school and the releasing of a novel (regularly considered an author's "baby") out into the world
    • Trying not to have an emotional attachment to any novel, but consider it as a commercial/business enterprise
    • The "imposter syndrome" that continues to plague Adam with each new novel release
    • The two or three "life changing" books Adam has released that did blockbuster sales numbers, and the many other books which have done well, but weren't nearly as remarkable - and the candid nature he has always shared that
    • How Adam deals with the ins and outs and highs and lows of the waves of sales trends in publishing
    • The importance of preparing for the long term, which is an important element in the indie author mindset
    • The value of "evergreen" and a solid residual revenue - The partnership with Kobo to have a few of his books translated into Dutch (for the Netherlands market with Kobo's partner BOL.com)
    • The courses Adam runs as well as the Indie Author Mindset Facebook group
    • Why Adam has created simple and short courses, but why he isn't interested in creating any sort of "super" course
    • The more organic long term approach that Adam has taken with his writing business
    • Understanding the multiple paths to success and how different roads work best for different authors
    • The way that Adam balances his writing, his family, and helping other writers

    After the interview, Mark reflects on something Adam said: "No book is going to sell a negative amount of copies." Of course, Mark manages to work in a reference to Monty Python during that reflection.

    Then he shares a coupon code listeners can use to get 50% off of any of Adam's courses, as well as a giveaway. (Use the code "STARK" at checkout to save 50% off any of Adam's online mini-courses)

    Mark then shares the opportunity for listeners of the podcast to win a generous giveaway from Adam for his course on Productivity for Writers.

    ----> Adam is offering one lucky listener a chance to win a free course. All patrons of the podcast will automatically be entered in a chance to win. And anyone who comments on this episode at starkreflections.ca by the end of day Jan 31, 2020 will also be entered into that random draw.

    Patrons at the $1 per month level, will get 1 entry Patrons at the $3 per month level will get 2 entries Patrons at the $5 per month level will get 3 entries

    Patrons that comment will get an additional entry.

    All entries will be assigned a number and a random number generation will pick the winter. I'll announce the winner in a forhtcoming episode.

    Links of Interest:

    About Adam Croft - With almost two million books sold to date, Adam Croft is one of the most successful independently published authors in the world, and one of the biggest selling authors of the past few years, having sold books in over 120 different countries.

    His 2015 worldwide bestseller Her Last Tomorrow became one of the bestselling books of the year, peaking at number 12 in the combined paperback fiction and non-fiction chart.

    Adam lives in the UK with his wife and their child, and continues to write fiction, co-host the Partners in Crime podcast with Robert Daws and write books and create courses to help other authors.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     55:21 false 3 115 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Adam Croft and talks about the important and significant change in Adam's mindset that allowed him to become a successful best-selling author. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a marketing/release strategy tip from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark then shares and talks about some of the comments from Episode 113 and reminds listeners of the chance to win a copy of Joanna Penn's PRODUCTIVITY FOR AUTHORS by commenting on that episode show notes at www.starkreflections.ca by Jan 31, 2020. Within that comment talk, he shares a short clip from a podcast he had started in 2006 (and then abandoned in 2011 after only 18 episodes) called Prelude to a Scream.   In their conversation, Mark and Adam talk about: How long it took to plan out the interview (based on both Mark and Adam being disorganized) The beginning of Adam's journey into writing - from school and then 2008 when he wrote his first book and 2010, the early days of digital publishing Adam's first book TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT, and the planning of the 10th book in that series How Adam spent 5 years floundering about and not really sure what he was doing in the early days The recognition of how his writing itself was a small business, and not a hobby - and how that led to an important and significant change The importance of changing his way of thinking, and bringing the business mindset into his writing The value of taking courses and learning, such as Mark Dawson's Facebook Ads for Authors course How a stand-alone book (instead of a series) was the first big breakaway for Adam, because of the dramatic and attention-grabbing/marketing hook: "Could you murder your wife to save your daughter?" (This was HER LAST TOMORROW) Questions, and how they need to be psychologically answered, as a log-line/hook for getting a potential reader's attention The tag line for TELL ME I'M WRONG: "What if you discovered your husband was a serial killer?" Adam's translated novels in Portuguese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, and Korean The comparison between sending Adam's son to pre-school and the releasing of a novel (regularly considered an author's "baby") out into the world Trying not to have an emotional attachment to any novel, but consider it as a commercial/business enterprise The "imposter syndrome" that continues to plague Adam with each new novel release The two or three "life changing" books Adam has released that did blockbuster sales numbers, and the many other books which have done well, but weren't nearly as remarkable - and the candid nature he has always shared that How Adam deals with the ins and outs and highs and lows of the waves of sales trends in publishing The importance of preparing for the long term, which is an important element in the indie author mindset The value of "evergreen" and a solid residual revenue - The partnership with Kobo to have a few of his books translated into Dutch (for the Netherlands market with Kobo's partner BOL.com) The courses Adam runs as well as the Indie Author Mindset Facebook group Why Adam has created simple and short courses, but why he isn't interested in creating any sort of "super" course The more organic long term approach that Adam has taken with his writing business Understanding the multiple paths to success and how different roads work best for different authors The way that Adam balances his writing, his family, and helping other writers   After the interview, Mark reflects on something Adam said: "No book is going to sell a negative amount of copies." Of course, Mark manages to work in a reference to Monty Python during that reflection. Then he shares a coupon code listeners can use to get 50% off of any of Adam's courses, as well as a giveaway. (Use the code "STARK" at checkout to save 50% off any of Adam's online mini-courses) Mark then shares the opportunity for listeners of the podcast to win a generous giveaway from Adam for his course on Productivity for Writers. ---- Adam is offering one lucky listener a chance to win a free course. All patrons of the podcast will automatically be entered in a chance to win. And anyone who comments on this episode at starkreflections.ca by the end of day Jan 31, 2020 will also be entered into that random draw. Patrons at the $1 per month level, will get 1 entry Patrons at the $3 per month level will get 2 entries Patrons at the $5 per month level will get 3 entries Patrons that comment will get an additional entry. All entries will be assigned a number and a random number generation will pick the winter. I'll announce the winner in a forhtcoming episode.   Links of Interest: Adam Croft Website (Author) Adam Croft Indie Author Mindset Website Adam's Online Mini Courses (Affiliate Link) (Be sure to use "STARK" coupon code to save 50%) Episode 113 - Productivity for Authors: A Panel Discussion Episode 11 - The Power of FREE with Musician and Composer Kevin MacLeod Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   About Adam Croft - With almost two million books sold to date, Adam Croft is one of the most successful independently published authors in the world, and one of the biggest selling authors of the past few years, having sold books in over 120 different countries. His 2015 worldwide bestseller Her Last Tomorrow became one of the bestselling books of the year, peaking at number 12 in the combined paperback fiction and non-fiction chart. Adam lives in the UK with his wife and their child, and continues to write fiction, co-host the Partners in Crime podcast with Robert Daws and write books and create courses to help other authors.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Adam Croft and talks about the important and significant change in Adam's mindset that allowed him to become a successful best-selling author. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a marketing/release strategy tip from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark then shares and talks about some of the comments from Episode 113 and reminds listeners of the chance to win a copy of Joanna Penn's PRODUCTIVITY FOR AUTHORS by commenting on that episode show notes at www.starkreflections.ca by Jan 31, 2020. Within that comment talk, he shares a short clip from a podcast he had started in 2006 (and then abandoned in 2011 after only 18 episodes) called Prelude to a Scream.   In their conversation, Mark and Adam talk about: How long it took to plan out the interview (based on both Mark and Adam being disorganized) The beginning of Adam's journey into writing - from school and then 2008 when he wrote his first book and 2010, the early days of digital publishing Adam's first book TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT, and the planning of the 10th book in that series How Adam spent 5 years floundering about and not really sure what he was doing in the early days The recognition of how his writing itself was a small business, and not a hobby - and how that led to an important and significant change The importance of changing his way of thinking, and bringing the business mindset into his writing The value of taking courses and learning, such as Mark Dawson's Facebook Ads for Authors course How a stand-alone book (instead of a series) was the first big breakaway for Adam, because of the dramatic and attention-grabbing/marketing hook: "Could you murder your wife to save your daughter?" (This was HER LAST TOMORROW) Questions, and how they need to be psychologically answered, as a log-line/hook for getting a potential reader's attention The tag line for TELL ME I'M WRONG: "What if you discovered your husband was a serial killer?" Adam's translated novels in Portuguese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, and Korean The comparison between sending Adam's son to pre-school and the releasing of a novel (regularly considered an author's "baby") out into the world Trying not to have an emotional attachment to any novel, but consider it as a commercial/business enterprise The "imposter syndrome" that continues to plague Adam with each new novel release The two or three "life changing" books Adam has released that did blockbuster sales numbers, and the many other books which have done well, but weren't nearly as remarkable - and the candid nature he has always shared that How Adam deals with the ins and outs and highs and lows of the waves of sales trends in publishing The importance of preparing for the long term, which is an important element in the indie author mindset The value of "evergreen" and a solid residual revenue - The partnership with Kobo to have a few of his books translated into Dutch (for the Netherlands market with Kobo's partner BOL.com) The courses Adam runs as well as the Indie Author Mindset Facebook group Why Adam has created simple and short courses, but why he isn't interested in creating any sort of "super" course The more organic long term approach that Adam has taken with his writing business Understanding the multiple paths to success and how different roads work best for different authors The way that Adam balances his writing, his family, and helping other writers   After the interview, Mark reflects on something Adam said: "No book is going to sell a negative amount of copies." Of course, Mark manages to work in a reference to Monty Python during that reflection. Then he shares a coupon code listeners can use to get 50% off of any of Adam's courses, as well as a giveaway. (Use the code "STARK" at checkout to save 50% off any of Adam's online mini-courses) Mark then shares the opportunity for listeners of the podcast to win a generous giveaway from Adam for his course on Productivity for Writers. ---- Adam is offering one lucky listener a chance to win a free course. All patrons of the podcast will automatically be entered in a chance to win. And anyone who comments on this episode at starkreflections.ca by the end of day Jan 31, 2020 will also be entered into that random draw. Patrons at the $1 per month level, will get 1 entry Patrons at the $3 per month level will get 2 entries Patrons at the $5 per month level will get 3 entries Patrons that comment will get an additional entry. All entries will be assigned a number and a random number generation will pick the winter. I'll announce the winner in a forhtcoming episode.   Links of Interest: Adam Croft Website (Author) Adam Croft Indie Author Mindset Website Adam's Online Mini Courses (Affiliate Link) (Be sure to use "STARK" coupon code to save 50%) Episode 113 - Productivity for Authors: A Panel Discussion Episode 11 - The Power of FREE with Musician and Composer Kevin MacLeod Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   About Adam Croft - With almost two million books sold to date, Adam Croft is one of the most successful independently published authors in the world, and one of the biggest selling authors of the past few years, having sold books in over 120 different countries. His 2015 worldwide bestseller Her Last Tomorrow became one of the bestselling books of the year, peaking at number 12 in the combined paperback fiction and non-fiction chart. Adam lives in the UK with his wife and their child, and continues to write fiction, co-host the Partners in Crime podcast with Robert Daws and write books and create courses to help other authors.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 114 - Thanks for the Inspiration: Neil Peart Thanks for the Inspiration: Neil Peart Tue, 14 Jan 2020 20:40:33 +0000 Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast.

    As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers.

    Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing.

    In this particular episode, Mark thanks Neil Peart, drummer and lyricist for RUSH and writer, for the way his work has repeatedly inspired him over the decades.

    This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast via patreon.com/starkreflections

    In his reflective thanks, Mark shares the influence that Neil Peart has had on his writing and talks about:

    • How his buddy Pete got him into RUSH with the album Grace Under Pressure
    • How RUSH lyrics have long been a significant part of his life (and, sometimes to the annoyance of friends), part of everyday conversation.  "There is a RUSH lyric for that!"
    • A column Mark wrote for a high school newspaper that was entitled QUOTH, which were articles inspired by lyrics written by Neil Peart
    • Mark's friends with Kevin J. Anderson, and how the two bonded over their mutual love of RUSH and craft beer
    • Re-publishing the co-authored story "Drumbeats" by Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart. Once in Tesseracts Sixteen, and forthcoming in an issue of Pulphouse Magazine
    • Writing a story inspired by the song "Losing It" which Anderson published as editor in the RUSH-themed anthology 2113
    • Re-publishing the aforementioned story "Some Are Born to Save the World" in NOBODY'S HERO.
    • Peart's desire for privacy and not being treated as separate from the rest of society or in any celebrity manner
    • Memories of sharing RUSH with the people that he loves
    • How Peart's music, lyrics, and writing has inspired Mark in multiple ways over the years and the way that has been infused into his own creative pursuits
    • And more....

     

    Links of Interest:

     

     

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast.

    As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers.

    Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing.

    In this particular episode, Mark thanks Neil Peart, drummer and lyricist for RUSH and writer, for the way his work has repeatedly inspired him over the decades.

    This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast via patreon.com/starkreflections

    In his reflective thanks, Mark shares the influence that Neil Peart has had on his writing and talks about:

    • How his buddy Pete got him into RUSH with the album Grace Under Pressure
    • How RUSH lyrics have long been a significant part of his life (and, sometimes to the annoyance of friends), part of everyday conversation. "There is a RUSH lyric for that!"
    • A column Mark wrote for a high school newspaper that was entitled QUOTH, which were articles inspired by lyrics written by Neil Peart
    • Mark's friends with Kevin J. Anderson, and how the two bonded over their mutual love of RUSH and craft beer
    • Re-publishing the co-authored story "Drumbeats" by Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart. Once in Tesseracts Sixteen, and forthcoming in an issue of Pulphouse Magazine
    • Writing a story inspired by the song "Losing It" which Anderson published as editor in the RUSH-themed anthology 2113
    • Re-publishing the aforementioned story "Some Are Born to Save the World" in NOBODY'S HERO.
    • Peart's desire for privacy and not being treated as separate from the rest of society or in any celebrity manner
    • Memories of sharing RUSH with the people that he loves
    • How Peart's music, lyrics, and writing has inspired Mark in multiple ways over the years and the way that has been infused into his own creative pursuits
    • And more....

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     48:02 false 3 114 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast. As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers. Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing. In this particular episode, Mark thanks Neil Peart, drummer and lyricist for RUSH and writer, for the way his work has repeatedly inspired him over the decades. This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast via patreon.com/starkreflections In his reflective thanks, Mark shares the influence that Neil Peart has had on his writing and talks about: How his buddy Pete got him into RUSH with the album Grace Under Pressure How RUSH lyrics have long been a significant part of his life (and, sometimes to the annoyance of friends), part of everyday conversation.  "There is a RUSH lyric for that!" A column Mark wrote for a high school newspaper that was entitled QUOTH, which were articles inspired by lyrics written by Neil Peart Mark's friends with Kevin J. Anderson, and how the two bonded over their mutual love of RUSH and craft beer Re-publishing the co-authored story "Drumbeats" by Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart. Once in Tesseracts Sixteen, and forthcoming in an issue of Pulphouse Magazine Writing a story inspired by the song "Losing It" which Anderson published as editor in the RUSH-themed anthology 2113 Re-publishing the aforementioned story "Some Are Born to Save the World" in NOBODY'S HERO. Peart's desire for privacy and not being treated as separate from the rest of society or in any celebrity manner Memories of sharing RUSH with the people that he loves How Peart's music, lyrics, and writing has inspired Mark in multiple ways over the years and the way that has been infused into his own creative pursuits And more....   Links of Interest:   RUSH Neil Peart (Wikipedia) Neil's Website Bubba's Bar N Grill Levack Ontario (Onaping Falls, ON) Mark's Blog Post about Neil: There's Somethings Here As Strong As Life Nobody's Hero (Story Collection) 2113: Stories Inspired by the Music of RUSH Galaxia (includes the short story "Grace Under Pressure) Episode 94 - Thanks for the Inspiration: Laurie Blake Patreon for Stark Reflections     The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast. As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers. Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing. In this particular episode, Mark thanks Neil Peart, drummer and lyricist for RUSH and writer, for the way his work has repeatedly inspired him over the decades. This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast via patreon.com/starkreflections In his reflective thanks, Mark shares the influence that Neil Peart has had on his writing and talks about: How his buddy Pete got him into RUSH with the album Grace Under Pressure How RUSH lyrics have long been a significant part of his life (and, sometimes to the annoyance of friends), part of everyday conversation.  "There is a RUSH lyric for that!" A column Mark wrote for a high school newspaper that was entitled QUOTH, which were articles inspired by lyrics written by Neil Peart Mark's friends with Kevin J. Anderson, and how the two bonded over their mutual love of RUSH and craft beer Re-publishing the co-authored story "Drumbeats" by Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart. Once in Tesseracts Sixteen, and forthcoming in an issue of Pulphouse Magazine Writing a story inspired by the song "Losing It" which Anderson published as editor in the RUSH-themed anthology 2113 Re-publishing the aforementioned story "Some Are Born to Save the World" in NOBODY'S HERO. Peart's desire for privacy and not being treated as separate from the rest of society or in any celebrity manner Memories of sharing RUSH with the people that he loves How Peart's music, lyrics, and writing has inspired Mark in multiple ways over the years and the way that has been infused into his own creative pursuits And more....   Links of Interest:   RUSH Neil Peart (Wikipedia) Neil's Website Bubba's Bar N Grill Levack Ontario (Onaping Falls, ON) Mark's Blog Post about Neil: There's Somethings Here As Strong As Life Nobody's Hero (Story Collection) 2113: Stories Inspired by the Music of RUSH Galaxia (includes the short story "Grace Under Pressure) Episode 94 - Thanks for the Inspiration: Laurie Blake Patreon for Stark Reflections     The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 113 - Productivity for Authors Productivity for Authors Fri, 10 Jan 2020 01:12:42 +0000 This episode features a live webinar panel discussion that Mark moderated with authors:

    • M Jane Colette
    • Tracy Cooper-Posey
    • Andrea Pearson
    • Talena Winters

    ...who have all mastered productivity in different ways.

    As Mark attempts to learn more about how to be a productive author, he asks questions and solicits tips from these masters.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Prior to the panel discussion on productivity, Mark shares a recent comment as well as a brief personal update.

    In the discussion, the following questions and more get discussed:

    • Why is productivity important?
    • Is it important for someone to be productive?
    • How do you measure productivity?
    • How do you figure out the best time of day that works for you to be productive?
    • What tools are effective in helping with your productivity?
    • How do you find time to write when you have conflicting priorities, such as a day job or a busy/demanding family life?

    After the conversation, Mark asks listeners to share their own reflections on what they learned, or perhaps their own unique tip on productivity.

    All listeners who comment on the episode show notes over at starkreflections.ca for Episode 113 will be entered into a chance to win either a hardcover or paperback (their choice) copy of Joanna Penn's Productivity for Authors.

    Links of Interest:

     

    M Jane Colette writes tragedy for people who like to laugh, comedy for the melancholy, and erotica for men and women who like their fantasies real. She believes rules and hearts were made to be broken; ditto the constraints of genres. The result? "A whole new sub-genre of her own… social realist erotica that's frenetic and complex and funny and very well observed."


    Tracy Cooper-Posey is a #1 Best Selling Author. She writes romantic suspense, historical, paranormal and science fiction romance. She has published over 100 novels since 1999, been nominated for five CAPAs including Favourite Author, and won the Emma Darcy Award.


    Andrea Pearson - Andrea is the author of many full-length novels (the Kilenya Chronicles, Mosaic Chronicles, and Koven Chronicles), and several novellas. Writing is the chocolate of her life - it is, in fact, the only thing she ever craves. Being with her husband and kids, family, and close friends is where she's happiest, and she loves thunderstorms, the ocean, hiking, public speaking, painting, and traveling.

    Talena Winters writes page-turning fiction for teens and adults in multiple genres including young adult, urban fantasy, romantic suspense, and women's fiction. She loves travel, music, whole food, sewing, knitting, reading, and chocolate. She is addicted to tea and silver linings. She would love to be a mermaid when she grows up.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     This episode features a live webinar panel discussion that Mark moderated with authors:

    • M Jane Colette
    • Tracy Cooper-Posey
    • Andrea Pearson
    • Talena Winters

    ...who have all mastered productivity in different ways.

    As Mark attempts to learn more about how to be a productive author, he asks questions and solicits tips from these masters.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Prior to the panel discussion on productivity, Mark shares a recent comment as well as a brief personal update.

    In the discussion, the following questions and more get discussed:

    • Why is productivity important?
    • Is it important for someone to be productive?
    • How do you measure productivity?
    • How do you figure out the best time of day that works for you to be productive?
    • What tools are effective in helping with your productivity?
    • How do you find time to write when you have conflicting priorities, such as a day job or a busy/demanding family life?

    After the conversation, Mark asks listeners to share their own reflections on what they learned, or perhaps their own unique tip on productivity.

    All listeners who comment on the episode show notes over at starkreflections.ca for Episode 113 will be entered into a chance to win either a hardcover or paperback (their choice) copy of Joanna Penn's Productivity for Authors.

    Links of Interest:

    M Jane Colette writes tragedy for people who like to laugh, comedy for the melancholy, and erotica for men and women who like their fantasies real. She believes rules and hearts were made to be broken; ditto the constraints of genres. The result? "A whole new sub-genre of her own… social realist erotica that's frenetic and complex and funny and very well observed."

    Tracy Cooper-Posey is a #1 Best Selling Author. She writes romantic suspense, historical, paranormal and science fiction romance. She has published over 100 novels since 1999, been nominated for five CAPAs including Favourite Author, and won the Emma Darcy Award.

    Andrea Pearson - Andrea is the author of many full-length novels (the Kilenya Chronicles, Mosaic Chronicles, and Koven Chronicles), and several novellas. Writing is the chocolate of her life - it is, in fact, the only thing she ever craves. Being with her husband and kids, family, and close friends is where she's happiest, and she loves thunderstorms, the ocean, hiking, public speaking, painting, and traveling.

    Talena Winters writes page-turning fiction for teens and adults in multiple genres including young adult, urban fantasy, romantic suspense, and women's fiction. She loves travel, music, whole food, sewing, knitting, reading, and chocolate. She is addicted to tea and silver linings. She would love to be a mermaid when she grows up.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     01:06:36 false 3 113 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This episode features a live webinar panel discussion that Mark moderated with authors: M Jane Colette Tracy Cooper-Posey Andrea Pearson Talena Winters ...who have all mastered productivity in different ways. As Mark attempts to learn more about how to be a productive author, he asks questions and solicits tips from these masters. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Prior to the panel discussion on productivity, Mark shares a recent comment as well as a brief personal update. In the discussion, the following questions and more get discussed: Why is productivity important? Is it important for someone to be productive? How do you measure productivity? How do you figure out the best time of day that works for you to be productive? What tools are effective in helping with your productivity? How do you find time to write when you have conflicting priorities, such as a day job or a busy/demanding family life? After the conversation, Mark asks listeners to share their own reflections on what they learned, or perhaps their own unique tip on productivity. All listeners who comment on the episode show notes over at starkreflections.ca for Episode 113 will be entered into a chance to win either a hardcover or paperback (their choice) copy of Joanna Penn's Productivity for Authors. Links of Interest: YouTube video of the panel discussion M Jane Colette Instagram Tracy Cooper-Posey Productive Indie Fiction Writer Andrea Pearson 6 Figure Authors Podcast Self Publish Strong Talena Winters Instagram Twitter Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   M Jane Colette writes tragedy for people who like to laugh, comedy for the melancholy, and erotica for men and women who like their fantasies real. She believes rules and hearts were made to be broken; ditto the constraints of genres. The result? "A whole new sub-genre of her own… social realist erotica that's frenetic and complex and funny and very well observed." Tracy Cooper-Posey is a #1 Best Selling Author. She writes romantic suspense, historical, paranormal and science fiction romance. She has published over 100 novels since 1999, been nominated for five CAPAs including Favourite Author, and won the Emma Darcy Award. Andrea Pearson - Andrea is the author of many full-length novels (the Kilenya Chronicles, Mosaic Chronicles, and Koven Chronicles), and several novellas. Writing is the chocolate of her life - it is, in fact, the only thing she ever craves. Being with her husband and kids, family, and close friends is where she's happiest, and she loves thunderstorms, the ocean, hiking, public speaking, painting, and traveling. Talena Winters writes page-turning fiction for teens and adults in multiple genres including young adult, urban fantasy, romantic suspense, and women's fiction. She loves travel, music, whole food, sewing, knitting, reading, and chocolate. She is addicted to tea and silver linings. She would love to be a mermaid when she grows up.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0This episode features a live webinar panel discussion that Mark moderated with authors: M Jane Colette Tracy Cooper-Posey Andrea Pearson Talena Winters ...who have all mastered productivity in different ways. As Mark attempts to learn more about how to be a productive author, he asks questions and solicits tips from these masters. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Prior to the panel discussion on productivity, Mark shares a recent comment as well as a brief personal update. In the discussion, the following questions and more get discussed: Why is productivity important? Is it important for someone to be productive? How do you measure productivity? How do you figure out the best time of day that works for you to be productive? What tools are effective in helping with your productivity? How do you find time to write when you have conflicting priorities, such as a day job or a busy/demanding family life? After the conversation, Mark asks listeners to share their own reflections on what they learned, or perhaps their own unique tip on productivity. All listeners who comment on the episode show notes over at starkreflections.ca for Episode 113 will be entered into a chance to win either a hardcover or paperback (their choice) copy of Joanna Penn's Productivity for Authors. Links of Interest: YouTube video of the panel discussion M Jane Colette Instagram Tracy Cooper-Posey Productive Indie Fiction Writer Andrea Pearson 6 Figure Authors Podcast Self Publish Strong Talena Winters Instagram Twitter Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   M Jane Colette writes tragedy for people who like to laugh, comedy for the melancholy, and erotica for men and women who like their fantasies real. She believes rules and hearts were made to be broken; ditto the constraints of genres. The result? "A whole new sub-genre of her own… social realist erotica that's frenetic and complex and funny and very well observed." Tracy Cooper-Posey is a #1 Best Selling Author. She writes romantic suspense, historical, paranormal and science fiction romance. She has published over 100 novels since 1999, been nominated for five CAPAs including Favourite Author, and won the Emma Darcy Award. Andrea Pearson - Andrea is the author of many full-length novels (the Kilenya Chronicles, Mosaic Chronicles, and Koven Chronicles), and several novellas. Writing is the chocolate of her life - it is, in fact, the only thing she ever craves. Being with her husband and kids, family, and close friends is where she's happiest, and she loves thunderstorms, the ocean, hiking, public speaking, painting, and traveling. Talena Winters writes page-turning fiction for teens and adults in multiple genres including young adult, urban fantasy, romantic suspense, and women's fiction. She loves travel, music, whole food, sewing, knitting, reading, and chocolate. She is addicted to tea and silver linings. She would love to be a mermaid when she grows up.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 112 - 2019 Goals and Sales Reflections 2019 Goals and Sales Reflections Fri, 03 Jan 2020 01:28:10 +0000 Mark takes a look at his 2019 goals compared with his accomplishments for the year and also shares the %'s of his eBook, audio, and print sales for his indie published books in 2019.

    Prior to the main content, Mark shares some recent comments and emails received. He also talks about a forthcoming live webinar he will be hosting featuring: M Jane Colette, Tracy Cooper-Posey, Andrea Pearson, and Talena Winters talking about productivity for 2020 (On Monday Jan 6, 2020).

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Mark thanks Lindsay Buroker for joining the team of Patrons supporting the show over at Patreon.com/starkreflections.

    In the main content, Mark reviews his 2019 goals and discusses the fact that he only achieved one of those items on his list.

    He then looks at the things he DID accomplish in 2019 that weren't on the initial list. And he follows that with outlining 16 goals he has set for 2020.

    He then looks into the breakdown of his sales % from his indie publishing income for 2019 broken down by format: eBook, print, audio. He then breaks each format down by source, exploring where his income earnings came from.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

     

    ]]>     Mark takes a look at his 2019 goals compared with his accomplishments for the year and also shares the %'s of his eBook, audio, and print sales for his indie published books in 2019.

    Prior to the main content, Mark shares some recent comments and emails received. He also talks about a forthcoming live webinar he will be hosting featuring: M Jane Colette, Tracy Cooper-Posey, Andrea Pearson, and Talena Winters talking about productivity for 2020 (On Monday Jan 6, 2020).

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Mark thanks Lindsay Buroker for joining the team of Patrons supporting the show over at Patreon.com/starkreflections.

    In the main content, Mark reviews his 2019 goals and discusses the fact that he only achieved one of those items on his list.

    He then looks at the things he DID accomplish in 2019 that weren't on the initial list. And he follows that with outlining 16 goals he has set for 2020.

    He then looks into the breakdown of his sales % from his indie publishing income for 2019 broken down by format: eBook, print, audio. He then breaks each format down by source, exploring where his income earnings came from.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     38:20 false 3 112 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark takes a look at his 2019 goals compared with his accomplishments for the year and also shares the %'s of his eBook, audio, and print sales for his indie published books in 2019. Prior to the main content, Mark shares some recent comments and emails received. He also talks about a forthcoming live webinar he will be hosting featuring: M Jane Colette, Tracy Cooper-Posey, Andrea Pearson, and Talena Winters talking about productivity for 2020 (On Monday Jan 6, 2020). This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark thanks Lindsay Buroker for joining the team of Patrons supporting the show over at Patreon.com/starkreflections. In the main content, Mark reviews his 2019 goals and discusses the fact that he only achieved one of those items on his list. He then looks at the things he DID accomplish in 2019 that weren't on the initial list. And he follows that with outlining 16 goals he has set for 2020. He then looks into the breakdown of his sales % from his indie publishing income for 2019 broken down by format: eBook, print, audio. He then breaks each format down by source, exploring where his income earnings came from.   Links of Interest: Jan 6, 2020 Webinar on Productivity The 7 P's of Publishing Success Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    Mark takes a look at his 2019 goals compared with his accomplishments for the year and also shares the %'s of his eBook, audio, and print sales for his indie published books in 2019. Prior to the main content, Mark shares some recent comments and emails received. He also talks about a forthcoming live webinar he will be hosting featuring: M Jane Colette, Tracy Cooper-Posey, Andrea Pearson, and Talena Winters talking about productivity for 2020 (On Monday Jan 6, 2020). This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark thanks Lindsay Buroker for joining the team of Patrons supporting the show over at Patreon.com/starkreflections. In the main content, Mark reviews his 2019 goals and discusses the fact that he only achieved one of those items on his list. He then looks at the things he DID accomplish in 2019 that weren't on the initial list. And he follows that with outlining 16 goals he has set for 2020. He then looks into the breakdown of his sales % from his indie publishing income for 2019 broken down by format: eBook, print, audio. He then breaks each format down by source, exploring where his income earnings came from.   Links of Interest: Jan 6, 2020 Webinar on Productivity The 7 P's of Publishing Success Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0         Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 111 - Progression Progression Fri, 27 Dec 2019 17:38:36 +0000 In this episode, Mark shares the chapter on Progression from his book The 7 P's of Publishing Success.

    The introduction is very brief because, as Mark explains, he has been hit hard with a nasty flu virus.

     

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark shares the chapter on Progression from his book The 7 P's of Publishing Success.

    The introduction is very brief because, as Mark explains, he has been hit hard with a nasty flu virus.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     13:58 false 2 111 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark shares the chapter on Progression from his book The 7 P's of Publishing Success. The introduction is very brief because, as Mark explains, he has been hit hard with a nasty flu virus.   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: The 7 P's of Publishing Success Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode, Mark shares the chapter on Progression from his book The 7 P's of Publishing Success. The introduction is very brief because, as Mark explains, he has been hit hard with a nasty flu virus.   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: The 7 P's of Publishing Success Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 110 - Working with Libraries and Bookstores Working with Libraries and Bookstores Thu, 19 Dec 2019 23:00:00 +0000 In this episode Mark shares an interview that was conducted in the Draft2Digital offices for a Facebook Live video where Dan Wood interviewed Mark about his new book An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores.

     

    An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores by Mark Leslie Lefebvre

    This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of this podcast, who support it over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark shares an interview that was conducted in the Draft2Digital offices for a Facebook Live video where Dan Wood interviewed Mark about his new book An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores.

    This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of this podcast, who support it over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     47:12 false 2 110 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark shares an interview that was conducted in the Draft2Digital offices for a Facebook Live video where Dan Wood interviewed Mark about his new book An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores.   This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of this podcast, who support it over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections Links of Interest: An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark shares an interview that was conducted in the Draft2Digital offices for a Facebook Live video where Dan Wood interviewed Mark about his new book An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores.   This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of this podcast, who support it over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections Links of Interest: An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 109 - 12 Takeaways from CAPS Convention 2019 12 Takeaways from CAPS Convention 2019 Thu, 12 Dec 2019 22:40:42 +0000 In this episode, Mark talks about the importance of attending events and conference outside one's own area. In this case, since Mark normally attends conferences about writing and publishing, he extols the value he reaped from attending CAPS Convention 2019. CAPS is short for Canadian Association of Professional Speakers.

    Prior to the episode, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    For his personal update, Mark shares details about the release of his new book AN AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO WORKING WITH LIBRARIES AND BOOKSTORES as well as comments on Twitter.

    The twelve takeaways that Mark shares include quotes from the following CAPS CONVENTION 2019 speakers.

    • Donald Cooper
    • Mimi Brown
    • George Saunders
    • David Arvin
    • Gair Maxwell
    • Ben Moorsom
    • Kelly Swanson
    • Lisa "Longball" Vlooswyk
    • Clay Hebert

    Links of Interest:

     

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark talks about the importance of attending events and conference outside one's own area. In this case, since Mark normally attends conferences about writing and publishing, he extols the value he reaped from attending CAPS Convention 2019. CAPS is short for Canadian Association of Professional Speakers.

    Prior to the episode, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    For his personal update, Mark shares details about the release of his new book AN AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO WORKING WITH LIBRARIES AND BOOKSTORES as well as comments on Twitter.

    The twelve takeaways that Mark shares include quotes from the following CAPS CONVENTION 2019 speakers.

    • Donald Cooper
    • Mimi Brown
    • George Saunders
    • David Arvin
    • Gair Maxwell
    • Ben Moorsom
    • Kelly Swanson
    • Lisa "Longball" Vlooswyk
    • Clay Hebert

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     45:52 false 2 109 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark talks about the importance of attending events and conference outside one's own area. In this case, since Mark normally attends conferences about writing and publishing, he extols the value he reaped from attending CAPS Convention 2019. CAPS is short for Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. Prior to the episode, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. For his personal update, Mark shares details about the release of his new book AN AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO WORKING WITH LIBRARIES AND BOOKSTORES as well as comments on Twitter. The twelve takeaways that Mark shares include quotes from the following CAPS CONVENTION 2019 speakers. Donald Cooper Mimi Brown George Saunders David Arvin Gair Maxwell Ben Moorsom Kelly Swanson Lisa "Longball" Vlooswyk Clay Hebert Links of Interest: CAPS - Canadian Association of Professional Speakers Findaway Voices Blog Post by Karen WIlliams An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores NaNoWriMo Episode 105 - Location Based Storytelling with VoiceMap Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections  In this episode, Mark talks about the importance of attending events and conference outside one's own area. In this case, since Mark normally attends conferences about writing and publishing, he extols the value he reaped from attending CAPS Convention 2019. CAPS is short for Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. Prior to the episode, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. For his personal update, Mark shares details about the release of his new book AN AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO WORKING WITH LIBRARIES AND BOOKSTORES as well as comments on Twitter. The twelve takeaways that Mark shares include quotes from the following CAPS CONVENTION 2019 speakers. Donald Cooper Mimi Brown George Saunders David Arvin Gair Maxwell Ben Moorsom Kelly Swanson Lisa "Longball" Vlooswyk Clay Hebert Links of Interest: CAPS - Canadian Association of Professional Speakers Findaway Voices Blog Post by Karen WIlliams An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores NaNoWriMo Episode 105 - Location Based Storytelling with VoiceMap Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 108 - Silver Linings with Talena Winters Silver Linings with Talena Winters Fri, 06 Dec 2019 00:55:37 +0000 Mark interviews Talena Winters about her multi-genre fiction, and the numerous other creative tasks and entrepreneurial endeavors she is involved in.

    Prior to the interview, Mark plays an audiobook marketing tip from an interview with Will Dages in place of the regular Ad read for this episode's sponsor.

     

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Mark then shares a few comments and tweets and then a personal update which includes:

    In their conversation, Mark and Talena talk about:

    • The multiple creative pursuits that Talena is engaged in, and how she defines herself
    • Talena's background as a musician and the creative evolution of her upbringing that eventually led to writing
    • Getting married on the same day that both Talena and her husband had graduated from university
    • The full length-full scale musical that Talena and a good friend dreamed up and created and which has remained on the back-burner for many years
    • How inspiration strikes and keeps growing when Talena latches on to an idea
    • The course that Talena took from Holly Lisle while she was still home-schooling her children and how much she valued things she learned in that class
    • The legacy of the "story in the drawer" that Talena wrote and then tucked away
    • The tragic family loss which threw their lives for a loop, the public way that Talena shared that experience, and the outpouring of community support
    • The empty home, the overwhelming grief, and the surrounding environmental changes that led to a serious move into writing
    • The "creatives for hire" ad for a new magazine that caught Talena's eye the led to journalistic writing
    • Applying that journalistic experience to Talena's inspirational blog
    • How Talena divides up and prioritizes her time
    • The value and importance of learning how to say no to certain projects
    • The app Timely that helps Talena track the things she does (so you can stop lying to yourself)
    • The quote that Talena has on her website: "The universe is made of stories, not of atoms." by Muriel Rukeyser

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of saying NO and in prioritizing the many tasks that often either fall onto a writer's plate, or come within a writer's horizon.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

     

    Talena Winters is addicted to stories, tea, chocolate, yarn, and silver linings. She writes page-turning fiction for teens and adults in multiple genres, coaches other writers, has written several award-winning songs, designs knitting patterns under her label My Secret Wish, and is lead writer for Move Up magazine. She currently resides on an acreage in the Peace Country of northern Alberta, Canada, with her husband, three surviving boys, two dogs, and an assortment of farm cats. She would love to be a mermaid when she grows up.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark interviews Talena Winters about her multi-genre fiction, and the numerous other creative tasks and entrepreneurial endeavors she is involved in.

    Prior to the interview, Mark plays an audiobook marketing tip from an interview with Will Dages in place of the regular Ad read for this episode's sponsor.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Mark then shares a few comments and tweets and then a personal update which includes:

    In their conversation, Mark and Talena talk about:

    • The multiple creative pursuits that Talena is engaged in, and how she defines herself
    • Talena's background as a musician and the creative evolution of her upbringing that eventually led to writing
    • Getting married on the same day that both Talena and her husband had graduated from university
    • The full length-full scale musical that Talena and a good friend dreamed up and created and which has remained on the back-burner for many years
    • How inspiration strikes and keeps growing when Talena latches on to an idea
    • The course that Talena took from Holly Lisle while she was still home-schooling her children and how much she valued things she learned in that class
    • The legacy of the "story in the drawer" that Talena wrote and then tucked away
    • The tragic family loss which threw their lives for a loop, the public way that Talena shared that experience, and the outpouring of community support
    • The empty home, the overwhelming grief, and the surrounding environmental changes that led to a serious move into writing
    • The "creatives for hire" ad for a new magazine that caught Talena's eye the led to journalistic writing
    • Applying that journalistic experience to Talena's inspirational blog
    • How Talena divides up and prioritizes her time
    • The value and importance of learning how to say no to certain projects
    • The app Timely that helps Talena track the things she does (so you can stop lying to yourself)
    • The quote that Talena has on her website: "The universe is made of stories, not of atoms." by Muriel Rukeyser

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of saying NO and in prioritizing the many tasks that often either fall onto a writer's plate, or come within a writer's horizon.

    Links of Interest:

    Talena Winters is addicted to stories, tea, chocolate, yarn, and silver linings. She writes page-turning fiction for teens and adults in multiple genres, coaches other writers, has written several award-winning songs, designs knitting patterns under her label My Secret Wish, and is lead writer for Move Up magazine. She currently resides on an acreage in the Peace Country of northern Alberta, Canada, with her husband, three surviving boys, two dogs, and an assortment of farm cats. She would love to be a mermaid when she grows up.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     47:57 false 2 108 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Talena Winters about her multi-genre fiction, and the numerous other creative tasks and entrepreneurial endeavors she is involved in. Prior to the interview, Mark plays an audiobook marketing tip from an interview with Will Dages in place of the regular Ad read for this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark then shares a few comments and tweets and then a personal update which includes: Completing NaNoWriMo while clocking in over 60,000 words An article featuring Mark entitled "Mark Leslie Lefebvre" Finds His Voice" His guest spot on the 6 Figure Authors podcast The completion and pre-order push of his new book An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores In their conversation, Mark and Talena talk about: The multiple creative pursuits that Talena is engaged in, and how she defines herself Talena's background as a musician and the creative evolution of her upbringing that eventually led to writing Getting married on the same day that both Talena and her husband had graduated from university The full length-full scale musical that Talena and a good friend dreamed up and created and which has remained on the back-burner for many years How inspiration strikes and keeps growing when Talena latches on to an idea The course that Talena took from Holly Lisle while she was still home-schooling her children and how much she valued things she learned in that class The legacy of the "story in the drawer" that Talena wrote and then tucked away The tragic family loss which threw their lives for a loop, the public way that Talena shared that experience, and the outpouring of community support The empty home, the overwhelming grief, and the surrounding environmental changes that led to a serious move into writing The "creatives for hire" ad for a new magazine that caught Talena's eye the led to journalistic writing Applying that journalistic experience to Talena's inspirational blog How Talena divides up and prioritizes her time The value and importance of learning how to say no to certain projects The app Timely that helps Talena track the things she does (so you can stop lying to yourself) The quote that Talena has on her website: "The universe is made of stories, not of atoms." by Muriel Rukeyser   After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of saying NO and in prioritizing the many tasks that often either fall onto a writer's plate, or come within a writer's horizon.   Links of Interest: Talena Winters - Website Talena's Blog article: Mark Leslie Lefebvre Finds His Voice An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores NaNoWriMo Episode 106 - Hybrid Publishing with Arthur Slade Episode 105 - Location Based Storytelling with VoiceMap Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections     Talena Winters is addicted to stories, tea, chocolate, yarn, and silver linings. She writes page-turning fiction for teens and adults in multiple genres, coaches other writers, has written several award-winning songs, designs knitting patterns under her label My Secret Wish, and is lead writer for Move Up magazine. She currently resides on an acreage in the Peace Country of northern Alberta, Canada, with her husband, three surviving boys, two dogs, and an assortment of farm cats. She would love to be a mermaid when she grows up.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Talena Winters about her multi-genre fiction, and the numerous other creative tasks and entrepreneurial endeavors she is involved in. Prior to the interview, Mark plays an audiobook marketing tip from an interview with Will Dages in place of the regular Ad read for this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark then shares a few comments and tweets and then a personal update which includes: Completing NaNoWriMo while clocking in over 60,000 words An article featuring Mark entitled "Mark Leslie Lefebvre" Finds His Voice" His guest spot on the 6 Figure Authors podcast The completion and pre-order push of his new book An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores In their conversation, Mark and Talena talk about: The multiple creative pursuits that Talena is engaged in, and how she defines herself Talena's background as a musician and the creative evolution of her upbringing that eventually led to writing Getting married on the same day that both Talena and her husband had graduated from university The full length-full scale musical that Talena and a good friend dreamed up and created and which has remained on the back-burner for many years How inspiration strikes and keeps growing when Talena latches on to an idea The course that Talena took from Holly Lisle while she was still home-schooling her children and how much she valued things she learned in that class The legacy of the "story in the drawer" that Talena wrote and then tucked away The tragic family loss which threw their lives for a loop, the public way that Talena shared that experience, and the outpouring of community support The empty home, the overwhelming grief, and the surrounding environmental changes that led to a serious move into writing The "creatives for hire" ad for a new magazine that caught Talena's eye the led to journalistic writing Applying that journalistic experience to Talena's inspirational blog How Talena divides up and prioritizes her time The value and importance of learning how to say no to certain projects The app Timely that helps Talena track the things she does (so you can stop lying to yourself) The quote that Talena has on her website: "The universe is made of stories, not of atoms." by Muriel Rukeyser   After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of saying NO and in prioritizing the many tasks that often either fall onto a writer's plate, or come within a writer's horizon.   Links of Interest: Talena Winters - Website Talena's Blog article: Mark Leslie Lefebvre Finds His Voice An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores NaNoWriMo Episode 106 - Hybrid Publishing with Arthur Slade Episode 105 - Location Based Storytelling with VoiceMap Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections     Talena Winters is addicted to stories, tea, chocolate, yarn, and silver linings. She writes page-turning fiction for teens and adults in multiple genres, coaches other writers, has written several award-winning songs, designs knitting patterns under her label My Secret Wish, and is lead writer for Move Up magazine. She currently resides on an acreage in the Peace Country of northern Alberta, Canada, with her husband, three surviving boys, two dogs, and an assortment of farm cats. She would love to be a mermaid when she grows up.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 107 - Samantha M. Bailey, Woman on the Edge Samantha M. Bailey, Woman on the Edge Thu, 28 Nov 2019 12:19:16 +0000 Mark interviews Samantha M. Bailey about her debut thriller Woman on the Edge, about her lifelong writer journey, her relentless determination, and the patience, practice, and persistence that it took to get here.

    Prior to the interview, Mark gives a brief personal update about his progress on NaNoWriMo and a trip he will be taking to speak to a group of writers in Sudbury, and then shares a word about the episode's sponsor.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    In their interview Mark and Samantha talk about:

    • How, at 10 years old, Samantha submitted her first manuscript to a publisher, which was rejected - and how it was her first lesson in developing a tough skin and not giving up
    • Samantha's life-long love of really dark tales and thrillers, but how Jennifer Weiner's novels inspired her to write in a similar genre
    • The completion of her first novel, landing an agent and trying to sell that first novel, then a second novel and how neither of them worked out
    • The multiple queries Samantha sent to her current agent before the two actually connected
    • Her experience self-publishing one of her novels under a different name several years ago and the relationships that came out of that
    • How Samantha never considered giving up and knew that she just had to keep going
    • The way that writing Woman on the Edge changed Samantha's life and the inspiration for the novel
    • Why Samantha set this novel in Chicago rather than in her home of Toronto - but how Chicago, to her, invokes the spirit or essence of Toronto to her in several ways
    • The two perspectives in this thriller, from the POV of Morgan (the main character), and the flashback sequences of Nicole, the woman who handed Morgan her baby before she jumped
    • How Morgan's POV was re-written into first person to give that part of the tale such a sense of urgency
    • The wonderful experience of working with her agent, Jenny Bent, who worked with Samantha to polish up the manuscript and then sold the book to Headline in the UK and Simon & Schuster Canada for CA and US distribution
    • The sales of translation rights to 7 other countries
    • The exciting promo that is planned for the book for release day in Canada (Nov 26, 2019) - eBook, audiobook, and paperback
    • How the paperback is coming in the US in the spring of 2020, but the eBook is being launched in the US in November
    • How Simon & Schuster Canada is the publisher of Samantha's dreams
    • The morning television programs Samantha will be appearing on as part of the book's Canadian release, as well as the scheduled bookstore and library appearances
    • Advice that Samantha would offer to her younger self: "It won't be fast, it won't be easy, but it'll all be worth it."

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects on Samantha's upbeat positivity and the hard work, determination, and never-give-up attitude she adopted which helped lead to her unique path of success.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    Samantha M. Bailey is a Toronto-based journalist and freelance editor who's written extensively for Now Magazine, Oxford University Press, and several other publications. She is also the co-founder of "BookBuzz," a promotional and interactive author-reader event held in New York City and Toronto that has attracted the attention of prominent publicists, influential media, and bestselling authors.

    Samantha holds a Master of Education in Applied Linguistics and credit that degree with her writing career because she wrote her first novel while taking a course on imagination. Now her imagination leads her to create dark and twisty stories.

    Her debut psychological thriller, WOMAN ON THE EDGE, is being published in nine countries world-wide, including with Garzanti in Italy, Roca Editorial in Spain, Heyne in Germany, General Press in Hungary, Euromedia in the Czech Republic, Ikar in Slovakia, Znak in Poland, and in North America with Simon and Schuster Canada, and the UK with Headline.

    Samantha loves reading as much as she loves writing, so if she's not tapping away at her computer, she's probably curled up on her couch with a book.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark interviews Samantha M. Bailey about her debut thriller Woman on the Edge, about her lifelong writer journey, her relentless determination, and the patience, practice, and persistence that it took to get here.

    Prior to the interview, Mark gives a brief personal update about his progress on NaNoWriMo and a trip he will be taking to speak to a group of writers in Sudbury, and then shares a word about the episode's sponsor.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their interview Mark and Samantha talk about:

    • How, at 10 years old, Samantha submitted her first manuscript to a publisher, which was rejected - and how it was her first lesson in developing a tough skin and not giving up
    • Samantha's life-long love of really dark tales and thrillers, but how Jennifer Weiner's novels inspired her to write in a similar genre
    • The completion of her first novel, landing an agent and trying to sell that first novel, then a second novel and how neither of them worked out
    • The multiple queries Samantha sent to her current agent before the two actually connected
    • Her experience self-publishing one of her novels under a different name several years ago and the relationships that came out of that
    • How Samantha never considered giving up and knew that she just had to keep going
    • The way that writing Woman on the Edge changed Samantha's life and the inspiration for the novel
    • Why Samantha set this novel in Chicago rather than in her home of Toronto - but how Chicago, to her, invokes the spirit or essence of Toronto to her in several ways
    • The two perspectives in this thriller, from the POV of Morgan (the main character), and the flashback sequences of Nicole, the woman who handed Morgan her baby before she jumped
    • How Morgan's POV was re-written into first person to give that part of the tale such a sense of urgency
    • The wonderful experience of working with her agent, Jenny Bent, who worked with Samantha to polish up the manuscript and then sold the book to Headline in the UK and Simon & Schuster Canada for CA and US distribution
    • The sales of translation rights to 7 other countries
    • The exciting promo that is planned for the book for release day in Canada (Nov 26, 2019) - eBook, audiobook, and paperback
    • How the paperback is coming in the US in the spring of 2020, but the eBook is being launched in the US in November
    • How Simon & Schuster Canada is the publisher of Samantha's dreams
    • The morning television programs Samantha will be appearing on as part of the book's Canadian release, as well as the scheduled bookstore and library appearances
    • Advice that Samantha would offer to her younger self: "It won't be fast, it won't be easy, but it'll all be worth it."

    After the interview, Mark reflects on Samantha's upbeat positivity and the hard work, determination, and never-give-up attitude she adopted which helped lead to her unique path of success.

    Links of Interest:

    Samantha M. Bailey is a Toronto-based journalist and freelance editor who's written extensively for Now Magazine, Oxford University Press, and several other publications. She is also the co-founder of "BookBuzz," a promotional and interactive author-reader event held in New York City and Toronto that has attracted the attention of prominent publicists, influential media, and bestselling authors.

    Samantha holds a Master of Education in Applied Linguistics and credit that degree with her writing career because she wrote her first novel while taking a course on imagination. Now her imagination leads her to create dark and twisty stories.

    Her debut psychological thriller, WOMAN ON THE EDGE, is being published in nine countries world-wide, including with Garzanti in Italy, Roca Editorial in Spain, Heyne in Germany, General Press in Hungary, Euromedia in the Czech Republic, Ikar in Slovakia, Znak in Poland, and in North America with Simon and Schuster Canada, and the UK with Headline.

    Samantha loves reading as much as she loves writing, so if she's not tapping away at her computer, she's probably curled up on her couch with a book.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     43:29 false 2 107 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Samantha M. Bailey about her debut thriller Woman on the Edge, about her lifelong writer journey, her relentless determination, and the patience, practice, and persistence that it took to get here. Prior to the interview, Mark gives a brief personal update about his progress on NaNoWriMo and a trip he will be taking to speak to a group of writers in Sudbury, and then shares a word about the episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their interview Mark and Samantha talk about: How, at 10 years old, Samantha submitted her first manuscript to a publisher, which was rejected - and how it was her first lesson in developing a tough skin and not giving up Samantha's life-long love of really dark tales and thrillers, but how Jennifer Weiner's novels inspired her to write in a similar genre The completion of her first novel, landing an agent and trying to sell that first novel, then a second novel and how neither of them worked out The multiple queries Samantha sent to her current agent before the two actually connected Her experience self-publishing one of her novels under a different name several years ago and the relationships that came out of that How Samantha never considered giving up and knew that she just had to keep going The way that writing Woman on the Edge changed Samantha's life and the inspiration for the novel Why Samantha set this novel in Chicago rather than in her home of Toronto - but how Chicago, to her, invokes the spirit or essence of Toronto to her in several ways The two perspectives in this thriller, from the POV of Morgan (the main character), and the flashback sequences of Nicole, the woman who handed Morgan her baby before she jumped How Morgan's POV was re-written into first person to give that part of the tale such a sense of urgency The wonderful experience of working with her agent, Jenny Bent, who worked with Samantha to polish up the manuscript and then sold the book to Headline in the UK and Simon & Schuster Canada for CA and US distribution The sales of translation rights to 7 other countries The exciting promo that is planned for the book for release day in Canada (Nov 26, 2019) - eBook, audiobook, and paperback How the paperback is coming in the US in the spring of 2020, but the eBook is being launched in the US in November How Simon & Schuster Canada is the publisher of Samantha's dreams The morning television programs Samantha will be appearing on as part of the book's Canadian release, as well as the scheduled bookstore and library appearances Advice that Samantha would offer to her younger self: "It won't be fast, it won't be easy, but it'll all be worth it."   After the interview, Mark reflects on Samantha's upbeat positivity and the hard work, determination, and never-give-up attitude she adopted which helped lead to her unique path of success.   Links of Interest: Samantha M. Bailey's Website Woman on the Edge Simon & Schuster Canada An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores NaNoWriMo StoryBundle NaNo Writing Tools StoryBundle Mythulu Writing Binge Survival Pack 2019 Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Samantha M. Bailey is a Toronto-based journalist and freelance editor who's written extensively for Now Magazine, Oxford University Press, and several other publications. She is also the co-founder of "BookBuzz," a promotional and interactive author-reader event held in New York City and Toronto that has attracted the attention of prominent publicists, influential media, and bestselling authors. Samantha holds a Master of Education in Applied Linguistics and credit that degree with her writing career because she wrote her first novel while taking a course on imagination. Now her imagination leads her to create dark and twisty stories. Her debut psychological thriller, WOMAN ON THE EDGE, is being published in nine countries world-wide, including with Garzanti in Italy, Roca Editorial in Spain, Heyne in Germany, General Press in Hungary, Euromedia in the Czech Republic, Ikar in Slovakia, Znak in Poland, and in North America with Simon and Schuster Canada, and the UK with Headline. Samantha loves reading as much as she loves writing, so if she's not tapping away at her computer, she's probably curled up on her couch with a book.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews Samantha M. Bailey about her debut thriller Woman on the Edge, about her lifelong writer journey, her relentless determination, and the patience, practice, and persistence that it took to get here. Prior to the interview, Mark gives a brief personal update about his progress on NaNoWriMo and a trip he will be taking to speak to a group of writers in Sudbury, and then shares a word about the episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their interview Mark and Samantha talk about: How, at 10 years old, Samantha submitted her first manuscript to a publisher, which was rejected - and how it was her first lesson in developing a tough skin and not giving up Samantha's life-long love of really dark tales and thrillers, but how Jennifer Weiner's novels inspired her to write in a similar genre The completion of her first novel, landing an agent and trying to sell that first novel, then a second novel and how neither of them worked out The multiple queries Samantha sent to her current agent before the two actually connected Her experience self-publishing one of her novels under a different name several years ago and the relationships that came out of that How Samantha never considered giving up and knew that she just had to keep going The way that writing Woman on the Edge changed Samantha's life and the inspiration for the novel Why Samantha set this novel in Chicago rather than in her home of Toronto - but how Chicago, to her, invokes the spirit or essence of Toronto to her in several ways The two perspectives in this thriller, from the POV of Morgan (the main character), and the flashback sequences of Nicole, the woman who handed Morgan her baby before she jumped How Morgan's POV was re-written into first person to give that part of the tale such a sense of urgency The wonderful experience of working with her agent, Jenny Bent, who worked with Samantha to polish up the manuscript and then sold the book to Headline in the UK and Simon & Schuster Canada for CA and US distribution The sales of translation rights to 7 other countries The exciting promo that is planned for the book for release day in Canada (Nov 26, 2019) - eBook, audiobook, and paperback How the paperback is coming in the US in the spring of 2020, but the eBook is being launched in the US in November How Simon & Schuster Canada is the publisher of Samantha's dreams The morning television programs Samantha will be appearing on as part of the book's Canadian release, as well as the scheduled bookstore and library appearances Advice that Samantha would offer to her younger self: "It won't be fast, it won't be easy, but it'll all be worth it."   After the interview, Mark reflects on Samantha's upbeat positivity and the hard work, determination, and never-give-up attitude she adopted which helped lead to her unique path of success.   Links of Interest: Samantha M. Bailey's Website Woman on the Edge Simon & Schuster Canada An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores NaNoWriMo StoryBundle NaNo Writing Tools StoryBundle Mythulu Writing Binge Survival Pack 2019 Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Samantha M. Bailey is a Toronto-based journalist and freelance editor who's written extensively for Now Magazine, Oxford University Press, and several other publications. She is also the co-founder of "BookBuzz," a promotional and interactive author-reader event held in New York City and Toronto that has attracted the attention of prominent publicists, influential media, and bestselling authors. Samantha holds a Master of Education in Applied Linguistics and credit that degree with her writing career because she wrote her first novel while taking a course on imagination. Now her imagination leads her to create dark and twisty stories. Her debut psychological thriller, WOMAN ON THE EDGE, is being published in nine countries world-wide, including with Garzanti in Italy, Roca Editorial in Spain, Heyne in Germany, General Press in Hungary, Euromedia in the Czech Republic, Ikar in Slovakia, Znak in Poland, and in North America with Simon and Schuster Canada, and the UK with Headline. Samantha loves reading as much as she loves writing, so if she's not tapping away at her computer, she's probably curled up on her couch with a book.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 106 - Hybrid Publishing with Arthur Slade Hybrid Publishing with Arthur Slade Fri, 22 Nov 2019 00:37:46 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Arthur Slade, the author of twenty-five novels for young readers about his writing, about his multi-layered hybrid publishing activities, about writing at a treadmill desk, and about his author newsletter.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, discusses a few social media and podcast comments, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor

    , Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.


    In their conversation, Mark and Arthur talk about:

    • The ten years that Arthur has been writing using a treadmill desk, walking a minimum number of kilometers per day
    • How the energy boost has come from that allowing him to get more work done
    • Working and writing at a standing desk verses actually walking - and how long it took Arthur to get used to it
    • The walking speed that Arthur sets to enjoy a natural pace
    • Writing in forty-minute bursts, then taking twenty minutes off, which assists with the necessary reset for his brain
    • How long Arthur has been a full time writer and how he writes so much
    • The moderate success of self-publishing the Amber Fang series, and how they were recently acquired and released by Orca
    • The challenge of not being able to track sales on traditionally published titles
    • Death by Airship, the book that Arthur wrote by coming up with the title first, then figuring out what it would be about while writing it The book Dragon Assassin, which was picked up by Scholastic Books in Canada, but which Arthur maintains non-Canadian rights to
    • Working with Podium for one of his audiobooks
    • Arthur's novel Flickers, set in the 1920s in Hollywood, which was also hybrid published
    • The way that publishers and booksellers look at past sales history and how that affects their acquisition and buying decisions
    • The way that Arthur adds a unique personal flavor to his newsletter, and how he manages unopened reads of it
    • Arthur's love of audiobooks, as a writer and as a reader

    After the interview, Mark reflects on Arthur's hybrid publishing journey and talks about how it is a solid long-term publishing strategy.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    Arthur Slade was raised on a ranch in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan. He is the author of twenty five novels for young readers including The Hunchback Assignments, which won the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award and Dust, winner of the Governor General's Award for Children's Literature. His lifetime of work has also received the prestigious Kloppenburg Award for Literary Excellence.  All of these awards mean that when he drinks tea he has to raise his pinky. It's very fancy. He lives in Saskatoon, Canada. 

    P.S. He does all of his writing on a treadmill desk. And he listens to heavy metal. At the same time.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews Arthur Slade, the author of twenty-five novels for young readers about his writing, about his multi-layered hybrid publishing activities, about writing at a treadmill desk, and about his author newsletter.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, discusses a few social media and podcast comments, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor

    , Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Mark and Arthur talk about:

    • The ten years that Arthur has been writing using a treadmill desk, walking a minimum number of kilometers per day
    • How the energy boost has come from that allowing him to get more work done
    • Working and writing at a standing desk verses actually walking - and how long it took Arthur to get used to it
    • The walking speed that Arthur sets to enjoy a natural pace
    • Writing in forty-minute bursts, then taking twenty minutes off, which assists with the necessary reset for his brain
    • How long Arthur has been a full time writer and how he writes so much
    • The moderate success of self-publishing the Amber Fang series, and how they were recently acquired and released by Orca
    • The challenge of not being able to track sales on traditionally published titles
    • Death by Airship, the book that Arthur wrote by coming up with the title first, then figuring out what it would be about while writing it The book Dragon Assassin, which was picked up by Scholastic Books in Canada, but which Arthur maintains non-Canadian rights to
    • Working with Podium for one of his audiobooks
    • Arthur's novel Flickers, set in the 1920s in Hollywood, which was also hybrid published
    • The way that publishers and booksellers look at past sales history and how that affects their acquisition and buying decisions
    • The way that Arthur adds a unique personal flavor to his newsletter, and how he manages unopened reads of it
    • Arthur's love of audiobooks, as a writer and as a reader

    After the interview, Mark reflects on Arthur's hybrid publishing journey and talks about how it is a solid long-term publishing strategy.

    Links of Interest:

    Arthur Slade was raised on a ranch in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan. He is the author of twenty five novels for young readers including The Hunchback Assignments, which won the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award and Dust, winner of the Governor General's Award for Children's Literature. His lifetime of work has also received the prestigious Kloppenburg Award for Literary Excellence. All of these awards mean that when he drinks tea he has to raise his pinky. It's very fancy. He lives in Saskatoon, Canada.

    P.S. He does all of his writing on a treadmill desk. And he listens to heavy metal. At the same time.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     53:46 false 2 106 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Arthur Slade, the author of twenty-five novels for young readers about his writing, about his multi-layered hybrid publishing activities, about writing at a treadmill desk, and about his author newsletter. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, discusses a few social media and podcast comments, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor , Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Arthur talk about: The ten years that Arthur has been writing using a treadmill desk, walking a minimum number of kilometers per day How the energy boost has come from that allowing him to get more work done Working and writing at a standing desk verses actually walking - and how long it took Arthur to get used to it The walking speed that Arthur sets to enjoy a natural pace Writing in forty-minute bursts, then taking twenty minutes off, which assists with the necessary reset for his brain How long Arthur has been a full time writer and how he writes so much The moderate success of self-publishing the Amber Fang series, and how they were recently acquired and released by Orca The challenge of not being able to track sales on traditionally published titles Death by Airship, the book that Arthur wrote by coming up with the title first, then figuring out what it would be about while writing it The book Dragon Assassin, which was picked up by Scholastic Books in Canada, but which Arthur maintains non-Canadian rights to Working with Podium for one of his audiobooks Arthur's novel Flickers, set in the 1920s in Hollywood, which was also hybrid published The way that publishers and booksellers look at past sales history and how that affects their acquisition and buying decisions The way that Arthur adds a unique personal flavor to his newsletter, and how he manages unopened reads of it Arthur's love of audiobooks, as a writer and as a reader After the interview, Mark reflects on Arthur's hybrid publishing journey and talks about how it is a solid long-term publishing strategy.   Links of Interest: Arthur Slade's Website Descript (Audio Company with advanced audio editing, transcription and a beta Voice Double program) NaNoWriMo StoryBundle NaNo Writing Tools StoryBundle Mythulu Writing Binge Survival Pack 2019 WMG Publishing Business Masterclass Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Arthur Slade was raised on a ranch in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan. He is the author of twenty five novels for young readers including The Hunchback Assignments, which won the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award and Dust, winner of the Governor General's Award for Children's Literature. His lifetime of work has also received the prestigious Kloppenburg Award for Literary Excellence.  All of these awards mean that when he drinks tea he has to raise his pinky. It's very fancy. He lives in Saskatoon, Canada.  P.S. He does all of his writing on a treadmill desk. And he listens to heavy metal. At the same time. The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this episode Mark interviews Arthur Slade, the author of twenty-five novels for young readers about his writing, about his multi-layered hybrid publishing activities, about writing at a treadmill desk, and about his author newsletter. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, discusses a few social media and podcast comments, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor , Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Arthur talk about: The ten years that Arthur has been writing using a treadmill desk, walking a minimum number of kilometers per day How the energy boost has come from that allowing him to get more work done Working and writing at a standing desk verses actually walking - and how long it took Arthur to get used to it The walking speed that Arthur sets to enjoy a natural pace Writing in forty-minute bursts, then taking twenty minutes off, which assists with the necessary reset for his brain How long Arthur has been a full time writer and how he writes so much The moderate success of self-publishing the Amber Fang series, and how they were recently acquired and released by Orca The challenge of not being able to track sales on traditionally published titles Death by Airship, the book that Arthur wrote by coming up with the title first, then figuring out what it would be about while writing it The book Dragon Assassin, which was picked up by Scholastic Books in Canada, but which Arthur maintains non-Canadian rights to Working with Podium for one of his audiobooks Arthur's novel Flickers, set in the 1920s in Hollywood, which was also hybrid published The way that publishers and booksellers look at past sales history and how that affects their acquisition and buying decisions The way that Arthur adds a unique personal flavor to his newsletter, and how he manages unopened reads of it Arthur's love of audiobooks, as a writer and as a reader After the interview, Mark reflects on Arthur's hybrid publishing journey and talks about how it is a solid long-term publishing strategy.   Links of Interest: Arthur Slade's Website Descript (Audio Company with advanced audio editing, transcription and a beta Voice Double program) NaNoWriMo StoryBundle NaNo Writing Tools StoryBundle Mythulu Writing Binge Survival Pack 2019 WMG Publishing Business Masterclass Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Arthur Slade was raised on a ranch in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan. He is the author of twenty five novels for young readers including The Hunchback Assignments, which won the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award and Dust, winner of the Governor General's Award for Children's Literature. His lifetime of work has also received the prestigious Kloppenburg Award for Literary Excellence.  All of these awards mean that when he drinks tea he has to raise his pinky. It's very fancy. He lives in Saskatoon, Canada.  P.S. He does all of his writing on a treadmill desk. And he listens to heavy metal. At the same time. The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 105 - Location Based Storytelling with VoiceMap Location Based Storytelling with VoiceMap Thu, 14 Nov 2019 18:21:45 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews Gary Morris, Head of Production at the South African-based company VoiceMap. VoiceMap takes stories beyond the screen. It papers them to walls, hangs them over statues, and plants them neatly in public parks. Then, when you come along, there they are: reflections on the soul of LA, murder on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, nostalgia for the vanishing hutongs of old Beijing, and much more, by storytellers and passionate locals all over the world.

    The episode opens up with Mark's Voice Double from Descript's new beta program welcoming people to the podcast. He then shares a bit of information about this new opportunity for authors, which he thinks is idea to talk about during the opening of this particular interview.

    Mark then shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.


    In their conversation, Mark and Gary talk about:

    • Gary's background as a creative person in audio, his early experiences with musical instruments, and the path that led to a role in sound engineering as a music and audio producer
    • Joining VoiceMap two and a half years ago as an audio tour editor
    • What VoiceMap is and how it works
    • The underlying passion of VoiceMap which involves walking along while sharing a story
    • Partnerships that VoiceMap has with various tour and tourism organizations
    • How, while walking tours are the most common, there are also bicycle, driving, and boat tours
    • Some examples of popular tours, such as the one of the theatre district of London with Sir Ian McKellen
    • Specific techniques that need to be employed on a walking tour, including timely silences, directions, and reminders
    • How authors can set up at VoiceMap account and set up their own tour
    • Logistics of creating a tour map and crafting a script based on timing (word count and estimated time) to walk from location to location on a tour
    • VoiceMap being in a 158 different countries at this point
    • The types of tours that VoiceMap is looking forward to seeing authors create
    • The use of VoiceMap to share fictional tales
    • Different ways that authors can leverage promotion for the VoiceMap tours they have created
    • Where people can find out more about VoiceMap and download the free app to their smartphones

    After the interview, Mark talks about how excited he is about the emerging audio opportunites for authors and storytelling in brave and bold new ways.

    He then shares a couple of examples of the sound-track to his Downtown Hamilton Ghost Walk tour from VoiceMap

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    VoiceMap takes stories beyond the screen. It papers them to walls, hangs them over statues, and plants them neatly in public parks. Then, when you come along, there they are: reflections on the soul of LA, murder on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, nostalgia for the vanishing hutongs of old Beijing, and much more, by storytellers and passionate locals all over the world.

    All you need is our mobile app for iPhones and Android devices. It uses your location to play audio automatically and includes offline maps. Just put on your headphones and you're ready to explore.

    If you'd like to tell a story of your own, you can start right now, for free. Our publishing tool is easy to use and our team of editors delights in bringing new stories out into the world.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark interviews Gary Morris, Head of Production at the South African-based company VoiceMap. VoiceMap takes stories beyond the screen. It papers them to walls, hangs them over statues, and plants them neatly in public parks. Then, when you come along, there they are: reflections on the soul of LA, murder on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, nostalgia for the vanishing hutongs of old Beijing, and much more, by storytellers and passionate locals all over the world.

    The episode opens up with Mark's Voice Double from Descript's new beta program welcoming people to the podcast. He then shares a bit of information about this new opportunity for authors, which he thinks is idea to talk about during the opening of this particular interview.

    Mark then shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Mark and Gary talk about:

    • Gary's background as a creative person in audio, his early experiences with musical instruments, and the path that led to a role in sound engineering as a music and audio producer
    • Joining VoiceMap two and a half years ago as an audio tour editor
    • What VoiceMap is and how it works
    • The underlying passion of VoiceMap which involves walking along while sharing a story
    • Partnerships that VoiceMap has with various tour and tourism organizations
    • How, while walking tours are the most common, there are also bicycle, driving, and boat tours
    • Some examples of popular tours, such as the one of the theatre district of London with Sir Ian McKellen
    • Specific techniques that need to be employed on a walking tour, including timely silences, directions, and reminders
    • How authors can set up at VoiceMap account and set up their own tour
    • Logistics of creating a tour map and crafting a script based on timing (word count and estimated time) to walk from location to location on a tour
    • VoiceMap being in a 158 different countries at this point
    • The types of tours that VoiceMap is looking forward to seeing authors create
    • The use of VoiceMap to share fictional tales
    • Different ways that authors can leverage promotion for the VoiceMap tours they have created
    • Where people can find out more about VoiceMap and download the free app to their smartphones

    After the interview, Mark talks about how excited he is about the emerging audio opportunites for authors and storytelling in brave and bold new ways.

    He then shares a couple of examples of the sound-track to his Downtown Hamilton Ghost Walk tour from VoiceMap

    Links of Interest:

    VoiceMap takes stories beyond the screen. It papers them to walls, hangs them over statues, and plants them neatly in public parks. Then, when you come along, there they are: reflections on the soul of LA, murder on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, nostalgia for the vanishing hutongs of old Beijing, and much more, by storytellers and passionate locals all over the world.

    All you need is our mobile app for iPhones and Android devices. It uses your location to play audio automatically and includes offline maps. Just put on your headphones and you're ready to explore.

    If you'd like to tell a story of your own, you can start right now, for free. Our publishing tool is easy to use and our team of editors delights in bringing new stories out into the world.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     53:58 false 2 105 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews Gary Morris, Head of Production at the South African-based company VoiceMap. VoiceMap takes stories beyond the screen. It papers them to walls, hangs them over statues, and plants them neatly in public parks. Then, when you come along, there they are: reflections on the soul of LA, murder on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, nostalgia for the vanishing hutongs of old Beijing, and much more, by storytellers and passionate locals all over the world. The episode opens up with Mark's Voice Double from Descript's new beta program welcoming people to the podcast. He then shares a bit of information about this new opportunity for authors, which he thinks is idea to talk about during the opening of this particular interview. Mark then shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Gary talk about: Gary's background as a creative person in audio, his early experiences with musical instruments, and the path that led to a role in sound engineering as a music and audio producer Joining VoiceMap two and a half years ago as an audio tour editor What VoiceMap is and how it works The underlying passion of VoiceMap which involves walking along while sharing a story Partnerships that VoiceMap has with various tour and tourism organizations How, while walking tours are the most common, there are also bicycle, driving, and boat tours Some examples of popular tours, such as the one of the theatre district of London with Sir Ian McKellen Specific techniques that need to be employed on a walking tour, including timely silences, directions, and reminders How authors can set up at VoiceMap account and set up their own tour Logistics of creating a tour map and crafting a script based on timing (word count and estimated time) to walk from location to location on a tour VoiceMap being in a 158 different countries at this point The types of tours that VoiceMap is looking forward to seeing authors create The use of VoiceMap to share fictional tales Different ways that authors can leverage promotion for the VoiceMap tours they have created Where people can find out more about VoiceMap and download the free app to their smartphones After the interview, Mark talks about how excited he is about the emerging audio opportunites for authors and storytelling in brave and bold new ways. He then shares a couple of examples of the sound-track to his Downtown Hamilton Ghost Walk tour from VoiceMap   Links of Interest: Voicemap.me Mark's Downtown Hamilton Ghost Walk Tour on VoiceMap Link to YouTube video of Mark presenting on Storytelling 360 The official Haunted Hamilton Website The Ghost Walks: Hamilton, Niagara & Toronto Mark's book Haunted Hamilton Descript (Audio Company with advanced audio editing, transcription and a beta Voice Double program) NaNoWriMo StoryBundle Saving the World StoryBundle NaNo Writing Tools StoryBundle Mythulu Writing Binge Survival Pack 2019 WMG Publishing Business Masterclass Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   VoiceMap takes stories beyond the screen. It papers them to walls, hangs them over statues, and plants them neatly in public parks. Then, when you come along, there they are: reflections on the soul of LA, murder on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, nostalgia for the vanishing hutongs of old Beijing, and much more, by storytellers and passionate locals all over the world. All you need is our mobile app for iPhones and Android devices. It uses your location to play audio automatically and includes offline maps. Just put on your headphones and you're ready to explore. If you'd like to tell a story of your own, you can start right now, for free. Our publishing tool is easy to use and our team of editors delights in bringing new stories out into the world.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode, Mark interviews Gary Morris, Head of Production at the South African-based company VoiceMap. VoiceMap takes stories beyond the screen. It papers them to walls, hangs them over statues, and plants them neatly in public parks. Then, when you come along, there they are: reflections on the soul of LA, murder on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, nostalgia for the vanishing hutongs of old Beijing, and much more, by storytellers and passionate locals all over the world. The episode opens up with Mark's Voice Double from Descript's new beta program welcoming people to the podcast. He then shares a bit of information about this new opportunity for authors, which he thinks is idea to talk about during the opening of this particular interview. Mark then shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Gary talk about: Gary's background as a creative person in audio, his early experiences with musical instruments, and the path that led to a role in sound engineering as a music and audio producer Joining VoiceMap two and a half years ago as an audio tour editor What VoiceMap is and how it works The underlying passion of VoiceMap which involves walking along while sharing a story Partnerships that VoiceMap has with various tour and tourism organizations How, while walking tours are the most common, there are also bicycle, driving, and boat tours Some examples of popular tours, such as the one of the theatre district of London with Sir Ian McKellen Specific techniques that need to be employed on a walking tour, including timely silences, directions, and reminders How authors can set up at VoiceMap account and set up their own tour Logistics of creating a tour map and crafting a script based on timing (word count and estimated time) to walk from location to location on a tour VoiceMap being in a 158 different countries at this point The types of tours that VoiceMap is looking forward to seeing authors create The use of VoiceMap to share fictional tales Different ways that authors can leverage promotion for the VoiceMap tours they have created Where people can find out more about VoiceMap and download the free app to their smartphones After the interview, Mark talks about how excited he is about the emerging audio opportunites for authors and storytelling in brave and bold new ways. He then shares a couple of examples of the sound-track to his Downtown Hamilton Ghost Walk tour from VoiceMap   Links of Interest: Voicemap.me Mark's Downtown Hamilton Ghost Walk Tour on VoiceMap Link to YouTube video of Mark presenting on Storytelling 360 The official Haunted Hamilton Website The Ghost Walks: Hamilton, Niagara & Toronto Mark's book Haunted Hamilton Descript (Audio Company with advanced audio editing, transcription and a beta Voice Double program) NaNoWriMo StoryBundle Saving the World StoryBundle NaNo Writing Tools StoryBundle Mythulu Writing Binge Survival Pack 2019 WMG Publishing Business Masterclass Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   VoiceMap takes stories beyond the screen. It papers them to walls, hangs them over statues, and plants them neatly in public parks. Then, when you come along, there they are: reflections on the soul of LA, murder on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, nostalgia for the vanishing hutongs of old Beijing, and much more, by storytellers and passionate locals all over the world. All you need is our mobile app for iPhones and Android devices. It uses your location to play audio automatically and includes offline maps. Just put on your headphones and you're ready to explore. If you'd like to tell a story of your own, you can start right now, for free. Our publishing tool is easy to use and our team of editors delights in bringing new stories out into the world.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 104 - Living the Writing & Editing Life with Valerie Francis Living the Writing & Editing Life with Valerie Francis Thu, 07 Nov 2019 20:15:17 +0000 This episode features an interview with Valerie Francis, who is is an author, a bona fide story nerd, a Certified Story Grid Editor and a podcaster. She has published fiction for both women (love stories for busy women) and children (middle grade fantasy), and is currently working on her first thriller.

    Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes and also provides a short personal update

    He also shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Valerie and Mark talk about:

    • The way that Valerie slowly evolved from a full-time corporate dayjob into a full time writing career
    • How writing was always part of Valerie's life and that she wrote her first "book" when she was 7. (It starred her teddy bear)
      - Her experience playing piano and jazz bass
    • How if she is not expressing herself creatively, Valerie can get quite cranky
    • What a StoryGrid Editor is, as well as the background to Shawn Coyne's StoryGrid methodology
    • How Valerie got involved in StoryGrid
    • The fact that Valerie learning more in two days spent with Shawn than she did in her entire journey getting a both her Undergraduate degree and her Master's in English Literature
    • The two types of services that StoryGrid editors offer
    • The commonality of how writers often resist "masterworks" in the StoryGrid methodology
    • The way that writers often consume a story by analyzing novels and films
    • The two podcasts that Valerie is involved in
    • How a StoryGrid study group has been repurposed into a podcast so that more people could benefit from the ongoing learnings
    • The difficult concept of hearing "Valerie, you are now the product" after exposing herself on a podcast
    • Valerie's comparison between running and writing, which had inspired Mark when he read about it in her newsletter
    • How all the world only sees the finished product and not all the hard work that happens in the background, for a long time, as well as the commitment from the person who has produced that work
    • Advice that Valerie would offer to the person sitting there and looking at the daunting work in front of them
    • The four hours a day, in two-hour blocks that Valerie writes in
    • Six goal-achieving activities for each day, that Valerie prioritizes
    • The advantage of being in the first time zone in Canada, two hours earlier than the most of the rest of the continent of North America wakes up
    • The most recent fiction and non-fiction books that Valerie has released
    • The 12 parts of Valerie's latest novel that can be consumed in bite-sized chunks, soaking in the tub with a glass of wine or standing in line at the grocery store
    • How, given limited physical space, Valerie decides which books she will own in print as opposed to books she has in digital format (Spoiler, any books by Neil Gaiman, Ian Rankin, or Margaret Atwood always make that cut)
    • ValerieFrancis/innercircle as a way for writers to see how Valerie is studying and learning from masterworks

    After the interview Mark reflects on the comparison Valerie makes between running a marathon and a writer's process. He also talks about being re-inspired multiple times by Valerie and the value of that.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    Canadian writer, Valerie Francis is a bestselling author, a Certified Story Grid Editor and a podcaster. She has published fiction for both women (love stories for busy women) and children (middle grade fantasy), and is currently working on her first thriller.

    As a bona fide story nerd, her passion for the craft of storytelling led her to become a Certified Story Grid Editor in 2017. Her non-fiction credits include a Story Grid Guide to Bram Stoker's Dracula (publication TBA) and regular articles for the Fundamental Fridays column on Shawn Coyne's Story Grid website.

    Although Valerie writes across genre, there is a common thread in her work and that is, strong female characters. Women and girls of all ages have a particular perspective on the world and it's this point of view she's keen to explore.

    You can learn more about Valerie at: www.valeriefrancis.ca

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     This episode features an interview with Valerie Francis, who is is an author, a bona fide story nerd, a Certified Story Grid Editor and a podcaster. She has published fiction for both women (love stories for busy women) and children (middle grade fantasy), and is currently working on her first thriller.

    Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes and also provides a short personal update

    He also shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Valerie and Mark talk about:

    • The way that Valerie slowly evolved from a full-time corporate dayjob into a full time writing career
    • How writing was always part of Valerie's life and that she wrote her first "book" when she was 7. (It starred her teddy bear) - Her experience playing piano and jazz bass
    • How if she is not expressing herself creatively, Valerie can get quite cranky
    • What a StoryGrid Editor is, as well as the background to Shawn Coyne's StoryGrid methodology
    • How Valerie got involved in StoryGrid
    • The fact that Valerie learning more in two days spent with Shawn than she did in her entire journey getting a both her Undergraduate degree and her Master's in English Literature
    • The two types of services that StoryGrid editors offer
    • The commonality of how writers often resist "masterworks" in the StoryGrid methodology
    • The way that writers often consume a story by analyzing novels and films
    • The two podcasts that Valerie is involved in
    • How a StoryGrid study group has been repurposed into a podcast so that more people could benefit from the ongoing learnings
    • The difficult concept of hearing "Valerie, you are now the product" after exposing herself on a podcast
    • Valerie's comparison between running and writing, which had inspired Mark when he read about it in her newsletter
    • How all the world only sees the finished product and not all the hard work that happens in the background, for a long time, as well as the commitment from the person who has produced that work
    • Advice that Valerie would offer to the person sitting there and looking at the daunting work in front of them
    • The four hours a day, in two-hour blocks that Valerie writes in
    • Six goal-achieving activities for each day, that Valerie prioritizes
    • The advantage of being in the first time zone in Canada, two hours earlier than the most of the rest of the continent of North America wakes up
    • The most recent fiction and non-fiction books that Valerie has released
    • The 12 parts of Valerie's latest novel that can be consumed in bite-sized chunks, soaking in the tub with a glass of wine or standing in line at the grocery store
    • How, given limited physical space, Valerie decides which books she will own in print as opposed to books she has in digital format (Spoiler, any books by Neil Gaiman, Ian Rankin, or Margaret Atwood always make that cut)
    • ValerieFrancis/innercircle as a way for writers to see how Valerie is studying and learning from masterworks

    After the interview Mark reflects on the comparison Valerie makes between running a marathon and a writer's process. He also talks about being re-inspired multiple times by Valerie and the value of that.

    Links of Interest:

    Canadian writer, Valerie Francis is a bestselling author, a Certified Story Grid Editor and a podcaster. She has published fiction for both women (love stories for busy women) and children (middle grade fantasy), and is currently working on her first thriller.

    As a bona fide story nerd, her passion for the craft of storytelling led her to become a Certified Story Grid Editor in 2017. Her non-fiction credits include a Story Grid Guide to Bram Stoker's Dracula (publication TBA) and regular articles for the Fundamental Fridays column on Shawn Coyne's Story Grid website.

    Although Valerie writes across genre, there is a common thread in her work and that is, strong female characters. Women and girls of all ages have a particular perspective on the world and it's this point of view she's keen to explore.

    You can learn more about Valerie at: www.valeriefrancis.ca

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     56:31 false 2 104 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This episode features an interview with Valerie Francis, who is is an author, a bona fide story nerd, a Certified Story Grid Editor and a podcaster. She has published fiction for both women (love stories for busy women) and children (middle grade fantasy), and is currently working on her first thriller. Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes and also provides a short personal update He also shares a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Valerie and Mark talk about: The way that Valerie slowly evolved from a full-time corporate dayjob into a full time writing career How writing was always part of Valerie's life and that she wrote her first "book" when she was 7. (It starred her teddy bear) - Her experience playing piano and jazz bass How if she is not expressing herself creatively, Valerie can get quite cranky What a StoryGrid Editor is, as well as the background to Shawn Coyne's StoryGrid methodology How Valerie got involved in StoryGrid The fact that Valerie learning more in two days spent with Shawn than she did in her entire journey getting a both her Undergraduate degree and her Master's in English Literature The two types of services that StoryGrid editors offer The commonality of how writers often resist "masterworks" in the StoryGrid methodology The way that writers often consume a story by analyzing novels and films The two podcasts that Valerie is involved in How a StoryGrid study group has been repurposed into a podcast so that more people could benefit from the ongoing learnings The difficult concept of hearing "Valerie, you are now the product" after exposing herself on a podcast Valerie's comparison between running and writing, which had inspired Mark when he read about it in her newsletter How all the world only sees the finished product and not all the hard work that happens in the background, for a long time, as well as the commitment from the person who has produced that work Advice that Valerie would offer to the person sitting there and looking at the daunting work in front of them The four hours a day, in two-hour blocks that Valerie writes in Six goal-achieving activities for each day, that Valerie prioritizes The advantage of being in the first time zone in Canada, two hours earlier than the most of the rest of the continent of North America wakes up The most recent fiction and non-fiction books that Valerie has released The 12 parts of Valerie's latest novel that can be consumed in bite-sized chunks, soaking in the tub with a glass of wine or standing in line at the grocery store How, given limited physical space, Valerie decides which books she will own in print as opposed to books she has in digital format (Spoiler, any books by Neil Gaiman, Ian Rankin, or Margaret Atwood always make that cut) ValerieFrancis/innercircle as a way for writers to see how Valerie is studying and learning from masterworks After the interview Mark reflects on the comparison Valerie makes between running a marathon and a writer's process. He also talks about being re-inspired multiple times by Valerie and the value of that.   Links of Interest: Valerie Francis' Website Valerie's Most Popular articles on the StoryGrid Website Narrative Drive: Mystery Narrative Drive: Suspense Narrative Drive: Dramatic Irony Podcast Episodes about Narrative Drive: Mystery: Murder on the Orient Express Suspense: Rear Window Dramatic Irony: The Queen Mark's Forthcoming Book: An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores Episode 92 - Strong Authors and the IP Legacies They Deserve with ML Buchman Episode 102 - NaNoWriMo Wisdom with Vanessa Ricci-Thode NaNoWriMo StoryBundle Saving the World StoryBundle NaNo Writing Tools StoryBundle Mythulu Writing Binge Survival Pack 2019 WMG Publishing Business Masterclass Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Canadian writer, Valerie Francis is a bestselling author, a Certified Story Grid Editor and a podcaster. She has published fiction for both women (love stories for busy women) and children (middle grade fantasy), and is currently working on her first thriller. As a bona fide story nerd, her passion for the craft of storytelling led her to become a Certified Story Grid Editor in 2017. Her non-fiction credits include a Story Grid Guide to Bram Stoker's Dracula (publication TBA) and regular articles for the Fundamental Fridays column on Shawn Coyne's Story Grid website. Although Valerie writes across genre, there is a common thread in her work and that is, strong female characters. Women and girls of all ages have a particular perspective on the world and it's this point of view she's keen to explore. You can learn more about Valerie at: www.valeriefrancis.ca The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0This episode features an interview with Valerie Francis, who is is an author, a bona fide story nerd, a Certified Story Grid Editor and a podcaster. She has published fiction for both women (love stories for busy women) and children (middle grade fantasy), and is currently working on her first thriller. Prior to the interview Mark shares comments from recent episodes and also provides a short personal update He also shares a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Valerie and Mark talk about: The way that Valerie slowly evolved from a full-time corporate dayjob into a full time writing career How writing was always part of Valerie's life and that she wrote her first "book" when she was 7. (It starred her teddy bear) - Her experience playing piano and jazz bass How if she is not expressing herself creatively, Valerie can get quite cranky What a StoryGrid Editor is, as well as the background to Shawn Coyne's StoryGrid methodology How Valerie got involved in StoryGrid The fact that Valerie learning more in two days spent with Shawn than she did in her entire journey getting a both her Undergraduate degree and her Master's in English Literature The two types of services that StoryGrid editors offer The commonality of how writers often resist "masterworks" in the StoryGrid methodology The way that writers often consume a story by analyzing novels and films The two podcasts that Valerie is involved in How a StoryGrid study group has been repurposed into a podcast so that more people could benefit from the ongoing learnings The difficult concept of hearing "Valerie, you are now the product" after exposing herself on a podcast Valerie's comparison between running and writing, which had inspired Mark when he read about it in her newsletter How all the world only sees the finished product and not all the hard work that happens in the background, for a long time, as well as the commitment from the person who has produced that work Advice that Valerie would offer to the person sitting there and looking at the daunting work in front of them The four hours a day, in two-hour blocks that Valerie writes in Six goal-achieving activities for each day, that Valerie prioritizes The advantage of being in the first time zone in Canada, two hours earlier than the most of the rest of the continent of North America wakes up The most recent fiction and non-fiction books that Valerie has released The 12 parts of Valerie's latest novel that can be consumed in bite-sized chunks, soaking in the tub with a glass of wine or standing in line at the grocery store How, given limited physical space, Valerie decides which books she will own in print as opposed to books she has in digital format (Spoiler, any books by Neil Gaiman, Ian Rankin, or Margaret Atwood always make that cut) ValerieFrancis/innercircle as a way for writers to see how Valerie is studying and learning from masterworks After the interview Mark reflects on the comparison Valerie makes between running a marathon and a writer's process. He also talks about being re-inspired multiple times by Valerie and the value of that.   Links of Interest: Valerie Francis' Website Valerie's Most Popular articles on the StoryGrid Website Narrative Drive: Mystery Narrative Drive: Suspense Narrative Drive: Dramatic Irony Podcast Episodes about Narrative Drive: Mystery: Murder on the Orient Express Suspense: Rear Window Dramatic Irony: The Queen Mark's Forthcoming Book: An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores Episode 92 - Strong Authors and the IP Legacies They Deserve with ML Buchman Episode 102 - NaNoWriMo Wisdom with Vanessa Ricci-Thode NaNoWriMo StoryBundle Saving the World StoryBundle NaNo Writing Tools StoryBundle Mythulu Writing Binge Survival Pack 2019 WMG Publishing Business Masterclass Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   Canadian writer, Valerie Francis is a bestselling author, a Certified Story Grid Editor and a podcaster. She has published fiction for both women (love stories for busy women) and children (middle grade fantasy), and is currently working on her first thriller. As a bona fide story nerd, her passion for the craft of storytelling led her to become a Certified Story Grid Editor in 2017. Her non-fiction credits include a Story Grid Guide to Bram Stoker's Dracula (publication TBA) and regular articles for the Fundamental Fridays column on Shawn Coyne's Story Grid website. Although Valerie writes across genre, there is a common thread in her work and that is, strong female characters. Women and girls of all ages have a particular perspective on the world and it's this point of view she's keen to explore. You can learn more about Valerie at: www.valeriefrancis.ca The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 103 - 15 Takeaways from the WMG Publishing Workshop 15 Takeaways from the WMG Publishing Master Class Wed, 30 Oct 2019 17:28:00 +0000 In this episode, Mark shares 15 different quotes and ideas that inspired him during the Fall 2019 WMG Publishing Business Master Class workshop led by Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith in Las Vegas.

    Mark shares a very brief personal update, explaining that this episode was recorded in a less-than-ideal acoustic environment, his hotel room in Vegas.

    Mark also shares a word from this episode's sponsor...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    One of the over-arcing themes from the five day workshop event s was Diversification and the idea that "It's better to make a little bit of money from a lot of sources than to make a lot of money from one or two places."

    The 15 quotes come from:

    • Kristine Kathryn Rusch
    • Dean Wesley Smith
    • Kevin J. Anderson
    • Joanna Penn
    • Loren Coleman
    • Andrea Pearson
    • Marie Whittaker
    • Deidre J. Manna-Bratten
    • Chuck Heinzelman

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark shares 15 different quotes and ideas that inspired him during the Fall 2019 WMG Publishing Business Master Class workshop led by Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith in Las Vegas.

    Mark shares a very brief personal update, explaining that this episode was recorded in a less-than-ideal acoustic environment, his hotel room in Vegas.

    Mark also shares a word from this episode's sponsor...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    One of the over-arcing themes from the five day workshop event s was Diversification and the idea that "It's better to make a little bit of money from a lot of sources than to make a lot of money from one or two places."

    The 15 quotes come from:

    • Kristine Kathryn Rusch
    • Dean Wesley Smith
    • Kevin J. Anderson
    • Joanna Penn
    • Loren Coleman
    • Andrea Pearson
    • Marie Whittaker
    • Deidre J. Manna-Bratten
    • Chuck Heinzelman

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     34:56 false 2 103 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark shares 15 different quotes and ideas that inspired him during the Fall 2019 WMG Publishing Business Master Class workshop led by Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith in Las Vegas. Mark shares a very brief personal update, explaining that this episode was recorded in a less-than-ideal acoustic environment, his hotel room in Vegas. Mark also shares a word from this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. One of the over-arcing themes from the five day workshop event s was Diversification and the idea that "It's better to make a little bit of money from a lot of sources than to make a lot of money from one or two places." The 15 quotes come from: Kristine Kathryn Rusch Dean Wesley Smith Kevin J. Anderson Joanna Penn Loren Coleman Andrea Pearson Marie Whittaker Deidre J. Manna-Bratten Chuck Heinzelman Links of Interest: Episode 6 - 3 Things That Are Wrong with Indie Publishing Episode 44 - How To Deal with a Fire-Hose of Information Episode 77 - A Gut-Check on the State of Publishing with Kristine Kathryn Rusch NaNoWriMo StoryBundle Saving the World StoryBundle NaNo Writing Tools StoryBundle WMG Publishing Business Masterclass BundleRabbit Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode, Mark shares 15 different quotes and ideas that inspired him during the Fall 2019 WMG Publishing Business Master Class workshop led by Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith in Las Vegas. Mark shares a very brief personal update, explaining that this episode was recorded in a less-than-ideal acoustic environment, his hotel room in Vegas. Mark also shares a word from this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. One of the over-arcing themes from the five day workshop event s was Diversification and the idea that "It's better to make a little bit of money from a lot of sources than to make a lot of money from one or two places." The 15 quotes come from: Kristine Kathryn Rusch Dean Wesley Smith Kevin J. Anderson Joanna Penn Loren Coleman Andrea Pearson Marie Whittaker Deidre J. Manna-Bratten Chuck Heinzelman Links of Interest: Episode 6 - 3 Things That Are Wrong with Indie Publishing Episode 44 - How To Deal with a Fire-Hose of Information Episode 77 - A Gut-Check on the State of Publishing with Kristine Kathryn Rusch NaNoWriMo StoryBundle Saving the World StoryBundle NaNo Writing Tools StoryBundle WMG Publishing Business Masterclass BundleRabbit Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 102 - NaNoWriMo Wisdom with Vanessa Ricci-Thode NaNoWriMo Wisdom with Vanessa Ricci-Thode Thu, 24 Oct 2019 21:36:53 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Vanessa Ricci-Thode, a fantasy author,  fiction editor and a NaNoWriMo veteran.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares some recent comments from previous episodes and Twitter.

    He also shares a word from this episode's sponsor...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update, Mark talks about how he is approaching NaNoWriMo this year. He skipped it last year; but this year he is focusing on getting 50,000 words written for at least 3 different projects and will be tracking that.

    He is also curious to see how many listeners are doing NaNoWriMo this year.

    In their discussion, Mark and Vanessa talk about:

    Mark and Vanessa talk about:

    • How Vanessa, who is an experienced NaNoWriMo veteran (doing it since 2006), first got into NaNoWriMo
    • Managing expectations with family during a month of regular commitment to writing time
    • Writing 50,000 words in 30 days while working part-time and being a part-time student
    • The first few NaNoWriMo novels Vanessa wrote
    • Being an ML (Municipal Liason) in the Waterloo, Ontario region
    • The fact that there are always a lot of first-timers who try NaNoWriMo each year
    • Vanessa's most popular or common advice for writers interested in trying out NaNoWriMo
    • Advice for authors who end up slipping in their writing goal early on or mid-way through the month
    • The "Mad Dash to Midnight" NaNoWriMo event that is done on the night of Nov 30
    • How people can find their local NaNoWriMo region (nanowrimo.org), where they can search by country, state, province, city
    • How Vanessa got interested in writing which began with making picture books when she was a young child
    • Vanessa's change in approach to the business of publishing with the advent of digital
    • Looking for ways to become a better writer, which led to Vanessa becoming an editor, opening her part-time freelance editing business in 2010
    • The genres Vanessa most prefers to edit (Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror), and why it's important to work with an editor who is familiar with and enjoys working in your particular genre
    • Common writer issues, such as starting their story in the wrong spot
    • The value of critique groups for writers, and how critiquing others can assist an author with their own writing
    • NaNoWrimo as a great place to meet and connect with other writers
    • Writing solo versus writing when in a group setting
    • What Vanessa is most looking forward to for NaNoWriMo 2019
    • The importance of "stubborning through it"

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of committing to something like NaNoWriMo as well as the element of being persistent and "stubborning through it" as Vanessa so eloquently said.

    He then thanks Patrons of the podcast and closes out the show with a reminder that he's curious to hear from authors on whether or not they are doing NaNoWriMo and how they stubborn through things.

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews Vanessa Ricci-Thode, a fantasy author, fiction editor and a NaNoWriMo veteran.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares some recent comments from previous episodes and Twitter.

    He also shares a word from this episode's sponsor...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update, Mark talks about how he is approaching NaNoWriMo this year. He skipped it last year; but this year he is focusing on getting 50,000 words written for at least 3 different projects and will be tracking that.

    He is also curious to see how many listeners are doing NaNoWriMo this year.

    In their discussion, Mark and Vanessa talk about:

    Mark and Vanessa talk about:

    • How Vanessa, who is an experienced NaNoWriMo veteran (doing it since 2006), first got into NaNoWriMo
    • Managing expectations with family during a month of regular commitment to writing time
    • Writing 50,000 words in 30 days while working part-time and being a part-time student
    • The first few NaNoWriMo novels Vanessa wrote
    • Being an ML (Municipal Liason) in the Waterloo, Ontario region
    • The fact that there are always a lot of first-timers who try NaNoWriMo each year
    • Vanessa's most popular or common advice for writers interested in trying out NaNoWriMo
    • Advice for authors who end up slipping in their writing goal early on or mid-way through the month
    • The "Mad Dash to Midnight" NaNoWriMo event that is done on the night of Nov 30
    • How people can find their local NaNoWriMo region (nanowrimo.org), where they can search by country, state, province, city
    • How Vanessa got interested in writing which began with making picture books when she was a young child
    • Vanessa's change in approach to the business of publishing with the advent of digital
    • Looking for ways to become a better writer, which led to Vanessa becoming an editor, opening her part-time freelance editing business in 2010
    • The genres Vanessa most prefers to edit (Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror), and why it's important to work with an editor who is familiar with and enjoys working in your particular genre
    • Common writer issues, such as starting their story in the wrong spot
    • The value of critique groups for writers, and how critiquing others can assist an author with their own writing
    • NaNoWrimo as a great place to meet and connect with other writers
    • Writing solo versus writing when in a group setting
    • What Vanessa is most looking forward to for NaNoWriMo 2019
    • The importance of "stubborning through it"

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of committing to something like NaNoWriMo as well as the element of being persistent and "stubborning through it" as Vanessa so eloquently said.

    He then thanks Patrons of the podcast and closes out the show with a reminder that he's curious to hear from authors on whether or not they are doing NaNoWriMo and how they stubborn through things.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     45:04 false 2 102 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Vanessa Ricci-Thode, a fantasy author,  fiction editor and a NaNoWriMo veteran. Prior to the interview, Mark shares some recent comments from previous episodes and Twitter. He also shares a word from this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark talks about how he is approaching NaNoWriMo this year. He skipped it last year; but this year he is focusing on getting 50,000 words written for at least 3 different projects and will be tracking that. He is also curious to see how many listeners are doing NaNoWriMo this year. In their discussion, Mark and Vanessa talk about: Mark and Vanessa talk about: How Vanessa, who is an experienced NaNoWriMo veteran (doing it since 2006), first got into NaNoWriMo Managing expectations with family during a month of regular commitment to writing time Writing 50,000 words in 30 days while working part-time and being a part-time student The first few NaNoWriMo novels Vanessa wrote Being an ML (Municipal Liason) in the Waterloo, Ontario region The fact that there are always a lot of first-timers who try NaNoWriMo each year Vanessa's most popular or common advice for writers interested in trying out NaNoWriMo Advice for authors who end up slipping in their writing goal early on or mid-way through the month The "Mad Dash to Midnight" NaNoWriMo event that is done on the night of Nov 30 How people can find their local NaNoWriMo region (nanowrimo.org), where they can search by country, state, province, city How Vanessa got interested in writing which began with making picture books when she was a young child Vanessa's change in approach to the business of publishing with the advent of digital Looking for ways to become a better writer, which led to Vanessa becoming an editor, opening her part-time freelance editing business in 2010 The genres Vanessa most prefers to edit (Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror), and why it's important to work with an editor who is familiar with and enjoys working in your particular genre Common writer issues, such as starting their story in the wrong spot The value of critique groups for writers, and how critiquing others can assist an author with their own writing NaNoWrimo as a great place to meet and connect with other writers Writing solo versus writing when in a group setting What Vanessa is most looking forward to for NaNoWriMo 2019 The importance of "stubborning through it" After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of committing to something like NaNoWriMo as well as the element of being persistent and "stubborning through it" as Vanessa so eloquently said. He then thanks Patrons of the podcast and closes out the show with a reminder that he's curious to hear from authors on whether or not they are doing NaNoWriMo and how they stubborn through things. Links of Interest: Vanessa Ricci-Thode's Website Vanessa's Books Vanessa's Editing Services NaNoWriMo WMG Publishing Business Masterclass Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Vanessa Ricci-Thode, a fantasy author,  fiction editor and a NaNoWriMo veteran. Prior to the interview, Mark shares some recent comments from previous episodes and Twitter. He also shares a word from this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark talks about how he is approaching NaNoWriMo this year. He skipped it last year; but this year he is focusing on getting 50,000 words written for at least 3 different projects and will be tracking that. He is also curious to see how many listeners are doing NaNoWriMo this year. In their discussion, Mark and Vanessa talk about: Mark and Vanessa talk about: How Vanessa, who is an experienced NaNoWriMo veteran (doing it since 2006), first got into NaNoWriMo Managing expectations with family during a month of regular commitment to writing time Writing 50,000 words in 30 days while working part-time and being a part-time student The first few NaNoWriMo novels Vanessa wrote Being an ML (Municipal Liason) in the Waterloo, Ontario region The fact that there are always a lot of first-timers who try NaNoWriMo each year Vanessa's most popular or common advice for writers interested in trying out NaNoWriMo Advice for authors who end up slipping in their writing goal early on or mid-way through the month The "Mad Dash to Midnight" NaNoWriMo event that is done on the night of Nov 30 How people can find their local NaNoWriMo region (nanowrimo.org), where they can search by country, state, province, city How Vanessa got interested in writing which began with making picture books when she was a young child Vanessa's change in approach to the business of publishing with the advent of digital Looking for ways to become a better writer, which led to Vanessa becoming an editor, opening her part-time freelance editing business in 2010 The genres Vanessa most prefers to edit (Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror), and why it's important to work with an editor who is familiar with and enjoys working in your particular genre Common writer issues, such as starting their story in the wrong spot The value of critique groups for writers, and how critiquing others can assist an author with their own writing NaNoWrimo as a great place to meet and connect with other writers Writing solo versus writing when in a group setting What Vanessa is most looking forward to for NaNoWriMo 2019 The importance of "stubborning through it" After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of committing to something like NaNoWriMo as well as the element of being persistent and "stubborning through it" as Vanessa so eloquently said. He then thanks Patrons of the podcast and closes out the show with a reminder that he's curious to hear from authors on whether or not they are doing NaNoWriMo and how they stubborn through things. Links of Interest: Vanessa Ricci-Thode's Website Vanessa's Books Vanessa's Editing Services NaNoWriMo WMG Publishing Business Masterclass Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 101 - Will Dages from Findaway Voices Will Dages from Findaway Voices Tue, 22 Oct 2019 23:13:33 +0000 On Oct 17, 2019, Mark Lefebvre and Kevin Tumlinson from Draft2Digital hosted a live webinar "Ask Us Anything" Q&A about audiobooks, relaying questions from authors to Will Dages, head of Findaway Voices.

    This is a slightly abridged version of the audio track from this video, which you can see on YouTube.

    Discussion includes the following topics:

    • Findaway Voices Giveaway Codes, how they work, how authors can request them and track their use
    • StoryOrigin promotion site for audiobook giveaway codes
    • How to get started with setting up an audiobook via Findaway Voices
    • Standard calculation for determing finished audiobook hours (9300 words = 1 finished hour - or, for easier math, assume that 10,000 words = 1 hour)
    • Typical studio production hours based on word count of the original manuscript (Most audio producers work on a 3 to 1 or 4 to 1 ratio - it, if the manuscript is 100,000 words, that'd be 10 finished hours and would most likely take 30 to 40 hours of production time
    • The Voices Share royalty share program and how it works (50% up front payment for production hours and a 60/20/20 split for author/narrator/Findaway) - and how the buyout works if you want to get out early
    • The recent Audible text transcription controversy
    • Whether or not an author can narrator their own books (spoiler alert: YES, you can, with the right setup/equipment/software)
    • The origin of Findway Voices and the back story about the company Findaway, that has been around alot longer in the audiobook industry
    • The built in pricing suggestion tool in Findaway Voices
    • How easy/difficult it is to update your audiobook (both metadata and audio files)
    • The cost and benefit of using Findaway Voices for distribution VS going direct (spoiler: Findaway keeps 20% of your royalties)
    • A little bit about how exclusivity with ACX to Audible works
    • Thoughts about loading audio samples to YouTube or other ways of promoting their audiobooks
    • And more...

     

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     On Oct 17, 2019, Mark Lefebvre and Kevin Tumlinson from Draft2Digital hosted a live webinar "Ask Us Anything" Q&A about audiobooks, relaying questions from authors to Will Dages, head of Findaway Voices.

    This is a slightly abridged version of the audio track from this video, which you can see on YouTube.

    Discussion includes the following topics:

    • Findaway Voices Giveaway Codes, how they work, how authors can request them and track their use
    • StoryOrigin promotion site for audiobook giveaway codes
    • How to get started with setting up an audiobook via Findaway Voices
    • Standard calculation for determing finished audiobook hours (9300 words = 1 finished hour - or, for easier math, assume that 10,000 words = 1 hour)
    • Typical studio production hours based on word count of the original manuscript (Most audio producers work on a 3 to 1 or 4 to 1 ratio - it, if the manuscript is 100,000 words, that'd be 10 finished hours and would most likely take 30 to 40 hours of production time
    • The Voices Share royalty share program and how it works (50% up front payment for production hours and a 60/20/20 split for author/narrator/Findaway) - and how the buyout works if you want to get out early
    • The recent Audible text transcription controversy
    • Whether or not an author can narrator their own books (spoiler alert: YES, you can, with the right setup/equipment/software)
    • The origin of Findway Voices and the back story about the company Findaway, that has been around alot longer in the audiobook industry
    • The built in pricing suggestion tool in Findaway Voices
    • How easy/difficult it is to update your audiobook (both metadata and audio files)
    • The cost and benefit of using Findaway Voices for distribution VS going direct (spoiler: Findaway keeps 20% of your royalties)
    • A little bit about how exclusivity with ACX to Audible works
    • Thoughts about loading audio samples to YouTube or other ways of promoting their audiobooks
    • And more...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     01:00:21 false 2 101 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)On Oct 17, 2019, Mark Lefebvre and Kevin Tumlinson from Draft2Digital hosted a live webinar "Ask Us Anything" Q&A about audiobooks, relaying questions from authors to Will Dages, head of Findaway Voices. This is a slightly abridged version of the audio track from this video, which you can see on YouTube. Discussion includes the following topics: Findaway Voices Giveaway Codes, how they work, how authors can request them and track their use StoryOrigin promotion site for audiobook giveaway codes How to get started with setting up an audiobook via Findaway Voices Standard calculation for determing finished audiobook hours (9300 words = 1 finished hour - or, for easier math, assume that 10,000 words = 1 hour) Typical studio production hours based on word count of the original manuscript (Most audio producers work on a 3 to 1 or 4 to 1 ratio - it, if the manuscript is 100,000 words, that'd be 10 finished hours and would most likely take 30 to 40 hours of production time The Voices Share royalty share program and how it works (50% up front payment for production hours and a 60/20/20 split for author/narrator/Findaway) - and how the buyout works if you want to get out early The recent Audible text transcription controversy Whether or not an author can narrator their own books (spoiler alert: YES, you can, with the right setup/equipment/software) The origin of Findway Voices and the back story about the company Findaway, that has been around alot longer in the audiobook industry The built in pricing suggestion tool in Findaway Voices How easy/difficult it is to update your audiobook (both metadata and audio files) The cost and benefit of using Findaway Voices for distribution VS going direct (spoiler: Findaway keeps 20% of your royalties) A little bit about how exclusivity with ACX to Audible works Thoughts about loading audio samples to YouTube or other ways of promoting their audiobooks And more...   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Draft2Digital's Blog Post: Everything Audiobooks with Will Dages from Findaway Voices (Full Transcript) The YouTube Video of the Webinar Episode 5 - Global Audiobook Opportunities for Authors Episode 15 - The Process of a Writer's Life with Kevin Tumlinson Episode 52 - The Three Co-Founders of Draft2Digital Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0On Oct 17, 2019, Mark Lefebvre and Kevin Tumlinson from Draft2Digital hosted a live webinar "Ask Us Anything" Q&A about audiobooks, relaying questions from authors to Will Dages, head of Findaway Voices. This is a slightly abridged version of the audio track from this video, which you can see on YouTube. Discussion includes the following topics: Findaway Voices Giveaway Codes, how they work, how authors can request them and track their use StoryOrigin promotion site for audiobook giveaway codes How to get started with setting up an audiobook via Findaway Voices Standard calculation for determing finished audiobook hours (9300 words = 1 finished hour - or, for easier math, assume that 10,000 words = 1 hour) Typical studio production hours based on word count of the original manuscript (Most audio producers work on a 3 to 1 or 4 to 1 ratio - it, if the manuscript is 100,000 words, that'd be 10 finished hours and would most likely take 30 to 40 hours of production time The Voices Share royalty share program and how it works (50% up front payment for production hours and a 60/20/20 split for author/narrator/Findaway) - and how the buyout works if you want to get out early The recent Audible text transcription controversy Whether or not an author can narrator their own books (spoiler alert: YES, you can, with the right setup/equipment/software) The origin of Findway Voices and the back story about the company Findaway, that has been around alot longer in the audiobook industry The built in pricing suggestion tool in Findaway Voices How easy/difficult it is to update your audiobook (both metadata and audio files) The cost and benefit of using Findaway Voices for distribution VS going direct (spoiler: Findaway keeps 20% of your royalties) A little bit about how exclusivity with ACX to Audible works Thoughts about loading audio samples to YouTube or other ways of promoting their audiobooks And more...   You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Draft2Digital's Blog Post: Everything Audiobooks with Will Dages from Findaway Voices (Full Transcript) The YouTube Video of the Webinar Episode 5 - Global Audiobook Opportunities for Authors Episode 15 - The Process of a Writer's Life with Kevin Tumlinson Episode 52 - The Three Co-Founders of Draft2Digital Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 100 - Another Publishing Industry First with Mark Dawson Another Publishing Industry First with Mark Dawson Fri, 18 Oct 2019 00:01:06 +0000 Mark interviews international bestselling author Mark Dawson about his journey through publishing, his author support business and the ground-breaking publishing deal he just signed.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares some comments left on previous episodes and via Twitter.

    He also shares a word about the episode's sponsor Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update, Mark talks about Canadian Thanksgiving, putting up Halloween decorations in the front yard and a new anthology, Cursed Collectibles, edited by Angela Eschler, that he has a story in.

     

    In their conversation, the two Marks talk about:

    • Mark's background as a lawyer prior to becoming a writer, and how he has benefited from the skills he learned there
    • The kick in the pants Mark received back in 1999 that led to his entry into publishing
    • The surprisngly fast way he had found an agent and that agent had found a publisher for his first books
    • The disappointing experience that came with having his print books appear in book shops and the two strikes that led to the end of that part of his writing career
    • How John Milton was inspired by the original Equalizer television show staring Edward Woodward
    • When Mark's indie writing journey began and the approximate 30 books he has published in that way
    • The first time that Mark realized that writing could be a full-time endeavour - when the money he was earning from writing not only matched the money he was making working a full time job, but was more than double that amount for several months in a row
    • The origin of the Self-Publishing Formula courses and podcast
    • The 2020 Self Publishing Conference that will be taking place in London prior to the London Book Fair
    • How Mark is able to continue to write his novels as well as offer support to the writing community via his intimate network
    • The ground-breaking joint-venture print-only deal that Mark recently signed
    • The 3-books a year release plan within this deal
    • The international element of the deal to get the books into stores in multiple countries

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of this deal that Mark Dawson just signed and the significance it can have on publishing.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark interviews international bestselling author Mark Dawson about his journey through publishing, his author support business and the ground-breaking publishing deal he just signed.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares some comments left on previous episodes and via Twitter.

    He also shares a word about the episode's sponsor Findaway Voices.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update, Mark talks about Canadian Thanksgiving, putting up Halloween decorations in the front yard and a new anthology, Cursed Collectibles, edited by Angela Eschler, that he has a story in.

    In their conversation, the two Marks talk about:

    • Mark's background as a lawyer prior to becoming a writer, and how he has benefited from the skills he learned there
    • The kick in the pants Mark received back in 1999 that led to his entry into publishing
    • The surprisngly fast way he had found an agent and that agent had found a publisher for his first books
    • The disappointing experience that came with having his print books appear in book shops and the two strikes that led to the end of that part of his writing career
    • How John Milton was inspired by the original Equalizer television show staring Edward Woodward
    • When Mark's indie writing journey began and the approximate 30 books he has published in that way
    • The first time that Mark realized that writing could be a full-time endeavour - when the money he was earning from writing not only matched the money he was making working a full time job, but was more than double that amount for several months in a row
    • The origin of the Self-Publishing Formula courses and podcast
    • The 2020 Self Publishing Conference that will be taking place in London prior to the London Book Fair
    • How Mark is able to continue to write his novels as well as offer support to the writing community via his intimate network
    • The ground-breaking joint-venture print-only deal that Mark recently signed
    • The 3-books a year release plan within this deal
    • The international element of the deal to get the books into stores in multiple countries

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of this deal that Mark Dawson just signed and the significance it can have on publishing.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     54:35 false 2 100 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews international bestselling author Mark Dawson about his journey through publishing, his author support business and the ground-breaking publishing deal he just signed. Prior to the interview, Mark shares some comments left on previous episodes and via Twitter. He also shares a word about the episode's sponsor Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark talks about Canadian Thanksgiving, putting up Halloween decorations in the front yard and a new anthology, Cursed Collectibles, edited by Angela Eschler, that he has a story in.   In their conversation, the two Marks talk about: Mark's background as a lawyer prior to becoming a writer, and how he has benefited from the skills he learned there The kick in the pants Mark received back in 1999 that led to his entry into publishing The surprisngly fast way he had found an agent and that agent had found a publisher for his first books The disappointing experience that came with having his print books appear in book shops and the two strikes that led to the end of that part of his writing career How John Milton was inspired by the original Equalizer television show staring Edward Woodward When Mark's indie writing journey began and the approximate 30 books he has published in that way The first time that Mark realized that writing could be a full-time endeavour - when the money he was earning from writing not only matched the money he was making working a full time job, but was more than double that amount for several months in a row The origin of the Self-Publishing Formula courses and podcast The 2020 Self Publishing Conference that will be taking place in London prior to the London Book Fair How Mark is able to continue to write his novels as well as offer support to the writing community via his intimate network The ground-breaking joint-venture print-only deal that Mark recently signed The 3-books a year release plan within this deal The international element of the deal to get the books into stores in multiple countries After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of this deal that Mark Dawson just signed and the significance it can have on publishing.   Links of Interest: Mark Dawson's Author Website Author Facebook Page Twitter Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Formula The Self Publishing Show Podcast Self Publishing Formula Courses Episode 99 - Getting Your Book Into Libraries Episode 97 - Ten Tips for Marketing and Making Money off Your Short Fiction Episode  87 - You, Your Book, and Bookstores Episode 47 - In the Pilot's Seat with James Blatch Cursed Collectibles Anthology Eschler Editing Superstars Writing Seminars The Don Hodge Memorial Scholarship StoryBundle - NaNo Writing Tools Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews international bestselling author Mark Dawson about his journey through publishing, his author support business and the ground-breaking publishing deal he just signed. Prior to the interview, Mark shares some comments left on previous episodes and via Twitter. He also shares a word about the episode's sponsor Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark talks about Canadian Thanksgiving, putting up Halloween decorations in the front yard and a new anthology, Cursed Collectibles, edited by Angela Eschler, that he has a story in.   In their conversation, the two Marks talk about: Mark's background as a lawyer prior to becoming a writer, and how he has benefited from the skills he learned there The kick in the pants Mark received back in 1999 that led to his entry into publishing The surprisngly fast way he had found an agent and that agent had found a publisher for his first books The disappointing experience that came with having his print books appear in book shops and the two strikes that led to the end of that part of his writing career How John Milton was inspired by the original Equalizer television show staring Edward Woodward When Mark's indie writing journey began and the approximate 30 books he has published in that way The first time that Mark realized that writing could be a full-time endeavour - when the money he was earning from writing not only matched the money he was making working a full time job, but was more than double that amount for several months in a row The origin of the Self-Publishing Formula courses and podcast The 2020 Self Publishing Conference that will be taking place in London prior to the London Book Fair How Mark is able to continue to write his novels as well as offer support to the writing community via his intimate network The ground-breaking joint-venture print-only deal that Mark recently signed The 3-books a year release plan within this deal The international element of the deal to get the books into stores in multiple countries After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of this deal that Mark Dawson just signed and the significance it can have on publishing.   Links of Interest: Mark Dawson's Author Website Author Facebook Page Twitter Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Formula The Self Publishing Show Podcast Self Publishing Formula Courses Episode 99 - Getting Your Book Into Libraries Episode 97 - Ten Tips for Marketing and Making Money off Your Short Fiction Episode  87 - You, Your Book, and Bookstores Episode 47 - In the Pilot's Seat with James Blatch Cursed Collectibles Anthology Eschler Editing Superstars Writing Seminars The Don Hodge Memorial Scholarship StoryBundle - NaNo Writing Tools Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 099 - Getting Your Book Into Libraries Getting Your Book Into Libraries Fri, 11 Oct 2019 01:00:00 +0000 In this solo episode Mark talks about how authors can get their books into libraries in print, eBook and audiobook format.

    He covers the topic by discussing the triple A's of: AVAILABILITY, AWARENESS, and ACQUISITION.

    Prior to the main topic of this episode, Mark shares a word about the episode's sponsor Findaway Voices, which is suitably, all about how they can help authors get their audiobooks into libraries.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    Mark then shares a few comments from recent episodes as well as a personal update that includes two of his non-fiction books about writing and publishing being included in a new NaNoWriMo themed Storybundle.

    In his discussion of libraries, Mark talks about the following:

    • Ways that authors can get their books in to libraries in print, audio and eBook format
    • Questions that traditionally published authors should ask their publisher in relation to distribution to libraries
    • The difference within POD and returns as it pertains to the library buyers (as opposed to bookstore buyers)
    • Why he calls Amazon's KDP Print's "extended distribution" option "pretended distribution"
    • OverDrive and how they sell to library systems - including a talk about how authors can use OverDrive.com to find their books and libraries
    • Online resources to help writers easily find library websites
    • The differences between the licensing model for selling digital assets (like eBooks and audiobooks) to libraries:  OCOU (One Copy, One User) and CPC (Cost Per Checkout)
    • Three important people to contact at the library when reaching out to them
    • The value of getting to know the local public library and being familiar with it
    • Why authors should consider the value that they are able to offer and bring to a particular library
    • The value of the Public Lending Right program in Canada and 29 other countries around the world to help authors with additional revenue opportunities
    • And more...

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this solo episode Mark talks about how authors can get their books into libraries in print, eBook and audiobook format.

    He covers the topic by discussing the triple A's of: AVAILABILITY, AWARENESS, and ACQUISITION.

    Prior to the main topic of this episode, Mark shares a word about the episode's sponsor Findaway Voices, which is suitably, all about how they can help authors get their audiobooks into libraries.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Mark then shares a few comments from recent episodes as well as a personal update that includes two of his non-fiction books about writing and publishing being included in a new NaNoWriMo themed Storybundle.

    In his discussion of libraries, Mark talks about the following:

    • Ways that authors can get their books in to libraries in print, audio and eBook format
    • Questions that traditionally published authors should ask their publisher in relation to distribution to libraries
    • The difference within POD and returns as it pertains to the library buyers (as opposed to bookstore buyers)
    • Why he calls Amazon's KDP Print's "extended distribution" option "pretended distribution"
    • OverDrive and how they sell to library systems - including a talk about how authors can use OverDrive.com to find their books and libraries
    • Online resources to help writers easily find library websites
    • The differences between the licensing model for selling digital assets (like eBooks and audiobooks) to libraries: OCOU (One Copy, One User) and CPC (Cost Per Checkout)
    • Three important people to contact at the library when reaching out to them
    • The value of getting to know the local public library and being familiar with it
    • Why authors should consider the value that they are able to offer and bring to a particular library
    • The value of the Public Lending Right program in Canada and 29 other countries around the world to help authors with additional revenue opportunities
    • And more...

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     51:24 false 2 99 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark talks about how authors can get their books into libraries in print, eBook and audiobook format. He covers the topic by discussing the triple A's of: AVAILABILITY, AWARENESS, and ACQUISITION. Prior to the main topic of this episode, Mark shares a word about the episode's sponsor Findaway Voices, which is suitably, all about how they can help authors get their audiobooks into libraries. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Mark then shares a few comments from recent episodes as well as a personal update that includes two of his non-fiction books about writing and publishing being included in a new NaNoWriMo themed Storybundle. In his discussion of libraries, Mark talks about the following: Ways that authors can get their books in to libraries in print, audio and eBook format Questions that traditionally published authors should ask their publisher in relation to distribution to libraries The difference within POD and returns as it pertains to the library buyers (as opposed to bookstore buyers) Why he calls Amazon's KDP Print's "extended distribution" option "pretended distribution" OverDrive and how they sell to library systems - including a talk about how authors can use OverDrive.com to find their books and libraries Online resources to help writers easily find library websites The differences between the licensing model for selling digital assets (like eBooks and audiobooks) to libraries:  OCOU (One Copy, One User) and CPC (Cost Per Checkout) Three important people to contact at the library when reaching out to them The value of getting to know the local public library and being familiar with it Why authors should consider the value that they are able to offer and bring to a particular library The value of the Public Lending Right program in Canada and 29 other countries around the world to help authors with additional revenue opportunities And more...   Links of Interest: Episode 97 - Ten Tips for Marketing and Making Money off Your Short Fiction Episode  87 - You, Your Book, and Bookstores Mark's thriller Evasion on Wattpad Universal Book Link for Evasion Lib Web (Over 8000 pages from libraries in 146 countries) OverDrive.com Search "Mark Leslie" on OverDrive Mark Leslie "landing page" on OverDrive Example of an eBook Link (Active Reader) Example of an audiobook link (Active Reader) Example of a book that has availability in libraries OverDrive - Find a Library Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this solo episode Mark talks about how authors can get their books into libraries in print, eBook and audiobook format. He covers the topic by discussing the triple A's of: AVAILABILITY, AWARENESS, and ACQUISITION. Prior to the main topic of this episode, Mark shares a word about the episode's sponsor Findaway Voices, which is suitably, all about how they can help authors get their audiobooks into libraries. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Mark then shares a few comments from recent episodes as well as a personal update that includes two of his non-fiction books about writing and publishing being included in a new NaNoWriMo themed Storybundle. In his discussion of libraries, Mark talks about the following: Ways that authors can get their books in to libraries in print, audio and eBook format Questions that traditionally published authors should ask their publisher in relation to distribution to libraries The difference within POD and returns as it pertains to the library buyers (as opposed to bookstore buyers) Why he calls Amazon's KDP Print's "extended distribution" option "pretended distribution" OverDrive and how they sell to library systems - including a talk about how authors can use OverDrive.com to find their books and libraries Online resources to help writers easily find library websites The differences between the licensing model for selling digital assets (like eBooks and audiobooks) to libraries:  OCOU (One Copy, One User) and CPC (Cost Per Checkout) Three important people to contact at the library when reaching out to them The value of getting to know the local public library and being familiar with it Why authors should consider the value that they are able to offer and bring to a particular library The value of the Public Lending Right program in Canada and 29 other countries around the world to help authors with additional revenue opportunities And more...   Links of Interest: Episode 97 - Ten Tips for Marketing and Making Money off Your Short Fiction Episode  87 - You, Your Book, and Bookstores Mark's thriller Evasion on Wattpad Universal Book Link for Evasion Lib Web (Over 8000 pages from libraries in 146 countries) OverDrive.com Search "Mark Leslie" on OverDrive Mark Leslie "landing page" on OverDrive Example of an eBook Link (Active Reader) Example of an audiobook link (Active Reader) Example of a book that has availability in libraries OverDrive - Find a Library Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 098 - You Can Handle It with Laurie Wright You Can Handle It with Laurie Wright Fri, 04 Oct 2019 01:01:14 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews bestselling children's author Laurie Wright who is on a mission to empower people one book at a time through her books and the support she offers other authors to take action and publish their own books.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark talks about the promotional pricing tools built in to their tools.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a bit of an update about the previous week at NINC (Novelists Inc). He then congratulates the winners of copies of M.L. Buchman's ESTATE PLANNING FOR AUTHORS.

    Amy Tasukada And Vanessa Kier where the listeners who won by commenting on Episode 92 of the podcast. Julie Strauss and Amy Teegan were the two patron winners.

     

    In their conversation, Mark and Laurie talk about:

    • Laurie's background as a kindergarten teacher and how she was so motivated by the presence of "learned helplessness" to go home and write a book in order to address it
    • It wasn't that the children couldn't solve their problems it was that they didn't take the steps to solve the problem
    • Laurie's belief that boredom is a good thing, particularly for creativity and that great things can come from boredom
    • The importance of the repetition in Laurie's books for 4 and 5 year olds, such as "I Can Handle It!" that become their self-talk and a mantra and a pathway for them
    • Putting the book aside for ten years before actually doing something with it
    • Why she went whole hog into self-publishing with this project
    • Creating the print book first (considering the audience) and the reason Laurie created an eBook via prompting from Brian Meeks and Amazon Ads
    • Selling the foreign language rights of her book in Chinese, Korean, Romanian, Icelandic, and Vietnamese
    • The importance of a foreign rights agent in the process of selling those foreign rights
    • Laurie's interest in mental health for children and the importance of open non-scheduled time for children for free play (what she also calls "wildness")
    • How Laurie has fallen in love with the marketing and other aspects of writing, and how she adapted that into creating helpful content for other writers
    • The importance of "short and easy" in a course
    • Laurie's podcast for children's book writers

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects on self-talk, self-doubt, negative thinking, and positive thinking. He works through a You-Can-Do-It attitude inspired by Laurie's work.

     

    Links of Interest:

     
    Laurie Wright is a bestselling children's author on a mission to empower people one book at a time. She empowers children through her books, that gently and with humor coach kids in self-regulation. She empowers writers by getting them to step up, take action and publish those books! In a weekly podcast 'The Writer's Way' she shares stories of other everyday authors for inspiration. Walter Koenig (Chekov from Star Trek) reading 'I Can Handle It' on YouTube at https://lauriewrighter.com/Chekov is a definite high point in Laurie's career. Connect on Facebook (www.fb.com/lauriewrighter or www.fb.com/lauriewrightauthor), or her website www.lauriewrighter.com, and check out Laurie's courses at www.creativewrighter.com.
     
     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews bestselling children's author Laurie Wright who is on a mission to empower people one book at a time through her books and the support she offers other authors to take action and publish their own books.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark talks about the promotional pricing tools built in to their tools.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a bit of an update about the previous week at NINC (Novelists Inc). He then congratulates the winners of copies of M.L. Buchman's ESTATE PLANNING FOR AUTHORS.

    Amy Tasukada And Vanessa Kier where the listeners who won by commenting on Episode 92 of the podcast. Julie Strauss and Amy Teegan were the two patron winners.

    In their conversation, Mark and Laurie talk about:

    • Laurie's background as a kindergarten teacher and how she was so motivated by the presence of "learned helplessness" to go home and write a book in order to address it
    • It wasn't that the children couldn't solve their problems it was that they didn't take the steps to solve the problem
    • Laurie's belief that boredom is a good thing, particularly for creativity and that great things can come from boredom
    • The importance of the repetition in Laurie's books for 4 and 5 year olds, such as "I Can Handle It!" that become their self-talk and a mantra and a pathway for them
    • Putting the book aside for ten years before actually doing something with it
    • Why she went whole hog into self-publishing with this project
    • Creating the print book first (considering the audience) and the reason Laurie created an eBook via prompting from Brian Meeks and Amazon Ads
    • Selling the foreign language rights of her book in Chinese, Korean, Romanian, Icelandic, and Vietnamese
    • The importance of a foreign rights agent in the process of selling those foreign rights
    • Laurie's interest in mental health for children and the importance of open non-scheduled time for children for free play (what she also calls "wildness")
    • How Laurie has fallen in love with the marketing and other aspects of writing, and how she adapted that into creating helpful content for other writers
    • The importance of "short and easy" in a course
    • Laurie's podcast for children's book writers

    After the interview, Mark reflects on self-talk, self-doubt, negative thinking, and positive thinking. He works through a You-Can-Do-It attitude inspired by Laurie's work.

    Links of Interest:

    Laurie Wright is a bestselling children's author on a mission to empower people one book at a time. She empowers children through her books, that gently and with humor coach kids in self-regulation. She empowers writers by getting them to step up, take action and publish those books! In a weekly podcast 'The Writer's Way' she shares stories of other everyday authors for inspiration. Walter Koenig (Chekov from Star Trek) reading 'I Can Handle It' on YouTube at https://lauriewrighter.com/Chekov is a definite high point in Laurie's career. Connect on Facebook (www.fb.com/lauriewrighter or www.fb.com/lauriewrightauthor), or her website www.lauriewrighter.com, and check out Laurie's courses at www.creativewrighter.com.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     38:27 false 2 98 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews bestselling children's author Laurie Wright who is on a mission to empower people one book at a time through her books and the support she offers other authors to take action and publish their own books. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark talks about the promotional pricing tools built in to their tools. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Prior to the interview, Mark shares a bit of an update about the previous week at NINC (Novelists Inc). He then congratulates the winners of copies of M.L. Buchman's ESTATE PLANNING FOR AUTHORS. Amy Tasukada And Vanessa Kier where the listeners who won by commenting on Episode 92 of the podcast. Julie Strauss and Amy Teegan were the two patron winners.   In their conversation, Mark and Laurie talk about: Laurie's background as a kindergarten teacher and how she was so motivated by the presence of "learned helplessness" to go home and write a book in order to address it It wasn't that the children couldn't solve their problems it was that they didn't take the steps to solve the problem Laurie's belief that boredom is a good thing, particularly for creativity and that great things can come from boredom The importance of the repetition in Laurie's books for 4 and 5 year olds, such as "I Can Handle It!" that become their self-talk and a mantra and a pathway for them Putting the book aside for ten years before actually doing something with it Why she went whole hog into self-publishing with this project Creating the print book first (considering the audience) and the reason Laurie created an eBook via prompting from Brian Meeks and Amazon Ads Selling the foreign language rights of her book in Chinese, Korean, Romanian, Icelandic, and Vietnamese The importance of a foreign rights agent in the process of selling those foreign rights Laurie's interest in mental health for children and the importance of open non-scheduled time for children for free play (what she also calls "wildness") How Laurie has fallen in love with the marketing and other aspects of writing, and how she adapted that into creating helpful content for other writers The importance of "short and easy" in a course Laurie's podcast for children's book writers   After the interview, Mark reflects on self-talk, self-doubt, negative thinking, and positive thinking. He works through a You-Can-Do-It attitude inspired by Laurie's work.   Links of Interest: Laurie Wright's Website Laurie's Books on Amazon Laurie's Foreign Agent Laurie's Courses for Writers Laurie's Tedx Talk: Release the WILD in our children Findaway Voices NINC Conference Patreon for Stark Reflections   Laurie Wright is a bestselling children's author on a mission to empower people one book at a time. She empowers children through her books, that gently and with humor coach kids in self-regulation. She empowers writers by getting them to step up, take action and publish those books! In a weekly podcast 'The Writer's Way' she shares stories of other everyday authors for inspiration. Walter Koenig (Chekov from Star Trek) reading 'I Can Handle It' on YouTube at https://lauriewrighter.com/Chekov is a definite high point in Laurie's career. Connect on Facebook (www.fb.com/lauriewrighter or www.fb.com/lauriewrightauthor), or her website www.lauriewrighter.com, and check out Laurie's courses at www.creativewrighter.com.     The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews bestselling children's author Laurie Wright who is on a mission to empower people one book at a time through her books and the support she offers other authors to take action and publish their own books. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark talks about the promotional pricing tools built in to their tools. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Prior to the interview, Mark shares a bit of an update about the previous week at NINC (Novelists Inc). He then congratulates the winners of copies of M.L. Buchman's ESTATE PLANNING FOR AUTHORS. Amy Tasukada And Vanessa Kier where the listeners who won by commenting on Episode 92 of the podcast. Julie Strauss and Amy Teegan were the two patron winners.   In their conversation, Mark and Laurie talk about: Laurie's background as a kindergarten teacher and how she was so motivated by the presence of "learned helplessness" to go home and write a book in order to address it It wasn't that the children couldn't solve their problems it was that they didn't take the steps to solve the problem Laurie's belief that boredom is a good thing, particularly for creativity and that great things can come from boredom The importance of the repetition in Laurie's books for 4 and 5 year olds, such as "I Can Handle It!" that become their self-talk and a mantra and a pathway for them Putting the book aside for ten years before actually doing something with it Why she went whole hog into self-publishing with this project Creating the print book first (considering the audience) and the reason Laurie created an eBook via prompting from Brian Meeks and Amazon Ads Selling the foreign language rights of her book in Chinese, Korean, Romanian, Icelandic, and Vietnamese The importance of a foreign rights agent in the process of selling those foreign rights Laurie's interest in mental health for children and the importance of open non-scheduled time for children for free play (what she also calls "wildness") How Laurie has fallen in love with the marketing and other aspects of writing, and how she adapted that into creating helpful content for other writers The importance of "short and easy" in a course Laurie's podcast for children's book writers   After the interview, Mark reflects on self-talk, self-doubt, negative thinking, and positive thinking. He works through a You-Can-Do-It attitude inspired by Laurie's work.   Links of Interest: Laurie Wright's Website Laurie's Books on Amazon Laurie's Foreign Agent Laurie's Courses for Writers Laurie's Tedx Talk: Release the WILD in our children Findaway Voices NINC Conference Patreon for Stark Reflections   Laurie Wright is a bestselling children's author on a mission to empower people one book at a time. She empowers children through her books, that gently and with humor coach kids in self-regulation. She empowers writers by getting them to step up, take action and publish those books! In a weekly podcast 'The Writer's Way' she shares stories of other everyday authors for inspiration. Walter Koenig (Chekov from Star Trek) reading 'I Can Handle It' on YouTube at https://lauriewrighter.com/Chekov is a definite high point in Laurie's career. Connect on Facebook (www.fb.com/lauriewrighter or www.fb.com/lauriewrightauthor), or her website www.lauriewrighter.com, and check out Laurie's courses at www.creativewrighter.com.     The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 097 - 10 Tips for Marketing and Making Money Off Your Short Fiction 10 Tips for Marketing and Making Money Off Your Short Fiction Thu, 26 Sep 2019 22:00:00 +0000 In this episode, Mark shares ten tips on how authors can leverage their short fiction to earn more money as well as for various marketing activities.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark Talks about the promotional pricing tools built in to their tools.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark shares ten tips on how authors can leverage their short fiction to earn more money as well as for various marketing activities.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark Talks about the promotional pricing tools built in to their tools.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     48:36 false 2 97 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark shares ten tips on how authors can leverage their short fiction to earn more money as well as for various marketing activities. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark Talks about the promotional pricing tools built in to their tools. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Ralan.con - (Short Fiction Market Resource) 8 Podcasts and Audio Projects Looking for Fiction Douglas Smith Article: Selling to Foreign Markets Douglas Smith's Foreign Market List Douglas Smith's Book: Playing the Short Game Active Reader (Digital Chapbook example) Snowman Shivers (Themed Collection - Free eBook) Episode 9 - Collaborative Publishing with Chuck Heintzelman of Bundlerabbit Episode 27 - Bundles, Curation, and Collaboration with Jamie Ferguson Bundlerabbit Books Gone Bad Bundle Amazing Monster Tales Collateral Damage (Short Story - Custom / Tie-in to Novel) Prospero's Ghost (Free Short Story - Tie in to Anthology) NINC Conference Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode, Mark shares ten tips on how authors can leverage their short fiction to earn more money as well as for various marketing activities. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark Talks about the promotional pricing tools built in to their tools. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Ralan.con - (Short Fiction Market Resource) 8 Podcasts and Audio Projects Looking for Fiction Douglas Smith Article: Selling to Foreign Markets Douglas Smith's Foreign Market List Douglas Smith's Book: Playing the Short Game Active Reader (Digital Chapbook example) Snowman Shivers (Themed Collection - Free eBook) Episode 9 - Collaborative Publishing with Chuck Heintzelman of Bundlerabbit Episode 27 - Bundles, Curation, and Collaboration with Jamie Ferguson Bundlerabbit Books Gone Bad Bundle Amazing Monster Tales Collateral Damage (Short Story - Custom / Tie-in to Novel) Prospero's Ghost (Free Short Story - Tie in to Anthology) NINC Conference Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 096 - Focusing on and Delivering to your Audience with Dale L. Roberts Focusing on and Delivering to your Audience with Dale L. Roberts Fri, 20 Sep 2019 01:04:06 +0000 This episode features an interview with Dale L. Roberts, a fitness author, self-publishing advocate and video content creator extraordinaire. The interview is filled with inspiring ideas for creative people that can be applied to your writing journey, as well as ideas for applying that creativity to auditory and visual mediums.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark shares insights about a great built-in pricing tool that Findaway Voices has for authors to use.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update, Mark shares the fact that he finally loaded a media kit to his author website, which appears as a link on his main media, press & contact page.

    He also talks about his forthcoming visits to Northern Hearts Romance Writers conference in Toronto and NINC (Novelists, Inc) conference in St Pete, Florida.

    In their conversation, Dale and Mark talk about:

    • Dale's unlikely story of becoming a writer and how he shouldn't be where he is today
    • The first book that Dale wrote and published in 2013 as a "challenge accepted" response to a colleague at work
    • How, in the early days, Dale wasn't even familiar with the eBook boom that had been taking place
    • The "Do Not Do What Dale Did" advice that comes with sharing that he quit his day job after receiving his first $20 from Amazon for his first book
    • How Dale gathered information on how to self-publish back in the early days by searching for free content and information on YouTube and other sites
    • The value of investing in some courses as well as a coach, which Dale considers as pivotal for his author business
    • The importance of being held accountable by a coach or a mentor
    • Why it is helpful to meansure time VS money in expenditures and focusing on the things that make more sense for you to focus on
    • How Dale started his YouTube channel as a way to more effectively answer the hundreds of questions filling up his email inbox
    • The bare/core minimum you need to start shooting video content and how you don't need it to be sexy, and you don't need it to be perfect
    • Being consistent as one of the most important factors in creating and building a video platform on YouTube. And how that's not just a consistent time, consistent amount, and a consistent message
    • The importance and value of authenticity
    • The parallels between writers creating written content and YouTubers creating video content - including the importance of perseverance
    • The built-in schedule that Dale uses for his schedule and how his audience likes Wednesdays and Saturdays
    • The importance of understanding who your audience is, what they are coming for, what they enjoy consuming, and then delivering that to them
    • The origin and use of the "banana sticker" and how something so simple and fun can build community

    After the interview, Mark reflects on three elements that Dale spoke about: Consistency, Persistence, and Authenticity.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    Dale L. Roberts is a fitness author, video content creator, and self-publishing advocate. When Dale isn't publishing books, creating videos, and networking with business professionals, he loves to travel with his wife Kelli and spend time playing with his cat Izzie. He currently lives in Columbus, Ohio.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     This episode features an interview with Dale L. Roberts, a fitness author, self-publishing advocate and video content creator extraordinaire. The interview is filled with inspiring ideas for creative people that can be applied to your writing journey, as well as ideas for applying that creativity to auditory and visual mediums.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark shares insights about a great built-in pricing tool that Findaway Voices has for authors to use.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update, Mark shares the fact that he finally loaded a media kit to his author website, which appears as a link on his main media, press & contact page.

    He also talks about his forthcoming visits to Northern Hearts Romance Writers conference in Toronto and NINC (Novelists, Inc) conference in St Pete, Florida.

    In their conversation, Dale and Mark talk about:

    • Dale's unlikely story of becoming a writer and how he shouldn't be where he is today
    • The first book that Dale wrote and published in 2013 as a "challenge accepted" response to a colleague at work
    • How, in the early days, Dale wasn't even familiar with the eBook boom that had been taking place
    • The "Do Not Do What Dale Did" advice that comes with sharing that he quit his day job after receiving his first $20 from Amazon for his first book
    • How Dale gathered information on how to self-publish back in the early days by searching for free content and information on YouTube and other sites
    • The value of investing in some courses as well as a coach, which Dale considers as pivotal for his author business
    • The importance of being held accountable by a coach or a mentor
    • Why it is helpful to meansure time VS money in expenditures and focusing on the things that make more sense for you to focus on
    • How Dale started his YouTube channel as a way to more effectively answer the hundreds of questions filling up his email inbox
    • The bare/core minimum you need to start shooting video content and how you don't need it to be sexy, and you don't need it to be perfect
    • Being consistent as one of the most important factors in creating and building a video platform on YouTube. And how that's not just a consistent time, consistent amount, and a consistent message
    • The importance and value of authenticity
    • The parallels between writers creating written content and YouTubers creating video content - including the importance of perseverance
    • The built-in schedule that Dale uses for his schedule and how his audience likes Wednesdays and Saturdays
    • The importance of understanding who your audience is, what they are coming for, what they enjoy consuming, and then delivering that to them
    • The origin and use of the "banana sticker" and how something so simple and fun can build community

    After the interview, Mark reflects on three elements that Dale spoke about: Consistency, Persistence, and Authenticity.

    Links of Interest:

    Dale L. Roberts is a fitness author, video content creator, and self-publishing advocate. When Dale isn't publishing books, creating videos, and networking with business professionals, he loves to travel with his wife Kelli and spend time playing with his cat Izzie. He currently lives in Columbus, Ohio.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     43:20 false 2 96 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This episode features an interview with Dale L. Roberts, a fitness author, self-publishing advocate and video content creator extraordinaire. The interview is filled with inspiring ideas for creative people that can be applied to your writing journey, as well as ideas for applying that creativity to auditory and visual mediums. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark shares insights about a great built-in pricing tool that Findaway Voices has for authors to use. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark shares the fact that he finally loaded a media kit to his author website, which appears as a link on his main media, press & contact page. He also talks about his forthcoming visits to Northern Hearts Romance Writers conference in Toronto and NINC (Novelists, Inc) conference in St Pete, Florida. In their conversation, Dale and Mark talk about: Dale's unlikely story of becoming a writer and how he shouldn't be where he is today The first book that Dale wrote and published in 2013 as a "challenge accepted" response to a colleague at work How, in the early days, Dale wasn't even familiar with the eBook boom that had been taking place The "Do Not Do What Dale Did" advice that comes with sharing that he quit his day job after receiving his first $20 from Amazon for his first book How Dale gathered information on how to self-publish back in the early days by searching for free content and information on YouTube and other sites The value of investing in some courses as well as a coach, which Dale considers as pivotal for his author business The importance of being held accountable by a coach or a mentor Why it is helpful to meansure time VS money in expenditures and focusing on the things that make more sense for you to focus on How Dale started his YouTube channel as a way to more effectively answer the hundreds of questions filling up his email inbox The bare/core minimum you need to start shooting video content and how you don't need it to be sexy, and you don't need it to be perfect Being consistent as one of the most important factors in creating and building a video platform on YouTube. And how that's not just a consistent time, consistent amount, and a consistent message The importance and value of authenticity The parallels between writers creating written content and YouTubers creating video content - including the importance of perseverance The built-in schedule that Dale uses for his schedule and how his audience likes Wednesdays and Saturdays The importance of understanding who your audience is, what they are coming for, what they enjoy consuming, and then delivering that to them The origin and use of the "banana sticker" and how something so simple and fun can build community After the interview, Mark reflects on three elements that Dale spoke about: Consistency, Persistence, and Authenticity.   Links of Interest: Dale's Website: Self-Publishing with Dale Self-Publishing with Dale on YouTube Dale on Twitter Self-Publishing with Dale on Facebook Dale on Instagram Findaway Voices Episode 15 - with Kevin Tumlinson Episode 92 - with M.L. Buchman Northern Hearts Conference NINC Conference Patreon for Stark Reflections   Dale L. Roberts is a fitness author, video content creator, and self-publishing advocate. When Dale isn't publishing books, creating videos, and networking with business professionals, he loves to travel with his wife Kelli and spend time playing with his cat Izzie. He currently lives in Columbus, Ohio.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0This episode features an interview with Dale L. Roberts, a fitness author, self-publishing advocate and video content creator extraordinaire. The interview is filled with inspiring ideas for creative people that can be applied to your writing journey, as well as ideas for applying that creativity to auditory and visual mediums. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark shares insights about a great built-in pricing tool that Findaway Voices has for authors to use. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark shares the fact that he finally loaded a media kit to his author website, which appears as a link on his main media, press & contact page. He also talks about his forthcoming visits to Northern Hearts Romance Writers conference in Toronto and NINC (Novelists, Inc) conference in St Pete, Florida. In their conversation, Dale and Mark talk about: Dale's unlikely story of becoming a writer and how he shouldn't be where he is today The first book that Dale wrote and published in 2013 as a "challenge accepted" response to a colleague at work How, in the early days, Dale wasn't even familiar with the eBook boom that had been taking place The "Do Not Do What Dale Did" advice that comes with sharing that he quit his day job after receiving his first $20 from Amazon for his first book How Dale gathered information on how to self-publish back in the early days by searching for free content and information on YouTube and other sites The value of investing in some courses as well as a coach, which Dale considers as pivotal for his author business The importance of being held accountable by a coach or a mentor Why it is helpful to meansure time VS money in expenditures and focusing on the things that make more sense for you to focus on How Dale started his YouTube channel as a way to more effectively answer the hundreds of questions filling up his email inbox The bare/core minimum you need to start shooting video content and how you don't need it to be sexy, and you don't need it to be perfect Being consistent as one of the most important factors in creating and building a video platform on YouTube. And how that's not just a consistent time, consistent amount, and a consistent message The importance and value of authenticity The parallels between writers creating written content and YouTubers creating video content - including the importance of perseverance The built-in schedule that Dale uses for his schedule and how his audience likes Wednesdays and Saturdays The importance of understanding who your audience is, what they are coming for, what they enjoy consuming, and then delivering that to them The origin and use of the "banana sticker" and how something so simple and fun can build community After the interview, Mark reflects on three elements that Dale spoke about: Consistency, Persistence, and Authenticity.   Links of Interest: Dale's Website: Self-Publishing with Dale Self-Publishing with Dale on YouTube Dale on Twitter Self-Publishing with Dale on Facebook Dale on Instagram Findaway Voices Episode 15 - with Kevin Tumlinson Episode 92 - with M.L. Buchman Northern Hearts Conference NINC Conference Patreon for Stark Reflections   Dale L. Roberts is a fitness author, video content creator, and self-publishing advocate. When Dale isn't publishing books, creating videos, and networking with business professionals, he loves to travel with his wife Kelli and spend time playing with his cat Izzie. He currently lives in Columbus, Ohio.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 095 - Pamela Brookes on Helping Learners with Dyslexia Pamela Brookes on Helping Learners with Dyslexia Thu, 12 Sep 2019 22:38:20 +0000 Mark interviews author Pamela Brookes about the DOG ON A LOG series of books she writes that help kids learning to read with phonics, especially learners with dyslexia.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares some recent social media comments from podcast listeners as well as a personal update about the progress he has made with a POD version of his chapbook Snowman Shivers which he is releasing in print and audiobook formats.

    He explains that he will share, thanks to a patron request, a full episode on marketing and making money off of short fiction, particularly with eBooks and audio, as well as release a special detailed examination of how he created the POD and audiobook versions of Snowman Shivers.

    Mark talks a bit about narrating the audiobook himself for that same book and how he used Findaway Voices for it (which is part of the mention of this episode's sponsor)

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    In the interview Pamela and Mark discuss:

    • What dyslexia is and how people with dyslexia are of a normal range of intelligence
    • Very successful people who have dyslexi such as Steven Spielberg, Richard Branson, Henry Winkler, Steve Jobs
    • How Pamela started to write books specifically to help children with dyslexia that were more appropriate and useful for her daughter's needs because she couldn't find any books that fit her requirements
    • Phonics rules, sight words and decodable books
    • The challenge and problem of the high cost of most books published in this area and how Pamela ensured they were affordable to the families who needed them
    • Why shes calls some of her books the "Let's Go" books rather than "easy" or "beginning" books
    • How 90% of Pamela's book sales are in paperback over eBooks and how they sell via Amazon and Ingram
    • The free eBook that Pamela makes available and which has been downloaded in 15 different countries
    • The printable PDF book that Pamela has on her website for parents helping their children with dyslexia
    • The importance of repetition in relation to the names of letters, keywords, and the sound that it makes
    • The difference between teaching children to read VS teaching children to guess
    • Pamela's knack for research and self-teaching

    After the interview Mark reflects on how Pamela is fulfilling something that is missing in the particular niche she is writing in and highlights how she is succeeding selling print books, which is not the norm for most indie authors who usually sell more eBooks.

    He also considers a potential writing warm-up exercise for writers based on something Pamela said and using cards from the table-top game Taboo.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark interviews author Pamela Brookes about the DOG ON A LOG series of books she writes that help kids learning to read with phonics, especially learners with dyslexia.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares some recent social media comments from podcast listeners as well as a personal update about the progress he has made with a POD version of his chapbook Snowman Shivers which he is releasing in print and audiobook formats.

    He explains that he will share, thanks to a patron request, a full episode on marketing and making money off of short fiction, particularly with eBooks and audio, as well as release a special detailed examination of how he created the POD and audiobook versions of Snowman Shivers.

    Mark talks a bit about narrating the audiobook himself for that same book and how he used Findaway Voices for it (which is part of the mention of this episode's sponsor)

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the interview Pamela and Mark discuss:

    • What dyslexia is and how people with dyslexia are of a normal range of intelligence
    • Very successful people who have dyslexi such as Steven Spielberg, Richard Branson, Henry Winkler, Steve Jobs
    • How Pamela started to write books specifically to help children with dyslexia that were more appropriate and useful for her daughter's needs because she couldn't find any books that fit her requirements
    • Phonics rules, sight words and decodable books
    • The challenge and problem of the high cost of most books published in this area and how Pamela ensured they were affordable to the families who needed them
    • Why shes calls some of her books the "Let's Go" books rather than "easy" or "beginning" books
    • How 90% of Pamela's book sales are in paperback over eBooks and how they sell via Amazon and Ingram
    • The free eBook that Pamela makes available and which has been downloaded in 15 different countries
    • The printable PDF book that Pamela has on her website for parents helping their children with dyslexia
    • The importance of repetition in relation to the names of letters, keywords, and the sound that it makes
    • The difference between teaching children to read VS teaching children to guess
    • Pamela's knack for research and self-teaching

    After the interview Mark reflects on how Pamela is fulfilling something that is missing in the particular niche she is writing in and highlights how she is succeeding selling print books, which is not the norm for most indie authors who usually sell more eBooks.

    He also considers a potential writing warm-up exercise for writers based on something Pamela said and using cards from the table-top game Taboo.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     41:35 false 2 95 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author Pamela Brookes about the DOG ON A LOG series of books she writes that help kids learning to read with phonics, especially learners with dyslexia. Prior to the interview, Mark shares some recent social media comments from podcast listeners as well as a personal update about the progress he has made with a POD version of his chapbook Snowman Shivers which he is releasing in print and audiobook formats. He explains that he will share, thanks to a patron request, a full episode on marketing and making money off of short fiction, particularly with eBooks and audio, as well as release a special detailed examination of how he created the POD and audiobook versions of Snowman Shivers. Mark talks a bit about narrating the audiobook himself for that same book and how he used Findaway Voices for it (which is part of the mention of this episode's sponsor) You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In the interview Pamela and Mark discuss: What dyslexia is and how people with dyslexia are of a normal range of intelligence Very successful people who have dyslexi such as Steven Spielberg, Richard Branson, Henry Winkler, Steve Jobs How Pamela started to write books specifically to help children with dyslexia that were more appropriate and useful for her daughter's needs because she couldn't find any books that fit her requirements Phonics rules, sight words and decodable books The challenge and problem of the high cost of most books published in this area and how Pamela ensured they were affordable to the families who needed them Why shes calls some of her books the "Let's Go" books rather than "easy" or "beginning" books How 90% of Pamela's book sales are in paperback over eBooks and how they sell via Amazon and Ingram The free eBook that Pamela makes available and which has been downloaded in 15 different countries The printable PDF book that Pamela has on her website for parents helping their children with dyslexia The importance of repetition in relation to the names of letters, keywords, and the sound that it makes The difference between teaching children to read VS teaching children to guess Pamela's knack for research and self-teaching After the interview Mark reflects on how Pamela is fulfilling something that is missing in the particular niche she is writing in and highlights how she is succeeding selling print books, which is not the norm for most indie authors who usually sell more eBooks. He also considers a potential writing warm-up exercise for writers based on something Pamela said and using cards from the table-top game Taboo. Dog on a Log Books (Pamela's Website) Free resources from Pamela Killing It On Kobo Episode 87 - You, Your Book, and Bookstores The Indy Author page on Facebook Findaway Voices - The Audiobook Mastering Guide (article) Mastering Audiobooks (Video and Detailed Blog) Snowman Shivers Episode 92 - with M.L. Buchman Patreon for Stark Reflections The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews author Pamela Brookes about the DOG ON A LOG series of books she writes that help kids learning to read with phonics, especially learners with dyslexia. Prior to the interview, Mark shares some recent social media comments from podcast listeners as well as a personal update about the progress he has made with a POD version of his chapbook Snowman Shivers which he is releasing in print and audiobook formats. He explains that he will share, thanks to a patron request, a full episode on marketing and making money off of short fiction, particularly with eBooks and audio, as well as release a special detailed examination of how he created the POD and audiobook versions of Snowman Shivers. Mark talks a bit about narrating the audiobook himself for that same book and how he used Findaway Voices for it (which is part of the mention of this episode's sponsor) You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In the interview Pamela and Mark discuss: What dyslexia is and how people with dyslexia are of a normal range of intelligence Very successful people who have dyslexi such as Steven Spielberg, Richard Branson, Henry Winkler, Steve Jobs How Pamela started to write books specifically to help children with dyslexia that were more appropriate and useful for her daughter's needs because she couldn't find any books that fit her requirements Phonics rules, sight words and decodable books The challenge and problem of the high cost of most books published in this area and how Pamela ensured they were affordable to the families who needed them Why shes calls some of her books the "Let's Go" books rather than "easy" or "beginning" books How 90% of Pamela's book sales are in paperback over eBooks and how they sell via Amazon and Ingram The free eBook that Pamela makes available and which has been downloaded in 15 different countries The printable PDF book that Pamela has on her website for parents helping their children with dyslexia The importance of repetition in relation to the names of letters, keywords, and the sound that it makes The difference between teaching children to read VS teaching children to guess Pamela's knack for research and self-teaching After the interview Mark reflects on how Pamela is fulfilling something that is missing in the particular niche she is writing in and highlights how she is succeeding selling print books, which is not the norm for most indie authors who usually sell more eBooks. He also considers a potential writing warm-up exercise for writers based on something Pamela said and using cards from the table-top game Taboo. Dog on a Log Books (Pamela's Website) Free resources from Pamela Killing It On Kobo Episode 87 - You, Your Book, and Bookstores The Indy Author page on Facebook Findaway Voices - The Audiobook Mastering Guide (article) Mastering Audiobooks (Video and Detailed Blog) Snowman Shivers Episode 92 - with M.L. Buchman Patreon for Stark Reflections The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 094 - Thanks for the Inspiration: Laurie Blake Thanks for the Inspiration: Laurie Blake Mon, 09 Sep 2019 14:57:09 +0000 Thanks for the Inspiration is a new type of show that will appear from time to time in the regular schedule.

    As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers.

    This Thanks for the Inspiration episode is an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing.

    This particular episode, Mark thanks Laurie Blake for his role in both his life and in his life in storytelling.

     

    This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast via patreon.com/starkreflections

     

    In his reflective thanks, Mark shares the influence that Laurie Blake has had on:

    • His storytelling, in particular the memorable telling of "Angela's Golden Leg" story that Laurie shared over a campfire, and how that continues to influence Mark's own oral storytelling style to this day
    • How Mark adapted that campfire tale into "The Legend of Prospero's Ghost" which he has shared for the past two decades
    • His perspective on trying to be open-minded and open-hearted in his approach to life
    • His respect for an honest and hard-day's work
    • His fondness for roadtrips and excellent conversation with one's traveling companion
    • And more...

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Thanks for the Inspiration is a new type of show that will appear from time to time in the regular schedule.

    As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers.

    This Thanks for the Inspiration episode is an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing.

    This particular episode, Mark thanks Laurie Blake for his role in both his life and in his life in storytelling.

    This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast via patreon.com/starkreflections

    In his reflective thanks, Mark shares the influence that Laurie Blake has had on:

    • His storytelling, in particular the memorable telling of "Angela's Golden Leg" story that Laurie shared over a campfire, and how that continues to influence Mark's own oral storytelling style to this day
    • How Mark adapted that campfire tale into "The Legend of Prospero's Ghost" which he has shared for the past two decades
    • His perspective on trying to be open-minded and open-hearted in his approach to life
    • His respect for an honest and hard-day's work
    • His fondness for roadtrips and excellent conversation with one's traveling companion
    • And more...

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     26:46 false 2 94 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Thanks for the Inspiration is a new type of show that will appear from time to time in the regular schedule. As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers. This Thanks for the Inspiration episode is an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing. This particular episode, Mark thanks Laurie Blake for his role in both his life and in his life in storytelling.   This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast via patreon.com/starkreflections   In his reflective thanks, Mark shares the influence that Laurie Blake has had on: His storytelling, in particular the memorable telling of "Angela's Golden Leg" story that Laurie shared over a campfire, and how that continues to influence Mark's own oral storytelling style to this day How Mark adapted that campfire tale into "The Legend of Prospero's Ghost" which he has shared for the past two decades His perspective on trying to be open-minded and open-hearted in his approach to life His respect for an honest and hard-day's work His fondness for roadtrips and excellent conversation with one's traveling companion And more...   Links of Interest: Levack Ontario (Onaping Falls, ON) Fox Lake Lodge The Golden Arm Ghost Story (Wikipedia) Campus Chills Prospero's Ghost (Free Short Story) Episode 90 - Interview with Craig Martelle Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Thanks for the Inspiration is a new type of show that will appear from time to time in the regular schedule. As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers. This Thanks for the Inspiration episode is an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing. This particular episode, Mark thanks Laurie Blake for his role in both his life and in his life in storytelling.   This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast via patreon.com/starkreflections   In his reflective thanks, Mark shares the influence that Laurie Blake has had on: His storytelling, in particular the memorable telling of "Angela's Golden Leg" story that Laurie shared over a campfire, and how that continues to influence Mark's own oral storytelling style to this day How Mark adapted that campfire tale into "The Legend of Prospero's Ghost" which he has shared for the past two decades His perspective on trying to be open-minded and open-hearted in his approach to life His respect for an honest and hard-day's work His fondness for roadtrips and excellent conversation with one's traveling companion And more...   Links of Interest: Levack Ontario (Onaping Falls, ON) Fox Lake Lodge The Golden Arm Ghost Story (Wikipedia) Campus Chills Prospero's Ghost (Free Short Story) Episode 90 - Interview with Craig Martelle Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 093 - Draft2Digital Ask Us Anything August 2019 Draft2Digital Ask Us Anything August 2019 Fri, 06 Sep 2019 01:19:28 +0000 Mark shares a slightly abridged audio version of the Draft2Digital "Ask Us Anything" Webinar which was held in the Draft2Digital offices in Oklahoma City on August 29, 2019. It featured Mark, Dan Wood, and Kevin Tumlinson.

    Prior to the chat, Mark shares the following:

    • The winners of Craig Martelle's book Release Strategies, which include the two winners from the comments for that Episode (Episode 90): Ted, and Chad Boyer.
    • The two patron winners of the same book (automatically entered just for being patrons): Mary Jo Rabe and Matty Dalrymple
    • Some recent comments from the past few episodes
    • A personal update

    . . . as well as a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the webinar, Mark, Dan, and Kevin discuss:

    • Quite a bit about libraries and getting eBooks into libraries
    • Successfully selling series books
    • Digital box sets/bundles
    • 3D covers VS Flat/Rectangular covers
    • Getting promos on Kobo, Apple, etc
    • Books2Read and universal book links
    • The D2D Print beta
    • Findaway Voices and audiobooks
    • Exclusivity VS Wide Publishing
    • Assets for newsletter marketing
    • ....and more...

    After the main content, Mark shares his reflections on hoopla and his optimism of having his eBooks available in another library channel, particular having seen some success with his audiobook income via hoopla from Findaway Voices.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark shares a slightly abridged audio version of the Draft2Digital "Ask Us Anything" Webinar which was held in the Draft2Digital offices in Oklahoma City on August 29, 2019. It featured Mark, Dan Wood, and Kevin Tumlinson.

    Prior to the chat, Mark shares the following:

    • The winners of Craig Martelle's book Release Strategies, which include the two winners from the comments for that Episode (Episode 90): Ted, and Chad Boyer.
    • The two patron winners of the same book (automatically entered just for being patrons): Mary Jo Rabe and Matty Dalrymple
    • Some recent comments from the past few episodes
    • A personal update

    . . . as well as a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the webinar, Mark, Dan, and Kevin discuss:

    • Quite a bit about libraries and getting eBooks into libraries
    • Successfully selling series books
    • Digital box sets/bundles
    • 3D covers VS Flat/Rectangular covers
    • Getting promos on Kobo, Apple, etc
    • Books2Read and universal book links
    • The D2D Print beta
    • Findaway Voices and audiobooks
    • Exclusivity VS Wide Publishing
    • Assets for newsletter marketing
    • ....and more...

    After the main content, Mark shares his reflections on hoopla and his optimism of having his eBooks available in another library channel, particular having seen some success with his audiobook income via hoopla from Findaway Voices.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     01:25:44 false 2 93 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark shares a slightly abridged audio version of the Draft2Digital "Ask Us Anything" Webinar which was held in the Draft2Digital offices in Oklahoma City on August 29, 2019. It featured Mark, Dan Wood, and Kevin Tumlinson. Prior to the chat, Mark shares the following: The winners of Craig Martelle's book Release Strategies, which include the two winners from the comments for that Episode (Episode 90): Ted, and Chad Boyer. The two patron winners of the same book (automatically entered just for being patrons): Mary Jo Rabe and Matty Dalrymple Some recent comments from the past few episodes A personal update . . . as well as a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the webinar, Mark, Dan, and Kevin discuss: Quite a bit about libraries and getting eBooks into libraries Successfully selling series books Digital box sets/bundles 3D covers VS Flat/Rectangular covers Getting promos on Kobo, Apple, etc Books2Read and universal book links The D2D Print beta Findaway Voices and audiobooks Exclusivity VS Wide Publishing Assets for newsletter marketing ....and more... After the main content, Mark shares his reflections on hoopla and his optimism of having his eBooks available in another library channel, particular having seen some success with his audiobook income via hoopla from Findaway Voices.   Links of Interest: Draft2Digital Draft2Digital Facebook Page August 19, 2019 - ASK US ANYTHING YouTube Video Episode 88 - with David Wind Episode 90 - with Craig Martelle Episode 91 - with Stacy Kondla Episode 92 - with M.L. Buchman Patreon for Stark Reflections For Patrons - Download a digital copy of Matt's Book for Free   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark shares a slightly abridged audio version of the Draft2Digital "Ask Us Anything" Webinar which was held in the Draft2Digital offices in Oklahoma City on August 29, 2019. It featured Mark, Dan Wood, and Kevin Tumlinson. Prior to the chat, Mark shares the following: The winners of Craig Martelle's book Release Strategies, which include the two winners from the comments for that Episode (Episode 90): Ted, and Chad Boyer. The two patron winners of the same book (automatically entered just for being patrons): Mary Jo Rabe and Matty Dalrymple Some recent comments from the past few episodes A personal update . . . as well as a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the webinar, Mark, Dan, and Kevin discuss: Quite a bit about libraries and getting eBooks into libraries Successfully selling series books Digital box sets/bundles 3D covers VS Flat/Rectangular covers Getting promos on Kobo, Apple, etc Books2Read and universal book links The D2D Print beta Findaway Voices and audiobooks Exclusivity VS Wide Publishing Assets for newsletter marketing ....and more... After the main content, Mark shares his reflections on hoopla and his optimism of having his eBooks available in another library channel, particular having seen some success with his audiobook income via hoopla from Findaway Voices.   Links of Interest: Draft2Digital Draft2Digital Facebook Page August 19, 2019 - ASK US ANYTHING YouTube Video Episode 88 - with David Wind Episode 90 - with Craig Martelle Episode 91 - with Stacy Kondla Episode 92 - with M.L. Buchman Patreon for Stark Reflections For Patrons - Download a digital copy of Matt's Book for Free   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 092 - Strong Authors and the IP Legacies They Deserve with ML Buchman Strong Authors and the IP Legacies They Deserve with ML Buchman Thu, 29 Aug 2019 18:53:22 +0000 Mark interviews M. L. "Matt" Buchman about his writing journey and the importance of ensuring that an author's legacy and earning potential can be maintained for 70 years after an author's death, which is the subject of his book: Estate Planning for Authors: Your Final Letter (and why you need to write it now).

    Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patron Kathy Mac and lets patrons know that they can all download a digital version of Matt's book for free.

    Listeners to the podcast can comment on this episode at starkreflections.ca for a chance to win one of two print copies of Matt's book.

    Mark also shares a personal update about a fall he took the previous week (and how that made him think the topic of this episode was quite pertinent).

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their discussion, Mark and Matt discuss:

    • Matt's first novel, which he sold to a small traditional publisher in 1993
    • The 2010 romance novel sale to a larger publisher that led to a series of books
    • What Matt calls "Transition by terror" moving from losing his job to writing full time
    • How a shorter indie-published novel was the one that "popped" and led to the gamble of writing full time by moving from the large dream house and moving into a crappy smaller home and working diligently at writing in order to put out 8 or 10 books a year for six years
    • The first three years of that process, which involved loosing money the first year, then losing slightly less the second, and then, finally, in the third year, breaking even
    • The clause in Matt's traditional publishing contract that allowed him to keep the rights to anything in the world that was under 60,000 words (and how that led to the still best-selling 40,000 word Daniel's Christmas and a huge career in indie publishing
    • Matt's enjoyment of telling the "side story" and how that led to having 11 simultaneous series going at the same time
    • The idea of creating a map for what Matt calls the Emily Beale Universe of stories
    • The use of initials in Matt's author brand (M.L. Buchman) because "American wasn't ready for a male romance author" and the volume of fan mail that said if they'd known he was a man, they never would have picked up one of his novels
    • Matt's catch phrase for his writing: "Strong women and the men they deserve!"
    • The approach that Matt took to get into audiobooks and how that made him a huge fan of "read by author" audiobooks
    • The new straight up thriller series that Matt will be launching shortly which is a military techno thriller with not an ounce of romance in it
    • The process of creating a word cloud from Matt's existing reviews to reveal particular terms/phrases that came up a lot
    • Tracking how every work hour in the last 7 years has been spent (ie, writing, versus admin, marketing, etc)
    • The importance of understanding how a writer's IP (Intellectual Property) can earn money for up to 70 years after their death
    • The process of trying to find out how to explain, in common English, what a person can do when they inherit a author's estate
    • How Jane Austin's family sold her novels for a tiny amount of money because they didn't understand the true value of her books
    • Octavia Butler, one of the most seminal female science fiction authors ever whose books are now mostly all out of print just a little over a decade after her death
    • The process of taking a full day to arrange and organize where all of his writing related assets are stored and filed (all documented in a single spreadsheet)
    • The existence and importance of the 35 year reversion date for writer contracts
    • CCR (Creedence Clearwater Revival) and the rights that they signed away and no longer own (but which can change as it has been 35 years since they signed it away
    • Limiting his writing travel to two different conferences per year and how this year it was RWA and NINC
    • The value of being in a mastermind, which replaces the twice weekly hour long walks Matt used to do with Dean Wesley Smith when they both lived on the Oregon coast

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the approach Matt took in using a word cloud from reviews to look for patterns in reader response and how beneficial mining such data can be.

    He then shares detailed on how listeners who comment will automatically be entered into a chance to win one of two print copies of Matt's book with a deadline of Sept 27, 2019 to leave a comment.

    Links of Interest:

     

     

    M.L. "Matt" Buchman started the first of over 60 novels, 100 short stories, and a fast-growing pile of audiobooks while flying from South Korea to ride his bicycle across the Australian Outback. Part of a solo around the world trip that ultimately launched his writing career in: thrillers, SF/F, and romance.

    His titles have been named Barnes & Noble and NPR "Top 5 of the year" and 3-time Booklist "Top 10 of the Year" as well as being a "Top 20 Modern Masterpiece" in romantic suspense. As a 30-year project manager with a geophysics degree who has: designed and built houses, flown and jumped out of planes, and solo-sailed a 50' ketch, he is awed by what's possible. More at: www.mlbuchman.com.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark interviews M. L. "Matt" Buchman about his writing journey and the importance of ensuring that an author's legacy and earning potential can be maintained for 70 years after an author's death, which is the subject of his book: Estate Planning for Authors: Your Final Letter (and why you need to write it now).

    Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patron Kathy Mac and lets patrons know that they can all download a digital version of Matt's book for free.

    Listeners to the podcast can comment on this episode at starkreflections.ca for a chance to win one of two print copies of Matt's book.

    Mark also shares a personal update about a fall he took the previous week (and how that made him think the topic of this episode was quite pertinent).

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their discussion, Mark and Matt discuss:

    • Matt's first novel, which he sold to a small traditional publisher in 1993
    • The 2010 romance novel sale to a larger publisher that led to a series of books
    • What Matt calls "Transition by terror" moving from losing his job to writing full time
    • How a shorter indie-published novel was the one that "popped" and led to the gamble of writing full time by moving from the large dream house and moving into a crappy smaller home and working diligently at writing in order to put out 8 or 10 books a year for six years
    • The first three years of that process, which involved loosing money the first year, then losing slightly less the second, and then, finally, in the third year, breaking even
    • The clause in Matt's traditional publishing contract that allowed him to keep the rights to anything in the world that was under 60,000 words (and how that led to the still best-selling 40,000 word Daniel's Christmas and a huge career in indie publishing
    • Matt's enjoyment of telling the "side story" and how that led to having 11 simultaneous series going at the same time
    • The idea of creating a map for what Matt calls the Emily Beale Universe of stories
    • The use of initials in Matt's author brand (M.L. Buchman) because "American wasn't ready for a male romance author" and the volume of fan mail that said if they'd known he was a man, they never would have picked up one of his novels
    • Matt's catch phrase for his writing: "Strong women and the men they deserve!"
    • The approach that Matt took to get into audiobooks and how that made him a huge fan of "read by author" audiobooks
    • The new straight up thriller series that Matt will be launching shortly which is a military techno thriller with not an ounce of romance in it
    • The process of creating a word cloud from Matt's existing reviews to reveal particular terms/phrases that came up a lot
    • Tracking how every work hour in the last 7 years has been spent (ie, writing, versus admin, marketing, etc)
    • The importance of understanding how a writer's IP (Intellectual Property) can earn money for up to 70 years after their death
    • The process of trying to find out how to explain, in common English, what a person can do when they inherit a author's estate
    • How Jane Austin's family sold her novels for a tiny amount of money because they didn't understand the true value of her books
    • Octavia Butler, one of the most seminal female science fiction authors ever whose books are now mostly all out of print just a little over a decade after her death
    • The process of taking a full day to arrange and organize where all of his writing related assets are stored and filed (all documented in a single spreadsheet)
    • The existence and importance of the 35 year reversion date for writer contracts
    • CCR (Creedence Clearwater Revival) and the rights that they signed away and no longer own (but which can change as it has been 35 years since they signed it away
    • Limiting his writing travel to two different conferences per year and how this year it was RWA and NINC
    • The value of being in a mastermind, which replaces the twice weekly hour long walks Matt used to do with Dean Wesley Smith when they both lived on the Oregon coast

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the approach Matt took in using a word cloud from reviews to look for patterns in reader response and how beneficial mining such data can be.

    He then shares detailed on how listeners who comment will automatically be entered into a chance to win one of two print copies of Matt's book with a deadline of Sept 27, 2019 to leave a comment.

    Links of Interest:

    M.L. "Matt" Buchman started the first of over 60 novels, 100 short stories, and a fast-growing pile of audiobooks while flying from South Korea to ride his bicycle across the Australian Outback. Part of a solo around the world trip that ultimately launched his writing career in: thrillers, SF/F, and romance.

    His titles have been named Barnes & Noble and NPR "Top 5 of the year" and 3-time Booklist "Top 10 of the Year" as well as being a "Top 20 Modern Masterpiece" in romantic suspense. As a 30-year project manager with a geophysics degree who has: designed and built houses, flown and jumped out of planes, and solo-sailed a 50' ketch, he is awed by what's possible. More at: www.mlbuchman.com.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     57:28 false 2 92 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews M. L. "Matt" Buchman about his writing journey and the importance of ensuring that an author's legacy and earning potential can be maintained for 70 years after an author's death, which is the subject of his book: Estate Planning for Authors: Your Final Letter (and why you need to write it now). Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patron Kathy Mac and lets patrons know that they can all download a digital version of Matt's book for free. Listeners to the podcast can comment on this episode at starkreflections.ca for a chance to win one of two print copies of Matt's book. Mark also shares a personal update about a fall he took the previous week (and how that made him think the topic of this episode was quite pertinent). This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their discussion, Mark and Matt discuss: Matt's first novel, which he sold to a small traditional publisher in 1993 The 2010 romance novel sale to a larger publisher that led to a series of books What Matt calls "Transition by terror" moving from losing his job to writing full time How a shorter indie-published novel was the one that "popped" and led to the gamble of writing full time by moving from the large dream house and moving into a crappy smaller home and working diligently at writing in order to put out 8 or 10 books a year for six years The first three years of that process, which involved loosing money the first year, then losing slightly less the second, and then, finally, in the third year, breaking even The clause in Matt's traditional publishing contract that allowed him to keep the rights to anything in the world that was under 60,000 words (and how that led to the still best-selling 40,000 word Daniel's Christmas and a huge career in indie publishing Matt's enjoyment of telling the "side story" and how that led to having 11 simultaneous series going at the same time The idea of creating a map for what Matt calls the Emily Beale Universe of stories The use of initials in Matt's author brand (M.L. Buchman) because "American wasn't ready for a male romance author" and the volume of fan mail that said if they'd known he was a man, they never would have picked up one of his novels Matt's catch phrase for his writing: "Strong women and the men they deserve!" The approach that Matt took to get into audiobooks and how that made him a huge fan of "read by author" audiobooks The new straight up thriller series that Matt will be launching shortly which is a military techno thriller with not an ounce of romance in it The process of creating a word cloud from Matt's existing reviews to reveal particular terms/phrases that came up a lot Tracking how every work hour in the last 7 years has been spent (ie, writing, versus admin, marketing, etc) The importance of understanding how a writer's IP (Intellectual Property) can earn money for up to 70 years after their death The process of trying to find out how to explain, in common English, what a person can do when they inherit a author's estate How Jane Austin's family sold her novels for a tiny amount of money because they didn't understand the true value of her books Octavia Butler, one of the most seminal female science fiction authors ever whose books are now mostly all out of print just a little over a decade after her death The process of taking a full day to arrange and organize where all of his writing related assets are stored and filed (all documented in a single spreadsheet) The existence and importance of the 35 year reversion date for writer contracts CCR (Creedence Clearwater Revival) and the rights that they signed away and no longer own (but which can change as it has been 35 years since they signed it away Limiting his writing travel to two different conferences per year and how this year it was RWA and NINC The value of being in a mastermind, which replaces the twice weekly hour long walks Matt used to do with Dean Wesley Smith when they both lived on the Oregon coast After the interview, Mark reflects on the approach Matt took in using a word cloud from reviews to look for patterns in reader response and how beneficial mining such data can be. He then shares detailed on how listeners who comment will automatically be entered into a chance to win one of two print copies of Matt's book with a deadline of Sept 27, 2019 to leave a comment. Links of Interest: ML Buchman's website ML Buchman on Twitter Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections For Patrons - Download a digital copy of Matt's Book for Free     M.L. "Matt" Buchman started the first of over 60 novels, 100 short stories, and a fast-growing pile of audiobooks while flying from South Korea to ride his bicycle across the Australian Outback. Part of a solo around the world trip that ultimately launched his writing career in: thrillers, SF/F, and romance. His titles have been named Barnes & Noble and NPR "Top 5 of the year" and 3-time Booklist "Top 10 of the Year" as well as being a "Top 20 Modern Masterpiece" in romantic suspense. As a 30-year project manager with a geophysics degree who has: designed and built houses, flown and jumped out of planes, and solo-sailed a 50' ketch, he is awed by what's possible. More at: www.mlbuchman.com.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews M. L. "Matt" Buchman about his writing journey and the importance of ensuring that an author's legacy and earning potential can be maintained for 70 years after an author's death, which is the subject of his book: Estate Planning for Authors: Your Final Letter (and why you need to write it now). Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patron Kathy Mac and lets patrons know that they can all download a digital version of Matt's book for free. Listeners to the podcast can comment on this episode at starkreflections.ca for a chance to win one of two print copies of Matt's book. Mark also shares a personal update about a fall he took the previous week (and how that made him think the topic of this episode was quite pertinent). This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their discussion, Mark and Matt discuss: Matt's first novel, which he sold to a small traditional publisher in 1993 The 2010 romance novel sale to a larger publisher that led to a series of books What Matt calls "Transition by terror" moving from losing his job to writing full time How a shorter indie-published novel was the one that "popped" and led to the gamble of writing full time by moving from the large dream house and moving into a crappy smaller home and working diligently at writing in order to put out 8 or 10 books a year for six years The first three years of that process, which involved loosing money the first year, then losing slightly less the second, and then, finally, in the third year, breaking even The clause in Matt's traditional publishing contract that allowed him to keep the rights to anything in the world that was under 60,000 words (and how that led to the still best-selling 40,000 word Daniel's Christmas and a huge career in indie publishing Matt's enjoyment of telling the "side story" and how that led to having 11 simultaneous series going at the same time The idea of creating a map for what Matt calls the Emily Beale Universe of stories The use of initials in Matt's author brand (M.L. Buchman) because "American wasn't ready for a male romance author" and the volume of fan mail that said if they'd known he was a man, they never would have picked up one of his novels Matt's catch phrase for his writing: "Strong women and the men they deserve!" The approach that Matt took to get into audiobooks and how that made him a huge fan of "read by author" audiobooks The new straight up thriller series that Matt will be launching shortly which is a military techno thriller with not an ounce of romance in it The process of creating a word cloud from Matt's existing reviews to reveal particular terms/phrases that came up a lot Tracking how every work hour in the last 7 years has been spent (ie, writing, versus admin, marketing, etc) The importance of understanding how a writer's IP (Intellectual Property) can earn money for up to 70 years after their death The process of trying to find out how to explain, in common English, what a person can do when they inherit a author's estate How Jane Austin's family sold her novels for a tiny amount of money because they didn't understand the true value of her books Octavia Butler, one of the most seminal female science fiction authors ever whose books are now mostly all out of print just a little over a decade after her death The process of taking a full day to arrange and organize where all of his writing related assets are stored and filed (all documented in a single spreadsheet) The existence and importance of the 35 year reversion date for writer contracts CCR (Creedence Clearwater Revival) and the rights that they signed away and no longer own (but which can change as it has been 35 years since they signed it away Limiting his writing travel to two different conferences per year and how this year it was RWA and NINC The value of being in a mastermind, which replaces the twice weekly hour long walks Matt used to do with Dean Wesley Smith when they both lived on the Oregon coast After the interview, Mark reflects on the approach Matt took in using a word cloud from reviews to look for patterns in reader response and how beneficial mining such data can be. He then shares detailed on how listeners who comment will automatically be entered into a chance to win one of two print copies of Matt's book with a deadline of Sept 27, 2019 to leave a comment. Links of Interest: ML Buchman's website ML Buchman on Twitter Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections For Patrons - Download a digital copy of Matt's Book for Free     M.L. "Matt" Buchman started the first of over 60 novels, 100 short stories, and a fast-growing pile of audiobooks while flying from South Korea to ride his bicycle across the Australian Outback. Part of a solo around the world trip that ultimately launched his writing career in: thrillers, SF/F, and romance. His titles have been named Barnes & Noble and NPR "Top 5 of the year" and 3-time Booklist "Top 10 of the Year" as well as being a "Top 20 Modern Masterpiece" in romantic suspense. As a 30-year project manager with a geophysics degree who has: designed and built houses, flown and jumped out of planes, and solo-sailed a 50' ketch, he is awed by what's possible. More at: www.mlbuchman.com.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 091 - Booklover Stacey Kondla on Becoming a Literary Agent Booklover Stacey Kondla on Becoming a Literary Agent Fri, 23 Aug 2019 01:00:00 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews Stacey Kondla about her life as a book lover and about the recent transition into the role of literary agent.

    Prior to the interview, Mark announces the winners of David Wind's book The Indie Writer's Handbook via a random draw for comments on Episode 88.

    He also reads and reacts to comments from Episode 90 with Craig Martelle and reminds listeners they can win one of 4 copies of Craig's new book Successful Indie Author Release Strategies. Listeners can leave a comment or reflection on Episode 90 of the podcast at starkreflections.ca for a chance to win one of 2 copies. And all patrons will also be entered in a chance to win one of 2 other copies of the book.

    Mark then welcomes new patron Linda Hill to the podcst, and reminds folks that for $1, $3, or $5 a month, they can become a patron and get access to additional content and audio via patreon.com/starkreflections.

    After a personal update, where Mark talk about his new standing desk and office layout as well as being a recent guest on Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Show Podcast, he then shares a word from this episode's sponsor...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their chat, Mark and Stacy talk about:

    • The love of books that has been a major part of Stacey's entire life
    • The veterinarian path she had been on, which didn't work out
    • The "magical time" of a school book fair, and how much Stacey loved her work organizing Scholastic Book Fairs in the Calgary region
    • Managing the kids departments for Chapters/Indigo and the thrill of working closely with kids books
    • Meeting Sam Hiyate (President and CEO of The Rights Factory literary agency) at When Words Collide and how that led to discussions about Stacey's desire to learn more about agenting, and the path towards becoming an Associate Agent with the firm
    • How, in the first year and a half, Stacey has aquired 30 clients and already sold 5 books, the first of which was to Scholastic US
    • Stacey's experience attending Book Expo America for the first time and how that led to selling a book to Dottir Press in New York
    • The best part about being an agent, which is being an author's champion and cheerleeder and the special thrill that comes with informing an author that a deal with an aquiring editor has been struck
    • The joy of being a matchmaker between different people in the book industry
    • Some of the definite "do not do's" when trying to pitch your book to an agent and one of Stacey's pet peeves
    • What Stacey looks for in a face to face pitch from an author
    • The typical day in Stacey's life as an agent, and how she has to compensate for being 2 hours behind New York's time zone
    • The fact that Stacey still reads for pleasure, but in different ways now that she is an agent
    • Some of the best things that a writer can do to prepare for submission their manuscript
    • How an agent's job isn't just reading queries and submissions, but that it involves so much more downstream in the process
    • The priceless value of networking at a literary conference

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the way Stacey divides reading for work VS reading for pleasure and explores ways that writers can use similar divisions between writing and editing or even different physical spaces as cues for a way to break through or get over "walls" they face in their own writing.

    Links of Interest:

     

    Stacey Kondla has worked in the book business for 16 years. Her experience includes being a Field Representative for Scholastic Book Fairs, managing the IndigoKids department at two different Chapters/Indigo (Canada's largest book retailer) stores, freelance editing, and serving on the organizing committee of When Words Collide (A Festival for Readers and Writers). Stacey is an associate agent with The Rights Factory and specializes in children's books – picture books through to young adult and graphic novels, fiction and non-fiction.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark interviews Stacey Kondla about her life as a book lover and about the recent transition into the role of literary agent.

    Prior to the interview, Mark announces the winners of David Wind's book The Indie Writer's Handbook via a random draw for comments on Episode 88.

    He also reads and reacts to comments from Episode 90 with Craig Martelle and reminds listeners they can win one of 4 copies of Craig's new book Successful Indie Author Release Strategies. Listeners can leave a comment or reflection on Episode 90 of the podcast at starkreflections.ca for a chance to win one of 2 copies. And all patrons will also be entered in a chance to win one of 2 other copies of the book.

    Mark then welcomes new patron Linda Hill to the podcst, and reminds folks that for $1, $3, or $5 a month, they can become a patron and get access to additional content and audio via patreon.com/starkreflections.

    After a personal update, where Mark talk about his new standing desk and office layout as well as being a recent guest on Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Show Podcast, he then shares a word from this episode's sponsor...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their chat, Mark and Stacy talk about:

    • The love of books that has been a major part of Stacey's entire life
    • The veterinarian path she had been on, which didn't work out
    • The "magical time" of a school book fair, and how much Stacey loved her work organizing Scholastic Book Fairs in the Calgary region
    • Managing the kids departments for Chapters/Indigo and the thrill of working closely with kids books
    • Meeting Sam Hiyate (President and CEO of The Rights Factory literary agency) at When Words Collide and how that led to discussions about Stacey's desire to learn more about agenting, and the path towards becoming an Associate Agent with the firm
    • How, in the first year and a half, Stacey has aquired 30 clients and already sold 5 books, the first of which was to Scholastic US
    • Stacey's experience attending Book Expo America for the first time and how that led to selling a book to Dottir Press in New York
    • The best part about being an agent, which is being an author's champion and cheerleeder and the special thrill that comes with informing an author that a deal with an aquiring editor has been struck
    • The joy of being a matchmaker between different people in the book industry
    • Some of the definite "do not do's" when trying to pitch your book to an agent and one of Stacey's pet peeves
    • What Stacey looks for in a face to face pitch from an author
    • The typical day in Stacey's life as an agent, and how she has to compensate for being 2 hours behind New York's time zone
    • The fact that Stacey still reads for pleasure, but in different ways now that she is an agent
    • Some of the best things that a writer can do to prepare for submission their manuscript
    • How an agent's job isn't just reading queries and submissions, but that it involves so much more downstream in the process
    • The priceless value of networking at a literary conference

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the way Stacey divides reading for work VS reading for pleasure and explores ways that writers can use similar divisions between writing and editing or even different physical spaces as cues for a way to break through or get over "walls" they face in their own writing.

    Links of Interest:

    Stacey Kondla has worked in the book business for 16 years. Her experience includes being a Field Representative for Scholastic Book Fairs, managing the IndigoKids department at two different Chapters/Indigo (Canada's largest book retailer) stores, freelance editing, and serving on the organizing committee of When Words Collide (A Festival for Readers and Writers). Stacey is an associate agent with The Rights Factory and specializes in children's books – picture books through to young adult and graphic novels, fiction and non-fiction.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     34:44 false 2 91 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews Stacey Kondla about her life as a book lover and about the recent transition into the role of literary agent. Prior to the interview, Mark announces the winners of David Wind's book The Indie Writer's Handbook via a random draw for comments on Episode 88. He also reads and reacts to comments from Episode 90 with Craig Martelle and reminds listeners they can win one of 4 copies of Craig's new book Successful Indie Author Release Strategies. Listeners can leave a comment or reflection on Episode 90 of the podcast at starkreflections.ca for a chance to win one of 2 copies. And all patrons will also be entered in a chance to win one of 2 other copies of the book. Mark then welcomes new patron Linda Hill to the podcst, and reminds folks that for $1, $3, or $5 a month, they can become a patron and get access to additional content and audio via patreon.com/starkreflections. After a personal update, where Mark talk about his new standing desk and office layout as well as being a recent guest on Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Show Podcast, he then shares a word from this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their chat, Mark and Stacy talk about: The love of books that has been a major part of Stacey's entire life The veterinarian path she had been on, which didn't work out The "magical time" of a school book fair, and how much Stacey loved her work organizing Scholastic Book Fairs in the Calgary region Managing the kids departments for Chapters/Indigo and the thrill of working closely with kids books Meeting Sam Hiyate (President and CEO of The Rights Factory literary agency) at When Words Collide and how that led to discussions about Stacey's desire to learn more about agenting, and the path towards becoming an Associate Agent with the firm How, in the first year and a half, Stacey has aquired 30 clients and already sold 5 books, the first of which was to Scholastic US Stacey's experience attending Book Expo America for the first time and how that led to selling a book to Dottir Press in New York The best part about being an agent, which is being an author's champion and cheerleeder and the special thrill that comes with informing an author that a deal with an aquiring editor has been struck The joy of being a matchmaker between different people in the book industry Some of the definite "do not do's" when trying to pitch your book to an agent and one of Stacey's pet peeves What Stacey looks for in a face to face pitch from an author The typical day in Stacey's life as an agent, and how she has to compensate for being 2 hours behind New York's time zone The fact that Stacey still reads for pleasure, but in different ways now that she is an agent Some of the best things that a writer can do to prepare for submission their manuscript How an agent's job isn't just reading queries and submissions, but that it involves so much more downstream in the process The priceless value of networking at a literary conference After the interview, Mark reflects on the way Stacey divides reading for work VS reading for pleasure and explores ways that writers can use similar divisions between writing and editing or even different physical spaces as cues for a way to break through or get over "walls" they face in their own writing. Links of Interest: The Rights Factory Literary Agency Stacey Kondla's The Rights Factory Profile Stacey on Twitter Episode 20 - Lessons Learned on my Writer Journey (Part One) Episode 88 - Indie Publishing, Not Self-Publishing with David Wind Episode 90 - Craig Martelle on Successful Indie Author Release Strategies Self Publishing Podcast - Episode 187 - The 7 P's of Publishing Success with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Monty Python's LIFE OF BRIAN   Stacey Kondla has worked in the book business for 16 years. Her experience includes being a Field Representative for Scholastic Book Fairs, managing the IndigoKids department at two different Chapters/Indigo (Canada's largest book retailer) stores, freelance editing, and serving on the organizing committee of When Words Collide (A Festival for Readers and Writers). Stacey is an associate agent with The Rights Factory and specializes in children's books – picture books through to young adult and graphic novels, fiction and non-fiction.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode, Mark interviews Stacey Kondla about her life as a book lover and about the recent transition into the role of literary agent. Prior to the interview, Mark announces the winners of David Wind's book The Indie Writer's Handbook via a random draw for comments on Episode 88. He also reads and reacts to comments from Episode 90 with Craig Martelle and reminds listeners they can win one of 4 copies of Craig's new book Successful Indie Author Release Strategies. Listeners can leave a comment or reflection on Episode 90 of the podcast at starkreflections.ca for a chance to win one of 2 copies. And all patrons will also be entered in a chance to win one of 2 other copies of the book. Mark then welcomes new patron Linda Hill to the podcst, and reminds folks that for $1, $3, or $5 a month, they can become a patron and get access to additional content and audio via patreon.com/starkreflections. After a personal update, where Mark talk about his new standing desk and office layout as well as being a recent guest on Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Show Podcast, he then shares a word from this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their chat, Mark and Stacy talk about: The love of books that has been a major part of Stacey's entire life The veterinarian path she had been on, which didn't work out The "magical time" of a school book fair, and how much Stacey loved her work organizing Scholastic Book Fairs in the Calgary region Managing the kids departments for Chapters/Indigo and the thrill of working closely with kids books Meeting Sam Hiyate (President and CEO of The Rights Factory literary agency) at When Words Collide and how that led to discussions about Stacey's desire to learn more about agenting, and the path towards becoming an Associate Agent with the firm How, in the first year and a half, Stacey has aquired 30 clients and already sold 5 books, the first of which was to Scholastic US Stacey's experience attending Book Expo America for the first time and how that led to selling a book to Dottir Press in New York The best part about being an agent, which is being an author's champion and cheerleeder and the special thrill that comes with informing an author that a deal with an aquiring editor has been struck The joy of being a matchmaker between different people in the book industry Some of the definite "do not do's" when trying to pitch your book to an agent and one of Stacey's pet peeves What Stacey looks for in a face to face pitch from an author The typical day in Stacey's life as an agent, and how she has to compensate for being 2 hours behind New York's time zone The fact that Stacey still reads for pleasure, but in different ways now that she is an agent Some of the best things that a writer can do to prepare for submission their manuscript How an agent's job isn't just reading queries and submissions, but that it involves so much more downstream in the process The priceless value of networking at a literary conference After the interview, Mark reflects on the way Stacey divides reading for work VS reading for pleasure and explores ways that writers can use similar divisions between writing and editing or even different physical spaces as cues for a way to break through or get over "walls" they face in their own writing. Links of Interest: The Rights Factory Literary Agency Stacey Kondla's The Rights Factory Profile Stacey on Twitter Episode 20 - Lessons Learned on my Writer Journey (Part One) Episode 88 - Indie Publishing, Not Self-Publishing with David Wind Episode 90 - Craig Martelle on Successful Indie Author Release Strategies Self Publishing Podcast - Episode 187 - The 7 P's of Publishing Success with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Monty Python's LIFE OF BRIAN   Stacey Kondla has worked in the book business for 16 years. Her experience includes being a Field Representative for Scholastic Book Fairs, managing the IndigoKids department at two different Chapters/Indigo (Canada's largest book retailer) stores, freelance editing, and serving on the organizing committee of When Words Collide (A Festival for Readers and Writers). Stacey is an associate agent with The Rights Factory and specializes in children's books – picture books through to young adult and graphic novels, fiction and non-fiction.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 090 - Craig Martelle on Successful Indie Author Release Strategies Craig Martelle on Successful Indie Author Release Strategies Fri, 16 Aug 2019 01:10:48 +0000 Mark interviews bestselling science-fiction author Craig Martelle about his journey into and through writing, the 20Booksto50K™ group and conferences, and his new book Successful Indie Author Release Strategies.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update about his recent visit to Calgary, Alberta for the When Words Collide conference, where he sat on panels, did 1:1 author consultations, and gave a couple of presentations, including a new one on The 7 P's of Publishing Success based on his book of the same name.

    Mark then shares comments on Episode 88 from Michelle Norry and Tracy Arial, discusses the comments, and reminds them that they are now entered into a chance to win a signed copy of David Wind's book The Indie Writer's Handbook. (Contest is over end of day Friday August 16, 2019 and winners will be announced in Episode 91).

    He also thanks patrons of the show, and reminds them that they are all already entered in a chance to win the other one of two signed copies. This is one of the bonuses for patrons, which include the additional "Stark Reflections on other Podcasts" special episodes. Mark shares that he recently pushed out a special patron-only reflection on other podcasts for Episode 85 of The Career Author Podcast where hosts J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon talked about using pen names.

    Mark then shares a word from this episode's sponsor...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their chat, Mark and Craig talk about:

    • Craig's belief in working hard, putting in 12 to 14 hours a day for seven days a week
    • Being close to the epicenter of the origin of Dungeons and Dragons and the influence that had on Craig's reading and creative mind
    • The "Amateurs talk tactics and professionals talk logistics" philosophy from the Marine Corp that influences Craig's author business approach
    • Applying a business consultant approach to writing and the 100,000 word first novel that Craig wrote that took 61 days
    • The importance of practice
    • Craig's experience selling the rights to his first book to a traditional publisher (an imprint of Simon & Schuster)
    • How Craig uses data to help him make decisions, and how data that doesn't help a person make decisions isn't necessarily important data
    • Why he put an editor on salary early in his career so that the waiting period on an editor was as short as possible
    • The origin of the 20Booksto50K(TM) movement initiated by Michael Anderle and the in person writing conferences that Craig runs
    • Why the 20Booksto50K Facebook group is so locked down in terms of comments/self-promotional posts, etc.
    • How if you want to be carried that this business isn't for you
    • How writing his non-fiction books is mostly Craig's way of saving himself a lot of time answering the same questions repeatedly
    • Elements from Craig's book SUCCESSFUL INDIE AUTHOR RELEASE STRATEGIES, such as what is far more important than the volume of books you produce in a particular time period: consistency and establishing and keeping your promise to the reader
    • The recent overseas conference plus writing retreat that Craig ran which went well above his initial expectations
    • How this year's 20Booksto50K conference will have a significant number of live-streamed videos to the Facebook Group so that those authors unable to attend can benefit from it

     

    After the interview, Mark talks about how Craig's experience playing Dungeons & Dragons reminded him of his own experience playing that game as a youth, and how it inspired the very first book he wrote at the age of 14.

    Mark reflects on the cartoon to text process he used when imagining the story, changing the main character's name from Conan to Aaron (in recognition of copyright), and the struggle to sit at the typewriter over his summer vacation as a young teen instead of being outside and playing.

    He reflects on how indie authors today can and often might release a book that isn't yet ready for prime time and what that impact can be; particularly in relation to a book he recently read. He is thankful that this first terribly written novel never saw the light of day because of when it was written.

    In the midst of reflecting on this trunk novel, he fondly remembers the first young woman to truly capture his heart, and the important role that she played as a creative spirit and fellow writer, in helping to shape and guide him into a writing life. He thinks about how there are people in your life who likely never come to learn just how much of a positive impact they have had on you.

    Mark then shares how listeners can win one of 4 copies of Craig's new book. Listeners can leave a comment or reflection on Episode 90 of the podcast at starkreflections.ca for a chance to win one or 2 copies. And all patrons will also be entered in a chance to win one of 2 other copies of the book.

    Entrants will be collected until Sept 1, 2019 and the winners will be announced in the next week's episode.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

     

    ]]>     Mark interviews bestselling science-fiction author Craig Martelle about his journey into and through writing, the 20Booksto50K™ group and conferences, and his new book Successful Indie Author Release Strategies.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update about his recent visit to Calgary, Alberta for the When Words Collide conference, where he sat on panels, did 1:1 author consultations, and gave a couple of presentations, including a new one on The 7 P's of Publishing Success based on his book of the same name.

    Mark then shares comments on Episode 88 from Michelle Norry and Tracy Arial, discusses the comments, and reminds them that they are now entered into a chance to win a signed copy of David Wind's book The Indie Writer's Handbook. (Contest is over end of day Friday August 16, 2019 and winners will be announced in Episode 91).

    He also thanks patrons of the show, and reminds them that they are all already entered in a chance to win the other one of two signed copies. This is one of the bonuses for patrons, which include the additional "Stark Reflections on other Podcasts" special episodes. Mark shares that he recently pushed out a special patron-only reflection on other podcasts for Episode 85 of The Career Author Podcast where hosts J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon talked about using pen names.

    Mark then shares a word from this episode's sponsor...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their chat, Mark and Craig talk about:

    • Craig's belief in working hard, putting in 12 to 14 hours a day for seven days a week
    • Being close to the epicenter of the origin of Dungeons and Dragons and the influence that had on Craig's reading and creative mind
    • The "Amateurs talk tactics and professionals talk logistics" philosophy from the Marine Corp that influences Craig's author business approach
    • Applying a business consultant approach to writing and the 100,000 word first novel that Craig wrote that took 61 days
    • The importance of practice
    • Craig's experience selling the rights to his first book to a traditional publisher (an imprint of Simon & Schuster)
    • How Craig uses data to help him make decisions, and how data that doesn't help a person make decisions isn't necessarily important data
    • Why he put an editor on salary early in his career so that the waiting period on an editor was as short as possible
    • The origin of the 20Booksto50K(TM) movement initiated by Michael Anderle and the in person writing conferences that Craig runs
    • Why the 20Booksto50K Facebook group is so locked down in terms of comments/self-promotional posts, etc.
    • How if you want to be carried that this business isn't for you
    • How writing his non-fiction books is mostly Craig's way of saving himself a lot of time answering the same questions repeatedly
    • Elements from Craig's book SUCCESSFUL INDIE AUTHOR RELEASE STRATEGIES, such as what is far more important than the volume of books you produce in a particular time period: consistency and establishing and keeping your promise to the reader
    • The recent overseas conference plus writing retreat that Craig ran which went well above his initial expectations
    • How this year's 20Booksto50K conference will have a significant number of live-streamed videos to the Facebook Group so that those authors unable to attend can benefit from it

    After the interview, Mark talks about how Craig's experience playing Dungeons & Dragons reminded him of his own experience playing that game as a youth, and how it inspired the very first book he wrote at the age of 14.

    Mark reflects on the cartoon to text process he used when imagining the story, changing the main character's name from Conan to Aaron (in recognition of copyright), and the struggle to sit at the typewriter over his summer vacation as a young teen instead of being outside and playing.

    He reflects on how indie authors today can and often might release a book that isn't yet ready for prime time and what that impact can be; particularly in relation to a book he recently read. He is thankful that this first terribly written novel never saw the light of day because of when it was written.

    In the midst of reflecting on this trunk novel, he fondly remembers the first young woman to truly capture his heart, and the important role that she played as a creative spirit and fellow writer, in helping to shape and guide him into a writing life. He thinks about how there are people in your life who likely never come to learn just how much of a positive impact they have had on you.

    Mark then shares how listeners can win one of 4 copies of Craig's new book. Listeners can leave a comment or reflection on Episode 90 of the podcast at starkreflections.ca for a chance to win one or 2 copies. And all patrons will also be entered in a chance to win one of 2 other copies of the book.

    Entrants will be collected until Sept 1, 2019 and the winners will be announced in the next week's episode.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     55:38 false 2 90 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews bestselling science-fiction author Craig Martelle about his journey into and through writing, the 20Booksto50K™ group and conferences, and his new book Successful Indie Author Release Strategies. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update about his recent visit to Calgary, Alberta for the When Words Collide conference, where he sat on panels, did 1:1 author consultations, and gave a couple of presentations, including a new one on The 7 P's of Publishing Success based on his book of the same name. Mark then shares comments on Episode 88 from Michelle Norry and Tracy Arial, discusses the comments, and reminds them that they are now entered into a chance to win a signed copy of David Wind's book The Indie Writer's Handbook. (Contest is over end of day Friday August 16, 2019 and winners will be announced in Episode 91). He also thanks patrons of the show, and reminds them that they are all already entered in a chance to win the other one of two signed copies. This is one of the bonuses for patrons, which include the additional "Stark Reflections on other Podcasts" special episodes. Mark shares that he recently pushed out a special patron-only reflection on other podcasts for Episode 85 of The Career Author Podcast where hosts J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon talked about using pen names. Mark then shares a word from this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their chat, Mark and Craig talk about: Craig's belief in working hard, putting in 12 to 14 hours a day for seven days a week Being close to the epicenter of the origin of Dungeons and Dragons and the influence that had on Craig's reading and creative mind The "Amateurs talk tactics and professionals talk logistics" philosophy from the Marine Corp that influences Craig's author business approach Applying a business consultant approach to writing and the 100,000 word first novel that Craig wrote that took 61 days The importance of practice Craig's experience selling the rights to his first book to a traditional publisher (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) How Craig uses data to help him make decisions, and how data that doesn't help a person make decisions isn't necessarily important data Why he put an editor on salary early in his career so that the waiting period on an editor was as short as possible The origin of the 20Booksto50K(TM) movement initiated by Michael Anderle and the in person writing conferences that Craig runs Why the 20Booksto50K Facebook group is so locked down in terms of comments/self-promotional posts, etc. How if you want to be carried that this business isn't for you How writing his non-fiction books is mostly Craig's way of saving himself a lot of time answering the same questions repeatedly Elements from Craig's book SUCCESSFUL INDIE AUTHOR RELEASE STRATEGIES, such as what is far more important than the volume of books you produce in a particular time period: consistency and establishing and keeping your promise to the reader The recent overseas conference plus writing retreat that Craig ran which went well above his initial expectations How this year's 20Booksto50K conference will have a significant number of live-streamed videos to the Facebook Group so that those authors unable to attend can benefit from it   After the interview, Mark talks about how Craig's experience playing Dungeons & Dragons reminded him of his own experience playing that game as a youth, and how it inspired the very first book he wrote at the age of 14. Mark reflects on the cartoon to text process he used when imagining the story, changing the main character's name from Conan to Aaron (in recognition of copyright), and the struggle to sit at the typewriter over his summer vacation as a young teen instead of being outside and playing. He reflects on how indie authors today can and often might release a book that isn't yet ready for prime time and what that impact can be; particularly in relation to a book he recently read. He is thankful that this first terribly written novel never saw the light of day because of when it was written. In the midst of reflecting on this trunk novel, he fondly remembers the first young woman to truly capture his heart, and the important role that she played as a creative spirit and fellow writer, in helping to shape and guide him into a writing life. He thinks about how there are people in your life who likely never come to learn just how much of a positive impact they have had on you. Mark then shares how listeners can win one of 4 copies of Craig's new book. Listeners can leave a comment or reflection on Episode 90 of the podcast at starkreflections.ca for a chance to win one or 2 copies. And all patrons will also be entered in a chance to win one of 2 other copies of the book. Entrants will be collected until Sept 1, 2019 and the winners will be announced in the next week's episode.   Links of Interest: Craig Martelle's Website 20Booksto50K™ Facebook Group 20 Books Vegas Craig's Book - Successful Indie Author Release Strategies Episode 88 - Indie Publishing, Not Self-Publishing with David Wind Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections The Career Author Podcast - Episode 85 - Using Pen Names Stephen Graham King (not that other guy) BOC (Blue Oyster Cult) Conan the Barbarian   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    Mark interviews bestselling science-fiction author Craig Martelle about his journey into and through writing, the 20Booksto50K™ group and conferences, and his new book Successful Indie Author Release Strategies. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update about his recent visit to Calgary, Alberta for the When Words Collide conference, where he sat on panels, did 1:1 author consultations, and gave a couple of presentations, including a new one on The 7 P's of Publishing Success based on his book of the same name. Mark then shares comments on Episode 88 from Michelle Norry and Tracy Arial, discusses the comments, and reminds them that they are now entered into a chance to win a signed copy of David Wind's book The Indie Writer's Handbook. (Contest is over end of day Friday August 16, 2019 and winners will be announced in Episode 91). He also thanks patrons of the show, and reminds them that they are all already entered in a chance to win the other one of two signed copies. This is one of the bonuses for patrons, which include the additional "Stark Reflections on other Podcasts" special episodes. Mark shares that he recently pushed out a special patron-only reflection on other podcasts for Episode 85 of The Career Author Podcast where hosts J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon talked about using pen names. Mark then shares a word from this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their chat, Mark and Craig talk about: Craig's belief in working hard, putting in 12 to 14 hours a day for seven days a week Being close to the epicenter of the origin of Dungeons and Dragons and the influence that had on Craig's reading and creative mind The "Amateurs talk tactics and professionals talk logistics" philosophy from the Marine Corp that influences Craig's author business approach Applying a business consultant approach to writing and the 100,000 word first novel that Craig wrote that took 61 days The importance of practice Craig's experience selling the rights to his first book to a traditional publisher (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) How Craig uses data to help him make decisions, and how data that doesn't help a person make decisions isn't necessarily important data Why he put an editor on salary early in his career so that the waiting period on an editor was as short as possible The origin of the 20Booksto50K(TM) movement initiated by Michael Anderle and the in person writing conferences that Craig runs Why the 20Booksto50K Facebook group is so locked down in terms of comments/self-promotional posts, etc. How if you want to be carried that this business isn't for you How writing his non-fiction books is mostly Craig's way of saving himself a lot of time answering the same questions repeatedly Elements from Craig's book SUCCESSFUL INDIE AUTHOR RELEASE STRATEGIES, such as what is far more important than the volume of books you produce in a particular time period: consistency and establishing and keeping your promise to the reader The recent overseas conference plus writing retreat that Craig ran which went well above his initial expectations How this year's 20Booksto50K conference will have a significant number of live-streamed videos to the Facebook Group so that those authors unable to attend can benefit from it   After the interview, Mark talks about how Craig's experience playing Dungeons & Dragons reminded him of his own experience playing that game as a youth, and how it inspired the very first book he wrote at the age of 14. Mark reflects on the cartoon to text process he used when imagining the story, changing the main character's name from Conan to Aaron (in recognition of copyright), and the struggle to sit at the typewriter over his summer vacation as a young teen instead of being outside and playing. He reflects on how indie authors today can and often might release a book that isn't yet ready for prime time and what that impact can be; particularly in relation to a book he recently read. He is thankful that this first terribly written novel never saw the light of day because of when it was written. In the midst of reflecting on this trunk novel, he fondly remembers the first young woman to truly capture his heart, and the important role that she played as a creative spirit and fellow writer, in helping to shape and guide him into a writing life. He thinks about how there are people in your life who likely never come to learn just how much of a positive impact they have had on you. Mark then shares how listeners can win one of 4 copies of Craig's new book. Listeners can leave a comment or reflection on Episode 90 of the podcast at starkreflections.ca for a chance to win one or 2 copies. And all patrons will also be entered in a chance to win one of 2 other copies of the book. Entrants will be collected until Sept 1, 2019 and the winners will be announced in the next week's episode.   Links of Interest: Craig Martelle's Website 20Booksto50K™ Facebook Group 20 Books Vegas Craig's Book - Successful Indie Author Release Strategies Episode 88 - Indie Publishing, Not Self-Publishing with David Wind Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections The Career Author Podcast - Episode 85 - Using Pen Names Stephen Graham King (not that other guy) BOC (Blue Oyster Cult) Conan the Barbarian   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0         Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 089 - Why You Can't Have Mass Market POD Why You Can't Have Mass Market POD Fri, 09 Aug 2019 05:19:42 +0000 In this solo episode Mark explains why you can't have Mass Market POD books; how the very definition of the term makes it impossible.

    Prior to the main content, Mark shares a comment from Linda from the previous episode, with a reminder that there's a still a chance for those who comment on Episode 88 to win a copy of David Win's book THE INDIE WRITER'S HANDBOOK.

    Mark then welcomes Chad Boyer as a new patron to the podcast via Patreon.com/StarkReflections and mentions that this past Wednesday he loaded a new "Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts" episode for Patrons. This one was on a recent episode of The Creative Penn by Joanna Penn, whose guest, Jason Brick, shared a great bit about the four critical elements from a pitch.

    Mark then shares a word from this episode's sponsor...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    As the main topic for this episode, Mark explains the background of the main formats of publishing: Hardcover, Trade Paperback, and Mass Market. He then relays how just having the "mass market" size format option in POD, via Ingram Lightning Source or other POD providers, doesn't ACTUALLY make it a mass market book.

    He then explains what an actual mass market paperback is and its uniqueness in terms of production, warehousing, distribution, and returns.

    He does come to the conclusion that indie authors already have a far better proper "mass market" format that they bypassed legacy/traditional publishers in: the eBook format.

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

     

    ]]>     In this solo episode Mark explains why you can't have Mass Market POD books; how the very definition of the term makes it impossible.

    Prior to the main content, Mark shares a comment from Linda from the previous episode, with a reminder that there's a still a chance for those who comment on Episode 88 to win a copy of David Win's book THE INDIE WRITER'S HANDBOOK.

    Mark then welcomes Chad Boyer as a new patron to the podcast via Patreon.com/StarkReflections and mentions that this past Wednesday he loaded a new "Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts" episode for Patrons. This one was on a recent episode of The Creative Penn by Joanna Penn, whose guest, Jason Brick, shared a great bit about the four critical elements from a pitch.

    Mark then shares a word from this episode's sponsor...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    As the main topic for this episode, Mark explains the background of the main formats of publishing: Hardcover, Trade Paperback, and Mass Market. He then relays how just having the "mass market" size format option in POD, via Ingram Lightning Source or other POD providers, doesn't ACTUALLY make it a mass market book.

    He then explains what an actual mass market paperback is and its uniqueness in terms of production, warehousing, distribution, and returns.

    He does come to the conclusion that indie authors already have a far better proper "mass market" format that they bypassed legacy/traditional publishers in: the eBook format.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     24:15 false 2 89 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark explains why you can't have Mass Market POD books; how the very definition of the term makes it impossible. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a comment from Linda from the previous episode, with a reminder that there's a still a chance for those who comment on Episode 88 to win a copy of David Win's book THE INDIE WRITER'S HANDBOOK. Mark then welcomes Chad Boyer as a new patron to the podcast via Patreon.com/StarkReflections and mentions that this past Wednesday he loaded a new "Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts" episode for Patrons. This one was on a recent episode of The Creative Penn by Joanna Penn, whose guest, Jason Brick, shared a great bit about the four critical elements from a pitch. Mark then shares a word from this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. As the main topic for this episode, Mark explains the background of the main formats of publishing: Hardcover, Trade Paperback, and Mass Market. He then relays how just having the "mass market" size format option in POD, via Ingram Lightning Source or other POD providers, doesn't ACTUALLY make it a mass market book. He then explains what an actual mass market paperback is and its uniqueness in terms of production, warehousing, distribution, and returns. He does come to the conclusion that indie authors already have a far better proper "mass market" format that they bypassed legacy/traditional publishers in: the eBook format. Links of Interest: The Creative Penn Episode 441 (with Jason Brick) Episode 88 - Indie Publishing, Not Self-Publishing with David Wind Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Snowman Shivers   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    In this solo episode Mark explains why you can't have Mass Market POD books; how the very definition of the term makes it impossible. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a comment from Linda from the previous episode, with a reminder that there's a still a chance for those who comment on Episode 88 to win a copy of David Win's book THE INDIE WRITER'S HANDBOOK. Mark then welcomes Chad Boyer as a new patron to the podcast via Patreon.com/StarkReflections and mentions that this past Wednesday he loaded a new "Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts" episode for Patrons. This one was on a recent episode of The Creative Penn by Joanna Penn, whose guest, Jason Brick, shared a great bit about the four critical elements from a pitch. Mark then shares a word from this episode's sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. As the main topic for this episode, Mark explains the background of the main formats of publishing: Hardcover, Trade Paperback, and Mass Market. He then relays how just having the "mass market" size format option in POD, via Ingram Lightning Source or other POD providers, doesn't ACTUALLY make it a mass market book. He then explains what an actual mass market paperback is and its uniqueness in terms of production, warehousing, distribution, and returns. He does come to the conclusion that indie authors already have a far better proper "mass market" format that they bypassed legacy/traditional publishers in: the eBook format. Links of Interest: The Creative Penn Episode 441 (with Jason Brick) Episode 88 - Indie Publishing, Not Self-Publishing with David Wind Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Snowman Shivers   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0         Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 088 - Indie Publishing, Not Self-Publishing with David Wind Indie Publishing, Not Self-Publishing with David Wind Sat, 03 Aug 2019 13:48:45 +0000

    Mark interviews David Wind about his forthcoming book THE INDIE WRITER'S HANDBOOK, which is coming in September 2019.

    Prior to the interview Mark shares a comment from Episode 81 from Jules who shared why he finds it important to write every single day. He also shares a comment that came in via email from Caro who said that she would, in fact, appreciate an episode dedicated to getting your eBook and print book into libraries in the United States, Canada and the UK.

    Mark then shares a word from this episodes sponsor...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Mark and David talk about:

    • When David first started writing and the first book he published in 1981, which he wrote under a female pen name as a way to break into the market because of an industry trend
    • The genres that David was passionate about writing and reading
    • The fact that English and Math were David's two worst subjects in high school
    • His attempt at writing in college, which he set aside for a while before returning to writing in his late twenties
    • Leaving a position within the legal realm to work at a Playboy club in Chicago
    • Writing a thriller (his first novel) just to see if he could write a book
    • The response from Agent William Morris not liking the submitted manuscript but liking David's writing
    • David's favorite editor, Kate Duffy
    • Andre Norton, a legendary science fiction writer David was a big fan of and how she came to mentor him and also publish one of his only short stories
    • How the first book in a YA science fiction series David wrote which has been downloaded close to 70,000 times
    • Why David hates the term "self-publishing"
    • The vanity press, iUniverse, that David used back in 2000 in order to bring back one of his previously traditionally published back into availability
    • How, being fed up with traditional publishing, David whole-heartedly jumped into Kindle Direct Publishing in 2008
    • The fun David had releasing his first POD self-published book, which was a book he had wanted to write for thirty years and how exhilarating that experience was
    • The transition David experienced when he moved from traditional publishing over to indie publishing

    • Why David decided to write The Indie Writer's Handbook
    • How he was getting frustrated at how people were misunderstanding and looking down on what proper indie publishing can be
    • The 18 steps that the handbook walks authors through related to indie publishing your book

    After the interview Mark shares a reflection on the reason why David decided to create the book, and shares how he recently wrote an article for a more traditionally focused magazine for writers to serve a similar purpose.

    In addition, he shares the two winners of the print book COPS AND WRITERS by Patrick O'Donnell from Episode 84, one randomly selected commenter from that episode and one randomly selected Patron of the show.

    And he explains how listeners can win one of two signed advanbced reader copies of David's forthcoming book for writers.

    Links of Interest:

    David Wind's first novel was published in 1981 and since then he has had more than 40 books published in the genres of science fiction and fantasy, mystery, thriller and suspense.

    A hybrid author who cut his chops in traditional publishing and then discovered the opportunity in indie publishing, David brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this interview and to his forthcoming book.

    He is currently the Vice President of the Florida Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, and he has a lot to say about the way by which traditional publishing still looks down their nose and misunderstands what indie publishing is really about. David lives in Florida with his wife and their dog.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>

    Mark interviews David Wind about his forthcoming book THE INDIE WRITER'S HANDBOOK, which is coming in September 2019.

    Prior to the interview Mark shares a comment from Episode 81 from Jules who shared why he finds it important to write every single day. He also shares a comment that came in via email from Caro who said that she would, in fact, appreciate an episode dedicated to getting your eBook and print book into libraries in the United States, Canada and the UK.

    Mark then shares a word from this episodes sponsor...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Mark and David talk about:

    • When David first started writing and the first book he published in 1981, which he wrote under a female pen name as a way to break into the market because of an industry trend
    • The genres that David was passionate about writing and reading
    • The fact that English and Math were David's two worst subjects in high school
    • His attempt at writing in college, which he set aside for a while before returning to writing in his late twenties
    • Leaving a position within the legal realm to work at a Playboy club in Chicago
    • Writing a thriller (his first novel) just to see if he could write a book
    • The response from Agent William Morris not liking the submitted manuscript but liking David's writing
    • David's favorite editor, Kate Duffy
    • Andre Norton, a legendary science fiction writer David was a big fan of and how she came to mentor him and also publish one of his only short stories
    • How the first book in a YA science fiction series David wrote which has been downloaded close to 70,000 times
    • Why David hates the term "self-publishing"
    • The vanity press, iUniverse, that David used back in 2000 in order to bring back one of his previously traditionally published back into availability
    • How, being fed up with traditional publishing, David whole-heartedly jumped into Kindle Direct Publishing in 2008
    • The fun David had releasing his first POD self-published book, which was a book he had wanted to write for thirty years and how exhilarating that experience was
    • The transition David experienced when he moved from traditional publishing over to indie publishing

    • Why David decided to write The Indie Writer's Handbook
    • How he was getting frustrated at how people were misunderstanding and looking down on what proper indie publishing can be
    • The 18 steps that the handbook walks authors through related to indie publishing your book

    After the interview Mark shares a reflection on the reason why David decided to create the book, and shares how he recently wrote an article for a more traditionally focused magazine for writers to serve a similar purpose.

    In addition, he shares the two winners of the print book COPS AND WRITERS by Patrick O'Donnell from Episode 84, one randomly selected commenter from that episode and one randomly selected Patron of the show.

    And he explains how listeners can win one of two signed advanbced reader copies of David's forthcoming book for writers.

    Links of Interest:

    David Wind's first novel was published in 1981 and since then he has had more than 40 books published in the genres of science fiction and fantasy, mystery, thriller and suspense.

    A hybrid author who cut his chops in traditional publishing and then discovered the opportunity in indie publishing, David brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this interview and to his forthcoming book.

    He is currently the Vice President of the Florida Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, and he has a lot to say about the way by which traditional publishing still looks down their nose and misunderstands what indie publishing is really about. David lives in Florida with his wife and their dog.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     47:24 false 2 88 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews David Wind about his forthcoming book THE INDIE WRITER'S HANDBOOK, which is coming in September 2019. Prior to the interview Mark shares a comment from Episode 81 from Jules who shared why he finds it important to write every single day. He also shares a comment that came in via email from Caro who said that she would, in fact, appreciate an episode dedicated to getting your eBook and print book into libraries in the United States, Canada and the UK. Mark then shares a word from this episodes sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and David talk about: When David first started writing and the first book he published in 1981, which he wrote under a female pen name as a way to break into the market because of an industry trend The genres that David was passionate about writing and reading The fact that English and Math were David's two worst subjects in high school His attempt at writing in college, which he set aside for a while before returning to writing in his late twenties Leaving a position within the legal realm to work at a Playboy club in Chicago Writing a thriller (his first novel) just to see if he could write a book The response from Agent William Morris not liking the submitted manuscript but liking David's writing David's favorite editor, Kate Duffy Andre Norton, a legendary science fiction writer David was a big fan of and how she came to mentor him and also publish one of his only short stories How the first book in a YA science fiction series David wrote which has been downloaded close to 70,000 times Why David hates the term "self-publishing" The vanity press, iUniverse, that David used back in 2000 in order to bring back one of his previously traditionally published back into availability How, being fed up with traditional publishing, David whole-heartedly jumped into Kindle Direct Publishing in 2008 The fun David had releasing his first POD self-published book, which was a book he had wanted to write for thirty years and how exhilarating that experience was The transition David experienced when he moved from traditional publishing over to indie publishing Why David decided to write The Indie Writer's Handbook How he was getting frustrated at how people were misunderstanding and looking down on what proper indie publishing can be The 18 steps that the handbook walks authors through related to indie publishing your book After the interview Mark shares a reflection on the reason why David decided to create the book, and shares how he recently wrote an article for a more traditionally focused magazine for writers to serve a similar purpose. In addition, he shares the two winners of the print book COPS AND WRITERS by Patrick O'Donnell from Episode 84, one randomly selected commenter from that episode and one randomly selected Patron of the show. And he explains how listeners can win one of two signed advanbced reader copies of David's forthcoming book for writers. Links of Interest: David Wind's Website David's Books The Indie Writer's Handbook Episode 81 - Jim Kukral on Being Unskippable Episode 84 - From The Academy to the Street with Patrick O'Donnell Episode 87 - You, Your Book, And Bookstores Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections David Wind's first novel was published in 1981 and since then he has had more than 40 books published in the genres of science fiction and fantasy, mystery, thriller and suspense. A hybrid author who cut his chops in traditional publishing and then discovered the opportunity in indie publishing, David brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this interview and to his forthcoming book. He is currently the Vice President of the Florida Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, and he has a lot to say about the way by which traditional publishing still looks down their nose and misunderstands what indie publishing is really about. David lives in Florida with his wife and their dog. The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark interviews David Wind about his forthcoming book THE INDIE WRITER'S HANDBOOK, which is coming in September 2019. Prior to the interview Mark shares a comment from Episode 81 from Jules who shared why he finds it important to write every single day. He also shares a comment that came in via email from Caro who said that she would, in fact, appreciate an episode dedicated to getting your eBook and print book into libraries in the United States, Canada and the UK. Mark then shares a word from this episodes sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and David talk about: When David first started writing and the first book he published in 1981, which he wrote under a female pen name as a way to break into the market because of an industry trend The genres that David was passionate about writing and reading The fact that English and Math were David's two worst subjects in high school His attempt at writing in college, which he set aside for a while before returning to writing in his late twenties Leaving a position within the legal realm to work at a Playboy club in Chicago Writing a thriller (his first novel) just to see if he could write a book The response from Agent William Morris not liking the submitted manuscript but liking David's writing David's favorite editor, Kate Duffy Andre Norton, a legendary science fiction writer David was a big fan of and how she came to mentor him and also publish one of his only short stories How the first book in a YA science fiction series David wrote which has been downloaded close to 70,000 times Why David hates the term "self-publishing" The vanity press, iUniverse, that David used back in 2000 in order to bring back one of his previously traditionally published back into availability How, being fed up with traditional publishing, David whole-heartedly jumped into Kindle Direct Publishing in 2008 The fun David had releasing his first POD self-published book, which was a book he had wanted to write for thirty years and how exhilarating that experience was The transition David experienced when he moved from traditional publishing over to indie publishing Why David decided to write The Indie Writer's Handbook How he was getting frustrated at how people were misunderstanding and looking down on what proper indie publishing can be The 18 steps that the handbook walks authors through related to indie publishing your book After the interview Mark shares a reflection on the reason why David decided to create the book, and shares how he recently wrote an article for a more traditionally focused magazine for writers to serve a similar purpose. In addition, he shares the two winners of the print book COPS AND WRITERS by Patrick O'Donnell from Episode 84, one randomly selected commenter from that episode and one randomly selected Patron of the show. And he explains how listeners can win one of two signed advanbced reader copies of David's forthcoming book for writers. Links of Interest: David Wind's Website David's Books The Indie Writer's Handbook Episode 81 - Jim Kukral on Being Unskippable Episode 84 - From The Academy to the Street with Patrick O'Donnell Episode 87 - You, Your Book, And Bookstores Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections David Wind's first novel was published in 1981 and since then he has had more than 40 books published in the genres of science fiction and fantasy, mystery, thriller and suspense. A hybrid author who cut his chops in traditional publishing and then discovered the opportunity in indie publishing, David brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this interview and to his forthcoming book. He is currently the Vice President of the Florida Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, and he has a lot to say about the way by which traditional publishing still looks down their nose and misunderstands what indie publishing is really about. David lives in Florida with his wife and their dog. The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 087 - You, Your Book, And Bookstores You, Your Book, And Bookstores Fri, 26 Jul 2019 11:25:08 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark offers a perspective on bookstores, booksellers, and bookselling, and shares ideas on how authors can best get their books into bookstores.

    Prior to the topic, Mark shares a personal update about the move back upstairs to his renovated office, discusses a comment on a previous episode, reminds listeners about the contest to win a print copy of Patrick O'Donnell's book COPS AND WRITERS, and also thanks Patrons and talks about the patron perks.

    Mark then shares a word from this episodes sponsor...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    When discussing bookstores, Mark covers these topics:

    • The importance of relationships and community
    • Understanding the business side of print bookselling, including the margins
    • How returns work and how that effects a bookseller's willingness to stock books
    • How Mark got chain bookstores to order his self-published book (and how that partially backfired)
    • How bookstores order books VS how consignment works
    • The rules, and why bookstores might sometimes make exceptions to those rules in particular situations
    • Why Mark tied an onion to his belt
    • And more....

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

    ]]>     In this solo episode, Mark offers a perspective on bookstores, booksellers, and bookselling, and shares ideas on how authors can best get their books into bookstores.

    Prior to the topic, Mark shares a personal update about the move back upstairs to his renovated office, discusses a comment on a previous episode, reminds listeners about the contest to win a print copy of Patrick O'Donnell's book COPS AND WRITERS, and also thanks Patrons and talks about the patron perks.

    Mark then shares a word from this episodes sponsor...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    When discussing bookstores, Mark covers these topics:

    • The importance of relationships and community
    • Understanding the business side of print bookselling, including the margins
    • How returns work and how that effects a bookseller's willingness to stock books
    • How Mark got chain bookstores to order his self-published book (and how that partially backfired)
    • How bookstores order books VS how consignment works
    • The rules, and why bookstores might sometimes make exceptions to those rules in particular situations
    • Why Mark tied an onion to his belt
    • And more....

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     46:37 false 2 87 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark offers a perspective on bookstores, booksellers, and bookselling, and shares ideas on how authors can best get their books into bookstores. Prior to the topic, Mark shares a personal update about the move back upstairs to his renovated office, discusses a comment on a previous episode, reminds listeners about the contest to win a print copy of Patrick O'Donnell's book COPS AND WRITERS, and also thanks Patrons and talks about the patron perks. Mark then shares a word from this episodes sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. When discussing bookstores, Mark covers these topics: The importance of relationships and community Understanding the business side of print bookselling, including the margins How returns work and how that effects a bookseller's willingness to stock books How Mark got chain bookstores to order his self-published book (and how that partially backfired) How bookstores order books VS how consignment works The rules, and why bookstores might sometimes make exceptions to those rules in particular situations Why Mark tied an onion to his belt And more....   Links of Interest: Mark's First Self-Published Book: One Hand Screaming Episode 29 - Interview with Terry Fallis YouTube video of Terry Fallis interview Episode 39 - Professionalism Episode 84 - From The Academy to the Street with Patrick O'Donnell Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this solo episode, Mark offers a perspective on bookstores, booksellers, and bookselling, and shares ideas on how authors can best get their books into bookstores. Prior to the topic, Mark shares a personal update about the move back upstairs to his renovated office, discusses a comment on a previous episode, reminds listeners about the contest to win a print copy of Patrick O'Donnell's book COPS AND WRITERS, and also thanks Patrons and talks about the patron perks. Mark then shares a word from this episodes sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. When discussing bookstores, Mark covers these topics: The importance of relationships and community Understanding the business side of print bookselling, including the margins How returns work and how that effects a bookseller's willingness to stock books How Mark got chain bookstores to order his self-published book (and how that partially backfired) How bookstores order books VS how consignment works The rules, and why bookstores might sometimes make exceptions to those rules in particular situations Why Mark tied an onion to his belt And more....   Links of Interest: Mark's First Self-Published Book: One Hand Screaming Episode 29 - Interview with Terry Fallis YouTube video of Terry Fallis interview Episode 39 - Professionalism Episode 84 - From The Academy to the Street with Patrick O'Donnell Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 086 - Draft2Digital Ask Us Anything: Marketing Questions - July 2019 Draft2Digital Ask Us Anything: Marketing Questions - July 2019 Sun, 21 Jul 2019 22:55:09 +0000 In this episode, Mark shares audio from the July 19, 2019 Draft2Digital ASK US ANYTHING episode in which Kevin Tumlinson, Dan Wood and Mark answer marketing questions submitted by authors.

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark shares audio from the July 19, 2019 Draft2Digital ASK US ANYTHING episode in which Kevin Tumlinson, Dan Wood and Mark answer marketing questions submitted by authors.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     01:03:11 false 2 86 bonus mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark shares audio from the July 19, 2019 Draft2Digital ASK US ANYTHING episode in which Kevin Tumlinson, Dan Wood and Mark answer marketing questions submitted by authors. Links of Interest: The Draft2Digital Facebook Page The Ask Us Anything Live Chat Video - June 2019 The Ask Us Anything Live Chat Video - July 2019 Draft2Digital Blog Post with video & full transcript from June 2019 Findaway Voices Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark shares audio from the July 19, 2019 Draft2Digital ASK US ANYTHING episode in which Kevin Tumlinson, Dan Wood and Mark answer marketing questions submitted by authors. Links of Interest: The Draft2Digital Facebook Page The Ask Us Anything Live Chat Video - June 2019 The Ask Us Anything Live Chat Video - July 2019 Draft2Digital Blog Post with video & full transcript from June 2019 Findaway Voices Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 085 - Annette Spratte on German Translations Annette Spratte on German Translations Fri, 19 Jul 2019 02:13:30 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Annette Spratte a bilingual author living in Germany who has published books in various genres and languages, including a contemporary romance series self-published in English, a children's book series in German with three traditionally published books and two more scheduled for 2020. A historical romance will also be traditionally published in German in 2020. In addition to writing, Annette loves to support Indie authors with affordable translation services.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episodes sponsor...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Mark then goes on to thank Patrons of the show as well as those who left comments on episode 84, and who were entered in a chance to win a copy of Patrick O'Donnell's book COPS AND WRITERS.

    Thanks to Amy Tasukada, Chad Boyer, MZ Lowe, and Vale Nagle for leaving comments. Also, thanks to Patrick O'Donnell for answering the police related questions.

    In their conversation Mark and Annette talk about:

    • Annette's history as a translator since 1995 before she moved over into book translation, which she enjoys far more
    • The importance of getting the emotion and the tension right in a literary translation (as opposed to legal document translation)
    • Annette's own writing experience with contemporary romance fiction (English) which was self-published and the children's adventure fiction (in German) that has been picked up by a publisher
    • How Annette initially started with a self-publishing services company that she later on found out charged almost $50 for the print book in the US - she managed to get out of that deal and published the book directly herself
    • The size of the German book industry and the fact that eBooks might be as little as 5% of overall book sales
    • Those magic words from a publisher who said to Anette: "I read your book and I couldn't put it down!"
    • How a lot of the romance books on the market in Germany are translations from English
    • A bit of a perspective on the size and reach of Tolino, a major eBook retailer in Germany
    • What it's like for an author from Europe using an American platform for eBook publishing
    • Why authors shouldn't use something like Google translate for translating their novel
    • Subtle differences in the form of address in the German language (formal VS familiar)
    • The genres that Annette works with and prefers to work with in her translation business
    • Why she prefers to avoid horror and erotica translations as well as a preference for fiction over non-fiction
    • The research that can be involved in doing a literary translation, particularly for historical fiction
    • Examples of terms or services that aren't used or known in Germany - such as "Uber" - for example
    • The importance of using the same translator when working through a book series in order to have a consistent style/voice
    • How word of mouth is the most common way that authors and translators connect with one another
    • Typical costs of translations, and Annettes current and lower fees of 3 cents per word
    • How an English speaking/reading author would be able to determine if the translation is a quality one
    • Some of the legal aspects associated with copyright on translations in Germany
    • The fixed price laws for books in Germany and how that has allowed for the continued existence of both chain and independent bookstores in that country
    • The continued popularity of thrillers and romance in the German book market
    • How German readers are perfectly content with books that aren't set in Germany
    • The value of the resources on the site indiesgogerman.com

    Mark then reflects on the subtle differences in languages, terms, and even different laws in different countries, provinces and states and how this can both be something that can harm a story (ie, an inaccurate overlooked detail), or it can be something that brings an additional depth and realistic richness to a story if used effectively.

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews Annette Spratte a bilingual author living in Germany who has published books in various genres and languages, including a contemporary romance series self-published in English, a children's book series in German with three traditionally published books and two more scheduled for 2020. A historical romance will also be traditionally published in German in 2020. In addition to writing, Annette loves to support Indie authors with affordable translation services.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episodes sponsor...

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Mark then goes on to thank Patrons of the show as well as those who left comments on episode 84, and who were entered in a chance to win a copy of Patrick O'Donnell's book COPS AND WRITERS.

    Thanks to Amy Tasukada, Chad Boyer, MZ Lowe, and Vale Nagle for leaving comments. Also, thanks to Patrick O'Donnell for answering the police related questions.

    In their conversation Mark and Annette talk about:

    • Annette's history as a translator since 1995 before she moved over into book translation, which she enjoys far more
    • The importance of getting the emotion and the tension right in a literary translation (as opposed to legal document translation)
    • Annette's own writing experience with contemporary romance fiction (English) which was self-published and the children's adventure fiction (in German) that has been picked up by a publisher
    • How Annette initially started with a self-publishing services company that she later on found out charged almost $50 for the print book in the US - she managed to get out of that deal and published the book directly herself
    • The size of the German book industry and the fact that eBooks might be as little as 5% of overall book sales
    • Those magic words from a publisher who said to Anette: "I read your book and I couldn't put it down!"
    • How a lot of the romance books on the market in Germany are translations from English
    • A bit of a perspective on the size and reach of Tolino, a major eBook retailer in Germany
    • What it's like for an author from Europe using an American platform for eBook publishing
    • Why authors shouldn't use something like Google translate for translating their novel
    • Subtle differences in the form of address in the German language (formal VS familiar)
    • The genres that Annette works with and prefers to work with in her translation business
    • Why she prefers to avoid horror and erotica translations as well as a preference for fiction over non-fiction
    • The research that can be involved in doing a literary translation, particularly for historical fiction
    • Examples of terms or services that aren't used or known in Germany - such as "Uber" - for example
    • The importance of using the same translator when working through a book series in order to have a consistent style/voice
    • How word of mouth is the most common way that authors and translators connect with one another
    • Typical costs of translations, and Annettes current and lower fees of 3 cents per word
    • How an English speaking/reading author would be able to determine if the translation is a quality one
    • Some of the legal aspects associated with copyright on translations in Germany
    • The fixed price laws for books in Germany and how that has allowed for the continued existence of both chain and independent bookstores in that country
    • The continued popularity of thrillers and romance in the German book market
    • How German readers are perfectly content with books that aren't set in Germany
    • The value of the resources on the site indiesgogerman.com

    Mark then reflects on the subtle differences in languages, terms, and even different laws in different countries, provinces and states and how this can both be something that can harm a story (ie, an inaccurate overlooked detail), or it can be something that brings an additional depth and realistic richness to a story if used effectively.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     47:19 false 2 85 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Annette Spratte a bilingual author living in Germany who has published books in various genres and languages, including a contemporary romance series self-published in English, a children's book series in German with three traditionally published books and two more scheduled for 2020. A historical romance will also be traditionally published in German in 2020. In addition to writing, Annette loves to support Indie authors with affordable translation services. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episodes sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark then goes on to thank Patrons of the show as well as those who left comments on episode 84, and who were entered in a chance to win a copy of Patrick O'Donnell's book COPS AND WRITERS. Thanks to Amy Tasukada, Chad Boyer, MZ Lowe, and Vale Nagle for leaving comments. Also, thanks to Patrick O'Donnell for answering the police related questions. In their conversation Mark and Annette talk about: Annette's history as a translator since 1995 before she moved over into book translation, which she enjoys far more The importance of getting the emotion and the tension right in a literary translation (as opposed to legal document translation) Annette's own writing experience with contemporary romance fiction (English) which was self-published and the children's adventure fiction (in German) that has been picked up by a publisher How Annette initially started with a self-publishing services company that she later on found out charged almost $50 for the print book in the US - she managed to get out of that deal and published the book directly herself The size of the German book industry and the fact that eBooks might be as little as 5% of overall book sales Those magic words from a publisher who said to Anette: "I read your book and I couldn't put it down!" How a lot of the romance books on the market in Germany are translations from English A bit of a perspective on the size and reach of Tolino, a major eBook retailer in Germany What it's like for an author from Europe using an American platform for eBook publishing Why authors shouldn't use something like Google translate for translating their novel Subtle differences in the form of address in the German language (formal VS familiar) The genres that Annette works with and prefers to work with in her translation business Why she prefers to avoid horror and erotica translations as well as a preference for fiction over non-fiction The research that can be involved in doing a literary translation, particularly for historical fiction Examples of terms or services that aren't used or known in Germany - such as "Uber" - for example The importance of using the same translator when working through a book series in order to have a consistent style/voice How word of mouth is the most common way that authors and translators connect with one another Typical costs of translations, and Annettes current and lower fees of 3 cents per word How an English speaking/reading author would be able to determine if the translation is a quality one Some of the legal aspects associated with copyright on translations in Germany The fixed price laws for books in Germany and how that has allowed for the continued existence of both chain and independent bookstores in that country The continued popularity of thrillers and romance in the German book market How German readers are perfectly content with books that aren't set in Germany The value of the resources on the site indiesgogerman.com Mark then reflects on the subtle differences in languages, terms, and even different laws in different countries, provinces and states and how this can both be something that can harm a story (ie, an inaccurate overlooked detail), or it can be something that brings an additional depth and realistic richness to a story if used effectively. Links of Interest: Chat with Annette (Blog) Annette's Website Annette's Facebook Page Annette on Instagram Indies Go German Website Findaway Voices Episode 84 - From The Academy to the Street with Patrick O'Donnell Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode Mark interviews Annette Spratte a bilingual author living in Germany who has published books in various genres and languages, including a contemporary romance series self-published in English, a children's book series in German with three traditionally published books and two more scheduled for 2020. A historical romance will also be traditionally published in German in 2020. In addition to writing, Annette loves to support Indie authors with affordable translation services. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episodes sponsor... You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark then goes on to thank Patrons of the show as well as those who left comments on episode 84, and who were entered in a chance to win a copy of Patrick O'Donnell's book COPS AND WRITERS. Thanks to Amy Tasukada, Chad Boyer, MZ Lowe, and Vale Nagle for leaving comments. Also, thanks to Patrick O'Donnell for answering the police related questions. In their conversation Mark and Annette talk about: Annette's history as a translator since 1995 before she moved over into book translation, which she enjoys far more The importance of getting the emotion and the tension right in a literary translation (as opposed to legal document translation) Annette's own writing experience with contemporary romance fiction (English) which was self-published and the children's adventure fiction (in German) that has been picked up by a publisher How Annette initially started with a self-publishing services company that she later on found out charged almost $50 for the print book in the US - she managed to get out of that deal and published the book directly herself The size of the German book industry and the fact that eBooks might be as little as 5% of overall book sales Those magic words from a publisher who said to Anette: "I read your book and I couldn't put it down!" How a lot of the romance books on the market in Germany are translations from English A bit of a perspective on the size and reach of Tolino, a major eBook retailer in Germany What it's like for an author from Europe using an American platform for eBook publishing Why authors shouldn't use something like Google translate for translating their novel Subtle differences in the form of address in the German language (formal VS familiar) The genres that Annette works with and prefers to work with in her translation business Why she prefers to avoid horror and erotica translations as well as a preference for fiction over non-fiction The research that can be involved in doing a literary translation, particularly for historical fiction Examples of terms or services that aren't used or known in Germany - such as "Uber" - for example The importance of using the same translator when working through a book series in order to have a consistent style/voice How word of mouth is the most common way that authors and translators connect with one another Typical costs of translations, and Annettes current and lower fees of 3 cents per word How an English speaking/reading author would be able to determine if the translation is a quality one Some of the legal aspects associated with copyright on translations in Germany The fixed price laws for books in Germany and how that has allowed for the continued existence of both chain and independent bookstores in that country The continued popularity of thrillers and romance in the German book market How German readers are perfectly content with books that aren't set in Germany The value of the resources on the site indiesgogerman.com Mark then reflects on the subtle differences in languages, terms, and even different laws in different countries, provinces and states and how this can both be something that can harm a story (ie, an inaccurate overlooked detail), or it can be something that brings an additional depth and realistic richness to a story if used effectively. Links of Interest: Chat with Annette (Blog) Annette's Website Annette's Facebook Page Annette on Instagram Indies Go German Website Findaway Voices Episode 84 - From The Academy to the Street with Patrick O'Donnell Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 084 - From The Academy To The Street With Patrick O'Donnell From The Academy to the Street with Patrick ODonnell Fri, 12 Jul 2019 03:43:39 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Patrick O'Donnell who has been with a larger metropolitan police department for the past three decades, about his new book COPS AND WRITERS: From The Academy to the Street.

    Prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update and then also shares the names of the four winners of the print copies of the book UNSKIPPABLE by Jim Kukral (from Episode 81).

    Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal updateas well as a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    In their conversion, which comes with a disclaimer that Patrick does not represent any specific police or law enforcement agency and does not intend for any of the information provided to be intended as legal advice, Mark and Patrick discuss:

    • Patrick's life before police work which included Sociology, Crimonology and an intense passion for music
    • The original goal of wanting to become a high school band director for his career
    • The restaurant management roles that Patrick was involved in and how being a night shift manager at an IHOP he ended up getting in more fights than in the same time period as a police officer
    • The various different ways you can get into a career with the police department and the details related to those methods of entry
    • Learning how to read/understand people via experience as a car salesman
    • The book (I Never Wore Plaid) he wrote about how to buy a car and navigate car salespeople under a pseudonym
    • The unfortunate situation that led to the loss of an opportunity in selling this book to a publisher
    • Patrick's book talking about the loss of his marriage (which is common in the police force) written under a different pseudoynm - Divorced Dad: Kids are Forever, Wives are Not
    • Mad City, the post-apocalyptic novel that he wrote under his own name
    • The reason why Patrick shelved the sequel to Mad City and started to write a series of books about the police force, which includes the first book, Cops and Writers: From the Academy to the Street
    • The seventeen years of working the night shift as a cop
    • The 50/50 chance that the average person has of their marriage failing, how being a cop bumps that up to 70% and how, if both partners are cops, the chances are 90%
    • Some of the basic things that writers can get wrong when it comes to police procedures or protocols
    • What Patrick has learned about book marketing through the various books and genres he has published in

     

    After the interview, Mark shares details on how listeners and Patrons can win a print copy of Patrick's new book (you have until July 31, 2019 to leave a comment or question for Patrick on the show notes for Episode 84 at www.starkreflections.ca) as well as his thoughts on the importances of a police procedural book that delves into such detail of this aspect of a police officer's life.

    Links of Interest

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews Patrick O'Donnell who has been with a larger metropolitan police department for the past three decades, about his new book COPS AND WRITERS: From The Academy to the Street.

    Prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update and then also shares the names of the four winners of the print copies of the book UNSKIPPABLE by Jim Kukral (from Episode 81).

    Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal updateas well as a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversion, which comes with a disclaimer that Patrick does not represent any specific police or law enforcement agency and does not intend for any of the information provided to be intended as legal advice, Mark and Patrick discuss:

    • Patrick's life before police work which included Sociology, Crimonology and an intense passion for music
    • The original goal of wanting to become a high school band director for his career
    • The restaurant management roles that Patrick was involved in and how being a night shift manager at an IHOP he ended up getting in more fights than in the same time period as a police officer
    • The various different ways you can get into a career with the police department and the details related to those methods of entry
    • Learning how to read/understand people via experience as a car salesman
    • The book (I Never Wore Plaid) he wrote about how to buy a car and navigate car salespeople under a pseudonym
    • The unfortunate situation that led to the loss of an opportunity in selling this book to a publisher
    • Patrick's book talking about the loss of his marriage (which is common in the police force) written under a different pseudoynm - Divorced Dad: Kids are Forever, Wives are Not
    • Mad City, the post-apocalyptic novel that he wrote under his own name
    • The reason why Patrick shelved the sequel to Mad City and started to write a series of books about the police force, which includes the first book, Cops and Writers: From the Academy to the Street
    • The seventeen years of working the night shift as a cop
    • The 50/50 chance that the average person has of their marriage failing, how being a cop bumps that up to 70% and how, if both partners are cops, the chances are 90%
    • Some of the basic things that writers can get wrong when it comes to police procedures or protocols
    • What Patrick has learned about book marketing through the various books and genres he has published in

    After the interview, Mark shares details on how listeners and Patrons can win a print copy of Patrick's new book (you have until July 31, 2019 to leave a comment or question for Patrick on the show notes for Episode 84 at www.starkreflections.ca) as well as his thoughts on the importances of a police procedural book that delves into such detail of this aspect of a police officer's life.

    Links of Interest

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     46:50 false 2 84 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Patrick O'Donnell who has been with a larger metropolitan police department for the past three decades, about his new book COPS AND WRITERS: From The Academy to the Street. Prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update and then also shares the names of the four winners of the print copies of the book UNSKIPPABLE by Jim Kukral (from Episode 81). Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal updateas well as a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversion, which comes with a disclaimer that Patrick does not represent any specific police or law enforcement agency and does not intend for any of the information provided to be intended as legal advice, Mark and Patrick discuss: Patrick's life before police work which included Sociology, Crimonology and an intense passion for music The original goal of wanting to become a high school band director for his career The restaurant management roles that Patrick was involved in and how being a night shift manager at an IHOP he ended up getting in more fights than in the same time period as a police officer The various different ways you can get into a career with the police department and the details related to those methods of entry Learning how to read/understand people via experience as a car salesman The book (I Never Wore Plaid) he wrote about how to buy a car and navigate car salespeople under a pseudonym The unfortunate situation that led to the loss of an opportunity in selling this book to a publisher Patrick's book talking about the loss of his marriage (which is common in the police force) written under a different pseudoynm - Divorced Dad: Kids are Forever, Wives are Not Mad City, the post-apocalyptic novel that he wrote under his own name The reason why Patrick shelved the sequel to Mad City and started to write a series of books about the police force, which includes the first book, Cops and Writers: From the Academy to the Street The seventeen years of working the night shift as a cop The 50/50 chance that the average person has of their marriage failing, how being a cop bumps that up to 70% and how, if both partners are cops, the chances are 90% Some of the basic things that writers can get wrong when it comes to police procedures or protocols What Patrick has learned about book marketing through the various books and genres he has published in   After the interview, Mark shares details on how listeners and Patrons can win a print copy of Patrick's new book (you have until July 31, 2019 to leave a comment or question for Patrick on the show notes for Episode 84 at www.starkreflections.ca) as well as his thoughts on the importances of a police procedural book that delves into such detail of this aspect of a police officer's life. Links of Interest Patrick O'Donnell's website Patrick's Books: Cops and Writers I Never Wore Plaid (Joel Grey) Divorced Dad: Kids Are Forever, Wives are Not (L.J. Burke) Mad City Findaway Voices Episode 81 - Becoming Unskippable with Jim Kukral Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode Mark interviews Patrick O'Donnell who has been with a larger metropolitan police department for the past three decades, about his new book COPS AND WRITERS: From The Academy to the Street. Prior to the interview Mark shares a personal update and then also shares the names of the four winners of the print copies of the book UNSKIPPABLE by Jim Kukral (from Episode 81). Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal updateas well as a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversion, which comes with a disclaimer that Patrick does not represent any specific police or law enforcement agency and does not intend for any of the information provided to be intended as legal advice, Mark and Patrick discuss: Patrick's life before police work which included Sociology, Crimonology and an intense passion for music The original goal of wanting to become a high school band director for his career The restaurant management roles that Patrick was involved in and how being a night shift manager at an IHOP he ended up getting in more fights than in the same time period as a police officer The various different ways you can get into a career with the police department and the details related to those methods of entry Learning how to read/understand people via experience as a car salesman The book (I Never Wore Plaid) he wrote about how to buy a car and navigate car salespeople under a pseudonym The unfortunate situation that led to the loss of an opportunity in selling this book to a publisher Patrick's book talking about the loss of his marriage (which is common in the police force) written under a different pseudoynm - Divorced Dad: Kids are Forever, Wives are Not Mad City, the post-apocalyptic novel that he wrote under his own name The reason why Patrick shelved the sequel to Mad City and started to write a series of books about the police force, which includes the first book, Cops and Writers: From the Academy to the Street The seventeen years of working the night shift as a cop The 50/50 chance that the average person has of their marriage failing, how being a cop bumps that up to 70% and how, if both partners are cops, the chances are 90% Some of the basic things that writers can get wrong when it comes to police procedures or protocols What Patrick has learned about book marketing through the various books and genres he has published in   After the interview, Mark shares details on how listeners and Patrons can win a print copy of Patrick's new book (you have until July 31, 2019 to leave a comment or question for Patrick on the show notes for Episode 84 at www.starkreflections.ca) as well as his thoughts on the importances of a police procedural book that delves into such detail of this aspect of a police officer's life. Links of Interest Patrick O'Donnell's website Patrick's Books: Cops and Writers I Never Wore Plaid (Joel Grey) Divorced Dad: Kids Are Forever, Wives are Not (L.J. Burke) Mad City Findaway Voices Episode 81 - Becoming Unskippable with Jim Kukral Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 083 - Draft2Digital ASK US ANYTHING June 2019 - Part 02 Draft2Digital ASK US ANYTHING June 2019 - Part 02 Fri, 05 Jul 2019 03:22:21 +0000 In this episode Mark shares the second half of a Draft2Digital "Ask Us Anything" Live Chat that was recorded on Thursday June 27, 2019.

    The chat was composed of questions submitted by authors and answered by Dan Wood, Kevin Tumlinson, and Mark.

    Prior to the main segement, Mark shares a personal updateas well as a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    In the Live Chat, Dan, Kevin, and Mark cover these questions:

    • How does Draft2Digital work with its retail and library partners for various promotional opportunities, and what do those platforms look for?
    • Formatting your own copyright page VS the system-generated copyright page option that D2D offers.
    • An overview of publishing your eBooks "wide" to all retailers VS being exclusive to Amazon Kindle.
    • The way that libraries purchase eBooks (the two main liscening options).
    • What's going on with Draft2Digital and Google Play.
    • How can an author get their books onto bookstore and retailer shelves.
    • How Findaway Voices might change the landscape for audiobooks being available beyond Audible.

    After the recording, Mark reflects on the importance of actually reaching out when there is an offer available to you as an author and taking advantage of it because you and your writing are valuable and worth it.

    Links of Interest

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark shares the second half of a Draft2Digital "Ask Us Anything" Live Chat that was recorded on Thursday June 27, 2019.

    The chat was composed of questions submitted by authors and answered by Dan Wood, Kevin Tumlinson, and Mark.

    Prior to the main segement, Mark shares a personal updateas well as a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the Live Chat, Dan, Kevin, and Mark cover these questions:

    • How does Draft2Digital work with its retail and library partners for various promotional opportunities, and what do those platforms look for?
    • Formatting your own copyright page VS the system-generated copyright page option that D2D offers.
    • An overview of publishing your eBooks "wide" to all retailers VS being exclusive to Amazon Kindle.
    • The way that libraries purchase eBooks (the two main liscening options).
    • What's going on with Draft2Digital and Google Play.
    • How can an author get their books onto bookstore and retailer shelves.
    • How Findaway Voices might change the landscape for audiobooks being available beyond Audible.

    After the recording, Mark reflects on the importance of actually reaching out when there is an offer available to you as an author and taking advantage of it because you and your writing are valuable and worth it.

    Links of Interest

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     44:49 false 2 83 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark shares the second half of a Draft2Digital "Ask Us Anything" Live Chat that was recorded on Thursday June 27, 2019. The chat was composed of questions submitted by authors and answered by Dan Wood, Kevin Tumlinson, and Mark. Prior to the main segement, Mark shares a personal updateas well as a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In the Live Chat, Dan, Kevin, and Mark cover these questions: How does Draft2Digital work with its retail and library partners for various promotional opportunities, and what do those platforms look for? Formatting your own copyright page VS the system-generated copyright page option that D2D offers. An overview of publishing your eBooks "wide" to all retailers VS being exclusive to Amazon Kindle. The way that libraries purchase eBooks (the two main liscening options). What's going on with Draft2Digital and Google Play. How can an author get their books onto bookstore and retailer shelves. How Findaway Voices might change the landscape for audiobooks being available beyond Audible. After the recording, Mark reflects on the importance of actually reaching out when there is an offer available to you as an author and taking advantage of it because you and your writing are valuable and worth it. Links of Interest The Draft2Digital Facebook Page The Ask Us Anything Live Chat Video Draft2Digital Blog Post with video & full transcript Findaway Voices Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode Mark shares the second half of a Draft2Digital "Ask Us Anything" Live Chat that was recorded on Thursday June 27, 2019. The chat was composed of questions submitted by authors and answered by Dan Wood, Kevin Tumlinson, and Mark. Prior to the main segement, Mark shares a personal updateas well as a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In the Live Chat, Dan, Kevin, and Mark cover these questions: How does Draft2Digital work with its retail and library partners for various promotional opportunities, and what do those platforms look for? Formatting your own copyright page VS the system-generated copyright page option that D2D offers. An overview of publishing your eBooks "wide" to all retailers VS being exclusive to Amazon Kindle. The way that libraries purchase eBooks (the two main liscening options). What's going on with Draft2Digital and Google Play. How can an author get their books onto bookstore and retailer shelves. How Findaway Voices might change the landscape for audiobooks being available beyond Audible. After the recording, Mark reflects on the importance of actually reaching out when there is an offer available to you as an author and taking advantage of it because you and your writing are valuable and worth it. Links of Interest The Draft2Digital Facebook Page The Ask Us Anything Live Chat Video Draft2Digital Blog Post with video & full transcript Findaway Voices Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 082 - Draft2Digital ASK US ANYTHING June 2019 - Part 01 Draft2Digital ASK US ANYTHING June 2019 - Part 01 Fri, 28 Jun 2019 01:53:08 +0000 In this episode Mark shares the first half of a Draft2Digital "Ask Us Anything" Live Chat that was recorded on Thursday June 27, 2019.

    The chat was composed of questions submitted by authors and answered by Dan Wood, Kevin Tumlinson, and Mark.

    Prior to the main segement, Mark shares a personal update, talks about comments from previous episodes and shares a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the Live Chat, Dan, Kevin, and Mark cover these questions:

    • What is the biggest missed opportunity on D2D for most indie authors already using the platform?
    • I understand that the ebook will go out to places that are checked on the next page. How can I check on the results?
    • In addition to universal links, what's the benefit of using D2D to list our books?
    • Why are payments from Draft2Digital sometimes delayed?
    • Is the expense for purchasing my own ISBNs worth the outlay?
    • How do promo opportunities work for the various channels you distribute to? Places like Kobo and Apple and OverDrive.
    • I'm confused over how to make Books2Read work for me. Beyond a link on my website, what more should I be doing to help readers find me?
    • Is there some sort of pre-built chart or graph in the Draft2Digital dashboard that shows all your sales in one place?
    • Questions about formatting WORD documents with images for eBooks as well as using Vellum for eBook formatting.

    After the recording, Mark shares a few thoughts about the idea of asking questions and how questions can be understood differently by different people.

    Links of Interest

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark shares the first half of a Draft2Digital "Ask Us Anything" Live Chat that was recorded on Thursday June 27, 2019.

    The chat was composed of questions submitted by authors and answered by Dan Wood, Kevin Tumlinson, and Mark.

    Prior to the main segement, Mark shares a personal update, talks about comments from previous episodes and shares a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the Live Chat, Dan, Kevin, and Mark cover these questions:

    • What is the biggest missed opportunity on D2D for most indie authors already using the platform?
    • I understand that the ebook will go out to places that are checked on the next page. How can I check on the results?
    • In addition to universal links, what's the benefit of using D2D to list our books?
    • Why are payments from Draft2Digital sometimes delayed?
    • Is the expense for purchasing my own ISBNs worth the outlay?
    • How do promo opportunities work for the various channels you distribute to? Places like Kobo and Apple and OverDrive.
    • I'm confused over how to make Books2Read work for me. Beyond a link on my website, what more should I be doing to help readers find me?
    • Is there some sort of pre-built chart or graph in the Draft2Digital dashboard that shows all your sales in one place?
    • Questions about formatting WORD documents with images for eBooks as well as using Vellum for eBook formatting.

    After the recording, Mark shares a few thoughts about the idea of asking questions and how questions can be understood differently by different people.

    Links of Interest

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     46:22 false 2 82 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark shares the first half of a Draft2Digital "Ask Us Anything" Live Chat that was recorded on Thursday June 27, 2019. The chat was composed of questions submitted by authors and answered by Dan Wood, Kevin Tumlinson, and Mark. Prior to the main segement, Mark shares a personal update, talks about comments from previous episodes and shares a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the Live Chat, Dan, Kevin, and Mark cover these questions: What is the biggest missed opportunity on D2D for most indie authors already using the platform? I understand that the ebook will go out to places that are checked on the next page. How can I check on the results? In addition to universal links, what's the benefit of using D2D to list our books? Why are payments from Draft2Digital sometimes delayed? Is the expense for purchasing my own ISBNs worth the outlay? How do promo opportunities work for the various channels you distribute to? Places like Kobo and Apple and OverDrive. I'm confused over how to make Books2Read work for me. Beyond a link on my website, what more should I be doing to help readers find me? Is there some sort of pre-built chart or graph in the Draft2Digital dashboard that shows all your sales in one place? Questions about formatting WORD documents with images for eBooks as well as using Vellum for eBook formatting. After the recording, Mark shares a few thoughts about the idea of asking questions and how questions can be understood differently by different people. Links of Interest The Draft2Digital Facebook Page The Ask Us Anything Live Chat Video Findaway Voices Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode Mark shares the first half of a Draft2Digital "Ask Us Anything" Live Chat that was recorded on Thursday June 27, 2019. The chat was composed of questions submitted by authors and answered by Dan Wood, Kevin Tumlinson, and Mark. Prior to the main segement, Mark shares a personal update, talks about comments from previous episodes and shares a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the Live Chat, Dan, Kevin, and Mark cover these questions: What is the biggest missed opportunity on D2D for most indie authors already using the platform? I understand that the ebook will go out to places that are checked on the next page. How can I check on the results? In addition to universal links, what's the benefit of using D2D to list our books? Why are payments from Draft2Digital sometimes delayed? Is the expense for purchasing my own ISBNs worth the outlay? How do promo opportunities work for the various channels you distribute to? Places like Kobo and Apple and OverDrive. I'm confused over how to make Books2Read work for me. Beyond a link on my website, what more should I be doing to help readers find me? Is there some sort of pre-built chart or graph in the Draft2Digital dashboard that shows all your sales in one place? Questions about formatting WORD documents with images for eBooks as well as using Vellum for eBook formatting. After the recording, Mark shares a few thoughts about the idea of asking questions and how questions can be understood differently by different people. Links of Interest The Draft2Digital Facebook Page The Ask Us Anything Live Chat Video Findaway Voices Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 081 - Becoming Unskippable™ with Jim F. Kukral Becoming Unskippable™ with Jim F. Kukral Thu, 20 Jun 2019 22:39:04 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Jim F. Kukral, author of Your Journey to Becoming Unskippable™: (in your business, life & career).

    Prior to the interview Mark

    • Shares a comment from a previous episode
    • Talks about a new short story he is working on and some of the logistical research challenges that were holding him back
    • Talks about an ASK US ANYTHING Facebook Live chat that Mark, Kevin Tumlinson and Dan Wood will be hosting on the Draft2Digital Facebook page on Thursday July 27 at 3PM Eastern

    Mark then says a word about this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Jim and Mark discuss:

    • Why Jim opened the book sharing his perspective on goals and priorities that have more to do with personal satisfaction than seeking wealth and status
    • The importance of the merger between mindset and business
    • The deeply personal and vulnerable way Jim shared his experience getting involved in local politics
    • The authenticity of Jim's voice in the book which matches the way that he would deliver the same content in person via a conversation or on stage
    • The strategy of not wanting to write a straight-up marketing book, but, instead, a book with business lessons and personal inspiration
    • Jim owning the trademark for the term Unskippable™
    • The importance of creating powerful moments and "talk triggers" that people will remember well beyond just the "cheapest price" or "fastest delivery" or some other temporary perk from a popsicle hotline at a hotel pool to the Jolly Ranchers that a business supply owner added in to every order
    • The reasons that set you apart, take you to th next level, and make you unskippable and memorable
    • The story behind the mysterious persona "Johnny Showtime"
    • The importance of actually standing for something as a brand in order to reach "belief-driven buyers"

    After the interview Mark shares the logistics of how listeners can download a free digital copy of Jim's new book, and also possible win some signed copies.

    Free Digital Download

    Win a Signed Copy of the paperback of Unskippable™

    • Leave a comment for Episode 81 at www.starkreflections.ca by July 10, 2019. Entrants will be entered into a random draw for a signed copy of the book that Jim will be shipping.
    • All entrants who leave a comment by July 10, 2019 will be entered
    • Possible things to comment about include:
      • What's one point you took away from this interview that you'd want to highlightor reflect on?
      • What's one unique thing about you or your writing that might help you towards establishing yourself as unskippable in today's skippable world?
    • This copy is courtesy of Jim Kukral

    Win a paperback copy of Unskippable™

    • All entrants, as above, will be entered in a second random drawing for an additional copy of the paperback
    • Mark will be ordering this via an online bookstore (most likely Amazon, unless the listener is in a country where shipping via a local store there is preferable)

    One more chance for winning the 3rd paperback copy

    • All Patrons of Stark Reflections will automatically be entered in a chance to win the third copy of the book.
    • (Yes, that means Patrons who comment get an additional chance to win)

    A final chance for the 4th copy (also for Patrons)

    • Over on Patreon, patrons of the podcast can comment on this post for an additional chance to win a print copy of the book

     

    Mark then reflects on something that Jim spoke about in the interview. When Jim was talking about standing for something and brands taking a stance, a solid, non-wishy-washy stance that focuses on beliefs and core values, it reminded Mark of the age-old advice to authors that your book is NOT for everyone.

    Links of Interest

     

     

    Jim Kukral is recognized as an expert in online marketing and branding. He delivers insightful and entertaining keynotes to growth-oriented organizations on attention-getting marketing, creative branding and understanding how customers think, react and most importantly, buy.

    With a passion for speaking and teaching, Jim travels around the world to teach brands and business owners on how they can apply his UNSKIPPABLE method to their marketing and brand mission to generate positive ROI-based outcomes and purposely attract lifetime customers.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews Jim F. Kukral, author of Your Journey to Becoming Unskippable™: (in your business, life & career).

    Prior to the interview Mark

    • Shares a comment from a previous episode
    • Talks about a new short story he is working on and some of the logistical research challenges that were holding him back
    • Talks about an ASK US ANYTHING Facebook Live chat that Mark, Kevin Tumlinson and Dan Wood will be hosting on the Draft2Digital Facebook page on Thursday July 27 at 3PM Eastern

    Mark then says a word about this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Jim and Mark discuss:

    • Why Jim opened the book sharing his perspective on goals and priorities that have more to do with personal satisfaction than seeking wealth and status
    • The importance of the merger between mindset and business
    • The deeply personal and vulnerable way Jim shared his experience getting involved in local politics
    • The authenticity of Jim's voice in the book which matches the way that he would deliver the same content in person via a conversation or on stage
    • The strategy of not wanting to write a straight-up marketing book, but, instead, a book with business lessons and personal inspiration
    • Jim owning the trademark for the term Unskippable™
    • The importance of creating powerful moments and "talk triggers" that people will remember well beyond just the "cheapest price" or "fastest delivery" or some other temporary perk from a popsicle hotline at a hotel pool to the Jolly Ranchers that a business supply owner added in to every order
    • The reasons that set you apart, take you to th next level, and make you unskippable and memorable
    • The story behind the mysterious persona "Johnny Showtime"
    • The importance of actually standing for something as a brand in order to reach "belief-driven buyers"

    After the interview Mark shares the logistics of how listeners can download a free digital copy of Jim's new book, and also possible win some signed copies.

    Free Digital Download

    Win a Signed Copy of the paperback of Unskippable™

    • Leave a comment for Episode 81 at www.starkreflections.ca by July 10, 2019. Entrants will be entered into a random draw for a signed copy of the book that Jim will be shipping.
    • All entrants who leave a comment by July 10, 2019 will be entered
    • Possible things to comment about include:
      • What's one point you took away from this interview that you'd want to highlightor reflect on?
      • What's one unique thing about you or your writing that might help you towards establishing yourself as unskippable in today's skippable world?
    • This copy is courtesy of Jim Kukral

    Win a paperback copy of Unskippable™

    • All entrants, as above, will be entered in a second random drawing for an additional copy of the paperback
    • Mark will be ordering this via an online bookstore (most likely Amazon, unless the listener is in a country where shipping via a local store there is preferable)

    One more chance for winning the 3rd paperback copy

    • All Patrons of Stark Reflections will automatically be entered in a chance to win the third copy of the book.
    • (Yes, that means Patrons who comment get an additional chance to win)

    A final chance for the 4th copy (also for Patrons)

    • Over on Patreon, patrons of the podcast can comment on this post for an additional chance to win a print copy of the book

    Mark then reflects on something that Jim spoke about in the interview. When Jim was talking about standing for something and brands taking a stance, a solid, non-wishy-washy stance that focuses on beliefs and core values, it reminded Mark of the age-old advice to authors that your book is NOT for everyone.

    Links of Interest

    Jim Kukral is recognized as an expert in online marketing and branding. He delivers insightful and entertaining keynotes to growth-oriented organizations on attention-getting marketing, creative branding and understanding how customers think, react and most importantly, buy.

    With a passion for speaking and teaching, Jim travels around the world to teach brands and business owners on how they can apply his UNSKIPPABLE method to their marketing and brand mission to generate positive ROI-based outcomes and purposely attract lifetime customers.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     38:13 false 2 81 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Jim F. Kukral, author of Your Journey to Becoming Unskippable™: (in your business, life & career). Prior to the interview Mark Shares a comment from a previous episode Talks about a new short story he is working on and some of the logistical research challenges that were holding him back Talks about an ASK US ANYTHING Facebook Live chat that Mark, Kevin Tumlinson and Dan Wood will be hosting on the Draft2Digital Facebook page on Thursday July 27 at 3PM Eastern Mark then says a word about this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Jim and Mark discuss: Why Jim opened the book sharing his perspective on goals and priorities that have more to do with personal satisfaction than seeking wealth and status The importance of the merger between mindset and business The deeply personal and vulnerable way Jim shared his experience getting involved in local politics The authenticity of Jim's voice in the book which matches the way that he would deliver the same content in person via a conversation or on stage The strategy of not wanting to write a straight-up marketing book, but, instead, a book with business lessons and personal inspiration Jim owning the trademark for the term Unskippable™ The importance of creating powerful moments and "talk triggers" that people will remember well beyond just the "cheapest price" or "fastest delivery" or some other temporary perk from a popsicle hotline at a hotel pool to the Jolly Ranchers that a business supply owner added in to every order The reasons that set you apart, take you to th next level, and make you unskippable and memorable The story behind the mysterious persona "Johnny Showtime" The importance of actually standing for something as a brand in order to reach "belief-driven buyers" After the interview Mark shares the logistics of how listeners can download a free digital copy of Jim's new book, and also possible win some signed copies. Free Digital Download Click here to access your free copy of Unskippable™ Win a Signed Copy of the paperback of Unskippable™ Leave a comment for Episode 81 at www.starkreflections.ca by July 10, 2019. Entrants will be entered into a random draw for a signed copy of the book that Jim will be shipping. All entrants who leave a comment by July 10, 2019 will be entered Possible things to comment about include: What's one point you took away from this interview that you'd want to highlightor reflect on? What's one unique thing about you or your writing that might help you towards establishing yourself as unskippable in today's skippable world? This copy is courtesy of Jim Kukral Win a paperback copy of Unskippable™ All entrants, as above, will be entered in a second random drawing for an additional copy of the paperback Mark will be ordering this via an online bookstore (most likely Amazon, unless the listener is in a country where shipping via a local store there is preferable) One more chance for winning the 3rd paperback copy All Patrons of Stark Reflections will automatically be entered in a chance to win the third copy of the book. (Yes, that means Patrons who comment get an additional chance to win) A final chance for the 4th copy (also for Patrons) Over on Patreon, patrons of the podcast can comment on this post for an additional chance to win a print copy of the book   Mark then reflects on something that Jim spoke about in the interview. When Jim was talking about standing for something and brands taking a stance, a solid, non-wishy-washy stance that focuses on beliefs and core values, it reminded Mark of the age-old advice to authors that your book is NOT for everyone. Links of Interest Jim Kukral's Website Your Journey to Becoming Unskippable™ (All Retailers) Jim's other books Jim's podcast: Unskippable with Jim Kukral Jim's co-hosted podcast - The Sell More Books Show The Creative Penn Podcast (Joanna Penn) Episode: How To Be An Unskippable Author with Jim Kukral Findaway Voices Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections     Jim Kukral is recognized as an expert in online marketing and branding. He delivers insightful and entertaining keynotes to growth-oriented organizations on attention-getting marketing, creative branding and understanding how customers think, react and most importantly, buy. With a passion for speaking and teaching, Jim travels around the world to teach brands and business owners on how they can apply his UNSKIPPABLE method to their marketing and brand mission to generate positive ROI-based outcomes and purposely attract lifetime customers.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0In this episode Mark interviews Jim F. Kukral, author of Your Journey to Becoming Unskippable™: (in your business, life & career). Prior to the interview Mark Shares a comment from a previous episode Talks about a new short story he is working on and some of the logistical research challenges that were holding him back Talks about an ASK US ANYTHING Facebook Live chat that Mark, Kevin Tumlinson and Dan Wood will be hosting on the Draft2Digital Facebook page on Thursday July 27 at 3PM Eastern Mark then says a word about this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Jim and Mark discuss: Why Jim opened the book sharing his perspective on goals and priorities that have more to do with personal satisfaction than seeking wealth and status The importance of the merger between mindset and business The deeply personal and vulnerable way Jim shared his experience getting involved in local politics The authenticity of Jim's voice in the book which matches the way that he would deliver the same content in person via a conversation or on stage The strategy of not wanting to write a straight-up marketing book, but, instead, a book with business lessons and personal inspiration Jim owning the trademark for the term Unskippable™ The importance of creating powerful moments and "talk triggers" that people will remember well beyond just the "cheapest price" or "fastest delivery" or some other temporary perk from a popsicle hotline at a hotel pool to the Jolly Ranchers that a business supply owner added in to every order The reasons that set you apart, take you to th next level, and make you unskippable and memorable The story behind the mysterious persona "Johnny Showtime" The importance of actually standing for something as a brand in order to reach "belief-driven buyers" After the interview Mark shares the logistics of how listeners can download a free digital copy of Jim's new book, and also possible win some signed copies. Free Digital Download Click here to access your free copy of Unskippable™ Win a Signed Copy of the paperback of Unskippable™ Leave a comment for Episode 81 at www.starkreflections.ca by July 10, 2019. Entrants will be entered into a random draw for a signed copy of the book that Jim will be shipping. All entrants who leave a comment by July 10, 2019 will be entered Possible things to comment about include: What's one point you took away from this interview that you'd want to highlightor reflect on? What's one unique thing about you or your writing that might help you towards establishing yourself as unskippable in today's skippable world? This copy is courtesy of Jim Kukral Win a paperback copy of Unskippable™ All entrants, as above, will be entered in a second random drawing for an additional copy of the paperback Mark will be ordering this via an online bookstore (most likely Amazon, unless the listener is in a country where shipping via a local store there is preferable) One more chance for winning the 3rd paperback copy All Patrons of Stark Reflections will automatically be entered in a chance to win the third copy of the book. (Yes, that means Patrons who comment get an additional chance to win) A final chance for the 4th copy (also for Patrons) Over on Patreon, patrons of the podcast can comment on this post for an additional chance to win a print copy of the book   Mark then reflects on something that Jim spoke about in the interview. When Jim was talking about standing for something and brands taking a stance, a solid, non-wishy-washy stance that focuses on beliefs and core values, it reminded Mark of the age-old advice to authors that your book is NOT for everyone. Links of Interest Jim Kukral's Website Your Journey to Becoming Unskippable™ (All Retailers) Jim's other books Jim's podcast: Unskippable with Jim Kukral Jim's co-hosted podcast - The Sell More Books Show The Creative Penn Podcast (Joanna Penn) Episode: How To Be An Unskippable Author with Jim Kukral Findaway Voices Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections     Jim Kukral is recognized as an expert in online marketing and branding. He delivers insightful and entertaining keynotes to growth-oriented organizations on attention-getting marketing, creative branding and understanding how customers think, react and most importantly, buy. With a passion for speaking and teaching, Jim travels around the world to teach brands and business owners on how they can apply his UNSKIPPABLE method to their marketing and brand mission to generate positive ROI-based outcomes and purposely attract lifetime customers.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 080 - German Spy Thrillers with Mark O'Neill German Spy Thrillers with Mark O'Neill Fri, 14 Jun 2019 03:09:45 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Mark O'Neill a writer of German spy thrillers who has released more than a dozen books in his Department 89 spy thriller series in the past couple of years after spending thirty years passionate about writing.

    Prior to the interview, Mark talks about a Twitter comment from Rachel Amphlett regarding episode 78.

    He also thanks Patrons of the show who support it via www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

    Mark also shares a personal update about receiving his annual royalty statement and cheque from one of his publishers, referring to it as "Schrodinger's Envelope" - before the envelope is opened it is both larger than and small than last year's at the same time.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    In their conversation Mark and Mark talk about:

    • Mark's background in writing via journalism and a life-long passion until he encountered Mark Dawson who opened his eyes to the self-publishing side of things
    • The value of the introduction to self-publishing course that Mark Dawson taught
    • The reasoning behind setting his spy thrillers in Germany as well as making the lead character a strong female spy
    • Mark's contacts in the police, embassy and military that have been helpful for research in his novels
    • The concept of Mark's thrillers not being for those who want 100% accuracy but are there to enjoy the escape and fantasy of a novel that is just an entertaining romp
    • The importance of not focusing on Captain Sophie Decker, the main character, as a sex object, but as a specialist and capable professional regardless of being male or female
    • A bit of the backstory of how Decker created Department 89
    • The different English and German media programs that Mark might have been partially inspired by when writing this series
    • The German translations that Mark has produced for the first two books in the series
    • A little about the difference in the German market as compared to the North America and UK markets
    • The media page that Mark has on his author website
    • What Mark would go back and tell his younger writer self about what he has learned in the past two years

     

    Links of Interest

     

    Mark is a 40-something Scotsman, now living the expatriate lifestyle in Würzburg, Germany. He has been writing in one form or another for the past 30 years. However, he is now an independently published fiction writer, currently working on the Department 89 espionage novels starring the female spy Captain Sophie Decker, protecting the German state.

    The first D89 book, "The Renegade Spy" was downloaded more than 4,000 times in the first 4 weeks. Plots have been outlined for up to 20 Department 89 novels.

    The first book, "The Renegade Spy" has received rave reviews, with one reviewer comparing Sophie Decker to the female version of Bruce Willis's character, John McClaine, in the Die Hard movies.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews Mark O'Neill a writer of German spy thrillers who has released more than a dozen books in his Department 89 spy thriller series in the past couple of years after spending thirty years passionate about writing.

    Prior to the interview, Mark talks about a Twitter comment from Rachel Amphlett regarding episode 78.

    He also thanks Patrons of the show who support it via www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

    Mark also shares a personal update about receiving his annual royalty statement and cheque from one of his publishers, referring to it as "Schrodinger's Envelope" - before the envelope is opened it is both larger than and small than last year's at the same time.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation Mark and Mark talk about:

    • Mark's background in writing via journalism and a life-long passion until he encountered Mark Dawson who opened his eyes to the self-publishing side of things
    • The value of the introduction to self-publishing course that Mark Dawson taught
    • The reasoning behind setting his spy thrillers in Germany as well as making the lead character a strong female spy
    • Mark's contacts in the police, embassy and military that have been helpful for research in his novels
    • The concept of Mark's thrillers not being for those who want 100% accuracy but are there to enjoy the escape and fantasy of a novel that is just an entertaining romp
    • The importance of not focusing on Captain Sophie Decker, the main character, as a sex object, but as a specialist and capable professional regardless of being male or female
    • A bit of the backstory of how Decker created Department 89
    • The different English and German media programs that Mark might have been partially inspired by when writing this series
    • The German translations that Mark has produced for the first two books in the series
    • A little about the difference in the German market as compared to the North America and UK markets
    • The media page that Mark has on his author website
    • What Mark would go back and tell his younger writer self about what he has learned in the past two years

    Links of Interest

    Mark is a 40-something Scotsman, now living the expatriate lifestyle in Würzburg, Germany. He has been writing in one form or another for the past 30 years. However, he is now an independently published fiction writer, currently working on the Department 89 espionage novels starring the female spy Captain Sophie Decker, protecting the German state.

    The first D89 book, "The Renegade Spy" was downloaded more than 4,000 times in the first 4 weeks. Plots have been outlined for up to 20 Department 89 novels.

    The first book, "The Renegade Spy" has received rave reviews, with one reviewer comparing Sophie Decker to the female version of Bruce Willis's character, John McClaine, in the Die Hard movies.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     40:00 false 2 80 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Mark O'Neill a writer of German spy thrillers who has released more than a dozen books in his Department 89 spy thriller series in the past couple of years after spending thirty years passionate about writing. Prior to the interview, Mark talks about a Twitter comment from Rachel Amphlett regarding episode 78. He also thanks Patrons of the show who support it via www.patreon.com/starkreflections. Mark also shares a personal update about receiving his annual royalty statement and cheque from one of his publishers, referring to it as "Schrodinger's Envelope" - before the envelope is opened it is both larger than and small than last year's at the same time. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation Mark and Mark talk about: Mark's background in writing via journalism and a life-long passion until he encountered Mark Dawson who opened his eyes to the self-publishing side of things The value of the introduction to self-publishing course that Mark Dawson taught The reasoning behind setting his spy thrillers in Germany as well as making the lead character a strong female spy Mark's contacts in the police, embassy and military that have been helpful for research in his novels The concept of Mark's thrillers not being for those who want 100% accuracy but are there to enjoy the escape and fantasy of a novel that is just an entertaining romp The importance of not focusing on Captain Sophie Decker, the main character, as a sex object, but as a specialist and capable professional regardless of being male or female A bit of the backstory of how Decker created Department 89 The different English and German media programs that Mark might have been partially inspired by when writing this series The German translations that Mark has produced for the first two books in the series A little about the difference in the German market as compared to the North America and UK markets The media page that Mark has on his author website What Mark would go back and tell his younger writer self about what he has learned in the past two years   Links of Interest Mark O'Neill's Website Mark's Media Kit Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Formula Courses Episode 51 - Interview with Rachel Amphlett Findaway Voices Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections   Mark is a 40-something Scotsman, now living the expatriate lifestyle in Würzburg, Germany. He has been writing in one form or another for the past 30 years. However, he is now an independently published fiction writer, currently working on the Department 89 espionage novels starring the female spy Captain Sophie Decker, protecting the German state. The first D89 book, "The Renegade Spy" was downloaded more than 4,000 times in the first 4 weeks. Plots have been outlined for up to 20 Department 89 novels. The first book, "The Renegade Spy" has received rave reviews, with one reviewer comparing Sophie Decker to the female version of Bruce Willis's character, John McClaine, in the Die Hard movies.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode Mark interviews Mark O'Neill a writer of German spy thrillers who has released more than a dozen books in his Department 89 spy thriller series in the past couple of years after spending thirty years passionate about writing. Prior to the interview, Mark talks about a Twitter comment from Rachel Amphlett regarding episode 78. He also thanks Patrons of the show who support it via www.patreon.com/starkreflections. Mark also shares a personal update about receiving his annual royalty statement and cheque from one of his publishers, referring to it as "Schrodinger's Envelope" - before the envelope is opened it is both larger than and small than last year's at the same time. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation Mark and Mark talk about: Mark's background in writing via journalism and a life-long passion until he encountered Mark Dawson who opened his eyes to the self-publishing side of things The value of the introduction to self-publishing course that Mark Dawson taught The reasoning behind setting his spy thrillers in Germany as well as making the lead character a strong female spy Mark's contacts in the police, embassy and military that have been helpful for research in his novels The concept of Mark's thrillers not being for those who want 100% accuracy but are there to enjoy the escape and fantasy of a novel that is just an entertaining romp The importance of not focusing on Captain Sophie Decker, the main character, as a sex object, but as a specialist and capable professional regardless of being male or female A bit of the backstory of how Decker created Department 89 The different English and German media programs that Mark might have been partially inspired by when writing this series The German translations that Mark has produced for the first two books in the series A little about the difference in the German market as compared to the North America and UK markets The media page that Mark has on his author website What Mark would go back and tell his younger writer self about what he has learned in the past two years   Links of Interest Mark O'Neill's Website Mark's Media Kit Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Formula Courses Episode 51 - Interview with Rachel Amphlett Findaway Voices Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections   Mark is a 40-something Scotsman, now living the expatriate lifestyle in Würzburg, Germany. He has been writing in one form or another for the past 30 years. However, he is now an independently published fiction writer, currently working on the Department 89 espionage novels starring the female spy Captain Sophie Decker, protecting the German state. The first D89 book, "The Renegade Spy" was downloaded more than 4,000 times in the first 4 weeks. Plots have been outlined for up to 20 Department 89 novels. The first book, "The Renegade Spy" has received rave reviews, with one reviewer comparing Sophie Decker to the female version of Bruce Willis's character, John McClaine, in the Die Hard movies.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 079 - Why Kobo Why Kobo Tue, 11 Jun 2019 19:33:09 +0000 In this slightly shorter episode (which was initially intended to be a bonus episode for Patreon supporters of the podcast), Mark does a "reflections on other podcasts" show.

    He shares a clip from the Kobo Writing Life Podcast where Christine Munroe interviews Rakuten Kobo CEO Michael Tamblyn and then reflects on some of the things that Michael talks about.

    Prior to the interview, Mark reads some listeners comments from Pranathi and Chad Boyer and also thanks new podcast patron Linda Stirling for supporting the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections and talks a little about this episode's sponsor.

    This episode is sponsored by BundleRabbit

    You can learn more about how authors can use BundleRabbit as a collaborative publishing tool over at www.bundlerabbit.com.

     

    In the interview, which is a clip from Episode 153 of the Kobo Writing Life podcast, podcast co-host Christine Munroe interviews Michael Tamblyn.

    Michael shares an intriguing and meaningful response to the question Why Kobo? and also talks about other things that are important to this eBook and audiobook retailer that is focused on the reading experience.

    After the short clip, Mark reflects on the comments from Michael.

     

    Links of Interest

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

     

     

    ]]>     In this slightly shorter episode (which was initially intended to be a bonus episode for Patreon supporters of the podcast), Mark does a "reflections on other podcasts" show.

    He shares a clip from the Kobo Writing Life Podcast where Christine Munroe interviews Rakuten Kobo CEO Michael Tamblyn and then reflects on some of the things that Michael talks about.

    Prior to the interview, Mark reads some listeners comments from Pranathi and Chad Boyer and also thanks new podcast patron Linda Stirling for supporting the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections and talks a little about this episode's sponsor.

    This episode is sponsored by BundleRabbit

    You can learn more about how authors can use BundleRabbit as a collaborative publishing tool over at www.bundlerabbit.com.

    In the interview, which is a clip from Episode 153 of the Kobo Writing Life podcast, podcast co-host Christine Munroe interviews Michael Tamblyn.

    Michael shares an intriguing and meaningful response to the question Why Kobo? and also talks about other things that are important to this eBook and audiobook retailer that is focused on the reading experience.

    After the short clip, Mark reflects on the comments from Michael.

    Links of Interest

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     22:19 false 2 79 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this slightly shorter episode (which was initially intended to be a bonus episode for Patreon supporters of the podcast), Mark does a "reflections on other podcasts" show. He shares a clip from the Kobo Writing Life Podcast where Christine Munroe interviews Rakuten Kobo CEO Michael Tamblyn and then reflects on some of the things that Michael talks about. Prior to the interview, Mark reads some listeners comments from Pranathi and Chad Boyer and also thanks new podcast patron Linda Stirling for supporting the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections and talks a little about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by BundleRabbit You can learn more about how authors can use BundleRabbit as a collaborative publishing tool over at www.bundlerabbit.com.   In the interview, which is a clip from Episode 153 of the Kobo Writing Life podcast, podcast co-host Christine Munroe interviews Michael Tamblyn. Michael shares an intriguing and meaningful response to the question Why Kobo? and also talks about other things that are important to this eBook and audiobook retailer that is focused on the reading experience. After the short clip, Mark reflects on the comments from Michael.   Links of Interest Kobo Writing Life Podcast - Episode 153 - Why Our CEO Loves Indie Authors Bundlerabbit Episode 9 of Stark Reflections - Interview with Chuck Heintzelman of BundleRabbit Episode 27 - Jamie Ferguson on Bundles, Curation and Collaboration Killing It On Kobo Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0      Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this slightly shorter episode (which was initially intended to be a bonus episode for Patreon supporters of the podcast), Mark does a "reflections on other podcasts" show. He shares a clip from the Kobo Writing Life Podcast where Christine Munroe interviews Rakuten Kobo CEO Michael Tamblyn and then reflects on some of the things that Michael talks about. Prior to the interview, Mark reads some listeners comments from Pranathi and Chad Boyer and also thanks new podcast patron Linda Stirling for supporting the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections and talks a little about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by BundleRabbit You can learn more about how authors can use BundleRabbit as a collaborative publishing tool over at www.bundlerabbit.com.   In the interview, which is a clip from Episode 153 of the Kobo Writing Life podcast, podcast co-host Christine Munroe interviews Michael Tamblyn. Michael shares an intriguing and meaningful response to the question Why Kobo? and also talks about other things that are important to this eBook and audiobook retailer that is focused on the reading experience. After the short clip, Mark reflects on the comments from Michael.   Links of Interest Kobo Writing Life Podcast - Episode 153 - Why Our CEO Loves Indie Authors Bundlerabbit Episode 9 of Stark Reflections - Interview with Chuck Heintzelman of BundleRabbit Episode 27 - Jamie Ferguson on Bundles, Curation and Collaboration Killing It On Kobo Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0           Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 078 - Post BEA 2019 Reflections Post BEA 2019 Reflections Thu, 06 Jun 2019 23:12:14 +0000 In this episode, Mark shares some thoughts and reflections from last week's visit to Book Expo America in New York.

    He explains a bit about what the fair is, why the fair is, his impressions and thoughts of this year's fair and a bit about its history, as well as a few news items related to the fair.

    Prior to the main content, Mark talks about a few comments and welcomes new Patron Stanley B. Trice.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    During the episode Mark talks about:

    • Headline - a cool way to promote your audio content
    • An intriguing blog series from Penguin Random House with insights into traditional publishing
    • A deal between Dreamscape Media and LMBPN Publishing (Michael Anderle's publishing company)
    • James A. Hunter and the publishing company (Shadow Alley Press) that he runs with his wife Jeanette

     

    Links of Interest

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

     

     

     

     

     

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark shares some thoughts and reflections from last week's visit to Book Expo America in New York.

    He explains a bit about what the fair is, why the fair is, his impressions and thoughts of this year's fair and a bit about its history, as well as a few news items related to the fair.

    Prior to the main content, Mark talks about a few comments and welcomes new Patron Stanley B. Trice.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    During the episode Mark talks about:

    • Headline - a cool way to promote your audio content
    • An intriguing blog series from Penguin Random House with insights into traditional publishing
    • A deal between Dreamscape Media and LMBPN Publishing (Michael Anderle's publishing company)
    • James A. Hunter and the publishing company (Shadow Alley Press) that he runs with his wife Jeanette

    Links of Interest

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     42:49 false 2 78 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark shares some thoughts and reflections from last week's visit to Book Expo America in New York. He explains a bit about what the fair is, why the fair is, his impressions and thoughts of this year's fair and a bit about its history, as well as a few news items related to the fair. Prior to the main content, Mark talks about a few comments and welcomes new Patron Stanley B. Trice. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During the episode Mark talks about: Headline - a cool way to promote your audio content An intriguing blog series from Penguin Random House with insights into traditional publishing A deal between Dreamscape Media and LMBPN Publishing (Michael Anderle's publishing company) James A. Hunter and the publishing company (Shadow Alley Press) that he runs with his wife Jeanette   Links of Interest Book Expo America BISG (Book Industry Study Group) LMBPN Publishing Dreamscape/LMBPN Press Release Shadow Alley Press Penguin Random House Blog Series (Book Lover's Guide to Publishing) 1 - Publishing Ephemera 2 - Publishing Process 3 - Printing & Production 4 - Design & Size Findaway Voices Blog post on using Headliner to promote your audio Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0            Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark shares some thoughts and reflections from last week's visit to Book Expo America in New York. He explains a bit about what the fair is, why the fair is, his impressions and thoughts of this year's fair and a bit about its history, as well as a few news items related to the fair. Prior to the main content, Mark talks about a few comments and welcomes new Patron Stanley B. Trice. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During the episode Mark talks about: Headline - a cool way to promote your audio content An intriguing blog series from Penguin Random House with insights into traditional publishing A deal between Dreamscape Media and LMBPN Publishing (Michael Anderle's publishing company) James A. Hunter and the publishing company (Shadow Alley Press) that he runs with his wife Jeanette   Links of Interest Book Expo America BISG (Book Industry Study Group) LMBPN Publishing Dreamscape/LMBPN Press Release Shadow Alley Press Penguin Random House Blog Series (Book Lover's Guide to Publishing) 1 - Publishing Ephemera 2 - Publishing Process 3 - Printing & Production 4 - Design & Size Findaway Voices Blog post on using Headliner to promote your audio Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0                 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 077 - A Gut-Check on the State of Publishing with Kristine Kathryn Rusch A Gut-Check on the State of Publishing with Kristine Kathryn Rusch Thu, 30 May 2019 12:45:36 +0000 In this episode Mark chats with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristine Kathryn Rusch about writing with chronic health issues, contract negotiations with publishers, mistakes that authors are making, and so much more.

    Prior to the interview, Mark does a little house-keeping regarding winners of Danny Bell's first novel from Episode 70, reads new comments, thanks Patrons who support the show, and talks about being in New York this week for Book Expo America.

    Mark also shares a recent presentation that Michael Tamblyn, CEO of Kobo, presented to the BISG (Book Industry Study Group) in late April.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    In their conversation Kris and Mark talk about:

    • Kris's recent move and the discoveries made in relation to a book she recently released called WRITING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS
    • How Kris's entire life has revolved around exercise and writing and that likely made a positive difference for her despite huge health challenges that she faced, and potentially is what might have kept her alive
    • The realization that Kris made only recently that she had never learned how to rest
    • The way she utilizes running and walking to benefit her writing
    • How Kris's training in radio automatically activates her "critical voice"
    • The rotating playlists Kris uses when running (often ones that have to have a really good beat)
    • The move from 5000 square feet (with offices across the house from one another) to 1600 square feet (and a shared office) and how Kris and her husband Dean manage their own unique writing spaces
    • The value for writers in understanding the way that different editors approach a piece of writing
    • Breaking down the myth that there's a single book (or story) out there that everyone will love
    • What "reader cookies" are and how they can play upon an editor's personal preferences
    • A look at "anti-reader cookies" - element or content in a story that an editor hates or will refuse to read
    • How Ray Bradbury practiced writing a short story a day
    • The concept of "writing into the dark" when creating your first draft and how that plays into the fact we have been consuming stories since we were pre-verbal
    • How, with so many tasks, deadlines and balls in the air, Kris decides what writing project to work on next
    • The importance of growing as a writer by writing about things that stretch or challenge her
    • How Kris's book DEALBREAKERS helped Mark negotiate a much better contract with his publisher
    • The choice of "walking" which writers always have when being presented with a publishing contract
    • The three big things that Kris sees that indie authors are not doing correctly: Following Trends, Burning Out and Neglecting their Personal Lives/Families/Health, Following the Scams (that promise seemingly impossible results)
    • The free content that Kris shares (both fiction and non-fiction) on her website on a regular basis, and the origin for both
    • The value of networking and personal connections made during in-person workshops (both the craft workshops as well as the business workshops)
    • The "no politics" and "no religion" rules that Kris and Dean operate within for their workshops (which allows writers to bond regardless of their political or religious biases

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects upon one of the things Kris said regarding taking a workshop when it's in town as opposed to removing yourself from your regular schedule/life, and why the travel/removal of one's self from day to day life for such a learning/bonding experience can be valuable.

     

    Links of Interest

     

    Kristine Kathryn Rusch is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Kris writes in almost every genre and her novels have made bestseller lists around the world and her short fiction has appeared in more than twenty best of the year collections. She has won more than twenty-five awards for her fiction, including the Hugo, Le Prix Imaginales, the Asimov's Readers Choice award, and the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Readers Choice Award.

    Kris also has an extensive history in publishing and editing, having been the editor of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction as well as co-publishing the original Puuse Magazine with her husband, Dean Wesley Smith. The two now run WMG Publishing, which publish a revised version of Pulphouse, the Fiction River anthology series and many other projects, along with running publishing workshops both online and in person.

    ]]>     In this episode Mark chats with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristine Kathryn Rusch about writing with chronic health issues, contract negotiations with publishers, mistakes that authors are making, and so much more.

    Prior to the interview, Mark does a little house-keeping regarding winners of Danny Bell's first novel from Episode 70, reads new comments, thanks Patrons who support the show, and talks about being in New York this week for Book Expo America.

    Mark also shares a recent presentation that Michael Tamblyn, CEO of Kobo, presented to the BISG (Book Industry Study Group) in late April.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation Kris and Mark talk about:

    • Kris's recent move and the discoveries made in relation to a book she recently released called WRITING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS
    • How Kris's entire life has revolved around exercise and writing and that likely made a positive difference for her despite huge health challenges that she faced, and potentially is what might have kept her alive
    • The realization that Kris made only recently that she had never learned how to rest
    • The way she utilizes running and walking to benefit her writing
    • How Kris's training in radio automatically activates her "critical voice"
    • The rotating playlists Kris uses when running (often ones that have to have a really good beat)
    • The move from 5000 square feet (with offices across the house from one another) to 1600 square feet (and a shared office) and how Kris and her husband Dean manage their own unique writing spaces
    • The value for writers in understanding the way that different editors approach a piece of writing
    • Breaking down the myth that there's a single book (or story) out there that everyone will love
    • What "reader cookies" are and how they can play upon an editor's personal preferences
    • A look at "anti-reader cookies" - element or content in a story that an editor hates or will refuse to read
    • How Ray Bradbury practiced writing a short story a day
    • The concept of "writing into the dark" when creating your first draft and how that plays into the fact we have been consuming stories since we were pre-verbal
    • How, with so many tasks, deadlines and balls in the air, Kris decides what writing project to work on next
    • The importance of growing as a writer by writing about things that stretch or challenge her
    • How Kris's book DEALBREAKERS helped Mark negotiate a much better contract with his publisher
    • The choice of "walking" which writers always have when being presented with a publishing contract
    • The three big things that Kris sees that indie authors are not doing correctly: Following Trends, Burning Out and Neglecting their Personal Lives/Families/Health, Following the Scams (that promise seemingly impossible results)
    • The free content that Kris shares (both fiction and non-fiction) on her website on a regular basis, and the origin for both
    • The value of networking and personal connections made during in-person workshops (both the craft workshops as well as the business workshops)
    • The "no politics" and "no religion" rules that Kris and Dean operate within for their workshops (which allows writers to bond regardless of their political or religious biases

    After the interview, Mark reflects upon one of the things Kris said regarding taking a workshop when it's in town as opposed to removing yourself from your regular schedule/life, and why the travel/removal of one's self from day to day life for such a learning/bonding experience can be valuable.

    Links of Interest

    Kristine Kathryn Rusch is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Kris writes in almost every genre and her novels have made bestseller lists around the world and her short fiction has appeared in more than twenty best of the year collections. She has won more than twenty-five awards for her fiction, including the Hugo, Le Prix Imaginales, the Asimov's Readers Choice award, and the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Readers Choice Award.

    Kris also has an extensive history in publishing and editing, having been the editor of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction as well as co-publishing the original Puuse Magazine with her husband, Dean Wesley Smith. The two now run WMG Publishing, which publish a revised version of Pulphouse, the Fiction River anthology series and many other projects, along with running publishing workshops both online and in person.

    ]]>     58:58 false 2 77 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark chats with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristine Kathryn Rusch about writing with chronic health issues, contract negotiations with publishers, mistakes that authors are making, and so much more. Prior to the interview, Mark does a little house-keeping regarding winners of Danny Bell's first novel from Episode 70, reads new comments, thanks Patrons who support the show, and talks about being in New York this week for Book Expo America. Mark also shares a recent presentation that Michael Tamblyn, CEO of Kobo, presented to the BISG (Book Industry Study Group) in late April. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation Kris and Mark talk about: Kris's recent move and the discoveries made in relation to a book she recently released called WRITING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS How Kris's entire life has revolved around exercise and writing and that likely made a positive difference for her despite huge health challenges that she faced, and potentially is what might have kept her alive The realization that Kris made only recently that she had never learned how to rest The way she utilizes running and walking to benefit her writing How Kris's training in radio automatically activates her "critical voice" The rotating playlists Kris uses when running (often ones that have to have a really good beat) The move from 5000 square feet (with offices across the house from one another) to 1600 square feet (and a shared office) and how Kris and her husband Dean manage their own unique writing spaces The value for writers in understanding the way that different editors approach a piece of writing Breaking down the myth that there's a single book (or story) out there that everyone will love What "reader cookies" are and how they can play upon an editor's personal preferences A look at "anti-reader cookies" - element or content in a story that an editor hates or will refuse to read How Ray Bradbury practiced writing a short story a day The concept of "writing into the dark" when creating your first draft and how that plays into the fact we have been consuming stories since we were pre-verbal How, with so many tasks, deadlines and balls in the air, Kris decides what writing project to work on next The importance of growing as a writer by writing about things that stretch or challenge her How Kris's book DEALBREAKERS helped Mark negotiate a much better contract with his publisher The choice of "walking" which writers always have when being presented with a publishing contract The three big things that Kris sees that indie authors are not doing correctly: Following Trends, Burning Out and Neglecting their Personal Lives/Families/Health, Following the Scams (that promise seemingly impossible results) The free content that Kris shares (both fiction and non-fiction) on her website on a regular basis, and the origin for both The value of networking and personal connections made during in-person workshops (both the craft workshops as well as the business workshops) The "no politics" and "no religion" rules that Kris and Dean operate within for their workshops (which allows writers to bond regardless of their political or religious biases   After the interview, Mark reflects upon one of the things Kris said regarding taking a workshop when it's in town as opposed to removing yourself from your regular schedule/life, and why the travel/removal of one's self from day to day life for such a learning/bonding experience can be valuable.   Links of Interest Kristine Kathryn Rusch Business Musings Blog Posts Book: Writing with Chronic Illness WMG Publishing WMG Writing and Publishing Workshops Findaway Voices Stark Reflections Survey   Kristine Kathryn Rusch is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Kris writes in almost every genre and her novels have made bestseller lists around the world and her short fiction has appeared in more than twenty best of the year collections. She has won more than twenty-five awards for her fiction, including the Hugo, Le Prix Imaginales, the Asimov's Readers Choice award, and the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Readers Choice Award. Kris also has an extensive history in publishing and editing, having been the editor of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction as well as co-publishing the original Puuse Magazine with her husband, Dean Wesley Smith. The two now run WMG Publishing, which publish a revised version of Pulphouse, the Fiction River anthology series and many other projects, along with running publishing workshops both online and in person.Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode Mark chats with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristine Kathryn Rusch about writing with chronic health issues, contract negotiations with publishers, mistakes that authors are making, and so much more. Prior to the interview, Mark does a little house-keeping regarding winners of Danny Bell's first novel from Episode 70, reads new comments, thanks Patrons who support the show, and talks about being in New York this week for Book Expo America. Mark also shares a recent presentation that Michael Tamblyn, CEO of Kobo, presented to the BISG (Book Industry Study Group) in late April. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation Kris and Mark talk about: Kris's recent move and the discoveries made in relation to a book she recently released called WRITING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS How Kris's entire life has revolved around exercise and writing and that likely made a positive difference for her despite huge health challenges that she faced, and potentially is what might have kept her alive The realization that Kris made only recently that she had never learned how to rest The way she utilizes running and walking to benefit her writing How Kris's training in radio automatically activates her "critical voice" The rotating playlists Kris uses when running (often ones that have to have a really good beat) The move from 5000 square feet (with offices across the house from one another) to 1600 square feet (and a shared office) and how Kris and her husband Dean manage their own unique writing spaces The value for writers in understanding the way that different editors approach a piece of writing Breaking down the myth that there's a single book (or story) out there that everyone will love What "reader cookies" are and how they can play upon an editor's personal preferences A look at "anti-reader cookies" - element or content in a story that an editor hates or will refuse to read How Ray Bradbury practiced writing a short story a day The concept of "writing into the dark" when creating your first draft and how that plays into the fact we have been consuming stories since we were pre-verbal How, with so many tasks, deadlines and balls in the air, Kris decides what writing project to work on next The importance of growing as a writer by writing about things that stretch or challenge her How Kris's book DEALBREAKERS helped Mark negotiate a much better contract with his publisher The choice of "walking" which writers always have when being presented with a publishing contract The three big things that Kris sees that indie authors are not doing correctly: Following Trends, Burning Out and Neglecting their Personal Lives/Families/Health, Following the Scams (that promise seemingly impossible results) The free content that Kris shares (both fiction and non-fiction) on her website on a regular basis, and the origin for both The value of networking and personal connections made during in-person workshops (both the craft workshops as well as the business workshops) The "no politics" and "no religion" rules that Kris and Dean operate within for their workshops (which allows writers to bond regardless of their political or religious biases   After the interview, Mark reflects upon one of the things Kris said regarding taking a workshop when it's in town as opposed to removing yourself from your regular schedule/life, and why the travel/removal of one's self from day to day life for such a learning/bonding experience can be valuable.   Links of Interest Kristine Kathryn Rusch Business Musings Blog Posts Book: Writing with Chronic Illness WMG Publishing WMG Writing and Publishing Workshops Findaway Voices Stark Reflections Survey   Kristine Kathryn Rusch is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Kris writes in almost every genre and her novels have made bestseller lists around the world and her short fiction has appeared in more than twenty best of the year collections. She has won more than twenty-five awards for her fiction, including the Hugo, Le Prix Imaginales, the Asimov's Readers Choice award, and the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Readers Choice Award. Kris also has an extensive history in publishing and editing, having been the editor of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction as well as co-publishing the original Puuse Magazine with her husband, Dean Wesley Smith. The two now run WMG Publishing, which publish a revised version of Pulphouse, the Fiction River anthology series and many other projects, along with running publishing workshops both online and in person.     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 076 - Recognizing Success in Failure with Sarah McVanel Recognizing Success in Failure with Sarah McVanel Fri, 24 May 2019 03:19:16 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Sarah McVanel, author, professional speaker, and owner of the boutique firm Greatness Magnified, about her latest book FLIP SIDE OF FAILING.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update (which includes being stuck in Oklahoma City for a couple of extra days due to tornado-rich storms) and also shares a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Sarah and Mark talk about:

    • Sarah's introduction to being a writer and a speaker when a work colleague that she adored decided to retire
    • How we (the corporate world) don't properly leverage recognition
    • Sarah's first book F.R.O.G. (Forever Recognize Others' Greatness) and the accompanying workbook that provided tools she co-authored with Brenda Zalter-Minden
    • How Sarah and Brenda collaborated on the books
    • Recognizing the two distinct author voices in their particular collaboration and how they leveraged that
    • The exploratory method that took two years for Sarah and Brenda to write their first book
    • How Home Depot was the first big corporate client to hire Sarah because they discovered her first book
    • A personal and professional turning-point moment involving Sarah's son, dealing with bullying, and cutting
    • Sarah's new book Flip Side of Failing and how she didn't plan on writing a book on failure
    • The common theme of the book that you can fail and still be great - and how failure can help us achieve greater success
    • How we have to have a failure-friendly mindset, and be in a context that accepts failure in order to elevate from failure
    • The acronym ACCEPT (Acquire / Choice / Connection / Expect / Progress / Transformation)
    • How Sarah launched the book exclusively at the Spark Women's Leadership Conference on May 16th prior to the book's global release on May 21st. Everyone at the conference gets a book, Sarah does a keynote, and there's a panel that Sarah moderates on the topic of failing
    • How you are going to show up if you believe in your new book and what it offers to readers
    • The importance of attaching your book launch to an event

     

    After the interview Mark reflects on two things from the conversation with Sarah that were important to him. First, the importance of recognizing the greatness in others. And second, the concept Sarah mentioned that you don't always write the book you planned to write.

    Mark then thanks Patrons of the show and reminds them of the additional audio content available to them (including a few answers to four questions post that went up earlier that same day) - he also riffs off of a couple of verbal errors he previously made.

    Links of Interest

     

    SARAH McVANEL helps individuals leverage the exponential power of recognition to retain top talent, fuel healthy teams and sustain healthy bottom lines. She speaks nationally on the topic, leads workshops, coaches leaders, and conducts organizational recognition program reviews. Sarah specializes in working with service-based organizations and "helping professionals."

    Sarah is a Certified Speaker Professional (CSP), Certified Senior Organizational Development Professional (CSODP), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL), and president of the Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS). She has a BA in Psychology, MSc in Family Relations, and Diplomas in Human Resources and Healthcare Administration.

    Sarah has over 18 years' experience including at a senior leadership level and now owns boutique firm Greatness Magnified. She is an author of peer-reviewed journals, articles and four books.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews Sarah McVanel, author, professional speaker, and owner of the boutique firm Greatness Magnified, about her latest book FLIP SIDE OF FAILING.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update (which includes being stuck in Oklahoma City for a couple of extra days due to tornado-rich storms) and also shares a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Sarah and Mark talk about:

    • Sarah's introduction to being a writer and a speaker when a work colleague that she adored decided to retire
    • How we (the corporate world) don't properly leverage recognition
    • Sarah's first book F.R.O.G. (Forever Recognize Others' Greatness) and the accompanying workbook that provided tools she co-authored with Brenda Zalter-Minden
    • How Sarah and Brenda collaborated on the books
    • Recognizing the two distinct author voices in their particular collaboration and how they leveraged that
    • The exploratory method that took two years for Sarah and Brenda to write their first book
    • How Home Depot was the first big corporate client to hire Sarah because they discovered her first book
    • A personal and professional turning-point moment involving Sarah's son, dealing with bullying, and cutting
    • Sarah's new book Flip Side of Failing and how she didn't plan on writing a book on failure
    • The common theme of the book that you can fail and still be great - and how failure can help us achieve greater success
    • How we have to have a failure-friendly mindset, and be in a context that accepts failure in order to elevate from failure
    • The acronym ACCEPT (Acquire / Choice / Connection / Expect / Progress / Transformation)
    • How Sarah launched the book exclusively at the Spark Women's Leadership Conference on May 16th prior to the book's global release on May 21st. Everyone at the conference gets a book, Sarah does a keynote, and there's a panel that Sarah moderates on the topic of failing
    • How you are going to show up if you believe in your new book and what it offers to readers
    • The importance of attaching your book launch to an event

    After the interview Mark reflects on two things from the conversation with Sarah that were important to him. First, the importance of recognizing the greatness in others. And second, the concept Sarah mentioned that you don't always write the book you planned to write.

    Mark then thanks Patrons of the show and reminds them of the additional audio content available to them (including a few answers to four questions post that went up earlier that same day) - he also riffs off of a couple of verbal errors he previously made.

    Links of Interest

    SARAH McVANEL helps individuals leverage the exponential power of recognition to retain top talent, fuel healthy teams and sustain healthy bottom lines. She speaks nationally on the topic, leads workshops, coaches leaders, and conducts organizational recognition program reviews. Sarah specializes in working with service-based organizations and "helping professionals."

    Sarah is a Certified Speaker Professional (CSP), Certified Senior Organizational Development Professional (CSODP), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL), and president of the Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS). She has a BA in Psychology, MSc in Family Relations, and Diplomas in Human Resources and Healthcare Administration.

    Sarah has over 18 years' experience including at a senior leadership level and now owns boutique firm Greatness Magnified. She is an author of peer-reviewed journals, articles and four books.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     54:17 false 2 76 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Sarah McVanel, author, professional speaker, and owner of the boutique firm Greatness Magnified, about her latest book FLIP SIDE OF FAILING. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update (which includes being stuck in Oklahoma City for a couple of extra days due to tornado-rich storms) and also shares a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Sarah and Mark talk about: Sarah's introduction to being a writer and a speaker when a work colleague that she adored decided to retire How we (the corporate world) don't properly leverage recognition Sarah's first book F.R.O.G. (Forever Recognize Others' Greatness) and the accompanying workbook that provided tools she co-authored with Brenda Zalter-Minden How Sarah and Brenda collaborated on the books Recognizing the two distinct author voices in their particular collaboration and how they leveraged that The exploratory method that took two years for Sarah and Brenda to write their first book How Home Depot was the first big corporate client to hire Sarah because they discovered her first book A personal and professional turning-point moment involving Sarah's son, dealing with bullying, and cutting Sarah's new book Flip Side of Failing and how she didn't plan on writing a book on failure The common theme of the book that you can fail and still be great - and how failure can help us achieve greater success How we have to have a failure-friendly mindset, and be in a context that accepts failure in order to elevate from failure The acronym ACCEPT (Acquire / Choice / Connection / Expect / Progress / Transformation) How Sarah launched the book exclusively at the Spark Women's Leadership Conference on May 16th prior to the book's global release on May 21st. Everyone at the conference gets a book, Sarah does a keynote, and there's a panel that Sarah moderates on the topic of failing How you are going to show up if you believe in your new book and what it offers to readers The importance of attaching your book launch to an event   After the interview Mark reflects on two things from the conversation with Sarah that were important to him. First, the importance of recognizing the greatness in others. And second, the concept Sarah mentioned that you don't always write the book you planned to write. Mark then thanks Patrons of the show and reminds them of the additional audio content available to them (including a few answers to four questions post that went up earlier that same day) - he also riffs off of a couple of verbal errors he previously made. Links of Interest Sarah McVanel's Website Flip Side of Failing Forever Recognize Others' Greatness The FROG Effect Workbook Sarah's Speaker Profile Sarah's Video Resources Findaway Voices EP 005 - Global Audiobook Opportunities for Authors EP 022 - Finding my Way with Findaway Patreon for Stark Reflections CAPS - Canadian Association of Professional Speakers Stark Reflections Survey   SARAH McVANEL helps individuals leverage the exponential power of recognition to retain top talent, fuel healthy teams and sustain healthy bottom lines. She speaks nationally on the topic, leads workshops, coaches leaders, and conducts organizational recognition program reviews. Sarah specializes in working with service-based organizations and "helping professionals." Sarah is a Certified Speaker Professional (CSP), Certified Senior Organizational Development Professional (CSODP), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL), and president of the Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS). She has a BA in Psychology, MSc in Family Relations, and Diplomas in Human Resources and Healthcare Administration. Sarah has over 18 years' experience including at a senior leadership level and now owns boutique firm Greatness Magnified. She is an author of peer-reviewed journals, articles and four books.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode Mark interviews Sarah McVanel, author, professional speaker, and owner of the boutique firm Greatness Magnified, about her latest book FLIP SIDE OF FAILING. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update (which includes being stuck in Oklahoma City for a couple of extra days due to tornado-rich storms) and also shares a word from this episode's sponsor Findaway Voices . . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Sarah and Mark talk about: Sarah's introduction to being a writer and a speaker when a work colleague that she adored decided to retire How we (the corporate world) don't properly leverage recognition Sarah's first book F.R.O.G. (Forever Recognize Others' Greatness) and the accompanying workbook that provided tools she co-authored with Brenda Zalter-Minden How Sarah and Brenda collaborated on the books Recognizing the two distinct author voices in their particular collaboration and how they leveraged that The exploratory method that took two years for Sarah and Brenda to write their first book How Home Depot was the first big corporate client to hire Sarah because they discovered her first book A personal and professional turning-point moment involving Sarah's son, dealing with bullying, and cutting Sarah's new book Flip Side of Failing and how she didn't plan on writing a book on failure The common theme of the book that you can fail and still be great - and how failure can help us achieve greater success How we have to have a failure-friendly mindset, and be in a context that accepts failure in order to elevate from failure The acronym ACCEPT (Acquire / Choice / Connection / Expect / Progress / Transformation) How Sarah launched the book exclusively at the Spark Women's Leadership Conference on May 16th prior to the book's global release on May 21st. Everyone at the conference gets a book, Sarah does a keynote, and there's a panel that Sarah moderates on the topic of failing How you are going to show up if you believe in your new book and what it offers to readers The importance of attaching your book launch to an event   After the interview Mark reflects on two things from the conversation with Sarah that were important to him. First, the importance of recognizing the greatness in others. And second, the concept Sarah mentioned that you don't always write the book you planned to write. Mark then thanks Patrons of the show and reminds them of the additional audio content available to them (including a few answers to four questions post that went up earlier that same day) - he also riffs off of a couple of verbal errors he previously made. Links of Interest Sarah McVanel's Website Flip Side of Failing Forever Recognize Others' Greatness The FROG Effect Workbook Sarah's Speaker Profile Sarah's Video Resources Findaway Voices EP 005 - Global Audiobook Opportunities for Authors EP 022 - Finding my Way with Findaway Patreon for Stark Reflections CAPS - Canadian Association of Professional Speakers Stark Reflections Survey   SARAH McVANEL helps individuals leverage the exponential power of recognition to retain top talent, fuel healthy teams and sustain healthy bottom lines. She speaks nationally on the topic, leads workshops, coaches leaders, and conducts organizational recognition program reviews. Sarah specializes in working with service-based organizations and "helping professionals." Sarah is a Certified Speaker Professional (CSP), Certified Senior Organizational Development Professional (CSODP), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL), and president of the Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS). She has a BA in Psychology, MSc in Family Relations, and Diplomas in Human Resources and Healthcare Administration. Sarah has over 18 years' experience including at a senior leadership level and now owns boutique firm Greatness Magnified. She is an author of peer-reviewed journals, articles and four books.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 075 - Police Procedurals Respected by Law Enforcement with Carolyn Arnold Police Procedurals Respected by Law Enforcement with Carolyn Arnold Fri, 17 May 2019 03:59:18 +0000 In this episode, Mark has a chat with Carolyn Arnold (the author of the Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures) and her husband George.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update, Mark shares the fact that he is in Oklahoma City, OK, spending a week at the Draft2Digital offices. He also talks about the importance of connecting in person (both with respect to hanging out with his colleagues from D2D as well as the in-person connections that happen at writer conferences).

    He also shares his experience attending the Alicia Witt concert at The Blue Door in OKC and as well as his involvement "working backstage" or "front of house" for the evening.

    In addition, he talks about the anger that fans of Game of Thrones have been expressing recently, and a petition fans are signing along with the thought that the emotional investment fans are displaying is evidence of really powerful and effective storytelling.

    In their chat, Mark, Carolyn and George talk about:

    • How long Carolyn and George have been collaborating as a husband and wife team and writer and publisher
    • George's 25 years of experience as a designer before he adapted that knowledge into designing Carolyn's book covers
    • Carolyn's start in writing in a serious way in 2006 shortly after a work colleage asked her to tell her a story
    • What drew Carolyn to the dark corners of murder and mysteries
    • The way that Carolyn doesn't really know the end of her novels and that she investigates along with her investigators
    • How writing 10 books in a single year led to Carolyn's need of having George start to do the formatting of the eBooks and print books for her
    • Carolyn's belief that, though she is the creative person (the writer) that George is also a very creative person in their partnership
    • The need for divided and separating their at home work spaces
    • Strategy and detailed analytics that into the launch of each new book
    • How the message in Carolyn's book IN THE LINE OF DUTY is nearest and dearest to her heart
    • The research involved ERT and SWAT to ensure accuracy in the details of Carolyn's novels
    • The origin of Carolyn's two main branding catch phrases
    • The spreadsheet Carolyn and George have with various contacts and specialists from police, FBI, coroners, etc
    • Long term and patient curation of and engagement with Carolyn's fan base
    • The way Carolyn alternates between writing in her difference series books
    • The business decision behind the settings for Carolyn's novels in the US rather than in Canada
    • The value of ARC and early reader feedback and how they use Bookfunnel for that
    • The "empowering to women" effect of Carolyn's Madison Knight series and character
    • How SHADES OF JUSTICE was influenced by a double homicide that happened in Toronto
    • Strategies regarding moving into audiobooks
    • How the beauty of a leaf led to freeing up Carolyn's creative mind in determing the solution to a novel she had been working on
    • Advice that Carolyn and George would offer to help a creative person transition their passion to a full time career

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the creativity involved in publishing and marketing. He then thanks recent commenters on the podcast and Patreon supporters.

     

    Links of Interest

     

    CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.

    Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

    Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

    She currently lives in London, Ontario with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.

    GEORGE ARNOLD is a graphic design artist with nearly thirty years experience. Through his employment with a local graphic company, his talent has been put to work for many big names including 3M, McDonald's, the London Knights, and Diamond Aircraft.

    He joined Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc. full-time January 2016 for the purpose of cover design, interior formatting, sales and marketing. He's been designing Carolyn's covers since 2011 and has worked with others on theirs during that time, as well.

    George was born in rural Ontario and has the desire to put his skills to use serving others in the publishing industry.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark has a chat with Carolyn Arnold (the author of the Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures) and her husband George.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . .

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update, Mark shares the fact that he is in Oklahoma City, OK, spending a week at the Draft2Digital offices. He also talks about the importance of connecting in person (both with respect to hanging out with his colleagues from D2D as well as the in-person connections that happen at writer conferences).

    He also shares his experience attending the Alicia Witt concert at The Blue Door in OKC and as well as his involvement "working backstage" or "front of house" for the evening.

    In addition, he talks about the anger that fans of Game of Thrones have been expressing recently, and a petition fans are signing along with the thought that the emotional investment fans are displaying is evidence of really powerful and effective storytelling.

    In their chat, Mark, Carolyn and George talk about:

    • How long Carolyn and George have been collaborating as a husband and wife team and writer and publisher
    • George's 25 years of experience as a designer before he adapted that knowledge into designing Carolyn's book covers
    • Carolyn's start in writing in a serious way in 2006 shortly after a work colleage asked her to tell her a story
    • What drew Carolyn to the dark corners of murder and mysteries
    • The way that Carolyn doesn't really know the end of her novels and that she investigates along with her investigators
    • How writing 10 books in a single year led to Carolyn's need of having George start to do the formatting of the eBooks and print books for her
    • Carolyn's belief that, though she is the creative person (the writer) that George is also a very creative person in their partnership
    • The need for divided and separating their at home work spaces
    • Strategy and detailed analytics that into the launch of each new book
    • How the message in Carolyn's book IN THE LINE OF DUTY is nearest and dearest to her heart
    • The research involved ERT and SWAT to ensure accuracy in the details of Carolyn's novels
    • The origin of Carolyn's two main branding catch phrases
    • The spreadsheet Carolyn and George have with various contacts and specialists from police, FBI, coroners, etc
    • Long term and patient curation of and engagement with Carolyn's fan base
    • The way Carolyn alternates between writing in her difference series books
    • The business decision behind the settings for Carolyn's novels in the US rather than in Canada
    • The value of ARC and early reader feedback and how they use Bookfunnel for that
    • The "empowering to women" effect of Carolyn's Madison Knight series and character
    • How SHADES OF JUSTICE was influenced by a double homicide that happened in Toronto
    • Strategies regarding moving into audiobooks
    • How the beauty of a leaf led to freeing up Carolyn's creative mind in determing the solution to a novel she had been working on
    • Advice that Carolyn and George would offer to help a creative person transition their passion to a full time career

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the creativity involved in publishing and marketing. He then thanks recent commenters on the podcast and Patreon supporters.

    Links of Interest

    CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.

    Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

    Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

    She currently lives in London, Ontario with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.

    GEORGE ARNOLD is a graphic design artist with nearly thirty years experience. Through his employment with a local graphic company, his talent has been put to work for many big names including 3M, McDonald's, the London Knights, and Diamond Aircraft.

    He joined Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc. full-time January 2016 for the purpose of cover design, interior formatting, sales and marketing. He's been designing Carolyn's covers since 2011 and has worked with others on theirs during that time, as well.

    George was born in rural Ontario and has the desire to put his skills to use serving others in the publishing industry.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     49:04 false 2 75 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark has a chat with Carolyn Arnold (the author of the Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures) and her husband George. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark shares the fact that he is in Oklahoma City, OK, spending a week at the Draft2Digital offices. He also talks about the importance of connecting in person (both with respect to hanging out with his colleagues from D2D as well as the in-person connections that happen at writer conferences). He also shares his experience attending the Alicia Witt concert at The Blue Door in OKC and as well as his involvement "working backstage" or "front of house" for the evening. In addition, he talks about the anger that fans of Game of Thrones have been expressing recently, and a petition fans are signing along with the thought that the emotional investment fans are displaying is evidence of really powerful and effective storytelling. In their chat, Mark, Carolyn and George talk about: How long Carolyn and George have been collaborating as a husband and wife team and writer and publisher George's 25 years of experience as a designer before he adapted that knowledge into designing Carolyn's book covers Carolyn's start in writing in a serious way in 2006 shortly after a work colleage asked her to tell her a story What drew Carolyn to the dark corners of murder and mysteries The way that Carolyn doesn't really know the end of her novels and that she investigates along with her investigators How writing 10 books in a single year led to Carolyn's need of having George start to do the formatting of the eBooks and print books for her Carolyn's belief that, though she is the creative person (the writer) that George is also a very creative person in their partnership The need for divided and separating their at home work spaces Strategy and detailed analytics that into the launch of each new book How the message in Carolyn's book IN THE LINE OF DUTY is nearest and dearest to her heart The research involved ERT and SWAT to ensure accuracy in the details of Carolyn's novels The origin of Carolyn's two main branding catch phrases The spreadsheet Carolyn and George have with various contacts and specialists from police, FBI, coroners, etc Long term and patient curation of and engagement with Carolyn's fan base The way Carolyn alternates between writing in her difference series books The business decision behind the settings for Carolyn's novels in the US rather than in Canada The value of ARC and early reader feedback and how they use Bookfunnel for that The "empowering to women" effect of Carolyn's Madison Knight series and character How SHADES OF JUSTICE was influenced by a double homicide that happened in Toronto Strategies regarding moving into audiobooks How the beauty of a leaf led to freeing up Carolyn's creative mind in determing the solution to a novel she had been working on Advice that Carolyn and George would offer to help a creative person transition their passion to a full time career After the interview, Mark reflects on the creativity involved in publishing and marketing. He then thanks recent commenters on the podcast and Patreon supporters.   Links of Interest Carolyn Arnold's Website Hibbert and Styles Publishing Alicia Witt A clip from the end of the song "Liz" that Alicia wrote for Mark A recent blog post where Mark gushes about Alicia's music The Blue Door OKC Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™. Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower. She currently lives in London, Ontario with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime. GEORGE ARNOLD is a graphic design artist with nearly thirty years experience. Through his employment with a local graphic company, his talent has been put to work for many big names including 3M, McDonald's, the London Knights, and Diamond Aircraft. He joined Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc. full-time January 2016 for the purpose of cover design, interior formatting, sales and marketing. He's been designing Carolyn's covers since 2011 and has worked with others on theirs during that time, as well. George was born in rural Ontario and has the desire to put his skills to use serving others in the publishing industry.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark has a chat with Carolyn Arnold (the author of the Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures) and her husband George. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark shares the fact that he is in Oklahoma City, OK, spending a week at the Draft2Digital offices. He also talks about the importance of connecting in person (both with respect to hanging out with his colleagues from D2D as well as the in-person connections that happen at writer conferences). He also shares his experience attending the Alicia Witt concert at The Blue Door in OKC and as well as his involvement "working backstage" or "front of house" for the evening. In addition, he talks about the anger that fans of Game of Thrones have been expressing recently, and a petition fans are signing along with the thought that the emotional investment fans are displaying is evidence of really powerful and effective storytelling. In their chat, Mark, Carolyn and George talk about: How long Carolyn and George have been collaborating as a husband and wife team and writer and publisher George's 25 years of experience as a designer before he adapted that knowledge into designing Carolyn's book covers Carolyn's start in writing in a serious way in 2006 shortly after a work colleage asked her to tell her a story What drew Carolyn to the dark corners of murder and mysteries The way that Carolyn doesn't really know the end of her novels and that she investigates along with her investigators How writing 10 books in a single year led to Carolyn's need of having George start to do the formatting of the eBooks and print books for her Carolyn's belief that, though she is the creative person (the writer) that George is also a very creative person in their partnership The need for divided and separating their at home work spaces Strategy and detailed analytics that into the launch of each new book How the message in Carolyn's book IN THE LINE OF DUTY is nearest and dearest to her heart The research involved ERT and SWAT to ensure accuracy in the details of Carolyn's novels The origin of Carolyn's two main branding catch phrases The spreadsheet Carolyn and George have with various contacts and specialists from police, FBI, coroners, etc Long term and patient curation of and engagement with Carolyn's fan base The way Carolyn alternates between writing in her difference series books The business decision behind the settings for Carolyn's novels in the US rather than in Canada The value of ARC and early reader feedback and how they use Bookfunnel for that The "empowering to women" effect of Carolyn's Madison Knight series and character How SHADES OF JUSTICE was influenced by a double homicide that happened in Toronto Strategies regarding moving into audiobooks How the beauty of a leaf led to freeing up Carolyn's creative mind in determing the solution to a novel she had been working on Advice that Carolyn and George would offer to help a creative person transition their passion to a full time career After the interview, Mark reflects on the creativity involved in publishing and marketing. He then thanks recent commenters on the podcast and Patreon supporters.   Links of Interest Carolyn Arnold's Website Hibbert and Styles Publishing Alicia Witt A clip from the end of the song "Liz" that Alicia wrote for Mark A recent blog post where Mark gushes about Alicia's music The Blue Door OKC Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™. Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower. She currently lives in London, Ontario with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime. GEORGE ARNOLD is a graphic design artist with nearly thirty years experience. Through his employment with a local graphic company, his talent has been put to work for many big names including 3M, McDonald's, the London Knights, and Diamond Aircraft. He joined Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc. full-time January 2016 for the purpose of cover design, interior formatting, sales and marketing. He's been designing Carolyn's covers since 2011 and has worked with others on theirs during that time, as well. George was born in rural Ontario and has the desire to put his skills to use serving others in the publishing industry.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 074 - Perspectives on the Past, Present and Future of Publishing Perspectives on the Past, Present and Future of Publishing Fri, 10 May 2019 04:27:39 +0000 In this episode, Mark shares a live discussion from the Rock Apocalypse conference and workshop in Cleveland, OH that took place in early May 2019.

    The session is a recorded panel discussion from the two day event. Zach Bohannon moderated a panel discussion with T.W. Piperbrook, J, Thorn, Jim Kukral and Mark.

    Prior to the interview, Mark reads a few comments from listeners from the previous episode and thanks Patrons and commenters for engaging with the podcast.

    He then shares a word from the episode's sponsor.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update, Mark shares the details of how he planned a marriage proposal for his girlfriend with Alicia Witt at her recent Toronto live concert performance, and plays a few clips from the song Alicia wrote for the engagement.

    The panel discussion that was recorded at the Cleveland conference features Zach asking the panelists about:

    • How they got started in publishing
    • What's advice they'd offer their 2019 self
    • What they think might be coming in the future of publishing

     

    Links of Interest

     

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

    Additional music in this episode:

    "Liz" was written, composed and produced by Alicia Witt. Copyright © 2019 Alicia Witt.

    "Bobcaygeon" written by Rob Baker, Gord Downey, Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair, from the album Phantom Power Copyright © 1999 by The Tragically Hip

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark shares a live discussion from the Rock Apocalypse conference and workshop in Cleveland, OH that took place in early May 2019.

    The session is a recorded panel discussion from the two day event. Zach Bohannon moderated a panel discussion with T.W. Piperbrook, J, Thorn, Jim Kukral and Mark.

    Prior to the interview, Mark reads a few comments from listeners from the previous episode and thanks Patrons and commenters for engaging with the podcast.

    He then shares a word from the episode's sponsor.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update, Mark shares the details of how he planned a marriage proposal for his girlfriend with Alicia Witt at her recent Toronto live concert performance, and plays a few clips from the song Alicia wrote for the engagement.

    The panel discussion that was recorded at the Cleveland conference features Zach asking the panelists about:

    • How they got started in publishing
    • What's advice they'd offer their 2019 self
    • What they think might be coming in the future of publishing

    Links of Interest

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    Additional music in this episode:

    "Liz" was written, composed and produced by Alicia Witt. Copyright © 2019 Alicia Witt.

    "Bobcaygeon" written by Rob Baker, Gord Downey, Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair, from the album Phantom Power Copyright © 1999 by The Tragically Hip

    ]]>     55:09 false 2 74 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark shares a live discussion from the Rock Apocalypse conference and workshop in Cleveland, OH that took place in early May 2019. The session is a recorded panel discussion from the two day event. Zach Bohannon moderated a panel discussion with T.W. Piperbrook, J, Thorn, Jim Kukral and Mark. Prior to the interview, Mark reads a few comments from listeners from the previous episode and thanks Patrons and commenters for engaging with the podcast. He then shares a word from the episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark shares the details of how he planned a marriage proposal for his girlfriend with Alicia Witt at her recent Toronto live concert performance, and plays a few clips from the song Alicia wrote for the engagement. The panel discussion that was recorded at the Cleveland conference features Zach asking the panelists about: How they got started in publishing What's advice they'd offer their 2019 self What they think might be coming in the future of publishing   Links of Interest Alicia Witt A clip from the end of the song "Liz" that Alicia wrote A recent blog post where Mark gushes about Alicia's music The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto The Career Author Summit Findaway Voices J. Thorn Zach Bohannon T. W. Piperbrook Jim Kukral Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey     The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   Additional music in this episode: "Liz" was written, composed and produced by Alicia Witt. Copyright © 2019 Alicia Witt. "Bobcaygeon" written by Rob Baker, Gord Downey, Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair, from the album Phantom Power Copyright © 1999 by The Tragically HipMark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark shares a live discussion from the Rock Apocalypse conference and workshop in Cleveland, OH that took place in early May 2019. The session is a recorded panel discussion from the two day event. Zach Bohannon moderated a panel discussion with T.W. Piperbrook, J, Thorn, Jim Kukral and Mark. Prior to the interview, Mark reads a few comments from listeners from the previous episode and thanks Patrons and commenters for engaging with the podcast. He then shares a word from the episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark shares the details of how he planned a marriage proposal for his girlfriend with Alicia Witt at her recent Toronto live concert performance, and plays a few clips from the song Alicia wrote for the engagement. The panel discussion that was recorded at the Cleveland conference features Zach asking the panelists about: How they got started in publishing What's advice they'd offer their 2019 self What they think might be coming in the future of publishing   Links of Interest Alicia Witt A clip from the end of the song "Liz" that Alicia wrote A recent blog post where Mark gushes about Alicia's music The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto The Career Author Summit Findaway Voices J. Thorn Zach Bohannon T. W. Piperbrook Jim Kukral Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey     The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   Additional music in this episode: "Liz" was written, composed and produced by Alicia Witt. Copyright © 2019 Alicia Witt. "Bobcaygeon" written by Rob Baker, Gord Downey, Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair, from the album Phantom Power Copyright © 1999 by The Tragically Hip     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 073 - Too Connected In This Digital Life Too Connected In This Digital Life Fri, 03 May 2019 02:29:30 +0000 In this solo episode Mark reflects upon the concept of Digital Minimalism that he is reading about in Cal Newport's new book.

    Prior to the main topic of this episode, Mark shares a personal update regarding his travel to Cleveland, OH to participate in the "Rock Apocalypse 2019" event held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and run by J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon.

    The event is described, quite aptly as: "A world-building experience, writer's seminar, and your destination vacation in two epic days!"

    Along with the intimate and engaging world-building with the small group of writers, Mark talks about Eric and Rinn from Findaway Voices (this episode's sponsor) and things they shared with the writers. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Mark talks about listening to Newport's latest book on his drive from Waterloo, ON to Cleveland, OH.

    This book is a bid for Newport become the Marie Kondo of technology - to help people realize where digital technology bring value and where it takes away value.

    Mark also shares how the book references the writing and philosophy of Henry David Thoreau, and shares a clip from a radio program he hosted in 2008 that asked how much more connected we could get.

    He finds it startling how much MORE has happened since that 2008 reflection.

    He then shares a concept for his own attempt at adapting some of Newport's recommendations into his own digital life and at the importance of disconnecting from technology, connecting with the physical world, being in the moment, and the value and benefit that comes with allowing yourself to become bored.

    As the show ends, Mark thanks new patron Leigh Anne Beckett, as well as all patrons and listeners to the show. He also shares the winners of the prizes for comments on Episodes 70 and 71.

    Links of Interest

     

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

    ]]>     In this solo episode Mark reflects upon the concept of Digital Minimalism that he is reading about in Cal Newport's new book.

    Prior to the main topic of this episode, Mark shares a personal update regarding his travel to Cleveland, OH to participate in the "Rock Apocalypse 2019" event held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and run by J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon.

    The event is described, quite aptly as: "A world-building experience, writer's seminar, and your destination vacation in two epic days!"

    Along with the intimate and engaging world-building with the small group of writers, Mark talks about Eric and Rinn from Findaway Voices (this episode's sponsor) and things they shared with the writers. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Mark talks about listening to Newport's latest book on his drive from Waterloo, ON to Cleveland, OH.

    This book is a bid for Newport become the Marie Kondo of technology - to help people realize where digital technology bring value and where it takes away value.

    Mark also shares how the book references the writing and philosophy of Henry David Thoreau, and shares a clip from a radio program he hosted in 2008 that asked how much more connected we could get.

    He finds it startling how much MORE has happened since that 2008 reflection.

    He then shares a concept for his own attempt at adapting some of Newport's recommendations into his own digital life and at the importance of disconnecting from technology, connecting with the physical world, being in the moment, and the value and benefit that comes with allowing yourself to become bored.

    As the show ends, Mark thanks new patron Leigh Anne Beckett, as well as all patrons and listeners to the show. He also shares the winners of the prizes for comments on Episodes 70 and 71.

    Links of Interest

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     35:56 false 2 73 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode Mark reflects upon the concept of Digital Minimalism that he is reading about in Cal Newport's new book. Prior to the main topic of this episode, Mark shares a personal update regarding his travel to Cleveland, OH to participate in the "Rock Apocalypse 2019" event held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and run by J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon. The event is described, quite aptly as: "A world-building experience, writer's seminar, and your destination vacation in two epic days!" Along with the intimate and engaging world-building with the small group of writers, Mark talks about Eric and Rinn from Findaway Voices (this episode's sponsor) and things they shared with the writers. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark talks about listening to Newport's latest book on his drive from Waterloo, ON to Cleveland, OH. This book is a bid for Newport become the Marie Kondo of technology - to help people realize where digital technology bring value and where it takes away value. Mark also shares how the book references the writing and philosophy of Henry David Thoreau, and shares a clip from a radio program he hosted in 2008 that asked how much more connected we could get. He finds it startling how much MORE has happened since that 2008 reflection. He then shares a concept for his own attempt at adapting some of Newport's recommendations into his own digital life and at the importance of disconnecting from technology, connecting with the physical world, being in the moment, and the value and benefit that comes with allowing yourself to become bored. As the show ends, Mark thanks new patron Leigh Anne Beckett, as well as all patrons and listeners to the show. He also shares the winners of the prizes for comments on Episodes 70 and 71. Links of Interest Cal Newport's Website Cal Newport's Books Findaway Voices Blog post about Authors Direct StoryBundle "The Write Stuff" Bundle (limited time offer) Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey     The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this solo episode Mark reflects upon the concept of Digital Minimalism that he is reading about in Cal Newport's new book. Prior to the main topic of this episode, Mark shares a personal update regarding his travel to Cleveland, OH to participate in the "Rock Apocalypse 2019" event held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and run by J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon. The event is described, quite aptly as: "A world-building experience, writer's seminar, and your destination vacation in two epic days!" Along with the intimate and engaging world-building with the small group of writers, Mark talks about Eric and Rinn from Findaway Voices (this episode's sponsor) and things they shared with the writers. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Mark talks about listening to Newport's latest book on his drive from Waterloo, ON to Cleveland, OH. This book is a bid for Newport become the Marie Kondo of technology - to help people realize where digital technology bring value and where it takes away value. Mark also shares how the book references the writing and philosophy of Henry David Thoreau, and shares a clip from a radio program he hosted in 2008 that asked how much more connected we could get. He finds it startling how much MORE has happened since that 2008 reflection. He then shares a concept for his own attempt at adapting some of Newport's recommendations into his own digital life and at the importance of disconnecting from technology, connecting with the physical world, being in the moment, and the value and benefit that comes with allowing yourself to become bored. As the show ends, Mark thanks new patron Leigh Anne Beckett, as well as all patrons and listeners to the show. He also shares the winners of the prizes for comments on Episodes 70 and 71. Links of Interest Cal Newport's Website Cal Newport's Books Findaway Voices Blog post about Authors Direct StoryBundle "The Write Stuff" Bundle (limited time offer) Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey     The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 072 - Treehouse Reflections with Sheena Cundy Treehouse Reflections with Sheena Cundy Fri, 26 Apr 2019 14:32:22 +0000 Mark interviews Sheena Cundy, the author of the Witch Lit series of novels that include The Madness and the Magic and Bonkers and Broomsticks.

    Prior to the personal update, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices - specifically about the promotional opportunities available through Voices Plus as well as the fact that Findaway is opening their Authors Direct beta up even wider.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update Mark talks about:

    • The 12 hour delay in publishing of this episode due to meetings, taxes and Avengers: Endgame
    • No spoilers, just how much Mark enjoyed the new Avengers movie (and brief reflections on previous spoilers from The Empire Strikes Back and The Crying Game)
    • Visiting Cleveland for Rock Apocalypse event run by The Career Author Podcast folks J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon

     

    In their interview, Mark and Sheena talk about:

    • The origin of Sheena's treehouse and the different creative tasks she does in the treehouse
    • Sheena's interest in promoting other creative people via her Treehouse TV YouTube video
    • The band, Morrigan's Path, that Sheena has played in for five years
    • Her origin getting into the band with her husband as a lyrisist and vocalist based on her poetry
    • The "single release" strategy that the band has engaged in as a lead-in to the release of their third album
    • How, even though they get paid to perform gigs, the band and the music has always been for the love of it
    • Sheena's Witch Lit series (about a crazy witch having a mid-life crisis) which includes The Madness and the Magic and Bonkers and Broomsticks
    • The initial serialization of Sheena's first book on a pagan blog after writing it during NaNoWriMo
    • The role of Mark Dawson's Self-Publishing 101 course in helping Sheena evolve from traditional and into indie publishing
    • How Sheena divides up her time and schedule with her various creative activities
    • The DIY approach she has taken with her publishing tasks and schedule
    • The timing of the release of Book 2 (Bonkers and Broomsticks) on May 1st with Beltane ("May Day") a Gaelic pagan seasonal festival
    • Sheena's forthcoming visit to 20Books50K Edinburgh and her fascination with the ethos of that group
    • How you can become like a sponge when you're thirsty for learning
    • The importance of being with people who are already doing what you want to do
    • The value of networking and connecting with people in the flesh as well as on a 1:1 basis
    • Focusing on your target audience and readers
    • How Witch Lit is defined as being Chick Lit with Witches
    • The creativity that all of us have and the importance of trusting that it will find its own expression in its own format

    After the interview, Mark reflects on what Sheena said about the importance of having good feedback and encouragement in your creative endeavors which helps provide the confidence to keep moving forward and to keep writing and to keep practicing.

    Mark shares one of his own experiences of a fantastic high school English teacher, Gary Furhman, whose comment on a short story he wrote in Grade 11 had a profound and lasting impact on him.

     

    Links of Interest

     

    Sheena Cundy is a witch, wife, mother, and musician. She teaches the Tarot, spiritual development and horse riding, and sings and writes songs for her pagan band - Morrigans Path. She is also the author of a non-fiction book The Magic of Nature Oracle and the Witch Lit series of novels that include The Madness and the Magic and Bonkers and Broomsticks. Sheena says that she wrote this debut novel to keep out of prison, a straitjacket and the divorce courts while battling with dodgy hormones during a mid-life crisis.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

    ]]>     Mark interviews Sheena Cundy, the author of the Witch Lit series of novels that include The Madness and the Magic and Bonkers and Broomsticks.

    Prior to the personal update, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices - specifically about the promotional opportunities available through Voices Plus as well as the fact that Findaway is opening their Authors Direct beta up even wider.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update Mark talks about:

    • The 12 hour delay in publishing of this episode due to meetings, taxes and Avengers: Endgame
    • No spoilers, just how much Mark enjoyed the new Avengers movie (and brief reflections on previous spoilers from The Empire Strikes Back and The Crying Game)
    • Visiting Cleveland for Rock Apocalypse event run by The Career Author Podcast folks J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon

    In their interview, Mark and Sheena talk about:

    • The origin of Sheena's treehouse and the different creative tasks she does in the treehouse
    • Sheena's interest in promoting other creative people via her Treehouse TV YouTube video
    • The band, Morrigan's Path, that Sheena has played in for five years
    • Her origin getting into the band with her husband as a lyrisist and vocalist based on her poetry
    • The "single release" strategy that the band has engaged in as a lead-in to the release of their third album
    • How, even though they get paid to perform gigs, the band and the music has always been for the love of it
    • Sheena's Witch Lit series (about a crazy witch having a mid-life crisis) which includes The Madness and the Magic and Bonkers and Broomsticks
    • The initial serialization of Sheena's first book on a pagan blog after writing it during NaNoWriMo
    • The role of Mark Dawson's Self-Publishing 101 course in helping Sheena evolve from traditional and into indie publishing
    • How Sheena divides up her time and schedule with her various creative activities
    • The DIY approach she has taken with her publishing tasks and schedule
    • The timing of the release of Book 2 (Bonkers and Broomsticks) on May 1st with Beltane ("May Day") a Gaelic pagan seasonal festival
    • Sheena's forthcoming visit to 20Books50K Edinburgh and her fascination with the ethos of that group
    • How you can become like a sponge when you're thirsty for learning
    • The importance of being with people who are already doing what you want to do
    • The value of networking and connecting with people in the flesh as well as on a 1:1 basis
    • Focusing on your target audience and readers
    • How Witch Lit is defined as being Chick Lit with Witches
    • The creativity that all of us have and the importance of trusting that it will find its own expression in its own format

    After the interview, Mark reflects on what Sheena said about the importance of having good feedback and encouragement in your creative endeavors which helps provide the confidence to keep moving forward and to keep writing and to keep practicing.

    Mark shares one of his own experiences of a fantastic high school English teacher, Gary Furhman, whose comment on a short story he wrote in Grade 11 had a profound and lasting impact on him.

    Links of Interest

    Sheena Cundy is a witch, wife, mother, and musician. She teaches the Tarot, spiritual development and horse riding, and sings and writes songs for her pagan band - Morrigans Path. She is also the author of a non-fiction book The Magic of Nature Oracle and the Witch Lit series of novels that include The Madness and the Magic and Bonkers and Broomsticks. Sheena says that she wrote this debut novel to keep out of prison, a straitjacket and the divorce courts while battling with dodgy hormones during a mid-life crisis.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     57:22 false 2 72 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Sheena Cundy, the author of the Witch Lit series of novels that include The Madness and the Magic and Bonkers and Broomsticks. Prior to the personal update, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices - specifically about the promotional opportunities available through Voices Plus as well as the fact that Findaway is opening their Authors Direct beta up even wider.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update Mark talks about: The 12 hour delay in publishing of this episode due to meetings, taxes and Avengers: Endgame No spoilers, just how much Mark enjoyed the new Avengers movie (and brief reflections on previous spoilers from The Empire Strikes Back and The Crying Game) Visiting Cleveland for Rock Apocalypse event run by The Career Author Podcast folks J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon   In their interview, Mark and Sheena talk about: The origin of Sheena's treehouse and the different creative tasks she does in the treehouse Sheena's interest in promoting other creative people via her Treehouse TV YouTube video The band, Morrigan's Path, that Sheena has played in for five years Her origin getting into the band with her husband as a lyrisist and vocalist based on her poetry The "single release" strategy that the band has engaged in as a lead-in to the release of their third album How, even though they get paid to perform gigs, the band and the music has always been for the love of it Sheena's Witch Lit series (about a crazy witch having a mid-life crisis) which includes The Madness and the Magic and Bonkers and Broomsticks The initial serialization of Sheena's first book on a pagan blog after writing it during NaNoWriMo The role of Mark Dawson's Self-Publishing 101 course in helping Sheena evolve from traditional and into indie publishing How Sheena divides up her time and schedule with her various creative activities The DIY approach she has taken with her publishing tasks and schedule The timing of the release of Book 2 (Bonkers and Broomsticks) on May 1st with Beltane ("May Day") a Gaelic pagan seasonal festival Sheena's forthcoming visit to 20Books50K Edinburgh and her fascination with the ethos of that group How you can become like a sponge when you're thirsty for learning The importance of being with people who are already doing what you want to do The value of networking and connecting with people in the flesh as well as on a 1:1 basis Focusing on your target audience and readers How Witch Lit is defined as being Chick Lit with Witches The creativity that all of us have and the importance of trusting that it will find its own expression in its own format After the interview, Mark reflects on what Sheena said about the importance of having good feedback and encouragement in your creative endeavors which helps provide the confidence to keep moving forward and to keep writing and to keep practicing. Mark shares one of his own experiences of a fantastic high school English teacher, Gary Furhman, whose comment on a short story he wrote in Grade 11 had a profound and lasting impact on him.   Links of Interest Sheena Cundy's Website Music: https://morriganspath.bandcamp.com/ Morrigan's Path Video: TreehouseTV (YouTube) The Witch Lit Facebook Group The Witch Lit YouTube Show Promo Video for lastest Morrigan's Path Album Findaway Voices Blog post about Authors Direct CNET Article on when to take a pee break during Avengers: Endgame Public Lending Right (PLR) Program Canada Australia New Zealand United Kingdom StoryBundle "The Write Stuff" Bundle (limited time offer) Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Sheena Cundy is a witch, wife, mother, and musician. She teaches the Tarot, spiritual development and horse riding, and sings and writes songs for her pagan band - Morrigans Path. She is also the author of a non-fiction book The Magic of Nature Oracle and the Witch Lit series of novels that include The Madness and the Magic and Bonkers and Broomsticks. Sheena says that she wrote this debut novel to keep out of prison, a straitjacket and the divorce courts while battling with dodgy hormones during a mid-life crisis.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark Leslie LefebvreMark interviews Sheena Cundy, the author of the Witch Lit series of novels that include The Madness and the Magic and Bonkers and Broomsticks. Prior to the personal update, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices - specifically about the promotional opportunities available through Voices Plus as well as the fact that Findaway is opening their Authors Direct beta up even wider.You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update Mark talks about: The 12 hour delay in publishing of this episode due to meetings, taxes and Avengers: Endgame No spoilers, just how much Mark enjoyed the new Avengers movie (and brief reflections on previous spoilers from The Empire Strikes Back and The Crying Game) Visiting Cleveland for Rock Apocalypse event run by The Career Author Podcast folks J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon   In their interview, Mark and Sheena talk about: The origin of Sheena's treehouse and the different creative tasks she does in the treehouse Sheena's interest in promoting other creative people via her Treehouse TV YouTube video The band, Morrigan's Path, that Sheena has played in for five years Her origin getting into the band with her husband as a lyrisist and vocalist based on her poetry The "single release" strategy that the band has engaged in as a lead-in to the release of their third album How, even though they get paid to perform gigs, the band and the music has always been for the love of it Sheena's Witch Lit series (about a crazy witch having a mid-life crisis) which includes The Madness and the Magic and Bonkers and Broomsticks The initial serialization of Sheena's first book on a pagan blog after writing it during NaNoWriMo The role of Mark Dawson's Self-Publishing 101 course in helping Sheena evolve from traditional and into indie publishing How Sheena divides up her time and schedule with her various creative activities The DIY approach she has taken with her publishing tasks and schedule The timing of the release of Book 2 (Bonkers and Broomsticks) on May 1st with Beltane ("May Day") a Gaelic pagan seasonal festival Sheena's forthcoming visit to 20Books50K Edinburgh and her fascination with the ethos of that group How you can become like a sponge when you're thirsty for learning The importance of being with people who are already doing what you want to do The value of networking and connecting with people in the flesh as well as on a 1:1 basis Focusing on your target audience and readers How Witch Lit is defined as being Chick Lit with Witches The creativity that all of us have and the importance of trusting that it will find its own expression in its own format After the interview, Mark reflects on what Sheena said about the importance of having good feedback and encouragement in your creative endeavors which helps provide the confidence to keep moving forward and to keep writing and to keep practicing. Mark shares one of his own experiences of a fantastic high school English teacher, Gary Furhman, whose comment on a short story he wrote in Grade 11 had a profound and lasting impact on him.   Links of Interest Sheena Cundy's Website Music: https://morriganspath.bandcamp.com/ Morrigan's Path Video: TreehouseTV (YouTube) The Witch Lit Facebook Group The Witch Lit YouTube Show Promo Video for lastest Morrigan's Path Album Findaway Voices Blog post about Authors Direct CNET Article on when to take a pee break during Avengers: Endgame Public Lending Right (PLR) Program Canada Australia New Zealand United Kingdom StoryBundle "The Write Stuff" Bundle (limited time offer) Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Sheena Cundy is a witch, wife, mother, and musician. She teaches the Tarot, spiritual development and horse riding, and sings and writes songs for her pagan band - Morrigans Path. She is also the author of a non-fiction book The Magic of Nature Oracle and the Witch Lit series of novels that include The Madness and the Magic and Bonkers and Broomsticks. Sheena says that she wrote this debut novel to keep out of prison, a straitjacket and the divorce courts while battling with dodgy hormones during a mid-life crisis.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 071 - A Buffet of Writing Advice with Patricia McLinn A Buffet of Writing Advice with Patricia McLinn Fri, 19 Apr 2019 03:48:34 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn about her three decades of experience in writing and publishing.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the personal update section Mark shares the following:

    • A reminder about the Public Lending Right for Canadian authors (and authors from UK, AU, NZ)
    • An article he recently wrote for Hamilton Magazine (including a bit about the TV show The Hilarious House of Frightenstein
    • An interview he did with the guys from the Paranormal Faction Podcast in Harriston, Ontario in a haunted theatre
    • His forthcoming visit to Book Expo America in New York
    • An update on the prize offered for commenters on Episode 70
    • The deadline to comment has been extended to the end of April
    • A new StoryBundle called the Write Stuff 2019 Spring Bundle that is available until early May. A steal for $5 for 4 books or 15 for all 12 books plus a $50 online lecture. Listeners will have a chance to win this bundle

    In their chat, Mark and Patricia talk about:

    • The original publishers Patricia worked with when she had a few different series traditionally published
    • How hearing a talk at NINC given by Chris Anderson (who coined the concept of "The Long Tail") inspired Patricia to take a fresh look at the publishing industry and to consider indie publishing opportunities
    • The "Writer's Work" website Patricia created in 2009 as "insurance" in case the publishing industry went a little bonkers
    • Getting the rights back for all of her previously released works (except for one German edition of a title)
    • CONTROL being one of the main differences between traditional publishing and indie or self-publishing
    • The difference in timeframes and how publishers will sometimes sit on a manuscript for a year
    • The reality of the "16 days" you had on the bookstore shelves with titles published in the Harlequin Silhouette imprint
    • What clauses and types of contracts would have to have for Patricia to consider signing one again

    Of course, mid-way through the interview, Patricia turns the table and starts asking Mark questions. After a brief section of talking about things publishers do well, and things they don't do so well, Mark realizes what Patricia has done (she is a great podcast host and asks great questions), and turns the tables back on her. They then talk about:

    • What dried wallpaper paste has to do with helping Patricia make the move towards writing and publishing
    • The one letter Patricia got back from an editor earlier in her career that said: "It's clear that you know nothing about the publishing industry"
    • The various elements of romance and mystery that Patricia likes to include in her writing
    • How Patricia feels that writing 3 to 5 books a year still isn't enough to keep up with the characters and ideas floating through her mind
    • The reasons why Patricia started the Authors Love Readers Podcast and how she wanted to model over a simple conversation with a writer where readers could eavestrough
    • Patricia's recent non-fiction book for writers called Survival Kit for Writers Who Don't Write Right
    • How authors have approached Patricia with tears in their eyes after she delivered a presentation on this same topic because they thought they were the only ones who wrote in a more "pantsing" type of style
    • The reason why Patricia has the book for sale for 99 cents on her own website
    • Patricia's number one piece of advice for writers - that writing advice is a buffet. You can try a bit of this, a bit of that, go back for seconds of something else. YOU control the buffet

     

    After the interview Mark reflects on the concept of writing advice being a buffet that authors can selectively pick and choose from.

    Links of Interest

     

    USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn spent more than 20 years as an editor at the Washington Post after newspaper stints in Rockford, Ill., and Charlotte, N.C. She received BA and MSJ degrees from Northwestern University.

    McLinn is the author of more than 47 published novels, which are cited by readers and reviewers for wit and vivid characterization. Her books include mysteries, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, historical romance and women's fiction. They have topped bestseller lists and won numerous awards.

    Now living in Northern Kentucky, McLinn loves to hear from readers through her website, Facebook and Twitter.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn about her three decades of experience in writing and publishing.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the personal update section Mark shares the following:

    • A reminder about the Public Lending Right for Canadian authors (and authors from UK, AU, NZ)
    • An article he recently wrote for Hamilton Magazine (including a bit about the TV show The Hilarious House of Frightenstein
    • An interview he did with the guys from the Paranormal Faction Podcast in Harriston, Ontario in a haunted theatre
    • His forthcoming visit to Book Expo America in New York
    • An update on the prize offered for commenters on Episode 70
    • The deadline to comment has been extended to the end of April
    • A new StoryBundle called the Write Stuff 2019 Spring Bundle that is available until early May. A steal for $5 for 4 books or 15 for all 12 books plus a $50 online lecture. Listeners will have a chance to win this bundle

    In their chat, Mark and Patricia talk about:

    • The original publishers Patricia worked with when she had a few different series traditionally published
    • How hearing a talk at NINC given by Chris Anderson (who coined the concept of "The Long Tail") inspired Patricia to take a fresh look at the publishing industry and to consider indie publishing opportunities
    • The "Writer's Work" website Patricia created in 2009 as "insurance" in case the publishing industry went a little bonkers
    • Getting the rights back for all of her previously released works (except for one German edition of a title)
    • CONTROL being one of the main differences between traditional publishing and indie or self-publishing
    • The difference in timeframes and how publishers will sometimes sit on a manuscript for a year
    • The reality of the "16 days" you had on the bookstore shelves with titles published in the Harlequin Silhouette imprint
    • What clauses and types of contracts would have to have for Patricia to consider signing one again

    Of course, mid-way through the interview, Patricia turns the table and starts asking Mark questions. After a brief section of talking about things publishers do well, and things they don't do so well, Mark realizes what Patricia has done (she is a great podcast host and asks great questions), and turns the tables back on her. They then talk about:

    • What dried wallpaper paste has to do with helping Patricia make the move towards writing and publishing
    • The one letter Patricia got back from an editor earlier in her career that said: "It's clear that you know nothing about the publishing industry"
    • The various elements of romance and mystery that Patricia likes to include in her writing
    • How Patricia feels that writing 3 to 5 books a year still isn't enough to keep up with the characters and ideas floating through her mind
    • The reasons why Patricia started the Authors Love Readers Podcast and how she wanted to model over a simple conversation with a writer where readers could eavestrough
    • Patricia's recent non-fiction book for writers called Survival Kit for Writers Who Don't Write Right
    • How authors have approached Patricia with tears in their eyes after she delivered a presentation on this same topic because they thought they were the only ones who wrote in a more "pantsing" type of style
    • The reason why Patricia has the book for sale for 99 cents on her own website
    • Patricia's number one piece of advice for writers - that writing advice is a buffet. You can try a bit of this, a bit of that, go back for seconds of something else. YOU control the buffet

    After the interview Mark reflects on the concept of writing advice being a buffet that authors can selectively pick and choose from.

    Links of Interest

    USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn spent more than 20 years as an editor at the Washington Post after newspaper stints in Rockford, Ill., and Charlotte, N.C. She received BA and MSJ degrees from Northwestern University.

    McLinn is the author of more than 47 published novels, which are cited by readers and reviewers for wit and vivid characterization. Her books include mysteries, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, historical romance and women's fiction. They have topped bestseller lists and won numerous awards.

    Now living in Northern Kentucky, McLinn loves to hear from readers through her website, Facebook and Twitter.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     51:03 false 2 71 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn about her three decades of experience in writing and publishing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the personal update section Mark shares the following: A reminder about the Public Lending Right for Canadian authors (and authors from UK, AU, NZ) An article he recently wrote for Hamilton Magazine (including a bit about the TV show The Hilarious House of Frightenstein An interview he did with the guys from the Paranormal Faction Podcast in Harriston, Ontario in a haunted theatre His forthcoming visit to Book Expo America in New York An update on the prize offered for commenters on Episode 70 The deadline to comment has been extended to the end of April A new StoryBundle called the Write Stuff 2019 Spring Bundle that is available until early May. A steal for $5 for 4 books or 15 for all 12 books plus a $50 online lecture. Listeners will have a chance to win this bundle In their chat, Mark and Patricia talk about: The original publishers Patricia worked with when she had a few different series traditionally published How hearing a talk at NINC given by Chris Anderson (who coined the concept of "The Long Tail") inspired Patricia to take a fresh look at the publishing industry and to consider indie publishing opportunities The "Writer's Work" website Patricia created in 2009 as "insurance" in case the publishing industry went a little bonkers Getting the rights back for all of her previously released works (except for one German edition of a title) CONTROL being one of the main differences between traditional publishing and indie or self-publishing The difference in timeframes and how publishers will sometimes sit on a manuscript for a year The reality of the "16 days" you had on the bookstore shelves with titles published in the Harlequin Silhouette imprint What clauses and types of contracts would have to have for Patricia to consider signing one again Of course, mid-way through the interview, Patricia turns the table and starts asking Mark questions. After a brief section of talking about things publishers do well, and things they don't do so well, Mark realizes what Patricia has done (she is a great podcast host and asks great questions), and turns the tables back on her. They then talk about: What dried wallpaper paste has to do with helping Patricia make the move towards writing and publishing The one letter Patricia got back from an editor earlier in her career that said: "It's clear that you know nothing about the publishing industry" The various elements of romance and mystery that Patricia likes to include in her writing How Patricia feels that writing 3 to 5 books a year still isn't enough to keep up with the characters and ideas floating through her mind The reasons why Patricia started the Authors Love Readers Podcast and how she wanted to model over a simple conversation with a writer where readers could eavestrough Patricia's recent non-fiction book for writers called Survival Kit for Writers Who Don't Write Right How authors have approached Patricia with tears in their eyes after she delivered a presentation on this same topic because they thought they were the only ones who wrote in a more "pantsing" type of style The reason why Patricia has the book for sale for 99 cents on her own website Patricia's number one piece of advice for writers - that writing advice is a buffet. You can try a bit of this, a bit of that, go back for seconds of something else. YOU control the buffet   After the interview Mark reflects on the concept of writing advice being a buffet that authors can selectively pick and choose from. Links of Interest Patricia McLinn's Website Patricia on Twitter Patricia's Author Facebook Page Patricia's Pinterest Patricia on Instagram Patricia's Podcast: Authors Love Readers Findaway Voices Public Lending Right (PLR) Program Canada Australia New Zealand United Kingdom StoryBundle "The Write Stuff" Bundle (limited time offer) Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn spent more than 20 years as an editor at the Washington Post after newspaper stints in Rockford, Ill., and Charlotte, N.C. She received BA and MSJ degrees from Northwestern University. McLinn is the author of more than 47 published novels, which are cited by readers and reviewers for wit and vivid characterization. Her books include mysteries, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, historical romance and women's fiction. They have topped bestseller lists and won numerous awards. Now living in Northern Kentucky, McLinn loves to hear from readers through her website, Facebook and Twitter.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode Mark interviews USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn about her three decades of experience in writing and publishing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the personal update section Mark shares the following: A reminder about the Public Lending Right for Canadian authors (and authors from UK, AU, NZ) An article he recently wrote for Hamilton Magazine (including a bit about the TV show The Hilarious House of Frightenstein An interview he did with the guys from the Paranormal Faction Podcast in Harriston, Ontario in a haunted theatre His forthcoming visit to Book Expo America in New York An update on the prize offered for commenters on Episode 70 The deadline to comment has been extended to the end of April A new StoryBundle called the Write Stuff 2019 Spring Bundle that is available until early May. A steal for $5 for 4 books or 15 for all 12 books plus a $50 online lecture. Listeners will have a chance to win this bundle In their chat, Mark and Patricia talk about: The original publishers Patricia worked with when she had a few different series traditionally published How hearing a talk at NINC given by Chris Anderson (who coined the concept of "The Long Tail") inspired Patricia to take a fresh look at the publishing industry and to consider indie publishing opportunities The "Writer's Work" website Patricia created in 2009 as "insurance" in case the publishing industry went a little bonkers Getting the rights back for all of her previously released works (except for one German edition of a title) CONTROL being one of the main differences between traditional publishing and indie or self-publishing The difference in timeframes and how publishers will sometimes sit on a manuscript for a year The reality of the "16 days" you had on the bookstore shelves with titles published in the Harlequin Silhouette imprint What clauses and types of contracts would have to have for Patricia to consider signing one again Of course, mid-way through the interview, Patricia turns the table and starts asking Mark questions. After a brief section of talking about things publishers do well, and things they don't do so well, Mark realizes what Patricia has done (she is a great podcast host and asks great questions), and turns the tables back on her. They then talk about: What dried wallpaper paste has to do with helping Patricia make the move towards writing and publishing The one letter Patricia got back from an editor earlier in her career that said: "It's clear that you know nothing about the publishing industry" The various elements of romance and mystery that Patricia likes to include in her writing How Patricia feels that writing 3 to 5 books a year still isn't enough to keep up with the characters and ideas floating through her mind The reasons why Patricia started the Authors Love Readers Podcast and how she wanted to model over a simple conversation with a writer where readers could eavestrough Patricia's recent non-fiction book for writers called Survival Kit for Writers Who Don't Write Right How authors have approached Patricia with tears in their eyes after she delivered a presentation on this same topic because they thought they were the only ones who wrote in a more "pantsing" type of style The reason why Patricia has the book for sale for 99 cents on her own website Patricia's number one piece of advice for writers - that writing advice is a buffet. You can try a bit of this, a bit of that, go back for seconds of something else. YOU control the buffet   After the interview Mark reflects on the concept of writing advice being a buffet that authors can selectively pick and choose from. Links of Interest Patricia McLinn's Website Patricia on Twitter Patricia's Author Facebook Page Patricia's Pinterest Patricia on Instagram Patricia's Podcast: Authors Love Readers Findaway Voices Public Lending Right (PLR) Program Canada Australia New Zealand United Kingdom StoryBundle "The Write Stuff" Bundle (limited time offer) Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn spent more than 20 years as an editor at the Washington Post after newspaper stints in Rockford, Ill., and Charlotte, N.C. She received BA and MSJ degrees from Northwestern University. McLinn is the author of more than 47 published novels, which are cited by readers and reviewers for wit and vivid characterization. Her books include mysteries, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, historical romance and women's fiction. They have topped bestseller lists and won numerous awards. Now living in Northern Kentucky, McLinn loves to hear from readers through her website, Facebook and Twitter.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 070 - Audiobook Collaboration with Danny Bell and Whitton A. Frank Audiobook Collaboration with Danny Bell and Whitton A. Frank Fri, 12 Apr 2019 03:08:32 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews author Danny Bell and voice actor and model Whitton A. Frank about The Black Pages series that Danny writes and Whitton narrates.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the personal update segment Mark shares an update on the work for the self-narrated audiobook version of The 7 P's of Publishing Success as well as his recent guest spot on Episode 6 of Joanna Penn's new Books & Travel Podcast.

    In their chat, Danny, Whitton, and Mark talk about:

    • How the initial idea for "The Black Pages" came to Danny from a variety of sources, including something he reflected upon when watching Doctor Who.
    • Danny's interest in the deaths of secondary characters on various television shows in which are often shared as no big deal, whereas if the protagonist or their close friends suffered the same fate, it was a major trauma.
    • Purposly not making the protagonist a straight white guy
    • The element of humor that is a part of the narrator in Empty Threat.
    • How Elana is a black and white character in a morally grey universe and was created with a lot of room to grow through each book.
    • The unique experience of Whitton as both the voice and the face of Elana.
    • How Danny and Whitton clicked when they met at a party that neither of them had been in a mood to want to be at.
    • The way that Danny started seeing Whitton in his head when he was writing the character of Elana.
    • Whitton modeling for the concept art for the cover, which led to the cover designer asking if she would be the model in the actual shoot.
    • Voice Over Atlanta, the biggest VO conference in the US that Elana just got back from.
    • The plans for the release of book three in the series and the special "full cast" production of this one (with Whitton still as the main narrator).
    • The debate over whether or not Elana needed to have a love interest in the first two books
    • And more . . .

     

    After the interview, Mark makes an offer to do a random giveaway to two people who comment on the show notes for Episode 70 at www.starkreflections.ca.

    Comments have to be posted by Noon EST on Thursday April 18th and eligible entries will be comments about one of the following:

    • What book would you love to escape into? (the way Elana can slip into a book)
    • What secondary character from any fictional world? (book, television, movie, etc) would you love to save (the way Elena saves the lives of secondary characters)

     

    Mark then reflects upon the concept of something Danny said in the interview - "the most important thing you can do is to FINISH."

    After, Mark shares a brief clip from the opening of Empty Threat.

     

    Links of Interest

     

    Danny Bell is the USA Today Best Selling Author and Amazon #1 Best Selling Author of The Black Pages and he nearly had an out of body experience when he realized that the song Mr. Brightside by The Killers is thirteen years old and that would surely mean that he was also older than thirteen. Older than double in fact! Certainly not triple.

    He has three cats, Mister, Jameson, and Koala, and they all tolerate each other. He would never compare himself to Robocop, why would he do that? He plans to continue to write books forever with hope that one day there will be a Quantum Leap style thing where Dr. Sam Beckett will help fix his life, or failing that, the time-traveling ghost of Samuel Beckett, the author, will tell him that he has been pronouncing 'Godot' wrong the whole time. He isn't sure why anyone ever wants a bio, but if you're willing to read random things about him that may or may not be true, he's willing to provide you with them.

    Whitton Frank performed in her first show when she was 8 years old, and spent her summers through her high school studying at theAmerican Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.After majoring in Acting and Creative Writing at Carnegie Mellon University, Whitton travelled to Russia to study at the Moscow Art Theatre.

    Following this Whitton moved to Los Angeles and was subsequently discovered by Tony Basil. This meeting led to her role in the US TV series 'Cold Case' and the films 'Amnesia' and 'Who Are You?', both of which won awards at various film festivals around the USA.

    In 2016 Whitton launched her own production company Red Compass productions which is dedicated to promoting women in film and theater and telling their stories. The Company produced a revival of the 1970's hit Out of Our Father's House, which tells the stories of American women, in their own words. They have also produced a short dark comedy/horror film called Seeing Green, which is currently making the rounds at film festivals.

    She can been seen in the TNT hit, Murder in the First Season 3 acting opposite Curry Grahm, as the lovable and quirky Jenna Laffy.

    Also in 2016 she did voice over for the Star Wars Fan Film: Star Wars Toy Stories Rogue One. voicing Jyn Urso and Rei. This stop motion film has been screening and winning awards at conventions and film festivals around the world. For their work, the cast was invited to present it at Comic Con in San Diego. In the past two years she has narrated 5 audiobooks and is working on several more. You can check out her work on audible.com.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark interviews author Danny Bell and voice actor and model Whitton A. Frank about The Black Pages series that Danny writes and Whitton narrates.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the personal update segment Mark shares an update on the work for the self-narrated audiobook version of The 7 P's of Publishing Success as well as his recent guest spot on Episode 6 of Joanna Penn's new Books & Travel Podcast.

    In their chat, Danny, Whitton, and Mark talk about:

    • How the initial idea for "The Black Pages" came to Danny from a variety of sources, including something he reflected upon when watching Doctor Who.
    • Danny's interest in the deaths of secondary characters on various television shows in which are often shared as no big deal, whereas if the protagonist or their close friends suffered the same fate, it was a major trauma.
    • Purposly not making the protagonist a straight white guy
    • The element of humor that is a part of the narrator in Empty Threat.
    • How Elana is a black and white character in a morally grey universe and was created with a lot of room to grow through each book.
    • The unique experience of Whitton as both the voice and the face of Elana.
    • How Danny and Whitton clicked when they met at a party that neither of them had been in a mood to want to be at.
    • The way that Danny started seeing Whitton in his head when he was writing the character of Elana.
    • Whitton modeling for the concept art for the cover, which led to the cover designer asking if she would be the model in the actual shoot.
    • Voice Over Atlanta, the biggest VO conference in the US that Elana just got back from.
    • The plans for the release of book three in the series and the special "full cast" production of this one (with Whitton still as the main narrator).
    • The debate over whether or not Elana needed to have a love interest in the first two books
    • And more . . .

    After the interview, Mark makes an offer to do a random giveaway to two people who comment on the show notes for Episode 70 at www.starkreflections.ca.

    Comments have to be posted by Noon EST on Thursday April 18th and eligible entries will be comments about one of the following:

    • What book would you love to escape into? (the way Elana can slip into a book)
    • What secondary character from any fictional world? (book, television, movie, etc) would you love to save (the way Elena saves the lives of secondary characters)

    Mark then reflects upon the concept of something Danny said in the interview - "the most important thing you can do is to FINISH."

    After, Mark shares a brief clip from the opening of Empty Threat.

    Links of Interest

    Danny Bell is the USA Today Best Selling Author and Amazon #1 Best Selling Author of The Black Pages and he nearly had an out of body experience when he realized that the song Mr. Brightside by The Killers is thirteen years old and that would surely mean that he was also older than thirteen. Older than double in fact! Certainly not triple.

    He has three cats, Mister, Jameson, and Koala, and they all tolerate each other. He would never compare himself to Robocop, why would he do that? He plans to continue to write books forever with hope that one day there will be a Quantum Leap style thing where Dr. Sam Beckett will help fix his life, or failing that, the time-traveling ghost of Samuel Beckett, the author, will tell him that he has been pronouncing 'Godot' wrong the whole time. He isn't sure why anyone ever wants a bio, but if you're willing to read random things about him that may or may not be true, he's willing to provide you with them.

    Whitton Frank performed in her first show when she was 8 years old, and spent her summers through her high school studying at theAmerican Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.After majoring in Acting and Creative Writing at Carnegie Mellon University, Whitton travelled to Russia to study at the Moscow Art Theatre.

    Following this Whitton moved to Los Angeles and was subsequently discovered by Tony Basil. This meeting led to her role in the US TV series 'Cold Case' and the films 'Amnesia' and 'Who Are You?', both of which won awards at various film festivals around the USA.

    In 2016 Whitton launched her own production company Red Compass productions which is dedicated to promoting women in film and theater and telling their stories. The Company produced a revival of the 1970's hit Out of Our Father's House, which tells the stories of American women, in their own words. They have also produced a short dark comedy/horror film called Seeing Green, which is currently making the rounds at film festivals.

    She can been seen in the TNT hit, Murder in the First Season 3 acting opposite Curry Grahm, as the lovable and quirky Jenna Laffy.

    Also in 2016 she did voice over for the Star Wars Fan Film: Star Wars Toy Stories Rogue One. voicing Jyn Urso and Rei. This stop motion film has been screening and winning awards at conventions and film festivals around the world. For their work, the cast was invited to present it at Comic Con in San Diego. In the past two years she has narrated 5 audiobooks and is working on several more. You can check out her work on audible.com.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     59:46 false 2 70 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews author Danny Bell and voice actor and model Whitton A. Frank about The Black Pages series that Danny writes and Whitton narrates. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the personal update segment Mark shares an update on the work for the self-narrated audiobook version of The 7 P's of Publishing Success as well as his recent guest spot on Episode 6 of Joanna Penn's new Books & Travel Podcast. In their chat, Danny, Whitton, and Mark talk about: How the initial idea for "The Black Pages" came to Danny from a variety of sources, including something he reflected upon when watching Doctor Who. Danny's interest in the deaths of secondary characters on various television shows in which are often shared as no big deal, whereas if the protagonist or their close friends suffered the same fate, it was a major trauma. Purposly not making the protagonist a straight white guy The element of humor that is a part of the narrator in Empty Threat. How Elana is a black and white character in a morally grey universe and was created with a lot of room to grow through each book. The unique experience of Whitton as both the voice and the face of Elana. How Danny and Whitton clicked when they met at a party that neither of them had been in a mood to want to be at. The way that Danny started seeing Whitton in his head when he was writing the character of Elana. Whitton modeling for the concept art for the cover, which led to the cover designer asking if she would be the model in the actual shoot. Voice Over Atlanta, the biggest VO conference in the US that Elana just got back from. The plans for the release of book three in the series and the special "full cast" production of this one (with Whitton still as the main narrator). The debate over whether or not Elana needed to have a love interest in the first two books And more . . .   After the interview, Mark makes an offer to do a random giveaway to two people who comment on the show notes for Episode 70 at www.starkreflections.ca. Comments have to be posted by Noon EST on Thursday April 18th and eligible entries will be comments about one of the following: What book would you love to escape into? (the way Elana can slip into a book) What secondary character from any fictional world? (book, television, movie, etc) would you love to save (the way Elena saves the lives of secondary characters)   Mark then reflects upon the concept of something Danny said in the interview - "the most important thing you can do is to FINISH." After, Mark shares a brief clip from the opening of Empty Threat.   Links of Interest The Audiobook Mastering Guide (by Wesley Ingram) The 7 P's of Publishing Success (Computer Narrated Version) Findaway Voices The Books and Travel Podcast Episode 6 - Macabre Montreal Danny Bell Author Central Profile The Black Pages on Facebook Matt Altman IMDB Star Wars Toy Stories Anthony Brodeur Whitton Frank - Website Whitton Frank - ACX Narrator Profile Getting Published with Mark Leslie (The Writing Show Podcast Reality Series where Mark attempted to write A Canadian Werewolf in New York while being tracked and interviewed about his progress) Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Danny Bell is the USA Today Best Selling Author and Amazon #1 Best Selling Author of The Black Pages and he nearly had an out of body experience when he realized that the song Mr. Brightside by The Killers is thirteen years old and that would surely mean that he was also older than thirteen. Older than double in fact! Certainly not triple. He has three cats, Mister, Jameson, and Koala, and they all tolerate each other. He would never compare himself to Robocop, why would he do that? He plans to continue to write books forever with hope that one day there will be a Quantum Leap style thing where Dr. Sam Beckett will help fix his life, or failing that, the time-traveling ghost of Samuel Beckett, the author, will tell him that he has been pronouncing 'Godot' wrong the whole time. He isn't sure why anyone ever wants a bio, but if you're willing to read random things about him that may or may not be true, he's willing to provide you with them. Whitton Frank performed in her first show when she was 8 years old, and spent her summers through her high school studying at theAmerican Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.After majoring in Acting and Creative Writing at Carnegie Mellon University, Whitton travelled to Russia to study at the Moscow Art Theatre. Following this Whitton moved to Los Angeles and was subsequently discovered by Tony Basil. This meeting led to her role in the US TV series 'Cold Case' and the films 'Amnesia' and 'Who Are You?', both of which won awards at various film festivals around the USA. In 2016 Whitton launched her own production company Red Compass productions which is dedicated to promoting women in film and theater and telling their stories. The Company produced a revival of the 1970's hit Out of Our Father's House, which tells the stories of American women, in their own words. They have also produced a short dark comedy/horror film called Seeing Green, which is currently making the rounds at film festivals. She can been seen in the TNT hit, Murder in the First Season 3 acting opposite Curry Grahm, as the lovable and quirky Jenna Laffy. Also in 2016 she did voice over for the Star Wars Fan Film: Star Wars Toy Stories Rogue One. voicing Jyn Urso and Rei. This stop motion film has been screening and winning awards at conventions and film festivals around the world. For their work, the cast was invited to present it at Comic Con in San Diego. In the past two years she has narrated 5 audiobooks and is working on several more. You can check out her work on audible.com.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark interviews author Danny Bell and voice actor and model Whitton A. Frank about The Black Pages series that Danny writes and Whitton narrates. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the personal update segment Mark shares an update on the work for the self-narrated audiobook version of The 7 P's of Publishing Success as well as his recent guest spot on Episode 6 of Joanna Penn's new Books & Travel Podcast. In their chat, Danny, Whitton, and Mark talk about: How the initial idea for "The Black Pages" came to Danny from a variety of sources, including something he reflected upon when watching Doctor Who. Danny's interest in the deaths of secondary characters on various television shows in which are often shared as no big deal, whereas if the protagonist or their close friends suffered the same fate, it was a major trauma. Purposly not making the protagonist a straight white guy The element of humor that is a part of the narrator in Empty Threat. How Elana is a black and white character in a morally grey universe and was created with a lot of room to grow through each book. The unique experience of Whitton as both the voice and the face of Elana. How Danny and Whitton clicked when they met at a party that neither of them had been in a mood to want to be at. The way that Danny started seeing Whitton in his head when he was writing the character of Elana. Whitton modeling for the concept art for the cover, which led to the cover designer asking if she would be the model in the actual shoot. Voice Over Atlanta, the biggest VO conference in the US that Elana just got back from. The plans for the release of book three in the series and the special "full cast" production of this one (with Whitton still as the main narrator). The debate over whether or not Elana needed to have a love interest in the first two books And more . . .   After the interview, Mark makes an offer to do a random giveaway to two people who comment on the show notes for Episode 70 at www.starkreflections.ca. Comments have to be posted by Noon EST on Thursday April 18th and eligible entries will be comments about one of the following: What book would you love to escape into? (the way Elana can slip into a book) What secondary character from any fictional world? (book, television, movie, etc) would you love to save (the way Elena saves the lives of secondary characters)   Mark then reflects upon the concept of something Danny said in the interview - "the most important thing you can do is to FINISH." After, Mark shares a brief clip from the opening of Empty Threat.   Links of Interest The Audiobook Mastering Guide (by Wesley Ingram) The 7 P's of Publishing Success (Computer Narrated Version) Findaway Voices The Books and Travel Podcast Episode 6 - Macabre Montreal Danny Bell Author Central Profile The Black Pages on Facebook Matt Altman IMDB Star Wars Toy Stories Anthony Brodeur Whitton Frank - Website Whitton Frank - ACX Narrator Profile Getting Published with Mark Leslie (The Writing Show Podcast Reality Series where Mark attempted to write A Canadian Werewolf in New York while being tracked and interviewed about his progress) Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Danny Bell is the USA Today Best Selling Author and Amazon #1 Best Selling Author of The Black Pages and he nearly had an out of body experience when he realized that the song Mr. Brightside by The Killers is thirteen years old and that would surely mean that he was also older than thirteen. Older than double in fact! Certainly not triple. He has three cats, Mister, Jameson, and Koala, and they all tolerate each other. He would never compare himself to Robocop, why would he do that? He plans to continue to write books forever with hope that one day there will be a Quantum Leap style thing where Dr. Sam Beckett will help fix his life, or failing that, the time-traveling ghost of Samuel Beckett, the author, will tell him that he has been pronouncing 'Godot' wrong the whole time. He isn't sure why anyone ever wants a bio, but if you're willing to read random things about him that may or may not be true, he's willing to provide you with them. Whitton Frank performed in her first show when she was 8 years old, and spent her summers through her high school studying at theAmerican Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.After majoring in Acting and Creative Writing at Carnegie Mellon University, Whitton travelled to Russia to study at the Moscow Art Theatre. Following this Whitton moved to Los Angeles and was subsequently discovered by Tony Basil. This meeting led to her role in the US TV series 'Cold Case' and the films 'Amnesia' and 'Who Are You?', both of which won awards at various film festivals around the USA. In 2016 Whitton launched her own production company Red Compass productions which is dedicated to promoting women in film and theater and telling their stories. The Company produced a revival of the 1970's hit Out of Our Father's House, which tells the stories of American women, in their own words. They have also produced a short dark comedy/horror film called Seeing Green, which is currently making the rounds at film festivals. She can been seen in the TNT hit, Murder in the First Season 3 acting opposite Curry Grahm, as the lovable and quirky Jenna Laffy. Also in 2016 she did voice over for the Star Wars Fan Film: Star Wars Toy Stories Rogue One. voicing Jyn Urso and Rei. This stop motion film has been screening and winning awards at conventions and film festivals around the world. For their work, the cast was invited to present it at Comic Con in San Diego. In the past two years she has narrated 5 audiobooks and is working on several more. You can check out her work on audible.com.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 069 - Publishing Predictions from 2009 Publishing Predictions from 2009 Fri, 05 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark shares an article that he'd had published in the summer of 2009 when he was asked to make a prediction about something that likely wouldn't exist in publishing ten years later.

    WARNING: This episode contains a short clip of Mark singing a parody version of "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams. (He couldn't help it. Song lyrics haunt his brain. The minute he mentioned the summer of 2009, the classic Adams song came to mind.)

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .He talks about the sources of his latest payment from Findaway Voices, which don't include the big players, like Audible or Apple, or Google, or Kobo.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    As an introduction to the article, Mark shares the back-story of how he wrote article for an online magazine called The Mark News (no relation) on the topic of publishing and bookselling. This had been back when he was on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Booksellers Association, an active member of a couple of Campus Bookstore associations as well, and heavily involved in using the print-on-demand technology of The Espresso Book Machine in a bookstore in Hamilton, Ontario.

    The reason Mark started thinking about the article in question was because of a sale he noticed on Kindle for the book that the article was republished in. A 2011 volume called Living at the Tip: Navigating the Digital Tipping Point of the Book World.

    This book is something Mark published in the space of a few hours when Kindle first announced KDP Select, their exclusivity program. He collected the articles together, used Amazon's cover generation tool and published it, just to have a title in the program at all times.

    In the article being shared, Mark explains the basic workings of territorial rights and how it has historically operated with publishers in various countries, agents, and authors.

    He also shares his own frustration with the fake virtual borders in a digital world that don't seem necessary because the old ones were based on warehousing books inside the borders of a country after they were shipped there, or the rights were acquired for that territory.

    In a digital world, the shipping of dead trees from continent to continent is not an issue, and, therefore, is something that Mark speculated SHOULD begin to disappear ten years from when he wrote it in 2009.

    He goes on to explain how self-published and indie authors and smaller publishers have embraced the new digital world in ways that the major or larger publishers haven't. This is most likely due to the fact that big publishers are heavily invested in printing, stocking and shipping physical books, which represents the majority of their revenue.

     

    Links of Interest

     

    The song "Summer of '69" was performed by Bryan Adams. It was written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, a long-time writing partner of Adams. It was produced by Bryan Adams and Bob Clearmountain and released in June 1985 by A&M Records as the fourth-single from the album Reckless.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this solo episode, Mark shares an article that he'd had published in the summer of 2009 when he was asked to make a prediction about something that likely wouldn't exist in publishing ten years later.

    WARNING: This episode contains a short clip of Mark singing a parody version of "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams. (He couldn't help it. Song lyrics haunt his brain. The minute he mentioned the summer of 2009, the classic Adams song came to mind.)

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .He talks about the sources of his latest payment from Findaway Voices, which don't include the big players, like Audible or Apple, or Google, or Kobo.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    As an introduction to the article, Mark shares the back-story of how he wrote article for an online magazine called The Mark News (no relation) on the topic of publishing and bookselling. This had been back when he was on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Booksellers Association, an active member of a couple of Campus Bookstore associations as well, and heavily involved in using the print-on-demand technology of The Espresso Book Machine in a bookstore in Hamilton, Ontario.

    The reason Mark started thinking about the article in question was because of a sale he noticed on Kindle for the book that the article was republished in. A 2011 volume called Living at the Tip: Navigating the Digital Tipping Point of the Book World.

    This book is something Mark published in the space of a few hours when Kindle first announced KDP Select, their exclusivity program. He collected the articles together, used Amazon's cover generation tool and published it, just to have a title in the program at all times.

    In the article being shared, Mark explains the basic workings of territorial rights and how it has historically operated with publishers in various countries, agents, and authors.

    He also shares his own frustration with the fake virtual borders in a digital world that don't seem necessary because the old ones were based on warehousing books inside the borders of a country after they were shipped there, or the rights were acquired for that territory.

    In a digital world, the shipping of dead trees from continent to continent is not an issue, and, therefore, is something that Mark speculated SHOULD begin to disappear ten years from when he wrote it in 2009.

    He goes on to explain how self-published and indie authors and smaller publishers have embraced the new digital world in ways that the major or larger publishers haven't. This is most likely due to the fact that big publishers are heavily invested in printing, stocking and shipping physical books, which represents the majority of their revenue.

    Links of Interest

    The song "Summer of '69" was performed by Bryan Adams. It was written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, a long-time writing partner of Adams. It was produced by Bryan Adams and Bob Clearmountain and released in June 1985 by A&M Records as the fourth-single from the album Reckless.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     25:49 false 2 69 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark shares an article that he'd had published in the summer of 2009 when he was asked to make a prediction about something that likely wouldn't exist in publishing ten years later. WARNING: This episode contains a short clip of Mark singing a parody version of "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams. (He couldn't help it. Song lyrics haunt his brain. The minute he mentioned the summer of 2009, the classic Adams song came to mind.) Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .He talks about the sources of his latest payment from Findaway Voices, which don't include the big players, like Audible or Apple, or Google, or Kobo. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. As an introduction to the article, Mark shares the back-story of how he wrote article for an online magazine called The Mark News (no relation) on the topic of publishing and bookselling. This had been back when he was on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Booksellers Association, an active member of a couple of Campus Bookstore associations as well, and heavily involved in using the print-on-demand technology of The Espresso Book Machine in a bookstore in Hamilton, Ontario. The reason Mark started thinking about the article in question was because of a sale he noticed on Kindle for the book that the article was republished in. A 2011 volume called Living at the Tip: Navigating the Digital Tipping Point of the Book World. This book is something Mark published in the space of a few hours when Kindle first announced KDP Select, their exclusivity program. He collected the articles together, used Amazon's cover generation tool and published it, just to have a title in the program at all times. In the article being shared, Mark explains the basic workings of territorial rights and how it has historically operated with publishers in various countries, agents, and authors. He also shares his own frustration with the fake virtual borders in a digital world that don't seem necessary because the old ones were based on warehousing books inside the borders of a country after they were shipped there, or the rights were acquired for that territory. In a digital world, the shipping of dead trees from continent to continent is not an issue, and, therefore, is something that Mark speculated SHOULD begin to disappear ten years from when he wrote it in 2009. He goes on to explain how self-published and indie authors and smaller publishers have embraced the new digital world in ways that the major or larger publishers haven't. This is most likely due to the fact that big publishers are heavily invested in printing, stocking and shipping physical books, which represents the majority of their revenue.   Links of Interest Living at the Tip (Amazon link) Reflections on Digital Publishing (Video clips from an interview with Mark in 2012) Mark's Super-Brief History of Publishing (a breif excerpt from a talk about the Future of Publishing from a 2014 Writers of the Future Awards ceremony - HINT: Mark's predication was that it would involve more collaboration than ever before) Findaway Voices Bryan Adams Website Music video for "Summer of '69" Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   The song "Summer of '69" was performed by Bryan Adams. It was written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, a long-time writing partner of Adams. It was produced by Bryan Adams and Bob Clearmountain and released in June 1985 by A&M Records as the fourth-single from the album Reckless. The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this solo episode, Mark shares an article that he'd had published in the summer of 2009 when he was asked to make a prediction about something that likely wouldn't exist in publishing ten years later. WARNING: This episode contains a short clip of Mark singing a parody version of "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams. (He couldn't help it. Song lyrics haunt his brain. The minute he mentioned the summer of 2009, the classic Adams song came to mind.) Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .He talks about the sources of his latest payment from Findaway Voices, which don't include the big players, like Audible or Apple, or Google, or Kobo. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. As an introduction to the article, Mark shares the back-story of how he wrote article for an online magazine called The Mark News (no relation) on the topic of publishing and bookselling. This had been back when he was on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Booksellers Association, an active member of a couple of Campus Bookstore associations as well, and heavily involved in using the print-on-demand technology of The Espresso Book Machine in a bookstore in Hamilton, Ontario. The reason Mark started thinking about the article in question was because of a sale he noticed on Kindle for the book that the article was republished in. A 2011 volume called Living at the Tip: Navigating the Digital Tipping Point of the Book World. This book is something Mark published in the space of a few hours when Kindle first announced KDP Select, their exclusivity program. He collected the articles together, used Amazon's cover generation tool and published it, just to have a title in the program at all times. In the article being shared, Mark explains the basic workings of territorial rights and how it has historically operated with publishers in various countries, agents, and authors. He also shares his own frustration with the fake virtual borders in a digital world that don't seem necessary because the old ones were based on warehousing books inside the borders of a country after they were shipped there, or the rights were acquired for that territory. In a digital world, the shipping of dead trees from continent to continent is not an issue, and, therefore, is something that Mark speculated SHOULD begin to disappear ten years from when he wrote it in 2009. He goes on to explain how self-published and indie authors and smaller publishers have embraced the new digital world in ways that the major or larger publishers haven't. This is most likely due to the fact that big publishers are heavily invested in printing, stocking and shipping physical books, which represents the majority of their revenue.   Links of Interest Living at the Tip (Amazon link) Reflections on Digital Publishing (Video clips from an interview with Mark in 2012) Mark's Super-Brief History of Publishing (a breif excerpt from a talk about the Future of Publishing from a 2014 Writers of the Future Awards ceremony - HINT: Mark's predication was that it would involve more collaboration than ever before) Findaway Voices Bryan Adams Website Music video for "Summer of '69" Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   The song "Summer of '69" was performed by Bryan Adams. It was written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, a long-time writing partner of Adams. It was produced by Bryan Adams and Bob Clearmountain and released in June 1985 by A&M Records as the fourth-single from the album Reckless. The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 068 - Mastering Book Descriptions and Amazon Ads with Brian Meeks Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 068 - Mastering Book Descriptions and Amazon Ads with Brian Meeks Fri, 29 Mar 2019 03:34:13 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews Brian Meeks, author of Mastering Amazon Ads and Mastering Amazon Descriptions. The interview was recorded during a Facebook Live video on the Stark Publishing Facebook page.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the personal update area, Mark talks about a recent 40% off Box Set promotion that he and author Sean Costello had with Kobo, how they added their own push for the promo, and how it helped them sell more copies not just on Kobo, but also on Kindle, Apple and Nook.

    Mark talks about the detailed analysis of the promo which he published for Patreon supporters of the podcast and thanks them for their ongoing support.


    In their chat, Mark and Brian talk about:

    • How Brian once put off launching a fiction title for 60 days because he wanted to avoid the task of writing the product description
    • How a description done correctly will convert at about 1 in 10 (1:10) - ie, ten views of an ad will result in a click through to the product by a potential customer
    • The most common problems that authors face when trying to write their book product description
    • The idea of using previous or existing reviews of a book to find hints and clues to what made the book special to readers
    • Ways authors can practice writing or creating compelling product descriptions
    • The ultimate goal of a product description, which is to get a potential reader to READ your book
    • Creating a log line that can be used as an "elevator pitch"
    • How formatting of a description can be as important as the words used in that description
    • How the main goal of the FIRST line (or opening hook) of a product description is to get the reader to read the SECOND line
    • The concept of the call to action to request the reader to "buy" or "get" the book today
    • Brian's story of the "miracle product description"
    • How customers don't care so much the difference between $2.99 or $4.99 and that their TIME in reading the book is something they consider more valuable, more precious
    • The concept of variance, and how it can take 1000 clicks before you have enough data to accurately measure the results of a data set
    • Amazon Ads for authors who are published exclusively to Kindle (KDP Select and part of Kindle Unlimited) VS authors who publish their books "wide" to all retail platforms
    • Why an author shouldn't spend more than 90 seconds writing up their advertising copy
    • What is a good place to start or to learn how Amazon Advertising works for you
    • The critical importance of patience and setting expectations and how much investment of time and energy it takes to perfect the process
    • How "Bid Plus" is a terrible idea for authors to use in Amazon Advertising
    • How Brian gives about 7 to 10 days for an ad to see if they are "getting turned on" and, if it isn't, he kills it
    • The differences of playing within the Amazon Advertising world today compared to how it used to be

     

    In his post-interview reflections, Mark talks about three things from the chat that stuck with him.

    • The idea of NOT using the "Bid Plus" option when creating Amazon Advertising Ads
    • The concept of having a first line / log line of 4 to 6 words to grab the attention of a potential reader in your book description
    • The methodology of incorporating elements from reader reviews of your book when revising your book's blurb

     

    Links of Interest

     

    Brian D. Meeks is an author who writes under his name and the pen name Arthur Byrne.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark interviews Brian Meeks, author of Mastering Amazon Ads and Mastering Amazon Descriptions. The interview was recorded during a Facebook Live video on the Stark Publishing Facebook page.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the personal update area, Mark talks about a recent 40% off Box Set promotion that he and author Sean Costello had with Kobo, how they added their own push for the promo, and how it helped them sell more copies not just on Kobo, but also on Kindle, Apple and Nook.

    Mark talks about the detailed analysis of the promo which he published for Patreon supporters of the podcast and thanks them for their ongoing support.

    In their chat, Mark and Brian talk about:

    • How Brian once put off launching a fiction title for 60 days because he wanted to avoid the task of writing the product description
    • How a description done correctly will convert at about 1 in 10 (1:10) - ie, ten views of an ad will result in a click through to the product by a potential customer
    • The most common problems that authors face when trying to write their book product description
    • The idea of using previous or existing reviews of a book to find hints and clues to what made the book special to readers
    • Ways authors can practice writing or creating compelling product descriptions
    • The ultimate goal of a product description, which is to get a potential reader to READ your book
    • Creating a log line that can be used as an "elevator pitch"
    • How formatting of a description can be as important as the words used in that description
    • How the main goal of the FIRST line (or opening hook) of a product description is to get the reader to read the SECOND line
    • The concept of the call to action to request the reader to "buy" or "get" the book today
    • Brian's story of the "miracle product description"
    • How customers don't care so much the difference between $2.99 or $4.99 and that their TIME in reading the book is something they consider more valuable, more precious
    • The concept of variance, and how it can take 1000 clicks before you have enough data to accurately measure the results of a data set
    • Amazon Ads for authors who are published exclusively to Kindle (KDP Select and part of Kindle Unlimited) VS authors who publish their books "wide" to all retail platforms
    • Why an author shouldn't spend more than 90 seconds writing up their advertising copy
    • What is a good place to start or to learn how Amazon Advertising works for you
    • The critical importance of patience and setting expectations and how much investment of time and energy it takes to perfect the process
    • How "Bid Plus" is a terrible idea for authors to use in Amazon Advertising
    • How Brian gives about 7 to 10 days for an ad to see if they are "getting turned on" and, if it isn't, he kills it
    • The differences of playing within the Amazon Advertising world today compared to how it used to be

    In his post-interview reflections, Mark talks about three things from the chat that stuck with him.

    • The idea of NOT using the "Bid Plus" option when creating Amazon Advertising Ads
    • The concept of having a first line / log line of 4 to 6 words to grab the attention of a potential reader in your book description
    • The methodology of incorporating elements from reader reviews of your book when revising your book's blurb

    Links of Interest

    Brian D. Meeks is an author who writes under his name and the pen name Arthur Byrne.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     01:06:14 false 2 68 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews Brian Meeks, author of Mastering Amazon Ads and Mastering Amazon Descriptions. The interview was recorded during a Facebook Live video on the Stark Publishing Facebook page. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the personal update area, Mark talks about a recent 40% off Box Set promotion that he and author Sean Costello had with Kobo, how they added their own push for the promo, and how it helped them sell more copies not just on Kobo, but also on Kindle, Apple and Nook. Mark talks about the detailed analysis of the promo which he published for Patreon supporters of the podcast and thanks them for their ongoing support. In their chat, Mark and Brian talk about: How Brian once put off launching a fiction title for 60 days because he wanted to avoid the task of writing the product description How a description done correctly will convert at about 1 in 10 (1:10) - ie, ten views of an ad will result in a click through to the product by a potential customer The most common problems that authors face when trying to write their book product description The idea of using previous or existing reviews of a book to find hints and clues to what made the book special to readers Ways authors can practice writing or creating compelling product descriptions The ultimate goal of a product description, which is to get a potential reader to READ your book Creating a log line that can be used as an "elevator pitch" How formatting of a description can be as important as the words used in that description How the main goal of the FIRST line (or opening hook) of a product description is to get the reader to read the SECOND line The concept of the call to action to request the reader to "buy" or "get" the book today Brian's story of the "miracle product description" How customers don't care so much the difference between $2.99 or $4.99 and that their TIME in reading the book is something they consider more valuable, more precious The concept of variance, and how it can take 1000 clicks before you have enough data to accurately measure the results of a data set Amazon Ads for authors who are published exclusively to Kindle (KDP Select and part of Kindle Unlimited) VS authors who publish their books "wide" to all retail platforms Why an author shouldn't spend more than 90 seconds writing up their advertising copy What is a good place to start or to learn how Amazon Advertising works for you The critical importance of patience and setting expectations and how much investment of time and energy it takes to perfect the process How "Bid Plus" is a terrible idea for authors to use in Amazon Advertising How Brian gives about 7 to 10 days for an ad to see if they are "getting turned on" and, if it isn't, he kills it The differences of playing within the Amazon Advertising world today compared to how it used to be   In his post-interview reflections, Mark talks about three things from the chat that stuck with him. The idea of NOT using the "Bid Plus" option when creating Amazon Advertising Ads The concept of having a first line / log line of 4 to 6 words to grab the attention of a potential reader in your book description The methodology of incorporating elements from reader reviews of your book when revising your book's blurb   Links of Interest Brian Meeks Website Mastering Amazon Ads Facebook Group Mastering Amazon Descriptions Facebook Group Brian's Amazon Page The Facebook Live video for the interview segment of this podcast Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Brian D. Meeks is an author who writes under his name and the pen name Arthur Byrne.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark interviews Brian Meeks, author of Mastering Amazon Ads and Mastering Amazon Descriptions. The interview was recorded during a Facebook Live video on the Stark Publishing Facebook page. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the personal update area, Mark talks about a recent 40% off Box Set promotion that he and author Sean Costello had with Kobo, how they added their own push for the promo, and how it helped them sell more copies not just on Kobo, but also on Kindle, Apple and Nook. Mark talks about the detailed analysis of the promo which he published for Patreon supporters of the podcast and thanks them for their ongoing support. In their chat, Mark and Brian talk about: How Brian once put off launching a fiction title for 60 days because he wanted to avoid the task of writing the product description How a description done correctly will convert at about 1 in 10 (1:10) - ie, ten views of an ad will result in a click through to the product by a potential customer The most common problems that authors face when trying to write their book product description The idea of using previous or existing reviews of a book to find hints and clues to what made the book special to readers Ways authors can practice writing or creating compelling product descriptions The ultimate goal of a product description, which is to get a potential reader to READ your book Creating a log line that can be used as an "elevator pitch" How formatting of a description can be as important as the words used in that description How the main goal of the FIRST line (or opening hook) of a product description is to get the reader to read the SECOND line The concept of the call to action to request the reader to "buy" or "get" the book today Brian's story of the "miracle product description" How customers don't care so much the difference between $2.99 or $4.99 and that their TIME in reading the book is something they consider more valuable, more precious The concept of variance, and how it can take 1000 clicks before you have enough data to accurately measure the results of a data set Amazon Ads for authors who are published exclusively to Kindle (KDP Select and part of Kindle Unlimited) VS authors who publish their books "wide" to all retail platforms Why an author shouldn't spend more than 90 seconds writing up their advertising copy What is a good place to start or to learn how Amazon Advertising works for you The critical importance of patience and setting expectations and how much investment of time and energy it takes to perfect the process How "Bid Plus" is a terrible idea for authors to use in Amazon Advertising How Brian gives about 7 to 10 days for an ad to see if they are "getting turned on" and, if it isn't, he kills it The differences of playing within the Amazon Advertising world today compared to how it used to be   In his post-interview reflections, Mark talks about three things from the chat that stuck with him. The idea of NOT using the "Bid Plus" option when creating Amazon Advertising Ads The concept of having a first line / log line of 4 to 6 words to grab the attention of a potential reader in your book description The methodology of incorporating elements from reader reviews of your book when revising your book's blurb   Links of Interest Brian Meeks Website Mastering Amazon Ads Facebook Group Mastering Amazon Descriptions Facebook Group Brian's Amazon Page The Facebook Live video for the interview segment of this podcast Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Brian D. Meeks is an author who writes under his name and the pen name Arthur Byrne.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 067 - Nancy Christie on Rut-Busting for Writers Nancy Christie on Rut-Busting for Writers Fri, 22 Mar 2019 02:23:38 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews Nancy Christie, the author of the award-winning book Rut-Busting for Writers.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the personal update for this episode, Mark shares some of the work he has done in his "Canadian Werewolf" universe, including the recent audiobook version of the short story "This Time Around," reworking the cover for A Canadian Werewolf in New York and the short story to include a wolf image (giving the book a bit more of an urban fantasy look and feel), and the new short story he is currently working on that he is calling "Stowe Away" and which he describes as a cross between "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" and "Logan."

    In their conversation, Mark and Nancy talk about:

    • Nancy's passion for writing that started in the 2nd grade
    • How she had never planned on being an author until she "accidentally" published her first book
    • The two years of personal journal entries she started when her mother was diagnosed with cancer in 1999 and how that evolved into a book project
    • The Rut-Busting workshops Nancy had been offering which ended up being adapted into a book
    • Strategies for dealing with procrastination
    • The concept of creating a writing roadmap
    • The importance of consistency with devoting the time to writing
    • The value of the 30 minute / 30 day strategy that Nancy recommends
    • The writing toolbox and the objects Nancy uses from them in a writing workshop
    • And more . . .

    After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Nancy said, including the concept of "just get started" as well as the idea of making time to write for 30 minutes every day for 30 days.

    Links of Interest

     

    Nancy Christie is the author of the award-winning Rut-Busting Book for Writers, Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories and The Gifts Of Change. Her short stories and essays have appeared in numerous print and online publications.

    Peripheral Visions and Other Stories, Christie's second short fiction collection, won a second place award in the prestigious 2018 Royal Palm Literary Award Competition. It's scheduled for publication in 2020 by Unsolicited Press. She is currently working on Rut-Busting Book for Authors, a companion book to Rut-Busting Book for Writers, that will be released Fall 2019.

    A professional writer based in Ohio, Christie provides copywriting services to agencies, businesses and organizations nationwide through her company, Professional Writing Services.

    A member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Florida Writers Association and Short Fiction Writers Guild (SFWG), Christie teaches writing workshops at conferences, libraries and schools. She is also the founder of the annual "Celebrate Short Fiction" Day (www.nancychristie.com/focusonfiction/celebrate-short-fiction-day/).

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark interviews Nancy Christie, the author of the award-winning book Rut-Busting for Writers.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In the personal update for this episode, Mark shares some of the work he has done in his "Canadian Werewolf" universe, including the recent audiobook version of the short story "This Time Around," reworking the cover for A Canadian Werewolf in New York and the short story to include a wolf image (giving the book a bit more of an urban fantasy look and feel), and the new short story he is currently working on that he is calling "Stowe Away" and which he describes as a cross between "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" and "Logan."

    In their conversation, Mark and Nancy talk about:

    • Nancy's passion for writing that started in the 2nd grade
    • How she had never planned on being an author until she "accidentally" published her first book
    • The two years of personal journal entries she started when her mother was diagnosed with cancer in 1999 and how that evolved into a book project
    • The Rut-Busting workshops Nancy had been offering which ended up being adapted into a book
    • Strategies for dealing with procrastination
    • The concept of creating a writing roadmap
    • The importance of consistency with devoting the time to writing
    • The value of the 30 minute / 30 day strategy that Nancy recommends
    • The writing toolbox and the objects Nancy uses from them in a writing workshop
    • And more . . .

    After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Nancy said, including the concept of "just get started" as well as the idea of making time to write for 30 minutes every day for 30 days.

    Links of Interest

    Nancy Christie is the author of the award-winning Rut-Busting Book for Writers, Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories and The Gifts Of Change. Her short stories and essays have appeared in numerous print and online publications.

    Peripheral Visions and Other Stories, Christie's second short fiction collection, won a second place award in the prestigious 2018 Royal Palm Literary Award Competition. It's scheduled for publication in 2020 by Unsolicited Press. She is currently working on Rut-Busting Book for Authors, a companion book to Rut-Busting Book for Writers, that will be released Fall 2019.

    A professional writer based in Ohio, Christie provides copywriting services to agencies, businesses and organizations nationwide through her company, Professional Writing Services.

    A member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Florida Writers Association and Short Fiction Writers Guild (SFWG), Christie teaches writing workshops at conferences, libraries and schools. She is also the founder of the annual "Celebrate Short Fiction" Day (www.nancychristie.com/focusonfiction/celebrate-short-fiction-day/).

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     51:30 false 2 67 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews Nancy Christie, the author of the award-winning book Rut-Busting for Writers. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the personal update for this episode, Mark shares some of the work he has done in his "Canadian Werewolf" universe, including the recent audiobook version of the short story "This Time Around," reworking the cover for A Canadian Werewolf in New York and the short story to include a wolf image (giving the book a bit more of an urban fantasy look and feel), and the new short story he is currently working on that he is calling "Stowe Away" and which he describes as a cross between "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" and "Logan." In their conversation, Mark and Nancy talk about: Nancy's passion for writing that started in the 2nd grade How she had never planned on being an author until she "accidentally" published her first book The two years of personal journal entries she started when her mother was diagnosed with cancer in 1999 and how that evolved into a book project The Rut-Busting workshops Nancy had been offering which ended up being adapted into a book Strategies for dealing with procrastination The concept of creating a writing roadmap The importance of consistency with devoting the time to writing The value of the 30 minute / 30 day strategy that Nancy recommends The writing toolbox and the objects Nancy uses from them in a writing workshop And more . . . After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Nancy said, including the concept of "just get started" as well as the idea of making time to write for 30 minutes every day for 30 days. Links of Interest Nancy Christie's Website Nancy's Author Profile on Facebook Nancy on Twitter Nancy on Pinterest Nancy on Instagram Nancy on YouTube Nancy's Blog Article on Book Launch Tips Findaway Voices Scott Overton Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Nancy Christie is the author of the award-winning Rut-Busting Book for Writers, Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories and The Gifts Of Change. Her short stories and essays have appeared in numerous print and online publications. Peripheral Visions and Other Stories, Christie's second short fiction collection, won a second place award in the prestigious 2018 Royal Palm Literary Award Competition. It's scheduled for publication in 2020 by Unsolicited Press. She is currently working on Rut-Busting Book for Authors, a companion book to Rut-Busting Book for Writers, that will be released Fall 2019. A professional writer based in Ohio, Christie provides copywriting services to agencies, businesses and organizations nationwide through her company, Professional Writing Services. A member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Florida Writers Association and Short Fiction Writers Guild (SFWG), Christie teaches writing workshops at conferences, libraries and schools. She is also the founder of the annual "Celebrate Short Fiction" Day (www.nancychristie.com/focusonfiction/celebrate-short-fiction-day/).   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark interviews Nancy Christie, the author of the award-winning book Rut-Busting for Writers. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In the personal update for this episode, Mark shares some of the work he has done in his "Canadian Werewolf" universe, including the recent audiobook version of the short story "This Time Around," reworking the cover for A Canadian Werewolf in New York and the short story to include a wolf image (giving the book a bit more of an urban fantasy look and feel), and the new short story he is currently working on that he is calling "Stowe Away" and which he describes as a cross between "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" and "Logan." In their conversation, Mark and Nancy talk about: Nancy's passion for writing that started in the 2nd grade How she had never planned on being an author until she "accidentally" published her first book The two years of personal journal entries she started when her mother was diagnosed with cancer in 1999 and how that evolved into a book project The Rut-Busting workshops Nancy had been offering which ended up being adapted into a book Strategies for dealing with procrastination The concept of creating a writing roadmap The importance of consistency with devoting the time to writing The value of the 30 minute / 30 day strategy that Nancy recommends The writing toolbox and the objects Nancy uses from them in a writing workshop And more . . . After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Nancy said, including the concept of "just get started" as well as the idea of making time to write for 30 minutes every day for 30 days. Links of Interest Nancy Christie's Website Nancy's Author Profile on Facebook Nancy on Twitter Nancy on Pinterest Nancy on Instagram Nancy on YouTube Nancy's Blog Article on Book Launch Tips Findaway Voices Scott Overton Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Nancy Christie is the author of the award-winning Rut-Busting Book for Writers, Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories and The Gifts Of Change. Her short stories and essays have appeared in numerous print and online publications. Peripheral Visions and Other Stories, Christie's second short fiction collection, won a second place award in the prestigious 2018 Royal Palm Literary Award Competition. It's scheduled for publication in 2020 by Unsolicited Press. She is currently working on Rut-Busting Book for Authors, a companion book to Rut-Busting Book for Writers, that will be released Fall 2019. A professional writer based in Ohio, Christie provides copywriting services to agencies, businesses and organizations nationwide through her company, Professional Writing Services. A member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Florida Writers Association and Short Fiction Writers Guild (SFWG), Christie teaches writing workshops at conferences, libraries and schools. She is also the founder of the annual "Celebrate Short Fiction" Day (www.nancychristie.com/focusonfiction/celebrate-short-fiction-day/).   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 066 - Behind the Scenes Author Support with Adriel Wiggins Behind the Scenes Author Support with Adriel Wiggins Thu, 14 Mar 2019 21:00:00 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews Adriel Wiggins about the behind the scenes support she provides authors as both a virtual assistant as well as a continuity editor.

    Prior to the interview, Mark provides a short personal update and talks about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their chat, Mark and Adriel discuss:

    • The backstory of how Adriel got involved in becoming an author's virtual assistant
    • The random jobs she had been working at prior to taking editorial and VA type work
    • The different and unique tasks that each author Adriel works with use her for
    • What she looks for in terms of authors that she is interested in working with
    • How an author can determine if they are ready for a virtual assistant
    • Typical charges for a virtual assistant's various tasks
    • What continuity editing is and why it is important
    • The four types of editing (Developmental Editing, Copy/Line Editing, Proofreading, Continuity Editing)
    • The eggs benedict breakfast that James A Owen hosts at Superstars Writing Seminars
    • The importance of valuing yourself

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of valuing yourself and your time as a writer.

    Links of Interest

     

    Whether she is running her own business, tackling administrative duties at her local Christian school, or raising her family, Adriel Wiggins always seems to find herself the center of a situation in need of organization. Combining her passion for organization and optimization with her love of books, Adriel Wiggins now helps authors to streamline the non-writing aspects of managing a successful writing career. For more than four and a half years, she's balanced the in's and out's of book promotion, community growth, online marketing, and more for a growing roster of clients from around the world.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark interviews Adriel Wiggins about the behind the scenes support she provides authors as both a virtual assistant as well as a continuity editor.

    Prior to the interview, Mark provides a short personal update and talks about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their chat, Mark and Adriel discuss:

    • The backstory of how Adriel got involved in becoming an author's virtual assistant
    • The random jobs she had been working at prior to taking editorial and VA type work
    • The different and unique tasks that each author Adriel works with use her for
    • What she looks for in terms of authors that she is interested in working with
    • How an author can determine if they are ready for a virtual assistant
    • Typical charges for a virtual assistant's various tasks
    • What continuity editing is and why it is important
    • The four types of editing (Developmental Editing, Copy/Line Editing, Proofreading, Continuity Editing)
    • The eggs benedict breakfast that James A Owen hosts at Superstars Writing Seminars
    • The importance of valuing yourself

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of valuing yourself and your time as a writer.

    Links of Interest

    Whether she is running her own business, tackling administrative duties at her local Christian school, or raising her family, Adriel Wiggins always seems to find herself the center of a situation in need of organization. Combining her passion for organization and optimization with her love of books, Adriel Wiggins now helps authors to streamline the non-writing aspects of managing a successful writing career. For more than four and a half years, she's balanced the in's and out's of book promotion, community growth, online marketing, and more for a growing roster of clients from around the world.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     42:52 false 2 66 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews Adriel Wiggins about the behind the scenes support she provides authors as both a virtual assistant as well as a continuity editor. Prior to the interview, Mark provides a short personal update and talks about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their chat, Mark and Adriel discuss: The backstory of how Adriel got involved in becoming an author's virtual assistant The random jobs she had been working at prior to taking editorial and VA type work The different and unique tasks that each author Adriel works with use her for What she looks for in terms of authors that she is interested in working with How an author can determine if they are ready for a virtual assistant Typical charges for a virtual assistant's various tasks What continuity editing is and why it is important The four types of editing (Developmental Editing, Copy/Line Editing, Proofreading, Continuity Editing) The eggs benedict breakfast that James A Owen hosts at Superstars Writing Seminars The importance of valuing yourself   After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of valuing yourself and your time as a writer. Links of Interest Adrielwiggins.com Adreiel's Pricing Info Adriel on Working with an Assistant Adriel's curated resources Findaway Voices Scott Overton Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Whether she is running her own business, tackling administrative duties at her local Christian school, or raising her family, Adriel Wiggins always seems to find herself the center of a situation in need of organization. Combining her passion for organization and optimization with her love of books, Adriel Wiggins now helps authors to streamline the non-writing aspects of managing a successful writing career. For more than four and a half years, she's balanced the in's and out's of book promotion, community growth, online marketing, and more for a growing roster of clients from around the world.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark interviews Adriel Wiggins about the behind the scenes support she provides authors as both a virtual assistant as well as a continuity editor. Prior to the interview, Mark provides a short personal update and talks about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their chat, Mark and Adriel discuss: The backstory of how Adriel got involved in becoming an author's virtual assistant The random jobs she had been working at prior to taking editorial and VA type work The different and unique tasks that each author Adriel works with use her for What she looks for in terms of authors that she is interested in working with How an author can determine if they are ready for a virtual assistant Typical charges for a virtual assistant's various tasks What continuity editing is and why it is important The four types of editing (Developmental Editing, Copy/Line Editing, Proofreading, Continuity Editing) The eggs benedict breakfast that James A Owen hosts at Superstars Writing Seminars The importance of valuing yourself   After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of valuing yourself and your time as a writer. Links of Interest Adrielwiggins.com Adreiel's Pricing Info Adriel on Working with an Assistant Adriel's curated resources Findaway Voices Scott Overton Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Whether she is running her own business, tackling administrative duties at her local Christian school, or raising her family, Adriel Wiggins always seems to find herself the center of a situation in need of organization. Combining her passion for organization and optimization with her love of books, Adriel Wiggins now helps authors to streamline the non-writing aspects of managing a successful writing career. For more than four and a half years, she's balanced the in's and out's of book promotion, community growth, online marketing, and more for a growing roster of clients from around the world.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 065 - Two Publishing Paths Diverged Two Publishing Paths Diverged Fri, 08 Mar 2019 23:48:38 +0000 In this episode, Mark shares an article that he recently had published in WRITE magazine, the official magazine of The Writer's Union of Canada.

    In the word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .. . . Mark shares a recent announcement from BookBub regarding Chirp, the new audiobook promotion service they are launching in partnership with Findaway.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update, Mark reflects on how procrastination recently led to him finally being "caught with his pants down" at the recent WMG Publishing anthology workshop.

    For the main segment of the show, Mark reads an article entitled "Two Publishing Paths Diverged in a Digital World: A Stark Look at Self-Publishing" which appeared in the Winter 1999 issue of WRITE magazine.

    He then talks about why he feels it was important for this article to appear in that particular magazine.

     

    Links of Interest

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark shares an article that he recently had published in WRITE magazine, the official magazine of The Writer's Union of Canada.

    In the word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .. . . Mark shares a recent announcement from BookBub regarding Chirp, the new audiobook promotion service they are launching in partnership with Findaway.

    You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In his personal update, Mark reflects on how procrastination recently led to him finally being "caught with his pants down" at the recent WMG Publishing anthology workshop.

    For the main segment of the show, Mark reads an article entitled "Two Publishing Paths Diverged in a Digital World: A Stark Look at Self-Publishing" which appeared in the Winter 1999 issue of WRITE magazine.

    He then talks about why he feels it was important for this article to appear in that particular magazine.

    Links of Interest

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     31:58 false 2 65 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark shares an article that he recently had published in WRITE magazine, the official magazine of The Writer's Union of Canada. In the word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .. . . Mark shares a recent announcement from BookBub regarding Chirp, the new audiobook promotion service they are launching in partnership with Findaway. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark reflects on how procrastination recently led to him finally being "caught with his pants down" at the recent WMG Publishing anthology workshop. For the main segment of the show, Mark reads an article entitled "Two Publishing Paths Diverged in a Digital World: A Stark Look at Self-Publishing" which appeared in the Winter 1999 issue of WRITE magazine. He then talks about why he feels it was important for this article to appear in that particular magazine.   Links of Interest BookBub Announcement About Chirp (Audiobook Promotion) Findaway Voices Fiction River Pulphouse Magazine WMG Anthology Workshop The Writers' Union of Canada Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark shares an article that he recently had published in WRITE magazine, the official magazine of The Writer's Union of Canada. In the word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .. . . Mark shares a recent announcement from BookBub regarding Chirp, the new audiobook promotion service they are launching in partnership with Findaway. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark reflects on how procrastination recently led to him finally being "caught with his pants down" at the recent WMG Publishing anthology workshop. For the main segment of the show, Mark reads an article entitled "Two Publishing Paths Diverged in a Digital World: A Stark Look at Self-Publishing" which appeared in the Winter 1999 issue of WRITE magazine. He then talks about why he feels it was important for this article to appear in that particular magazine.   Links of Interest BookBub Announcement About Chirp (Audiobook Promotion) Findaway Voices Fiction River Pulphouse Magazine WMG Anthology Workshop The Writers' Union of Canada Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 064 - Procrastination Procrastination Fri, 01 Mar 2019 05:32:06 +0000 In this extremely short episode, Mark talks about Procrastination and how it has been a significant part of who he is and how he works on projects.

    He talks a bit about the Fiction River anthology project that he is currently in Vegas for as an editor (and how that relates to this topic), as well as Tim Urban's hilarious and yet accurate portrayal of what goes on in side the mind of a master procrastinator.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this extremely short episode, Mark talks about Procrastination and how it has been a significant part of who he is and how he works on projects.

    He talks a bit about the Fiction River anthology project that he is currently in Vegas for as an editor (and how that relates to this topic), as well as Tim Urban's hilarious and yet accurate portrayal of what goes on in side the mind of a master procrastinator.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     13:57 false 2 64 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this extremely short episode, Mark talks about Procrastination and how it has been a significant part of who he is and how he works on projects. He talks a bit about the Fiction River anthology project that he is currently in Vegas for as an editor (and how that relates to this topic), as well as Tim Urban's hilarious and yet accurate portrayal of what goes on in side the mind of a master procrastinator. Links of Interest: Tim Urban Tim Urban's TED talk on Procrastination: Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator Wait But Why (Blog) Fiction River WMG Anthology Workshop Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this extremely short episode, Mark talks about Procrastination and how it has been a significant part of who he is and how he works on projects. He talks a bit about the Fiction River anthology project that he is currently in Vegas for as an editor (and how that relates to this topic), as well as Tim Urban's hilarious and yet accurate portrayal of what goes on in side the mind of a master procrastinator. Links of Interest: Tim Urban Tim Urban's TED talk on Procrastination: Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator Wait But Why (Blog) Fiction River WMG Anthology Workshop Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 063 - Wait. Did You Hear That? Wait. Did You Hear That? All About Audiobooks. Fri, 22 Feb 2019 14:59:39 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark plays clips from a couple of other podcasts, shares some personal updates related to his own audiobook products, and goes neck deep into his thoughts about audiobooks for authors.

    The episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.. . . you can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Some of the topics Mark covers in this episode include:

    • How much he still loves the 1987 song "Somewhere Down The Crazy River" by Robbie Robertson
    • A FreeBooksy promo he recently ran on an erotic horror title called SOMETHING WICKED (Nocturnal Screams 7)
    • A BookBub promo he ran with his pal Sean Costello for the book HERE AFTER
    • A new computer synth version of his book The 7 P's of Publishing Success that is now available and why he is pricing this version at 99 cents

    • A sample from his new VocoCraft computer synth version of the book, as well as the same sample from the human self-narrated version of the book
    • The recent Public Lending Right Program check he received for the appearance of his books in Canadian libraries and why authors in Canada, the UK, Australia and other countries that have a PLR program should take advantage of that
    • His recent guest appearance on The Sell More Books Show with Jim Kukral (Mark stepped in at the last minute to replace co-host Bryan Cohen who was ill)
    • A short clip from Episode 255 of The Sell More Books Show talking about a new "choose your own audio" project from Amazon
    • A couple of clips from The Creative Penn podcast episode 417, where Joanna interviewed Will Dages from Findaway Voices
    • The reveal of the new Voices Share program from Findaway Voices

    Mark also welcomes new Patron Sherilyn Decter and thanks all patrons who support the show and have access to additional audio content (Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts) and other material at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

    He also thanks those who commented on Episode 62 and draws the name of two winners for the Mythulu creation cards.

     

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this solo episode, Mark plays clips from a couple of other podcasts, shares some personal updates related to his own audiobook products, and goes neck deep into his thoughts about audiobooks for authors.

    The episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.. . . you can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    Some of the topics Mark covers in this episode include:

    • How much he still loves the 1987 song "Somewhere Down The Crazy River" by Robbie Robertson
    • A FreeBooksy promo he recently ran on an erotic horror title called SOMETHING WICKED (Nocturnal Screams 7)
    • A BookBub promo he ran with his pal Sean Costello for the book HERE AFTER
    • A new computer synth version of his book The 7 P's of Publishing Success that is now available and why he is pricing this version at 99 cents

    • A sample from his new VocoCraft computer synth version of the book, as well as the same sample from the human self-narrated version of the book
    • The recent Public Lending Right Program check he received for the appearance of his books in Canadian libraries and why authors in Canada, the UK, Australia and other countries that have a PLR program should take advantage of that
    • His recent guest appearance on The Sell More Books Show with Jim Kukral (Mark stepped in at the last minute to replace co-host Bryan Cohen who was ill)
    • A short clip from Episode 255 of The Sell More Books Show talking about a new "choose your own audio" project from Amazon
    • A couple of clips from The Creative Penn podcast episode 417, where Joanna interviewed Will Dages from Findaway Voices
    • The reveal of the new Voices Share program from Findaway Voices

    Mark also welcomes new Patron Sherilyn Decter and thanks all patrons who support the show and have access to additional audio content (Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts) and other material at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

    He also thanks those who commented on Episode 62 and draws the name of two winners for the Mythulu creation cards.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     41:44 false 2 63 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark plays clips from a couple of other podcasts, shares some personal updates related to his own audiobook products, and goes neck deep into his thoughts about audiobooks for authors. The episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.. . . you can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Some of the topics Mark covers in this episode include: How much he still loves the 1987 song "Somewhere Down The Crazy River" by Robbie Robertson A FreeBooksy promo he recently ran on an erotic horror title called SOMETHING WICKED (Nocturnal Screams 7) A BookBub promo he ran with his pal Sean Costello for the book HERE AFTER A new computer synth version of his book The 7 P's of Publishing Success that is now available and why he is pricing this version at 99 cents A sample from his new VocoCraft computer synth version of the book, as well as the same sample from the human self-narrated version of the book The recent Public Lending Right Program check he received for the appearance of his books in Canadian libraries and why authors in Canada, the UK, Australia and other countries that have a PLR program should take advantage of that His recent guest appearance on The Sell More Books Show with Jim Kukral (Mark stepped in at the last minute to replace co-host Bryan Cohen who was ill) A short clip from Episode 255 of The Sell More Books Show talking about a new "choose your own audio" project from Amazon A couple of clips from The Creative Penn podcast episode 417, where Joanna interviewed Will Dages from Findaway Voices The reveal of the new Voices Share program from Findaway Voices Mark also welcomes new Patron Sherilyn Decter and thanks all patrons who support the show and have access to additional audio content (Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts) and other material at www.patreon.com/starkreflections. He also thanks those who commented on Episode 62 and draws the name of two winners for the Mythulu creation cards.   Links of Interest: Written Word Media (BargainBooksy, FreeBooksy, etc) BookBub The 7 P's of Publishing Success The VocoCraft Computer Synth Version VocoCraft Public Lending Rights Program (Canada) YouTube Video The Sell More Books Show (Episode 255) The Creative Penn Podcast (Episode 417) Mythulu Superstars Writing Seminars Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey Something Wicked (Nocturnal Screams 7) Killing It On Kobo The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this solo episode, Mark plays clips from a couple of other podcasts, shares some personal updates related to his own audiobook products, and goes neck deep into his thoughts about audiobooks for authors. The episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.. . . you can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Some of the topics Mark covers in this episode include: How much he still loves the 1987 song "Somewhere Down The Crazy River" by Robbie Robertson A FreeBooksy promo he recently ran on an erotic horror title called SOMETHING WICKED (Nocturnal Screams 7) A BookBub promo he ran with his pal Sean Costello for the book HERE AFTER A new computer synth version of his book The 7 P's of Publishing Success that is now available and why he is pricing this version at 99 cents A sample from his new VocoCraft computer synth version of the book, as well as the same sample from the human self-narrated version of the book The recent Public Lending Right Program check he received for the appearance of his books in Canadian libraries and why authors in Canada, the UK, Australia and other countries that have a PLR program should take advantage of that His recent guest appearance on The Sell More Books Show with Jim Kukral (Mark stepped in at the last minute to replace co-host Bryan Cohen who was ill) A short clip from Episode 255 of The Sell More Books Show talking about a new "choose your own audio" project from Amazon A couple of clips from The Creative Penn podcast episode 417, where Joanna interviewed Will Dages from Findaway Voices The reveal of the new Voices Share program from Findaway Voices Mark also welcomes new Patron Sherilyn Decter and thanks all patrons who support the show and have access to additional audio content (Stark Reflections on Other Podcasts) and other material at www.patreon.com/starkreflections. He also thanks those who commented on Episode 62 and draws the name of two winners for the Mythulu creation cards.   Links of Interest: Written Word Media (BargainBooksy, FreeBooksy, etc) BookBub The 7 P's of Publishing Success The VocoCraft Computer Synth Version VocoCraft Public Lending Rights Program (Canada) YouTube Video The Sell More Books Show (Episode 255) The Creative Penn Podcast (Episode 417) Mythulu Superstars Writing Seminars Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey Something Wicked (Nocturnal Screams 7) Killing It On Kobo The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 062 - Expanding Creativity with Mythulu Creation Cards Expanding Creativity with Mythulu Creation Cards Fri, 15 Feb 2019 17:31:50 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Laura Shanae Crenshaw, a writer, a world-builder, a photographer, an all around creative person, and the creator of the Mythulu creation cards.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few details from last week's Superstars Writers Seminars that stuck out to him, both writing and business-of-writing related activities as well as an unexpected pleasant personal experience.

    He then talks about the audiobook panels he was on and mentions this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. He shares that, in 2018, 6% of his writing income came from audio, and from sources well behind the major retailers for audiobooks (such as Audible, Apple, Kobo and Google). . . . you can learn more about how you can get your work distributed not only to those top retailers, but also to other retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    During their chat, Mark and Laura discuss:

    • Laura's unusual introduction into writing via imaginary stories from her older sister
    • The basic concept behind the Mythulu creativity enhancement tool that Laura created
    • Daniel Kahneman (author of "Thinking Fast and Slow") and how his idea that the brain can only hold 6 ideas at a time led to the six packs in Laura's deck
    • Filling a story with rich meaning instead of tropes and cliches
    • The archetypes used in the tool: Elements, Habitats, Characters, Relationships, Traits, and Textures
    • Examples of "Blood" as one of the 50 archetypical elements and the various interpretations associated with it
    • How research led to the creation of something a lot more complex than was laid out by Joseph Campbell in his mythological archetypes
    • Mark's consideration of Laura's reading of the deck as being similar to a Tarot reading
    • Examples of how a writer might use the deck to fill in details or answering outstanding questions
    • Laura's passion for helping writers tell new stories and incorporate new ideas into their writing
    • The non-fiction book that Laura ghost-wrote called "Never Boss"
    • How Laura was introduced to and invited to Superstars Writing Seminars by James Owen

    After the interview, Mark reminds listeners of their chance to win a copy of the Mythulu Creation Cards just by commenting on this episode at www.starkreflections.ca.

    The winner will be randomly drawn from all commenters, and patrons supporting the show via Patreon.com/StarkReflections who leave a comment will get an additional bonus opportunity to win.

    He then reflects on how Laura was welcomed in to the Superstars Writing Seminars Tribe, discusses the concept of that incredibly powerful "family" feeling at the conference, as well as elements of Love that go beyond notions of romantic love and are more about the beautiful way that people can connect to one another and support each other.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews Laura Shanae Crenshaw, a writer, a world-builder, a photographer, an all around creative person, and the creator of the Mythulu creation cards.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few details from last week's Superstars Writers Seminars that stuck out to him, both writing and business-of-writing related activities as well as an unexpected pleasant personal experience.

    He then talks about the audiobook panels he was on and mentions this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. He shares that, in 2018, 6% of his writing income came from audio, and from sources well behind the major retailers for audiobooks (such as Audible, Apple, Kobo and Google). . . . you can learn more about how you can get your work distributed not only to those top retailers, but also to other retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    During their chat, Mark and Laura discuss:

    • Laura's unusual introduction into writing via imaginary stories from her older sister
    • The basic concept behind the Mythulu creativity enhancement tool that Laura created
    • Daniel Kahneman (author of "Thinking Fast and Slow") and how his idea that the brain can only hold 6 ideas at a time led to the six packs in Laura's deck
    • Filling a story with rich meaning instead of tropes and cliches
    • The archetypes used in the tool: Elements, Habitats, Characters, Relationships, Traits, and Textures
    • Examples of "Blood" as one of the 50 archetypical elements and the various interpretations associated with it
    • How research led to the creation of something a lot more complex than was laid out by Joseph Campbell in his mythological archetypes
    • Mark's consideration of Laura's reading of the deck as being similar to a Tarot reading
    • Examples of how a writer might use the deck to fill in details or answering outstanding questions
    • Laura's passion for helping writers tell new stories and incorporate new ideas into their writing
    • The non-fiction book that Laura ghost-wrote called "Never Boss"
    • How Laura was introduced to and invited to Superstars Writing Seminars by James Owen

    After the interview, Mark reminds listeners of their chance to win a copy of the Mythulu Creation Cards just by commenting on this episode at www.starkreflections.ca.

    The winner will be randomly drawn from all commenters, and patrons supporting the show via Patreon.com/StarkReflections who leave a comment will get an additional bonus opportunity to win.

    He then reflects on how Laura was welcomed in to the Superstars Writing Seminars Tribe, discusses the concept of that incredibly powerful "family" feeling at the conference, as well as elements of Love that go beyond notions of romantic love and are more about the beautiful way that people can connect to one another and support each other.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     38:09 false 2 62 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Laura Shanae Crenshaw, a writer, a world-builder, a photographer, an all around creative person, and the creator of the Mythulu creation cards. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few details from last week's Superstars Writers Seminars that stuck out to him, both writing and business-of-writing related activities as well as an unexpected pleasant personal experience. He then talks about the audiobook panels he was on and mentions this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. He shares that, in 2018, 6% of his writing income came from audio, and from sources well behind the major retailers for audiobooks (such as Audible, Apple, Kobo and Google). . . . you can learn more about how you can get your work distributed not only to those top retailers, but also to other retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Laura discuss: Laura's unusual introduction into writing via imaginary stories from her older sister The basic concept behind the Mythulu creativity enhancement tool that Laura created Daniel Kahneman (author of "Thinking Fast and Slow") and how his idea that the brain can only hold 6 ideas at a time led to the six packs in Laura's deck Filling a story with rich meaning instead of tropes and cliches The archetypes used in the tool: Elements, Habitats, Characters, Relationships, Traits, and Textures Examples of "Blood" as one of the 50 archetypical elements and the various interpretations associated with it How research led to the creation of something a lot more complex than was laid out by Joseph Campbell in his mythological archetypes Mark's consideration of Laura's reading of the deck as being similar to a Tarot reading Examples of how a writer might use the deck to fill in details or answering outstanding questions Laura's passion for helping writers tell new stories and incorporate new ideas into their writing The non-fiction book that Laura ghost-wrote called "Never Boss" How Laura was introduced to and invited to Superstars Writing Seminars by James Owen After the interview, Mark reminds listeners of their chance to win a copy of the Mythulu Creation Cards just by commenting on this episode at www.starkreflections.ca. The winner will be randomly drawn from all commenters, and patrons supporting the show via Patreon.com/StarkReflections who leave a comment will get an additional bonus opportunity to win. He then reflects on how Laura was welcomed in to the Superstars Writing Seminars Tribe, discusses the concept of that incredibly powerful "family" feeling at the conference, as well as elements of Love that go beyond notions of romantic love and are more about the beautiful way that people can connect to one another and support each other. Links of Interest: Mythulu Superstars Writing Seminars Fiction River: Feel the Love Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In this episode Mark interviews Laura Shanae Crenshaw, a writer, a world-builder, a photographer, an all around creative person, and the creator of the Mythulu creation cards. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few details from last week's Superstars Writers Seminars that stuck out to him, both writing and business-of-writing related activities as well as an unexpected pleasant personal experience. He then talks about the audiobook panels he was on and mentions this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices. He shares that, in 2018, 6% of his writing income came from audio, and from sources well behind the major retailers for audiobooks (such as Audible, Apple, Kobo and Google). . . . you can learn more about how you can get your work distributed not only to those top retailers, but also to other retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Laura discuss: Laura's unusual introduction into writing via imaginary stories from her older sister The basic concept behind the Mythulu creativity enhancement tool that Laura created Daniel Kahneman (author of "Thinking Fast and Slow") and how his idea that the brain can only hold 6 ideas at a time led to the six packs in Laura's deck Filling a story with rich meaning instead of tropes and cliches The archetypes used in the tool: Elements, Habitats, Characters, Relationships, Traits, and Textures Examples of "Blood" as one of the 50 archetypical elements and the various interpretations associated with it How research led to the creation of something a lot more complex than was laid out by Joseph Campbell in his mythological archetypes Mark's consideration of Laura's reading of the deck as being similar to a Tarot reading Examples of how a writer might use the deck to fill in details or answering outstanding questions Laura's passion for helping writers tell new stories and incorporate new ideas into their writing The non-fiction book that Laura ghost-wrote called "Never Boss" How Laura was introduced to and invited to Superstars Writing Seminars by James Owen After the interview, Mark reminds listeners of their chance to win a copy of the Mythulu Creation Cards just by commenting on this episode at www.starkreflections.ca. The winner will be randomly drawn from all commenters, and patrons supporting the show via Patreon.com/StarkReflections who leave a comment will get an additional bonus opportunity to win. He then reflects on how Laura was welcomed in to the Superstars Writing Seminars Tribe, discusses the concept of that incredibly powerful "family" feeling at the conference, as well as elements of Love that go beyond notions of romantic love and are more about the beautiful way that people can connect to one another and support each other. Links of Interest: Mythulu Superstars Writing Seminars Fiction River: Feel the Love Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 061 - Nuggets From Superstars Writing Seminars 2019 Nuggets From Superstars Writing Seminars 2019 Thu, 14 Feb 2019 02:21:06 +0000 This short episode includes a brief chat with Adriel Wiggins about her author resource business (author assistant and continuity editing) as well as a few quick nuggets from the recent Superstars Writing Seminars that Mark attended in early February 2019.

    The episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark shares a fun Valentine's promotion from them called FOR THE LOVE OF AUDIOBOOKS. Readers can use a coupon code ("loveaudio") to get as many titles from this wonderful collection of romance audiobooks in time for Valentines' Day.

    https://shop.authors-direct.com/collections/for-the-love-of-audiobooks . . . you can learn more at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    In their brief chat, Mark and Adriel talk about:

    • Adriel talks about how she got involved in creating services to assist authors
    • The "I'm not letting you go ever!" response from her first author client
    • Her specialties which are related to data analytics and promotion schedules
    • Some of the common mistakes authors make when hiring a personal assistant

     

    Mark explains that he'll be doing a full interview with Adriel in a forthcoming episode.

    For the last part of this short episode, he shares three of the many tidbits of things he learned at Superstars Writing Seminars.

    Three Small Nuggets From the Landslide of Gold at SSWS

    1. Yasiv.com - a cloud map (visual representation of also boughts for AMS ads, BookBub and Facebook targeting, etc) - a great reminder from James Hunter.

    2. QUOTE: "You don't have a muse, you have a mortgage." - Jim Butcher, reminding writers what being a professional means.

    3. The D10 of Power Writing - The concept of using a 10 sided die to set a writing goal before you consider yourself finished.
    Simple - Multiple the number rolled on the die by 1000. If you roll a 1, you write 1000 words, if you roll a 10, then 10,000 words.


    Mark concludes by stating that he left Superstars Writing Seminars having lined up a wonderful series of interviews from several great people that you'll hear in forthcoming episodes.

    For example, next episode will feature a chat with Laura Shanae Crenshaw of Mythulu and she shares the incredible intriguing Mythulu deck that helps a writer come up with insightful characters, situations and incidents in their stories that move well beyond tropes or the low-hanging fruit of "the first thing that comes to mind."

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     This short episode includes a brief chat with Adriel Wiggins about her author resource business (author assistant and continuity editing) as well as a few quick nuggets from the recent Superstars Writing Seminars that Mark attended in early February 2019.

    The episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark shares a fun Valentine's promotion from them called FOR THE LOVE OF AUDIOBOOKS. Readers can use a coupon code ("loveaudio") to get as many titles from this wonderful collection of romance audiobooks in time for Valentines' Day.

    https://shop.authors-direct.com/collections/for-the-love-of-audiobooks . . . you can learn more at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their brief chat, Mark and Adriel talk about:

    • Adriel talks about how she got involved in creating services to assist authors
    • The "I'm not letting you go ever!" response from her first author client
    • Her specialties which are related to data analytics and promotion schedules
    • Some of the common mistakes authors make when hiring a personal assistant

    Mark explains that he'll be doing a full interview with Adriel in a forthcoming episode.

    For the last part of this short episode, he shares three of the many tidbits of things he learned at Superstars Writing Seminars.

    Three Small Nuggets From the Landslide of Gold at SSWS

    1. Yasiv.com - a cloud map (visual representation of also boughts for AMS ads, BookBub and Facebook targeting, etc) - a great reminder from James Hunter.

    2. QUOTE: "You don't have a muse, you have a mortgage." - Jim Butcher, reminding writers what being a professional means.

    3. The D10 of Power Writing - The concept of using a 10 sided die to set a writing goal before you consider yourself finished. Simple - Multiple the number rolled on the die by 1000. If you roll a 1, you write 1000 words, if you roll a 10, then 10,000 words.

    Mark concludes by stating that he left Superstars Writing Seminars having lined up a wonderful series of interviews from several great people that you'll hear in forthcoming episodes.

    For example, next episode will feature a chat with Laura Shanae Crenshaw of Mythulu and she shares the incredible intriguing Mythulu deck that helps a writer come up with insightful characters, situations and incidents in their stories that move well beyond tropes or the low-hanging fruit of "the first thing that comes to mind."

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     16:30 false 2 61 bonus Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This short episode includes a brief chat with Adriel Wiggins about her author resource business (author assistant and continuity editing) as well as a few quick nuggets from the recent Superstars Writing Seminars that Mark attended in early February 2019. The episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark shares a fun Valentine's promotion from them called FOR THE LOVE OF AUDIOBOOKS. Readers can use a coupon code ("loveaudio") to get as many titles from this wonderful collection of romance audiobooks in time for Valentines' Day. https://shop.authors-direct.com/collections/for-the-love-of-audiobooks . . . you can learn more at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their brief chat, Mark and Adriel talk about: Adriel talks about how she got involved in creating services to assist authors The "I'm not letting you go ever!" response from her first author client Her specialties which are related to data analytics and promotion schedules Some of the common mistakes authors make when hiring a personal assistant   Mark explains that he'll be doing a full interview with Adriel in a forthcoming episode. For the last part of this short episode, he shares three of the many tidbits of things he learned at Superstars Writing Seminars. Three Small Nuggets From the Landslide of Gold at SSWS 1. Yasiv.com - a cloud map (visual representation of also boughts for AMS ads, BookBub and Facebook targeting, etc) - a great reminder from James Hunter. 2. QUOTE: "You don't have a muse, you have a mortgage." - Jim Butcher, reminding writers what being a professional means. 3. The D10 of Power Writing - The concept of using a 10 sided die to set a writing goal before you consider yourself finished. Simple - Multiple the number rolled on the die by 1000. If you roll a 1, you write 1000 words, if you roll a 10, then 10,000 words. Mark concludes by stating that he left Superstars Writing Seminars having lined up a wonderful series of interviews from several great people that you'll hear in forthcoming episodes. For example, next episode will feature a chat with Laura Shanae Crenshaw of Mythulu and she shares the incredible intriguing Mythulu deck that helps a writer come up with insightful characters, situations and incidents in their stories that move well beyond tropes or the low-hanging fruit of "the first thing that comes to mind." Links of Interest: Superstars Writing Seminars Adriel Wiggins James A. Hunter Jim Butcher Mythulu Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0This short episode includes a brief chat with Adriel Wiggins about her author resource business (author assistant and continuity editing) as well as a few quick nuggets from the recent Superstars Writing Seminars that Mark attended in early February 2019. The episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark shares a fun Valentine's promotion from them called FOR THE LOVE OF AUDIOBOOKS. Readers can use a coupon code ("loveaudio") to get as many titles from this wonderful collection of romance audiobooks in time for Valentines' Day. https://shop.authors-direct.com/collections/for-the-love-of-audiobooks . . . you can learn more at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their brief chat, Mark and Adriel talk about: Adriel talks about how she got involved in creating services to assist authors The "I'm not letting you go ever!" response from her first author client Her specialties which are related to data analytics and promotion schedules Some of the common mistakes authors make when hiring a personal assistant   Mark explains that he'll be doing a full interview with Adriel in a forthcoming episode. For the last part of this short episode, he shares three of the many tidbits of things he learned at Superstars Writing Seminars. Three Small Nuggets From the Landslide of Gold at SSWS 1. Yasiv.com - a cloud map (visual representation of also boughts for AMS ads, BookBub and Facebook targeting, etc) - a great reminder from James Hunter. 2. QUOTE: "You don't have a muse, you have a mortgage." - Jim Butcher, reminding writers what being a professional means. 3. The D10 of Power Writing - The concept of using a 10 sided die to set a writing goal before you consider yourself finished. Simple - Multiple the number rolled on the die by 1000. If you roll a 1, you write 1000 words, if you roll a 10, then 10,000 words. Mark concludes by stating that he left Superstars Writing Seminars having lined up a wonderful series of interviews from several great people that you'll hear in forthcoming episodes. For example, next episode will feature a chat with Laura Shanae Crenshaw of Mythulu and she shares the incredible intriguing Mythulu deck that helps a writer come up with insightful characters, situations and incidents in their stories that move well beyond tropes or the low-hanging fruit of "the first thing that comes to mind." Links of Interest: Superstars Writing Seminars Adriel Wiggins James A. Hunter Jim Butcher Mythulu Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 060 - The Holy Shit Moment and Other Sudden Insights with James Fell The Holy Shit Moment and Other Sudden Insights with James Fell Fri, 08 Feb 2019 06:44:47 +0000 Mark interviews James Fell, the author of The Holy Shit Moment: How Lasting Change Can Happen in An Instant about his new book.

    This episode comes with a special offer. If you comment on the show at www.starkreflections.ca (Episode 60) in the first week, your name will be entered into a random draw for winning a copy of the book. The choice of the format (Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook) will be decided by the winner.  (Please note this podcast is airing Feb 8, 2019)

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a bit of a personal update, which includes mention of his trip to Superstars Writing Seminars this week as well as a brief word about the episode's corporate sponsor,  Findaway Voices . . .

    . . . you can learn more at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    In their conversation, Mark and James talk about:

    • The approach James takes when it comes to merging research, attitude and humor in the different articles and columns he writes
    • Where and when the submit matter of an article seems to naturally call for profanity
    • How a cold call (and not following the "standard advice" on the matter) led to a role as a bi-weekly columnist for the La Times
    • The dopamine rush that comes with the recognition of progress
    • The length of time and the amount of work it takes to make it as a writer
    • James' first book, Lose it Right, which sold only to a publisher in Canada (Random House Canada)
    • The decision to write a book within the system of the markets that went beyond fitness and weight loss while maintaining a consistent moral code
    • How there are plenty of self-help books out there that are absolute crap
    • Being goal and motivation oriented
    • Early positive feedback already received on the book and the personal revelations shared from early and beta readers
    • How the book idea came to James in the middle of a long bike ride
    • The concept of System 1 and System 2 from Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
    • Malcolm Gladwell as an example of an author who drilled down in a narrow and focused way into a specific subject within common knowlege, including reference to science and insightful anecdotes
    • The concept of making this a "how to" book about making insights/epiphanies happen
    • The outreach for personal stories and the series of interviews with field experts on the topic
    • How running is a creative process for James
    • The two important elements: 1) The open-ness to the belief that this (a transformative event) can happen 2) Analysis followed by distraction
    • Giving yourself the opportunity for an ephiphany to arrive after first setting the stage by asking questions
    • The importance of being comfortable turning distractions completely off and engaging with nature for arriving at these types of scenarios (looking out the window rather than reading or listening to music)
    • What "shower thoughts" are and why they are important
    • The great value of a "walk in nature"
    • The wave of emotion that comes when "the answer" arrives
    • How we struggle with making "baby steps" because we are not inspired - more likely we felt like it was something we "had to do"
    • The challenging process of recording the audiobook, which was different than any of the radio or speaking experience James has had
    • Recording the audiobook in a music studio that was most often used for "death metal"
    • The four seven-hour days of recording the book and how exhausting the experience was

    After the interview Mark reflects on how writers can often experience revelations or sudden insights related to the characters in the books and stories they are writing. He also comments on the Thoreau-like perspective Fell shares, about the importance of walking in nature.

    Links of Interest:

     

     

    James Fell, MA, MBA, is a motivation, health, and fitness writer for the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune. He has written extensively for Chatelaine and AskMen.com, and authored pieces in TIME Magazine, the Guardian, Men's Health, Women's Health, and many other publications. He has a massive and highly engaged following on Facebook and Twitter, and his blog, Body For Wife, has millions of visitors a year. He is also the author of Lose It Right. He lives in Calgary, AB.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

     

    ]]>     Mark interviews James Fell, the author of The Holy Shit Moment: How Lasting Change Can Happen in An Instant about his new book.

    This episode comes with a special offer. If you comment on the show at www.starkreflections.ca (Episode 60) in the first week, your name will be entered into a random draw for winning a copy of the book. The choice of the format (Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook) will be decided by the winner. (Please note this podcast is airing Feb 8, 2019)

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a bit of a personal update, which includes mention of his trip to Superstars Writing Seminars this week as well as a brief word about the episode's corporate sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .

    . . . you can learn more at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Mark and James talk about:

    • The approach James takes when it comes to merging research, attitude and humor in the different articles and columns he writes
    • Where and when the submit matter of an article seems to naturally call for profanity
    • How a cold call (and not following the "standard advice" on the matter) led to a role as a bi-weekly columnist for the La Times
    • The dopamine rush that comes with the recognition of progress
    • The length of time and the amount of work it takes to make it as a writer
    • James' first book, Lose it Right, which sold only to a publisher in Canada (Random House Canada)
    • The decision to write a book within the system of the markets that went beyond fitness and weight loss while maintaining a consistent moral code
    • How there are plenty of self-help books out there that are absolute crap
    • Being goal and motivation oriented
    • Early positive feedback already received on the book and the personal revelations shared from early and beta readers
    • How the book idea came to James in the middle of a long bike ride
    • The concept of System 1 and System 2 from Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
    • Malcolm Gladwell as an example of an author who drilled down in a narrow and focused way into a specific subject within common knowlege, including reference to science and insightful anecdotes
    • The concept of making this a "how to" book about making insights/epiphanies happen
    • The outreach for personal stories and the series of interviews with field experts on the topic
    • How running is a creative process for James
    • The two important elements: 1) The open-ness to the belief that this (a transformative event) can happen 2) Analysis followed by distraction
    • Giving yourself the opportunity for an ephiphany to arrive after first setting the stage by asking questions
    • The importance of being comfortable turning distractions completely off and engaging with nature for arriving at these types of scenarios (looking out the window rather than reading or listening to music)
    • What "shower thoughts" are and why they are important
    • The great value of a "walk in nature"
    • The wave of emotion that comes when "the answer" arrives
    • How we struggle with making "baby steps" because we are not inspired - more likely we felt like it was something we "had to do"
    • The challenging process of recording the audiobook, which was different than any of the radio or speaking experience James has had
    • Recording the audiobook in a music studio that was most often used for "death metal"
    • The four seven-hour days of recording the book and how exhausting the experience was

    After the interview Mark reflects on how writers can often experience revelations or sudden insights related to the characters in the books and stories they are writing. He also comments on the Thoreau-like perspective Fell shares, about the importance of walking in nature.

    Links of Interest:

    James Fell, MA, MBA, is a motivation, health, and fitness writer for the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune. He has written extensively for Chatelaine and AskMen.com, and authored pieces in TIME Magazine, the Guardian, Men's Health, Women's Health, and many other publications. He has a massive and highly engaged following on Facebook and Twitter, and his blog, Body For Wife, has millions of visitors a year. He is also the author of Lose It Right. He lives in Calgary, AB.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     57:16 false 2 60 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews James Fell, the author of The Holy Shit Moment: How Lasting Change Can Happen in An Instant about his new book. This episode comes with a special offer. If you comment on the show at www.starkreflections.ca (Episode 60) in the first week, your name will be entered into a random draw for winning a copy of the book. The choice of the format (Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook) will be decided by the winner.  (Please note this podcast is airing Feb 8, 2019) Prior to the interview, Mark shares a bit of a personal update, which includes mention of his trip to Superstars Writing Seminars this week as well as a brief word about the episode's corporate sponsor,  Findaway Voices . . . . . . you can learn more at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and James talk about: The approach James takes when it comes to merging research, attitude and humor in the different articles and columns he writes Where and when the submit matter of an article seems to naturally call for profanity How a cold call (and not following the "standard advice" on the matter) led to a role as a bi-weekly columnist for the La Times The dopamine rush that comes with the recognition of progress The length of time and the amount of work it takes to make it as a writer James' first book, Lose it Right, which sold only to a publisher in Canada (Random House Canada) The decision to write a book within the system of the markets that went beyond fitness and weight loss while maintaining a consistent moral code How there are plenty of self-help books out there that are absolute crap Being goal and motivation oriented Early positive feedback already received on the book and the personal revelations shared from early and beta readers How the book idea came to James in the middle of a long bike ride The concept of System 1 and System 2 from Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman Malcolm Gladwell as an example of an author who drilled down in a narrow and focused way into a specific subject within common knowlege, including reference to science and insightful anecdotes The concept of making this a "how to" book about making insights/epiphanies happen The outreach for personal stories and the series of interviews with field experts on the topic How running is a creative process for James The two important elements: 1) The open-ness to the belief that this (a transformative event) can happen 2) Analysis followed by distraction Giving yourself the opportunity for an ephiphany to arrive after first setting the stage by asking questions The importance of being comfortable turning distractions completely off and engaging with nature for arriving at these types of scenarios (looking out the window rather than reading or listening to music) What "shower thoughts" are and why they are important The great value of a "walk in nature" The wave of emotion that comes when "the answer" arrives How we struggle with making "baby steps" because we are not inspired - more likely we felt like it was something we "had to do" The challenging process of recording the audiobook, which was different than any of the radio or speaking experience James has had Recording the audiobook in a music studio that was most often used for "death metal" The four seven-hour days of recording the book and how exhausting the experience was After the interview Mark reflects on how writers can often experience revelations or sudden insights related to the characters in the books and stories they are writing. He also comments on the Thoreau-like perspective Fell shares, about the importance of walking in nature. Links of Interest:   James Fell Website James Fell Twitter Superstars Writing Seminars Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo   James Fell, MA, MBA, is a motivation, health, and fitness writer for the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune. He has written extensively for Chatelaine and AskMen.com, and authored pieces in TIME Magazine, the Guardian, Men's Health, Women's Health, and many other publications. He has a massive and highly engaged following on Facebook and Twitter, and his blog, Body For Wife, has millions of visitors a year. He is also the author of Lose It Right. He lives in Calgary, AB.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0    Mark interviews James Fell, the author of The Holy Shit Moment: How Lasting Change Can Happen in An Instant about his new book. This episode comes with a special offer. If you comment on the show at www.starkreflections.ca (Episode 60) in the first week, your name will be entered into a random draw for winning a copy of the book. The choice of the format (Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook) will be decided by the winner.  (Please note this podcast is airing Feb 8, 2019) Prior to the interview, Mark shares a bit of a personal update, which includes mention of his trip to Superstars Writing Seminars this week as well as a brief word about the episode's corporate sponsor,  Findaway Voices . . . . . . you can learn more at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and James talk about: The approach James takes when it comes to merging research, attitude and humor in the different articles and columns he writes Where and when the submit matter of an article seems to naturally call for profanity How a cold call (and not following the "standard advice" on the matter) led to a role as a bi-weekly columnist for the La Times The dopamine rush that comes with the recognition of progress The length of time and the amount of work it takes to make it as a writer James' first book, Lose it Right, which sold only to a publisher in Canada (Random House Canada) The decision to write a book within the system of the markets that went beyond fitness and weight loss while maintaining a consistent moral code How there are plenty of self-help books out there that are absolute crap Being goal and motivation oriented Early positive feedback already received on the book and the personal revelations shared from early and beta readers How the book idea came to James in the middle of a long bike ride The concept of System 1 and System 2 from Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman Malcolm Gladwell as an example of an author who drilled down in a narrow and focused way into a specific subject within common knowlege, including reference to science and insightful anecdotes The concept of making this a "how to" book about making insights/epiphanies happen The outreach for personal stories and the series of interviews with field experts on the topic How running is a creative process for James The two important elements: 1) The open-ness to the belief that this (a transformative event) can happen 2) Analysis followed by distraction Giving yourself the opportunity for an ephiphany to arrive after first setting the stage by asking questions The importance of being comfortable turning distractions completely off and engaging with nature for arriving at these types of scenarios (looking out the window rather than reading or listening to music) What "shower thoughts" are and why they are important The great value of a "walk in nature" The wave of emotion that comes when "the answer" arrives How we struggle with making "baby steps" because we are not inspired - more likely we felt like it was something we "had to do" The challenging process of recording the audiobook, which was different than any of the radio or speaking experience James has had Recording the audiobook in a music studio that was most often used for "death metal" The four seven-hour days of recording the book and how exhausting the experience was After the interview Mark reflects on how writers can often experience revelations or sudden insights related to the characters in the books and stories they are writing. He also comments on the Thoreau-like perspective Fell shares, about the importance of walking in nature. Links of Interest:   James Fell Website James Fell Twitter Superstars Writing Seminars Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo   James Fell, MA, MBA, is a motivation, health, and fitness writer for the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune. He has written extensively for Chatelaine and AskMen.com, and authored pieces in TIME Magazine, the Guardian, Men's Health, Women's Health, and many other publications. He has a massive and highly engaged following on Facebook and Twitter, and his blog, Body For Wife, has millions of visitors a year. He is also the author of Lose It Right. He lives in Calgary, AB.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0         Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 059 - Romancing Soccer, Books, & Beer with Sara Rider Romancing Soccer, Books, and Beer with Sara Rider Fri, 01 Feb 2019 15:04:25 +0000 In Episode 59 Mark interviews Sara Rider, author of contemporary romances full of heart and heat about strong women and the men who can't resist them.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few personal updates which include:

    • Recently reading THE HOLY SH!T MOMENT by James Fell
    • A forthcoming trip to Colorado Springs for Superstars Writing Seminars
    • Thanks Patreon supporters with a note that there'll be additional content posted for them upon his return from Superstars in early Feb 2019

    Mark also shares a word about this episode's corporate sponsor,  Findaway Voices . . .

    . . . you can learn more at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    In their conversation, Mark and Sara talk about:

    • How Sara's passion for and experience in soccer and reading romance novels led to a series of romance novels that focus on professional soccer players
    • The wishfulfilment element of those novels
    • Sara's experience with slush piles, an agent and having her first novels published by an imprint of Pocket Books, one of the world's largest publishers
    • The reasons why Sara decided to self-publish her next series, which included the ability to give away free books
    • How Sara continues to work with her agent while exploring both traditional publishing and self-publishing opportunities
    • Mark's discovery of Sara's Books and Brews series because of the unique craft brewery setting for these novels and the reasons why Sara decided to use that as part of the setting
    • How the idea for a book can pop right into Sara's head almost fully formed
    • The elements that connect the books in the Books & Brews series (which include the intertwined world of writers and brewers)
    • The division of time related to working full time, raising a family and writing
    • The role of deadlines in Sara's writing life
    • Tips for ensuring that her break and lunch-time writing sessions are not compromised
    • Sara's biggest regrets from when her first novel was launched and what she would have changed
    • The approach Sara takes with her newsletter

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects on Sara's mention of the fact that readers are interested in and want to like the writers that they read.

    Links of Interest:

     

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

    ]]>     In Episode 59 Mark interviews Sara Rider, author of contemporary romances full of heart and heat about strong women and the men who can't resist them.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few personal updates which include:

    • Recently reading THE HOLY SH!T MOMENT by James Fell
    • A forthcoming trip to Colorado Springs for Superstars Writing Seminars
    • Thanks Patreon supporters with a note that there'll be additional content posted for them upon his return from Superstars in early Feb 2019

    Mark also shares a word about this episode's corporate sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .

    . . . you can learn more at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Mark and Sara talk about:

    • How Sara's passion for and experience in soccer and reading romance novels led to a series of romance novels that focus on professional soccer players
    • The wishfulfilment element of those novels
    • Sara's experience with slush piles, an agent and having her first novels published by an imprint of Pocket Books, one of the world's largest publishers
    • The reasons why Sara decided to self-publish her next series, which included the ability to give away free books
    • How Sara continues to work with her agent while exploring both traditional publishing and self-publishing opportunities
    • Mark's discovery of Sara's Books and Brews series because of the unique craft brewery setting for these novels and the reasons why Sara decided to use that as part of the setting
    • How the idea for a book can pop right into Sara's head almost fully formed
    • The elements that connect the books in the Books & Brews series (which include the intertwined world of writers and brewers)
    • The division of time related to working full time, raising a family and writing
    • The role of deadlines in Sara's writing life
    • Tips for ensuring that her break and lunch-time writing sessions are not compromised
    • Sara's biggest regrets from when her first novel was launched and what she would have changed
    • The approach Sara takes with her newsletter

    After the interview, Mark reflects on Sara's mention of the fact that readers are interested in and want to like the writers that they read.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     35:22 false 2 59 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In Episode 59 Mark interviews Sara Rider, author of contemporary romances full of heart and heat about strong women and the men who can't resist them. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few personal updates which include: Recently reading THE HOLY SH!T MOMENT by James Fell A forthcoming trip to Colorado Springs for Superstars Writing Seminars Thanks Patreon supporters with a note that there'll be additional content posted for them upon his return from Superstars in early Feb 2019 Mark also shares a word about this episode's corporate sponsor,  Findaway Voices . . . . . . you can learn more at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Sara talk about: How Sara's passion for and experience in soccer and reading romance novels led to a series of romance novels that focus on professional soccer players The wishfulfilment element of those novels Sara's experience with slush piles, an agent and having her first novels published by an imprint of Pocket Books, one of the world's largest publishers The reasons why Sara decided to self-publish her next series, which included the ability to give away free books How Sara continues to work with her agent while exploring both traditional publishing and self-publishing opportunities Mark's discovery of Sara's Books and Brews series because of the unique craft brewery setting for these novels and the reasons why Sara decided to use that as part of the setting How the idea for a book can pop right into Sara's head almost fully formed The elements that connect the books in the Books & Brews series (which include the intertwined world of writers and brewers) The division of time related to working full time, raising a family and writing The role of deadlines in Sara's writing life Tips for ensuring that her break and lunch-time writing sessions are not compromised Sara's biggest regrets from when her first novel was launched and what she would have changed The approach Sara takes with her newsletter   After the interview, Mark reflects on Sara's mention of the fact that readers are interested in and want to like the writers that they read. Links of Interest:   Sara Rider's Website Sara on Twitter Findaway Voices Superstars Writing Seminars Superstars Writing Seminars 2018 Video Highlights Video - Using Exercise to Help Process Information Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  In Episode 59 Mark interviews Sara Rider, author of contemporary romances full of heart and heat about strong women and the men who can't resist them. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few personal updates which include: Recently reading THE HOLY SH!T MOMENT by James Fell A forthcoming trip to Colorado Springs for Superstars Writing Seminars Thanks Patreon supporters with a note that there'll be additional content posted for them upon his return from Superstars in early Feb 2019 Mark also shares a word about this episode's corporate sponsor,  Findaway Voices . . . . . . you can learn more at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Sara talk about: How Sara's passion for and experience in soccer and reading romance novels led to a series of romance novels that focus on professional soccer players The wishfulfilment element of those novels Sara's experience with slush piles, an agent and having her first novels published by an imprint of Pocket Books, one of the world's largest publishers The reasons why Sara decided to self-publish her next series, which included the ability to give away free books How Sara continues to work with her agent while exploring both traditional publishing and self-publishing opportunities Mark's discovery of Sara's Books and Brews series because of the unique craft brewery setting for these novels and the reasons why Sara decided to use that as part of the setting How the idea for a book can pop right into Sara's head almost fully formed The elements that connect the books in the Books & Brews series (which include the intertwined world of writers and brewers) The division of time related to working full time, raising a family and writing The role of deadlines in Sara's writing life Tips for ensuring that her break and lunch-time writing sessions are not compromised Sara's biggest regrets from when her first novel was launched and what she would have changed The approach Sara takes with her newsletter   After the interview, Mark reflects on Sara's mention of the fact that readers are interested in and want to like the writers that they read. Links of Interest:   Sara Rider's Website Sara on Twitter Findaway Voices Superstars Writing Seminars Superstars Writing Seminars 2018 Video Highlights Video - Using Exercise to Help Process Information Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 058 - Living a Full Life with Win Charles Living a Full Life with Win Charles Fri, 25 Jan 2019 03:52:50 +0000 In this episode Mark speaks with Win Charles. Born with Cerebral Palsy, Win has defied the odds by becoming an author. Her memoir I, Win is an amazing story of how she remembers her life through the years of having a condition called "CP". Win truly is an unstoppable inspiration.

    Before the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update about the progress he is making on recording the audiobook for The 7 P's of Publishing Success.

    He also shares the sources of the most recent royalty payment he has received from Findaway Voices, indicating that the four that made up his most recent audiobook income came from:

    • Playster
    • hibooks
    • Bountiful
    • Authors Direct

    If you want to learn how you can leverage the power of Findaway Voices . . .

    . . . you can learn more at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

     

    In their conversation, Mark and Win talk about:

    • The 10 books that Win has written and published
    • How easy it is to use Draft2Digital to publish eBooks
    • Win's latest book Smile With Dictation which explains the process of how Win uses dictation to assist with writing
    • The combination of using Siri and Dragon Naturally Speaking Dictation that Win uses to write her books
    • How long it takes to train dictation software
    • Win's first book I, Win, which came out 8 years ago
    • The improvement in technology of dictation software between Win's first book and her latest one
    • The writing space Win prefers to write in
    • The passion for writing that Win has always held
    • The story behind the book I, Win and how it ties in to the loss of her mother
    • How Win does her best using social media to support independent authors
    • The origin of Win's jewelry company
    • Win's experience participating in the Kona Ironman
    • The role that teaching and education has played in Win's life
    • The journalism degree that Win is currently in the process of working towards
    • Win's podcast (AskWin) that has reached more than 1000 episodes
    • Existing audiobooks Win has created (and how), and the plans Win has for future audiobooks

    After the interview Mark reflects on Win's message of the importance of showing people what you CAN do, not what you CAN'T do.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark speaks with Win Charles. Born with Cerebral Palsy, Win has defied the odds by becoming an author. Her memoir I, Win is an amazing story of how she remembers her life through the years of having a condition called "CP". Win truly is an unstoppable inspiration.

    Before the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update about the progress he is making on recording the audiobook for The 7 P's of Publishing Success.

    He also shares the sources of the most recent royalty payment he has received from Findaway Voices, indicating that the four that made up his most recent audiobook income came from:

    • Playster
    • hibooks
    • Bountiful
    • Authors Direct

    If you want to learn how you can leverage the power of Findaway Voices . . .

    . . . you can learn more at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

    In their conversation, Mark and Win talk about:

    • The 10 books that Win has written and published
    • How easy it is to use Draft2Digital to publish eBooks
    • Win's latest book Smile With Dictation which explains the process of how Win uses dictation to assist with writing
    • The combination of using Siri and Dragon Naturally Speaking Dictation that Win uses to write her books
    • How long it takes to train dictation software
    • Win's first book I, Win, which came out 8 years ago
    • The improvement in technology of dictation software between Win's first book and her latest one
    • The writing space Win prefers to write in
    • The passion for writing that Win has always held
    • The story behind the book I, Win and how it ties in to the loss of her mother
    • How Win does her best using social media to support independent authors
    • The origin of Win's jewelry company
    • Win's experience participating in the Kona Ironman
    • The role that teaching and education has played in Win's life
    • The journalism degree that Win is currently in the process of working towards
    • Win's podcast (AskWin) that has reached more than 1000 episodes
    • Existing audiobooks Win has created (and how), and the plans Win has for future audiobooks

    After the interview Mark reflects on Win's message of the importance of showing people what you CAN do, not what you CAN'T do.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     33:04 false 2 58 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark speaks with Win Charles. Born with Cerebral Palsy, Win has defied the odds by becoming an author. Her memoir I, Win is an amazing story of how she remembers her life through the years of having a condition called "CP". Win truly is an unstoppable inspiration. Before the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update about the progress he is making on recording the audiobook for The 7 P's of Publishing Success. He also shares the sources of the most recent royalty payment he has received from Findaway Voices, indicating that the four that made up his most recent audiobook income came from: Playster hibooks Bountiful Authors Direct If you want to learn how you can leverage the power of Findaway Voices . . . . . . you can learn more at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Win talk about: The 10 books that Win has written and published How easy it is to use Draft2Digital to publish eBooks Win's latest book Smile With Dictation which explains the process of how Win uses dictation to assist with writing The combination of using Siri and Dragon Naturally Speaking Dictation that Win uses to write her books How long it takes to train dictation software Win's first book I, Win, which came out 8 years ago The improvement in technology of dictation software between Win's first book and her latest one The writing space Win prefers to write in The passion for writing that Win has always held The story behind the book I, Win and how it ties in to the loss of her mother How Win does her best using social media to support independent authors The origin of Win's jewelry company Win's experience participating in the Kona Ironman The role that teaching and education has played in Win's life The journalism degree that Win is currently in the process of working towards Win's podcast (AskWin) that has reached more than 1000 episodes Existing audiobooks Win has created (and how), and the plans Win has for future audiobooks After the interview Mark reflects on Win's message of the importance of showing people what you CAN do, not what you CAN'T do.   Links of Interest: Win Charles' Website Win's Books2Read Author Page Smile With Dictation I, Win Findaway Voices Draft2Digital Hibooks Dragon Speech Recognition Solutions Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode Mark speaks with Win Charles. Born with Cerebral Palsy, Win has defied the odds by becoming an author. Her memoir I, Win is an amazing story of how she remembers her life through the years of having a condition called "CP". Win truly is an unstoppable inspiration. Before the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update about the progress he is making on recording the audiobook for The 7 P's of Publishing Success. He also shares the sources of the most recent royalty payment he has received from Findaway Voices, indicating that the four that made up his most recent audiobook income came from: Playster hibooks Bountiful Authors Direct If you want to learn how you can leverage the power of Findaway Voices . . . . . . you can learn more at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Win talk about: The 10 books that Win has written and published How easy it is to use Draft2Digital to publish eBooks Win's latest book Smile With Dictation which explains the process of how Win uses dictation to assist with writing The combination of using Siri and Dragon Naturally Speaking Dictation that Win uses to write her books How long it takes to train dictation software Win's first book I, Win, which came out 8 years ago The improvement in technology of dictation software between Win's first book and her latest one The writing space Win prefers to write in The passion for writing that Win has always held The story behind the book I, Win and how it ties in to the loss of her mother How Win does her best using social media to support independent authors The origin of Win's jewelry company Win's experience participating in the Kona Ironman The role that teaching and education has played in Win's life The journalism degree that Win is currently in the process of working towards Win's podcast (AskWin) that has reached more than 1000 episodes Existing audiobooks Win has created (and how), and the plans Win has for future audiobooks After the interview Mark reflects on Win's message of the importance of showing people what you CAN do, not what you CAN'T do.   Links of Interest: Win Charles' Website Win's Books2Read Author Page Smile With Dictation I, Win Findaway Voices Draft2Digital Hibooks Dragon Speech Recognition Solutions Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 057 - Cash Flow For Writers With Donna Cook Cash Flow For Writers With Donna Cook Fri, 18 Jan 2019 03:08:11 +0000 In the episode Mark interviews Donna Cook who has published over a dozen books in two genres. She writes epic fantasy under her own name and writes contemporary romance as Jordyn White.

    Donna talks not only about her writing life as both Donna and Jordyn, but also offers up advice on the important topic of Cash Flow for Writers.

    Before the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .

    . . . which includes their recent announcement of two new international distribution options: MLOL and AudiobooksNZ.

    You can read more about that here: Findaway Blog.

    Mark provides a personal update and also welcomes new patron Pranathi K.

    In their interview, Mark and Donna talk about:

    • The fact that writers and creative types don't often talk about money
    • Donna's eye-opening experience understanding the importance of her relationship to money
    • The importance of applying her financial know-how to her author business
    • The basic principles of understanding money flow and cash flow
    • The additional costs of charging and using credit
    • Where people can go to find more information about cash flow via Donna's course and Excel tool: jordynwhitebooks.com/courses
    • The difference between the creative writer Donna Cook and the romance author Jordyn White
    • The fact that Donna can write contemporary romance faster than she can write epic fantasy
    • The satisfaction that comes with the regular production of creative writing
    • The eclectic music that Donna listens to when she is writing
    • The Wonder Woman sound-track and accompanying poster in Donna's "power woman" room
    • The "no need to sign up" ability to read a complete book right online that Donna has recently created and how it removes a barrier for readers
    • The "Writer CEO" one day conference Donna and her colleague Colleen are running in Sept 2019 in Boise, Idaho
    • The fact that Donna will be presenting at NINC in the fall of 2019
    • How Donna divides up the different writing, coaching and teaching work she does in order to make her writing time more effective
    • The advice Donna would give herself when she was first starting up, including the importance of patience

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of patience, and the hard work and blood and sweat and tears that writers put in behind the scenes.

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In the episode Mark interviews Donna Cook who has published over a dozen books in two genres. She writes epic fantasy under her own name and writes contemporary romance as Jordyn White.

    Donna talks not only about her writing life as both Donna and Jordyn, but also offers up advice on the important topic of Cash Flow for Writers.

    Before the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .

    . . . which includes their recent announcement of two new international distribution options: MLOL and AudiobooksNZ.

    You can read more about that here: Findaway Blog.

    Mark provides a personal update and also welcomes new patron Pranathi K.

    In their interview, Mark and Donna talk about:

    • The fact that writers and creative types don't often talk about money
    • Donna's eye-opening experience understanding the importance of her relationship to money
    • The importance of applying her financial know-how to her author business
    • The basic principles of understanding money flow and cash flow
    • The additional costs of charging and using credit
    • Where people can go to find more information about cash flow via Donna's course and Excel tool: jordynwhitebooks.com/courses
    • The difference between the creative writer Donna Cook and the romance author Jordyn White
    • The fact that Donna can write contemporary romance faster than she can write epic fantasy
    • The satisfaction that comes with the regular production of creative writing
    • The eclectic music that Donna listens to when she is writing
    • The Wonder Woman sound-track and accompanying poster in Donna's "power woman" room
    • The "no need to sign up" ability to read a complete book right online that Donna has recently created and how it removes a barrier for readers
    • The "Writer CEO" one day conference Donna and her colleague Colleen are running in Sept 2019 in Boise, Idaho
    • The fact that Donna will be presenting at NINC in the fall of 2019
    • How Donna divides up the different writing, coaching and teaching work she does in order to make her writing time more effective
    • The advice Donna would give herself when she was first starting up, including the importance of patience

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of patience, and the hard work and blood and sweat and tears that writers put in behind the scenes.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     40:45 false 2 57 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In the episode Mark interviews Donna Cook who has published over a dozen books in two genres. She writes epic fantasy under her own name and writes contemporary romance as Jordyn White. Donna talks not only about her writing life as both Donna and Jordyn, but also offers up advice on the important topic of Cash Flow for Writers. Before the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . . . . . which includes their recent announcement of two new international distribution options: MLOL and AudiobooksNZ. You can read more about that here: Findaway Blog. Mark provides a personal update and also welcomes new patron Pranathi K. In their interview, Mark and Donna talk about: The fact that writers and creative types don't often talk about money Donna's eye-opening experience understanding the importance of her relationship to money The importance of applying her financial know-how to her author business The basic principles of understanding money flow and cash flow The additional costs of charging and using credit Where people can go to find more information about cash flow via Donna's course and Excel tool: jordynwhitebooks.com/courses The difference between the creative writer Donna Cook and the romance author Jordyn White The fact that Donna can write contemporary romance faster than she can write epic fantasy The satisfaction that comes with the regular production of creative writing The eclectic music that Donna listens to when she is writing The Wonder Woman sound-track and accompanying poster in Donna's "power woman" room The "no need to sign up" ability to read a complete book right online that Donna has recently created and how it removes a barrier for readers The "Writer CEO" one day conference Donna and her colleague Colleen are running in Sept 2019 in Boise, Idaho The fact that Donna will be presenting at NINC in the fall of 2019 How Donna divides up the different writing, coaching and teaching work she does in order to make her writing time more effective The advice Donna would give herself when she was first starting up, including the importance of patience After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of patience, and the hard work and blood and sweat and tears that writers put in behind the scenes. Links of Interest: Donna Cook Website Jordyn White Website Donna's Online Courses Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey WMG Publishing Business Master Class The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn the episode Mark interviews Donna Cook who has published over a dozen books in two genres. She writes epic fantasy under her own name and writes contemporary romance as Jordyn White. Donna talks not only about her writing life as both Donna and Jordyn, but also offers up advice on the important topic of Cash Flow for Writers. Before the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . . . . . which includes their recent announcement of two new international distribution options: MLOL and AudiobooksNZ. You can read more about that here: Findaway Blog. Mark provides a personal update and also welcomes new patron Pranathi K. In their interview, Mark and Donna talk about: The fact that writers and creative types don't often talk about money Donna's eye-opening experience understanding the importance of her relationship to money The importance of applying her financial know-how to her author business The basic principles of understanding money flow and cash flow The additional costs of charging and using credit Where people can go to find more information about cash flow via Donna's course and Excel tool: jordynwhitebooks.com/courses The difference between the creative writer Donna Cook and the romance author Jordyn White The fact that Donna can write contemporary romance faster than she can write epic fantasy The satisfaction that comes with the regular production of creative writing The eclectic music that Donna listens to when she is writing The Wonder Woman sound-track and accompanying poster in Donna's "power woman" room The "no need to sign up" ability to read a complete book right online that Donna has recently created and how it removes a barrier for readers The "Writer CEO" one day conference Donna and her colleague Colleen are running in Sept 2019 in Boise, Idaho The fact that Donna will be presenting at NINC in the fall of 2019 How Donna divides up the different writing, coaching and teaching work she does in order to make her writing time more effective The advice Donna would give herself when she was first starting up, including the importance of patience After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of patience, and the hard work and blood and sweat and tears that writers put in behind the scenes. Links of Interest: Donna Cook Website Jordyn White Website Donna's Online Courses Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey WMG Publishing Business Master Class The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 056 - Balancing and Counterbalancing with Katie Cross Balancing and Counterbalancing with Katie Cross Fri, 11 Jan 2019 04:39:43 +0000 In this episode, Mark speaks with Katie Cross, a writer, mother and out-door enthusiast.

    On her website, Katie describes herself in this way: "I am a creator of worlds, destroyer of evil, and a born wordsmith bringing light to the dark night of those that need an escape."

    This is the perfect description for her, which you will get a solid taste of in the interview.

    Before the interview, Mark welcomes new Patron Ember Casey, thanking her for her patronage of the Stark Reflections podcast. Ember and other patrons will have access to 27 patron-only posts, 3 special mini "Stark Reflections on other Podcasts" episodes and other additional audio and video content for as little as a coffee or two a month. If you are interested in the extra content or supporting the show, you can check it out at patreon.com/starkreflections.

    Mark also shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .

    . . . as part of his personal update, which includes:

     

    • 2019 audiobook plans
    • An update on the progress with recording of the audiobook for The 7 P's of Publishing Success
    • A detailed look at three different views of Mark's 2018 writing income, broken down by type, format and activity.

    In the interview Mark and Katie talk about:

    • The inspiration behind the first YA Fantasy series that Katie wrote, which started with the novel Miss Mabel's School for Girls, which was published in 2014
    • The Wattpad-like platform that Katie first started releasing the book on in order to get honest feedback before she published it
    • Learning how to read as an author rather than reading as a reader
    • The reason why Katie has the entire Antebellum series book covers designed and ready to go even though she hasn't published them yet
    • How the Dragonmaster Trilogy was initially supposed to be part of the Antebellum Collection, but became it's own unique project
    • The process of finding professionals to work with, through networking, slowly, over the years
    • The importance of Efficiency and Intention
    • The concepts of balance and counterbalance
    • Outsourcing particular tasks, like housekeeping and accounting, to allow for prioritizing writing activities
    • The two businesses that Katie runs - the Fiction Business and the GhostWriting Business (ghost-writing non-fiction books for high end entrepreneurs who want to write a book but either don't want to do the writing or aren't able to)
    • The scheduling for tasks such as social media, email, and interacting with fans
    • The importance of scheduling "self-care" time into each day
    • The community of about 200 people that Katie and her family are a part of
    • The daily hiking routine that is important for the entire family (including the dogs)
    • How Katie runs Facebook ads for her fiction and how much she spends per month on these ads
    • The two distinct mailing lists that Katie has for her different fan bases (YA Fantasy and Chick Lit), and how she interacts with and cares for the people on each list
    • The importance of talking to the reasons why reasons gravitate towards each of those unique genres
    • The advice that Katie would give to her herself when she was first starting, which includes finding a good mentor

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the concept of Balance and Counterbalance.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark speaks with Katie Cross, a writer, mother and out-door enthusiast.

    On her website, Katie describes herself in this way: "I am a creator of worlds, destroyer of evil, and a born wordsmith bringing light to the dark night of those that need an escape."

    This is the perfect description for her, which you will get a solid taste of in the interview.

    Before the interview, Mark welcomes new Patron Ember Casey, thanking her for her patronage of the Stark Reflections podcast. Ember and other patrons will have access to 27 patron-only posts, 3 special mini "Stark Reflections on other Podcasts" episodes and other additional audio and video content for as little as a coffee or two a month. If you are interested in the extra content or supporting the show, you can check it out at patreon.com/starkreflections.

    Mark also shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .

    . . . as part of his personal update, which includes:

    • 2019 audiobook plans
    • An update on the progress with recording of the audiobook for The 7 P's of Publishing Success
    • A detailed look at three different views of Mark's 2018 writing income, broken down by type, format and activity.

    In the interview Mark and Katie talk about:

    • The inspiration behind the first YA Fantasy series that Katie wrote, which started with the novel Miss Mabel's School for Girls, which was published in 2014
    • The Wattpad-like platform that Katie first started releasing the book on in order to get honest feedback before she published it
    • Learning how to read as an author rather than reading as a reader
    • The reason why Katie has the entire Antebellum series book covers designed and ready to go even though she hasn't published them yet
    • How the Dragonmaster Trilogy was initially supposed to be part of the Antebellum Collection, but became it's own unique project
    • The process of finding professionals to work with, through networking, slowly, over the years
    • The importance of Efficiency and Intention
    • The concepts of balance and counterbalance
    • Outsourcing particular tasks, like housekeeping and accounting, to allow for prioritizing writing activities
    • The two businesses that Katie runs - the Fiction Business and the GhostWriting Business (ghost-writing non-fiction books for high end entrepreneurs who want to write a book but either don't want to do the writing or aren't able to)
    • The scheduling for tasks such as social media, email, and interacting with fans
    • The importance of scheduling "self-care" time into each day
    • The community of about 200 people that Katie and her family are a part of
    • The daily hiking routine that is important for the entire family (including the dogs)
    • How Katie runs Facebook ads for her fiction and how much she spends per month on these ads
    • The two distinct mailing lists that Katie has for her different fan bases (YA Fantasy and Chick Lit), and how she interacts with and cares for the people on each list
    • The importance of talking to the reasons why reasons gravitate towards each of those unique genres
    • The advice that Katie would give to her herself when she was first starting, which includes finding a good mentor

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the concept of Balance and Counterbalance.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     45:11 false 2 56 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark speaks with Katie Cross, a writer, mother and out-door enthusiast. On her website, Katie describes herself in this way: "I am a creator of worlds, destroyer of evil, and a born wordsmith bringing light to the dark night of those that need an escape." This is the perfect description for her, which you will get a solid taste of in the interview. Before the interview, Mark welcomes new Patron Ember Casey, thanking her for her patronage of the Stark Reflections podcast. Ember and other patrons will have access to 27 patron-only posts, 3 special mini "Stark Reflections on other Podcasts" episodes and other additional audio and video content for as little as a coffee or two a month. If you are interested in the extra content or supporting the show, you can check it out at patreon.com/starkreflections. Mark also shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . . . . . as part of his personal update, which includes:   2019 audiobook plans An update on the progress with recording of the audiobook for The 7 P's of Publishing Success A detailed look at three different views of Mark's 2018 writing income, broken down by type, format and activity. In the interview Mark and Katie talk about: The inspiration behind the first YA Fantasy series that Katie wrote, which started with the novel Miss Mabel's School for Girls, which was published in 2014 The Wattpad-like platform that Katie first started releasing the book on in order to get honest feedback before she published it Learning how to read as an author rather than reading as a reader The reason why Katie has the entire Antebellum series book covers designed and ready to go even though she hasn't published them yet How the Dragonmaster Trilogy was initially supposed to be part of the Antebellum Collection, but became it's own unique project The process of finding professionals to work with, through networking, slowly, over the years The importance of Efficiency and Intention The concepts of balance and counterbalance Outsourcing particular tasks, like housekeeping and accounting, to allow for prioritizing writing activities The two businesses that Katie runs - the Fiction Business and the GhostWriting Business (ghost-writing non-fiction books for high end entrepreneurs who want to write a book but either don't want to do the writing or aren't able to) The scheduling for tasks such as social media, email, and interacting with fans The importance of scheduling "self-care" time into each day The community of about 200 people that Katie and her family are a part of The daily hiking routine that is important for the entire family (including the dogs) How Katie runs Facebook ads for her fiction and how much she spends per month on these ads The two distinct mailing lists that Katie has for her different fan bases (YA Fantasy and Chick Lit), and how she interacts with and cares for the people on each list The importance of talking to the reasons why reasons gravitate towards each of those unique genres The advice that Katie would give to her herself when she was first starting, which includes finding a good mentor After the interview, Mark reflects on the concept of Balance and Counterbalance.   Links of Interest: Katie Cross Writing Katie Cross ChickLit Katie Cross Ghostwriting Findaway Voices Superstars Writing Seminars Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey Jeff Goins Blog Wattpad The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark speaks with Katie Cross, a writer, mother and out-door enthusiast. On her website, Katie describes herself in this way: "I am a creator of worlds, destroyer of evil, and a born wordsmith bringing light to the dark night of those that need an escape." This is the perfect description for her, which you will get a solid taste of in the interview. Before the interview, Mark welcomes new Patron Ember Casey, thanking her for her patronage of the Stark Reflections podcast. Ember and other patrons will have access to 27 patron-only posts, 3 special mini "Stark Reflections on other Podcasts" episodes and other additional audio and video content for as little as a coffee or two a month. If you are interested in the extra content or supporting the show, you can check it out at patreon.com/starkreflections. Mark also shares a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . . . . . as part of his personal update, which includes:   2019 audiobook plans An update on the progress with recording of the audiobook for The 7 P's of Publishing Success A detailed look at three different views of Mark's 2018 writing income, broken down by type, format and activity. In the interview Mark and Katie talk about: The inspiration behind the first YA Fantasy series that Katie wrote, which started with the novel Miss Mabel's School for Girls, which was published in 2014 The Wattpad-like platform that Katie first started releasing the book on in order to get honest feedback before she published it Learning how to read as an author rather than reading as a reader The reason why Katie has the entire Antebellum series book covers designed and ready to go even though she hasn't published them yet How the Dragonmaster Trilogy was initially supposed to be part of the Antebellum Collection, but became it's own unique project The process of finding professionals to work with, through networking, slowly, over the years The importance of Efficiency and Intention The concepts of balance and counterbalance Outsourcing particular tasks, like housekeeping and accounting, to allow for prioritizing writing activities The two businesses that Katie runs - the Fiction Business and the GhostWriting Business (ghost-writing non-fiction books for high end entrepreneurs who want to write a book but either don't want to do the writing or aren't able to) The scheduling for tasks such as social media, email, and interacting with fans The importance of scheduling "self-care" time into each day The community of about 200 people that Katie and her family are a part of The daily hiking routine that is important for the entire family (including the dogs) How Katie runs Facebook ads for her fiction and how much she spends per month on these ads The two distinct mailing lists that Katie has for her different fan bases (YA Fantasy and Chick Lit), and how she interacts with and cares for the people on each list The importance of talking to the reasons why reasons gravitate towards each of those unique genres The advice that Katie would give to her herself when she was first starting, which includes finding a good mentor After the interview, Mark reflects on the concept of Balance and Counterbalance.   Links of Interest: Katie Cross Writing Katie Cross ChickLit Katie Cross Ghostwriting Findaway Voices Superstars Writing Seminars Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey Jeff Goins Blog Wattpad The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 055 - Forward Momentum While Looking Back Forward Momentum While Looking Back Fri, 04 Jan 2019 02:32:06 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark takes a look at his 2018 writing and publishing goals and shares the hits, the misses and the alterations that took place in the past twelve months.

    He feels it is important to remind writers that if they are already beating themselves up for not completing all the previous year's goals, that he didn't hit all his goals; that he failed at most of them; that he screwed up along the way; that he made mistakes. But also that he adapted several of the goals he'd set as I went along. And he inserted new goals mid-year.

    That can happen. It will happen. It's how you deal with those changes that can make the difference between seeing it as a complete failure, or seeing it as an ongoing work in progress.

    Mark then says a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .

    Mark first talks about the goals he had set at the beginning of 2018 and how he did with them:

    1) Write a non-fiction book called INDIE PUBLISHING INSIDER SECRETS
    2) Finish the sequel to A CANADIAN WEREWOLF IN NEW YORK
    3) Finish the sequel to EVASION
    4) Pitch and write a traditionally published book SPIRITS UNTAPPED - to Dundurn
    5) Compile a new full book short story collection
    6) Stay retired

     

    He then shares a number of goals for 2019:

    1) Publish Audiobook for 7 P's of Publishing Success
    2) Publish Audiobook for Killing It on Kobo
    3) Finish writing and Publish eBook/Print and audio for Indie Publishing Insider Secrets
    4) Publish Audiobook for ACWWINY
    5) Publish Audiobook for I, DEATH
    6) Publish Audiobook for ONE HAND SCREAMING (story collection)
    7) Write and release SCREAMING SKULLS: And Other Haunted Objects in eBook/print and audio
    8) Finish the first draft of FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES
    9) Book new speaking gigs - Ideally, another keynote either in the last half of 2019 or the first half of 2020

     

    Mark also shares his 2018 eBook sales percentages:

    Kindle - 45.97%

    Kobo - 20.68%

    StoryBundle - 20.27%

    BundleRabbit - 6.80%

    Apple - 3.25%

    Nook - 2.30%

    Direct Sales - 0.30%

    Google - 0.21%

    Scribd - 0.12%

    Tolino - 0.06%

    Smashwords - 0.04%

     

    Mark talks about what he achieved and what he didn't achieve in 2018. He talks about what he did well and what he didn't do well.

    He reminds writers of the importance of focusing on the forward momentum made, even where a goal wasn't completed, if there was forward momentum that is a step in the right direction.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this solo episode, Mark takes a look at his 2018 writing and publishing goals and shares the hits, the misses and the alterations that took place in the past twelve months.

    He feels it is important to remind writers that if they are already beating themselves up for not completing all the previous year's goals, that he didn't hit all his goals; that he failed at most of them; that he screwed up along the way; that he made mistakes. But also that he adapted several of the goals he'd set as I went along. And he inserted new goals mid-year.

    That can happen. It will happen. It's how you deal with those changes that can make the difference between seeing it as a complete failure, or seeing it as an ongoing work in progress.

    Mark then says a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .

    Mark first talks about the goals he had set at the beginning of 2018 and how he did with them:

    1) Write a non-fiction book called INDIE PUBLISHING INSIDER SECRETS 2) Finish the sequel to A CANADIAN WEREWOLF IN NEW YORK 3) Finish the sequel to EVASION 4) Pitch and write a traditionally published book SPIRITS UNTAPPED - to Dundurn 5) Compile a new full book short story collection 6) Stay retired

    He then shares a number of goals for 2019:

    1) Publish Audiobook for 7 P's of Publishing Success 2) Publish Audiobook for Killing It on Kobo 3) Finish writing and Publish eBook/Print and audio for Indie Publishing Insider Secrets 4) Publish Audiobook for ACWWINY 5) Publish Audiobook for I, DEATH 6) Publish Audiobook for ONE HAND SCREAMING (story collection) 7) Write and release SCREAMING SKULLS: And Other Haunted Objects in eBook/print and audio 8) Finish the first draft of FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES 9) Book new speaking gigs - Ideally, another keynote either in the last half of 2019 or the first half of 2020

    Mark also shares his 2018 eBook sales percentages:

    Kindle - 45.97%

    Kobo - 20.68%

    StoryBundle - 20.27%

    BundleRabbit - 6.80%

    Apple - 3.25%

    Nook - 2.30%

    Direct Sales - 0.30%

    Google - 0.21%

    Scribd - 0.12%

    Tolino - 0.06%

    Smashwords - 0.04%

    Mark talks about what he achieved and what he didn't achieve in 2018. He talks about what he did well and what he didn't do well.

    He reminds writers of the importance of focusing on the forward momentum made, even where a goal wasn't completed, if there was forward momentum that is a step in the right direction.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     43:40 false 2 55 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark takes a look at his 2018 writing and publishing goals and shares the hits, the misses and the alterations that took place in the past twelve months. He feels it is important to remind writers that if they are already beating themselves up for not completing all the previous year's goals, that he didn't hit all his goals; that he failed at most of them; that he screwed up along the way; that he made mistakes. But also that he adapted several of the goals he'd set as I went along. And he inserted new goals mid-year. That can happen. It will happen. It's how you deal with those changes that can make the difference between seeing it as a complete failure, or seeing it as an ongoing work in progress. Mark then says a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . . Mark first talks about the goals he had set at the beginning of 2018 and how he did with them: 1) Write a non-fiction book called INDIE PUBLISHING INSIDER SECRETS 2) Finish the sequel to A CANADIAN WEREWOLF IN NEW YORK 3) Finish the sequel to EVASION 4) Pitch and write a traditionally published book SPIRITS UNTAPPED - to Dundurn 5) Compile a new full book short story collection 6) Stay retired   He then shares a number of goals for 2019: 1) Publish Audiobook for 7 P's of Publishing Success 2) Publish Audiobook for Killing It on Kobo 3) Finish writing and Publish eBook/Print and audio for Indie Publishing Insider Secrets 4) Publish Audiobook for ACWWINY 5) Publish Audiobook for I, DEATH 6) Publish Audiobook for ONE HAND SCREAMING (story collection) 7) Write and release SCREAMING SKULLS: And Other Haunted Objects in eBook/print and audio 8) Finish the first draft of FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES 9) Book new speaking gigs - Ideally, another keynote either in the last half of 2019 or the first half of 2020   Mark also shares his 2018 eBook sales percentages: Kindle - 45.97% Kobo - 20.68% StoryBundle - 20.27% BundleRabbit - 6.80% Apple - 3.25% Nook - 2.30% Direct Sales - 0.30% Google - 0.21% Scribd - 0.12% Tolino - 0.06% Smashwords - 0.04%   Mark talks about what he achieved and what he didn't achieve in 2018. He talks about what he did well and what he didn't do well. He reminds writers of the importance of focusing on the forward momentum made, even where a goal wasn't completed, if there was forward momentum that is a step in the right direction.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this solo episode, Mark takes a look at his 2018 writing and publishing goals and shares the hits, the misses and the alterations that took place in the past twelve months. He feels it is important to remind writers that if they are already beating themselves up for not completing all the previous year's goals, that he didn't hit all his goals; that he failed at most of them; that he screwed up along the way; that he made mistakes. But also that he adapted several of the goals he'd set as I went along. And he inserted new goals mid-year. That can happen. It will happen. It's how you deal with those changes that can make the difference between seeing it as a complete failure, or seeing it as an ongoing work in progress. Mark then says a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . . Mark first talks about the goals he had set at the beginning of 2018 and how he did with them: 1) Write a non-fiction book called INDIE PUBLISHING INSIDER SECRETS 2) Finish the sequel to A CANADIAN WEREWOLF IN NEW YORK 3) Finish the sequel to EVASION 4) Pitch and write a traditionally published book SPIRITS UNTAPPED - to Dundurn 5) Compile a new full book short story collection 6) Stay retired   He then shares a number of goals for 2019: 1) Publish Audiobook for 7 P's of Publishing Success 2) Publish Audiobook for Killing It on Kobo 3) Finish writing and Publish eBook/Print and audio for Indie Publishing Insider Secrets 4) Publish Audiobook for ACWWINY 5) Publish Audiobook for I, DEATH 6) Publish Audiobook for ONE HAND SCREAMING (story collection) 7) Write and release SCREAMING SKULLS: And Other Haunted Objects in eBook/print and audio 8) Finish the first draft of FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES 9) Book new speaking gigs - Ideally, another keynote either in the last half of 2019 or the first half of 2020   Mark also shares his 2018 eBook sales percentages: Kindle - 45.97% Kobo - 20.68% StoryBundle - 20.27% BundleRabbit - 6.80% Apple - 3.25% Nook - 2.30% Direct Sales - 0.30% Google - 0.21% Scribd - 0.12% Tolino - 0.06% Smashwords - 0.04%   Mark talks about what he achieved and what he didn't achieve in 2018. He talks about what he did well and what he didn't do well. He reminds writers of the importance of focusing on the forward momentum made, even where a goal wasn't completed, if there was forward momentum that is a step in the right direction.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 054 - Personable Publishing with Lindsay Buroker Personable Publishing with Lindsay Buroker Fri, 28 Dec 2018 03:24:46 +0000 In the final episode of 2018, Mark interviews Science Fiction and Fantasy author Lindsay Buroker, a successful author who has been indie publishing for about eight years. 

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a short personal update and thanks new Patron, Michael Lister; he also mentions that he recently released the third special "Reflections on other Podcasts" episodes for Patrons, which appears at www.patreon.com/starkreflections. He also thanks those who reached out to him after hearing him on episode 408 of The Creative Penn Podcast which was released on Dec 23rd.

    Mark then says a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .In their conversation, Mark and Lindsay talk about:

    • The main differences between when Lindsay first started out more than eight years ago releasing her first novel, The Emperor's Edge (while also producing her first podcast), and today
    • The joy of getting to a place where each book's sales are enough to ensure paying for the cost of production
    • The pros and cons of writing in multiple series in different genres
    • Reasons why Lindsay released a new series of novels under a fresh and then-unknown pen name in 2014
    • Managing three mailing lists for the different reader bases that Lindsay has acquired over the years for different genres and pen names
    • Maintaining a very personable persona in the mailing lists and in discussions with her fans
    • The benefit of hosting a podcast with two other people for the SF & Fantasy Marketing Podcast, compared with the solo podcast (Saavy Self-Publishing) that Lindsay created many years earlier
    • What Lindsay gets out of her guests from being one of the hosts of the SF & Fantasy podcast
    • Why she is happy that she didn't experience a lot of luck early on in her writing success, and, instead, slowly built up her readership over time and how they can become loyal fans
    • Lindsay's one experience writing collaboratively and whether or not she plans on doing that again
    • Some of the reasons why, despite her success, Lindsay hasn't yet hired a personal or virtual assistant
    • The early adoption of audiobooks that Lindsay invested in years before most indie authors began creating audiobooks
    • What Lindsay would tell her younger self who was just beginning as a writer

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the personal connection that Lindsay enjoys and maintains as an important and authentic element of her author journey.

    Links of Interest:

     

    Lindsay Buroker has early memories of convincing childhood friends, pets, and stuffed animals to play the roles of characters in her worlds, so it's safe to say she's been making up stories for a long time. She published her first novel, The Emperor's Edge, in December of 2010 and has written and published more than 50 novels since then, most under her own name, but a few steamier ones under a pen name.

    When she's not writing, she's usually hiking with her dogs, practicing yoga, playing tennis, or eating entirely too much dark chocolate (she only does one of those things truly well, and she will let you guess which it is).

    She grew up in the Seattle area but has itchy feet and has moved several times over the years. She most recently landed in Bend, Oregon, where she and her dogs now have eighty acres to roam around on. Someday, she may even have a house on that land. 

    If you're interested in reading more of her work, you can download The Emperor's Edge, Star Nomad, and Balanced on the Blade's Edge for free in your favorite store. 

     
    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
    ]]>     In the final episode of 2018, Mark interviews Science Fiction and Fantasy author Lindsay Buroker, a successful author who has been indie publishing for about eight years.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a short personal update and thanks new Patron, Michael Lister; he also mentions that he recently released the third special "Reflections on other Podcasts" episodes for Patrons, which appears at www.patreon.com/starkreflections. He also thanks those who reached out to him after hearing him on episode 408 of The Creative Penn Podcast which was released on Dec 23rd.

    Mark then says a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .In their conversation, Mark and Lindsay talk about:

    • The main differences between when Lindsay first started out more than eight years ago releasing her first novel, The Emperor's Edge (while also producing her first podcast), and today
    • The joy of getting to a place where each book's sales are enough to ensure paying for the cost of production
    • The pros and cons of writing in multiple series in different genres
    • Reasons why Lindsay released a new series of novels under a fresh and then-unknown pen name in 2014
    • Managing three mailing lists for the different reader bases that Lindsay has acquired over the years for different genres and pen names
    • Maintaining a very personable persona in the mailing lists and in discussions with her fans
    • The benefit of hosting a podcast with two other people for the SF & Fantasy Marketing Podcast, compared with the solo podcast (Saavy Self-Publishing) that Lindsay created many years earlier
    • What Lindsay gets out of her guests from being one of the hosts of the SF & Fantasy podcast
    • Why she is happy that she didn't experience a lot of luck early on in her writing success, and, instead, slowly built up her readership over time and how they can become loyal fans
    • Lindsay's one experience writing collaboratively and whether or not she plans on doing that again
    • Some of the reasons why, despite her success, Lindsay hasn't yet hired a personal or virtual assistant
    • The early adoption of audiobooks that Lindsay invested in years before most indie authors began creating audiobooks
    • What Lindsay would tell her younger self who was just beginning as a writer

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the personal connection that Lindsay enjoys and maintains as an important and authentic element of her author journey.

    Links of Interest:

    Lindsay Buroker has early memories of convincing childhood friends, pets, and stuffed animals to play the roles of characters in her worlds, so it's safe to say she's been making up stories for a long time. She published her first novel, The Emperor's Edge, in December of 2010 and has written and published more than 50 novels since then, most under her own name, but a few steamier ones under a pen name.

    When she's not writing, she's usually hiking with her dogs, practicing yoga, playing tennis, or eating entirely too much dark chocolate (she only does one of those things truly well, and she will let you guess which it is).

    She grew up in the Seattle area but has itchy feet and has moved several times over the years. She most recently landed in Bend, Oregon, where she and her dogs now have eighty acres to roam around on. Someday, she may even have a house on that land.

    If you're interested in reading more of her work, you can download The Emperor's Edge, Star Nomad, and Balanced on the Blade's Edge for free in your favorite store.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0]]>     40:05 false 1 54 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In the final episode of 2018, Mark interviews Science Fiction and Fantasy author Lindsay Buroker, a successful author who has been indie publishing for about eight years.  Prior to the interview, Mark shares a short personal update and thanks new Patron, Michael Lister; he also mentions that he recently released the third special "Reflections on other Podcasts" episodes for Patrons, which appears at www.patreon.com/starkreflections. He also thanks those who reached out to him after hearing him on episode 408 of The Creative Penn Podcast which was released on Dec 23rd. Mark then says a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .In their conversation, Mark and Lindsay talk about: The main differences between when Lindsay first started out more than eight years ago releasing her first novel, The Emperor's Edge (while also producing her first podcast), and today The joy of getting to a place where each book's sales are enough to ensure paying for the cost of production The pros and cons of writing in multiple series in different genres Reasons why Lindsay released a new series of novels under a fresh and then-unknown pen name in 2014 Managing three mailing lists for the different reader bases that Lindsay has acquired over the years for different genres and pen names Maintaining a very personable persona in the mailing lists and in discussions with her fans The benefit of hosting a podcast with two other people for the SF & Fantasy Marketing Podcast, compared with the solo podcast (Saavy Self-Publishing) that Lindsay created many years earlier What Lindsay gets out of her guests from being one of the hosts of the SF & Fantasy podcast Why she is happy that she didn't experience a lot of luck early on in her writing success, and, instead, slowly built up her readership over time and how they can become loyal fans Lindsay's one experience writing collaboratively and whether or not she plans on doing that again Some of the reasons why, despite her success, Lindsay hasn't yet hired a personal or virtual assistant The early adoption of audiobooks that Lindsay invested in years before most indie authors began creating audiobooks What Lindsay would tell her younger self who was just beginning as a writer After the interview, Mark reflects on the personal connection that Lindsay enjoys and maintains as an important and authentic element of her author journey. Links of Interest: Lindsay Buroker's Website Lindsay's Facebook Page Lindsay on Twitter Science Fiction & Fantasy Marketing Podcast Findaway Voices WMG Publishing Anthology Workshop RUSH - Hold Your Fire Album Info Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Lindsay Buroker has early memories of convincing childhood friends, pets, and stuffed animals to play the roles of characters in her worlds, so it's safe to say she's been making up stories for a long time. She published her first novel, The Emperor's Edge, in December of 2010 and has written and published more than 50 novels since then, most under her own name, but a few steamier ones under a pen name. When she's not writing, she's usually hiking with her dogs, practicing yoga, playing tennis, or eating entirely too much dark chocolate (she only does one of those things truly well, and she will let you guess which it is). She grew up in the Seattle area but has itchy feet and has moved several times over the years. She most recently landed in Bend, Oregon, where she and her dogs now have eighty acres to roam around on. Someday, she may even have a house on that land.  If you're interested in reading more of her work, you can download The Emperor's Edge, Star Nomad, and Balanced on the Blade's Edge for free in your favorite store.    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn the final episode of 2018, Mark interviews Science Fiction and Fantasy author Lindsay Buroker, a successful author who has been indie publishing for about eight years.  Prior to the interview, Mark shares a short personal update and thanks new Patron, Michael Lister; he also mentions that he recently released the third special "Reflections on other Podcasts" episodes for Patrons, which appears at www.patreon.com/starkreflections. He also thanks those who reached out to him after hearing him on episode 408 of The Creative Penn Podcast which was released on Dec 23rd. Mark then says a word about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .In their conversation, Mark and Lindsay talk about: The main differences between when Lindsay first started out more than eight years ago releasing her first novel, The Emperor's Edge (while also producing her first podcast), and today The joy of getting to a place where each book's sales are enough to ensure paying for the cost of production The pros and cons of writing in multiple series in different genres Reasons why Lindsay released a new series of novels under a fresh and then-unknown pen name in 2014 Managing three mailing lists for the different reader bases that Lindsay has acquired over the years for different genres and pen names Maintaining a very personable persona in the mailing lists and in discussions with her fans The benefit of hosting a podcast with two other people for the SF & Fantasy Marketing Podcast, compared with the solo podcast (Saavy Self-Publishing) that Lindsay created many years earlier What Lindsay gets out of her guests from being one of the hosts of the SF & Fantasy podcast Why she is happy that she didn't experience a lot of luck early on in her writing success, and, instead, slowly built up her readership over time and how they can become loyal fans Lindsay's one experience writing collaboratively and whether or not she plans on doing that again Some of the reasons why, despite her success, Lindsay hasn't yet hired a personal or virtual assistant The early adoption of audiobooks that Lindsay invested in years before most indie authors began creating audiobooks What Lindsay would tell her younger self who was just beginning as a writer After the interview, Mark reflects on the personal connection that Lindsay enjoys and maintains as an important and authentic element of her author journey. Links of Interest: Lindsay Buroker's Website Lindsay's Facebook Page Lindsay on Twitter Science Fiction & Fantasy Marketing Podcast Findaway Voices WMG Publishing Anthology Workshop RUSH - Hold Your Fire Album Info Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Lindsay Buroker has early memories of convincing childhood friends, pets, and stuffed animals to play the roles of characters in her worlds, so it's safe to say she's been making up stories for a long time. She published her first novel, The Emperor's Edge, in December of 2010 and has written and published more than 50 novels since then, most under her own name, but a few steamier ones under a pen name. When she's not writing, she's usually hiking with her dogs, practicing yoga, playing tennis, or eating entirely too much dark chocolate (she only does one of those things truly well, and she will let you guess which it is). She grew up in the Seattle area but has itchy feet and has moved several times over the years. She most recently landed in Bend, Oregon, where she and her dogs now have eighty acres to roam around on. Someday, she may even have a house on that land.  If you're interested in reading more of her work, you can download The Emperor's Edge, Star Nomad, and Balanced on the Blade's Edge for free in your favorite store.    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 053 - The Co-Founders of Draft2Digital The Co-Founders of Draft2Digital Thu, 20 Dec 2018 19:39:09 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews Aaron Pogue (President), Kris Austin (CEO) and Toby Nance (CTO), the co-founders of Draft2Digital about how they worked together and played off one another's strengths to create the company.

    This episode is a bit of a response from a few listeners who heard Mark mention that he recently joined the D2D team, but they weren't familiar with the company.

    They asked if it might be possible to share a bit of information about what Draft2Digital is all about.

    If you're not familiar with Draft2Digital, this will provide a decent introduction. And if you think you know Draft2Digital, perhaps there'll also be some deeper info and insights for you to learn even more by pulling a bit of that curtain back on three gentlemen who usually prefer to operate behind the scenes at this author-friendly company.

    Prior to the interview, Mark talks about the new announcement from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .. . . which is called VOICES PLUS.

    Mark then provides a personal update which includes his recent visit to Oklahoma City to visit the Draft2Digital office, his short story "The Ritual of the Drawing" which recently appeared in the anthology Amazing Monster Tales: Dawn of the Monsters.

    Mark also mentions his recent appearances on a few other podcasts, including the Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing Podcast and the Disruptor Podcast.

     

    In their conversation, Mark, Aaron, Kris and Toby talk about:

    • How Aaron has been a writer since he was six years old and how his interest in self-publishing led to his desire to have a tool to make it easy to publish
    • The fact that the three of them became best friends in college
    • The initial "Google Doc to eBook" conversion tool that was a command line program that Aaron had requested Toby create for him
    • How that tool was the beginning of the collaboration between Aaron and Toby, and Kris to create a platform all authors could benefit from
    • The business proposal Kris put together that involved making a product that gave authors power in the industry
    • Toby's joking description of Aaron as both Draft2Digital's first user and least supported user
    • The company's goals to offer the best customer support of any of the other players in the industry
    • The importance of making the systems and systems easy for non-techical persons
    • The partnership of being there to help writers achieve their writing and publishing goals
    • The origin of Universal Book Links from looking in detail at author problems that everyone knows about but nobody has time to work on (such as allowing the author a single link to their book where readers can choose the retailer where they'd like to purchase that book)
    • How Books to Read links work better the more readers who use it (including the ability for users to set their own prefered store that Books2Read will automatically take them directly to
    • The recently announced Account Sharing Controls that allow for virtual assistants, for example, to manage some of an author's metadata and assets without having access to their more sensitive information, such as banking information
    • The things that they are each most looking forward to as we head into 2019

    After the interview, Mark reflects on three things this conversation and recent trip to Oklahoma City made him think about: Personal connections in a digital world, collaboration and being open minded.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    Aaron Pogue is the President and co-founder of Draft2Digital, a company offering online, author-assistance tools to enhance the business of publishing. Sporting simple but beautiful ebook formatting and conversion as well as easy distribution across some of the most powerful digital stores available, D2D is growing both its market share and its influence in the self-publishing world. Draft2Digital was founded in 2012 and enjoys continued growth and success.
    Before taking his post at Draft2Digital, Aaron worked as both a Technical Writer with the Federal Aviation Administration and a writing professor at the university level. He holds a Master of Professional Writing degree from the University of Oklahoma. He also self-publishes novels in the fantasy and science fiction genres. His books have sold a quarter of a million copies since his debut in 2010.

    Kris Austin is the CEO and co-founder of Draft2Digital, a company offering online, author-assistance tools to enhance the business of publishing. Sporting simple but beautiful ebook formatting and conversion as well as easy distribution across some of the most powerful digital stores available, D2D is growing both its market share and its influence in the self-publishing world. Draft2Digital was founded in 2012 and enjoys continued growth and success.
    Before taking this post with Draft2Digital, Kris worked for a private information technologies firm, where he managed the IT departments of dozens of Oklahoma City businesses. He received a B. S., Computer Science from Oklahoma Christian University in 2004.

    Toby Nance is the CTO and co-founder of Draft2Digital, a company offering online, author-assistance tools to enhance the business of publishing. Sporting simple but beautiful ebook formatting and conversion as well as easy distribution across some of the most powerful digital stores available, D2D is growing both its market share and its influence in the self-publishing world. Toby has been the head of development for Draft2Digital since its founding in 2012.
    Before taking this post with Draft2Digital, Toby worked at MSCI as a team lead writing custom workflows in LISP. He also worked on the Core Development Team, improving their tool support for LISP. Before that, he worked as Senior Design Engineer at Lowrance Electronics in charge of automotive mapping. He wrote a turn-by-turn routing navigation system and tides and currents prediction software and maps.

     

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark interviews Aaron Pogue (President), Kris Austin (CEO) and Toby Nance (CTO), the co-founders of Draft2Digital about how they worked together and played off one another's strengths to create the company.

    This episode is a bit of a response from a few listeners who heard Mark mention that he recently joined the D2D team, but they weren't familiar with the company.

    They asked if it might be possible to share a bit of information about what Draft2Digital is all about.

    If you're not familiar with Draft2Digital, this will provide a decent introduction. And if you think you know Draft2Digital, perhaps there'll also be some deeper info and insights for you to learn even more by pulling a bit of that curtain back on three gentlemen who usually prefer to operate behind the scenes at this author-friendly company.

    Prior to the interview, Mark talks about the new announcement from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .. . . which is called VOICES PLUS.

    Mark then provides a personal update which includes his recent visit to Oklahoma City to visit the Draft2Digital office, his short story "The Ritual of the Drawing" which recently appeared in the anthology Amazing Monster Tales: Dawn of the Monsters.

    Mark also mentions his recent appearances on a few other podcasts, including the Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing Podcast and the Disruptor Podcast.

    In their conversation, Mark, Aaron, Kris and Toby talk about:

    • How Aaron has been a writer since he was six years old and how his interest in self-publishing led to his desire to have a tool to make it easy to publish
    • The fact that the three of them became best friends in college
    • The initial "Google Doc to eBook" conversion tool that was a command line program that Aaron had requested Toby create for him
    • How that tool was the beginning of the collaboration between Aaron and Toby, and Kris to create a platform all authors could benefit from
    • The business proposal Kris put together that involved making a product that gave authors power in the industry
    • Toby's joking description of Aaron as both Draft2Digital's first user and least supported user
    • The company's goals to offer the best customer support of any of the other players in the industry
    • The importance of making the systems and systems easy for non-techical persons
    • The partnership of being there to help writers achieve their writing and publishing goals
    • The origin of Universal Book Links from looking in detail at author problems that everyone knows about but nobody has time to work on (such as allowing the author a single link to their book where readers can choose the retailer where they'd like to purchase that book)
    • How Books to Read links work better the more readers who use it (including the ability for users to set their own prefered store that Books2Read will automatically take them directly to
    • The recently announced Account Sharing Controls that allow for virtual assistants, for example, to manage some of an author's metadata and assets without having access to their more sensitive information, such as banking information
    • The things that they are each most looking forward to as we head into 2019

    After the interview, Mark reflects on three things this conversation and recent trip to Oklahoma City made him think about: Personal connections in a digital world, collaboration and being open minded.

    Links of Interest:

    Aaron Pogue is the President and co-founder of Draft2Digital, a company offering online, author-assistance tools to enhance the business of publishing. Sporting simple but beautiful ebook formatting and conversion as well as easy distribution across some of the most powerful digital stores available, D2D is growing both its market share and its influence in the self-publishing world. Draft2Digital was founded in 2012 and enjoys continued growth and success. Before taking his post at Draft2Digital, Aaron worked as both a Technical Writer with the Federal Aviation Administration and a writing professor at the university level. He holds a Master of Professional Writing degree from the University of Oklahoma. He also self-publishes novels in the fantasy and science fiction genres. His books have sold a quarter of a million copies since his debut in 2010.

    Kris Austin is the CEO and co-founder of Draft2Digital, a company offering online, author-assistance tools to enhance the business of publishing. Sporting simple but beautiful ebook formatting and conversion as well as easy distribution across some of the most powerful digital stores available, D2D is growing both its market share and its influence in the self-publishing world. Draft2Digital was founded in 2012 and enjoys continued growth and success. Before taking this post with Draft2Digital, Kris worked for a private information technologies firm, where he managed the IT departments of dozens of Oklahoma City businesses. He received a B. S., Computer Science from Oklahoma Christian University in 2004.

    Toby Nance is the CTO and co-founder of Draft2Digital, a company offering online, author-assistance tools to enhance the business of publishing. Sporting simple but beautiful ebook formatting and conversion as well as easy distribution across some of the most powerful digital stores available, D2D is growing both its market share and its influence in the self-publishing world. Toby has been the head of development for Draft2Digital since its founding in 2012. Before taking this post with Draft2Digital, Toby worked at MSCI as a team lead writing custom workflows in LISP. He also worked on the Core Development Team, improving their tool support for LISP. Before that, he worked as Senior Design Engineer at Lowrance Electronics in charge of automotive mapping. He wrote a turn-by-turn routing navigation system and tides and currents prediction software and maps.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     38:29 false 1 53 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews Aaron Pogue (President), Kris Austin (CEO) and Toby Nance (CTO), the co-founders of Draft2Digital about how they worked together and played off one another's strengths to create the company. This episode is a bit of a response from a few listeners who heard Mark mention that he recently joined the D2D team, but they weren't familiar with the company. They asked if it might be possible to share a bit of information about what Draft2Digital is all about. If you're not familiar with Draft2Digital, this will provide a decent introduction. And if you think you know Draft2Digital, perhaps there'll also be some deeper info and insights for you to learn even more by pulling a bit of that curtain back on three gentlemen who usually prefer to operate behind the scenes at this author-friendly company. Prior to the interview, Mark talks about the new announcement from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .. . . which is called VOICES PLUS. Mark then provides a personal update which includes his recent visit to Oklahoma City to visit the Draft2Digital office, his short story "The Ritual of the Drawing" which recently appeared in the anthology Amazing Monster Tales: Dawn of the Monsters. Mark also mentions his recent appearances on a few other podcasts, including the Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing Podcast and the Disruptor Podcast.   In their conversation, Mark, Aaron, Kris and Toby talk about: How Aaron has been a writer since he was six years old and how his interest in self-publishing led to his desire to have a tool to make it easy to publish The fact that the three of them became best friends in college The initial "Google Doc to eBook" conversion tool that was a command line program that Aaron had requested Toby create for him How that tool was the beginning of the collaboration between Aaron and Toby, and Kris to create a platform all authors could benefit from The business proposal Kris put together that involved making a product that gave authors power in the industry Toby's joking description of Aaron as both Draft2Digital's first user and least supported user The company's goals to offer the best customer support of any of the other players in the industry The importance of making the systems and systems easy for non-techical persons The partnership of being there to help writers achieve their writing and publishing goals The origin of Universal Book Links from looking in detail at author problems that everyone knows about but nobody has time to work on (such as allowing the author a single link to their book where readers can choose the retailer where they'd like to purchase that book) How Books to Read links work better the more readers who use it (including the ability for users to set their own prefered store that Books2Read will automatically take them directly to The recently announced Account Sharing Controls that allow for virtual assistants, for example, to manage some of an author's metadata and assets without having access to their more sensitive information, such as banking information The things that they are each most looking forward to as we head into 2019 After the interview, Mark reflects on three things this conversation and recent trip to Oklahoma City made him think about: Personal connections in a digital world, collaboration and being open minded.   Links of Interest: Draft2Digital D2D Blog D2D Announcement about Shared Accounts Findaway Voices Voices Plus Announcement Science Fiction & Fantasy Marketing Podcast Episode 210 Disruptor Podcast Episode 5 Amazing Monster Tales Stark Reflections Episode with Jamie Ferguson (Episode 27) Kelsie Stelting Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Aaron Pogue is the President and co-founder of Draft2Digital, a company offering online, author-assistance tools to enhance the business of publishing. Sporting simple but beautiful ebook formatting and conversion as well as easy distribution across some of the most powerful digital stores available, D2D is growing both its market share and its influence in the self-publishing world. Draft2Digital was founded in 2012 and enjoys continued growth and success. Before taking his post at Draft2Digital, Aaron worked as both a Technical Writer with the Federal Aviation Administration and a writing professor at the university level. He holds a Master of Professional Writing degree from the University of Oklahoma. He also self-publishes novels in the fantasy and science fiction genres. His books have sold a quarter of a million copies since his debut in 2010. Kris Austin is the CEO and co-founder of Draft2Digital, a company offering online, author-assistance tools to enhance the business of publishing. Sporting simple but beautiful ebook formatting and conversion as well as easy distribution across some of the most powerful digital stores available, D2D is growing both its market share and its influence in the self-publishing world. Draft2Digital was founded in 2012 and enjoys continued growth and success. Before taking this post with Draft2Digital, Kris worked for a private information technologies firm, where he managed the IT departments of dozens of Oklahoma City businesses. He received a B. S., Computer Science from Oklahoma Christian University in 2004. Toby Nance is the CTO and co-founder of Draft2Digital, a company offering online, author-assistance tools to enhance the business of publishing. Sporting simple but beautiful ebook formatting and conversion as well as easy distribution across some of the most powerful digital stores available, D2D is growing both its market share and its influence in the self-publishing world. Toby has been the head of development for Draft2Digital since its founding in 2012. Before taking this post with Draft2Digital, Toby worked at MSCI as a team lead writing custom workflows in LISP. He also worked on the Core Development Team, improving their tool support for LISP. Before that, he worked as Senior Design Engineer at Lowrance Electronics in charge of automotive mapping. He wrote a turn-by-turn routing navigation system and tides and currents prediction software and maps.     The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark interviews Aaron Pogue (President), Kris Austin (CEO) and Toby Nance (CTO), the co-founders of Draft2Digital about how they worked together and played off one another's strengths to create the company. This episode is a bit of a response from a few listeners who heard Mark mention that he recently joined the D2D team, but they weren't familiar with the company. They asked if it might be possible to share a bit of information about what Draft2Digital is all about. If you're not familiar with Draft2Digital, this will provide a decent introduction. And if you think you know Draft2Digital, perhaps there'll also be some deeper info and insights for you to learn even more by pulling a bit of that curtain back on three gentlemen who usually prefer to operate behind the scenes at this author-friendly company. Prior to the interview, Mark talks about the new announcement from this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .. . . which is called VOICES PLUS. Mark then provides a personal update which includes his recent visit to Oklahoma City to visit the Draft2Digital office, his short story "The Ritual of the Drawing" which recently appeared in the anthology Amazing Monster Tales: Dawn of the Monsters. Mark also mentions his recent appearances on a few other podcasts, including the Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing Podcast and the Disruptor Podcast.   In their conversation, Mark, Aaron, Kris and Toby talk about: How Aaron has been a writer since he was six years old and how his interest in self-publishing led to his desire to have a tool to make it easy to publish The fact that the three of them became best friends in college The initial "Google Doc to eBook" conversion tool that was a command line program that Aaron had requested Toby create for him How that tool was the beginning of the collaboration between Aaron and Toby, and Kris to create a platform all authors could benefit from The business proposal Kris put together that involved making a product that gave authors power in the industry Toby's joking description of Aaron as both Draft2Digital's first user and least supported user The company's goals to offer the best customer support of any of the other players in the industry The importance of making the systems and systems easy for non-techical persons The partnership of being there to help writers achieve their writing and publishing goals The origin of Universal Book Links from looking in detail at author problems that everyone knows about but nobody has time to work on (such as allowing the author a single link to their book where readers can choose the retailer where they'd like to purchase that book) How Books to Read links work better the more readers who use it (including the ability for users to set their own prefered store that Books2Read will automatically take them directly to The recently announced Account Sharing Controls that allow for virtual assistants, for example, to manage some of an author's metadata and assets without having access to their more sensitive information, such as banking information The things that they are each most looking forward to as we head into 2019 After the interview, Mark reflects on three things this conversation and recent trip to Oklahoma City made him think about: Personal connections in a digital world, collaboration and being open minded.   Links of Interest: Draft2Digital D2D Blog D2D Announcement about Shared Accounts Findaway Voices Voices Plus Announcement Science Fiction & Fantasy Marketing Podcast Episode 210 Disruptor Podcast Episode 5 Amazing Monster Tales Stark Reflections Episode with Jamie Ferguson (Episode 27) Kelsie Stelting Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Aaron Pogue is the President and co-founder of Draft2Digital, a company offering online, author-assistance tools to enhance the business of publishing. Sporting simple but beautiful ebook formatting and conversion as well as easy distribution across some of the most powerful digital stores available, D2D is growing both its market share and its influence in the self-publishing world. Draft2Digital was founded in 2012 and enjoys continued growth and success. Before taking his post at Draft2Digital, Aaron worked as both a Technical Writer with the Federal Aviation Administration and a writing professor at the university level. He holds a Master of Professional Writing degree from the University of Oklahoma. He also self-publishes novels in the fantasy and science fiction genres. His books have sold a quarter of a million copies since his debut in 2010. Kris Austin is the CEO and co-founder of Draft2Digital, a company offering online, author-assistance tools to enhance the business of publishing. Sporting simple but beautiful ebook formatting and conversion as well as easy distribution across some of the most powerful digital stores available, D2D is growing both its market share and its influence in the self-publishing world. Draft2Digital was founded in 2012 and enjoys continued growth and success. Before taking this post with Draft2Digital, Kris worked for a private information technologies firm, where he managed the IT departments of dozens of Oklahoma City businesses. He received a B. S., Computer Science from Oklahoma Christian University in 2004. Toby Nance is the CTO and co-founder of Draft2Digital, a company offering online, author-assistance tools to enhance the business of publishing. Sporting simple but beautiful ebook formatting and conversion as well as easy distribution across some of the most powerful digital stores available, D2D is growing both its market share and its influence in the self-publishing world. Toby has been the head of development for Draft2Digital since its founding in 2012. Before taking this post with Draft2Digital, Toby worked at MSCI as a team lead writing custom workflows in LISP. He also worked on the Core Development Team, improving their tool support for LISP. Before that, he worked as Senior Design Engineer at Lowrance Electronics in charge of automotive mapping. He wrote a turn-by-turn routing navigation system and tides and currents prediction software and maps.     The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 052 - The Simple Life with Gary Collins The Simple Life with Gary Collins Fri, 14 Dec 2018 14:32:47 +0000 Mark interviews author Gary Collins about the simple life, both the name of a series of books as well as the new life he enjoys after some very unique experiences that include military intelligence and Special Agent.

    Before the interview, Mark shares a personal update that involves flying to Vancouver for the annual CAPS (Canadian Association of Professional Speakers) Convention and then to Oklahoma City to spend some time with his colleagues at Draft2Digital.

    Mark then says a few words about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .

    In their conversation, Mark and Gary talk about:

    • Gary's long and circuitous approach into publishing, the great lessons learned and passions experienced along the way
    • The concept of not just knowing how the sausage was made but actually being the sausage via his life as a government agent
    • The early 40's burnout Gary experienced, which led to a new beginning and new passions that included health and fitness
    • The valueable mentorship and tough love that Gary experienced from Steven Pressfield
    • Gary's first experience in self-publishing where mistakes were made and more lessons were learned
    • Books that were derived from trying to provide information to clients without having to repeat the same info over and over
    • The purchase of twenty acres of land and building a house off the grid and the resulting influx of questions about it that led to another book
    • The process of saving money for six months, then building for another six months, then working and saving money for the next period, in a repeated cycle
    • How the sales of the book about the simple life and going off the grid attracted a distribution company
    • The mistakes on Gary's path and how he didn't find his purpose, but his purpose found him
    • How Gary doesn't rely on scheduling for his writing, but the disclipline involved when he actually sits down
    • 20Booksto50K being the first writer conference that Gary has ever attended and the fortuitous break of being able to attend after being on the waiting list for the sold-out show
    • Learning the importance of integrating oneself with other writers
    • How Mark and Gary connected via the RUSH shirt that Gary had been wearing one day at 20Booksto50K
    • The fact that Gary will go ahead and reach out to anyone without any fear because "what's the worst that can happen?"
    • Gary's withdrawl from social media in the past year and his belief on how it can suck the life out of a person
    • Advice on how to adapt the simple life methodology into one's life
    • How a person's purpose can change over time, and the reality that the purpose doesn't have to be dramatic or enormous
    • The importance of putting effort into the positive rather than into the negative

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of "reaching out to anyone" and explores the possible risk along with the possible opportunity involved in that.

    Links of Interest:

     

    Gary Collins has a very interesting and unique background that includes military intelligence, Special Agent for the U.S. State Department Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Collins' background and expert knowledge brings a much-needed perspective to today's areas of simple living, health, nutrition, entrepreneurship, self-help and being more self-reliant.

    His website www.thesimplelifenow.com, and The Simple Life book series (his total lifestyle reboot), blows the lid off of conventional life and wellness expectations, and is considered essential for every person seeking a simpler, and happier life.

    Gary now lives off-the-grid part of the year in a remote area of NE Washington State, and the other part of year exploring in his travel trailer with his trusty black lab Barney.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark interviews author Gary Collins about the simple life, both the name of a series of books as well as the new life he enjoys after some very unique experiences that include military intelligence and Special Agent.

    Before the interview, Mark shares a personal update that involves flying to Vancouver for the annual CAPS (Canadian Association of Professional Speakers) Convention and then to Oklahoma City to spend some time with his colleagues at Draft2Digital.

    Mark then says a few words about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .

    In their conversation, Mark and Gary talk about:

    • Gary's long and circuitous approach into publishing, the great lessons learned and passions experienced along the way
    • The concept of not just knowing how the sausage was made but actually being the sausage via his life as a government agent
    • The early 40's burnout Gary experienced, which led to a new beginning and new passions that included health and fitness
    • The valueable mentorship and tough love that Gary experienced from Steven Pressfield
    • Gary's first experience in self-publishing where mistakes were made and more lessons were learned
    • Books that were derived from trying to provide information to clients without having to repeat the same info over and over
    • The purchase of twenty acres of land and building a house off the grid and the resulting influx of questions about it that led to another book
    • The process of saving money for six months, then building for another six months, then working and saving money for the next period, in a repeated cycle
    • How the sales of the book about the simple life and going off the grid attracted a distribution company
    • The mistakes on Gary's path and how he didn't find his purpose, but his purpose found him
    • How Gary doesn't rely on scheduling for his writing, but the disclipline involved when he actually sits down
    • 20Booksto50K being the first writer conference that Gary has ever attended and the fortuitous break of being able to attend after being on the waiting list for the sold-out show
    • Learning the importance of integrating oneself with other writers
    • How Mark and Gary connected via the RUSH shirt that Gary had been wearing one day at 20Booksto50K
    • The fact that Gary will go ahead and reach out to anyone without any fear because "what's the worst that can happen?"
    • Gary's withdrawl from social media in the past year and his belief on how it can suck the life out of a person
    • Advice on how to adapt the simple life methodology into one's life
    • How a person's purpose can change over time, and the reality that the purpose doesn't have to be dramatic or enormous
    • The importance of putting effort into the positive rather than into the negative

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of "reaching out to anyone" and explores the possible risk along with the possible opportunity involved in that.

    Links of Interest:

    Gary Collins has a very interesting and unique background that includes military intelligence, Special Agent for the U.S. State Department Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Collins' background and expert knowledge brings a much-needed perspective to today's areas of simple living, health, nutrition, entrepreneurship, self-help and being more self-reliant.

    His website www.thesimplelifenow.com, and The Simple Life book series (his total lifestyle reboot), blows the lid off of conventional life and wellness expectations, and is considered essential for every person seeking a simpler, and happier life.

    Gary now lives off-the-grid part of the year in a remote area of NE Washington State, and the other part of year exploring in his travel trailer with his trusty black lab Barney.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     01:02:52 false 1 52 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews author Gary Collins about the simple life, both the name of a series of books as well as the new life he enjoys after some very unique experiences that include military intelligence and Special Agent. Before the interview, Mark shares a personal update that involves flying to Vancouver for the annual CAPS (Canadian Association of Professional Speakers) Convention and then to Oklahoma City to spend some time with his colleagues at Draft2Digital. Mark then says a few words about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . . In their conversation, Mark and Gary talk about: Gary's long and circuitous approach into publishing, the great lessons learned and passions experienced along the way The concept of not just knowing how the sausage was made but actually being the sausage via his life as a government agent The early 40's burnout Gary experienced, which led to a new beginning and new passions that included health and fitness The valueable mentorship and tough love that Gary experienced from Steven Pressfield Gary's first experience in self-publishing where mistakes were made and more lessons were learned Books that were derived from trying to provide information to clients without having to repeat the same info over and over The purchase of twenty acres of land and building a house off the grid and the resulting influx of questions about it that led to another book The process of saving money for six months, then building for another six months, then working and saving money for the next period, in a repeated cycle How the sales of the book about the simple life and going off the grid attracted a distribution company The mistakes on Gary's path and how he didn't find his purpose, but his purpose found him How Gary doesn't rely on scheduling for his writing, but the disclipline involved when he actually sits down 20Booksto50K being the first writer conference that Gary has ever attended and the fortuitous break of being able to attend after being on the waiting list for the sold-out show Learning the importance of integrating oneself with other writers How Mark and Gary connected via the RUSH shirt that Gary had been wearing one day at 20Booksto50K The fact that Gary will go ahead and reach out to anyone without any fear because "what's the worst that can happen?" Gary's withdrawl from social media in the past year and his belief on how it can suck the life out of a person Advice on how to adapt the simple life methodology into one's life How a person's purpose can change over time, and the reality that the purpose doesn't have to be dramatic or enormous The importance of putting effort into the positive rather than into the negative After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of "reaching out to anyone" and explores the possible risk along with the possible opportunity involved in that. Links of Interest: Gary's Website CAPS Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Gary Collins has a very interesting and unique background that includes military intelligence, Special Agent for the U.S. State Department Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Collins' background and expert knowledge brings a much-needed perspective to today's areas of simple living, health, nutrition, entrepreneurship, self-help and being more self-reliant. His website www.thesimplelifenow.com, and The Simple Life book series (his total lifestyle reboot), blows the lid off of conventional life and wellness expectations, and is considered essential for every person seeking a simpler, and happier life. Gary now lives off-the-grid part of the year in a remote area of NE Washington State, and the other part of year exploring in his travel trailer with his trusty black lab Barney. The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreMark interviews author Gary Collins about the simple life, both the name of a series of books as well as the new life he enjoys after some very unique experiences that include military intelligence and Special Agent. Before the interview, Mark shares a personal update that involves flying to Vancouver for the annual CAPS (Canadian Association of Professional Speakers) Convention and then to Oklahoma City to spend some time with his colleagues at Draft2Digital. Mark then says a few words about this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . . In their conversation, Mark and Gary talk about: Gary's long and circuitous approach into publishing, the great lessons learned and passions experienced along the way The concept of not just knowing how the sausage was made but actually being the sausage via his life as a government agent The early 40's burnout Gary experienced, which led to a new beginning and new passions that included health and fitness The valueable mentorship and tough love that Gary experienced from Steven Pressfield Gary's first experience in self-publishing where mistakes were made and more lessons were learned Books that were derived from trying to provide information to clients without having to repeat the same info over and over The purchase of twenty acres of land and building a house off the grid and the resulting influx of questions about it that led to another book The process of saving money for six months, then building for another six months, then working and saving money for the next period, in a repeated cycle How the sales of the book about the simple life and going off the grid attracted a distribution company The mistakes on Gary's path and how he didn't find his purpose, but his purpose found him How Gary doesn't rely on scheduling for his writing, but the disclipline involved when he actually sits down 20Booksto50K being the first writer conference that Gary has ever attended and the fortuitous break of being able to attend after being on the waiting list for the sold-out show Learning the importance of integrating oneself with other writers How Mark and Gary connected via the RUSH shirt that Gary had been wearing one day at 20Booksto50K The fact that Gary will go ahead and reach out to anyone without any fear because "what's the worst that can happen?" Gary's withdrawl from social media in the past year and his belief on how it can suck the life out of a person Advice on how to adapt the simple life methodology into one's life How a person's purpose can change over time, and the reality that the purpose doesn't have to be dramatic or enormous The importance of putting effort into the positive rather than into the negative After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of "reaching out to anyone" and explores the possible risk along with the possible opportunity involved in that. Links of Interest: Gary's Website CAPS Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Gary Collins has a very interesting and unique background that includes military intelligence, Special Agent for the U.S. State Department Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Collins' background and expert knowledge brings a much-needed perspective to today's areas of simple living, health, nutrition, entrepreneurship, self-help and being more self-reliant. His website www.thesimplelifenow.com, and The Simple Life book series (his total lifestyle reboot), blows the lid off of conventional life and wellness expectations, and is considered essential for every person seeking a simpler, and happier life. Gary now lives off-the-grid part of the year in a remote area of NE Washington State, and the other part of year exploring in his travel trailer with his trusty black lab Barney. The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 051 - A Lot of Niching To Be Done with Rachel Amphlett A Lot of Niching to be Done with Rachel Amphlett Fri, 07 Dec 2018 16:52:12 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews Rachel Amplett, the author of the successful Dan Taylor and Kay Hunter police procedural thrillers as well as stand alone thrillers and mystery novels.

    The interview includes a lot of information related to this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .Mark shares a bit of an update about the the new Authors Direct option that Findaway Voices is beta testing.

    In their chat, Mark and Rachel talk about:

    • What compelled Rachel to writing in the first place.
    • The confusing and conflicting messages she received from different publishers when shopping her first Dan Taylor novel around.
    • How Rachel started out in indie publishing a stand alone novel, WHITE GOLD, seven years ago after a suggestion from a friend (and how it all started with a Goodreads page and an author account at Smashwords).
    • The emails from readers around the world that prompted Rachel to write a sequel to her first novel; something she hadn't planned in the first place.
    • How the experience of being approached by a publisher in Italy interested in publishing an Italian version of her novel WHITE GOLD (having found her "by accident") prompted her to see what could be done by applying her experince as a project administrator into a business plan with marketing efforts, which she started at 2015.
    • The fact that Kobo was the first retail platform where her sales really started to take off after a 99 cent BookBub deal.
    • Being so successful that she was able to go full time as writer without having actually "broken out" in the US, the one market that seems to be the easiest for authors to break into.
    • Getting into the audiobook market relatively early as part of a strategic business plan.
    • Investing some of the money that was coming in from Rachel's Kay Hunter novels into the creation of the audiobooks and the stacked-up rapid release of the first several books in the series within a couple of months.
    • The producer and narrator Rachel found in the UK for the audiobooks.
    • How the narrator, Alison Campbell, has become the voice of Kay Hunter for Rachel and many of her listening readership.
    • The challenge of staying on the exhausting "hamster wheel" that a writer can find themselves on working on steady releases and how Rachel is avoiding burn-out by strategic scheduling and the inclusion of passion projects.
    • How success can come from sitting down at the end of a project and engaging in an exercise of "lessons learned."
    • The early success Rachel has seen via Findaway Voices sales at Playster.
    • How you can never know where in the world the sales of your books can come from.
    • What happens when you try something a little bit different and focus on the niche markets that are working for you.
    • How Rachel Findaway Voices Authors Direct program was a Godsend.
    • How a large portion of Rachel's print books sell to libraries around the world - a great way for readers to read their favorite authors for free in eBook, print and audio.
    • The things Rachel thinks will be the most important for authors to think about in the next year.

    After the interview, Mark shares his thoughts on the success Rachel had outside of Amazon as well as her systematic project management process that helps keep her on track and balanced in her writing life.

    He then shares a few appearances he had recently on the Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing Podcast as well as in a Reedsy live webinar about selling more on Kobo.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    Before turning to writing, Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio as a presenter and freelance producer for the BBC, and worked in publishing as a sub-editor and editorial assistant.

    She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction and spy novels, including the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the Detective Kay Hunter series.

    After living in Brisbane, Australia for 13 years, Rachel has now returned to the UK. She's a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold sold to Fanucci Editore's TIMECrime imprint, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany's Luzifer Verlag.

    Her novels are available in eBook, paperback and audiobook formats from worldwide retailers including Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, and Google Play.

    A keen traveller, Rachel holds both EU and Australian passports and can usually be found plotting her next trip two years in advance!

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark interviews Rachel Amplett, the author of the successful Dan Taylor and Kay Hunter police procedural thrillers as well as stand alone thrillers and mystery novels.

    The interview includes a lot of information related to this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .Mark shares a bit of an update about the the new Authors Direct option that Findaway Voices is beta testing.

    In their chat, Mark and Rachel talk about:

    • What compelled Rachel to writing in the first place.
    • The confusing and conflicting messages she received from different publishers when shopping her first Dan Taylor novel around.
    • How Rachel started out in indie publishing a stand alone novel, WHITE GOLD, seven years ago after a suggestion from a friend (and how it all started with a Goodreads page and an author account at Smashwords).
    • The emails from readers around the world that prompted Rachel to write a sequel to her first novel; something she hadn't planned in the first place.
    • How the experience of being approached by a publisher in Italy interested in publishing an Italian version of her novel WHITE GOLD (having found her "by accident") prompted her to see what could be done by applying her experince as a project administrator into a business plan with marketing efforts, which she started at 2015.
    • The fact that Kobo was the first retail platform where her sales really started to take off after a 99 cent BookBub deal.
    • Being so successful that she was able to go full time as writer without having actually "broken out" in the US, the one market that seems to be the easiest for authors to break into.
    • Getting into the audiobook market relatively early as part of a strategic business plan.
    • Investing some of the money that was coming in from Rachel's Kay Hunter novels into the creation of the audiobooks and the stacked-up rapid release of the first several books in the series within a couple of months.
    • The producer and narrator Rachel found in the UK for the audiobooks.
    • How the narrator, Alison Campbell, has become the voice of Kay Hunter for Rachel and many of her listening readership.
    • The challenge of staying on the exhausting "hamster wheel" that a writer can find themselves on working on steady releases and how Rachel is avoiding burn-out by strategic scheduling and the inclusion of passion projects.
    • How success can come from sitting down at the end of a project and engaging in an exercise of "lessons learned."
    • The early success Rachel has seen via Findaway Voices sales at Playster.
    • How you can never know where in the world the sales of your books can come from.
    • What happens when you try something a little bit different and focus on the niche markets that are working for you.
    • How Rachel Findaway Voices Authors Direct program was a Godsend.
    • How a large portion of Rachel's print books sell to libraries around the world - a great way for readers to read their favorite authors for free in eBook, print and audio.
    • The things Rachel thinks will be the most important for authors to think about in the next year.

    After the interview, Mark shares his thoughts on the success Rachel had outside of Amazon as well as her systematic project management process that helps keep her on track and balanced in her writing life.

    He then shares a few appearances he had recently on the Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing Podcast as well as in a Reedsy live webinar about selling more on Kobo.

    Links of Interest:

    Before turning to writing, Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio as a presenter and freelance producer for the BBC, and worked in publishing as a sub-editor and editorial assistant.

    She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction and spy novels, including the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the Detective Kay Hunter series.

    After living in Brisbane, Australia for 13 years, Rachel has now returned to the UK. She's a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold sold to Fanucci Editore's TIMECrime imprint, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany's Luzifer Verlag.

    Her novels are available in eBook, paperback and audiobook formats from worldwide retailers including Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, and Google Play.

    A keen traveller, Rachel holds both EU and Australian passports and can usually be found plotting her next trip two years in advance!

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     38:55 false 1 51 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews Rachel Amplett, the author of the successful Dan Taylor and Kay Hunter police procedural thrillers as well as stand alone thrillers and mystery novels. The interview includes a lot of information related to this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .Mark shares a bit of an update about the the new Authors Direct option that Findaway Voices is beta testing. In their chat, Mark and Rachel talk about: What compelled Rachel to writing in the first place. The confusing and conflicting messages she received from different publishers when shopping her first Dan Taylor novel around. How Rachel started out in indie publishing a stand alone novel, WHITE GOLD, seven years ago after a suggestion from a friend (and how it all started with a Goodreads page and an author account at Smashwords). The emails from readers around the world that prompted Rachel to write a sequel to her first novel; something she hadn't planned in the first place. How the experience of being approached by a publisher in Italy interested in publishing an Italian version of her novel WHITE GOLD (having found her "by accident") prompted her to see what could be done by applying her experince as a project administrator into a business plan with marketing efforts, which she started at 2015. The fact that Kobo was the first retail platform where her sales really started to take off after a 99 cent BookBub deal. Being so successful that she was able to go full time as writer without having actually "broken out" in the US, the one market that seems to be the easiest for authors to break into. Getting into the audiobook market relatively early as part of a strategic business plan. Investing some of the money that was coming in from Rachel's Kay Hunter novels into the creation of the audiobooks and the stacked-up rapid release of the first several books in the series within a couple of months. The producer and narrator Rachel found in the UK for the audiobooks. How the narrator, Alison Campbell, has become the voice of Kay Hunter for Rachel and many of her listening readership. The challenge of staying on the exhausting "hamster wheel" that a writer can find themselves on working on steady releases and how Rachel is avoiding burn-out by strategic scheduling and the inclusion of passion projects. How success can come from sitting down at the end of a project and engaging in an exercise of "lessons learned." The early success Rachel has seen via Findaway Voices sales at Playster. How you can never know where in the world the sales of your books can come from. What happens when you try something a little bit different and focus on the niche markets that are working for you. How Rachel Findaway Voices Authors Direct program was a Godsend. How a large portion of Rachel's print books sell to libraries around the world - a great way for readers to read their favorite authors for free in eBook, print and audio. The things Rachel thinks will be the most important for authors to think about in the next year. After the interview, Mark shares his thoughts on the success Rachel had outside of Amazon as well as her systematic project management process that helps keep her on track and balanced in her writing life. He then shares a few appearances he had recently on the Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing Podcast as well as in a Reedsy live webinar about selling more on Kobo.   Links of Interest: Rachel Amplett's Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Rachel's Novels Kay Hunter Series English Spy Mysteries Dan Taylor Series Standalone Thrillers Rachel's Shop Direct Audiobook link (via Authors Direct) Mark's Shop Direct Audiobook link (via Authors Direct) Findaway Voices Science Fiction & Fantasy Marketing Podcast - EP 210: Selling More at Kobo and Relying Less on Amazon Reedsy Webinar (Video Replay) - Getting Your Book Featured on Kobo The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Before turning to writing, Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio as a presenter and freelance producer for the BBC, and worked in publishing as a sub-editor and editorial assistant. She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction and spy novels, including the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the Detective Kay Hunter series. After living in Brisbane, Australia for 13 years, Rachel has now returned to the UK. She's a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold sold to Fanucci Editore's TIMECrime imprint, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany's Luzifer Verlag. Her novels are available in eBook, paperback and audiobook formats from worldwide retailers including Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, and Google Play. A keen traveller, Rachel holds both EU and Australian passports and can usually be found plotting her next trip two years in advance! The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark interviews Rachel Amplett, the author of the successful Dan Taylor and Kay Hunter police procedural thrillers as well as stand alone thrillers and mystery novels. The interview includes a lot of information related to this episode's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .Mark shares a bit of an update about the the new Authors Direct option that Findaway Voices is beta testing. In their chat, Mark and Rachel talk about: What compelled Rachel to writing in the first place. The confusing and conflicting messages she received from different publishers when shopping her first Dan Taylor novel around. How Rachel started out in indie publishing a stand alone novel, WHITE GOLD, seven years ago after a suggestion from a friend (and how it all started with a Goodreads page and an author account at Smashwords). The emails from readers around the world that prompted Rachel to write a sequel to her first novel; something she hadn't planned in the first place. How the experience of being approached by a publisher in Italy interested in publishing an Italian version of her novel WHITE GOLD (having found her "by accident") prompted her to see what could be done by applying her experince as a project administrator into a business plan with marketing efforts, which she started at 2015. The fact that Kobo was the first retail platform where her sales really started to take off after a 99 cent BookBub deal. Being so successful that she was able to go full time as writer without having actually "broken out" in the US, the one market that seems to be the easiest for authors to break into. Getting into the audiobook market relatively early as part of a strategic business plan. Investing some of the money that was coming in from Rachel's Kay Hunter novels into the creation of the audiobooks and the stacked-up rapid release of the first several books in the series within a couple of months. The producer and narrator Rachel found in the UK for the audiobooks. How the narrator, Alison Campbell, has become the voice of Kay Hunter for Rachel and many of her listening readership. The challenge of staying on the exhausting "hamster wheel" that a writer can find themselves on working on steady releases and how Rachel is avoiding burn-out by strategic scheduling and the inclusion of passion projects. How success can come from sitting down at the end of a project and engaging in an exercise of "lessons learned." The early success Rachel has seen via Findaway Voices sales at Playster. How you can never know where in the world the sales of your books can come from. What happens when you try something a little bit different and focus on the niche markets that are working for you. How Rachel Findaway Voices Authors Direct program was a Godsend. How a large portion of Rachel's print books sell to libraries around the world - a great way for readers to read their favorite authors for free in eBook, print and audio. The things Rachel thinks will be the most important for authors to think about in the next year. After the interview, Mark shares his thoughts on the success Rachel had outside of Amazon as well as her systematic project management process that helps keep her on track and balanced in her writing life. He then shares a few appearances he had recently on the Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing Podcast as well as in a Reedsy live webinar about selling more on Kobo.   Links of Interest: Rachel Amplett's Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Rachel's Novels Kay Hunter Series English Spy Mysteries Dan Taylor Series Standalone Thrillers Rachel's Shop Direct Audiobook link (via Authors Direct) Mark's Shop Direct Audiobook link (via Authors Direct) Findaway Voices Science Fiction & Fantasy Marketing Podcast - EP 210: Selling More at Kobo and Relying Less on Amazon Reedsy Webinar (Video Replay) - Getting Your Book Featured on Kobo The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Before turning to writing, Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio as a presenter and freelance producer for the BBC, and worked in publishing as a sub-editor and editorial assistant. She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction and spy novels, including the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the Detective Kay Hunter series. After living in Brisbane, Australia for 13 years, Rachel has now returned to the UK. She's a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold sold to Fanucci Editore's TIMECrime imprint, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany's Luzifer Verlag. Her novels are available in eBook, paperback and audiobook formats from worldwide retailers including Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, and Google Play. A keen traveller, Rachel holds both EU and Australian passports and can usually be found plotting her next trip two years in advance! The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 050 - Five Things Learned in the First Fifty Episodes Five Things Learned in the First Fifty Episodes Mon, 03 Dec 2018 18:53:40 +0000 In this episode Mark reflects on five of the many things he has learned on the journey through the first fifty episodes of this podcast.

    Those five things are within the theme of:

    • GLOBAL IS MORE GLOBAL THAN JUST GLOBAL
    • THE POWER OF AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
    • THE POWER OF COMMUNITY & THINKING BEYOND
    • ONGOING GROWTH & IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION
    • BRANDING & PROFESSIONALISM

    Throughout the five points (which do overlap), Mark mentions many different episodes and interviews that came to mind as he was drawing these themes.

     

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     In this episode Mark reflects on five of the many things he has learned on the journey through the first fifty episodes of this podcast.

    Those five things are within the theme of:

    • GLOBAL IS MORE GLOBAL THAN JUST GLOBAL
    • THE POWER OF AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
    • THE POWER OF COMMUNITY & THINKING BEYOND
    • ONGOING GROWTH & IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION
    • BRANDING & PROFESSIONALISM

    Throughout the five points (which do overlap), Mark mentions many different episodes and interviews that came to mind as he was drawing these themes.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     30:35 false 1 50 bonus mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark reflects on five of the many things he has learned on the journey through the first fifty episodes of this podcast. Those five things are within the theme of: GLOBAL IS MORE GLOBAL THAN JUST GLOBAL THE POWER OF AUDIENCE FEEDBACK THE POWER OF COMMUNITY & THINKING BEYOND ONGOING GROWTH & IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION BRANDING & PROFESSIONALISM Throughout the five points (which do overlap), Mark mentions many different episodes and interviews that came to mind as he was drawing these themes.   Links of Interest: Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo Patreon for Stark ReflectionsMark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode Mark reflects on five of the many things he has learned on the journey through the first fifty episodes of this podcast. Those five things are within the theme of: GLOBAL IS MORE GLOBAL THAN JUST GLOBAL THE POWER OF AUDIENCE FEEDBACK THE POWER OF COMMUNITY & THINKING BEYOND ONGOING GROWTH & IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION BRANDING & PROFESSIONALISM Throughout the five points (which do overlap), Mark mentions many different episodes and interviews that came to mind as he was drawing these themes.   Links of Interest: Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo Patreon for Stark Reflections     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 049 - Rambling Across America with Tommy Ray Rambling Across America with Tommy Ray Fri, 30 Nov 2018 01:46:46 +0000 Henry David Thoreau said: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you imagined."

    In this episode's interview, Mark speaks with musician and writer Tommy Ray about how he had done just that. They talk about Tommy's experience of how he took a dream (an actual dream) and transitioned it into reality by listening to his heart and trusting his instincts in recreating his life.

    Before the interview Mark shares a quick personal update that includes:

    • Being interviewed by Joanna Penn for a forthcoming episode of The Creative Penn podcast, which will air on Dec 24, 2018
    • A shout-out to Patrons of the show who support this podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections - By saving up the monthly funds Mark was able to order a higher quality microphone for the podcast
    • The printed proof copies of THE 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS that Mark sourced locally, but will be distributing to all retailers as a POD file through Draft2Digital's new beta D2DPRINT option
    • The "Kobo Publishing: Getting Your Book Featured" Webinar Mark will be hosting via Reedsy Live on Wed Dec 5th

    Mark then shares a word about the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .In their chat, Mark and Tommy talk about:

    • The origin of Tommy's dream mid year in 2015 that had him jumping into his pickup truck and traveling across America to play and share his music
    • How Tommy was also inspired by books from authors Paulo Coehlo and Dan Millman as well as music from artists like Cat Stevens
    • How long music has been a part of Tommy's life (including a memorable photo of Tommy as a young child standing next to a guitar)
    • The concept of being "meant to live a creative life"
    • Music Tommy wrote that was derived from the experience of following the creative dream
    • The preplanning that involved reaching out to 100 venues Tommy had intended on playing in (but not having heard back from any of them)
    • The two award nominations that Tommy rec'd prior to his trip (which altered his trip from a full year to 7 week one, where he drove through 15 trips and clocked 9,000 miles)
    • Zama (population 36), the town where Tommy was born and where his father lived most of his life
    • How Tommy's experience as a musician intertwines with his creative writing
    • The extensive research that Tommy did to teach himself writing, and to learn about publishing and how to find support, such as editors and cover designers for his books
    • Tommy's use of 3 editors on his book RAMBLING ACROSS AMERICA
    • Maintaining passion, strength and integrity when the road is difficult
    • Tommy's temporary return to a day job where he currently is: St. Croix of the US Virgin Islands
    • The preference Tommy has for playing his own music rather than playing cover songs at the local bar
    • The way that being on stage as a musician is easier for Tommy than the prose he shares via the page
    • The new series of dark/horror fiction that Tommy has started writing, inspired by actual dreams and actual mental and emotional torment, starting with the book MIRROR OF PERCEPTION
    • How you should never take this life for granted and how you can leave your mark on this world in a positive and optimistic way

    After the interview, Mark talks about Tommy's creativity and his relentless optimism and passion for living a creative life. He finds it fitting that, at the same time he was producing this episode he was watching his friend Julie Strauss post updates about the catch-up she has been doing on her latest novel for NaNoWriMo. 

    What Mark loves about the past week of writing sprints in which Julie is trying to catch up for some lost writing time during the month, that love is that, as frustrated and restless as she is, she hasn't once stopped digging into the work with all her heart and soul. And she is turning the angst into hilarious and cheeky updates so many other writers are cheering her on for while being entertained by her musings of the writer's struggle.

    Mark then plays a short sample of Tommy's song Zama, reflecting on the creative life and the places we have all called home, lived in and loved.

    Links of Interest:

     

    Tommy Ray chooses to become an author to create value and inspiration to the world. He desires all to leave their mark, do not take this life for granted, as well as never give up on your dreams. He has always been inspired by travel adventure tales of real-life journeys.

    He always had a voice inside of him telling him he desired to live his life through a creative voice. For many years, he ignored the voice to follow other endeavors, but the voice was always there and increasing in volume.

    Tommy loves to travel, write, compose, blog along with performing. He decided it was how he desired to spend his life. "Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations,"-Unknown.

    To add to his catalog, he recently created the "Amid the Blackness" series. Short stories which fall in the suspense category. Keep a look-out for upcoming music from Tommy Ray along with future books as "The Country Boy."

    ]]>     Henry David Thoreau said: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you imagined."

    In this episode's interview, Mark speaks with musician and writer Tommy Ray about how he had done just that. They talk about Tommy's experience of how he took a dream (an actual dream) and transitioned it into reality by listening to his heart and trusting his instincts in recreating his life.

    Before the interview Mark shares a quick personal update that includes:

    • Being interviewed by Joanna Penn for a forthcoming episode of The Creative Penn podcast, which will air on Dec 24, 2018
    • A shout-out to Patrons of the show who support this podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections - By saving up the monthly funds Mark was able to order a higher quality microphone for the podcast
    • The printed proof copies of THE 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS that Mark sourced locally, but will be distributing to all retailers as a POD file through Draft2Digital's new beta D2DPRINT option
    • The "Kobo Publishing: Getting Your Book Featured" Webinar Mark will be hosting via Reedsy Live on Wed Dec 5th

    Mark then shares a word about the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .In their chat, Mark and Tommy talk about:

    • The origin of Tommy's dream mid year in 2015 that had him jumping into his pickup truck and traveling across America to play and share his music
    • How Tommy was also inspired by books from authors Paulo Coehlo and Dan Millman as well as music from artists like Cat Stevens
    • How long music has been a part of Tommy's life (including a memorable photo of Tommy as a young child standing next to a guitar)
    • The concept of being "meant to live a creative life"
    • Music Tommy wrote that was derived from the experience of following the creative dream
    • The preplanning that involved reaching out to 100 venues Tommy had intended on playing in (but not having heard back from any of them)
    • The two award nominations that Tommy rec'd prior to his trip (which altered his trip from a full year to 7 week one, where he drove through 15 trips and clocked 9,000 miles)
    • Zama (population 36), the town where Tommy was born and where his father lived most of his life
    • How Tommy's experience as a musician intertwines with his creative writing
    • The extensive research that Tommy did to teach himself writing, and to learn about publishing and how to find support, such as editors and cover designers for his books
    • Tommy's use of 3 editors on his book RAMBLING ACROSS AMERICA
    • Maintaining passion, strength and integrity when the road is difficult
    • Tommy's temporary return to a day job where he currently is: St. Croix of the US Virgin Islands
    • The preference Tommy has for playing his own music rather than playing cover songs at the local bar
    • The way that being on stage as a musician is easier for Tommy than the prose he shares via the page
    • The new series of dark/horror fiction that Tommy has started writing, inspired by actual dreams and actual mental and emotional torment, starting with the book MIRROR OF PERCEPTION
    • How you should never take this life for granted and how you can leave your mark on this world in a positive and optimistic way

    After the interview, Mark talks about Tommy's creativity and his relentless optimism and passion for living a creative life. He finds it fitting that, at the same time he was producing this episode he was watching his friend Julie Strauss post updates about the catch-up she has been doing on her latest novel for NaNoWriMo.

    What Mark loves about the past week of writing sprints in which Julie is trying to catch up for some lost writing time during the month, that love is that, as frustrated and restless as she is, she hasn't once stopped digging into the work with all her heart and soul. And she is turning the angst into hilarious and cheeky updates so many other writers are cheering her on for while being entertained by her musings of the writer's struggle.

    Mark then plays a short sample of Tommy's song Zama, reflecting on the creative life and the places we have all called home, lived in and loved.

    Links of Interest:

    Tommy Ray chooses to become an author to create value and inspiration to the world. He desires all to leave their mark, do not take this life for granted, as well as never give up on your dreams. He has always been inspired by travel adventure tales of real-life journeys.

    He always had a voice inside of him telling him he desired to live his life through a creative voice. For many years, he ignored the voice to follow other endeavors, but the voice was always there and increasing in volume.

    Tommy loves to travel, write, compose, blog along with performing. He decided it was how he desired to spend his life. "Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations,"-Unknown.

    To add to his catalog, he recently created the "Amid the Blackness" series. Short stories which fall in the suspense category. Keep a look-out for upcoming music from Tommy Ray along with future books as "The Country Boy."

    ]]>     36:53 false 1 49 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Henry David Thoreau said: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you imagined." In this episode's interview, Mark speaks with musician and writer Tommy Ray about how he had done just that. They talk about Tommy's experience of how he took a dream (an actual dream) and transitioned it into reality by listening to his heart and trusting his instincts in recreating his life. Before the interview Mark shares a quick personal update that includes: Being interviewed by Joanna Penn for a forthcoming episode of The Creative Penn podcast, which will air on Dec 24, 2018 A shout-out to Patrons of the show who support this podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections - By saving up the monthly funds Mark was able to order a higher quality microphone for the podcast The printed proof copies of THE 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS that Mark sourced locally, but will be distributing to all retailers as a POD file through Draft2Digital's new beta D2DPRINT option The "Kobo Publishing: Getting Your Book Featured" Webinar Mark will be hosting via Reedsy Live on Wed Dec 5th Mark then shares a word about the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .In their chat, Mark and Tommy talk about: The origin of Tommy's dream mid year in 2015 that had him jumping into his pickup truck and traveling across America to play and share his music How Tommy was also inspired by books from authors Paulo Coehlo and Dan Millman as well as music from artists like Cat Stevens How long music has been a part of Tommy's life (including a memorable photo of Tommy as a young child standing next to a guitar) The concept of being "meant to live a creative life" Music Tommy wrote that was derived from the experience of following the creative dream The preplanning that involved reaching out to 100 venues Tommy had intended on playing in (but not having heard back from any of them) The two award nominations that Tommy rec'd prior to his trip (which altered his trip from a full year to 7 week one, where he drove through 15 trips and clocked 9,000 miles) Zama (population 36), the town where Tommy was born and where his father lived most of his life How Tommy's experience as a musician intertwines with his creative writing The extensive research that Tommy did to teach himself writing, and to learn about publishing and how to find support, such as editors and cover designers for his books Tommy's use of 3 editors on his book RAMBLING ACROSS AMERICA Maintaining passion, strength and integrity when the road is difficult Tommy's temporary return to a day job where he currently is: St. Croix of the US Virgin Islands The preference Tommy has for playing his own music rather than playing cover songs at the local bar The way that being on stage as a musician is easier for Tommy than the prose he shares via the page The new series of dark/horror fiction that Tommy has started writing, inspired by actual dreams and actual mental and emotional torment, starting with the book MIRROR OF PERCEPTION How you should never take this life for granted and how you can leave your mark on this world in a positive and optimistic way After the interview, Mark talks about Tommy's creativity and his relentless optimism and passion for living a creative life. He finds it fitting that, at the same time he was producing this episode he was watching his friend Julie Strauss post updates about the catch-up she has been doing on her latest novel for NaNoWriMo.  What Mark loves about the past week of writing sprints in which Julie is trying to catch up for some lost writing time during the month, that love is that, as frustrated and restless as she is, she hasn't once stopped digging into the work with all her heart and soul. And she is turning the angst into hilarious and cheeky updates so many other writers are cheering her on for while being entertained by her musings of the writer's struggle. Mark then plays a short sample of Tommy's song Zama, reflecting on the creative life and the places we have all called home, lived in and loved. Links of Interest: Tommy Ray Books Tommy Ray Music Tommy Ray Insights (Blog) Tommy Ray's Email: tommy@tommyraybooks.com Tommy Ray's YouTube Channel Findaway Voices The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo Patreon for Stark Reflections Julie Strauss's Website Episode 35 (Featuring Julie Strauss) Stark Reflections Survey   Tommy Ray chooses to become an author to create value and inspiration to the world. He desires all to leave their mark, do not take this life for granted, as well as never give up on your dreams. He has always been inspired by travel adventure tales of real-life journeys. He always had a voice inside of him telling him he desired to live his life through a creative voice. For many years, he ignored the voice to follow other endeavors, but the voice was always there and increasing in volume. Tommy loves to travel, write, compose, blog along with performing. He decided it was how he desired to spend his life. "Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations,"-Unknown. To add to his catalog, he recently created the "Amid the Blackness" series. Short stories which fall in the suspense category. Keep a look-out for upcoming music from Tommy Ray along with future books as "The Country Boy."Mark Leslie LefebvreHenry David Thoreau said: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you imagined." In this episode's interview, Mark speaks with musician and writer Tommy Ray about how he had done just that. They talk about Tommy's experience of how he took a dream (an actual dream) and transitioned it into reality by listening to his heart and trusting his instincts in recreating his life. Before the interview Mark shares a quick personal update that includes: Being interviewed by Joanna Penn for a forthcoming episode of The Creative Penn podcast, which will air on Dec 24, 2018 A shout-out to Patrons of the show who support this podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections - By saving up the monthly funds Mark was able to order a higher quality microphone for the podcast The printed proof copies of THE 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS that Mark sourced locally, but will be distributing to all retailers as a POD file through Draft2Digital's new beta D2DPRINT option The "Kobo Publishing: Getting Your Book Featured" Webinar Mark will be hosting via Reedsy Live on Wed Dec 5th Mark then shares a word about the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .In their chat, Mark and Tommy talk about: The origin of Tommy's dream mid year in 2015 that had him jumping into his pickup truck and traveling across America to play and share his music How Tommy was also inspired by books from authors Paulo Coehlo and Dan Millman as well as music from artists like Cat Stevens How long music has been a part of Tommy's life (including a memorable photo of Tommy as a young child standing next to a guitar) The concept of being "meant to live a creative life" Music Tommy wrote that was derived from the experience of following the creative dream The preplanning that involved reaching out to 100 venues Tommy had intended on playing in (but not having heard back from any of them) The two award nominations that Tommy rec'd prior to his trip (which altered his trip from a full year to 7 week one, where he drove through 15 trips and clocked 9,000 miles) Zama (population 36), the town where Tommy was born and where his father lived most of his life How Tommy's experience as a musician intertwines with his creative writing The extensive research that Tommy did to teach himself writing, and to learn about publishing and how to find support, such as editors and cover designers for his books Tommy's use of 3 editors on his book RAMBLING ACROSS AMERICA Maintaining passion, strength and integrity when the road is difficult Tommy's temporary return to a day job where he currently is: St. Croix of the US Virgin Islands The preference Tommy has for playing his own music rather than playing cover songs at the local bar The way that being on stage as a musician is easier for Tommy than the prose he shares via the page The new series of dark/horror fiction that Tommy has started writing, inspired by actual dreams and actual mental and emotional torment, starting with the book MIRROR OF PERCEPTION How you should never take this life for granted and how you can leave your mark on this world in a positive and optimistic way After the interview, Mark talks about Tommy's creativity and his relentless optimism and passion for living a creative life. He finds it fitting that, at the same time he was producing this episode he was watching his friend Julie Strauss post updates about the catch-up she has been doing on her latest novel for NaNoWriMo.  What Mark loves about the past week of writing sprints in which Julie is trying to catch up for some lost writing time during the month, that love is that, as frustrated and restless as she is, she hasn't once stopped digging into the work with all her heart and soul. And she is turning the angst into hilarious and cheeky updates so many other writers are cheering her on for while being entertained by her musings of the writer's struggle. Mark then plays a short sample of Tommy's song Zama, reflecting on the creative life and the places we have all called home, lived in and loved. Links of Interest: Tommy Ray Books Tommy Ray Music Tommy Ray Insights (Blog) Tommy Ray's Email: tommy@tommyraybooks.com Tommy Ray's YouTube Channel Findaway Voices The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo Patreon for Stark Reflections Julie Strauss's Website Episode 35 (Featuring Julie Strauss) Stark Reflections Survey   Tommy Ray chooses to become an author to create value and inspiration to the world. He desires all to leave their mark, do not take this life for granted, as well as never give up on your dreams. He has always been inspired by travel adventure tales of real-life journeys. He always had a voice inside of him telling him he desired to live his life through a creative voice. For many years, he ignored the voice to follow other endeavors, but the voice was always there and increasing in volume. Tommy loves to travel, write, compose, blog along with performing. He decided it was how he desired to spend his life. "Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations,"-Unknown. To add to his catalog, he recently created the "Amid the Blackness" series. Short stories which fall in the suspense category. Keep a look-out for upcoming music from Tommy Ray along with future books as "The Country Boy."     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 048 - Publishing Strong with Andrea Pearson Publishing Strong with Andrea Pearson Fri, 23 Nov 2018 02:48:22 +0000 In this episode, Mark chats with Andrea Pearson, an author, a marketing guru and a mother. We talk about how she balances all three roles, about the tools she uses, her latest fiction, how she manages to get so much writing done as well as some of her personal takeways from the recent WMG Business Master Class workshop she had attended.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update about the status of some of his recent November goals, which include the print version of his two recent non-fiction books about writing and publishing (The 7 P's of Publishing Success & Killing It On Kobo).

    Mark also shares a word about the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .

    During the interview Mark and Andrea discuss:

    • The genesis of the Self-Publish Strong podcast where Andrea and her husband Nolan discuss movies in a way that writers can learn from
    • The motivational marketing or publishing tips/quotes provided in each and every episode of the podcast
    • The balanced blend between comedy and instruction that the two balance in their episodes
    • Andrea's desire to help people and how that led to various tools and resources within her Self Publish Strong brand
    • The fiction Andrea writes, including a new urban fantasy book which is her latest release (The Shade Amulet)
    • How having children has helped Andrea become more structured and write more books
    • The software that Andrea uses for dictating her novels (and the high volume of works she can create in an hour of dictation)
    • Additional take-aways Andrea reflects upon from the recent WMG Publishing workshop
    • The work that Andrea's virtual assistant does for her vs the work she does herself
    • How hiring a virtual assistant paid for itself because of how it cleared up Andrea more time to publish more books
    • Marketing advice for authors who are just beginning

    After the interview, Mark reflects upon one of the things Andrea said regarding the needless stress authors often place on themselves when looking at their lack of sales, or, conversely, a great sales trend - particularly when that time could be better spent working on the next book.

    Links of Interest:

     

     

     

    USA Today bestselling author Andrea Pearson has been a leader in the indie author arena since early 2011, with 50+ books under her belt and over a hundred articles published on professional blogs and websites. She hosts the popular Self-Publish Strong podcast that focuses on both publishing and craft, and she offers multiple online courses that surround her favorite topic: marketing.

    Andrea was executive director for Indie Author Hub for a year and a half, and she is frequently invited to teach reader engagement through advanced newsletter marketing tactics and successful promotional campaigns at conferences and workshops. Andrea has been interviewed on the Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing podcast, the Rocking Self-Publishing podcast, and the Author Hangout. She has guest posted on JA Konrath's A Newbie's Guide to Publishing blog, and her tips have been mentioned several times on the Sell More Books Show.

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark chats with Andrea Pearson, an author, a marketing guru and a mother. We talk about how she balances all three roles, about the tools she uses, her latest fiction, how she manages to get so much writing done as well as some of her personal takeways from the recent WMG Business Master Class workshop she had attended.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update about the status of some of his recent November goals, which include the print version of his two recent non-fiction books about writing and publishing (The 7 P's of Publishing Success & Killing It On Kobo).

    Mark also shares a word about the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .

    During the interview Mark and Andrea discuss:

    • The genesis of the Self-Publish Strong podcast where Andrea and her husband Nolan discuss movies in a way that writers can learn from
    • The motivational marketing or publishing tips/quotes provided in each and every episode of the podcast
    • The balanced blend between comedy and instruction that the two balance in their episodes
    • Andrea's desire to help people and how that led to various tools and resources within her Self Publish Strong brand
    • The fiction Andrea writes, including a new urban fantasy book which is her latest release (The Shade Amulet)
    • How having children has helped Andrea become more structured and write more books
    • The software that Andrea uses for dictating her novels (and the high volume of works she can create in an hour of dictation)
    • Additional take-aways Andrea reflects upon from the recent WMG Publishing workshop
    • The work that Andrea's virtual assistant does for her vs the work she does herself
    • How hiring a virtual assistant paid for itself because of how it cleared up Andrea more time to publish more books
    • Marketing advice for authors who are just beginning

    After the interview, Mark reflects upon one of the things Andrea said regarding the needless stress authors often place on themselves when looking at their lack of sales, or, conversely, a great sales trend - particularly when that time could be better spent working on the next book.

    Links of Interest:

    USA Today bestselling author Andrea Pearson has been a leader in the indie author arena since early 2011, with 50+ books under her belt and over a hundred articles published on professional blogs and websites. She hosts the popular Self-Publish Strong podcast that focuses on both publishing and craft, and she offers multiple online courses that surround her favorite topic: marketing.

    Andrea was executive director for Indie Author Hub for a year and a half, and she is frequently invited to teach reader engagement through advanced newsletter marketing tactics and successful promotional campaigns at conferences and workshops. Andrea has been interviewed on the Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing podcast, the Rocking Self-Publishing podcast, and the Author Hangout. She has guest posted on JA Konrath's A Newbie's Guide to Publishing blog, and her tips have been mentioned several times on the Sell More Books Show.

    ]]>     34:43 false 1 48 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark chats with Andrea Pearson, an author, a marketing guru and a mother. We talk about how she balances all three roles, about the tools she uses, her latest fiction, how she manages to get so much writing done as well as some of her personal takeways from the recent WMG Business Master Class workshop she had attended. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update about the status of some of his recent November goals, which include the print version of his two recent non-fiction books about writing and publishing (The 7 P's of Publishing Success & Killing It On Kobo). Mark also shares a word about the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . . During the interview Mark and Andrea discuss: The genesis of the Self-Publish Strong podcast where Andrea and her husband Nolan discuss movies in a way that writers can learn from The motivational marketing or publishing tips/quotes provided in each and every episode of the podcast The balanced blend between comedy and instruction that the two balance in their episodes Andrea's desire to help people and how that led to various tools and resources within her Self Publish Strong brand The fiction Andrea writes, including a new urban fantasy book which is her latest release (The Shade Amulet) How having children has helped Andrea become more structured and write more books The software that Andrea uses for dictating her novels (and the high volume of works she can create in an hour of dictation) Additional take-aways Andrea reflects upon from the recent WMG Publishing workshop The work that Andrea's virtual assistant does for her vs the work she does herself How hiring a virtual assistant paid for itself because of how it cleared up Andrea more time to publish more books Marketing advice for authors who are just beginning After the interview, Mark reflects upon one of the things Andrea said regarding the needless stress authors often place on themselves when looking at their lack of sales, or, conversely, a great sales trend - particularly when that time could be better spent working on the next book. Links of Interest:   Andrea's Author Website Andrea's Books Andrea's Self Publishing Strong Website Episode 38 of the Self Publishing Strong Website (Takeaways from the Vegas WMG Business Master Class) Findaway Voices The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey     USA Today bestselling author Andrea Pearson has been a leader in the indie author arena since early 2011, with 50+ books under her belt and over a hundred articles published on professional blogs and websites. She hosts the popular Self-Publish Strong podcast that focuses on both publishing and craft, and she offers multiple online courses that surround her favorite topic: marketing. Andrea was executive director for Indie Author Hub for a year and a half, and she is frequently invited to teach reader engagement through advanced newsletter marketing tactics and successful promotional campaigns at conferences and workshops. Andrea has been interviewed on the Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing podcast, the Rocking Self-Publishing podcast, and the Author Hangout. She has guest posted on JA Konrath's A Newbie's Guide to Publishing blog, and her tips have been mentioned several times on the Sell More Books Show.Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark chats with Andrea Pearson, an author, a marketing guru and a mother. We talk about how she balances all three roles, about the tools she uses, her latest fiction, how she manages to get so much writing done as well as some of her personal takeways from the recent WMG Business Master Class workshop she had attended. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update about the status of some of his recent November goals, which include the print version of his two recent non-fiction books about writing and publishing (The 7 P's of Publishing Success & Killing It On Kobo). Mark also shares a word about the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . . During the interview Mark and Andrea discuss: The genesis of the Self-Publish Strong podcast where Andrea and her husband Nolan discuss movies in a way that writers can learn from The motivational marketing or publishing tips/quotes provided in each and every episode of the podcast The balanced blend between comedy and instruction that the two balance in their episodes Andrea's desire to help people and how that led to various tools and resources within her Self Publish Strong brand The fiction Andrea writes, including a new urban fantasy book which is her latest release (The Shade Amulet) How having children has helped Andrea become more structured and write more books The software that Andrea uses for dictating her novels (and the high volume of works she can create in an hour of dictation) Additional take-aways Andrea reflects upon from the recent WMG Publishing workshop The work that Andrea's virtual assistant does for her vs the work she does herself How hiring a virtual assistant paid for itself because of how it cleared up Andrea more time to publish more books Marketing advice for authors who are just beginning After the interview, Mark reflects upon one of the things Andrea said regarding the needless stress authors often place on themselves when looking at their lack of sales, or, conversely, a great sales trend - particularly when that time could be better spent working on the next book. Links of Interest:   Andrea's Author Website Andrea's Books Andrea's Self Publishing Strong Website Episode 38 of the Self Publishing Strong Website (Takeaways from the Vegas WMG Business Master Class) Findaway Voices The 7 P's of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey     USA Today bestselling author Andrea Pearson has been a leader in the indie author arena since early 2011, with 50+ books under her belt and over a hundred articles published on professional blogs and websites. She hosts the popular Self-Publish Strong podcast that focuses on both publishing and craft, and she offers multiple online courses that surround her favorite topic: marketing. Andrea was executive director for Indie Author Hub for a year and a half, and she is frequently invited to teach reader engagement through advanced newsletter marketing tactics and successful promotional campaigns at conferences and workshops. Andrea has been interviewed on the Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing podcast, the Rocking Self-Publishing podcast, and the Author Hangout. She has guest posted on JA Konrath's A Newbie's Guide to Publishing blog, and her tips have been mentioned several times on the Sell More Books Show.     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 047 - In The Pilots Seat with James Blatch In The Pilot's Seat with James Blatch Thu, 15 Nov 2018 21:27:09 +0000 If you are familiar with the Self Publishing Formula Podcast, you'll likely recognize James Blatch as Mark Dawson's right-hand man; his co-host, or, perhaps, his co-pilot for the podcast.

    But in this episode Mark puts James in the pilots seat with a focus on Blatch's own writing, his background as a reporter, a videographer and, of course, as a pilot.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .In his personal update, Mark reflects upon the recent death of Stan Lee and talks about the impact Lee's writing had on him, and, in particular, the influence that the character Peter Parker (Spider-Man's alter-ego) had.

    In the interview, Mark and James talk about:

    • The type of specific videos or books that lend themselves best to YouTube videos VS Facebook videos
    • How videos for most authors, specifically fiction authors, is a medium that can be used to connect and engage with a community of readers
    • The intimacy of radio and digital audio format
    • A bit about James' experience at the BBC and how the skills, particularly of his final few years there lent to this new role as a co-host of the Self Publishing Formula Podcast
    • James' first writing experiences as a young man and his more recent NaNoWriMo experience where his current novel came to him in a single flash of inspiration
    • The evolution of this novel with various feedback from readers and editors
    • The turning point moment for James of meeting and working with editor Jennie Nash
      Jennie's prompting question: "Why do you need to tell this story" and all that question sparked in James
    • Other questions that Jennie asked or prompts given that helped with the re-imagining of the way the story was unrolled
    • The origin of his love for aviation
    • How James is an even split between the exuberant mother and his reserved and "stiff-upper-lip" father
    • James' recent experience in Florda flying with Nathan van Coops (from episode 38)
    • The advice that James would go back and give to himself when he was just starting

    After the interview, Mark reflects upon the latest "catastrophy" in the indie publishing space, the recent disappearance of the buy buttons on Amazon for thousands of titles.

    He offers a reflection on the likely reason for this odd phenomenon and then suggests that much time is wasted worrying over the matter instead of working on the next book. He also considers, if it truly is the negative thing authors think it might be, it's yet another reason why authors shouldn't be putting all their eggs in a single basket.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    James Blatch is co-host of the Self Publishing Formula podcast. He is a former BBC Television News reporter and is currently writing his first novel, a military thriller set in 1960s Britain.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     If you are familiar with the Self Publishing Formula Podcast, you'll likely recognize James Blatch as Mark Dawson's right-hand man; his co-host, or, perhaps, his co-pilot for the podcast.

    But in this episode Mark puts James in the pilots seat with a focus on Blatch's own writing, his background as a reporter, a videographer and, of course, as a pilot.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .In his personal update, Mark reflects upon the recent death of Stan Lee and talks about the impact Lee's writing had on him, and, in particular, the influence that the character Peter Parker (Spider-Man's alter-ego) had.

    In the interview, Mark and James talk about:

    • The type of specific videos or books that lend themselves best to YouTube videos VS Facebook videos
    • How videos for most authors, specifically fiction authors, is a medium that can be used to connect and engage with a community of readers
    • The intimacy of radio and digital audio format
    • A bit about James' experience at the BBC and how the skills, particularly of his final few years there lent to this new role as a co-host of the Self Publishing Formula Podcast
    • James' first writing experiences as a young man and his more recent NaNoWriMo experience where his current novel came to him in a single flash of inspiration
    • The evolution of this novel with various feedback from readers and editors
    • The turning point moment for James of meeting and working with editor Jennie Nash Jennie's prompting question: "Why do you need to tell this story" and all that question sparked in James
    • Other questions that Jennie asked or prompts given that helped with the re-imagining of the way the story was unrolled
    • The origin of his love for aviation
    • How James is an even split between the exuberant mother and his reserved and "stiff-upper-lip" father
    • James' recent experience in Florda flying with Nathan van Coops (from episode 38)
    • The advice that James would go back and give to himself when he was just starting

    After the interview, Mark reflects upon the latest "catastrophy" in the indie publishing space, the recent disappearance of the buy buttons on Amazon for thousands of titles.

    He offers a reflection on the likely reason for this odd phenomenon and then suggests that much time is wasted worrying over the matter instead of working on the next book. He also considers, if it truly is the negative thing authors think it might be, it's yet another reason why authors shouldn't be putting all their eggs in a single basket.

    Links of Interest:

    James Blatch is co-host of the Self Publishing Formula podcast. He is a former BBC Television News reporter and is currently writing his first novel, a military thriller set in 1960s Britain.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     54:00 false 1 47 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)If you are familiar with the Self Publishing Formula Podcast, you'll likely recognize James Blatch as Mark Dawson's right-hand man; his co-host, or, perhaps, his co-pilot for the podcast. But in this episode Mark puts James in the pilots seat with a focus on Blatch's own writing, his background as a reporter, a videographer and, of course, as a pilot. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .In his personal update, Mark reflects upon the recent death of Stan Lee and talks about the impact Lee's writing had on him, and, in particular, the influence that the character Peter Parker (Spider-Man's alter-ego) had. In the interview, Mark and James talk about: The type of specific videos or books that lend themselves best to YouTube videos VS Facebook videos How videos for most authors, specifically fiction authors, is a medium that can be used to connect and engage with a community of readers The intimacy of radio and digital audio format A bit about James' experience at the BBC and how the skills, particularly of his final few years there lent to this new role as a co-host of the Self Publishing Formula Podcast James' first writing experiences as a young man and his more recent NaNoWriMo experience where his current novel came to him in a single flash of inspiration The evolution of this novel with various feedback from readers and editors The turning point moment for James of meeting and working with editor Jennie Nash Jennie's prompting question: "Why do you need to tell this story" and all that question sparked in James Other questions that Jennie asked or prompts given that helped with the re-imagining of the way the story was unrolled The origin of his love for aviation How James is an even split between the exuberant mother and his reserved and "stiff-upper-lip" father James' recent experience in Florda flying with Nathan van Coops (from episode 38) The advice that James would go back and give to himself when he was just starting After the interview, Mark reflects upon the latest "catastrophy" in the indie publishing space, the recent disappearance of the buy buttons on Amazon for thousands of titles. He offers a reflection on the likely reason for this odd phenomenon and then suggests that much time is wasted worrying over the matter instead of working on the next book. He also considers, if it truly is the negative thing authors think it might be, it's yet another reason why authors shouldn't be putting all their eggs in a single basket.   Links of Interest: James Blatch's Website The Last Flight James Blatch on Twitter The Self Publishing Formula Podcast Episode 133 - The Author Accelerator with Jennie Nash Findaway Voices Stan Lee Spider-Man A Canadian Werewolf in New York Kobo NaNoWriMo Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   James Blatch is co-host of the Self Publishing Formula podcast. He is a former BBC Television News reporter and is currently writing his first novel, a military thriller set in 1960s Britain.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIf you are familiar with the Self Publishing Formula Podcast, you'll likely recognize James Blatch as Mark Dawson's right-hand man; his co-host, or, perhaps, his co-pilot for the podcast. But in this episode Mark puts James in the pilots seat with a focus on Blatch's own writing, his background as a reporter, a videographer and, of course, as a pilot. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .In his personal update, Mark reflects upon the recent death of Stan Lee and talks about the impact Lee's writing had on him, and, in particular, the influence that the character Peter Parker (Spider-Man's alter-ego) had. In the interview, Mark and James talk about: The type of specific videos or books that lend themselves best to YouTube videos VS Facebook videos How videos for most authors, specifically fiction authors, is a medium that can be used to connect and engage with a community of readers The intimacy of radio and digital audio format A bit about James' experience at the BBC and how the skills, particularly of his final few years there lent to this new role as a co-host of the Self Publishing Formula Podcast James' first writing experiences as a young man and his more recent NaNoWriMo experience where his current novel came to him in a single flash of inspiration The evolution of this novel with various feedback from readers and editors The turning point moment for James of meeting and working with editor Jennie Nash Jennie's prompting question: "Why do you need to tell this story" and all that question sparked in James Other questions that Jennie asked or prompts given that helped with the re-imagining of the way the story was unrolled The origin of his love for aviation How James is an even split between the exuberant mother and his reserved and "stiff-upper-lip" father James' recent experience in Florda flying with Nathan van Coops (from episode 38) The advice that James would go back and give to himself when he was just starting After the interview, Mark reflects upon the latest "catastrophy" in the indie publishing space, the recent disappearance of the buy buttons on Amazon for thousands of titles. He offers a reflection on the likely reason for this odd phenomenon and then suggests that much time is wasted worrying over the matter instead of working on the next book. He also considers, if it truly is the negative thing authors think it might be, it's yet another reason why authors shouldn't be putting all their eggs in a single basket.   Links of Interest: James Blatch's Website The Last Flight James Blatch on Twitter The Self Publishing Formula Podcast Episode 133 - The Author Accelerator with Jennie Nash Findaway Voices Stan Lee Spider-Man A Canadian Werewolf in New York Kobo NaNoWriMo Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   James Blatch is co-host of the Self Publishing Formula podcast. He is a former BBC Television News reporter and is currently writing his first novel, a military thriller set in 1960s Britain.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 046 - 52 Stories in 52 Weeks With Phillip McCollum 52 Stories in 52 Weeks With Phillip McCollum Fri, 09 Nov 2018 04:51:30 +0000 In this episode Mark interviews Phillip McCollum about an intriguing project of writing 52 stories in 52 weeks.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .

    . . . and then a personal update which includes a push-up challenge he participated in at the 20Booksto50K conference in Vegas.

    Michael Anderle instigated this challenge for a good cause, with the following companies each donating $150 to the cause

    $750 USD was raised for two worthy charities in a push-up challenge between Mark and Christine Munroe from Kobo. Chrissy's chosen charity was Children's Book Bank and Mark's chosen charity was First Book Canada.

    Mark thanks the companies previously mentioned for their generosity to two great children's reading programs and then also thanks new Stark Reflections Patron, Katie Cross, for supporting the podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

    In the interview Phillip and Mark talk about:

    • The genres that Phillip tends to write in most often
    • How long Phillip has been writing
    • Thoughts about NaNoWriMo and other similar "competitions" to help inspired writers to write
    • Phillip's inspiration for the 52 stories in 52 weeks, which was derived from Ray Bradbury
    • The discipline involved in undertaking such an endeavor on starting each week on Monday morning and posting the story by Sunday night
    • The typical word count of the stories that Phillip wrote during this process
    • The importance of being adaptable and recognizing that you might not always reach every single goal you set
    • Plans that Phillip has for the stories which included 3 ebooks: 1 for writers (52 Stories in 52 Weeks) and 2 for readers (splitting them into two volumes of 26 stories: Fantastic Shorts Vol 1 and Vol 2)
    • Feedback that Phillip has received on the notes added to the stories
    • Forthcoming challenges that Phillip has in mind to keep challenging himself as a writer
    • Things that Phillip learned about himself as a writer by taking this challenge

    After the interview, Mark talks about the importance of challenges that impose deadlines and require a writer to actually get their butt in the chair and their hands on the keyboard. He also reminds writers of the importance of the "fail to success" theory from Dean Wesley Smith that Phillip mentions. If you try to hit a certain word count, for example, and don't make it, instead of fretting about the missed words, focus on the words that have actually been written, or the parts of the goal that were actually accomplished.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    Phillip McCollum spent 52 weeks writing 52 short stories in an effort to prove to himself that he might be cut out for this writing thing after all. He hails from Southern California where he shares living quarters with his wife, son, an old cat, and young betta fish.

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark interviews Phillip McCollum about an intriguing project of writing 52 stories in 52 weeks.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .

    . . . and then a personal update which includes a push-up challenge he participated in at the 20Booksto50K conference in Vegas.

    Michael Anderle instigated this challenge for a good cause, with the following companies each donating $150 to the cause

    $750 USD was raised for two worthy charities in a push-up challenge between Mark and Christine Munroe from Kobo. Chrissy's chosen charity was Children's Book Bank and Mark's chosen charity was First Book Canada.

    Mark thanks the companies previously mentioned for their generosity to two great children's reading programs and then also thanks new Stark Reflections Patron, Katie Cross, for supporting the podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

    In the interview Phillip and Mark talk about:

    • The genres that Phillip tends to write in most often
    • How long Phillip has been writing
    • Thoughts about NaNoWriMo and other similar "competitions" to help inspired writers to write
    • Phillip's inspiration for the 52 stories in 52 weeks, which was derived from Ray Bradbury
    • The discipline involved in undertaking such an endeavor on starting each week on Monday morning and posting the story by Sunday night
    • The typical word count of the stories that Phillip wrote during this process
    • The importance of being adaptable and recognizing that you might not always reach every single goal you set
    • Plans that Phillip has for the stories which included 3 ebooks: 1 for writers (52 Stories in 52 Weeks) and 2 for readers (splitting them into two volumes of 26 stories: Fantastic Shorts Vol 1 and Vol 2)
    • Feedback that Phillip has received on the notes added to the stories
    • Forthcoming challenges that Phillip has in mind to keep challenging himself as a writer
    • Things that Phillip learned about himself as a writer by taking this challenge

    After the interview, Mark talks about the importance of challenges that impose deadlines and require a writer to actually get their butt in the chair and their hands on the keyboard. He also reminds writers of the importance of the "fail to success" theory from Dean Wesley Smith that Phillip mentions. If you try to hit a certain word count, for example, and don't make it, instead of fretting about the missed words, focus on the words that have actually been written, or the parts of the goal that were actually accomplished.

    Links of Interest:

    Phillip McCollum spent 52 weeks writing 52 short stories in an effort to prove to himself that he might be cut out for this writing thing after all. He hails from Southern California where he shares living quarters with his wife, son, an old cat, and young betta fish.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     40:46 false 1 46 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark interviews Phillip McCollum about an intriguing project of writing 52 stories in 52 weeks. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . . . . . and then a personal update which includes a push-up challenge he participated in at the 20Booksto50K conference in Vegas. Michael Anderle instigated this challenge for a good cause, with the following companies each donating $150 to the cause LMBPN Publishing Kobo Draft2Digital BookFunnel Reedsy $750 USD was raised for two worthy charities in a push-up challenge between Mark and Christine Munroe from Kobo. Chrissy's chosen charity was Children's Book Bank and Mark's chosen charity was First Book Canada. Mark thanks the companies previously mentioned for their generosity to two great children's reading programs and then also thanks new Stark Reflections Patron, Katie Cross, for supporting the podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections. In the interview Phillip and Mark talk about: The genres that Phillip tends to write in most often How long Phillip has been writing Thoughts about NaNoWriMo and other similar "competitions" to help inspired writers to write Phillip's inspiration for the 52 stories in 52 weeks, which was derived from Ray Bradbury The discipline involved in undertaking such an endeavor on starting each week on Monday morning and posting the story by Sunday night The typical word count of the stories that Phillip wrote during this process The importance of being adaptable and recognizing that you might not always reach every single goal you set Plans that Phillip has for the stories which included 3 ebooks: 1 for writers (52 Stories in 52 Weeks) and 2 for readers (splitting them into two volumes of 26 stories: Fantastic Shorts Vol 1 and Vol 2) Feedback that Phillip has received on the notes added to the stories Forthcoming challenges that Phillip has in mind to keep challenging himself as a writer Things that Phillip learned about himself as a writer by taking this challenge After the interview, Mark talks about the importance of challenges that impose deadlines and require a writer to actually get their butt in the chair and their hands on the keyboard. He also reminds writers of the importance of the "fail to success" theory from Dean Wesley Smith that Phillip mentions. If you try to hit a certain word count, for example, and don't make it, instead of fretting about the missed words, focus on the words that have actually been written, or the parts of the goal that were actually accomplished.   Links of Interest: Phillip McCollum's website Phillip McCollum on Twitter Findaway Voices Draft2Digital Kobo Bookfunnel Reedsy NaNoWriMo Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Phillip McCollum spent 52 weeks writing 52 short stories in an effort to prove to himself that he might be cut out for this writing thing after all. He hails from Southern California where he shares living quarters with his wife, son, an old cat, and young betta fish.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode Mark interviews Phillip McCollum about an intriguing project of writing 52 stories in 52 weeks. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . . . . . and then a personal update which includes a push-up challenge he participated in at the 20Booksto50K conference in Vegas. Michael Anderle instigated this challenge for a good cause, with the following companies each donating $150 to the cause LMBPN Publishing Kobo Draft2Digital BookFunnel Reedsy $750 USD was raised for two worthy charities in a push-up challenge between Mark and Christine Munroe from Kobo. Chrissy's chosen charity was Children's Book Bank and Mark's chosen charity was First Book Canada. Mark thanks the companies previously mentioned for their generosity to two great children's reading programs and then also thanks new Stark Reflections Patron, Katie Cross, for supporting the podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections. In the interview Phillip and Mark talk about: The genres that Phillip tends to write in most often How long Phillip has been writing Thoughts about NaNoWriMo and other similar "competitions" to help inspired writers to write Phillip's inspiration for the 52 stories in 52 weeks, which was derived from Ray Bradbury The discipline involved in undertaking such an endeavor on starting each week on Monday morning and posting the story by Sunday night The typical word count of the stories that Phillip wrote during this process The importance of being adaptable and recognizing that you might not always reach every single goal you set Plans that Phillip has for the stories which included 3 ebooks: 1 for writers (52 Stories in 52 Weeks) and 2 for readers (splitting them into two volumes of 26 stories: Fantastic Shorts Vol 1 and Vol 2) Feedback that Phillip has received on the notes added to the stories Forthcoming challenges that Phillip has in mind to keep challenging himself as a writer Things that Phillip learned about himself as a writer by taking this challenge After the interview, Mark talks about the importance of challenges that impose deadlines and require a writer to actually get their butt in the chair and their hands on the keyboard. He also reminds writers of the importance of the "fail to success" theory from Dean Wesley Smith that Phillip mentions. If you try to hit a certain word count, for example, and don't make it, instead of fretting about the missed words, focus on the words that have actually been written, or the parts of the goal that were actually accomplished.   Links of Interest: Phillip McCollum's website Phillip McCollum on Twitter Findaway Voices Draft2Digital Kobo Bookfunnel Reedsy NaNoWriMo Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   Phillip McCollum spent 52 weeks writing 52 short stories in an effort to prove to himself that he might be cut out for this writing thing after all. He hails from Southern California where he shares living quarters with his wife, son, an old cat, and young betta fish.   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 045 - Co-Authoring with C.K. Wiles Co-Authoring with the authors behind C.K. Wiles Fri, 02 Nov 2018 01:55:22 +0000 Mark interviews authors Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson about the steamy romantic comedy novels they have been co-authoring under the name C.K. Wiles.

    Before the interview, Mark shares a personal update explaining why he isn't participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this year, even though he loves it. He talks about how he will be using the month of November to get caught up on previous unpublished NaNoWriMo novels - in an effort he is calling NaNoComMo (National Novel Compleition Month) as well as a few other outstanding book projects he has in the works, including print and audiobook versions of two of his recent books on writing & publishing, The 7 P's of Publishing Success and Killing It On Kobo.

    He then thanks new Patron of the show, Mary Jo Rabe as well as the other existing patrons via www.patreon.com/starkreflections for their support, then gets side-tracked into remembering television shows like Romper Room and The Polka Dot Door.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .During the interview, Kerrie, Chuck and Mark talk about:

    • How Kerrie and Chuck first met, about ten years ago, via a developmental editing project
    • The support Chuck has offered in helping hold Kerrie accountable for various writing projects over the years
    • The strategic decisions behind the collaborative C.K. Wiles project
    • The origin of the psuedonym
    • The process of how they brainstorm, map out, outline, and write each of the novels
    • How Chuck uses AutoCrit's web-based editing software (which provides automated recommendations for improving your manuscript in over 20 areas – categories like poor dialogue, use of adverbs, and relying on cliches)
    • The cast and universe of characters that they have created and draw upon for each novel in this series
    • The interesting and unplanned story arc that is beginning to reveal itself as they were working on the third book
    • The logistics of how they published the C.K. Wiles books to the various retail platforms
    • The co-author contract/agreement that Kerrie and Chuck created regarding this author name and series
    • The importance of trusting one another and "having no ego" on a collaborative work - looking at the work as "ours" as it is being worked on and re-written
    • The different elements that Kerrie and Chuck each bring to the narrative that make it better
    • Plans they have for promotions and attention for this series

    After the interview, Mark reflects on one of the elements that Kerrie and Chuck mentioned, which is playing off one another's strengths. He considers teamwork and the importance of recognizing strengths and weaknesses when working with others.

    Links of Interest:

     

    Kerrie Flanagan is a freelance writer with over 20 years' experience and is the author of Guide to Magazine Article Writing. As a writing consultant, she works with writers, giving them the encouragement, support, resources and tools to find success on their writing journey. She is the author of 8 books under her label, Hot Chocolate Press.

    Chuck Harrelson resides in Denver Colorado and is an active member of both the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and the Northern Colorado Writers Group. His past manuscripts won the 2014 Top of The Mountain Book Award competition, the Ballot Press Competition and one was a finalist at the 2016 San Diego Writers Conference. 

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark interviews authors Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson about the steamy romantic comedy novels they have been co-authoring under the name C.K. Wiles.

    Before the interview, Mark shares a personal update explaining why he isn't participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this year, even though he loves it. He talks about how he will be using the month of November to get caught up on previous unpublished NaNoWriMo novels - in an effort he is calling NaNoComMo (National Novel Compleition Month) as well as a few other outstanding book projects he has in the works, including print and audiobook versions of two of his recent books on writing & publishing, The 7 P's of Publishing Success and Killing It On Kobo.

    He then thanks new Patron of the show, Mary Jo Rabe as well as the other existing patrons via www.patreon.com/starkreflections for their support, then gets side-tracked into remembering television shows like Romper Room and The Polka Dot Door.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .During the interview, Kerrie, Chuck and Mark talk about:

    • How Kerrie and Chuck first met, about ten years ago, via a developmental editing project
    • The support Chuck has offered in helping hold Kerrie accountable for various writing projects over the years
    • The strategic decisions behind the collaborative C.K. Wiles project
    • The origin of the psuedonym
    • The process of how they brainstorm, map out, outline, and write each of the novels
    • How Chuck uses AutoCrit's web-based editing software (which provides automated recommendations for improving your manuscript in over 20 areas – categories like poor dialogue, use of adverbs, and relying on cliches)
    • The cast and universe of characters that they have created and draw upon for each novel in this series
    • The interesting and unplanned story arc that is beginning to reveal itself as they were working on the third book
    • The logistics of how they published the C.K. Wiles books to the various retail platforms
    • The co-author contract/agreement that Kerrie and Chuck created regarding this author name and series
    • The importance of trusting one another and "having no ego" on a collaborative work - looking at the work as "ours" as it is being worked on and re-written
    • The different elements that Kerrie and Chuck each bring to the narrative that make it better
    • Plans they have for promotions and attention for this series

    After the interview, Mark reflects on one of the elements that Kerrie and Chuck mentioned, which is playing off one another's strengths. He considers teamwork and the importance of recognizing strengths and weaknesses when working with others.

    Links of Interest:

    Kerrie Flanagan is a freelance writer with over 20 years' experience and is the author of Guide to Magazine Article Writing. As a writing consultant, she works with writers, giving them the encouragement, support, resources and tools to find success on their writing journey. She is the author of 8 books under her label, Hot Chocolate Press.

    Chuck Harrelson resides in Denver Colorado and is an active member of both the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and the Northern Colorado Writers Group. His past manuscripts won the 2014 Top of The Mountain Book Award competition, the Ballot Press Competition and one was a finalist at the 2016 San Diego Writers Conference.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     46:48 false 1 45 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews authors Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson about the steamy romantic comedy novels they have been co-authoring under the name C.K. Wiles. Before the interview, Mark shares a personal update explaining why he isn't participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this year, even though he loves it. He talks about how he will be using the month of November to get caught up on previous unpublished NaNoWriMo novels - in an effort he is calling NaNoComMo (National Novel Compleition Month) as well as a few other outstanding book projects he has in the works, including print and audiobook versions of two of his recent books on writing & publishing, The 7 P's of Publishing Success and Killing It On Kobo. He then thanks new Patron of the show, Mary Jo Rabe as well as the other existing patrons via www.patreon.com/starkreflections for their support, then gets side-tracked into remembering television shows like Romper Room and The Polka Dot Door. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .During the interview, Kerrie, Chuck and Mark talk about: How Kerrie and Chuck first met, about ten years ago, via a developmental editing project The support Chuck has offered in helping hold Kerrie accountable for various writing projects over the years The strategic decisions behind the collaborative C.K. Wiles project The origin of the psuedonym The process of how they brainstorm, map out, outline, and write each of the novels How Chuck uses AutoCrit's web-based editing software (which provides automated recommendations for improving your manuscript in over 20 areas – categories like poor dialogue, use of adverbs, and relying on cliches) The cast and universe of characters that they have created and draw upon for each novel in this series The interesting and unplanned story arc that is beginning to reveal itself as they were working on the third book The logistics of how they published the C.K. Wiles books to the various retail platforms The co-author contract/agreement that Kerrie and Chuck created regarding this author name and series The importance of trusting one another and "having no ego" on a collaborative work - looking at the work as "ours" as it is being worked on and re-written The different elements that Kerrie and Chuck each bring to the narrative that make it better Plans they have for promotions and attention for this series After the interview, Mark reflects on one of the elements that Kerrie and Chuck mentioned, which is playing off one another's strengths. He considers teamwork and the importance of recognizing strengths and weaknesses when working with others. Links of Interest: C.K. Wiles Website C.K. Wiles Books Sign up to get Book One for FREE Kerrie Flanagan Episode 31 - Interview with Kerrie about Writing Magazine Articles Northern Colorado Writers Group Findaway Voices NaNoWriMo Romper Room The Polka Dot Door Polkaroo AutoCrit Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P'S Of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo   Kerrie Flanagan is a freelance writer with over 20 years' experience and is the author of Guide to Magazine Article Writing. As a writing consultant, she works with writers, giving them the encouragement, support, resources and tools to find success on their writing journey. She is the author of 8 books under her label, Hot Chocolate Press. Chuck Harrelson resides in Denver Colorado and is an active member of both the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and the Northern Colorado Writers Group. His past manuscripts won the 2014 Top of The Mountain Book Award competition, the Ballot Press Competition and one was a finalist at the 2016 San Diego Writers Conference.    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreMark interviews authors Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson about the steamy romantic comedy novels they have been co-authoring under the name C.K. Wiles. Before the interview, Mark shares a personal update explaining why he isn't participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this year, even though he loves it. He talks about how he will be using the month of November to get caught up on previous unpublished NaNoWriMo novels - in an effort he is calling NaNoComMo (National Novel Compleition Month) as well as a few other outstanding book projects he has in the works, including print and audiobook versions of two of his recent books on writing & publishing, The 7 P's of Publishing Success and Killing It On Kobo. He then thanks new Patron of the show, Mary Jo Rabe as well as the other existing patrons via www.patreon.com/starkreflections for their support, then gets side-tracked into remembering television shows like Romper Room and The Polka Dot Door. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .During the interview, Kerrie, Chuck and Mark talk about: How Kerrie and Chuck first met, about ten years ago, via a developmental editing project The support Chuck has offered in helping hold Kerrie accountable for various writing projects over the years The strategic decisions behind the collaborative C.K. Wiles project The origin of the psuedonym The process of how they brainstorm, map out, outline, and write each of the novels How Chuck uses AutoCrit's web-based editing software (which provides automated recommendations for improving your manuscript in over 20 areas – categories like poor dialogue, use of adverbs, and relying on cliches) The cast and universe of characters that they have created and draw upon for each novel in this series The interesting and unplanned story arc that is beginning to reveal itself as they were working on the third book The logistics of how they published the C.K. Wiles books to the various retail platforms The co-author contract/agreement that Kerrie and Chuck created regarding this author name and series The importance of trusting one another and "having no ego" on a collaborative work - looking at the work as "ours" as it is being worked on and re-written The different elements that Kerrie and Chuck each bring to the narrative that make it better Plans they have for promotions and attention for this series After the interview, Mark reflects on one of the elements that Kerrie and Chuck mentioned, which is playing off one another's strengths. He considers teamwork and the importance of recognizing strengths and weaknesses when working with others. Links of Interest: C.K. Wiles Website C.K. Wiles Books Sign up to get Book One for FREE Kerrie Flanagan Episode 31 - Interview with Kerrie about Writing Magazine Articles Northern Colorado Writers Group Findaway Voices NaNoWriMo Romper Room The Polka Dot Door Polkaroo AutoCrit Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P'S Of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo   Kerrie Flanagan is a freelance writer with over 20 years' experience and is the author of Guide to Magazine Article Writing. As a writing consultant, she works with writers, giving them the encouragement, support, resources and tools to find success on their writing journey. She is the author of 8 books under her label, Hot Chocolate Press. Chuck Harrelson resides in Denver Colorado and is an active member of both the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and the Northern Colorado Writers Group. His past manuscripts won the 2014 Top of The Mountain Book Award competition, the Ballot Press Competition and one was a finalist at the 2016 San Diego Writers Conference.    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 044 - How To Deal With A Firehose of Information How To Deal With A Firehose of Information Fri, 26 Oct 2018 00:22:24 +0000 Having just spent six days at the WMG Business Master Class workshop in Las Vegas, Mark reflects on the overwhelming and head-spinning influx of information, insight, wisdom, ideas, inspiriation, and perspective that he had just taken in.

    In this episode, he walks through some of the ideas on how authors can process such a deluge of information and adapt the curated learnings and ideas into things that are likely to best work for them.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .

    Some of the elements that Mark talks about are:

    • A few key things to remember before setting out to try to implement the ideas gathered
    • The importance of first stepping back to take a breath and get perspective
    • A list of questions to ask yourself when looking at all of the ideas that you have jotted down or taken in
    • The importance not just of deciding on something, but deciding to act on that something
    • The concept of EAT, FEED, DRAIN
    • The FOUR-D way to update a to-do list
    • The importance of taking responsibility for your own career

     

    Mark then thanks new Patron to the show, Matty Dalrymple, and sends a thanks to all patrons for their ongoing support of the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Having just spent six days at the WMG Business Master Class workshop in Las Vegas, Mark reflects on the overwhelming and head-spinning influx of information, insight, wisdom, ideas, inspiriation, and perspective that he had just taken in.

    In this episode, he walks through some of the ideas on how authors can process such a deluge of information and adapt the curated learnings and ideas into things that are likely to best work for them.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .

    Some of the elements that Mark talks about are:

    • A few key things to remember before setting out to try to implement the ideas gathered
    • The importance of first stepping back to take a breath and get perspective
    • A list of questions to ask yourself when looking at all of the ideas that you have jotted down or taken in
    • The importance not just of deciding on something, but deciding to act on that something
    • The concept of EAT, FEED, DRAIN
    • The FOUR-D way to update a to-do list
    • The importance of taking responsibility for your own career

    Mark then thanks new Patron to the show, Matty Dalrymple, and sends a thanks to all patrons for their ongoing support of the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     19:32 false 1 44 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Having just spent six days at the WMG Business Master Class workshop in Las Vegas, Mark reflects on the overwhelming and head-spinning influx of information, insight, wisdom, ideas, inspiriation, and perspective that he had just taken in. In this episode, he walks through some of the ideas on how authors can process such a deluge of information and adapt the curated learnings and ideas into things that are likely to best work for them. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . . Some of the elements that Mark talks about are: A few key things to remember before setting out to try to implement the ideas gathered The importance of first stepping back to take a breath and get perspective A list of questions to ask yourself when looking at all of the ideas that you have jotted down or taken in The importance not just of deciding on something, but deciding to act on that something The concept of EAT, FEED, DRAIN The FOUR-D way to update a to-do list The importance of taking responsibility for your own career   Mark then thanks new Patron to the show, Matty Dalrymple, and sends a thanks to all patrons for their ongoing support of the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections.   Links of Interest: WMG Publishing Workshops Findaway Voices Dean Wesley Smith Kristine Kathryn Rusch Kevin J. Anderson Rebecca Moesta David Farland David P. Vandagriff (aka The Passive Voice) Damon Courtney (Bookfunnel) Christina F. York Andrea Pearson Donna Cook Loren L. Coleman T. Thorn Coyle Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P'S Of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreHaving just spent six days at the WMG Business Master Class workshop in Las Vegas, Mark reflects on the overwhelming and head-spinning influx of information, insight, wisdom, ideas, inspiriation, and perspective that he had just taken in. In this episode, he walks through some of the ideas on how authors can process such a deluge of information and adapt the curated learnings and ideas into things that are likely to best work for them. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . . Some of the elements that Mark talks about are: A few key things to remember before setting out to try to implement the ideas gathered The importance of first stepping back to take a breath and get perspective A list of questions to ask yourself when looking at all of the ideas that you have jotted down or taken in The importance not just of deciding on something, but deciding to act on that something The concept of EAT, FEED, DRAIN The FOUR-D way to update a to-do list The importance of taking responsibility for your own career   Mark then thanks new Patron to the show, Matty Dalrymple, and sends a thanks to all patrons for their ongoing support of the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections.   Links of Interest: WMG Publishing Workshops Findaway Voices Dean Wesley Smith Kristine Kathryn Rusch Kevin J. Anderson Rebecca Moesta David Farland David P. Vandagriff (aka The Passive Voice) Damon Courtney (Bookfunnel) Christina F. York Andrea Pearson Donna Cook Loren L. Coleman T. Thorn Coyle Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P'S Of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 043 - Dave Sweet & Sarah Graham on Skeletons, Closets, and Homicide Dave Sweet & Sarah Graham, on Skeletons, Closets and Homicide Thu, 18 Oct 2018 23:33:07 +0000 In this episode Mark chats with Dave Sweet and Sarah Graham about their new book SKELETONS IN MY CLOSET: Life Lessons from a Homicide Detective, an unorthodox police memoir taking readers on a ride-along like no other, revealing poignant truths about life and death, and how we can all work and live together. Danger and grit pair with humour and compassion in this gripping, fresh read.

    Dave Sweet, a conservative, veteran homicide detective has teamed up with Sarah Graham, a liberal, optimistic author to write this unconventional universal life-lessons book.

    Before the interview, Mark shares a personal update which includes:

    • Why he is pushing back the release date of his book INDIE PUBLISHING INSIDER SECRETS
    • Some reflections on how previous Stark Reflections podcast guest Dana Pharant turned a mistake into a win
    • Mark's forthcoming trip to Las Vegas to teach at a WMG Publishing Master Class about the business of writing and publishing

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .

    In the interview, Mark and Dave and Sarah talk about:

    • How Dave and Sarah first met and then decided to work on this project together
    • The work Dave has been doing with local area writer groups looking for insights and realistic detail related to actual police work
    • The dichotomy of "Homicide Cop" and "Life Lessons"
    • The importance that this book be optimistic and not be gratuitous in its portrayal of Dave's experiences
    • The transformation that is witnessed in the various people involved in a homicide investigation and the lessons learned along the way
    • The early reader expectation of "more grit" and how the authors responded to that with respect for the victims and their loved ones
    • The decision to release this book as by Dave with Sarah rather than keeping Sarah's name hidden like a more traditional "ghost written" book, because of the way that Sarah's voice and influence helped to smooth out some of the rougher edges that come from Dave's experience
    • The processes and different techniques used in how they wrote this book together (actual writing, raw words, interactive presentations, phone calls)
    • What Dave learned about writing through this process
    • What television actually gets right about police work and police life
    • How Sarah's experience as a writer was different than the writer/cop partnership seen on television programs like Castle
    • The publishing options, agent feedback and choices made for the publication of this book
    • The intriguing "sneak peak" preview eBook their publisher created in a "Behind the Scenes" chapbook
    • The comparison between when Sarah is all-consumed when working on edits and Dave is all-consumed when focusing on a case
    • The "Reading Guide/Study Guide" section at the end of the book
    • Forthcoming books in this series which will each explore courage and death

    After the interview, Mark reflects on how Dave and Sarah kept working at testing out different ways of making the collaboration work, not giving up, but continuing to experiment and find new ways for the process to happen smoothly. He discusses their publishing path as well, which was a series of learnings and tweaks and changes, until they found the one that suited them best.

    He considers how they applied patience, persistence, partnership and progression in their path towards publication.

    Mark then thanks Patrons for their sponsorship of the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this episode Mark chats with Dave Sweet and Sarah Graham about their new book SKELETONS IN MY CLOSET: Life Lessons from a Homicide Detective, an unorthodox police memoir taking readers on a ride-along like no other, revealing poignant truths about life and death, and how we can all work and live together. Danger and grit pair with humour and compassion in this gripping, fresh read.

    Dave Sweet, a conservative, veteran homicide detective has teamed up with Sarah Graham, a liberal, optimistic author to write this unconventional universal life-lessons book.

    Before the interview, Mark shares a personal update which includes:

    • Why he is pushing back the release date of his book INDIE PUBLISHING INSIDER SECRETS
    • Some reflections on how previous Stark Reflections podcast guest Dana Pharant turned a mistake into a win
    • Mark's forthcoming trip to Las Vegas to teach at a WMG Publishing Master Class about the business of writing and publishing

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .

    In the interview, Mark and Dave and Sarah talk about:

    • How Dave and Sarah first met and then decided to work on this project together
    • The work Dave has been doing with local area writer groups looking for insights and realistic detail related to actual police work
    • The dichotomy of "Homicide Cop" and "Life Lessons"
    • The importance that this book be optimistic and not be gratuitous in its portrayal of Dave's experiences
    • The transformation that is witnessed in the various people involved in a homicide investigation and the lessons learned along the way
    • The early reader expectation of "more grit" and how the authors responded to that with respect for the victims and their loved ones
    • The decision to release this book as by Dave with Sarah rather than keeping Sarah's name hidden like a more traditional "ghost written" book, because of the way that Sarah's voice and influence helped to smooth out some of the rougher edges that come from Dave's experience
    • The processes and different techniques used in how they wrote this book together (actual writing, raw words, interactive presentations, phone calls)
    • What Dave learned about writing through this process
    • What television actually gets right about police work and police life
    • How Sarah's experience as a writer was different than the writer/cop partnership seen on television programs like Castle
    • The publishing options, agent feedback and choices made for the publication of this book
    • The intriguing "sneak peak" preview eBook their publisher created in a "Behind the Scenes" chapbook
    • The comparison between when Sarah is all-consumed when working on edits and Dave is all-consumed when focusing on a case
    • The "Reading Guide/Study Guide" section at the end of the book
    • Forthcoming books in this series which will each explore courage and death

    After the interview, Mark reflects on how Dave and Sarah kept working at testing out different ways of making the collaboration work, not giving up, but continuing to experiment and find new ways for the process to happen smoothly. He discusses their publishing path as well, which was a series of learnings and tweaks and changes, until they found the one that suited them best.

    He considers how they applied patience, persistence, partnership and progression in their path towards publication.

    Mark then thanks Patrons for their sponsorship of the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     46:22 false 1 43 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode Mark chats with Dave Sweet and Sarah Graham about their new book SKELETONS IN MY CLOSET: Life Lessons from a Homicide Detective, an unorthodox police memoir taking readers on a ride-along like no other, revealing poignant truths about life and death, and how we can all work and live together. Danger and grit pair with humour and compassion in this gripping, fresh read. Dave Sweet, a conservative, veteran homicide detective has teamed up with Sarah Graham, a liberal, optimistic author to write this unconventional universal life-lessons book. Before the interview, Mark shares a personal update which includes: Why he is pushing back the release date of his book INDIE PUBLISHING INSIDER SECRETS Some reflections on how previous Stark Reflections podcast guest Dana Pharant turned a mistake into a win Mark's forthcoming trip to Las Vegas to teach at a WMG Publishing Master Class about the business of writing and publishing This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . . In the interview, Mark and Dave and Sarah talk about: How Dave and Sarah first met and then decided to work on this project together The work Dave has been doing with local area writer groups looking for insights and realistic detail related to actual police work The dichotomy of "Homicide Cop" and "Life Lessons" The importance that this book be optimistic and not be gratuitous in its portrayal of Dave's experiences The transformation that is witnessed in the various people involved in a homicide investigation and the lessons learned along the way The early reader expectation of "more grit" and how the authors responded to that with respect for the victims and their loved ones The decision to release this book as by Dave with Sarah rather than keeping Sarah's name hidden like a more traditional "ghost written" book, because of the way that Sarah's voice and influence helped to smooth out some of the rougher edges that come from Dave's experience The processes and different techniques used in how they wrote this book together (actual writing, raw words, interactive presentations, phone calls) What Dave learned about writing through this process What television actually gets right about police work and police life How Sarah's experience as a writer was different than the writer/cop partnership seen on television programs like Castle The publishing options, agent feedback and choices made for the publication of this book The intriguing "sneak peak" preview eBook their publisher created in a "Behind the Scenes" chapbook The comparison between when Sarah is all-consumed when working on edits and Dave is all-consumed when focusing on a case The "Reading Guide/Study Guide" section at the end of the book Forthcoming books in this series which will each explore courage and death After the interview, Mark reflects on how Dave and Sarah kept working at testing out different ways of making the collaboration work, not giving up, but continuing to experiment and find new ways for the process to happen smoothly. He discusses their publishing path as well, which was a series of learnings and tweaks and changes, until they found the one that suited them best. He considers how they applied patience, persistence, partnership and progression in their path towards publication. Mark then thanks Patrons for their sponsorship of the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections.   Links of Interest: Skeletons in My Closet Mischievous Books WMG Publishing Workshops Findaway Voices Dana Pharant on Stark Reflections Dana's Facebook Video about mistakes & wins Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P'S Of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode Mark chats with Dave Sweet and Sarah Graham about their new book SKELETONS IN MY CLOSET: Life Lessons from a Homicide Detective, an unorthodox police memoir taking readers on a ride-along like no other, revealing poignant truths about life and death, and how we can all work and live together. Danger and grit pair with humour and compassion in this gripping, fresh read. Dave Sweet, a conservative, veteran homicide detective has teamed up with Sarah Graham, a liberal, optimistic author to write this unconventional universal life-lessons book. Before the interview, Mark shares a personal update which includes: Why he is pushing back the release date of his book INDIE PUBLISHING INSIDER SECRETS Some reflections on how previous Stark Reflections podcast guest Dana Pharant turned a mistake into a win Mark's forthcoming trip to Las Vegas to teach at a WMG Publishing Master Class about the business of writing and publishing This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . . In the interview, Mark and Dave and Sarah talk about: How Dave and Sarah first met and then decided to work on this project together The work Dave has been doing with local area writer groups looking for insights and realistic detail related to actual police work The dichotomy of "Homicide Cop" and "Life Lessons" The importance that this book be optimistic and not be gratuitous in its portrayal of Dave's experiences The transformation that is witnessed in the various people involved in a homicide investigation and the lessons learned along the way The early reader expectation of "more grit" and how the authors responded to that with respect for the victims and their loved ones The decision to release this book as by Dave with Sarah rather than keeping Sarah's name hidden like a more traditional "ghost written" book, because of the way that Sarah's voice and influence helped to smooth out some of the rougher edges that come from Dave's experience The processes and different techniques used in how they wrote this book together (actual writing, raw words, interactive presentations, phone calls) What Dave learned about writing through this process What television actually gets right about police work and police life How Sarah's experience as a writer was different than the writer/cop partnership seen on television programs like Castle The publishing options, agent feedback and choices made for the publication of this book The intriguing "sneak peak" preview eBook their publisher created in a "Behind the Scenes" chapbook The comparison between when Sarah is all-consumed when working on edits and Dave is all-consumed when focusing on a case The "Reading Guide/Study Guide" section at the end of the book Forthcoming books in this series which will each explore courage and death After the interview, Mark reflects on how Dave and Sarah kept working at testing out different ways of making the collaboration work, not giving up, but continuing to experiment and find new ways for the process to happen smoothly. He discusses their publishing path as well, which was a series of learnings and tweaks and changes, until they found the one that suited them best. He considers how they applied patience, persistence, partnership and progression in their path towards publication. Mark then thanks Patrons for their sponsorship of the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections.   Links of Interest: Skeletons in My Closet Mischievous Books WMG Publishing Workshops Findaway Voices Dana Pharant on Stark Reflections Dana's Facebook Video about mistakes & wins Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey The 7 P'S Of Publishing Success Killing It On Kobo   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 042 - Tina Dietz on Writing, Entrepreneurship and Audio Tina Dietz on Writing, Entrepreneurship and Audio Thu, 11 Oct 2018 18:36:16 +0000 In this week's episode, Mark speaks with Tina Dietz who is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed speaker, audiobook publisher, podcast producer, and content marketing expert.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few personal updates that include the launch of his new traditionally published book Macabre Montreal, and how that book launch interfered with attending the NIGHT OF THE WRITING DEAD event in Pittsburgh that same weekend.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .

    . . . and also by the Patrons of the show at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

    All patrons will find, this week, the full audio of the first chapter about PRACTICE from Mark's forthcoming audiobook of The 7 P's of Publishing Success.

     

    In their conversion, Mark and Tina talk about

    • The link between writing/expression and entrepreneurship
    • How writing (particularly in print) can be an enduring format as a tangable legacy
    • Tina's introduction into podcasting and audiobook production
    • Tina's Forbes article "Do You Sound Like a Leader?" that focuses on the relationship between vocal qualities and how a person is viewed as a leader
    • Getting used to and comfortable with the sound of one's own voice
    • Breathing techniques and facial exercises used for voice or singing voice
    • Food and drink to avoid when doing voice work (dairy and citrus, for example)
    • The coaching Tina does helping authors getting ready to do interviews for radio or podcasting
    • The difference between forms of media like television, radio and podcasting
    • Trends in the audiobook industry that authors might not be familiar with
    • The concept that anything you create needs to be an asset and not a burden
    • The free download that Tina has on her website that helps demystifies the audiobook process - www.launchyouraudiobook.com
    • Things to consider when deciding between narrating and producting an audiobook yourself or outsourcing that
    • How Tina's clients often "come for the audiobooks and then stay for everything else"
    • The pre-interview Tina sent to Mark ahead of the podcast which made things so much easier for Mark

     

    In the post-interview reflections, Mark talks about how Tina's info PDF made his job as an interviewer so much easier and he also shares a link to a WORD document template that authors can download and modify so they have something similar to use for their own podcast or radio interviews.

     

    Tina Dietz is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed speaker, audiobook publisher, podcast producer, and content marketing expert who has been featured on media outlets including ABC, Inc.com, Huffington Post, and Forbes. Tina's podcast, The StartSomething Show, was named by INC magazine as one of the top 35 podcasts for entrepreneurs. Tina's company, StartSomething Creative Business Solutions, connects leaders, entrepreneurs and experts with larger audiences, resulting in expanded influence and income. Tina divides her time between the US and Costa Rica, where she's part of a leadership team building a conscious community called Vista Mundo.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this week's episode, Mark speaks with Tina Dietz who is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed speaker, audiobook publisher, podcast producer, and content marketing expert.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few personal updates that include the launch of his new traditionally published book Macabre Montreal, and how that book launch interfered with attending the NIGHT OF THE WRITING DEAD event in Pittsburgh that same weekend.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .

    . . . and also by the Patrons of the show at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

    All patrons will find, this week, the full audio of the first chapter about PRACTICE from Mark's forthcoming audiobook of The 7 P's of Publishing Success.

    In their conversion, Mark and Tina talk about

    • The link between writing/expression and entrepreneurship
    • How writing (particularly in print) can be an enduring format as a tangable legacy
    • Tina's introduction into podcasting and audiobook production
    • Tina's Forbes article "Do You Sound Like a Leader?" that focuses on the relationship between vocal qualities and how a person is viewed as a leader
    • Getting used to and comfortable with the sound of one's own voice
    • Breathing techniques and facial exercises used for voice or singing voice
    • Food and drink to avoid when doing voice work (dairy and citrus, for example)
    • The coaching Tina does helping authors getting ready to do interviews for radio or podcasting
    • The difference between forms of media like television, radio and podcasting
    • Trends in the audiobook industry that authors might not be familiar with
    • The concept that anything you create needs to be an asset and not a burden
    • The free download that Tina has on her website that helps demystifies the audiobook process - www.launchyouraudiobook.com
    • Things to consider when deciding between narrating and producting an audiobook yourself or outsourcing that
    • How Tina's clients often "come for the audiobooks and then stay for everything else"
    • The pre-interview Tina sent to Mark ahead of the podcast which made things so much easier for Mark

    In the post-interview reflections, Mark talks about how Tina's info PDF made his job as an interviewer so much easier and he also shares a link to a WORD document template that authors can download and modify so they have something similar to use for their own podcast or radio interviews.

    Tina Dietz is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed speaker, audiobook publisher, podcast producer, and content marketing expert who has been featured on media outlets including ABC, Inc.com, Huffington Post, and Forbes. Tina's podcast, The StartSomething Show, was named by INC magazine as one of the top 35 podcasts for entrepreneurs. Tina's company, StartSomething Creative Business Solutions, connects leaders, entrepreneurs and experts with larger audiences, resulting in expanded influence and income. Tina divides her time between the US and Costa Rica, where she's part of a leadership team building a conscious community called Vista Mundo.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     36:00 false 1 42 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this week's episode, Mark speaks with Tina Dietz who is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed speaker, audiobook publisher, podcast producer, and content marketing expert. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few personal updates that include the launch of his new traditionally published book Macabre Montreal, and how that book launch interfered with attending the NIGHT OF THE WRITING DEAD event in Pittsburgh that same weekend. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . . . . . and also by the Patrons of the show at www.patreon.com/starkreflections. All patrons will find, this week, the full audio of the first chapter about PRACTICE from Mark's forthcoming audiobook of The 7 P's of Publishing Success.   In their conversion, Mark and Tina talk about The link between writing/expression and entrepreneurship How writing (particularly in print) can be an enduring format as a tangable legacy Tina's introduction into podcasting and audiobook production Tina's Forbes article "Do You Sound Like a Leader?" that focuses on the relationship between vocal qualities and how a person is viewed as a leader Getting used to and comfortable with the sound of one's own voice Breathing techniques and facial exercises used for voice or singing voice Food and drink to avoid when doing voice work (dairy and citrus, for example) The coaching Tina does helping authors getting ready to do interviews for radio or podcasting The difference between forms of media like television, radio and podcasting Trends in the audiobook industry that authors might not be familiar with The concept that anything you create needs to be an asset and not a burden The free download that Tina has on her website that helps demystifies the audiobook process - www.launchyouraudiobook.com Things to consider when deciding between narrating and producting an audiobook yourself or outsourcing that How Tina's clients often "come for the audiobooks and then stay for everything else" The pre-interview Tina sent to Mark ahead of the podcast which made things so much easier for Mark   In the post-interview reflections, Mark talks about how Tina's info PDF made his job as an interviewer so much easier and he also shares a link to a WORD document template that authors can download and modify so they have something similar to use for their own podcast or radio interviews.   Tina Dietz is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed speaker, audiobook publisher, podcast producer, and content marketing expert who has been featured on media outlets including ABC, Inc.com, Huffington Post, and Forbes. Tina's podcast, The StartSomething Show, was named by INC magazine as one of the top 35 podcasts for entrepreneurs. Tina's company, StartSomething Creative Business Solutions, connects leaders, entrepreneurs and experts with larger audiences, resulting in expanded influence and income. Tina divides her time between the US and Costa Rica, where she's part of a leadership team building a conscious community called Vista Mundo.   Links of Interest: Tina's Website Tina on Twitter Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Goodreads Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Night of the Writing Dead More Information about Stark Publishing Solutions Stark Reflections Survey Macabre Montreal The 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this week's episode, Mark speaks with Tina Dietz who is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed speaker, audiobook publisher, podcast producer, and content marketing expert. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few personal updates that include the launch of his new traditionally published book Macabre Montreal, and how that book launch interfered with attending the NIGHT OF THE WRITING DEAD event in Pittsburgh that same weekend. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . . . . . and also by the Patrons of the show at www.patreon.com/starkreflections. All patrons will find, this week, the full audio of the first chapter about PRACTICE from Mark's forthcoming audiobook of The 7 P's of Publishing Success.   In their conversion, Mark and Tina talk about The link between writing/expression and entrepreneurship How writing (particularly in print) can be an enduring format as a tangable legacy Tina's introduction into podcasting and audiobook production Tina's Forbes article "Do You Sound Like a Leader?" that focuses on the relationship between vocal qualities and how a person is viewed as a leader Getting used to and comfortable with the sound of one's own voice Breathing techniques and facial exercises used for voice or singing voice Food and drink to avoid when doing voice work (dairy and citrus, for example) The coaching Tina does helping authors getting ready to do interviews for radio or podcasting The difference between forms of media like television, radio and podcasting Trends in the audiobook industry that authors might not be familiar with The concept that anything you create needs to be an asset and not a burden The free download that Tina has on her website that helps demystifies the audiobook process - www.launchyouraudiobook.com Things to consider when deciding between narrating and producting an audiobook yourself or outsourcing that How Tina's clients often "come for the audiobooks and then stay for everything else" The pre-interview Tina sent to Mark ahead of the podcast which made things so much easier for Mark   In the post-interview reflections, Mark talks about how Tina's info PDF made his job as an interviewer so much easier and he also shares a link to a WORD document template that authors can download and modify so they have something similar to use for their own podcast or radio interviews.   Tina Dietz is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed speaker, audiobook publisher, podcast producer, and content marketing expert who has been featured on media outlets including ABC, Inc.com, Huffington Post, and Forbes. Tina's podcast, The StartSomething Show, was named by INC magazine as one of the top 35 podcasts for entrepreneurs. Tina's company, StartSomething Creative Business Solutions, connects leaders, entrepreneurs and experts with larger audiences, resulting in expanded influence and income. Tina divides her time between the US and Costa Rica, where she's part of a leadership team building a conscious community called Vista Mundo.   Links of Interest: Tina's Website Tina on Twitter Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Goodreads Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections Night of the Writing Dead More Information about Stark Publishing Solutions Stark Reflections Survey Macabre Montreal The 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 041 - What Happens at NINC What Happens at NINC Thu, 04 Oct 2018 17:51:10 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark reflects upon some of the things that happened at NINC and why he enjoys attending it every year. One of the things, of course, was that he recently became Director of Business Development for Draft2Digital.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .

    . . . and also by the Patrons of the show at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

    ]]>     In this solo episode, Mark reflects upon some of the things that happened at NINC and why he enjoys attending it every year. One of the things, of course, was that he recently became Director of Business Development for Draft2Digital.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .

    . . . and also by the Patrons of the show at www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     20:40 false 1 41 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark reflects upon some of the things that happened at NINC and why he enjoys attending it every year. One of the things, of course, was that he recently became Director of Business Development for Draft2Digital. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . . . . . and also by the Patrons of the show at www.patreon.com/starkreflections. Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections More Information about Stark Publishing Solutions Stark Reflections Survey NINC (Novelists Inc) Macabre Montreal The 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this solo episode, Mark reflects upon some of the things that happened at NINC and why he enjoys attending it every year. One of the things, of course, was that he recently became Director of Business Development for Draft2Digital. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . . . . . and also by the Patrons of the show at www.patreon.com/starkreflections. Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections More Information about Stark Publishing Solutions Stark Reflections Survey NINC (Novelists Inc) Macabre Montreal The 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 040 - NINC 2018 NINC (Novelists Inc) 2018 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 04:06:57 +0000 This episode centers upon four quick chats with industry folks from NINC (Novelists Inc) 2018 in St Pete, Florida. Mark shares chats (originally posted as Facebook Live videos on Sept 27, 2018) with:

    • Carlyn Robertson from BookBub
    • Damon Courtney from BookFunnel
    • Christine Munroe from Kobo Writing Life
    • Ricardo Fayet from Reedsy

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares some personal updates, including some activities that happened at the conference (such as a bookstore visit to Haslam's in downtown St. Pete) as well as prior to the conference.

    He also shares that his book The 7 P's of Publishing Success is now live at all the major eBook retail sites, with the print and audiobook versions coming soon.

    He also mentions a comment on the previous episode which inspired him to make getting the audio version of the book a priority, and talks a bit about using Findaway Voices (the sponsor for this episode, to get that book distributed and into the market).After the interview, Mark reflects upon the learning that can happen, at all levels, at a conference like NINC.

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

    ]]>     This episode centers upon four quick chats with industry folks from NINC (Novelists Inc) 2018 in St Pete, Florida. Mark shares chats (originally posted as Facebook Live videos on Sept 27, 2018) with:

    • Carlyn Robertson from BookBub
    • Damon Courtney from BookFunnel
    • Christine Munroe from Kobo Writing Life
    • Ricardo Fayet from Reedsy

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares some personal updates, including some activities that happened at the conference (such as a bookstore visit to Haslam's in downtown St. Pete) as well as prior to the conference.

    He also shares that his book The 7 P's of Publishing Success is now live at all the major eBook retail sites, with the print and audiobook versions coming soon.

    He also mentions a comment on the previous episode which inspired him to make getting the audio version of the book a priority, and talks a bit about using Findaway Voices (the sponsor for this episode, to get that book distributed and into the market).After the interview, Mark reflects upon the learning that can happen, at all levels, at a conference like NINC.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     26:24 false 1 40 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This episode centers upon four quick chats with industry folks from NINC (Novelists Inc) 2018 in St Pete, Florida. Mark shares chats (originally posted as Facebook Live videos on Sept 27, 2018) with: Carlyn Robertson from BookBub Damon Courtney from BookFunnel Christine Munroe from Kobo Writing Life Ricardo Fayet from Reedsy Prior to the interview, Mark shares some personal updates, including some activities that happened at the conference (such as a bookstore visit to Haslam's in downtown St. Pete) as well as prior to the conference. He also shares that his book The 7 P's of Publishing Success is now live at all the major eBook retail sites, with the print and audiobook versions coming soon. He also mentions a comment on the previous episode which inspired him to make getting the audio version of the book a priority, and talks a bit about using Findaway Voices (the sponsor for this episode, to get that book distributed and into the market).After the interview, Mark reflects upon the learning that can happen, at all levels, at a conference like NINC. Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections More Information about Stark Publishing Solutions Stark Reflections Survey NINC (Novelists Inc) Haslam's Book Store Tomes of Terror: Haunted Bookstores & Libraries The 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark Leslie LefebvreThis episode centers upon four quick chats with industry folks from NINC (Novelists Inc) 2018 in St Pete, Florida. Mark shares chats (originally posted as Facebook Live videos on Sept 27, 2018) with: Carlyn Robertson from BookBub Damon Courtney from BookFunnel Christine Munroe from Kobo Writing Life Ricardo Fayet from Reedsy Prior to the interview, Mark shares some personal updates, including some activities that happened at the conference (such as a bookstore visit to Haslam's in downtown St. Pete) as well as prior to the conference. He also shares that his book The 7 P's of Publishing Success is now live at all the major eBook retail sites, with the print and audiobook versions coming soon. He also mentions a comment on the previous episode which inspired him to make getting the audio version of the book a priority, and talks a bit about using Findaway Voices (the sponsor for this episode, to get that book distributed and into the market).After the interview, Mark reflects upon the learning that can happen, at all levels, at a conference like NINC. Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections More Information about Stark Publishing Solutions Stark Reflections Survey NINC (Novelists Inc) Haslam's Book Store Tomes of Terror: Haunted Bookstores & Libraries The 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 039 - Professionalism Professionalism, One of the 7 P's of Publishing Success Fri, 21 Sep 2018 03:19:08 +0000 In this episode, Mark shares an early audio draft of the chapter on Professionalism for his forthcoming book THE 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS which will be released under his "Stark Publishing Solutions" imprint by the end of Sept 2018.

    Prior to the audiobook excerpt, Mark shares a few personal updates which include:

    • Attending NINC (Novelist's, Inc.) writer conference in St Pete, Florida, where he will be giving a talk entitled 5 CAREER KILLING ERRORS AN AUTHOR SHOULD AVOID as well as co-hosting an open discussion entitled BRAINSTORMING "THE FUTURE" FOR AUTHORS AND VENDORS
    • Also, while at NINC, Mark will be visiting Haslam's Book Store which is allegedly haunted by Jack Kerouac (Mark wrote about it in his book Tomes of Terror)
    • A thank you to the Patrons supporting the podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections
    • A shout-out to Rook Winters for an awesome photo of some skull plates he shared on Twitter
    • Thanking new folks who continue to fill-out the Stark Reflections Podcast Survey (with a mention of how the show has been modified in line with a few common comments from some previously rec'd surveys

    Mark also talks about how the main content for this episode is a test/early draft for the audiobook version of his book THE 7 P's OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS and mentions the way he'll be using Findaway Voices (the sponsor for this episode).

    In the main content of the episode, Mark talks about the importance of professionalism for authors and breaks it down to three main elements:

    • Paperwork, Contracts and Content
    • In Person Appearances and People Skills
    • Adversity and Rejection

    After the main section, Mark shares the behind a behind the scenes look at how the book this chapter is taken from came to be. Both it and another book, were originally chapters in the main book he had been working on to capture the many things he has learned in his decades of experience in the bookselling and publishing industry. But these two particular chapters grew a life of their own and became unique products as part of a larger line up of titles in the Stark Publishing Solutions Imprint/Series.

    These books will be:

    1. THE 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS (Sept 2018)
    2. KILLING IT ON KOBO (Oct 2018)
    3. INDIE PUBLISHING INSIDER SECRETS (Nov 2018)

    While still finalizing re-writes and edits of the books, Mark talks about the desire to get them all up for pre-order as soon as possible. He shares where people can sign up to be informed about them as well as other related "Stark Publishing / Stark Reflections" updates: www.markleslie.ca/starkpublishingsolutions

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

     

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark shares an early audio draft of the chapter on Professionalism for his forthcoming book THE 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS which will be released under his "Stark Publishing Solutions" imprint by the end of Sept 2018.

    Prior to the audiobook excerpt, Mark shares a few personal updates which include:

    • Attending NINC (Novelist's, Inc.) writer conference in St Pete, Florida, where he will be giving a talk entitled 5 CAREER KILLING ERRORS AN AUTHOR SHOULD AVOID as well as co-hosting an open discussion entitled BRAINSTORMING "THE FUTURE" FOR AUTHORS AND VENDORS
    • Also, while at NINC, Mark will be visiting Haslam's Book Store which is allegedly haunted by Jack Kerouac (Mark wrote about it in his book Tomes of Terror)
    • A thank you to the Patrons supporting the podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections
    • A shout-out to Rook Winters for an awesome photo of some skull plates he shared on Twitter
    • Thanking new folks who continue to fill-out the Stark Reflections Podcast Survey (with a mention of how the show has been modified in line with a few common comments from some previously rec'd surveys

    Mark also talks about how the main content for this episode is a test/early draft for the audiobook version of his book THE 7 P's OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS and mentions the way he'll be using Findaway Voices (the sponsor for this episode).

    In the main content of the episode, Mark talks about the importance of professionalism for authors and breaks it down to three main elements:

    • Paperwork, Contracts and Content
    • In Person Appearances and People Skills
    • Adversity and Rejection

    After the main section, Mark shares the behind a behind the scenes look at how the book this chapter is taken from came to be. Both it and another book, were originally chapters in the main book he had been working on to capture the many things he has learned in his decades of experience in the bookselling and publishing industry. But these two particular chapters grew a life of their own and became unique products as part of a larger line up of titles in the Stark Publishing Solutions Imprint/Series.

    These books will be:

    1. THE 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS (Sept 2018)
    2. KILLING IT ON KOBO (Oct 2018)
    3. INDIE PUBLISHING INSIDER SECRETS (Nov 2018)

    While still finalizing re-writes and edits of the books, Mark talks about the desire to get them all up for pre-order as soon as possible. He shares where people can sign up to be informed about them as well as other related "Stark Publishing / Stark Reflections" updates: www.markleslie.ca/starkpublishingsolutions

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     39:30 false 1 39 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark shares an early audio draft of the chapter on Professionalism for his forthcoming book THE 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS which will be released under his "Stark Publishing Solutions" imprint by the end of Sept 2018. Prior to the audiobook excerpt, Mark shares a few personal updates which include: Attending NINC (Novelist's, Inc.) writer conference in St Pete, Florida, where he will be giving a talk entitled 5 CAREER KILLING ERRORS AN AUTHOR SHOULD AVOID as well as co-hosting an open discussion entitled BRAINSTORMING "THE FUTURE" FOR AUTHORS AND VENDORS Also, while at NINC, Mark will be visiting Haslam's Book Store which is allegedly haunted by Jack Kerouac (Mark wrote about it in his book Tomes of Terror) A thank you to the Patrons supporting the podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections A shout-out to Rook Winters for an awesome photo of some skull plates he shared on Twitter Thanking new folks who continue to fill-out the Stark Reflections Podcast Survey (with a mention of how the show has been modified in line with a few common comments from some previously rec'd surveys Mark also talks about how the main content for this episode is a test/early draft for the audiobook version of his book THE 7 P's OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS and mentions the way he'll be using Findaway Voices (the sponsor for this episode). In the main content of the episode, Mark talks about the importance of professionalism for authors and breaks it down to three main elements: Paperwork, Contracts and Content In Person Appearances and People Skills Adversity and Rejection After the main section, Mark shares the behind a behind the scenes look at how the book this chapter is taken from came to be. Both it and another book, were originally chapters in the main book he had been working on to capture the many things he has learned in his decades of experience in the bookselling and publishing industry. But these two particular chapters grew a life of their own and became unique products as part of a larger line up of titles in the Stark Publishing Solutions Imprint/Series. These books will be: THE 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS (Sept 2018) KILLING IT ON KOBO (Oct 2018) INDIE PUBLISHING INSIDER SECRETS (Nov 2018) While still finalizing re-writes and edits of the books, Mark talks about the desire to get them all up for pre-order as soon as possible. He shares where people can sign up to be informed about them as well as other related "Stark Publishing / Stark Reflections" updates: www.markleslie.ca/starkpublishingsolutions Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections More Information about Stark Publishing Solutions Stark Reflections Survey NINC (Novelists Inc) Haslam's Book Store Tomes of Terror: Haunted Bookstores & Libraries The 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark shares an early audio draft of the chapter on Professionalism for his forthcoming book THE 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS which will be released under his "Stark Publishing Solutions" imprint by the end of Sept 2018. Prior to the audiobook excerpt, Mark shares a few personal updates which include: Attending NINC (Novelist's, Inc.) writer conference in St Pete, Florida, where he will be giving a talk entitled 5 CAREER KILLING ERRORS AN AUTHOR SHOULD AVOID as well as co-hosting an open discussion entitled BRAINSTORMING "THE FUTURE" FOR AUTHORS AND VENDORS Also, while at NINC, Mark will be visiting Haslam's Book Store which is allegedly haunted by Jack Kerouac (Mark wrote about it in his book Tomes of Terror) A thank you to the Patrons supporting the podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections A shout-out to Rook Winters for an awesome photo of some skull plates he shared on Twitter Thanking new folks who continue to fill-out the Stark Reflections Podcast Survey (with a mention of how the show has been modified in line with a few common comments from some previously rec'd surveys Mark also talks about how the main content for this episode is a test/early draft for the audiobook version of his book THE 7 P's OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS and mentions the way he'll be using Findaway Voices (the sponsor for this episode). In the main content of the episode, Mark talks about the importance of professionalism for authors and breaks it down to three main elements: Paperwork, Contracts and Content In Person Appearances and People Skills Adversity and Rejection After the main section, Mark shares the behind a behind the scenes look at how the book this chapter is taken from came to be. Both it and another book, were originally chapters in the main book he had been working on to capture the many things he has learned in his decades of experience in the bookselling and publishing industry. But these two particular chapters grew a life of their own and became unique products as part of a larger line up of titles in the Stark Publishing Solutions Imprint/Series. These books will be: THE 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS (Sept 2018) KILLING IT ON KOBO (Oct 2018) INDIE PUBLISHING INSIDER SECRETS (Nov 2018) While still finalizing re-writes and edits of the books, Mark talks about the desire to get them all up for pre-order as soon as possible. He shares where people can sign up to be informed about them as well as other related "Stark Publishing / Stark Reflections" updates: www.markleslie.ca/starkpublishingsolutions Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections More Information about Stark Publishing Solutions Stark Reflections Survey NINC (Novelists Inc) Haslam's Book Store Tomes of Terror: Haunted Bookstores & Libraries The 7 P'S OF PUBLISHING SUCCESS   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 038 - Nathan Van Coops on Writing, Flying, and Safely Landing Your Audience Nathan Van Coops on Writing, Flying, and Safely Landing Your Audience Fri, 14 Sep 2018 02:56:16 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews Nathan Van Coops who claims that he lives on a diet comprised mainly of tacos. He enjoys old planes, motorcycles, and Volkswagens, contends that there is such a thing as "dressy" flip-flops and is the time travel adventure series, In Times Like These, and The Skylighter Adventures. Nathan, of course, isn't just an author, but he is also an aviator and the man behind Book Faces Live and we talk about all three things, and more.

    Prior to the interview, Mark gives a personal update that includes:

    • His story "Active Reader" appearing in the latest issue of Pulphouse Magazine (#3) and how that had been a long-time goal
    • The royalty check received from McGraw/Nelson for a short story "Almost" that is being used in a British Columbia high school curriculum
    • He considers how both of these "new" items are stories that were previously published and yet can still result in residual income

    Mark then thanks new Stark Reflections Patron, Amy Teegan and all existing Patrons who support the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections

    In the interview, Mark and Nathan talk about:

    • Nathan's latest book, THE WARP CLOCK and its tag-line "To save her future, he can't have one." and the stand-alone nature of this series (THE WARP CLOCK is book 4 in the series) that allows a reader to jump in at any book
    • How time travel isn't just a trope that is being used and, instead, is an integral part of the world and story, in the same way that J.K. Rowling used magic in her Harry Potter universe
    • The first person present tense POV that is used for the majority of these books that are told through Benjamin's perspective
    • The genesis of the SKYLIGHTER adventures, based on the quiet and calm that Nathan experienced while flying a plane. He imagined the concept of what if the sky was actually as busy as the ocean?
    • The advice that Nathan would give to his younger self just starting writing
    • The branding Nathan created for his series, landing on using Damonza covers and then taking a hands-off approach to let them do what they do best
    • The reasoning behind why Nathan started Book Faces Live (to fill a gap in his own weekly podcast listening routine) and how he use his podcast to learn and gather information
    • The fact that, unlike many writers, Nathan is an extrovert; always where and when Nathan likes to write
    • The deliberate placement of Benjamin from the IN TIMES LIKE THESE series in 2009

    After the interview, Mark talks about the tech issue that affected the tail end of the chat, and reflects upon how Nathan handled the unexpected issue quite professionally and effectively. He reminds writers that these types of things will happen and that it is important to remember the audience is actually cheering for you and you are in this together.

    Mark remembers the way Nathan thought of the reader when working on his book covers, and suggests that Nathan did the exact same thing here during the tech issue - he considered the audience and did his best to safely "land" the podcast.

    The lesson? When things go wrong, take a breath, and consider the audience.

     

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark interviews Nathan Van Coops who claims that he lives on a diet comprised mainly of tacos. He enjoys old planes, motorcycles, and Volkswagens, contends that there is such a thing as "dressy" flip-flops and is the time travel adventure series, In Times Like These, and The Skylighter Adventures. Nathan, of course, isn't just an author, but he is also an aviator and the man behind Book Faces Live and we talk about all three things, and more.

    Prior to the interview, Mark gives a personal update that includes:

    • His story "Active Reader" appearing in the latest issue of Pulphouse Magazine (#3) and how that had been a long-time goal
    • The royalty check received from McGraw/Nelson for a short story "Almost" that is being used in a British Columbia high school curriculum
    • He considers how both of these "new" items are stories that were previously published and yet can still result in residual income

    Mark then thanks new Stark Reflections Patron, Amy Teegan and all existing Patrons who support the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections

    In the interview, Mark and Nathan talk about:

    • Nathan's latest book, THE WARP CLOCK and its tag-line "To save her future, he can't have one." and the stand-alone nature of this series (THE WARP CLOCK is book 4 in the series) that allows a reader to jump in at any book
    • How time travel isn't just a trope that is being used and, instead, is an integral part of the world and story, in the same way that J.K. Rowling used magic in her Harry Potter universe
    • The first person present tense POV that is used for the majority of these books that are told through Benjamin's perspective
    • The genesis of the SKYLIGHTER adventures, based on the quiet and calm that Nathan experienced while flying a plane. He imagined the concept of what if the sky was actually as busy as the ocean?
    • The advice that Nathan would give to his younger self just starting writing
    • The branding Nathan created for his series, landing on using Damonza covers and then taking a hands-off approach to let them do what they do best
    • The reasoning behind why Nathan started Book Faces Live (to fill a gap in his own weekly podcast listening routine) and how he use his podcast to learn and gather information
    • The fact that, unlike many writers, Nathan is an extrovert; always where and when Nathan likes to write
    • The deliberate placement of Benjamin from the IN TIMES LIKE THESE series in 2009

    After the interview, Mark talks about the tech issue that affected the tail end of the chat, and reflects upon how Nathan handled the unexpected issue quite professionally and effectively. He reminds writers that these types of things will happen and that it is important to remember the audience is actually cheering for you and you are in this together.

    Mark remembers the way Nathan thought of the reader when working on his book covers, and suggests that Nathan did the exact same thing here during the tech issue - he considered the audience and did his best to safely "land" the podcast.

    The lesson? When things go wrong, take a breath, and consider the audience.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     35:24 false 1 38 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews Nathan Van Coops who claims that he lives on a diet comprised mainly of tacos. He enjoys old planes, motorcycles, and Volkswagens, contends that there is such a thing as "dressy" flip-flops and is the time travel adventure series, In Times Like These, and The Skylighter Adventures. Nathan, of course, isn't just an author, but he is also an aviator and the man behind Book Faces Live and we talk about all three things, and more. Prior to the interview, Mark gives a personal update that includes: His story "Active Reader" appearing in the latest issue of Pulphouse Magazine (#3) and how that had been a long-time goal The royalty check received from McGraw/Nelson for a short story "Almost" that is being used in a British Columbia high school curriculum He considers how both of these "new" items are stories that were previously published and yet can still result in residual income Mark then thanks new Stark Reflections Patron, Amy Teegan and all existing Patrons who support the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections In the interview, Mark and Nathan talk about: Nathan's latest book, THE WARP CLOCK and its tag-line "To save her future, he can't have one." and the stand-alone nature of this series (THE WARP CLOCK is book 4 in the series) that allows a reader to jump in at any book How time travel isn't just a trope that is being used and, instead, is an integral part of the world and story, in the same way that J.K. Rowling used magic in her Harry Potter universe The first person present tense POV that is used for the majority of these books that are told through Benjamin's perspective The genesis of the SKYLIGHTER adventures, based on the quiet and calm that Nathan experienced while flying a plane. He imagined the concept of what if the sky was actually as busy as the ocean? The advice that Nathan would give to his younger self just starting writing The branding Nathan created for his series, landing on using Damonza covers and then taking a hands-off approach to let them do what they do best The reasoning behind why Nathan started Book Faces Live (to fill a gap in his own weekly podcast listening routine) and how he use his podcast to learn and gather information The fact that, unlike many writers, Nathan is an extrovert; always where and when Nathan likes to write The deliberate placement of Benjamin from the IN TIMES LIKE THESE series in 2009 After the interview, Mark talks about the tech issue that affected the tail end of the chat, and reflects upon how Nathan handled the unexpected issue quite professionally and effectively. He reminds writers that these types of things will happen and that it is important to remember the audience is actually cheering for you and you are in this together. Mark remembers the way Nathan thought of the reader when working on his book covers, and suggests that Nathan did the exact same thing here during the tech issue - he considered the audience and did his best to safely "land" the podcast. The lesson? When things go wrong, take a breath, and consider the audience.   Links of Interest: Nathan's Website Book Faces Live Nathan's Interview with Mark (Episode 37) Pulphouse #3 (featuring Mark's story "Active Reader") Damonza (Book Cover Services) Findaway Voices Stark Reflections on PatreonMark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark interviews Nathan Van Coops who claims that he lives on a diet comprised mainly of tacos. He enjoys old planes, motorcycles, and Volkswagens, contends that there is such a thing as "dressy" flip-flops and is the time travel adventure series, In Times Like These, and The Skylighter Adventures. Nathan, of course, isn't just an author, but he is also an aviator and the man behind Book Faces Live and we talk about all three things, and more. Prior to the interview, Mark gives a personal update that includes: His story "Active Reader" appearing in the latest issue of Pulphouse Magazine (#3) and how that had been a long-time goal The royalty check received from McGraw/Nelson for a short story "Almost" that is being used in a British Columbia high school curriculum He considers how both of these "new" items are stories that were previously published and yet can still result in residual income Mark then thanks new Stark Reflections Patron, Amy Teegan and all existing Patrons who support the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections In the interview, Mark and Nathan talk about: Nathan's latest book, THE WARP CLOCK and its tag-line "To save her future, he can't have one." and the stand-alone nature of this series (THE WARP CLOCK is book 4 in the series) that allows a reader to jump in at any book How time travel isn't just a trope that is being used and, instead, is an integral part of the world and story, in the same way that J.K. Rowling used magic in her Harry Potter universe The first person present tense POV that is used for the majority of these books that are told through Benjamin's perspective The genesis of the SKYLIGHTER adventures, based on the quiet and calm that Nathan experienced while flying a plane. He imagined the concept of what if the sky was actually as busy as the ocean? The advice that Nathan would give to his younger self just starting writing The branding Nathan created for his series, landing on using Damonza covers and then taking a hands-off approach to let them do what they do best The reasoning behind why Nathan started Book Faces Live (to fill a gap in his own weekly podcast listening routine) and how he use his podcast to learn and gather information The fact that, unlike many writers, Nathan is an extrovert; always where and when Nathan likes to write The deliberate placement of Benjamin from the IN TIMES LIKE THESE series in 2009 After the interview, Mark talks about the tech issue that affected the tail end of the chat, and reflects upon how Nathan handled the unexpected issue quite professionally and effectively. He reminds writers that these types of things will happen and that it is important to remember the audience is actually cheering for you and you are in this together. Mark remembers the way Nathan thought of the reader when working on his book covers, and suggests that Nathan did the exact same thing here during the tech issue - he considered the audience and did his best to safely "land" the podcast. The lesson? When things go wrong, take a breath, and consider the audience.   Links of Interest: Nathan's Website Book Faces Live Nathan's Interview with Mark (Episode 37) Pulphouse #3 (featuring Mark's story "Active Reader") Damonza (Book Cover Services) Findaway Voices Stark Reflections on Patreon     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 037 - The Inner Dominatrix on Being a Badass in Business The Inner Dominatrix on Being a Badass in Business Fri, 07 Sep 2018 10:49:52 +0000 Mark chats with Dana Pharant, a business owner, a speaker, an author and the host of the Inner Dominatrix Podcast, about her new book The Inner Dominatrix Guide: Become a Badass in Business.

    Before the interview, Mark shares a few personal updates:

    • Misadventures of the cat and the headset cord
    • Experience using PublishDrive
    • Getting Sean into indie audiobooks (and a mention that this podcast is sponsored by Findaway Voices)

    Mark also thanks new Patrons of the show, Joanna Penn and Ellie Ashe as well as all existing patrons who support the podcast via Patreon.

    In their chat, Mark and Dana discuss:

    The back-story and where the use of "Dominatrix" comes from (Dana spent 6 years as a Dominatrix) how principles of healing were learned through that experience which Dana has been able to apply to the concept of power, space and authority that are integral to the Inner Dominatrix

    • The intriguing parallels between the role of Dominatrix and the role of Author
    • Where the "Badass" attitude comes from and the energy that it can put people into
    • The way that creative people can really shrink back when it comes to the business, marketing and promoting of their work
    • The last thing that a person who is tied up and blind-folded wants to hear
    • The importance of leaning into being unapologetic in one's approach
    • The energy-based concept of "practical woo"
    • The three main principles that Dana teaches: 1) Getting you out of the "wrongness of you" 2) Connecting with and following your intuition 3) Being willing to lose it all
    • Her forthcoming book launch (October 15th) and the early-preview launch speaking event on Sept 26th

    After the interview, Mark reflects about the concept that Dana mentions of "stepping into authority" and how he believes this to be important for authors. He also talks about his friend James A. Owen, who regularly reminds authors of not downplaying the importance and value of what they do.

     

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark chats with Dana Pharant, a business owner, a speaker, an author and the host of the Inner Dominatrix Podcast, about her new book The Inner Dominatrix Guide: Become a Badass in Business.

    Before the interview, Mark shares a few personal updates:

    • Misadventures of the cat and the headset cord
    • Experience using PublishDrive
    • Getting Sean into indie audiobooks (and a mention that this podcast is sponsored by Findaway Voices)

    Mark also thanks new Patrons of the show, Joanna Penn and Ellie Ashe as well as all existing patrons who support the podcast via Patreon.

    In their chat, Mark and Dana discuss:

    The back-story and where the use of "Dominatrix" comes from (Dana spent 6 years as a Dominatrix) how principles of healing were learned through that experience which Dana has been able to apply to the concept of power, space and authority that are integral to the Inner Dominatrix

    • The intriguing parallels between the role of Dominatrix and the role of Author
    • Where the "Badass" attitude comes from and the energy that it can put people into
    • The way that creative people can really shrink back when it comes to the business, marketing and promoting of their work
    • The last thing that a person who is tied up and blind-folded wants to hear
    • The importance of leaning into being unapologetic in one's approach
    • The energy-based concept of "practical woo"
    • The three main principles that Dana teaches: 1) Getting you out of the "wrongness of you" 2) Connecting with and following your intuition 3) Being willing to lose it all
    • Her forthcoming book launch (October 15th) and the early-preview launch speaking event on Sept 26th

    After the interview, Mark reflects about the concept that Dana mentions of "stepping into authority" and how he believes this to be important for authors. He also talks about his friend James A. Owen, who regularly reminds authors of not downplaying the importance and value of what they do.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     29:34 false 1 37 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark chats with Dana Pharant, a business owner, a speaker, an author and the host of the Inner Dominatrix Podcast, about her new book The Inner Dominatrix Guide: Become a Badass in Business. Before the interview, Mark shares a few personal updates: Misadventures of the cat and the headset cord Experience using PublishDrive Getting Sean into indie audiobooks (and a mention that this podcast is sponsored by Findaway Voices) Mark also thanks new Patrons of the show, Joanna Penn and Ellie Ashe as well as all existing patrons who support the podcast via Patreon. In their chat, Mark and Dana discuss: The back-story and where the use of "Dominatrix" comes from (Dana spent 6 years as a Dominatrix) how principles of healing were learned through that experience which Dana has been able to apply to the concept of power, space and authority that are integral to the Inner Dominatrix The intriguing parallels between the role of Dominatrix and the role of Author Where the "Badass" attitude comes from and the energy that it can put people into The way that creative people can really shrink back when it comes to the business, marketing and promoting of their work The last thing that a person who is tied up and blind-folded wants to hear The importance of leaning into being unapologetic in one's approach The energy-based concept of "practical woo" The three main principles that Dana teaches: 1) Getting you out of the "wrongness of you" 2) Connecting with and following your intuition 3) Being willing to lose it all Her forthcoming book launch (October 15th) and the early-preview launch speaking event on Sept 26th After the interview, Mark reflects about the concept that Dana mentions of "stepping into authority" and how he believes this to be important for authors. He also talks about his friend James A. Owen, who regularly reminds authors of not downplaying the importance and value of what they do.   Links of Interest: Dana Pharant: The Dominatrix's Guide to Inner Power in Business Stark Reflections Episode 30 (previous appearance by Dana): Target Markets & Relationships Episode 77 of Dana's podcast (Dana interviews Mark about the Transition in his life) Findaway Voices PublishDrive CAPS: Canadian Association of Professional Speakers Dana's CAPS Speaker Profile Mark's CAPS Speaker Profile Stark Reflections Listener Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections Sean Costello James A Owen Superstars Writing Seminars The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreMark chats with Dana Pharant, a business owner, a speaker, an author and the host of the Inner Dominatrix Podcast, about her new book The Inner Dominatrix Guide: Become a Badass in Business. Before the interview, Mark shares a few personal updates: Misadventures of the cat and the headset cord Experience using PublishDrive Getting Sean into indie audiobooks (and a mention that this podcast is sponsored by Findaway Voices) Mark also thanks new Patrons of the show, Joanna Penn and Ellie Ashe as well as all existing patrons who support the podcast via Patreon. In their chat, Mark and Dana discuss: The back-story and where the use of "Dominatrix" comes from (Dana spent 6 years as a Dominatrix) how principles of healing were learned through that experience which Dana has been able to apply to the concept of power, space and authority that are integral to the Inner Dominatrix The intriguing parallels between the role of Dominatrix and the role of Author Where the "Badass" attitude comes from and the energy that it can put people into The way that creative people can really shrink back when it comes to the business, marketing and promoting of their work The last thing that a person who is tied up and blind-folded wants to hear The importance of leaning into being unapologetic in one's approach The energy-based concept of "practical woo" The three main principles that Dana teaches: 1) Getting you out of the "wrongness of you" 2) Connecting with and following your intuition 3) Being willing to lose it all Her forthcoming book launch (October 15th) and the early-preview launch speaking event on Sept 26th After the interview, Mark reflects about the concept that Dana mentions of "stepping into authority" and how he believes this to be important for authors. He also talks about his friend James A. Owen, who regularly reminds authors of not downplaying the importance and value of what they do.   Links of Interest: Dana Pharant: The Dominatrix's Guide to Inner Power in Business Stark Reflections Episode 30 (previous appearance by Dana): Target Markets & Relationships Episode 77 of Dana's podcast (Dana interviews Mark about the Transition in his life) Findaway Voices PublishDrive CAPS: Canadian Association of Professional Speakers Dana's CAPS Speaker Profile Mark's CAPS Speaker Profile Stark Reflections Listener Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections Sean Costello James A Owen Superstars Writing Seminars The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 036 - It's Not You, It's Your Crappy Book Cover It's Not You, It's Your Crappy Book Cover Fri, 31 Aug 2018 00:19:47 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark talks about two specific examples from his own publishing experience, where having a crappy cover didn't help sales. He walks through the back-story for the eBooks in question, his reasoning behind the initial crappy cover as well as the positive results that came after he recognized his mistake and created a better cover.

    He explains that he is using personal examples for a few reasons, which include:

    • the fact that it's easier to see fault in someone else's mistakes - perhaps seeing the mistakes Mark made makes it easier for an author to understand for their own purposes
    • to illustrate that, even though he has fourteen years of experience in self-publishing and more than twenty-five years in bookselling, and should know better, he still makes mistakes - which means everyone can and will make these mistakes (so don't beat yourself up over it)

    Prior to the main content of the podcast, Mark provides a personal update about two items.

    1) Recently received audiobook royalties from ListenUp Audiobooks and Findaway Voices. (With a mention that this podcast is sponsored by Findaway Voices - because he's just that cool at slipping it into the conversation)

    2) A recent promotion that Mark ran on his book A CANADIAN WEREWOLF IN NEW YORK in order to help support the Kobo/Walmart promo that is taking place. Mark walks through the logistics of how some of the Kobo lists are set up and explains the third-party promo from Written Word Media that he used to help elevate the ranking and status of his book in the Kobo/Walmart list. He shares the numbers and results (so far) for this promo (the details from this are shared with Mark's Patreon supporters)

     

     

    The two examples of book cover updates that Mark walks through are:

    Spirits - a 6,000 word short story that Mark originally launched in eBook in June of 2011. Mark walks through the reasoning behind publishing this short story as an eBook in terms of the financial return based on his original goals to sell the story to a pro market.

    Snowman Shivers - Two snowman-themed tales that Mark launched in 2012 that required BOTH a cover and a sub-title makeover.

    Mark closes up the podcast by thanking his Patreon supporters as well as explaining a new option that Kobo Writing Life recently announced to authors, the ability to transfer ratings and reviews to new eBooks, and what that can mean from authors interested in updating/changing their distribution to Kobo methods.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     In this solo episode, Mark talks about two specific examples from his own publishing experience, where having a crappy cover didn't help sales. He walks through the back-story for the eBooks in question, his reasoning behind the initial crappy cover as well as the positive results that came after he recognized his mistake and created a better cover.

    He explains that he is using personal examples for a few reasons, which include:

    • the fact that it's easier to see fault in someone else's mistakes - perhaps seeing the mistakes Mark made makes it easier for an author to understand for their own purposes
    • to illustrate that, even though he has fourteen years of experience in self-publishing and more than twenty-five years in bookselling, and should know better, he still makes mistakes - which means everyone can and will make these mistakes (so don't beat yourself up over it)

    Prior to the main content of the podcast, Mark provides a personal update about two items.

    1) Recently received audiobook royalties from ListenUp Audiobooks and Findaway Voices. (With a mention that this podcast is sponsored by Findaway Voices - because he's just that cool at slipping it into the conversation)

    2) A recent promotion that Mark ran on his book A CANADIAN WEREWOLF IN NEW YORK in order to help support the Kobo/Walmart promo that is taking place. Mark walks through the logistics of how some of the Kobo lists are set up and explains the third-party promo from Written Word Media that he used to help elevate the ranking and status of his book in the Kobo/Walmart list. He shares the numbers and results (so far) for this promo (the details from this are shared with Mark's Patreon supporters)

    The two examples of book cover updates that Mark walks through are:

    Spirits - a 6,000 word short story that Mark originally launched in eBook in June of 2011. Mark walks through the reasoning behind publishing this short story as an eBook in terms of the financial return based on his original goals to sell the story to a pro market.

    Snowman Shivers - Two snowman-themed tales that Mark launched in 2012 that required BOTH a cover and a sub-title makeover.

    Mark closes up the podcast by thanking his Patreon supporters as well as explaining a new option that Kobo Writing Life recently announced to authors, the ability to transfer ratings and reviews to new eBooks, and what that can mean from authors interested in updating/changing their distribution to Kobo methods.

    Links of Interest:

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     34:57 false 1 36 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark talks about two specific examples from his own publishing experience, where having a crappy cover didn't help sales. He walks through the back-story for the eBooks in question, his reasoning behind the initial crappy cover as well as the positive results that came after he recognized his mistake and created a better cover. He explains that he is using personal examples for a few reasons, which include: the fact that it's easier to see fault in someone else's mistakes - perhaps seeing the mistakes Mark made makes it easier for an author to understand for their own purposes to illustrate that, even though he has fourteen years of experience in self-publishing and more than twenty-five years in bookselling, and should know better, he still makes mistakes - which means everyone can and will make these mistakes (so don't beat yourself up over it) Prior to the main content of the podcast, Mark provides a personal update about two items. 1) Recently received audiobook royalties from ListenUp Audiobooks and Findaway Voices. (With a mention that this podcast is sponsored by Findaway Voices - because he's just that cool at slipping it into the conversation) 2) A recent promotion that Mark ran on his book A CANADIAN WEREWOLF IN NEW YORK in order to help support the Kobo/Walmart promo that is taking place. Mark walks through the logistics of how some of the Kobo lists are set up and explains the third-party promo from Written Word Media that he used to help elevate the ranking and status of his book in the Kobo/Walmart list. He shares the numbers and results (so far) for this promo (the details from this are shared with Mark's Patreon supporters)     The two examples of book cover updates that Mark walks through are: Spirits - a 6,000 word short story that Mark originally launched in eBook in June of 2011. Mark walks through the reasoning behind publishing this short story as an eBook in terms of the financial return based on his original goals to sell the story to a pro market. Snowman Shivers - Two snowman-themed tales that Mark launched in 2012 that required BOTH a cover and a sub-title makeover. Mark closes up the podcast by thanking his Patreon supporters as well as explaining a new option that Kobo Writing Life recently announced to authors, the ability to transfer ratings and reviews to new eBooks, and what that can mean from authors interested in updating/changing their distribution to Kobo methods.   Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Episode 33: Two Wrongs That Make a Writer Spite Episode 8: Author Promotions with Ricci Wolman from Written Word Media (BargainBooksy/FreeBooksy) Transfering Your Ratings & Rankings on Kobo Details about Canadian Werewolf Promo Cost, Numbers, Results, for all Patreon Supporters   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this solo episode, Mark talks about two specific examples from his own publishing experience, where having a crappy cover didn't help sales. He walks through the back-story for the eBooks in question, his reasoning behind the initial crappy cover as well as the positive results that came after he recognized his mistake and created a better cover. He explains that he is using personal examples for a few reasons, which include: the fact that it's easier to see fault in someone else's mistakes - perhaps seeing the mistakes Mark made makes it easier for an author to understand for their own purposes to illustrate that, even though he has fourteen years of experience in self-publishing and more than twenty-five years in bookselling, and should know better, he still makes mistakes - which means everyone can and will make these mistakes (so don't beat yourself up over it) Prior to the main content of the podcast, Mark provides a personal update about two items. 1) Recently received audiobook royalties from ListenUp Audiobooks and Findaway Voices. (With a mention that this podcast is sponsored by Findaway Voices - because he's just that cool at slipping it into the conversation) 2) A recent promotion that Mark ran on his book A CANADIAN WEREWOLF IN NEW YORK in order to help support the Kobo/Walmart promo that is taking place. Mark walks through the logistics of how some of the Kobo lists are set up and explains the third-party promo from Written Word Media that he used to help elevate the ranking and status of his book in the Kobo/Walmart list. He shares the numbers and results (so far) for this promo (the details from this are shared with Mark's Patreon supporters)     The two examples of book cover updates that Mark walks through are: Spirits - a 6,000 word short story that Mark originally launched in eBook in June of 2011. Mark walks through the reasoning behind publishing this short story as an eBook in terms of the financial return based on his original goals to sell the story to a pro market. Snowman Shivers - Two snowman-themed tales that Mark launched in 2012 that required BOTH a cover and a sub-title makeover. Mark closes up the podcast by thanking his Patreon supporters as well as explaining a new option that Kobo Writing Life recently announced to authors, the ability to transfer ratings and reviews to new eBooks, and what that can mean from authors interested in updating/changing their distribution to Kobo methods.   Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Episode 33: Two Wrongs That Make a Writer Spite Episode 8: Author Promotions with Ricci Wolman from Written Word Media (BargainBooksy/FreeBooksy) Transfering Your Ratings & Rankings on Kobo Details about Canadian Werewolf Promo Cost, Numbers, Results, for all Patreon Supporters   The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 035 - Lessons Learned From Novel Intensive Workshop Lessons Learned from the Novel Intensive Workshop Thu, 23 Aug 2018 00:37:00 +0000 This episode includes a conversation with three guests: Ara Grigorian, Janis Thomas and Julie Strauss. Ara and Janis are the brains and brawn behind the Novel Intensive Seminar and Workshop and Julie was a writer who has attended and benefited from these sessions.

    The Novel Intensive Workshop is a hands-on full day collaborative workshop in which writers are able to apply the Novel Intensive Tools and Principles to their current work in progress. Guided by best-selling author Janis Thomas and award-winning author Ara Grigorian, the workshop gives writers an opportunity to share their writing, ask questions, focus on their own and unique challenges, and receive immediate feedback. Hands-on exercises are provided which are designed to help writers hone their storytelling skills.

    For this episode's personal update, Mark shares the fact that this week he is embarking on a two day personal writing retreat to a location that is about a two hour's drive from home; while there, he will be focusing on finishing the first draft of a non-fiction book for writers that will be released under his Stark Publishing Solutions imprint. The book shares Mark's what he has learned about the business of writing and publishing in the more than 25 years he has been a writer, a bookseller and an industry representative.

    He also shares that he recently secured the audio rights for his novel I, DEATH back from Edge Publishing and plans on posting the project to Findaway Voices, this episode's sponsor.

    Mark thanks his Patreon sponsors and then moves to the main interview feature for this episode.

    In their conversation, Mark, Julie, Ara and Janis discuss:

    • How the Novel Intensive workshop first came together (Janis and Ara's own "meet cute" style reciprocal teaching relationship which led to the eventual collaborative workshop
    • The way that the workshop was born out of the desire to gather all the things Ara and Janis have learned about writing and then package it into an easily digestible info-filled interactive workshop that other writers could benefit from
    • Julie's discovery of the program via a presentation (a significantly abbreviated and truncated version of the full day workshop) that Ara gave at an annual RWA (Romance Writers of America) Conference and how, half-way through that session, she had that "a-ha" moment which helped solve a dilemma she'd been struggling with on a novel in progress
    • Why Julie plans on returning to some of the same workshops she has already attended for insights and inspiration on future projects, and how Ara and Janis always keep one of their own works in progress in the back of their minds while teaching, to draw similar inspiration
    • How Ara and Janis use the Novel Intensive principles in different ways they adapt into their own distinct writing processes
    • The thing that surprised Julie the most about the way that Janis and Ara teach together and the way that each of the 10 students in one particular workshop had their own unique "a-ha" moments at different times throughout the day
    • The underlying messages of the Novel Intesive workshop, such as "formula doesn't have to mean formulaic" and the importance that a writer fights for fully realizing the emotional moments in the story
    • The use of popular or well-known movies from multiple genres in teaching and highlighting examples of story and character moments through a workshop
    • How it's not about plot VS character, but rather how those two elements interact and play off one another
    • Julie's thoughts on what her investment in the Novel Intensive workshop (both money and time), has meant to her writing
    • The reason why this course is an in-person experience and the value that comes from the intimacy of the group (between 10 and 20 people per session)
    • A series of excellent tips for how writers can apply Novel Intensive techniques to being their own story coach
    • A look at the opening scene in Julie's Prosecco Heart and the way that the Novel Intensive workshop helped her with that novel
    • Forthcoming projects that Julie, Ara and Janis are each working on

    After the interview, Mark shares thoughts on two things.

    The first is the value of how you can learn something new from re-reading, re-watching, re-listening, re-learning, re-experiencing something.

    The second is magic and serendipity that can happen during physical encounters with other writers at workshops, conferences, etc which can be far more powerful than the experience of a digital or virtual one.

     

    ARA GRIGORIAN is the international award-winning author of Game of Love (2015), and Ten Year Dance (2017), his critically-acclaimed second novel. Ara is a technology executive in the entertainment industry. True to the Hollywood life, Ara wrote for a children's television pilot that could have made him rich (but didn't) and nearly sold a video game to a major publisher (who closed shop days later). Fascinated by the human species, Ara writes about choices, relationships, and second chances. He is a public speaker, a story coach, and a workshop leader for the Southern California Writers' Conference, Writer's Digest Novel Writing Conference, Santa Barbara Writers Conference, and others, including the popular Novel Intensive. Ara is represented by Stacey Donaghy of the Donaghy Literary Group.

    JANIS THOMAS is the author of best-selling What Remains True and All That's Left of Me from Lake Union, as well as three critically-acclaimed humorous Women's Fiction novels, Something New, Sweet Nothings, and Say Never. Award-winning Murder in A-Minor is the first book in her Musical Murder Mystery series featuring songwriting detective Samantha Wedlock. Janis is a popular workshop leader and speaker, and a passionate writing advocate. When she isn't writing or fulfilling her PTA duties, she loves to spend time with her kids, sing with her sister, play tennis, and throw lavish dinner parties with outrageous menus. She lives in Southern California with her husband, children, and two crazy dogs.


    JULIE STRAUSS is the author of the three stand-alone "Chefs in Love" novels that include Moonstone Heart, Hungry Heart and Prosecco Heart. She lives in Southern California with her husband and four kids. Julie says that she eats dark chocolate and drinks good wine and reads lots of books and regularly speaks in movie quotes. She used to publish romance novels under the pen name Emma Foster, but says she realized that she was way too lazy to keep up two online profiles in addition to all the other personalities inside her head. So she dumped the pen name, and now you can find her at social media places under the persona "Julie Wrote A Book."

    ]]>     This episode includes a conversation with three guests: Ara Grigorian, Janis Thomas and Julie Strauss. Ara and Janis are the brains and brawn behind the Novel Intensive Seminar and Workshop and Julie was a writer who has attended and benefited from these sessions.

    The Novel Intensive Workshop is a hands-on full day collaborative workshop in which writers are able to apply the Novel Intensive Tools and Principles to their current work in progress. Guided by best-selling author Janis Thomas and award-winning author Ara Grigorian, the workshop gives writers an opportunity to share their writing, ask questions, focus on their own and unique challenges, and receive immediate feedback. Hands-on exercises are provided which are designed to help writers hone their storytelling skills.

    For this episode's personal update, Mark shares the fact that this week he is embarking on a two day personal writing retreat to a location that is about a two hour's drive from home; while there, he will be focusing on finishing the first draft of a non-fiction book for writers that will be released under his Stark Publishing Solutions imprint. The book shares Mark's what he has learned about the business of writing and publishing in the more than 25 years he has been a writer, a bookseller and an industry representative.

    He also shares that he recently secured the audio rights for his novel I, DEATH back from Edge Publishing and plans on posting the project to Findaway Voices, this episode's sponsor.

    Mark thanks his Patreon sponsors and then moves to the main interview feature for this episode.

    In their conversation, Mark, Julie, Ara and Janis discuss:

    • How the Novel Intensive workshop first came together (Janis and Ara's own "meet cute" style reciprocal teaching relationship which led to the eventual collaborative workshop
    • The way that the workshop was born out of the desire to gather all the things Ara and Janis have learned about writing and then package it into an easily digestible info-filled interactive workshop that other writers could benefit from
    • Julie's discovery of the program via a presentation (a significantly abbreviated and truncated version of the full day workshop) that Ara gave at an annual RWA (Romance Writers of America) Conference and how, half-way through that session, she had that "a-ha" moment which helped solve a dilemma she'd been struggling with on a novel in progress
    • Why Julie plans on returning to some of the same workshops she has already attended for insights and inspiration on future projects, and how Ara and Janis always keep one of their own works in progress in the back of their minds while teaching, to draw similar inspiration
    • How Ara and Janis use the Novel Intensive principles in different ways they adapt into their own distinct writing processes
    • The thing that surprised Julie the most about the way that Janis and Ara teach together and the way that each of the 10 students in one particular workshop had their own unique "a-ha" moments at different times throughout the day
    • The underlying messages of the Novel Intesive workshop, such as "formula doesn't have to mean formulaic" and the importance that a writer fights for fully realizing the emotional moments in the story
    • The use of popular or well-known movies from multiple genres in teaching and highlighting examples of story and character moments through a workshop
    • How it's not about plot VS character, but rather how those two elements interact and play off one another
    • Julie's thoughts on what her investment in the Novel Intensive workshop (both money and time), has meant to her writing
    • The reason why this course is an in-person experience and the value that comes from the intimacy of the group (between 10 and 20 people per session)
    • A series of excellent tips for how writers can apply Novel Intensive techniques to being their own story coach
    • A look at the opening scene in Julie's Prosecco Heart and the way that the Novel Intensive workshop helped her with that novel
    • Forthcoming projects that Julie, Ara and Janis are each working on

    After the interview, Mark shares thoughts on two things.

    The first is the value of how you can learn something new from re-reading, re-watching, re-listening, re-learning, re-experiencing something.

    The second is magic and serendipity that can happen during physical encounters with other writers at workshops, conferences, etc which can be far more powerful than the experience of a digital or virtual one.

    ARA GRIGORIAN is the international award-winning author of Game of Love (2015), and Ten Year Dance (2017), his critically-acclaimed second novel. Ara is a technology executive in the entertainment industry. True to the Hollywood life, Ara wrote for a children's television pilot that could have made him rich (but didn't) and nearly sold a video game to a major publisher (who closed shop days later). Fascinated by the human species, Ara writes about choices, relationships, and second chances. He is a public speaker, a story coach, and a workshop leader for the Southern California Writers' Conference, Writer's Digest Novel Writing Conference, Santa Barbara Writers Conference, and others, including the popular Novel Intensive. Ara is represented by Stacey Donaghy of the Donaghy Literary Group.

    JANIS THOMAS is the author of best-selling What Remains True and All That's Left of Me from Lake Union, as well as three critically-acclaimed humorous Women's Fiction novels, Something New, Sweet Nothings, and Say Never. Award-winning Murder in A-Minor is the first book in her Musical Murder Mystery series featuring songwriting detective Samantha Wedlock. Janis is a popular workshop leader and speaker, and a passionate writing advocate. When she isn't writing or fulfilling her PTA duties, she loves to spend time with her kids, sing with her sister, play tennis, and throw lavish dinner parties with outrageous menus. She lives in Southern California with her husband, children, and two crazy dogs.

    JULIE STRAUSS is the author of the three stand-alone "Chefs in Love" novels that include Moonstone Heart, Hungry Heart and Prosecco Heart. She lives in Southern California with her husband and four kids. Julie says that she eats dark chocolate and drinks good wine and reads lots of books and regularly speaks in movie quotes. She used to publish romance novels under the pen name Emma Foster, but says she realized that she was way too lazy to keep up two online profiles in addition to all the other personalities inside her head. So she dumped the pen name, and now you can find her at social media places under the persona "Julie Wrote A Book."

    ]]>     50:31 false 1 35 bonus mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This episode includes a conversation with three guests: Ara Grigorian, Janis Thomas and Julie Strauss. Ara and Janis are the brains and brawn behind the Novel Intensive Seminar and Workshop and Julie was a writer who has attended and benefited from these sessions. The Novel Intensive Workshop is a hands-on full day collaborative workshop in which writers are able to apply the Novel Intensive Tools and Principles to their current work in progress. Guided by best-selling author Janis Thomas and award-winning author Ara Grigorian, the workshop gives writers an opportunity to share their writing, ask questions, focus on their own and unique challenges, and receive immediate feedback. Hands-on exercises are provided which are designed to help writers hone their storytelling skills. For this episode's personal update, Mark shares the fact that this week he is embarking on a two day personal writing retreat to a location that is about a two hour's drive from home; while there, he will be focusing on finishing the first draft of a non-fiction book for writers that will be released under his Stark Publishing Solutions imprint. The book shares Mark's what he has learned about the business of writing and publishing in the more than 25 years he has been a writer, a bookseller and an industry representative. He also shares that he recently secured the audio rights for his novel I, DEATH back from Edge Publishing and plans on posting the project to Findaway Voices, this episode's sponsor. Mark thanks his Patreon sponsors and then moves to the main interview feature for this episode. In their conversation, Mark, Julie, Ara and Janis discuss: How the Novel Intensive workshop first came together (Janis and Ara's own "meet cute" style reciprocal teaching relationship which led to the eventual collaborative workshop The way that the workshop was born out of the desire to gather all the things Ara and Janis have learned about writing and then package it into an easily digestible info-filled interactive workshop that other writers could benefit from Julie's discovery of the program via a presentation (a significantly abbreviated and truncated version of the full day workshop) that Ara gave at an annual RWA (Romance Writers of America) Conference and how, half-way through that session, she had that "a-ha" moment which helped solve a dilemma she'd been struggling with on a novel in progress Why Julie plans on returning to some of the same workshops she has already attended for insights and inspiration on future projects, and how Ara and Janis always keep one of their own works in progress in the back of their minds while teaching, to draw similar inspiration How Ara and Janis use the Novel Intensive principles in different ways they adapt into their own distinct writing processes The thing that surprised Julie the most about the way that Janis and Ara teach together and the way that each of the 10 students in one particular workshop had their own unique "a-ha" moments at different times throughout the day The underlying messages of the Novel Intesive workshop, such as "formula doesn't have to mean formulaic" and the importance that a writer fights for fully realizing the emotional moments in the story The use of popular or well-known movies from multiple genres in teaching and highlighting examples of story and character moments through a workshop How it's not about plot VS character, but rather how those two elements interact and play off one another Julie's thoughts on what her investment in the Novel Intensive workshop (both money and time), has meant to her writing The reason why this course is an in-person experience and the value that comes from the intimacy of the group (between 10 and 20 people per session) A series of excellent tips for how writers can apply Novel Intensive techniques to being their own story coach A look at the opening scene in Julie's Prosecco Heart and the way that the Novel Intensive workshop helped her with that novel Forthcoming projects that Julie, Ara and Janis are each working on After the interview, Mark shares thoughts on two things. The first is the value of how you can learn something new from re-reading, re-watching, re-listening, re-learning, re-experiencing something. The second is magic and serendipity that can happen during physical encounters with other writers at workshops, conferences, etc which can be far more powerful than the experience of a digital or virtual one.   ARA GRIGORIAN is the international award-winning author of Game of Love (2015), and Ten Year Dance (2017), his critically-acclaimed second novel. Ara is a technology executive in the entertainment industry. True to the Hollywood life, Ara wrote for a children's television pilot that could have made him rich (but didn't) and nearly sold a video game to a major publisher (who closed shop days later). Fascinated by the human species, Ara writes about choices, relationships, and second chances. He is a public speaker, a story coach, and a workshop leader for the Southern California Writers' Conference, Writer's Digest Novel Writing Conference, Santa Barbara Writers Conference, and others, including the popular Novel Intensive. Ara is represented by Stacey Donaghy of the Donaghy Literary Group. JANIS THOMAS is the author of best-selling What Remains True and All That's Left of Me from Lake Union, as well as three critically-acclaimed humorous Women's Fiction novels, Something New, Sweet Nothings, and Say Never. Award-winning Murder in A-Minor is the first book in her Musical Murder Mystery series featuring songwriting detective Samantha Wedlock. Janis is a popular workshop leader and speaker, and a passionate writing advocate. When she isn't writing or fulfilling her PTA duties, she loves to spend time with her kids, sing with her sister, play tennis, and throw lavish dinner parties with outrageous menus. She lives in Southern California with her husband, children, and two crazy dogs. JULIE STRAUSS is the author of the three stand-alone "Chefs in Love" novels that include Moonstone Heart, Hungry Heart and Prosecco Heart. She lives in Southern California with her husband and four kids. Julie says that she eats dark chocolate and drinks good wine and reads lots of books and regularly speaks in movie quotes. She used to publish romance novels under the pen name Emma Foster, but says she realized that she was way too lazy to keep up two online profiles in addition to all the other personalities inside her head. So she dumped the pen name, and now you can find her at social media places under the persona "Julie Wrote A Book."Mark Leslie LefebvreThis episode includes a conversation with three guests: Ara Grigorian, Janis Thomas and Julie Strauss. Ara and Janis are the brains and brawn behind the Novel Intensive Seminar and Workshop and Julie was a writer who has attended and benefited from these sessions. The Novel Intensive Workshop is a hands-on full day collaborative workshop in which writers are able to apply the Novel Intensive Tools and Principles to their current work in progress. Guided by best-selling author Janis Thomas and award-winning author Ara Grigorian, the workshop gives writers an opportunity to share their writing, ask questions, focus on their own and unique challenges, and receive immediate feedback. Hands-on exercises are provided which are designed to help writers hone their storytelling skills. For this episode's personal update, Mark shares the fact that this week he is embarking on a two day personal writing retreat to a location that is about a two hour's drive from home; while there, he will be focusing on finishing the first draft of a non-fiction book for writers that will be released under his Stark Publishing Solutions imprint. The book shares Mark's what he has learned about the business of writing and publishing in the more than 25 years he has been a writer, a bookseller and an industry representative. He also shares that he recently secured the audio rights for his novel I, DEATH back from Edge Publishing and plans on posting the project to Findaway Voices, this episode's sponsor. Mark thanks his Patreon sponsors and then moves to the main interview feature for this episode. In their conversation, Mark, Julie, Ara and Janis discuss: How the Novel Intensive workshop first came together (Janis and Ara's own "meet cute" style reciprocal teaching relationship which led to the eventual collaborative workshop The way that the workshop was born out of the desire to gather all the things Ara and Janis have learned about writing and then package it into an easily digestible info-filled interactive workshop that other writers could benefit from Julie's discovery of the program via a presentation (a significantly abbreviated and truncated version of the full day workshop) that Ara gave at an annual RWA (Romance Writers of America) Conference and how, half-way through that session, she had that "a-ha" moment which helped solve a dilemma she'd been struggling with on a novel in progress Why Julie plans on returning to some of the same workshops she has already attended for insights and inspiration on future projects, and how Ara and Janis always keep one of their own works in progress in the back of their minds while teaching, to draw similar inspiration How Ara and Janis use the Novel Intensive principles in different ways they adapt into their own distinct writing processes The thing that surprised Julie the most about the way that Janis and Ara teach together and the way that each of the 10 students in one particular workshop had their own unique "a-ha" moments at different times throughout the day The underlying messages of the Novel Intesive workshop, such as "formula doesn't have to mean formulaic" and the importance that a writer fights for fully realizing the emotional moments in the story The use of popular or well-known movies from multiple genres in teaching and highlighting examples of story and character moments through a workshop How it's not about plot VS character, but rather how those two elements interact and play off one another Julie's thoughts on what her investment in the Novel Intensive workshop (both money and time), has meant to her writing The reason why this course is an in-person experience and the value that comes from the intimacy of the group (between 10 and 20 people per session) A series of excellent tips for how writers can apply Novel Intensive techniques to being their own story coach A look at the opening scene in Julie's Prosecco Heart and the way that the Novel Intensive workshop helped her with that novel Forthcoming projects that Julie, Ara and Janis are each working on After the interview, Mark shares thoughts on two things. The first is the value of how you can learn something new from re-reading, re-watching, re-listening, re-learning, re-experiencing something. The second is magic and serendipity that can happen during physical encounters with other writers at workshops, conferences, etc which can be far more powerful than the experience of a digital or virtual one.   ARA GRIGORIAN is the international award-winning author of Game of Love (2015), and Ten Year Dance (2017), his critically-acclaimed second novel. Ara is a technology executive in the entertainment industry. True to the Hollywood life, Ara wrote for a children's television pilot that could have made him rich (but didn't) and nearly sold a video game to a major publisher (who closed shop days later). Fascinated by the human species, Ara writes about choices, relationships, and second chances. He is a public speaker, a story coach, and a workshop leader for the Southern California Writers' Conference, Writer's Digest Novel Writing Conference, Santa Barbara Writers Conference, and others, including the popular Novel Intensive. Ara is represented by Stacey Donaghy of the Donaghy Literary Group. JANIS THOMAS is the author of best-selling What Remains True and All That's Left of Me from Lake Union, as well as three critically-acclaimed humorous Women's Fiction novels, Something New, Sweet Nothings, and Say Never. Award-winning Murder in A-Minor is the first book in her Musical Murder Mystery series featuring songwriting detective Samantha Wedlock. Janis is a popular workshop leader and speaker, and a passionate writing advocate. When she isn't writing or fulfilling her PTA duties, she loves to spend time with her kids, sing with her sister, play tennis, and throw lavish dinner parties with outrageous menus. She lives in Southern California with her husband, children, and two crazy dogs. JULIE STRAUSS is the author of the three stand-alone "Chefs in Love" novels that include Moonstone Heart, Hungry Heart and Prosecco Heart. She lives in Southern California with her husband and four kids. Julie says that she eats dark chocolate and drinks good wine and reads lots of books and regularly speaks in movie quotes. She used to publish romance novels under the pen name Emma Foster, but says she realized that she was way too lazy to keep up two online profiles in addition to all the other personalities inside her head. So she dumped the pen name, and now you can find her at social media places under the persona "Julie Wrote A Book."     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 034 - Samantha Davidson on Inspiring Creatives Samantha Davidson on Inspiring Creatives Fri, 17 Aug 2018 11:40:40 +0000 Mark interviews Alberta writer Samantha Davidson a writer he met at the recent When Words Collide conference in Calgary about the author branding of hers that immediately caught his attention immediately and about her next plans while being just at the point of finishing the first novel she plans on publishing. They also talk about the way that she helps to inspire creative people, not just writers but creatives from all pursuits.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, including a few of the talks he presented at WWC.

    • Knowing the Basics and Steering Clear of the Pitfalls of Digital Publishing
    • What 25 Years as a Bookseller and Industry Rep Taught Me About the Business of Writing & Publishing

    The 2nd presentation is a bit of an early look at the non-fiction book on writing and publishing that Mark plans on releasing later this year.

    Links to PDFs of both presentations are available to all Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

    Mark also shares some info about a talk he did on the art and business of telling ghost stories, as well as the #FreeFridayFrights performed at WWC in front of a live studio audience and a chat about audiobook options for writers.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about them via www.starkreflections.ca/findaway

    In their chat, Mark and Samantha talk about

    • How Samantha has always been interested in writing and other creative pursuits, including photography; and the suspense novel that she finished years ago that is still sitting on a shelf
    • The way that NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) re-inspired her to get most of the first draft of a YA novel completed after being previously disheartened about her writing (with that book being the "first act" of something that appears to be a four-act series of books
    • Samantha's experience at When Words Collide, including details on how much value she took away as well as a negative experience with the "Live Action Slush" editor panel critique sessions (a live critique of anonymous submissions of first page readings of various submitted pieces), and how, this time around, with another year of experience writing under her belt, she has been able to recognize some of those writing rookie mistakes that she hadn't been able to see the first time through
    • Why Samantha did not give up even after getting her writer ego beat up a little
    • Some of the highlights from Samantha's experience at When Words Collide, which include recognition of how important that sense of community can be for a writer
    • The author branding that Samantha has already started on, which comes from her experience as a graphic designer and her long-time desire to create a community of followers sharing meaningful things and feeling inspired
    • Samantha's podcast "The Inspired Author"
    • The mentoring and coaching program where Samantha helps creative people with how to adapt their creative passions into a sustainable career, and the fact that she has a few open spots starting at the end of September
    • The "bookish soap company" that Samantha operates called "A Novel Idea" – soaps and similar products all inspired by classic literature - http://shopanovelidea.com/
    • The important things Samantha has learned about writing, including getting over the "downward" moment that comes right after that initial "getting-started high" that new writing and creating projects can come with as well as the risks that come with the pursuit of perfection
    • The recognition of the "sometimes it's not okay" dark moments and struggles that writers regularly deal with (but which usually stay hidden)
    • The next steps that Samantha is taking with her YA series, including the process of working with her editor, the query process and the open-ended approach

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects upon perfection, sharing the darker sides, "the good, the bad and the ugly" of a writer's life and the struggle of introversion that he regularly faces when at conferences.

     

    Links of Interest

     

    Samantha Davidson is a world-travelled photographer, who began her career as an editorial journalist for a weekly publication in British Columbia, Canada. After touching many of the arts, her heart brought her back to the written word. 

    She is currently working on her debut series – a young adult fantasy due to be published in 2019. Samantha offers mentoring and coaching services to "creatives" who are looking to build a career in writing, photography, or any creative business endeavour; truly believing her purpose is to inspire aspiring authors and artists in their dreams of marrying their passions and career. 

    Samantha lives in Alberta, Canada with her husband. Her work is the result of passion, positivity and perseverance.

    ]]>     Mark interviews Alberta writer Samantha Davidson a writer he met at the recent When Words Collide conference in Calgary about the author branding of hers that immediately caught his attention immediately and about her next plans while being just at the point of finishing the first novel she plans on publishing. They also talk about the way that she helps to inspire creative people, not just writers but creatives from all pursuits.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, including a few of the talks he presented at WWC.

    • Knowing the Basics and Steering Clear of the Pitfalls of Digital Publishing
    • What 25 Years as a Bookseller and Industry Rep Taught Me About the Business of Writing & Publishing

    The 2nd presentation is a bit of an early look at the non-fiction book on writing and publishing that Mark plans on releasing later this year.

    Links to PDFs of both presentations are available to all Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

    Mark also shares some info about a talk he did on the art and business of telling ghost stories, as well as the #FreeFridayFrights performed at WWC in front of a live studio audience and a chat about audiobook options for writers.

    This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about them via www.starkreflections.ca/findaway

    In their chat, Mark and Samantha talk about

    • How Samantha has always been interested in writing and other creative pursuits, including photography; and the suspense novel that she finished years ago that is still sitting on a shelf
    • The way that NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) re-inspired her to get most of the first draft of a YA novel completed after being previously disheartened about her writing (with that book being the "first act" of something that appears to be a four-act series of books
    • Samantha's experience at When Words Collide, including details on how much value she took away as well as a negative experience with the "Live Action Slush" editor panel critique sessions (a live critique of anonymous submissions of first page readings of various submitted pieces), and how, this time around, with another year of experience writing under her belt, she has been able to recognize some of those writing rookie mistakes that she hadn't been able to see the first time through
    • Why Samantha did not give up even after getting her writer ego beat up a little
    • Some of the highlights from Samantha's experience at When Words Collide, which include recognition of how important that sense of community can be for a writer
    • The author branding that Samantha has already started on, which comes from her experience as a graphic designer and her long-time desire to create a community of followers sharing meaningful things and feeling inspired
    • Samantha's podcast "The Inspired Author"
    • The mentoring and coaching program where Samantha helps creative people with how to adapt their creative passions into a sustainable career, and the fact that she has a few open spots starting at the end of September
    • The "bookish soap company" that Samantha operates called "A Novel Idea" – soaps and similar products all inspired by classic literature - http://shopanovelidea.com/
    • The important things Samantha has learned about writing, including getting over the "downward" moment that comes right after that initial "getting-started high" that new writing and creating projects can come with as well as the risks that come with the pursuit of perfection
    • The recognition of the "sometimes it's not okay" dark moments and struggles that writers regularly deal with (but which usually stay hidden)
    • The next steps that Samantha is taking with her YA series, including the process of working with her editor, the query process and the open-ended approach

    After the interview, Mark reflects upon perfection, sharing the darker sides, "the good, the bad and the ugly" of a writer's life and the struggle of introversion that he regularly faces when at conferences.

    Links of Interest

    Samantha Davidson is a world-travelled photographer, who began her career as an editorial journalist for a weekly publication in British Columbia, Canada. After touching many of the arts, her heart brought her back to the written word.

    She is currently working on her debut series – a young adult fantasy due to be published in 2019. Samantha offers mentoring and coaching services to "creatives" who are looking to build a career in writing, photography, or any creative business endeavour; truly believing her purpose is to inspire aspiring authors and artists in their dreams of marrying their passions and career. Samantha lives in Alberta, Canada with her husband. Her work is the result of passion, positivity and perseverance.

    ]]>     37:00 false 1 34 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Alberta writer Samantha Davidson a writer he met at the recent When Words Collide conference in Calgary about the author branding of hers that immediately caught his attention immediately and about her next plans while being just at the point of finishing the first novel she plans on publishing. They also talk about the way that she helps to inspire creative people, not just writers but creatives from all pursuits. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, including a few of the talks he presented at WWC. Knowing the Basics and Steering Clear of the Pitfalls of Digital Publishing What 25 Years as a Bookseller and Industry Rep Taught Me About the Business of Writing & Publishing The 2nd presentation is a bit of an early look at the non-fiction book on writing and publishing that Mark plans on releasing later this year. Links to PDFs of both presentations are available to all Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Mark also shares some info about a talk he did on the art and business of telling ghost stories, as well as the #FreeFridayFrights performed at WWC in front of a live studio audience and a chat about audiobook options for writers. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about them via www.starkreflections.ca/findaway In their chat, Mark and Samantha talk about How Samantha has always been interested in writing and other creative pursuits, including photography; and the suspense novel that she finished years ago that is still sitting on a shelf The way that NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) re-inspired her to get most of the first draft of a YA novel completed after being previously disheartened about her writing (with that book being the "first act" of something that appears to be a four-act series of books Samantha's experience at When Words Collide, including details on how much value she took away as well as a negative experience with the "Live Action Slush" editor panel critique sessions (a live critique of anonymous submissions of first page readings of various submitted pieces), and how, this time around, with another year of experience writing under her belt, she has been able to recognize some of those writing rookie mistakes that she hadn't been able to see the first time through Why Samantha did not give up even after getting her writer ego beat up a little Some of the highlights from Samantha's experience at When Words Collide, which include recognition of how important that sense of community can be for a writer The author branding that Samantha has already started on, which comes from her experience as a graphic designer and her long-time desire to create a community of followers sharing meaningful things and feeling inspired Samantha's podcast "The Inspired Author" The mentoring and coaching program where Samantha helps creative people with how to adapt their creative passions into a sustainable career, and the fact that she has a few open spots starting at the end of September The "bookish soap company" that Samantha operates called "A Novel Idea" – soaps and similar products all inspired by classic literature - http://shopanovelidea.com/ The important things Samantha has learned about writing, including getting over the "downward" moment that comes right after that initial "getting-started high" that new writing and creating projects can come with as well as the risks that come with the pursuit of perfection The recognition of the "sometimes it's not okay" dark moments and struggles that writers regularly deal with (but which usually stay hidden) The next steps that Samantha is taking with her YA series, including the process of working with her editor, the query process and the open-ended approach   After the interview, Mark reflects upon perfection, sharing the darker sides, "the good, the bad and the ugly" of a writer's life and the struggle of introversion that he regularly faces when at conferences.   Links of Interest Samantha Davidson Website Facebook (AuthorSamanthaDavidson) Instagram Twitter Podcast YouTube When Words Collide Jonas Saul Darren Lacroix Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections Findaway Voices   Samantha Davidson is a world-travelled photographer, who began her career as an editorial journalist for a weekly publication in British Columbia, Canada. After touching many of the arts, her heart brought her back to the written word.  She is currently working on her debut series – a young adult fantasy due to be published in 2019. Samantha offers mentoring and coaching services to "creatives" who are looking to build a career in writing, photography, or any creative business endeavour; truly believing her purpose is to inspire aspiring authors and artists in their dreams of marrying their passions and career.  Samantha lives in Alberta, Canada with her husband. Her work is the result of passion, positivity and perseverance.Mark Leslie LefebvreMark interviews Alberta writer Samantha Davidson a writer he met at the recent When Words Collide conference in Calgary about the author branding of hers that immediately caught his attention immediately and about her next plans while being just at the point of finishing the first novel she plans on publishing. They also talk about the way that she helps to inspire creative people, not just writers but creatives from all pursuits. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, including a few of the talks he presented at WWC. Knowing the Basics and Steering Clear of the Pitfalls of Digital Publishing What 25 Years as a Bookseller and Industry Rep Taught Me About the Business of Writing & Publishing The 2nd presentation is a bit of an early look at the non-fiction book on writing and publishing that Mark plans on releasing later this year. Links to PDFs of both presentations are available to all Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast. Mark also shares some info about a talk he did on the art and business of telling ghost stories, as well as the #FreeFridayFrights performed at WWC in front of a live studio audience and a chat about audiobook options for writers. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about them via www.starkreflections.ca/findaway In their chat, Mark and Samantha talk about How Samantha has always been interested in writing and other creative pursuits, including photography; and the suspense novel that she finished years ago that is still sitting on a shelf The way that NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) re-inspired her to get most of the first draft of a YA novel completed after being previously disheartened about her writing (with that book being the "first act" of something that appears to be a four-act series of books Samantha's experience at When Words Collide, including details on how much value she took away as well as a negative experience with the "Live Action Slush" editor panel critique sessions (a live critique of anonymous submissions of first page readings of various submitted pieces), and how, this time around, with another year of experience writing under her belt, she has been able to recognize some of those writing rookie mistakes that she hadn't been able to see the first time through Why Samantha did not give up even after getting her writer ego beat up a little Some of the highlights from Samantha's experience at When Words Collide, which include recognition of how important that sense of community can be for a writer The author branding that Samantha has already started on, which comes from her experience as a graphic designer and her long-time desire to create a community of followers sharing meaningful things and feeling inspired Samantha's podcast "The Inspired Author" The mentoring and coaching program where Samantha helps creative people with how to adapt their creative passions into a sustainable career, and the fact that she has a few open spots starting at the end of September The "bookish soap company" that Samantha operates called "A Novel Idea" – soaps and similar products all inspired by classic literature - http://shopanovelidea.com/ The important things Samantha has learned about writing, including getting over the "downward" moment that comes right after that initial "getting-started high" that new writing and creating projects can come with as well as the risks that come with the pursuit of perfection The recognition of the "sometimes it's not okay" dark moments and struggles that writers regularly deal with (but which usually stay hidden) The next steps that Samantha is taking with her YA series, including the process of working with her editor, the query process and the open-ended approach   After the interview, Mark reflects upon perfection, sharing the darker sides, "the good, the bad and the ugly" of a writer's life and the struggle of introversion that he regularly faces when at conferences.   Links of Interest Samantha Davidson Website Facebook (AuthorSamanthaDavidson) Instagram Twitter Podcast YouTube When Words Collide Jonas Saul Darren Lacroix Stark Reflections Survey Patreon for Stark Reflections Findaway Voices   Samantha Davidson is a world-travelled photographer, who began her career as an editorial journalist for a weekly publication in British Columbia, Canada. After touching many of the arts, her heart brought her back to the written word.  She is currently working on her debut series – a young adult fantasy due to be published in 2019. Samantha offers mentoring and coaching services to "creatives" who are looking to build a career in writing, photography, or any creative business endeavour; truly believing her purpose is to inspire aspiring authors and artists in their dreams of marrying their passions and career.  Samantha lives in Alberta, Canada with her husband. Her work is the result of passion, positivity and perseverance.     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 033 - Two Wrongs That Make A Writer Spite Two Wrongs That Make A Writer Spite Thu, 09 Aug 2018 23:17:10 +0000 This week's episode is a solo one, where Mark reflects on reflect the Two Wrongs That Make a Writer Spite. He takes a look at two negative things that writers often focus on which can be demotivating and make them hateful or spiteful - all things that detract from what writers should be focusing on to move onward and upward in their writer journey.

    Before the main content, Mark shares a few personal updates, one of which is related to the sell-direct BookFunnel and audiobook sell-direct option recently offered by Findaway Voices via Authors Direct.

    This week's episode is sponsored by listeners and Patreon supporters to the show. Mark explains that his nickname for listeners have been christened as Reflectives, and the outlines who he believes his ideal listening audience to this podcast is.

    He also outlines the ways that listeners can help support the show, which are:

     

    a) continuing to listen to the podcast

    b) sharing the podcast with someone who would likely get value from it

    c) becoming a Patreon supporter for as little as $1 a month

    d) leaving a review on the podcasting/podcatcher platform of your choice

    e) filling out the recent podcast listener survey

    f) leaving a comment on show episodes where applicable.

     

    Writers have a difficult time. Just the creation aspect of writing is a tremendous feat in and of itself. There's so much to learn, so many mistakes to make along the way.

    And yet, writers tend to put more on their own shoulders that cause more pain, more angst, more anxiety, more self-doubt.

    Those two things are COMPARISON and REJECTION. Mark talks about each of them and shares his own reflections on ways that he attempts to overcome them and turn these two negatives into a positive.

    He looks at some personal fitness running goals recently achieved and the possibility of what might happen if he were to compare his personal achievements and goals with those master runners. He parallels that to the goals and comparisonitis that writers struggle with.

    Then he uses an analogy that author Kerrie Flanagan writes about in a recent book she wrote for writers, comparing the rejection a writer feels from either submissions not accepted or self-published books that haven't been selling. He looks at how a waiter might react to restaurant patrons NOT choosing the "daily special" and asks writers to consider the reasons for not choosing that special, which likely have NOTHING to do with the quality or value of that special, and thus shouldn't be taken personally.

    He reminds writers that they already have enough self-doubt and anxiety and needn't put the additional COMPARISON and REJECTION issues on their own shoulders.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    ]]>     This week's episode is a solo one, where Mark reflects on reflect the Two Wrongs That Make a Writer Spite. He takes a look at two negative things that writers often focus on which can be demotivating and make them hateful or spiteful - all things that detract from what writers should be focusing on to move onward and upward in their writer journey.

    Before the main content, Mark shares a few personal updates, one of which is related to the sell-direct BookFunnel and audiobook sell-direct option recently offered by Findaway Voices via Authors Direct.

    This week's episode is sponsored by listeners and Patreon supporters to the show. Mark explains that his nickname for listeners have been christened as Reflectives, and the outlines who he believes his ideal listening audience to this podcast is.

    He also outlines the ways that listeners can help support the show, which are:

    a) continuing to listen to the podcast

    b) sharing the podcast with someone who would likely get value from it

    c) becoming a Patreon supporter for as little as $1 a month

    d) leaving a review on the podcasting/podcatcher platform of your choice

    e) filling out the recent podcast listener survey

    f) leaving a comment on show episodes where applicable.

    Writers have a difficult time. Just the creation aspect of writing is a tremendous feat in and of itself. There's so much to learn, so many mistakes to make along the way.

    And yet, writers tend to put more on their own shoulders that cause more pain, more angst, more anxiety, more self-doubt.

    Those two things are COMPARISON and REJECTION. Mark talks about each of them and shares his own reflections on ways that he attempts to overcome them and turn these two negatives into a positive.

    He looks at some personal fitness running goals recently achieved and the possibility of what might happen if he were to compare his personal achievements and goals with those master runners. He parallels that to the goals and comparisonitis that writers struggle with.

    Then he uses an analogy that author Kerrie Flanagan writes about in a recent book she wrote for writers, comparing the rejection a writer feels from either submissions not accepted or self-published books that haven't been selling. He looks at how a waiter might react to restaurant patrons NOT choosing the "daily special" and asks writers to consider the reasons for not choosing that special, which likely have NOTHING to do with the quality or value of that special, and thus shouldn't be taken personally.

    He reminds writers that they already have enough self-doubt and anxiety and needn't put the additional COMPARISON and REJECTION issues on their own shoulders.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     27:19 false 1 33 full Mark Leslie mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This week's episode is a solo one, where Mark reflects on reflect the Two Wrongs That Make a Writer Spite. He takes a look at two negative things that writers often focus on which can be demotivating and make them hateful or spiteful - all things that detract from what writers should be focusing on to move onward and upward in their writer journey. Before the main content, Mark shares a few personal updates, one of which is related to the sell-direct BookFunnel and audiobook sell-direct option recently offered by Findaway Voices via Authors Direct. This week's episode is sponsored by listeners and Patreon supporters to the show. Mark explains that his nickname for listeners have been christened as Reflectives, and the outlines who he believes his ideal listening audience to this podcast is. He also outlines the ways that listeners can help support the show, which are:   a) continuing to listen to the podcast b) sharing the podcast with someone who would likely get value from it c) becoming a Patreon supporter for as little as $1 a month d) leaving a review on the podcasting/podcatcher platform of your choice e) filling out the recent podcast listener survey f) leaving a comment on show episodes where applicable.   Writers have a difficult time. Just the creation aspect of writing is a tremendous feat in and of itself. There's so much to learn, so many mistakes to make along the way. And yet, writers tend to put more on their own shoulders that cause more pain, more angst, more anxiety, more self-doubt. Those two things are COMPARISON and REJECTION. Mark talks about each of them and shares his own reflections on ways that he attempts to overcome them and turn these two negatives into a positive. He looks at some personal fitness running goals recently achieved and the possibility of what might happen if he were to compare his personal achievements and goals with those master runners. He parallels that to the goals and comparisonitis that writers struggle with. Then he uses an analogy that author Kerrie Flanagan writes about in a recent book she wrote for writers, comparing the rejection a writer feels from either submissions not accepted or self-published books that haven't been selling. He looks at how a waiter might react to restaurant patrons NOT choosing the "daily special" and asks writers to consider the reasons for not choosing that special, which likely have NOTHING to do with the quality or value of that special, and thus shouldn't be taken personally. He reminds writers that they already have enough self-doubt and anxiety and needn't put the additional COMPARISON and REJECTION issues on their own shoulders.   Links of Interest: Joanna Penn's Interview (Episode 2) Kerrie Flanagan's Interview (Episode 31) Bookfunnel Findaway Voices - Authors Direct Books2Read.com Mark's US Authors Direct Page for Stark Publishing Mark's home-page for EVASION (with links to ebook and audiobook purchasing)  This week's episode is a solo one, where Mark reflects on reflect the Two Wrongs That Make a Writer Spite. He takes a look at two negative things that writers often focus on which can be demotivating and make them hateful or spiteful - all things that detract from what writers should be focusing on to move onward and upward in their writer journey. Before the main content, Mark shares a few personal updates, one of which is related to the sell-direct BookFunnel and audiobook sell-direct option recently offered by Findaway Voices via Authors Direct. This week's episode is sponsored by listeners and Patreon supporters to the show. Mark explains that his nickname for listeners have been christened as Reflectives, and the outlines who he believes his ideal listening audience to this podcast is. He also outlines the ways that listeners can help support the show, which are:   a) continuing to listen to the podcast b) sharing the podcast with someone who would likely get value from it c) becoming a Patreon supporter for as little as $1 a month d) leaving a review on the podcasting/podcatcher platform of your choice e) filling out the recent podcast listener survey f) leaving a comment on show episodes where applicable.   Writers have a difficult time. Just the creation aspect of writing is a tremendous feat in and of itself. There's so much to learn, so many mistakes to make along the way. And yet, writers tend to put more on their own shoulders that cause more pain, more angst, more anxiety, more self-doubt. Those two things are COMPARISON and REJECTION. Mark talks about each of them and shares his own reflections on ways that he attempts to overcome them and turn these two negatives into a positive. He looks at some personal fitness running goals recently achieved and the possibility of what might happen if he were to compare his personal achievements and goals with those master runners. He parallels that to the goals and comparisonitis that writers struggle with. Then he uses an analogy that author Kerrie Flanagan writes about in a recent book she wrote for writers, comparing the rejection a writer feels from either submissions not accepted or self-published books that haven't been selling. He looks at how a waiter might react to restaurant patrons NOT choosing the "daily special" and asks writers to consider the reasons for not choosing that special, which likely have NOTHING to do with the quality or value of that special, and thus shouldn't be taken personally. He reminds writers that they already have enough self-doubt and anxiety and needn't put the additional COMPARISON and REJECTION issues on their own shoulders.   Links of Interest: Joanna Penn's Interview (Episode 2) Kerrie Flanagan's Interview (Episode 31) Bookfunnel Findaway Voices - Authors Direct Books2Read.com Mark's US Authors Direct Page for Stark Publishing Mark's home-page for EVASION (with links to ebook and audiobook purchasing)       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 032 - C C Humphreys on Hybrid Author Publishing C C Humphreys on Hybrid Author Publishing Fri, 03 Aug 2018 11:38:39 +0000 The feature interview in this episode is with C.C. Humphreys, an actor, playwright, fight choreographer and novelist. Chris has ten novels that were all traditionally published, several of which have been Globe and Mail Bestsellers and his historic novel "Plague won the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel in 2015.

    Prior to the interview Mark shares a few personal updates that include being in the Sudbury area to participate in a multi-author event in support of a book launch for his friend Mathew Del Papa for his latest book, Capreol at Bat. He also talks about how he has been slipping in the uploading of his #FreeFridayFrights weekly videos to YouTube as well as an update on how the free first in series sales for the Nocturnal Screams series are going on Kobo and iBooks.

    Mark then talks about how this podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices, has soft-launched a new product called Authors Direct, a platform and app that allows authors the ability to sell their audiobooks directly and keep 70% of the income.

    Mark's store that includes four of his audiobooks is live at . . .

    https://stark-publishing.myshopify.com

    . . . and he shares his excitement for what is likely to prove to be a major and game-changing tool for authors to be successful with audiobooks.

     

    In their conversation, Mark and Chris talk about:

    • Chris's new historical thriller, CHASING THE WIND, about a young woman aviatrix named Roxy Loewen and how Chris fell in love with Roxy as well as historical figures like Amelia Earhart while working on this book
    • Writing historical fiction and incorporating real-world figures into the fiction text and honoring who these people were by "fictionalizing real people and realizing fictional ones"
    • The difference between writing "modern" historical fiction (1930s) and writing earlier historical periods (such as the 1450s of the 1600s)
    • The amount of time and type of research that Chris does when working on a historical novel, including the risk that "research" can be procrastination
    • The cedar octagon hut in a luscious forest where Chris does most of his writing (and the back-chat he gets from other authors about this) which is just the right distance from the house
    • The changes to the publishing industry that have changed for mid-list authors, which is what led to Chris's latest novel being a hybrid published book (traditionally published in Canada by Penguin Random House) but indie or self-published by Chris in the US and the rest of the world
    • The Creative Academy that Chris learned from before starting on his self-publishing journey
    • Chris's decision to publish the book to Kindle exclusive for the first three months before going wide with it in 2019
    • The debate of the $4.99 USD price point Chris struggled with (which is far cheaper than the Canadian traditionally published price), or the US price of his traditionally published book
    • The countdown deal that Chris is running this week, the third party services he has used, such as Written Word Media, to help boost the sales and ranking for the title and the great service they provided to ensure that Chris would be pleased with the results of this investment
    • The rights Chris still has and has received back for a few of his previously published novels, such as Plague and Fire and the "soft-launch" he is conducting for Plague
    • Advice Chris offers to authors on the "performance" involved in doing author readings as well as a reminder that the people in the audience WANT the author to succeed and are there to be entertained and engaged with
    • A bit about Chris's parents, including that his dad was a fighter pilot and his mom was a spy, and his intrigue in the world and the drama that brought them together
    • How Chris's father met famous English playwriter Noel Coward and the very frank letter and writer advice that he wrote back on a manuscript his father sent to him which began with "Dear Peter, be prepared, I'm going to be rather beastly to you." but ended with amazingly safe advice: "You must read more, you must write much more, and let your characters dictate your plot rather than your plot dictate your characters."
    • How that advice leads to the oscillation between plot and characters that Chris talks about when teaching other writers
    • Chris's favorite advice to share with writers including removing the words "good" and "bad" from the writing of the first draft of a manuscript

     

    Links of Interest

    ]]>     The feature interview in this episode is with C.C. Humphreys, an actor, playwright, fight choreographer and novelist. Chris has ten novels that were all traditionally published, several of which have been Globe and Mail Bestsellers and his historic novel "Plague won the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel in 2015.

    Prior to the interview Mark shares a few personal updates that include being in the Sudbury area to participate in a multi-author event in support of a book launch for his friend Mathew Del Papa for his latest book, Capreol at Bat. He also talks about how he has been slipping in the uploading of his #FreeFridayFrights weekly videos to YouTube as well as an update on how the free first in series sales for the Nocturnal Screams series are going on Kobo and iBooks.

    Mark then talks about how this podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices, has soft-launched a new product called Authors Direct, a platform and app that allows authors the ability to sell their audiobooks directly and keep 70% of the income.

    Mark's store that includes four of his audiobooks is live at . . .

    https://stark-publishing.myshopify.com

    . . . and he shares his excitement for what is likely to prove to be a major and game-changing tool for authors to be successful with audiobooks.

    In their conversation, Mark and Chris talk about:

    • Chris's new historical thriller, CHASING THE WIND, about a young woman aviatrix named Roxy Loewen and how Chris fell in love with Roxy as well as historical figures like Amelia Earhart while working on this book
    • Writing historical fiction and incorporating real-world figures into the fiction text and honoring who these people were by "fictionalizing real people and realizing fictional ones"
    • The difference between writing "modern" historical fiction (1930s) and writing earlier historical periods (such as the 1450s of the 1600s)
    • The amount of time and type of research that Chris does when working on a historical novel, including the risk that "research" can be procrastination
    • The cedar octagon hut in a luscious forest where Chris does most of his writing (and the back-chat he gets from other authors about this) which is just the right distance from the house
    • The changes to the publishing industry that have changed for mid-list authors, which is what led to Chris's latest novel being a hybrid published book (traditionally published in Canada by Penguin Random House) but indie or self-published by Chris in the US and the rest of the world
    • The Creative Academy that Chris learned from before starting on his self-publishing journey
    • Chris's decision to publish the book to Kindle exclusive for the first three months before going wide with it in 2019
    • The debate of the $4.99 USD price point Chris struggled with (which is far cheaper than the Canadian traditionally published price), or the US price of his traditionally published book
    • The countdown deal that Chris is running this week, the third party services he has used, such as Written Word Media, to help boost the sales and ranking for the title and the great service they provided to ensure that Chris would be pleased with the results of this investment
    • The rights Chris still has and has received back for a few of his previously published novels, such as Plague and Fire and the "soft-launch" he is conducting for Plague
    • Advice Chris offers to authors on the "performance" involved in doing author readings as well as a reminder that the people in the audience WANT the author to succeed and are there to be entertained and engaged with
    • A bit about Chris's parents, including that his dad was a fighter pilot and his mom was a spy, and his intrigue in the world and the drama that brought them together
    • How Chris's father met famous English playwriter Noel Coward and the very frank letter and writer advice that he wrote back on a manuscript his father sent to him which began with "Dear Peter, be prepared, I'm going to be rather beastly to you." but ended with amazingly safe advice: "You must read more, you must write much more, and let your characters dictate your plot rather than your plot dictate your characters."
    • How that advice leads to the oscillation between plot and characters that Chris talks about when teaching other writers
    • Chris's favorite advice to share with writers including removing the words "good" and "bad" from the writing of the first draft of a manuscript

    Links of Interest

    ]]>     58:57 false 1 32 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)The feature interview in this episode is with C.C. Humphreys, an actor, playwright, fight choreographer and novelist. Chris has ten novels that were all traditionally published, several of which have been Globe and Mail Bestsellers and his historic novel "Plague won the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel in 2015. Prior to the interview Mark shares a few personal updates that include being in the Sudbury area to participate in a multi-author event in support of a book launch for his friend Mathew Del Papa for his latest book, Capreol at Bat. He also talks about how he has been slipping in the uploading of his #FreeFridayFrights weekly videos to YouTube as well as an update on how the free first in series sales for the Nocturnal Screams series are going on Kobo and iBooks. Mark then talks about how this podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices, has soft-launched a new product called Authors Direct, a platform and app that allows authors the ability to sell their audiobooks directly and keep 70% of the income. Mark's store that includes four of his audiobooks is live at . . . https://stark-publishing.myshopify.com . . . and he shares his excitement for what is likely to prove to be a major and game-changing tool for authors to be successful with audiobooks.   In their conversation, Mark and Chris talk about: Chris's new historical thriller, CHASING THE WIND, about a young woman aviatrix named Roxy Loewen and how Chris fell in love with Roxy as well as historical figures like Amelia Earhart while working on this book Writing historical fiction and incorporating real-world figures into the fiction text and honoring who these people were by "fictionalizing real people and realizing fictional ones" The difference between writing "modern" historical fiction (1930s) and writing earlier historical periods (such as the 1450s of the 1600s) The amount of time and type of research that Chris does when working on a historical novel, including the risk that "research" can be procrastination The cedar octagon hut in a luscious forest where Chris does most of his writing (and the back-chat he gets from other authors about this) which is just the right distance from the house The changes to the publishing industry that have changed for mid-list authors, which is what led to Chris's latest novel being a hybrid published book (traditionally published in Canada by Penguin Random House) but indie or self-published by Chris in the US and the rest of the world The Creative Academy that Chris learned from before starting on his self-publishing journey Chris's decision to publish the book to Kindle exclusive for the first three months before going wide with it in 2019 The debate of the $4.99 USD price point Chris struggled with (which is far cheaper than the Canadian traditionally published price), or the US price of his traditionally published book The countdown deal that Chris is running this week, the third party services he has used, such as Written Word Media, to help boost the sales and ranking for the title and the great service they provided to ensure that Chris would be pleased with the results of this investment The rights Chris still has and has received back for a few of his previously published novels, such as Plague and Fire and the "soft-launch" he is conducting for Plague Advice Chris offers to authors on the "performance" involved in doing author readings as well as a reminder that the people in the audience WANT the author to succeed and are there to be entertained and engaged with A bit about Chris's parents, including that his dad was a fighter pilot and his mom was a spy, and his intrigue in the world and the drama that brought them together How Chris's father met famous English playwriter Noel Coward and the very frank letter and writer advice that he wrote back on a manuscript his father sent to him which began with "Dear Peter, be prepared, I'm going to be rather beastly to you." but ended with amazingly safe advice: "You must read more, you must write much more, and let your characters dictate your plot rather than your plot dictate your characters." How that advice leads to the oscillation between plot and characters that Chris talks about when teaching other writers Chris's favorite advice to share with writers including removing the words "good" and "bad" from the writing of the first draft of a manuscript   Links of Interest C C Humphreys Website Facebook Author Page Twitter Author Central Page Pinterest Chasing The Wind Findaway Voices Free Friday FrightsMark Leslie LefebvreThe feature interview in this episode is with C.C. Humphreys, an actor, playwright, fight choreographer and novelist. Chris has ten novels that were all traditionally published, several of which have been Globe and Mail Bestsellers and his historic novel "Plague won the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel in 2015. Prior to the interview Mark shares a few personal updates that include being in the Sudbury area to participate in a multi-author event in support of a book launch for his friend Mathew Del Papa for his latest book, Capreol at Bat. He also talks about how he has been slipping in the uploading of his #FreeFridayFrights weekly videos to YouTube as well as an update on how the free first in series sales for the Nocturnal Screams series are going on Kobo and iBooks. Mark then talks about how this podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices, has soft-launched a new product called Authors Direct, a platform and app that allows authors the ability to sell their audiobooks directly and keep 70% of the income. Mark's store that includes four of his audiobooks is live at . . . https://stark-publishing.myshopify.com . . . and he shares his excitement for what is likely to prove to be a major and game-changing tool for authors to be successful with audiobooks.   In their conversation, Mark and Chris talk about: Chris's new historical thriller, CHASING THE WIND, about a young woman aviatrix named Roxy Loewen and how Chris fell in love with Roxy as well as historical figures like Amelia Earhart while working on this book Writing historical fiction and incorporating real-world figures into the fiction text and honoring who these people were by "fictionalizing real people and realizing fictional ones" The difference between writing "modern" historical fiction (1930s) and writing earlier historical periods (such as the 1450s of the 1600s) The amount of time and type of research that Chris does when working on a historical novel, including the risk that "research" can be procrastination The cedar octagon hut in a luscious forest where Chris does most of his writing (and the back-chat he gets from other authors about this) which is just the right distance from the house The changes to the publishing industry that have changed for mid-list authors, which is what led to Chris's latest novel being a hybrid published book (traditionally published in Canada by Penguin Random House) but indie or self-published by Chris in the US and the rest of the world The Creative Academy that Chris learned from before starting on his self-publishing journey Chris's decision to publish the book to Kindle exclusive for the first three months before going wide with it in 2019 The debate of the $4.99 USD price point Chris struggled with (which is far cheaper than the Canadian traditionally published price), or the US price of his traditionally published book The countdown deal that Chris is running this week, the third party services he has used, such as Written Word Media, to help boost the sales and ranking for the title and the great service they provided to ensure that Chris would be pleased with the results of this investment The rights Chris still has and has received back for a few of his previously published novels, such as Plague and Fire and the "soft-launch" he is conducting for Plague Advice Chris offers to authors on the "performance" involved in doing author readings as well as a reminder that the people in the audience WANT the author to succeed and are there to be entertained and engaged with A bit about Chris's parents, including that his dad was a fighter pilot and his mom was a spy, and his intrigue in the world and the drama that brought them together How Chris's father met famous English playwriter Noel Coward and the very frank letter and writer advice that he wrote back on a manuscript his father sent to him which began with "Dear Peter, be prepared, I'm going to be rather beastly to you." but ended with amazingly safe advice: "You must read more, you must write much more, and let your characters dictate your plot rather than your plot dictate your characters." How that advice leads to the oscillation between plot and characters that Chris talks about when teaching other writers Chris's favorite advice to share with writers including removing the words "good" and "bad" from the writing of the first draft of a manuscript   Links of Interest C C Humphreys Website Facebook Author Page Twitter Author Central Page Pinterest Chasing The Wind Findaway Voices Free Friday Frights     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 031 - Writing & Selling Magazine Articles with Kerrie Flanagan Writing & Selling Magazine Articles with Kerrie Flanagan Fri, 27 Jul 2018 02:10:32 +0000 Mark interviews Kerrie Flanagan, author of the author of Guide to Magazine Article Writing by Writer's Digest. Kerrie is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience. As a writing consultant, she works with writers, giving them the encouragement, support, resources and tools to find success on their writing journey. She is the author of 8 other books published under her label/publishing company Hot Chocolate Press.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a message from this episode's sponsor, the BOOKS GONE BAD BUNDLE from BundleRabbit, which features about 260,000 words from 11 authors in 2 books and 10 stories of "Speculative Visions of a Uniquely Portable Magic."

    You can learn more about the bundle via BundleRabbit or check it out at your favorite eBook retailer. http://books2read.com/booksgonebad

    Mark shares a few personal updates, which are:

    • The new FREE email course he launched via Reedsy called Kobo Hacks for Optimizing Sales. It is a series of 10 emails that each take about 5 minutes to read that will be automatically delivered to those who sign up
    • His story "Active Reader" appearing in the latest issue (#3) of Pulphouse Magazine and how that ties back to a goal/dream Mark had several decades ago when he first started writing

     

    In their conversation, Mark and Kerrie discuss:

    • How Kerrie hadn't been someone who had always dreamed about being a writer; and how it was her role as a teacher that ended up leading her down that particular path
    • The submission process she originally went through to get her first book published, and how that led to her self-publishing that book back in 1997 when self-publishing was an almost taboo path for a writer to take
    • The local writer critique group that first exposed Kerrie to the idea of magazine article writing
    • Kerrie's first magazine article query, which was to Better Homes & Gardens magazine
    • The genesis of a Colorado winery article that Kerrie wrote, based on her interest in wine
    • The biggest mistakes that writers make when trying to pitch article ideas to a magazine, which include not doing one's homework or properly researching and understanding the readership/audience of the magazine
    • One of the things that surprised Kerrie about the writing of this book after she had begun the process
    • The many hats that Kerrie has worn as a writer and publisher
    • The thrill of having a hugely respected publisher of books for writers behind her on this new book
    • The importance of building connections with people (as an underlying factor that contributed to this book happening)
    • The work Kerrie did as an event coordinator for Writer's Digest
    • The very meta experience of using an article from Writer's Digest to help Kerrie with negotiating the contract she signed with Writer's Digest for this new book
    • Hot Chocolate Press, the publishing company Kerrie heads up that has 18 books and 8 different authors
    • The challenge of balancing the various hats that Kerrie wears as a writer, a ghost-writer and a publisher
    • The three conferences that Kerrie will be speaking at in the next little while Mendocino Writer's Conference in CA (August), The Writer's Digest Conference in NYC (August), the new Indie Lab Writer's Digest Conference in Cincinnati (Sept)
    • How Kerrie connected with Angela MacKintosh, Editor-in-Chief of WOW! Women on Writing magazine and landed her first assignment with that market
    • The use of magazine article writing for building your author brand and expanding your reach in a way that isn't as likely via standard social media
    • How libraries and the internet have made the process of researching magazines so much easier than it used to be
    • The advice that Kerrie would give to a writer wanting to get started
    • Her avoidance of the use of the term "rejection" when a magazine article isn't accepted by an editor
    • The importance of not giving up, and how it took Kerrie 20 years of hard work to get where she is today

    After the interview, Mark shares his reflections on what the conversation with Kerrie and reading her new book made him think of, including his own rise through publishing selling short fiction to magazines (comparing that to non-fiction selling to magazines), and a few ideas he is planning on implementing related to niche article writing.

    He also talks about selling articles to magazines as an additional revenue source for a writer, helping to balance out dependencies and income streams.

    Mark then thanks listeners and Patreon supporters and closes off the show.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    ]]>     Mark interviews Kerrie Flanagan, author of the author of Guide to Magazine Article Writing by Writer's Digest. Kerrie is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience. As a writing consultant, she works with writers, giving them the encouragement, support, resources and tools to find success on their writing journey. She is the author of 8 other books published under her label/publishing company Hot Chocolate Press.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares a message from this episode's sponsor, the BOOKS GONE BAD BUNDLE from BundleRabbit, which features about 260,000 words from 11 authors in 2 books and 10 stories of "Speculative Visions of a Uniquely Portable Magic."

    You can learn more about the bundle via BundleRabbit or check it out at your favorite eBook retailer. http://books2read.com/booksgonebad

    Mark shares a few personal updates, which are:

    • The new FREE email course he launched via Reedsy called Kobo Hacks for Optimizing Sales. It is a series of 10 emails that each take about 5 minutes to read that will be automatically delivered to those who sign up
    • His story "Active Reader" appearing in the latest issue (#3) of Pulphouse Magazine and how that ties back to a goal/dream Mark had several decades ago when he first started writing

    In their conversation, Mark and Kerrie discuss:

    • How Kerrie hadn't been someone who had always dreamed about being a writer; and how it was her role as a teacher that ended up leading her down that particular path
    • The submission process she originally went through to get her first book published, and how that led to her self-publishing that book back in 1997 when self-publishing was an almost taboo path for a writer to take
    • The local writer critique group that first exposed Kerrie to the idea of magazine article writing
    • Kerrie's first magazine article query, which was to Better Homes & Gardens magazine
    • The genesis of a Colorado winery article that Kerrie wrote, based on her interest in wine
    • The biggest mistakes that writers make when trying to pitch article ideas to a magazine, which include not doing one's homework or properly researching and understanding the readership/audience of the magazine
    • One of the things that surprised Kerrie about the writing of this book after she had begun the process
    • The many hats that Kerrie has worn as a writer and publisher
    • The thrill of having a hugely respected publisher of books for writers behind her on this new book
    • The importance of building connections with people (as an underlying factor that contributed to this book happening)
    • The work Kerrie did as an event coordinator for Writer's Digest
    • The very meta experience of using an article from Writer's Digest to help Kerrie with negotiating the contract she signed with Writer's Digest for this new book
    • Hot Chocolate Press, the publishing company Kerrie heads up that has 18 books and 8 different authors
    • The challenge of balancing the various hats that Kerrie wears as a writer, a ghost-writer and a publisher
    • The three conferences that Kerrie will be speaking at in the next little while Mendocino Writer's Conference in CA (August), The Writer's Digest Conference in NYC (August), the new Indie Lab Writer's Digest Conference in Cincinnati (Sept)
    • How Kerrie connected with Angela MacKintosh, Editor-in-Chief of WOW! Women on Writing magazine and landed her first assignment with that market
    • The use of magazine article writing for building your author brand and expanding your reach in a way that isn't as likely via standard social media
    • How libraries and the internet have made the process of researching magazines so much easier than it used to be
    • The advice that Kerrie would give to a writer wanting to get started
    • Her avoidance of the use of the term "rejection" when a magazine article isn't accepted by an editor
    • The importance of not giving up, and how it took Kerrie 20 years of hard work to get where she is today

    After the interview, Mark shares his reflections on what the conversation with Kerrie and reading her new book made him think of, including his own rise through publishing selling short fiction to magazines (comparing that to non-fiction selling to magazines), and a few ideas he is planning on implementing related to niche article writing.

    He also talks about selling articles to magazines as an additional revenue source for a writer, helping to balance out dependencies and income streams.

    Mark then thanks listeners and Patreon supporters and closes off the show.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     47:39 false 1 31 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Kerrie Flanagan, author of the author of Guide to Magazine Article Writing by Writer's Digest. Kerrie is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience. As a writing consultant, she works with writers, giving them the encouragement, support, resources and tools to find success on their writing journey. She is the author of 8 other books published under her label/publishing company Hot Chocolate Press. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a message from this episode's sponsor, the BOOKS GONE BAD BUNDLE from BundleRabbit, which features about 260,000 words from 11 authors in 2 books and 10 stories of "Speculative Visions of a Uniquely Portable Magic." You can learn more about the bundle via BundleRabbit or check it out at your favorite eBook retailer. http://books2read.com/booksgonebad Mark shares a few personal updates, which are: The new FREE email course he launched via Reedsy called Kobo Hacks for Optimizing Sales. It is a series of 10 emails that each take about 5 minutes to read that will be automatically delivered to those who sign up His story "Active Reader" appearing in the latest issue (#3) of Pulphouse Magazine and how that ties back to a goal/dream Mark had several decades ago when he first started writing   In their conversation, Mark and Kerrie discuss: How Kerrie hadn't been someone who had always dreamed about being a writer; and how it was her role as a teacher that ended up leading her down that particular path The submission process she originally went through to get her first book published, and how that led to her self-publishing that book back in 1997 when self-publishing was an almost taboo path for a writer to take The local writer critique group that first exposed Kerrie to the idea of magazine article writing Kerrie's first magazine article query, which was to Better Homes & Gardens magazine The genesis of a Colorado winery article that Kerrie wrote, based on her interest in wine The biggest mistakes that writers make when trying to pitch article ideas to a magazine, which include not doing one's homework or properly researching and understanding the readership/audience of the magazine One of the things that surprised Kerrie about the writing of this book after she had begun the process The many hats that Kerrie has worn as a writer and publisher The thrill of having a hugely respected publisher of books for writers behind her on this new book The importance of building connections with people (as an underlying factor that contributed to this book happening) The work Kerrie did as an event coordinator for Writer's Digest The very meta experience of using an article from Writer's Digest to help Kerrie with negotiating the contract she signed with Writer's Digest for this new book Hot Chocolate Press, the publishing company Kerrie heads up that has 18 books and 8 different authors The challenge of balancing the various hats that Kerrie wears as a writer, a ghost-writer and a publisher The three conferences that Kerrie will be speaking at in the next little while Mendocino Writer's Conference in CA (August), The Writer's Digest Conference in NYC (August), the new Indie Lab Writer's Digest Conference in Cincinnati (Sept) How Kerrie connected with Angela MacKintosh, Editor-in-Chief of WOW! Women on Writing magazine and landed her first assignment with that market The use of magazine article writing for building your author brand and expanding your reach in a way that isn't as likely via standard social media How libraries and the internet have made the process of researching magazines so much easier than it used to be The advice that Kerrie would give to a writer wanting to get started Her avoidance of the use of the term "rejection" when a magazine article isn't accepted by an editor The importance of not giving up, and how it took Kerrie 20 years of hard work to get where she is today After the interview, Mark shares his reflections on what the conversation with Kerrie and reading her new book made him think of, including his own rise through publishing selling short fiction to magazines (comparing that to non-fiction selling to magazines), and a few ideas he is planning on implementing related to niche article writing. He also talks about selling articles to magazines as an additional revenue source for a writer, helping to balance out dependencies and income streams. Mark then thanks listeners and Patreon supporters and closes off the show.   Links of Interest: Kerrie Flanagan's Website Hot Chocolate Press Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing Writer's Digest BundleRabbit Findaway Voices  Mark Leslie LefebvreMark interviews Kerrie Flanagan, author of the author of Guide to Magazine Article Writing by Writer's Digest. Kerrie is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience. As a writing consultant, she works with writers, giving them the encouragement, support, resources and tools to find success on their writing journey. She is the author of 8 other books published under her label/publishing company Hot Chocolate Press. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a message from this episode's sponsor, the BOOKS GONE BAD BUNDLE from BundleRabbit, which features about 260,000 words from 11 authors in 2 books and 10 stories of "Speculative Visions of a Uniquely Portable Magic." You can learn more about the bundle via BundleRabbit or check it out at your favorite eBook retailer. http://books2read.com/booksgonebad Mark shares a few personal updates, which are: The new FREE email course he launched via Reedsy called Kobo Hacks for Optimizing Sales. It is a series of 10 emails that each take about 5 minutes to read that will be automatically delivered to those who sign up His story "Active Reader" appearing in the latest issue (#3) of Pulphouse Magazine and how that ties back to a goal/dream Mark had several decades ago when he first started writing   In their conversation, Mark and Kerrie discuss: How Kerrie hadn't been someone who had always dreamed about being a writer; and how it was her role as a teacher that ended up leading her down that particular path The submission process she originally went through to get her first book published, and how that led to her self-publishing that book back in 1997 when self-publishing was an almost taboo path for a writer to take The local writer critique group that first exposed Kerrie to the idea of magazine article writing Kerrie's first magazine article query, which was to Better Homes & Gardens magazine The genesis of a Colorado winery article that Kerrie wrote, based on her interest in wine The biggest mistakes that writers make when trying to pitch article ideas to a magazine, which include not doing one's homework or properly researching and understanding the readership/audience of the magazine One of the things that surprised Kerrie about the writing of this book after she had begun the process The many hats that Kerrie has worn as a writer and publisher The thrill of having a hugely respected publisher of books for writers behind her on this new book The importance of building connections with people (as an underlying factor that contributed to this book happening) The work Kerrie did as an event coordinator for Writer's Digest The very meta experience of using an article from Writer's Digest to help Kerrie with negotiating the contract she signed with Writer's Digest for this new book Hot Chocolate Press, the publishing company Kerrie heads up that has 18 books and 8 different authors The challenge of balancing the various hats that Kerrie wears as a writer, a ghost-writer and a publisher The three conferences that Kerrie will be speaking at in the next little while Mendocino Writer's Conference in CA (August), The Writer's Digest Conference in NYC (August), the new Indie Lab Writer's Digest Conference in Cincinnati (Sept) How Kerrie connected with Angela MacKintosh, Editor-in-Chief of WOW! Women on Writing magazine and landed her first assignment with that market The use of magazine article writing for building your author brand and expanding your reach in a way that isn't as likely via standard social media How libraries and the internet have made the process of researching magazines so much easier than it used to be The advice that Kerrie would give to a writer wanting to get started Her avoidance of the use of the term "rejection" when a magazine article isn't accepted by an editor The importance of not giving up, and how it took Kerrie 20 years of hard work to get where she is today After the interview, Mark shares his reflections on what the conversation with Kerrie and reading her new book made him think of, including his own rise through publishing selling short fiction to magazines (comparing that to non-fiction selling to magazines), and a few ideas he is planning on implementing related to niche article writing. He also talks about selling articles to magazines as an additional revenue source for a writer, helping to balance out dependencies and income streams. Mark then thanks listeners and Patreon supporters and closes off the show.   Links of Interest: Kerrie Flanagan's Website Hot Chocolate Press Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing Writer's Digest BundleRabbit Findaway Voices       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 030 - Target Markets & Relationships with Dana Pharant and Barb Stuhlemmer Target Markets & Relationships with Dana Pharant and Barb Stuhlemmer Fri, 20 Jul 2018 03:00:37 +0000 Mark chats with Dana Pharant and Barb Stuhlemmer about elements of running their own businesses that also apply to writers. Mark, Dana and Barb are 3 of 5 members of a recent business mastermind that took place where 5 business owners from different industries and areas of expertise all work together to hold one another accountable for business plans, visions, goals and next steps for growth.

    Mark shares his perspective on this first business mastermind group he has been a part of and then talks about his own specific takeaways, including the publication of a book he is 20,000 words into called INDIE PUBLISHING INSIDER SECRETS: What Running Kobo Writing Life, a Print-on-Demand Business and 25 Years of Bookselling Taught Me About Success for Authors, Publishers & Self-Publishing Services. He shares how the group is holding him accountable for a proposed publishing and delivery schedule for this book that he has already dropped onto the back burner.

    In their chat, Mark, Dana and Barb discuss:

    • Strategies on how to find and define your core audience, with an example that Dana shares about not doing it right the first time and how it lost her about 6 months of traction
      * The challenges of taking money from the people who aren't part of the ideal target audience and the related "Steak and Burger" analogy
    • Barb's experiences of knowing what company needs a service, but the challenge of finding the specific person within that company to speak to and to sell to, which can relate to sub-genres and other more specific niche targeting for authors
    • Targeting the right people, but with the wrong product
    • How Dana and Barb, who have been friends for about eight years, originally met
    • How in relationships, if you are GIVING, in the right aspect and for the right reasons, you get back a huge amount
    • The people and the relationships and the circles that can be cultivated among your peers who are willing to rise
    • How knowing who you can count on (not just for support, but for honesty) in your inner circle can really make a difference
    • Authenticity in engagement with one's audience, mailing list, and core followers or fans
    • How you can't impress people with things that you're not; you can only impress people with what you have
    • The concept of creating the "ideal reader" as a character sketch the same way one might sketch out a character in their book
    • Advice on success in turning passion into profit

    After the chat, Mark shares his reflections on the importance of taking insights, wisdom and learning from people and industries outside one's own area of expertise and perspective and how, listening to the business intelligence and strategies of 4 women from different business pursuits helped Mark to grow his own knowledge and strategy in writing and publishing.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    ]]>     Mark chats with Dana Pharant and Barb Stuhlemmer about elements of running their own businesses that also apply to writers. Mark, Dana and Barb are 3 of 5 members of a recent business mastermind that took place where 5 business owners from different industries and areas of expertise all work together to hold one another accountable for business plans, visions, goals and next steps for growth.

    Mark shares his perspective on this first business mastermind group he has been a part of and then talks about his own specific takeaways, including the publication of a book he is 20,000 words into called INDIE PUBLISHING INSIDER SECRETS: What Running Kobo Writing Life, a Print-on-Demand Business and 25 Years of Bookselling Taught Me About Success for Authors, Publishers & Self-Publishing Services. He shares how the group is holding him accountable for a proposed publishing and delivery schedule for this book that he has already dropped onto the back burner.

    In their chat, Mark, Dana and Barb discuss:

    • Strategies on how to find and define your core audience, with an example that Dana shares about not doing it right the first time and how it lost her about 6 months of traction * The challenges of taking money from the people who aren't part of the ideal target audience and the related "Steak and Burger" analogy
    • Barb's experiences of knowing what company needs a service, but the challenge of finding the specific person within that company to speak to and to sell to, which can relate to sub-genres and other more specific niche targeting for authors
    • Targeting the right people, but with the wrong product
    • How Dana and Barb, who have been friends for about eight years, originally met
    • How in relationships, if you are GIVING, in the right aspect and for the right reasons, you get back a huge amount
    • The people and the relationships and the circles that can be cultivated among your peers who are willing to rise
    • How knowing who you can count on (not just for support, but for honesty) in your inner circle can really make a difference
    • Authenticity in engagement with one's audience, mailing list, and core followers or fans
    • How you can't impress people with things that you're not; you can only impress people with what you have
    • The concept of creating the "ideal reader" as a character sketch the same way one might sketch out a character in their book
    • Advice on success in turning passion into profit

    After the chat, Mark shares his reflections on the importance of taking insights, wisdom and learning from people and industries outside one's own area of expertise and perspective and how, listening to the business intelligence and strategies of 4 women from different business pursuits helped Mark to grow his own knowledge and strategy in writing and publishing.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     42:39 false 1 30 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark chats with Dana Pharant and Barb Stuhlemmer about elements of running their own businesses that also apply to writers. Mark, Dana and Barb are 3 of 5 members of a recent business mastermind that took place where 5 business owners from different industries and areas of expertise all work together to hold one another accountable for business plans, visions, goals and next steps for growth. Mark shares his perspective on this first business mastermind group he has been a part of and then talks about his own specific takeaways, including the publication of a book he is 20,000 words into called INDIE PUBLISHING INSIDER SECRETS: What Running Kobo Writing Life, a Print-on-Demand Business and 25 Years of Bookselling Taught Me About Success for Authors, Publishers & Self-Publishing Services. He shares how the group is holding him accountable for a proposed publishing and delivery schedule for this book that he has already dropped onto the back burner. In their chat, Mark, Dana and Barb discuss: Strategies on how to find and define your core audience, with an example that Dana shares about not doing it right the first time and how it lost her about 6 months of traction * The challenges of taking money from the people who aren't part of the ideal target audience and the related "Steak and Burger" analogy Barb's experiences of knowing what company needs a service, but the challenge of finding the specific person within that company to speak to and to sell to, which can relate to sub-genres and other more specific niche targeting for authors Targeting the right people, but with the wrong product How Dana and Barb, who have been friends for about eight years, originally met How in relationships, if you are GIVING, in the right aspect and for the right reasons, you get back a huge amount The people and the relationships and the circles that can be cultivated among your peers who are willing to rise How knowing who you can count on (not just for support, but for honesty) in your inner circle can really make a difference Authenticity in engagement with one's audience, mailing list, and core followers or fans How you can't impress people with things that you're not; you can only impress people with what you have The concept of creating the "ideal reader" as a character sketch the same way one might sketch out a character in their book Advice on success in turning passion into profit After the chat, Mark shares his reflections on the importance of taking insights, wisdom and learning from people and industries outside one's own area of expertise and perspective and how, listening to the business intelligence and strategies of 4 women from different business pursuits helped Mark to grow his own knowledge and strategy in writing and publishing.   Links of Interest: Dana Pharant Dana's Podcast: Inner Dominatrix Barb Stuhlemmer  Barb's Book: Entrepreneur Awakening  Mark Leslie LefebvreMark chats with Dana Pharant and Barb Stuhlemmer about elements of running their own businesses that also apply to writers. Mark, Dana and Barb are 3 of 5 members of a recent business mastermind that took place where 5 business owners from different industries and areas of expertise all work together to hold one another accountable for business plans, visions, goals and next steps for growth. Mark shares his perspective on this first business mastermind group he has been a part of and then talks about his own specific takeaways, including the publication of a book he is 20,000 words into called INDIE PUBLISHING INSIDER SECRETS: What Running Kobo Writing Life, a Print-on-Demand Business and 25 Years of Bookselling Taught Me About Success for Authors, Publishers & Self-Publishing Services. He shares how the group is holding him accountable for a proposed publishing and delivery schedule for this book that he has already dropped onto the back burner. In their chat, Mark, Dana and Barb discuss: Strategies on how to find and define your core audience, with an example that Dana shares about not doing it right the first time and how it lost her about 6 months of traction * The challenges of taking money from the people who aren't part of the ideal target audience and the related "Steak and Burger" analogy Barb's experiences of knowing what company needs a service, but the challenge of finding the specific person within that company to speak to and to sell to, which can relate to sub-genres and other more specific niche targeting for authors Targeting the right people, but with the wrong product How Dana and Barb, who have been friends for about eight years, originally met How in relationships, if you are GIVING, in the right aspect and for the right reasons, you get back a huge amount The people and the relationships and the circles that can be cultivated among your peers who are willing to rise How knowing who you can count on (not just for support, but for honesty) in your inner circle can really make a difference Authenticity in engagement with one's audience, mailing list, and core followers or fans How you can't impress people with things that you're not; you can only impress people with what you have The concept of creating the "ideal reader" as a character sketch the same way one might sketch out a character in their book Advice on success in turning passion into profit After the chat, Mark shares his reflections on the importance of taking insights, wisdom and learning from people and industries outside one's own area of expertise and perspective and how, listening to the business intelligence and strategies of 4 women from different business pursuits helped Mark to grow his own knowledge and strategy in writing and publishing.   Links of Interest: Dana Pharant Dana's Podcast: Inner Dominatrix Barb Stuhlemmer  Barb's Book: Entrepreneur Awakening       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 029 - Terry Fallis on Writing with Authenticity Terry Fallis on Writing with Authenticity Fri, 13 Jul 2018 03:16:26 +0000 This episode features an interview with Canadian author Terry Fallis. who is a two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, the winner of CBC Canada Reads for "the essential novel of the decade" the winner of the CBA Libris Author of the Year Award for 2013, and someone who has had a 6-part mini-series based on his first novel appear on CBC Television.

     

    Prior to his personal update, Mark delivers this episode's Tongue Twister, which is something Stephen King fans might be familiar with: the mantra that Bill practices when working on his stutter.

    "Amidst the mists and fiercest frosts,
    With barest wrists, and stoutest boasts,
    He thrusts his fists against the posts,
    And still insists he sees the ghosts"

    The Tongue Twister segment is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Learn more about how they can help authors control their audiobook production and distribution at www.starkreflections.com/findaway

     

    For his personal update Mark shares how he has been overwhelmed with tasks and a growing list of unfinished projects, and talks through 3 things that have helped him deal with the feeling of being overwhelmed

    1) Unplugging and Recharging

    2) Listing the Things Making You Feel Overwhelmed

    3) Listing the Small Surprise Accomplishments Already Achiveved

     

    In their chat, Mark and Terry discuss:

    • The process of writing a novel and then sending query packages and sample chapters to agents and editors, followed by the "radio silence" from the industry that Terry experienced (not even generating an automated rejection letter)
    • What led to his deciding to try both self-publishing the novel as well as releasing it as a free podcast novel in 2007
    • How some of the little things along the way (a suggestion from his wife, a single response from one agent, a bookseller who wanted to host a book launch party, comments from the podcast audience, a single box of ten copies of the self-published books sitting in a box by his desk), could lead to a dramatically defining moment in Terry's career as an author
    • The "you've written a satirical novel of Canadian politics – what were you thinking?" line that keeps coming up
    • How listening to Terry's podcast was all it took for Mark to become hooked on Terry's first novel THE BEST LAID PLANS
    • The New York Times article about Scott Sigler and his podcast novels that had inspired Terry to begin podcasting his first novel
    • Why Terry is convinced that more physical books have been sold via the process of giving away the audio/podcast version for free
    • The chills Terry gets when thinking about doing his very first book signing
    • The factors that led to Terry deciding to enter his first self-published novel into the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour (which included that the award didn't have a clause that said self-published novels couldn't be entered)
    • Details about being nominated for and then winning the Leacock Medal for Humour
    • Terry's email to the only agent who had bothered to reply to his original query (who is still his agent to this day, ten years later)
    • The Canada Reads win and how that likely created the climate for the book to be optioned for film and television, where it was made into a 6 part television movie as well as a staged musical
    • What it was like being in full control versus having to hand complete creative control over to the film production folks
    • How impressed Terry was by the script writers for the series, Susan Coyne and Jason Sherman
    • Why Terry believes that the New York Times called him to comment about a recent disagreement between Trudeau and Trump
    • The effective use of humor in addressing serious issues, content and situations – in particular, the important elements of feminism and women's rights in Terry's novel POLES APART
    • How Terry used his own experience as an identical twin when writing the novel ONE BROTHER SHY
    • A bit of a teaser about Terry's work in progress, IF AT FIRST YOU SUCCEED
    • The fact that Terry's publisher, Penguin Random House Canada, has, for his first six novels, allowed him to begin to release his weekly serialized podcast for his novels in the month prior to each novel's release
    • How doing the reading/recording for the podcast has helped with Terry preparing sections for public readings of his novels; as well as being a great editing/proofreading tool
    • The value that Terry places in booksellers, in particular the independent booksellers who have supported his career from the very beginning
    • Terry's favorite advice for authors about writing with authenticity and passion. "It's hard to write your best work when you're not writing about something that you care about."

     

    Links of Interest:

     

     

    ]]>     This episode features an interview with Canadian author Terry Fallis. who is a two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, the winner of CBC Canada Reads for "the essential novel of the decade" the winner of the CBA Libris Author of the Year Award for 2013, and someone who has had a 6-part mini-series based on his first novel appear on CBC Television.

    Prior to his personal update, Mark delivers this episode's Tongue Twister, which is something Stephen King fans might be familiar with: the mantra that Bill practices when working on his stutter.

    "Amidst the mists and fiercest frosts, With barest wrists, and stoutest boasts, He thrusts his fists against the posts, And still insists he sees the ghosts"

    The Tongue Twister segment is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Learn more about how they can help authors control their audiobook production and distribution at www.starkreflections.com/findaway

    For his personal update Mark shares how he has been overwhelmed with tasks and a growing list of unfinished projects, and talks through 3 things that have helped him deal with the feeling of being overwhelmed

    1) Unplugging and Recharging

    2) Listing the Things Making You Feel Overwhelmed

    3) Listing the Small Surprise Accomplishments Already Achiveved

    In their chat, Mark and Terry discuss:

    • The process of writing a novel and then sending query packages and sample chapters to agents and editors, followed by the "radio silence" from the industry that Terry experienced (not even generating an automated rejection letter)
    • What led to his deciding to try both self-publishing the novel as well as releasing it as a free podcast novel in 2007
    • How some of the little things along the way (a suggestion from his wife, a single response from one agent, a bookseller who wanted to host a book launch party, comments from the podcast audience, a single box of ten copies of the self-published books sitting in a box by his desk), could lead to a dramatically defining moment in Terry's career as an author
    • The "you've written a satirical novel of Canadian politics – what were you thinking?" line that keeps coming up
    • How listening to Terry's podcast was all it took for Mark to become hooked on Terry's first novel THE BEST LAID PLANS
    • The New York Times article about Scott Sigler and his podcast novels that had inspired Terry to begin podcasting his first novel
    • Why Terry is convinced that more physical books have been sold via the process of giving away the audio/podcast version for free
    • The chills Terry gets when thinking about doing his very first book signing
    • The factors that led to Terry deciding to enter his first self-published novel into the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour (which included that the award didn't have a clause that said self-published novels couldn't be entered)
    • Details about being nominated for and then winning the Leacock Medal for Humour
    • Terry's email to the only agent who had bothered to reply to his original query (who is still his agent to this day, ten years later)
    • The Canada Reads win and how that likely created the climate for the book to be optioned for film and television, where it was made into a 6 part television movie as well as a staged musical
    • What it was like being in full control versus having to hand complete creative control over to the film production folks
    • How impressed Terry was by the script writers for the series, Susan Coyne and Jason Sherman
    • Why Terry believes that the New York Times called him to comment about a recent disagreement between Trudeau and Trump
    • The effective use of humor in addressing serious issues, content and situations – in particular, the important elements of feminism and women's rights in Terry's novel POLES APART
    • How Terry used his own experience as an identical twin when writing the novel ONE BROTHER SHY
    • A bit of a teaser about Terry's work in progress, IF AT FIRST YOU SUCCEED
    • The fact that Terry's publisher, Penguin Random House Canada, has, for his first six novels, allowed him to begin to release his weekly serialized podcast for his novels in the month prior to each novel's release
    • How doing the reading/recording for the podcast has helped with Terry preparing sections for public readings of his novels; as well as being a great editing/proofreading tool
    • The value that Terry places in booksellers, in particular the independent booksellers who have supported his career from the very beginning
    • Terry's favorite advice for authors about writing with authenticity and passion. "It's hard to write your best work when you're not writing about something that you care about."

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     01:15:14 false 1 29 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This episode features an interview with Canadian author Terry Fallis. who is a two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, the winner of CBC Canada Reads for "the essential novel of the decade" the winner of the CBA Libris Author of the Year Award for 2013, and someone who has had a 6-part mini-series based on his first novel appear on CBC Television.   Prior to his personal update, Mark delivers this episode's Tongue Twister, which is something Stephen King fans might be familiar with: the mantra that Bill practices when working on his stutter. "Amidst the mists and fiercest frosts, With barest wrists, and stoutest boasts, He thrusts his fists against the posts, And still insists he sees the ghosts" The Tongue Twister segment is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Learn more about how they can help authors control their audiobook production and distribution at www.starkreflections.com/findaway   For his personal update Mark shares how he has been overwhelmed with tasks and a growing list of unfinished projects, and talks through 3 things that have helped him deal with the feeling of being overwhelmed 1) Unplugging and Recharging 2) Listing the Things Making You Feel Overwhelmed 3) Listing the Small Surprise Accomplishments Already Achiveved   In their chat, Mark and Terry discuss: The process of writing a novel and then sending query packages and sample chapters to agents and editors, followed by the "radio silence" from the industry that Terry experienced (not even generating an automated rejection letter) What led to his deciding to try both self-publishing the novel as well as releasing it as a free podcast novel in 2007 How some of the little things along the way (a suggestion from his wife, a single response from one agent, a bookseller who wanted to host a book launch party, comments from the podcast audience, a single box of ten copies of the self-published books sitting in a box by his desk), could lead to a dramatically defining moment in Terry's career as an author The "you've written a satirical novel of Canadian politics – what were you thinking?" line that keeps coming up How listening to Terry's podcast was all it took for Mark to become hooked on Terry's first novel THE BEST LAID PLANS The New York Times article about Scott Sigler and his podcast novels that had inspired Terry to begin podcasting his first novel Why Terry is convinced that more physical books have been sold via the process of giving away the audio/podcast version for free The chills Terry gets when thinking about doing his very first book signing The factors that led to Terry deciding to enter his first self-published novel into the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour (which included that the award didn't have a clause that said self-published novels couldn't be entered) Details about being nominated for and then winning the Leacock Medal for Humour Terry's email to the only agent who had bothered to reply to his original query (who is still his agent to this day, ten years later) The Canada Reads win and how that likely created the climate for the book to be optioned for film and television, where it was made into a 6 part television movie as well as a staged musical What it was like being in full control versus having to hand complete creative control over to the film production folks How impressed Terry was by the script writers for the series, Susan Coyne and Jason Sherman Why Terry believes that the New York Times called him to comment about a recent disagreement between Trudeau and Trump The effective use of humor in addressing serious issues, content and situations – in particular, the important elements of feminism and women's rights in Terry's novel POLES APART How Terry used his own experience as an identical twin when writing the novel ONE BROTHER SHY A bit of a teaser about Terry's work in progress, IF AT FIRST YOU SUCCEED The fact that Terry's publisher, Penguin Random House Canada, has, for his first six novels, allowed him to begin to release his weekly serialized podcast for his novels in the month prior to each novel's release How doing the reading/recording for the podcast has helped with Terry preparing sections for public readings of his novels; as well as being a great editing/proofreading tool The value that Terry places in booksellers, in particular the independent booksellers who have supported his career from the very beginning Terry's favorite advice for authors about writing with authenticity and passion. "It's hard to write your best work when you're not writing about something that you care about."   Links of Interest: Terry's Website Terry's Twitter Account: @TerryFallis Terry's Author Facebook Page Findaway Voices Mark's Stark Publishing Survey    Mark Leslie LefebvreThis episode features an interview with Canadian author Terry Fallis. who is a two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, the winner of CBC Canada Reads for "the essential novel of the decade" the winner of the CBA Libris Author of the Year Award for 2013, and someone who has had a 6-part mini-series based on his first novel appear on CBC Television.   Prior to his personal update, Mark delivers this episode's Tongue Twister, which is something Stephen King fans might be familiar with: the mantra that Bill practices when working on his stutter. "Amidst the mists and fiercest frosts, With barest wrists, and stoutest boasts, He thrusts his fists against the posts, And still insists he sees the ghosts" The Tongue Twister segment is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Learn more about how they can help authors control their audiobook production and distribution at www.starkreflections.com/findaway   For his personal update Mark shares how he has been overwhelmed with tasks and a growing list of unfinished projects, and talks through 3 things that have helped him deal with the feeling of being overwhelmed 1) Unplugging and Recharging 2) Listing the Things Making You Feel Overwhelmed 3) Listing the Small Surprise Accomplishments Already Achiveved   In their chat, Mark and Terry discuss: The process of writing a novel and then sending query packages and sample chapters to agents and editors, followed by the "radio silence" from the industry that Terry experienced (not even generating an automated rejection letter) What led to his deciding to try both self-publishing the novel as well as releasing it as a free podcast novel in 2007 How some of the little things along the way (a suggestion from his wife, a single response from one agent, a bookseller who wanted to host a book launch party, comments from the podcast audience, a single box of ten copies of the self-published books sitting in a box by his desk), could lead to a dramatically defining moment in Terry's career as an author The "you've written a satirical novel of Canadian politics – what were you thinking?" line that keeps coming up How listening to Terry's podcast was all it took for Mark to become hooked on Terry's first novel THE BEST LAID PLANS The New York Times article about Scott Sigler and his podcast novels that had inspired Terry to begin podcasting his first novel Why Terry is convinced that more physical books have been sold via the process of giving away the audio/podcast version for free The chills Terry gets when thinking about doing his very first book signing The factors that led to Terry deciding to enter his first self-published novel into the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour (which included that the award didn't have a clause that said self-published novels couldn't be entered) Details about being nominated for and then winning the Leacock Medal for Humour Terry's email to the only agent who had bothered to reply to his original query (who is still his agent to this day, ten years later) The Canada Reads win and how that likely created the climate for the book to be optioned for film and television, where it was made into a 6 part television movie as well as a staged musical What it was like being in full control versus having to hand complete creative control over to the film production folks How impressed Terry was by the script writers for the series, Susan Coyne and Jason Sherman Why Terry believes that the New York Times called him to comment about a recent disagreement between Trudeau and Trump The effective use of humor in addressing serious issues, content and situations – in particular, the important elements of feminism and women's rights in Terry's novel POLES APART How Terry used his own experience as an identical twin when writing the novel ONE BROTHER SHY A bit of a teaser about Terry's work in progress, IF AT FIRST YOU SUCCEED The fact that Terry's publisher, Penguin Random House Canada, has, for his first six novels, allowed him to begin to release his weekly serialized podcast for his novels in the month prior to each novel's release How doing the reading/recording for the podcast has helped with Terry preparing sections for public readings of his novels; as well as being a great editing/proofreading tool The value that Terry places in booksellers, in particular the independent booksellers who have supported his career from the very beginning Terry's favorite advice for authors about writing with authenticity and passion. "It's hard to write your best work when you're not writing about something that you care about."   Links of Interest: Terry's Website Terry's Twitter Account: @TerryFallis Terry's Author Facebook Page Findaway Voices Mark's Stark Publishing Survey         Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 028 - The Power of Moments The Power of Moments Fri, 06 Jul 2018 15:57:45 +0000 Solo Episode

    After providing a personal update on a few of the "Free" experiments he has been running, Mark reflects on inspiration drawn from reading the book THE POWER OF MOMENTS by Chip Heath and Dan Heath.

    The Tongue Twister segment of the show is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

    Mark also talks about (and yes, it was certainly inspired from reading the aforementioned book), a survey that he has launched to get more detailed feedback from listeners on this podcast. If you wish to fill it out, you can do so at the following site: www.markleslie.ca/starksurvey

    Links of Interest

    ]]>     Solo Episode

    After providing a personal update on a few of the "Free" experiments he has been running, Mark reflects on inspiration drawn from reading the book THE POWER OF MOMENTS by Chip Heath and Dan Heath.

    The Tongue Twister segment of the show is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

    Mark also talks about (and yes, it was certainly inspired from reading the aforementioned book), a survey that he has launched to get more detailed feedback from listeners on this podcast. If you wish to fill it out, you can do so at the following site: www.markleslie.ca/starksurvey

    Links of Interest

    ]]>     31:26 false 1 28 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Solo Episode After providing a personal update on a few of the "Free" experiments he has been running, Mark reflects on inspiration drawn from reading the book THE POWER OF MOMENTS by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. The Tongue Twister segment of the show is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark also talks about (and yes, it was certainly inspired from reading the aforementioned book), a survey that he has launched to get more detailed feedback from listeners on this podcast. If you wish to fill it out, you can do so at the following site: www.markleslie.ca/starksurvey Links of Interest Chip Heath & Dan Heath - The Power of Moments Mark's Free Kobo Tracking Details Mark's Free Friday Frights Video View TrackingSolo Episode After providing a personal update on a few of the "Free" experiments he has been running, Mark reflects on inspiration drawn from reading the book THE POWER OF MOMENTS by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. The Tongue Twister segment of the show is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark also talks about (and yes, it was certainly inspired from reading the aforementioned book), a survey that he has launched to get more detailed feedback from listeners on this podcast. If you wish to fill it out, you can do so at the following site: www.markleslie.ca/starksurvey Links of Interest Chip Heath & Dan Heath - The Power of Moments Mark's Free Kobo Tracking Details Mark's Free Friday Frights Video View Tracking     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 027 - Jamie Ferguson on Bundles, Curation and Collaboration Jamie Ferguson on Bundles, Curation & Collaboration Fri, 29 Jun 2018 03:37:43 +0000 The feature interview in this episode is a chat with Jamie Ferguson about her writing, the thing that made the difference in terms of kick-starting her writing productivity, and the various collaborations and curation she has done by leveraging BundleRabbit as a collaborative tool.

    Mark then shares a quick personal update, about the fact that there's nothing like screwing up to get views on a video.

    The Tongue Twister segment, sponsored by Findaway Voices includes Mark reading the following:

    I thought a thought.
    But the thought I thought wasn't the thought I thought I thought.
    If the thought I thought I thought had been the thought I thought, I wouldn't have thought so much.

    In the interview, Mark and Jamie talk about:

    • How Jamie had wanted to be a writer from when she was a child and had started and stopped various projects, but that it wasn't until she joined a workshop started by Edward Bryant about fifteen years ago that prompted her to actually complete the projects
    • How finishing something can actually be scary ("OMG, somebody could read it!")
    • The recent YA contemporary fantasy story by Jamie that appears in the new WISHES anthology from WMG Publishing
    • The collaborative publishing project bundles & collections that Jamie has created using BundleRabbit that include:
    • The basic differences between curating bundles and creating anthologies (called collaborations) using BundleRabbit and the process that a curator goes through
    • How BundleRabbit assists the curator by allowing the tools that make the curation, collaboration and payment distribution easier (and the time that has saved Jamie, who likely wouldn't have been able to budget the time for the aforementioned projects
    • How the Faerie Summer Bundle has been the most successful, which has led to Jamie adapting it into an ongoing series
    • Factors in bundles/collaborations Jamie has created that contributed to their success
    • How an author's web and social media presence can make a positive difference in terms of curating their work into a bundle or collaboration
    • The unexpected additional time required related to editing and formatting in the anthology collaboration projects
    • Jamie's plan for a forthcoming non-fiction book sharing what she has learned
    • Some of Jamie's favorite writing advice
    • The forthcoming Amazing Monster Tales project Jamie is working on with DeAnna Knippling

     

    Links of Interest

     


    Jamie Ferguson focuses on getting into the minds and hearts of her characters, whether she's writing about a saloon girl in the Old West, a man who discovers the barista he's in love with is a naiad, or a ghost who haunts the house she was killed in – even though that house no longer exists. She's curated 8 short story bundles and anthologies to date, and is working on several more, including a monster-themed anthology series she's co-editing with DeAnna Knippling. Jamie lives in Colorado, and spends her free time in a futile quest to wear out her two border collies, since she hasn't given in and gotten them their own herd of sheep...yet...

     

    ]]>     The feature interview in this episode is a chat with Jamie Ferguson about her writing, the thing that made the difference in terms of kick-starting her writing productivity, and the various collaborations and curation she has done by leveraging BundleRabbit as a collaborative tool.

    Mark then shares a quick personal update, about the fact that there's nothing like screwing up to get views on a video.

    The Tongue Twister segment, sponsored by Findaway Voices includes Mark reading the following:

    I thought a thought. But the thought I thought wasn't the thought I thought I thought. If the thought I thought I thought had been the thought I thought, I wouldn't have thought so much.

    In the interview, Mark and Jamie talk about:

    • How Jamie had wanted to be a writer from when she was a child and had started and stopped various projects, but that it wasn't until she joined a workshop started by Edward Bryant about fifteen years ago that prompted her to actually complete the projects
    • How finishing something can actually be scary ("OMG, somebody could read it!")
    • The recent YA contemporary fantasy story by Jamie that appears in the new WISHES anthology from WMG Publishing
    • The collaborative publishing project bundles & collections that Jamie has created using BundleRabbit that include:
    • The basic differences between curating bundles and creating anthologies (called collaborations) using BundleRabbit and the process that a curator goes through
    • How BundleRabbit assists the curator by allowing the tools that make the curation, collaboration and payment distribution easier (and the time that has saved Jamie, who likely wouldn't have been able to budget the time for the aforementioned projects
    • How the Faerie Summer Bundle has been the most successful, which has led to Jamie adapting it into an ongoing series
    • Factors in bundles/collaborations Jamie has created that contributed to their success
    • How an author's web and social media presence can make a positive difference in terms of curating their work into a bundle or collaboration
    • The unexpected additional time required related to editing and formatting in the anthology collaboration projects
    • Jamie's plan for a forthcoming non-fiction book sharing what she has learned
    • Some of Jamie's favorite writing advice
    • The forthcoming Amazing Monster Tales project Jamie is working on with DeAnna Knippling

    Links of Interest

    Jamie Ferguson focuses on getting into the minds and hearts of her characters, whether she's writing about a saloon girl in the Old West, a man who discovers the barista he's in love with is a naiad, or a ghost who haunts the house she was killed in – even though that house no longer exists. She's curated 8 short story bundles and anthologies to date, and is working on several more, including a monster-themed anthology series she's co-editing with DeAnna Knippling. Jamie lives in Colorado, and spends her free time in a futile quest to wear out her two border collies, since she hasn't given in and gotten them their own herd of sheep...yet...

    ]]>     38:22 false 1 27 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)The feature interview in this episode is a chat with Jamie Ferguson about her writing, the thing that made the difference in terms of kick-starting her writing productivity, and the various collaborations and curation she has done by leveraging BundleRabbit as a collaborative tool. Mark then shares a quick personal update, about the fact that there's nothing like screwing up to get views on a video. The Tongue Twister segment, sponsored by Findaway Voices includes Mark reading the following: I thought a thought. But the thought I thought wasn't the thought I thought I thought. If the thought I thought I thought had been the thought I thought, I wouldn't have thought so much. In the interview, Mark and Jamie talk about: How Jamie had wanted to be a writer from when she was a child and had started and stopped various projects, but that it wasn't until she joined a workshop started by Edward Bryant about fifteen years ago that prompted her to actually complete the projects How finishing something can actually be scary ("OMG, somebody could read it!") The recent YA contemporary fantasy story by Jamie that appears in the new WISHES anthology from WMG Publishing The collaborative publishing project bundles & collections that Jamie has created using BundleRabbit that include: Fantasy in the City The Witches' Brew Haunted The Faerie Summer Bundle and more (see all the bundles here) The basic differences between curating bundles and creating anthologies (called collaborations) using BundleRabbit and the process that a curator goes through How BundleRabbit assists the curator by allowing the tools that make the curation, collaboration and payment distribution easier (and the time that has saved Jamie, who likely wouldn't have been able to budget the time for the aforementioned projects How the Faerie Summer Bundle has been the most successful, which has led to Jamie adapting it into an ongoing series Factors in bundles/collaborations Jamie has created that contributed to their success How an author's web and social media presence can make a positive difference in terms of curating their work into a bundle or collaboration The unexpected additional time required related to editing and formatting in the anthology collaboration projects Jamie's plan for a forthcoming non-fiction book sharing what she has learned Some of Jamie's favorite writing advice The forthcoming Amazing Monster Tales project Jamie is working on with DeAnna Knippling   Links of Interest Jamie's Website Jamie's Social Media Facebook Author Page Twitter Pinterest Goodreads Instagram BlackBird Publishing Website Facebook Twitter Blackbird Publishing Collections Jamie's Article on the differences between bundles and collaborations Findaway Voices Stark Reflections Patreon Page   Jamie Ferguson focuses on getting into the minds and hearts of her characters, whether she's writing about a saloon girl in the Old West, a man who discovers the barista he's in love with is a naiad, or a ghost who haunts the house she was killed in – even though that house no longer exists. She's curated 8 short story bundles and anthologies to date, and is working on several more, including a monster-themed anthology series she's co-editing with DeAnna Knippling. Jamie lives in Colorado, and spends her free time in a futile quest to wear out her two border collies, since she hasn't given in and gotten them their own herd of sheep...yet...  Mark Leslie LefebvreThe feature interview in this episode is a chat with Jamie Ferguson about her writing, the thing that made the difference in terms of kick-starting her writing productivity, and the various collaborations and curation she has done by leveraging BundleRabbit as a collaborative tool. Mark then shares a quick personal update, about the fact that there's nothing like screwing up to get views on a video. The Tongue Twister segment, sponsored by Findaway Voices includes Mark reading the following: I thought a thought. But the thought I thought wasn't the thought I thought I thought. If the thought I thought I thought had been the thought I thought, I wouldn't have thought so much. In the interview, Mark and Jamie talk about: How Jamie had wanted to be a writer from when she was a child and had started and stopped various projects, but that it wasn't until she joined a workshop started by Edward Bryant about fifteen years ago that prompted her to actually complete the projects How finishing something can actually be scary ("OMG, somebody could read it!") The recent YA contemporary fantasy story by Jamie that appears in the new WISHES anthology from WMG Publishing The collaborative publishing project bundles & collections that Jamie has created using BundleRabbit that include: Fantasy in the City The Witches' Brew Haunted The Faerie Summer Bundle and more (see all the bundles here) The basic differences between curating bundles and creating anthologies (called collaborations) using BundleRabbit and the process that a curator goes through How BundleRabbit assists the curator by allowing the tools that make the curation, collaboration and payment distribution easier (and the time that has saved Jamie, who likely wouldn't have been able to budget the time for the aforementioned projects How the Faerie Summer Bundle has been the most successful, which has led to Jamie adapting it into an ongoing series Factors in bundles/collaborations Jamie has created that contributed to their success How an author's web and social media presence can make a positive difference in terms of curating their work into a bundle or collaboration The unexpected additional time required related to editing and formatting in the anthology collaboration projects Jamie's plan for a forthcoming non-fiction book sharing what she has learned Some of Jamie's favorite writing advice The forthcoming Amazing Monster Tales project Jamie is working on with DeAnna Knippling   Links of Interest Jamie's Website Jamie's Social Media Facebook Author Page Twitter Pinterest Goodreads Instagram BlackBird Publishing Website Facebook Twitter Blackbird Publishing Collections Jamie's Article on the differences between bundles and collaborations Findaway Voices Stark Reflections Patreon Page   Jamie Ferguson focuses on getting into the minds and hearts of her characters, whether she's writing about a saloon girl in the Old West, a man who discovers the barista he's in love with is a naiad, or a ghost who haunts the house she was killed in – even though that house no longer exists. She's curated 8 short story bundles and anthologies to date, and is working on several more, including a monster-themed anthology series she's co-editing with DeAnna Knippling. Jamie lives in Colorado, and spends her free time in a futile quest to wear out her two border collies, since she hasn't given in and gotten them their own herd of sheep...yet...       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 026 - Armand Rosamilia on Engagement and Community Armand Rosamilia on Engagement and Community Fri, 22 Jun 2018 03:39:40 +0000 In episode 26, Mark chats with author Armand Rosamilia who is originally from New Jersey and currently lives in sunny Florida with his wife. Armand is not only a hybrid author with more than 150 stories, and numerous books published both via traditional publishers and via indie-publishing methods, but he is also a podcaster and the co-owner of the Project Entertainment Network.

    This episode's tongue twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices comes from Edward, who sent the short quick tongue twister "Eddie edited it" which Mark is to say 5 times really fast in a cartoonish character voice.

    Mark then thanks Patreon patrons who support the show and reminds users they can support the show via Patreon or by simply sharing the show with a friend or leaving a review.

    In their chat, Mark and Armand talk about:

    • How Armand prioritizes his time with all of the various tasks on his plate, and the important support from his wife who helps keep him on track
    • The opportunities that allowed him to leave his job 7 years ago to begin writing full time
    • The fear that continues to drive his writing to this day
    • The difference between creative writing on his own (as an admitted pantser) and adapting a screenplay into a novelization
    • The "what if" that drives most of Armand's writing, including looking at a group of people on the beach and imagining what if zombies started to appear coming out of the surf
    • How Armand was able to adapt his "pantser" habit when collaborating with another writer who was a "plotter"
    • The combination of working with traditional publishers and self=publishing that allows Armand to embrace the best of both worlds
    • How the desire to write a single zombie novel just to "get it out of his system" turned into "The Dying Days" series of nine books that are among his top-selling books
    • The radio DJ work that Armand used to do which led to a couple of podcasts that he is host/co-host of
    • The "Mando Method" of writing that Armand practices (named after him), in which he writes for the first 15 minutes of every hour, and then has the remaining 45 minutes of that hour to play, check emails, do whatever. Doing this 3 or 4 times a day gets him 2,000 or 3,000 words written per day
    • Project Entertainment Network, which Armand and his wife owns (see links below for the great podcast lineup from this Network)
    • The amazingly supportive community that surrounds the "Scares that Care" convention held in Williamsburg, Virginia in August
    • The Beers N Fears Brewery Tour that Armand started and how it has worked as it has grown over the past three years
    • The "Any Book for $10 or 3 books for $20" model they use for simplicity on the Beers N Fears tour; with a reminder that it's not about how much profit they can make off each book sale, bur rather more about reaching new readers
    • The "Belford Stories" series set in the town that he grew up in that Armand has written about and how the series has been popular with the local community
    • How Armand uses his Patreon page to connect with and provide unique, early and exclusive content for his reader community
    • Common advice that Armand offers to authors regarding a common "how much do you need to earn to consider writing full time" question

    Links of interest

    ]]>     In episode 26, Mark chats with author Armand Rosamilia who is originally from New Jersey and currently lives in sunny Florida with his wife. Armand is not only a hybrid author with more than 150 stories, and numerous books published both via traditional publishers and via indie-publishing methods, but he is also a podcaster and the co-owner of the Project Entertainment Network.

    This episode's tongue twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices comes from Edward, who sent the short quick tongue twister "Eddie edited it" which Mark is to say 5 times really fast in a cartoonish character voice.

    Mark then thanks Patreon patrons who support the show and reminds users they can support the show via Patreon or by simply sharing the show with a friend or leaving a review.

    In their chat, Mark and Armand talk about:

    • How Armand prioritizes his time with all of the various tasks on his plate, and the important support from his wife who helps keep him on track
    • The opportunities that allowed him to leave his job 7 years ago to begin writing full time
    • The fear that continues to drive his writing to this day
    • The difference between creative writing on his own (as an admitted pantser) and adapting a screenplay into a novelization
    • The "what if" that drives most of Armand's writing, including looking at a group of people on the beach and imagining what if zombies started to appear coming out of the surf
    • How Armand was able to adapt his "pantser" habit when collaborating with another writer who was a "plotter"
    • The combination of working with traditional publishers and self=publishing that allows Armand to embrace the best of both worlds
    • How the desire to write a single zombie novel just to "get it out of his system" turned into "The Dying Days" series of nine books that are among his top-selling books
    • The radio DJ work that Armand used to do which led to a couple of podcasts that he is host/co-host of
    • The "Mando Method" of writing that Armand practices (named after him), in which he writes for the first 15 minutes of every hour, and then has the remaining 45 minutes of that hour to play, check emails, do whatever. Doing this 3 or 4 times a day gets him 2,000 or 3,000 words written per day
    • Project Entertainment Network, which Armand and his wife owns (see links below for the great podcast lineup from this Network)
    • The amazingly supportive community that surrounds the "Scares that Care" convention held in Williamsburg, Virginia in August
    • The Beers N Fears Brewery Tour that Armand started and how it has worked as it has grown over the past three years
    • The "Any Book for $10 or 3 books for $20" model they use for simplicity on the Beers N Fears tour; with a reminder that it's not about how much profit they can make off each book sale, bur rather more about reaching new readers
    • The "Belford Stories" series set in the town that he grew up in that Armand has written about and how the series has been popular with the local community
    • How Armand uses his Patreon page to connect with and provide unique, early and exclusive content for his reader community
    • Common advice that Armand offers to authors regarding a common "how much do you need to earn to consider writing full time" question

    Links of interest

    ]]>     59:17 false 1 26 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In episode 26, Mark chats with author Armand Rosamilia who is originally from New Jersey and currently lives in sunny Florida with his wife. Armand is not only a hybrid author with more than 150 stories, and numerous books published both via traditional publishers and via indie-publishing methods, but he is also a podcaster and the co-owner of the Project Entertainment Network. This episode's tongue twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices comes from Edward, who sent the short quick tongue twister "Eddie edited it" which Mark is to say 5 times really fast in a cartoonish character voice. Mark then thanks Patreon patrons who support the show and reminds users they can support the show via Patreon or by simply sharing the show with a friend or leaving a review. In their chat, Mark and Armand talk about: How Armand prioritizes his time with all of the various tasks on his plate, and the important support from his wife who helps keep him on track The opportunities that allowed him to leave his job 7 years ago to begin writing full time The fear that continues to drive his writing to this day The difference between creative writing on his own (as an admitted pantser) and adapting a screenplay into a novelization The "what if" that drives most of Armand's writing, including looking at a group of people on the beach and imagining what if zombies started to appear coming out of the surf How Armand was able to adapt his "pantser" habit when collaborating with another writer who was a "plotter" The combination of working with traditional publishers and self=publishing that allows Armand to embrace the best of both worlds How the desire to write a single zombie novel just to "get it out of his system" turned into "The Dying Days" series of nine books that are among his top-selling books The radio DJ work that Armand used to do which led to a couple of podcasts that he is host/co-host of The "Mando Method" of writing that Armand practices (named after him), in which he writes for the first 15 minutes of every hour, and then has the remaining 45 minutes of that hour to play, check emails, do whatever. Doing this 3 or 4 times a day gets him 2,000 or 3,000 words written per day Project Entertainment Network, which Armand and his wife owns (see links below for the great podcast lineup from this Network) The amazingly supportive community that surrounds the "Scares that Care" convention held in Williamsburg, Virginia in August The Beers N Fears Brewery Tour that Armand started and how it has worked as it has grown over the past three years The "Any Book for $10 or 3 books for $20" model they use for simplicity on the Beers N Fears tour; with a reminder that it's not about how much profit they can make off each book sale, bur rather more about reaching new readers The "Belford Stories" series set in the town that he grew up in that Armand has written about and how the series has been popular with the local community How Armand uses his Patreon page to connect with and provide unique, early and exclusive content for his reader community Common advice that Armand offers to authors regarding a common "how much do you need to earn to consider writing full time" question Links of interest Armand's website The Mando Method Podcast Arm Cast Podcast Project Entertainment Network Three Guys With Beards The Horror Show with Brian Keene Lunch Ladies Book Club Beers N Fears Book Tour Links Tim Meyer Blog Chuck Buda Blog Findaway Voices Mark's Nocturnal Screams Series (First in Series FREE Promo Test) Kindle KoboMark Leslie LefebvreIn episode 26, Mark chats with author Armand Rosamilia who is originally from New Jersey and currently lives in sunny Florida with his wife. Armand is not only a hybrid author with more than 150 stories, and numerous books published both via traditional publishers and via indie-publishing methods, but he is also a podcaster and the co-owner of the Project Entertainment Network. This episode's tongue twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices comes from Edward, who sent the short quick tongue twister "Eddie edited it" which Mark is to say 5 times really fast in a cartoonish character voice. Mark then thanks Patreon patrons who support the show and reminds users they can support the show via Patreon or by simply sharing the show with a friend or leaving a review. In their chat, Mark and Armand talk about: How Armand prioritizes his time with all of the various tasks on his plate, and the important support from his wife who helps keep him on track The opportunities that allowed him to leave his job 7 years ago to begin writing full time The fear that continues to drive his writing to this day The difference between creative writing on his own (as an admitted pantser) and adapting a screenplay into a novelization The "what if" that drives most of Armand's writing, including looking at a group of people on the beach and imagining what if zombies started to appear coming out of the surf How Armand was able to adapt his "pantser" habit when collaborating with another writer who was a "plotter" The combination of working with traditional publishers and self=publishing that allows Armand to embrace the best of both worlds How the desire to write a single zombie novel just to "get it out of his system" turned into "The Dying Days" series of nine books that are among his top-selling books The radio DJ work that Armand used to do which led to a couple of podcasts that he is host/co-host of The "Mando Method" of writing that Armand practices (named after him), in which he writes for the first 15 minutes of every hour, and then has the remaining 45 minutes of that hour to play, check emails, do whatever. Doing this 3 or 4 times a day gets him 2,000 or 3,000 words written per day Project Entertainment Network, which Armand and his wife owns (see links below for the great podcast lineup from this Network) The amazingly supportive community that surrounds the "Scares that Care" convention held in Williamsburg, Virginia in August The Beers N Fears Brewery Tour that Armand started and how it has worked as it has grown over the past three years The "Any Book for $10 or 3 books for $20" model they use for simplicity on the Beers N Fears tour; with a reminder that it's not about how much profit they can make off each book sale, bur rather more about reaching new readers The "Belford Stories" series set in the town that he grew up in that Armand has written about and how the series has been popular with the local community How Armand uses his Patreon page to connect with and provide unique, early and exclusive content for his reader community Common advice that Armand offers to authors regarding a common "how much do you need to earn to consider writing full time" question Links of interest Armand's website The Mando Method Podcast Arm Cast Podcast Project Entertainment Network Three Guys With Beards The Horror Show with Brian Keene Lunch Ladies Book Club Beers N Fears Book Tour Links Tim Meyer Blog Chuck Buda Blog Findaway Voices Mark's Nocturnal Screams Series (First in Series FREE Promo Test) Kindle Kobo     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 025 - 10 Ways of Thinking Outside The AD 10 Ways of Thinking Outside The AD and Traditional Marketing Fri, 15 Jun 2018 04:28:14 +0000 In this solo episode, Mark shares 10 Ways of Thinking Outside the Ad: Book Marketing ideas that appeal to your target audience.

    Prior to the main content, Mark gives a bit of an update on how his Kobo Writing Life FREE first book in series is going two weeks out.

    Then he does the Tongue Twister, suggested by his friend Pete, and sponsored by Findaway Voices.

    In brief summary, here are the 10 Ways of Thinking Outside the AD that Mark shares:

    1) FOOD & DRINK & BOOKS

    Mark shares a few thoughts about Julie Strauss with her "Chef in Love" romance books - in particular the amazing Prosecco Heart novel and how that could so brilliantly be tied in to delightful pairings. Food and drink and reading.

     

    This would be the ideal book to give to a wine lover and romance reader. Or maybe package a CD, a book and a bottle of wine with it - it wouldn't have to be a Prosecco although that does nicely tie-in with the title, placed on an author table as a suggestion for how it could be part of an excellent creative gift package.

    2) ATTENTION MARKETING PROMO INFO & SWAG

    Mark talks about a few examples from

    • The Jewels of Historical Romance - and how they sent the chocolates to the retailers. Puts them above and beyond.
    • Chris Mandeville - and her book Seeds - brilliant idea
    • Deborah Cooke's Book Charms
    • Glynnis Campbell's Bookish Swag - Lords with Swords letter opener

    3) ATTENTION MARKETING PACKAGING

    Based on a few packages mailed to Mark when he was at Kobo from Publishers Group Canada, Mark shares how the inventive packaging for the following books created a memorable and sharable entity:

    • Peter James LOVE YOU DEAD
    • Anne Cleaves COLD EARTH

    4) UNIQUE & BOOK-SPECIFIC SWAG

    How Madison Avery created an enscribed penny based on the "Penny for your thoughts" story from her erotic romance collection CAPTURING THE MUSE (all the stories involve female writers and erotic entanglements with her muse, who often takes the form of a sexy man)

    Mark's own idea for using t-shirts to advertise local bookstores and libraries where he had scheduled book events that included an "I love to haunt [LOCATION] motif advertising the bookstore

    5) PROPS

    Mark talks about his his of the full life skeleton Barnaby as a prop that he uses as a way to draw in the ideal target readers for his books (as well as to keep away those who are not interested in the macabre), as well as the way that a visual prop specifically related to the book content, can be an easily identifiable differentiator

    6) HIGHWAY BILLBOARDS
    Though it's not an easy or common thing to do, Mark has witnessed how effective a series of highway billboard ads can be. He shares the huge success that author Brian Horeck saw with his books Minnow Trap and Frozen Beneath.

    This is a demonstration of strategic marketing to a target audience (Northern Ontario readers) and aggressive and intelligent salesmanship to ensure the book was available at various non-traditional stores on that northern highway.

    7) VEHICLE ADVERTISEMENTS

    Similar to highway signs is the concept of advertising using your own vehicle. Mark was inspired by T S Paul and his car wrap concept. Mark invested in a much more cost-effective car magnet purchase for his own vehicle.

    Since Mark's skeleton Barnaby is already sitting in the car all the time, why not put something on the side of the car that explains why the skeleton is there?

     

    8) COMIC CONS

    Mark took advantage of a specific target audience to start buying tables to sell print books (which still represent 70 to 80% of the book industry overall market) to the core group of fans most likely to enjoy his books.

    He also talks a bit about Armand Rosamilia and the Beers N Fears Tour and how this unique merger of local interest with craft beer worked extremely well.

    9) LOCATION BASED APPS & SHARING

    Mark talks about sharing content and quotes from his books on Foursquare (Swarm) as well as using apps like Squirl to introduce locations from where books are set.

     

    Mark also shares the Spirits Untapped Google map that he and Liz created and as well as the Macabre Montreal map as a no cost (except for time) way of increasing SEO for content based on locations from books.

    10) LIVE VIDEOS & SMALL FISH

    Mark shares his experiences experimenting with live videos via his  #FreeFridayFrights. He shares a bit about the explosion that happened with a video he recorded just this past Friday while up in my home town of Levack Ontario

    His "Facebook Live" video about a ghost on Level 2650 of Levack Mine reached well over 3500 views and continues to get re-shared. Compared with the standard dozen to two dozen views most of his videos have received, this is a blockbuster.

    It speaks to something Mark learned from his friend Robert J. Sawyer years ago - and that is the importance of defining yourself as a big fish in a small pool. Mark shares how that "big fish in small pool" has elevated sales of one particular book.

    ]]>     In this solo episode, Mark shares 10 Ways of Thinking Outside the Ad: Book Marketing ideas that appeal to your target audience.

    Prior to the main content, Mark gives a bit of an update on how his Kobo Writing Life FREE first book in series is going two weeks out.

    Then he does the Tongue Twister, suggested by his friend Pete, and sponsored by Findaway Voices.

    In brief summary, here are the 10 Ways of Thinking Outside the AD that Mark shares:

    1) FOOD & DRINK & BOOKS

    Mark shares a few thoughts about Julie Strauss with her "Chef in Love" romance books - in particular the amazing Prosecco Heart novel and how that could so brilliantly be tied in to delightful pairings. Food and drink and reading.

    This would be the ideal book to give to a wine lover and romance reader. Or maybe package a CD, a book and a bottle of wine with it - it wouldn't have to be a Prosecco although that does nicely tie-in with the title, placed on an author table as a suggestion for how it could be part of an excellent creative gift package.

    2) ATTENTION MARKETING PROMO INFO & SWAG

    Mark talks about a few examples from

    • The Jewels of Historical Romance - and how they sent the chocolates to the retailers. Puts them above and beyond.
    • Chris Mandeville - and her book Seeds - brilliant idea
    • Deborah Cooke's Book Charms
    • Glynnis Campbell's Bookish Swag - Lords with Swords letter opener

    3) ATTENTION MARKETING PACKAGING

    Based on a few packages mailed to Mark when he was at Kobo from Publishers Group Canada, Mark shares how the inventive packaging for the following books created a memorable and sharable entity:

    • Peter James LOVE YOU DEAD
    • Anne Cleaves COLD EARTH

    4) UNIQUE & BOOK-SPECIFIC SWAG

    How Madison Avery created an enscribed penny based on the "Penny for your thoughts" story from her erotic romance collection CAPTURING THE MUSE (all the stories involve female writers and erotic entanglements with her muse, who often takes the form of a sexy man)

    Mark's own idea for using t-shirts to advertise local bookstores and libraries where he had scheduled book events that included an "I love to haunt [LOCATION] motif advertising the bookstore

    5) PROPS

    Mark talks about his his of the full life skeleton Barnaby as a prop that he uses as a way to draw in the ideal target readers for his books (as well as to keep away those who are not interested in the macabre), as well as the way that a visual prop specifically related to the book content, can be an easily identifiable differentiator

    6) HIGHWAY BILLBOARDS Though it's not an easy or common thing to do, Mark has witnessed how effective a series of highway billboard ads can be. He shares the huge success that author Brian Horeck saw with his books Minnow Trap and Frozen Beneath.

    This is a demonstration of strategic marketing to a target audience (Northern Ontario readers) and aggressive and intelligent salesmanship to ensure the book was available at various non-traditional stores on that northern highway.

    7) VEHICLE ADVERTISEMENTS

    Similar to highway signs is the concept of advertising using your own vehicle. Mark was inspired by T S Paul and his car wrap concept. Mark invested in a much more cost-effective car magnet purchase for his own vehicle.

    Since Mark's skeleton Barnaby is already sitting in the car all the time, why not put something on the side of the car that explains why the skeleton is there?

    8) COMIC CONS

    Mark took advantage of a specific target audience to start buying tables to sell print books (which still represent 70 to 80% of the book industry overall market) to the core group of fans most likely to enjoy his books.

    He also talks a bit about Armand Rosamilia and the Beers N Fears Tour and how this unique merger of local interest with craft beer worked extremely well.

    9) LOCATION BASED APPS & SHARING

    Mark talks about sharing content and quotes from his books on Foursquare (Swarm) as well as using apps like Squirl to introduce locations from where books are set.

    Mark also shares the Spirits Untapped Google map that he and Liz created and as well as the Macabre Montreal map as a no cost (except for time) way of increasing SEO for content based on locations from books.

    10) LIVE VIDEOS & SMALL FISH

    Mark shares his experiences experimenting with live videos via his #FreeFridayFrights. He shares a bit about the explosion that happened with a video he recorded just this past Friday while up in my home town of Levack Ontario

    His "Facebook Live" video about a ghost on Level 2650 of Levack Mine reached well over 3500 views and continues to get re-shared. Compared with the standard dozen to two dozen views most of his videos have received, this is a blockbuster.

    It speaks to something Mark learned from his friend Robert J. Sawyer years ago - and that is the importance of defining yourself as a big fish in a small pool. Mark shares how that "big fish in small pool" has elevated sales of one particular book.

    ]]>     42:52 false 1 25 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this solo episode, Mark shares 10 Ways of Thinking Outside the Ad: Book Marketing ideas that appeal to your target audience. Prior to the main content, Mark gives a bit of an update on how his Kobo Writing Life FREE first book in series is going two weeks out. Then he does the Tongue Twister, suggested by his friend Pete, and sponsored by Findaway Voices. In brief summary, here are the 10 Ways of Thinking Outside the AD that Mark shares: 1) FOOD & DRINK & BOOKS Mark shares a few thoughts about Julie Strauss with her "Chef in Love" romance books - in particular the amazing Prosecco Heart novel and how that could so brilliantly be tied in to delightful pairings. Food and drink and reading.   This would be the ideal book to give to a wine lover and romance reader. Or maybe package a CD, a book and a bottle of wine with it - it wouldn't have to be a Prosecco although that does nicely tie-in with the title, placed on an author table as a suggestion for how it could be part of an excellent creative gift package. 2) ATTENTION MARKETING PROMO INFO & SWAG Mark talks about a few examples from The Jewels of Historical Romance - and how they sent the chocolates to the retailers. Puts them above and beyond. Chris Mandeville - and her book Seeds - brilliant idea Deborah Cooke's Book Charms Glynnis Campbell's Bookish Swag - Lords with Swords letter opener 3) ATTENTION MARKETING PACKAGING Based on a few packages mailed to Mark when he was at Kobo from Publishers Group Canada, Mark shares how the inventive packaging for the following books created a memorable and sharable entity: Peter James LOVE YOU DEAD Anne Cleaves COLD EARTH 4) UNIQUE & BOOK-SPECIFIC SWAG How Madison Avery created an enscribed penny based on the "Penny for your thoughts" story from her erotic romance collection CAPTURING THE MUSE (all the stories involve female writers and erotic entanglements with her muse, who often takes the form of a sexy man) Mark's own idea for using t-shirts to advertise local bookstores and libraries where he had scheduled book events that included an "I love to haunt [LOCATION] motif advertising the bookstore 5) PROPS Mark talks about his his of the full life skeleton Barnaby as a prop that he uses as a way to draw in the ideal target readers for his books (as well as to keep away those who are not interested in the macabre), as well as the way that a visual prop specifically related to the book content, can be an easily identifiable differentiator 6) HIGHWAY BILLBOARDS Though it's not an easy or common thing to do, Mark has witnessed how effective a series of highway billboard ads can be. He shares the huge success that author Brian Horeck saw with his books Minnow Trap and Frozen Beneath. This is a demonstration of strategic marketing to a target audience (Northern Ontario readers) and aggressive and intelligent salesmanship to ensure the book was available at various non-traditional stores on that northern highway. 7) VEHICLE ADVERTISEMENTS Similar to highway signs is the concept of advertising using your own vehicle. Mark was inspired by T S Paul and his car wrap concept. Mark invested in a much more cost-effective car magnet purchase for his own vehicle. Since Mark's skeleton Barnaby is already sitting in the car all the time, why not put something on the side of the car that explains why the skeleton is there?   8) COMIC CONS Mark took advantage of a specific target audience to start buying tables to sell print books (which still represent 70 to 80% of the book industry overall market) to the core group of fans most likely to enjoy his books. He also talks a bit about Armand Rosamilia and the Beers N Fears Tour and how this unique merger of local interest with craft beer worked extremely well. 9) LOCATION BASED APPS & SHARING Mark talks about sharing content and quotes from his books on Foursquare (Swarm) as well as using apps like Squirl to introduce locations from where books are set.   Mark also shares the Spirits Untapped Google map that he and Liz created and as well as the Macabre Montreal map as a no cost (except for time) way of increasing SEO for content based on locations from books. 10) LIVE VIDEOS & SMALL FISH Mark shares his experiences experimenting with live videos via his  #FreeFridayFrights. He shares a bit about the explosion that happened with a video he recorded just this past Friday while up in my home town of Levack Ontario His "Facebook Live" video about a ghost on Level 2650 of Levack Mine reached well over 3500 views and continues to get re-shared. Compared with the standard dozen to two dozen views most of his videos have received, this is a blockbuster. It speaks to something Mark learned from his friend Robert J. Sawyer years ago - and that is the importance of defining yourself as a big fish in a small pool. Mark shares how that "big fish in small pool" has elevated sales of one particular book.Mark Leslie LefebvreIn this solo episode, Mark shares 10 Ways of Thinking Outside the Ad: Book Marketing ideas that appeal to your target audience. Prior to the main content, Mark gives a bit of an update on how his Kobo Writing Life FREE first book in series is going two weeks out. Then he does the Tongue Twister, suggested by his friend Pete, and sponsored by Findaway Voices. In brief summary, here are the 10 Ways of Thinking Outside the AD that Mark shares: 1) FOOD & DRINK & BOOKS Mark shares a few thoughts about Julie Strauss with her "Chef in Love" romance books - in particular the amazing Prosecco Heart novel and how that could so brilliantly be tied in to delightful pairings. Food and drink and reading.   This would be the ideal book to give to a wine lover and romance reader. Or maybe package a CD, a book and a bottle of wine with it - it wouldn't have to be a Prosecco although that does nicely tie-in with the title, placed on an author table as a suggestion for how it could be part of an excellent creative gift package. 2) ATTENTION MARKETING PROMO INFO & SWAG Mark talks about a few examples from The Jewels of Historical Romance - and how they sent the chocolates to the retailers. Puts them above and beyond. Chris Mandeville - and her book Seeds - brilliant idea Deborah Cooke's Book Charms Glynnis Campbell's Bookish Swag - Lords with Swords letter opener 3) ATTENTION MARKETING PACKAGING Based on a few packages mailed to Mark when he was at Kobo from Publishers Group Canada, Mark shares how the inventive packaging for the following books created a memorable and sharable entity: Peter James LOVE YOU DEAD Anne Cleaves COLD EARTH 4) UNIQUE & BOOK-SPECIFIC SWAG How Madison Avery created an enscribed penny based on the "Penny for your thoughts" story from her erotic romance collection CAPTURING THE MUSE (all the stories involve female writers and erotic entanglements with her muse, who often takes the form of a sexy man) Mark's own idea for using t-shirts to advertise local bookstores and libraries where he had scheduled book events that included an "I love to haunt [LOCATION] motif advertising the bookstore 5) PROPS Mark talks about his his of the full life skeleton Barnaby as a prop that he uses as a way to draw in the ideal target readers for his books (as well as to keep away those who are not interested in the macabre), as well as the way that a visual prop specifically related to the book content, can be an easily identifiable differentiator 6) HIGHWAY BILLBOARDS Though it's not an easy or common thing to do, Mark has witnessed how effective a series of highway billboard ads can be. He shares the huge success that author Brian Horeck saw with his books Minnow Trap and Frozen Beneath. This is a demonstration of strategic marketing to a target audience (Northern Ontario readers) and aggressive and intelligent salesmanship to ensure the book was available at various non-traditional stores on that northern highway. 7) VEHICLE ADVERTISEMENTS Similar to highway signs is the concept of advertising using your own vehicle. Mark was inspired by T S Paul and his car wrap concept. Mark invested in a much more cost-effective car magnet purchase for his own vehicle. Since Mark's skeleton Barnaby is already sitting in the car all the time, why not put something on the side of the car that explains why the skeleton is there?   8) COMIC CONS Mark took advantage of a specific target audience to start buying tables to sell print books (which still represent 70 to 80% of the book industry overall market) to the core group of fans most likely to enjoy his books. He also talks a bit about Armand Rosamilia and the Beers N Fears Tour and how this unique merger of local interest with craft beer worked extremely well. 9) LOCATION BASED APPS & SHARING Mark talks about sharing content and quotes from his books on Foursquare (Swarm) as well as using apps like Squirl to introduce locations from where books are set.   Mark also shares the Spirits Untapped Google map that he and Liz created and as well as the Macabre Montreal map as a no cost (except for time) way of increasing SEO for content based on locations from books. 10) LIVE VIDEOS & SMALL FISH Mark shares his experiences experimenting with live videos via his  #FreeFridayFrights. He shares a bit about the explosion that happened with a video he recorded just this past Friday while up in my home town of Levack Ontario His "Facebook Live" video about a ghost on Level 2650 of Levack Mine reached well over 3500 views and continues to get re-shared. Compared with the standard dozen to two dozen views most of his videos have received, this is a blockbuster. It speaks to something Mark learned from his friend Robert J. Sawyer years ago - and that is the importance of defining yourself as a big fish in a small pool. Mark shares how that "big fish in small pool" has elevated sales of one particular book.     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 024 - A Life in Storytelling Together with Laura and Daniel Martone A Life in Storytelling Together with Laura and Daniel Martone Fri, 08 Jun 2018 03:58:49 +0000 Mark interviews Laura and Daniel Martone, former residents of New Orleans who now travel the country in their mobile writing studio, a cozy RV dubbed Serenity. Together they write urban fantasy, post-apocalyptic, time travel, epic fantasy, and space opera novels.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares an update on the recent FREE promotion that he paid for via the Kobo Writing Life PROMOTIONS tab.

    We also talks about the importance for authors to listen, learn and then to adapt what they are seeing, hearing and learning into strategies and tactics that work best for them and their own unique goals and publishing plans.

    Then he launches the Tongue Twister segment, which is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about Findaway Voices at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway.

    In the interview, Mark talks with Daniel and Laura about:

    • The way they met via the world of films and film festivals
    • The experience of having a horror screenplay altered to the tune of a director's completely different interpretation of their script
    • The storytelling aspect of creating virtual audio ghost tours
    • The incredible patience involved in working on building a product line and listening and learning for more than a year before launching their first collaboratively published book series
    • The planned-out release schedule that they struggle with sticking to for their Space Opera series and their Zombie series
    • How they work together to split the work required in creating and writing their books
      • What Dan calls a "Skeleton Draft" which is a hybrid between a screenplay and story beats of about 17,000 words
      • Laura's next step of taking that draft and fleshing it out into a "well nourished" format
      • The next step where Dan then trims and cuts the 60,000 or 70,000 word draft back down by 5,000 or so words
    • The 9 arc structure that each book they write fulfills
    • Intertwining their different series in a multiverse that they have created
    • How their background in film and screenwriting has woven itself into their writing process
    • Playing off each others skills, preferences, passions and work habits for the ultimate complimentary benefit
    • Being fans of the Supernatural TV show and Joss Whedon's Firefly and the impact that has had on their personal and creative lives
    • Serenity, their mobile home
    • The nature of learning and then adapting the things they have absorbed and learned into their own unique strategies
    • How Laura was inspired by Lindsay Buroker, in particular her expressions of: "Be genuine, be generous"
    • The lack of confidence that can result from not hitting that publish button (which can be a crippling thing for a writer – ie, just STARTING is sometimes the key, otherwise, one might never start) and the concept of learning from doing
    • The collaboration that Laura and Daniel are doing with a larger group of authors (currently 43 writers) for a forthcoming massive project that will be releasing later this year – (Mark gets them to promise to return to the podcast to share an update on that project)
    • The favorite bit of writing advice that resonates with each of them
    • Where The Martones will be traveling (in Serenity) for the remainder of this year (including 20Booksto50K Vegas)

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things that his conversation with Laura and Daniel made him think about. One of those items was about that moment where a writer hesitates with their finger over the "publish" button and the wonder of whether or not they should go back to one more re-write, one more edit, one more re-polish before either publishing the manuscript or perhaps submitting it to an agent or editor.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    ]]>     Mark interviews Laura and Daniel Martone, former residents of New Orleans who now travel the country in their mobile writing studio, a cozy RV dubbed Serenity. Together they write urban fantasy, post-apocalyptic, time travel, epic fantasy, and space opera novels.

    Prior to the interview, Mark shares an update on the recent FREE promotion that he paid for via the Kobo Writing Life PROMOTIONS tab.

    We also talks about the importance for authors to listen, learn and then to adapt what they are seeing, hearing and learning into strategies and tactics that work best for them and their own unique goals and publishing plans.

    Then he launches the Tongue Twister segment, which is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about Findaway Voices at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway.

    In the interview, Mark talks with Daniel and Laura about:

    • The way they met via the world of films and film festivals
    • The experience of having a horror screenplay altered to the tune of a director's completely different interpretation of their script
    • The storytelling aspect of creating virtual audio ghost tours
    • The incredible patience involved in working on building a product line and listening and learning for more than a year before launching their first collaboratively published book series
    • The planned-out release schedule that they struggle with sticking to for their Space Opera series and their Zombie series
    • How they work together to split the work required in creating and writing their books
      • What Dan calls a "Skeleton Draft" which is a hybrid between a screenplay and story beats of about 17,000 words
      • Laura's next step of taking that draft and fleshing it out into a "well nourished" format
      • The next step where Dan then trims and cuts the 60,000 or 70,000 word draft back down by 5,000 or so words
    • The 9 arc structure that each book they write fulfills
    • Intertwining their different series in a multiverse that they have created
    • How their background in film and screenwriting has woven itself into their writing process
    • Playing off each others skills, preferences, passions and work habits for the ultimate complimentary benefit
    • Being fans of the Supernatural TV show and Joss Whedon's Firefly and the impact that has had on their personal and creative lives
    • Serenity, their mobile home
    • The nature of learning and then adapting the things they have absorbed and learned into their own unique strategies
    • How Laura was inspired by Lindsay Buroker, in particular her expressions of: "Be genuine, be generous"
    • The lack of confidence that can result from not hitting that publish button (which can be a crippling thing for a writer – ie, just STARTING is sometimes the key, otherwise, one might never start) and the concept of learning from doing
    • The collaboration that Laura and Daniel are doing with a larger group of authors (currently 43 writers) for a forthcoming massive project that will be releasing later this year – (Mark gets them to promise to return to the podcast to share an update on that project)
    • The favorite bit of writing advice that resonates with each of them
    • Where The Martones will be traveling (in Serenity) for the remainder of this year (including 20Booksto50K Vegas)

    After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things that his conversation with Laura and Daniel made him think about. One of those items was about that moment where a writer hesitates with their finger over the "publish" button and the wonder of whether or not they should go back to one more re-write, one more edit, one more re-polish before either publishing the manuscript or perhaps submitting it to an agent or editor.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     49:29 false 1 24 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Laura and Daniel Martone, former residents of New Orleans who now travel the country in their mobile writing studio, a cozy RV dubbed Serenity. Together they write urban fantasy, post-apocalyptic, time travel, epic fantasy, and space opera novels. Prior to the interview, Mark shares an update on the recent FREE promotion that he paid for via the Kobo Writing Life PROMOTIONS tab. We also talks about the importance for authors to listen, learn and then to adapt what they are seeing, hearing and learning into strategies and tactics that work best for them and their own unique goals and publishing plans. Then he launches the Tongue Twister segment, which is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about Findaway Voices at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway. In the interview, Mark talks with Daniel and Laura about: The way they met via the world of films and film festivals The experience of having a horror screenplay altered to the tune of a director's completely different interpretation of their script The storytelling aspect of creating virtual audio ghost tours The incredible patience involved in working on building a product line and listening and learning for more than a year before launching their first collaboratively published book series The planned-out release schedule that they struggle with sticking to for their Space Opera series and their Zombie series How they work together to split the work required in creating and writing their books What Dan calls a "Skeleton Draft" which is a hybrid between a screenplay and story beats of about 17,000 words Laura's next step of taking that draft and fleshing it out into a "well nourished" format The next step where Dan then trims and cuts the 60,000 or 70,000 word draft back down by 5,000 or so words The 9 arc structure that each book they write fulfills Intertwining their different series in a multiverse that they have created How their background in film and screenwriting has woven itself into their writing process Playing off each others skills, preferences, passions and work habits for the ultimate complimentary benefit Being fans of the Supernatural TV show and Joss Whedon's Firefly and the impact that has had on their personal and creative lives Serenity, their mobile home The nature of learning and then adapting the things they have absorbed and learned into their own unique strategies How Laura was inspired by Lindsay Buroker, in particular her expressions of: "Be genuine, be generous" The lack of confidence that can result from not hitting that publish button (which can be a crippling thing for a writer – ie, just STARTING is sometimes the key, otherwise, one might never start) and the concept of learning from doing The collaboration that Laura and Daniel are doing with a larger group of authors (currently 43 writers) for a forthcoming massive project that will be releasing later this year – (Mark gets them to promise to return to the podcast to share an update on that project) The favorite bit of writing advice that resonates with each of them Where The Martones will be traveling (in Serenity) for the remainder of this year (including 20Booksto50K Vegas)   After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things that his conversation with Laura and Daniel made him think about. One of those items was about that moment where a writer hesitates with their finger over the "publish" button and the wonder of whether or not they should go back to one more re-write, one more edit, one more re-polish before either publishing the manuscript or perhaps submitting it to an agent or editor.   Links of Interest: The Martones Smarter Artist Summit Bundlerabbit Findaway Voices  Mark Leslie LefebvreMark interviews Laura and Daniel Martone, former residents of New Orleans who now travel the country in their mobile writing studio, a cozy RV dubbed Serenity. Together they write urban fantasy, post-apocalyptic, time travel, epic fantasy, and space opera novels. Prior to the interview, Mark shares an update on the recent FREE promotion that he paid for via the Kobo Writing Life PROMOTIONS tab. We also talks about the importance for authors to listen, learn and then to adapt what they are seeing, hearing and learning into strategies and tactics that work best for them and their own unique goals and publishing plans. Then he launches the Tongue Twister segment, which is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about Findaway Voices at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway. In the interview, Mark talks with Daniel and Laura about: The way they met via the world of films and film festivals The experience of having a horror screenplay altered to the tune of a director's completely different interpretation of their script The storytelling aspect of creating virtual audio ghost tours The incredible patience involved in working on building a product line and listening and learning for more than a year before launching their first collaboratively published book series The planned-out release schedule that they struggle with sticking to for their Space Opera series and their Zombie series How they work together to split the work required in creating and writing their books What Dan calls a "Skeleton Draft" which is a hybrid between a screenplay and story beats of about 17,000 words Laura's next step of taking that draft and fleshing it out into a "well nourished" format The next step where Dan then trims and cuts the 60,000 or 70,000 word draft back down by 5,000 or so words The 9 arc structure that each book they write fulfills Intertwining their different series in a multiverse that they have created How their background in film and screenwriting has woven itself into their writing process Playing off each others skills, preferences, passions and work habits for the ultimate complimentary benefit Being fans of the Supernatural TV show and Joss Whedon's Firefly and the impact that has had on their personal and creative lives Serenity, their mobile home The nature of learning and then adapting the things they have absorbed and learned into their own unique strategies How Laura was inspired by Lindsay Buroker, in particular her expressions of: "Be genuine, be generous" The lack of confidence that can result from not hitting that publish button (which can be a crippling thing for a writer – ie, just STARTING is sometimes the key, otherwise, one might never start) and the concept of learning from doing The collaboration that Laura and Daniel are doing with a larger group of authors (currently 43 writers) for a forthcoming massive project that will be releasing later this year – (Mark gets them to promise to return to the podcast to share an update on that project) The favorite bit of writing advice that resonates with each of them Where The Martones will be traveling (in Serenity) for the remainder of this year (including 20Booksto50K Vegas)   After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things that his conversation with Laura and Daniel made him think about. One of those items was about that moment where a writer hesitates with their finger over the "publish" button and the wonder of whether or not they should go back to one more re-write, one more edit, one more re-polish before either publishing the manuscript or perhaps submitting it to an agent or editor.   Links of Interest: The Martones Smarter Artist Summit Bundlerabbit Findaway Voices       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 023 - Accurate Historical Details for Authors with Danièle Cybulskie Accurate Historical Details for Authors with Danièle Cybulskie Fri, 01 Jun 2018 02:34:28 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews Danièle Cybulskie about how she translated her passion for The Middle Ages into featured articles at Medievalists.net that have reached more than half a million readers, has had her work as a subject matter specialist adopted for nine Ontario colleges, had created fun and informative books such as The Five-Minute Medievalist, Six Steps to Better Historical Fiction and many other great titles, not to mention fascinating speaking gigs, including a TedX talk, and as an author coach.

    Before the interview, Mark welcomes new Patreon Supporter Jamie Davis, thanks Patrons for their support and introduces this episode's tongue twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices, which is in honor of Book Expo America taking place in New York.

    The tongue twister is: "You know New York, you need New York, you know you need unique New York"

    Mark also shares a few personal updates, including a recently released BookNet Canada suvey result about 2017 Publishing Trends as well as an experiment he is doing related to a FREE book promotion he is running at Kobo.

    In the feature interview, Mark and Danièle talk about:

    • How she has been writing for Medievalists.net for a number of years and has more than 150 articles published there
    • Her passion for coaching authors in authenticity and accuracy for the smallest details about the Middle Ages
    • Her favourite century, (the 14th Century) because it contained the Black Death and The Hundred Years War
    • The most common elements that writers get wrong (it often involves food and clothing)
    • The risks of getting one's historical elements only from fiction and movies
    • Whether or not Holy Hand Grenade (as seen in the Arthurian Legend spoof film Monty Python and the Holy Grail) might have actually existed. (There WAS gun powder in Europe in that era)
    • How the use of guns and canons changed the use of armour and the way castles were built
    • Because Mark couldn't resist bringing up the coconuts in the aforementioned Monty Python movie, the historic scholar who has studied medieval coconuts
    • The inaccurate food that is served at a particular "Medieval" style family dinner theatre show that contains foods that never existed in Europe at the time, such as potatoes
    • Danièle book The Five Minute Medievalist and The Five Minute Medievalist's Guide to Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse
    • Her forthcoming release (recently signed with a UK publisher), Medieval Europe in Fact and Fiction
    • How sitting at home with her first baby was her introduction towards sharing what she had studied through writing
    • The challenge she has been enjoying writing the different survival guides each month, including the way that she used Twitter to help decide the latest title
    • What she likes reading for pleasure (dystopian futures) and what her favorite medieval movie is (A Knight's Tale)
    • How learning about the differences and the similarities of people in different historical periods can give us a better and more well-rounded ability to understand and have compassion for different cultures and people in our world today

    After the interview, Mark reflects on how he uses history for his own non-fiction writing.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark interviews Danièle Cybulskie about how she translated her passion for The Middle Ages into featured articles at Medievalists.net that have reached more than half a million readers, has had her work as a subject matter specialist adopted for nine Ontario colleges, had created fun and informative books such as The Five-Minute Medievalist, Six Steps to Better Historical Fiction and many other great titles, not to mention fascinating speaking gigs, including a TedX talk, and as an author coach.

    Before the interview, Mark welcomes new Patreon Supporter Jamie Davis, thanks Patrons for their support and introduces this episode's tongue twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices, which is in honor of Book Expo America taking place in New York.

    The tongue twister is: "You know New York, you need New York, you know you need unique New York"

    Mark also shares a few personal updates, including a recently released BookNet Canada suvey result about 2017 Publishing Trends as well as an experiment he is doing related to a FREE book promotion he is running at Kobo.

    In the feature interview, Mark and Danièle talk about:

    • How she has been writing for Medievalists.net for a number of years and has more than 150 articles published there
    • Her passion for coaching authors in authenticity and accuracy for the smallest details about the Middle Ages
    • Her favourite century, (the 14th Century) because it contained the Black Death and The Hundred Years War
    • The most common elements that writers get wrong (it often involves food and clothing)
    • The risks of getting one's historical elements only from fiction and movies
    • Whether or not Holy Hand Grenade (as seen in the Arthurian Legend spoof film Monty Python and the Holy Grail) might have actually existed. (There WAS gun powder in Europe in that era)
    • How the use of guns and canons changed the use of armour and the way castles were built
    • Because Mark couldn't resist bringing up the coconuts in the aforementioned Monty Python movie, the historic scholar who has studied medieval coconuts
    • The inaccurate food that is served at a particular "Medieval" style family dinner theatre show that contains foods that never existed in Europe at the time, such as potatoes
    • Danièle book The Five Minute Medievalist and The Five Minute Medievalist's Guide to Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse
    • Her forthcoming release (recently signed with a UK publisher), Medieval Europe in Fact and Fiction
    • How sitting at home with her first baby was her introduction towards sharing what she had studied through writing
    • The challenge she has been enjoying writing the different survival guides each month, including the way that she used Twitter to help decide the latest title
    • What she likes reading for pleasure (dystopian futures) and what her favorite medieval movie is (A Knight's Tale)
    • How learning about the differences and the similarities of people in different historical periods can give us a better and more well-rounded ability to understand and have compassion for different cultures and people in our world today

    After the interview, Mark reflects on how he uses history for his own non-fiction writing.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     46:28 false 1 23 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews Danièle Cybulskie about how she translated her passion for The Middle Ages into featured articles at Medievalists.net that have reached more than half a million readers, has had her work as a subject matter specialist adopted for nine Ontario colleges, had created fun and informative books such as The Five-Minute Medievalist, Six Steps to Better Historical Fiction and many other great titles, not to mention fascinating speaking gigs, including a TedX talk, and as an author coach. Before the interview, Mark welcomes new Patreon Supporter Jamie Davis, thanks Patrons for their support and introduces this episode's tongue twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices, which is in honor of Book Expo America taking place in New York. The tongue twister is: "You know New York, you need New York, you know you need unique New York" Mark also shares a few personal updates, including a recently released BookNet Canada suvey result about 2017 Publishing Trends as well as an experiment he is doing related to a FREE book promotion he is running at Kobo. In the feature interview, Mark and Danièle talk about: How she has been writing for Medievalists.net for a number of years and has more than 150 articles published there Her passion for coaching authors in authenticity and accuracy for the smallest details about the Middle Ages Her favourite century, (the 14th Century) because it contained the Black Death and The Hundred Years War The most common elements that writers get wrong (it often involves food and clothing) The risks of getting one's historical elements only from fiction and movies Whether or not Holy Hand Grenade (as seen in the Arthurian Legend spoof film Monty Python and the Holy Grail) might have actually existed. (There WAS gun powder in Europe in that era) How the use of guns and canons changed the use of armour and the way castles were built Because Mark couldn't resist bringing up the coconuts in the aforementioned Monty Python movie, the historic scholar who has studied medieval coconuts The inaccurate food that is served at a particular "Medieval" style family dinner theatre show that contains foods that never existed in Europe at the time, such as potatoes Danièle book The Five Minute Medievalist and The Five Minute Medievalist's Guide to Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse Her forthcoming release (recently signed with a UK publisher), Medieval Europe in Fact and Fiction How sitting at home with her first baby was her introduction towards sharing what she had studied through writing The challenge she has been enjoying writing the different survival guides each month, including the way that she used Twitter to help decide the latest title What she likes reading for pleasure (dystopian futures) and what her favorite medieval movie is (A Knight's Tale) How learning about the differences and the similarities of people in different historical periods can give us a better and more well-rounded ability to understand and have compassion for different cultures and people in our world today After the interview, Mark reflects on how he uses history for his own non-fiction writing. Links of Interest: Danièle Cybulski's website Danièle's Books Danièle's TedX Talk Danièle's YouTube Channel Findaway Voices BookNet Canada Mark's Nocturnal Screams Series Nocturnal Screams Books at KoboMark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark interviews Danièle Cybulskie about how she translated her passion for The Middle Ages into featured articles at Medievalists.net that have reached more than half a million readers, has had her work as a subject matter specialist adopted for nine Ontario colleges, had created fun and informative books such as The Five-Minute Medievalist, Six Steps to Better Historical Fiction and many other great titles, not to mention fascinating speaking gigs, including a TedX talk, and as an author coach. Before the interview, Mark welcomes new Patreon Supporter Jamie Davis, thanks Patrons for their support and introduces this episode's tongue twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices, which is in honor of Book Expo America taking place in New York. The tongue twister is: "You know New York, you need New York, you know you need unique New York" Mark also shares a few personal updates, including a recently released BookNet Canada suvey result about 2017 Publishing Trends as well as an experiment he is doing related to a FREE book promotion he is running at Kobo. In the feature interview, Mark and Danièle talk about: How she has been writing for Medievalists.net for a number of years and has more than 150 articles published there Her passion for coaching authors in authenticity and accuracy for the smallest details about the Middle Ages Her favourite century, (the 14th Century) because it contained the Black Death and The Hundred Years War The most common elements that writers get wrong (it often involves food and clothing) The risks of getting one's historical elements only from fiction and movies Whether or not Holy Hand Grenade (as seen in the Arthurian Legend spoof film Monty Python and the Holy Grail) might have actually existed. (There WAS gun powder in Europe in that era) How the use of guns and canons changed the use of armour and the way castles were built Because Mark couldn't resist bringing up the coconuts in the aforementioned Monty Python movie, the historic scholar who has studied medieval coconuts The inaccurate food that is served at a particular "Medieval" style family dinner theatre show that contains foods that never existed in Europe at the time, such as potatoes Danièle book The Five Minute Medievalist and The Five Minute Medievalist's Guide to Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse Her forthcoming release (recently signed with a UK publisher), Medieval Europe in Fact and Fiction How sitting at home with her first baby was her introduction towards sharing what she had studied through writing The challenge she has been enjoying writing the different survival guides each month, including the way that she used Twitter to help decide the latest title What she likes reading for pleasure (dystopian futures) and what her favorite medieval movie is (A Knight's Tale) How learning about the differences and the similarities of people in different historical periods can give us a better and more well-rounded ability to understand and have compassion for different cultures and people in our world today After the interview, Mark reflects on how he uses history for his own non-fiction writing. Links of Interest: Danièle Cybulski's website Danièle's Books Danièle's TedX Talk Danièle's YouTube Channel Findaway Voices BookNet Canada Mark's Nocturnal Screams Series Nocturnal Screams Books at Kobo     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 022 - Finding my Way with Findaway Finding my Way with Findaway Fri, 25 May 2018 02:03:35 +0000 This episode includes clips of interviews that Mark conducted on a tour through the Findaway offices in Cleveland, Ohio that took place on Tuesday May 22nd. Mark chats with folks from the Findaway Voices team (Will, Wes and Eric) as well as Findaway CEO Mitch Kroll.

    In the introduction, Mark shares a few updates, including an update of the latest video for Patreon supporters and then explains the three levels of support that include ($1 - Plot Outline (Bronze), $3 - First Draft (Silver) and $5 - Completed Manuscript (Gold). He thanks new and existing Patreon supporters.

    Mark also shares some details about the percentage share of his eBook retail sales for 2017, revealing that 77% of his eBook earnings came from Kindle with Kobo coming in second at 17%. He also noted that Google started to make a return in terms of his eBook sales in 2017 and has already well surpassed his iBooks sales in 2018.

    Mark shares his own experiences with publishing exclusively to Kindle via KDP Select to try to leverage the Kindle Unlimited reading income opportunities) and why, strategically, he has been a part of the program since it first launched, even when he was in charge of Kobo's self-publishing platform. He also discusses a short story series "Nocturnal Screams" that he originally rolled out in KDP Select a year ago, but is now releasing wide.

    For this episode's tongue twisters, Mark turns the tables on Will Dages from Findaway Voices (sponsor of the Tongue Twister segment) and gets HIM to read the tongue twister.

    In the episode's central interview with Mitch Kroll, Findaway Co-Founder and CEO, Mark and Mitch talk about:

    • The interesting origin of the name Findaway and how the term "Findawayer" and a misplaced thumb late one night led to the spark of inspiration
    • The atmosphere and spirit of the entire Findaway company's culture
    • How, independent of audio or the product set in general, it was all about building a place where a bunch of dynamic people (with Findawayer DNA) who could do great work
    • The little quotes and core value slogans that appear in small font text on walls throughout the Findaway offices
    • How the entire company was originally built on the Playaway devices, which introduced disruption and innovation to the industry
    • The manner by which a talk by Steve Jobs is something Mitch and his co-founders derived inspiration from when building the first Playaway devices
    • How, after selling more than 6 Million Playaway devices, the simple yet effective innovation remains a growth business
    • The balance that Findaway plays in serving the needs of content producers (publishers and authors), curators of audio (retailers and libraries) and consumers/readers
    • The origin of the name "Findaway Voices" and how it relates to the voice and the freedom that it gives back to independent authors

    Mark then speaks with Will Dages about

    • One of his favourite elements of working at Findaway Voices and Findaway (the amazing people)
    • The Nebula Awards and Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America conference Will recently returned from where he shared information about the "pay for circulation" library purchasing model that raised a number of eyebrows

    Mark chats with Wes from the audio quality team at Findaway Voices about:

    • One of the most common issue that he regularly has to deal with, related to specification issues
    • The education and resources that Wes regularly shares with audio producers and authors in his daily work
    • The importance of fixing things at the source (ie, when the audio is being recorded)

    Mark then speaks with Eric from the Business Development team at Findaway Voices about:

    • The role that Eric plays in helping the Voices publishing arm in the creation of audiobooks through partnerships
    • The importance of strategic partnerships for the creation of high quality audiobook solutions
    • A side-conversation carry-over from lunch about Marvel superheroes and how this connects Venom with Captain America

    After the interviews, Mark reflects on the day spent at Findaway, how Findaway Voices was a remarkable turning point for indie authors and the things he learned from looking at his Findaway Voices sales reports, and a few new strategies he intends on implementing based on this experience.

     

    Links of Interest

    ]]>     This episode includes clips of interviews that Mark conducted on a tour through the Findaway offices in Cleveland, Ohio that took place on Tuesday May 22nd. Mark chats with folks from the Findaway Voices team (Will, Wes and Eric) as well as Findaway CEO Mitch Kroll.

    In the introduction, Mark shares a few updates, including an update of the latest video for Patreon supporters and then explains the three levels of support that include ($1 - Plot Outline (Bronze), $3 - First Draft (Silver) and $5 - Completed Manuscript (Gold). He thanks new and existing Patreon supporters.

    Mark also shares some details about the percentage share of his eBook retail sales for 2017, revealing that 77% of his eBook earnings came from Kindle with Kobo coming in second at 17%. He also noted that Google started to make a return in terms of his eBook sales in 2017 and has already well surpassed his iBooks sales in 2018.

    Mark shares his own experiences with publishing exclusively to Kindle via KDP Select to try to leverage the Kindle Unlimited reading income opportunities) and why, strategically, he has been a part of the program since it first launched, even when he was in charge of Kobo's self-publishing platform. He also discusses a short story series "Nocturnal Screams" that he originally rolled out in KDP Select a year ago, but is now releasing wide.

    For this episode's tongue twisters, Mark turns the tables on Will Dages from Findaway Voices (sponsor of the Tongue Twister segment) and gets HIM to read the tongue twister.

    In the episode's central interview with Mitch Kroll, Findaway Co-Founder and CEO, Mark and Mitch talk about:

    • The interesting origin of the name Findaway and how the term "Findawayer" and a misplaced thumb late one night led to the spark of inspiration
    • The atmosphere and spirit of the entire Findaway company's culture
    • How, independent of audio or the product set in general, it was all about building a place where a bunch of dynamic people (with Findawayer DNA) who could do great work
    • The little quotes and core value slogans that appear in small font text on walls throughout the Findaway offices
    • How the entire company was originally built on the Playaway devices, which introduced disruption and innovation to the industry
    • The manner by which a talk by Steve Jobs is something Mitch and his co-founders derived inspiration from when building the first Playaway devices
    • How, after selling more than 6 Million Playaway devices, the simple yet effective innovation remains a growth business
    • The balance that Findaway plays in serving the needs of content producers (publishers and authors), curators of audio (retailers and libraries) and consumers/readers
    • The origin of the name "Findaway Voices" and how it relates to the voice and the freedom that it gives back to independent authors

    Mark then speaks with Will Dages about

    • One of his favourite elements of working at Findaway Voices and Findaway (the amazing people)
    • The Nebula Awards and Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America conference Will recently returned from where he shared information about the "pay for circulation" library purchasing model that raised a number of eyebrows

    Mark chats with Wes from the audio quality team at Findaway Voices about:

    • One of the most common issue that he regularly has to deal with, related to specification issues
    • The education and resources that Wes regularly shares with audio producers and authors in his daily work
    • The importance of fixing things at the source (ie, when the audio is being recorded)

    Mark then speaks with Eric from the Business Development team at Findaway Voices about:

    • The role that Eric plays in helping the Voices publishing arm in the creation of audiobooks through partnerships
    • The importance of strategic partnerships for the creation of high quality audiobook solutions
    • A side-conversation carry-over from lunch about Marvel superheroes and how this connects Venom with Captain America

    After the interviews, Mark reflects on the day spent at Findaway, how Findaway Voices was a remarkable turning point for indie authors and the things he learned from looking at his Findaway Voices sales reports, and a few new strategies he intends on implementing based on this experience.

    Links of Interest

    ]]>     46:26 false 1 22 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This episode includes clips of interviews that Mark conducted on a tour through the Findaway offices in Cleveland, Ohio that took place on Tuesday May 22nd. Mark chats with folks from the Findaway Voices team (Will, Wes and Eric) as well as Findaway CEO Mitch Kroll. In the introduction, Mark shares a few updates, including an update of the latest video for Patreon supporters and then explains the three levels of support that include ($1 - Plot Outline (Bronze), $3 - First Draft (Silver) and $5 - Completed Manuscript (Gold). He thanks new and existing Patreon supporters. Mark also shares some details about the percentage share of his eBook retail sales for 2017, revealing that 77% of his eBook earnings came from Kindle with Kobo coming in second at 17%. He also noted that Google started to make a return in terms of his eBook sales in 2017 and has already well surpassed his iBooks sales in 2018. Mark shares his own experiences with publishing exclusively to Kindle via KDP Select to try to leverage the Kindle Unlimited reading income opportunities) and why, strategically, he has been a part of the program since it first launched, even when he was in charge of Kobo's self-publishing platform. He also discusses a short story series "Nocturnal Screams" that he originally rolled out in KDP Select a year ago, but is now releasing wide. For this episode's tongue twisters, Mark turns the tables on Will Dages from Findaway Voices (sponsor of the Tongue Twister segment) and gets HIM to read the tongue twister. In the episode's central interview with Mitch Kroll, Findaway Co-Founder and CEO, Mark and Mitch talk about: The interesting origin of the name Findaway and how the term "Findawayer" and a misplaced thumb late one night led to the spark of inspiration The atmosphere and spirit of the entire Findaway company's culture How, independent of audio or the product set in general, it was all about building a place where a bunch of dynamic people (with Findawayer DNA) who could do great work The little quotes and core value slogans that appear in small font text on walls throughout the Findaway offices How the entire company was originally built on the Playaway devices, which introduced disruption and innovation to the industry The manner by which a talk by Steve Jobs is something Mitch and his co-founders derived inspiration from when building the first Playaway devices How, after selling more than 6 Million Playaway devices, the simple yet effective innovation remains a growth business The balance that Findaway plays in serving the needs of content producers (publishers and authors), curators of audio (retailers and libraries) and consumers/readers The origin of the name "Findaway Voices" and how it relates to the voice and the freedom that it gives back to independent authors Mark then speaks with Will Dages about One of his favourite elements of working at Findaway Voices and Findaway (the amazing people) The Nebula Awards and Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America conference Will recently returned from where he shared information about the "pay for circulation" library purchasing model that raised a number of eyebrows Mark chats with Wes from the audio quality team at Findaway Voices about: One of the most common issue that he regularly has to deal with, related to specification issues The education and resources that Wes regularly shares with audio producers and authors in his daily work The importance of fixing things at the source (ie, when the audio is being recorded) Mark then speaks with Eric from the Business Development team at Findaway Voices about: The role that Eric plays in helping the Voices publishing arm in the creation of audiobooks through partnerships The importance of strategic partnerships for the creation of high quality audiobook solutions A side-conversation carry-over from lunch about Marvel superheroes and how this connects Venom with Captain America After the interviews, Mark reflects on the day spent at Findaway, how Findaway Voices was a remarkable turning point for indie authors and the things he learned from looking at his Findaway Voices sales reports, and a few new strategies he intends on implementing based on this experience.   Links of Interest Findaway Findaway Voices Global Audiobook Opportunities for Authors (Episode 5) - Interview with Kelly Lytle from Findaway Voices Mark's Amazon Author Page Mark's Kobo Page Bumps in the Night Nocturnal Screams (Short story collection series) Night Cries Ode to Classics Dark Shadows Literary Haunts Unexpected Strangers Z is for Zombie Something WickedMark Leslie LefebvreThis episode includes clips of interviews that Mark conducted on a tour through the Findaway offices in Cleveland, Ohio that took place on Tuesday May 22nd. Mark chats with folks from the Findaway Voices team (Will, Wes and Eric) as well as Findaway CEO Mitch Kroll. In the introduction, Mark shares a few updates, including an update of the latest video for Patreon supporters and then explains the three levels of support that include ($1 - Plot Outline (Bronze), $3 - First Draft (Silver) and $5 - Completed Manuscript (Gold). He thanks new and existing Patreon supporters. Mark also shares some details about the percentage share of his eBook retail sales for 2017, revealing that 77% of his eBook earnings came from Kindle with Kobo coming in second at 17%. He also noted that Google started to make a return in terms of his eBook sales in 2017 and has already well surpassed his iBooks sales in 2018. Mark shares his own experiences with publishing exclusively to Kindle via KDP Select to try to leverage the Kindle Unlimited reading income opportunities) and why, strategically, he has been a part of the program since it first launched, even when he was in charge of Kobo's self-publishing platform. He also discusses a short story series "Nocturnal Screams" that he originally rolled out in KDP Select a year ago, but is now releasing wide. For this episode's tongue twisters, Mark turns the tables on Will Dages from Findaway Voices (sponsor of the Tongue Twister segment) and gets HIM to read the tongue twister. In the episode's central interview with Mitch Kroll, Findaway Co-Founder and CEO, Mark and Mitch talk about: The interesting origin of the name Findaway and how the term "Findawayer" and a misplaced thumb late one night led to the spark of inspiration The atmosphere and spirit of the entire Findaway company's culture How, independent of audio or the product set in general, it was all about building a place where a bunch of dynamic people (with Findawayer DNA) who could do great work The little quotes and core value slogans that appear in small font text on walls throughout the Findaway offices How the entire company was originally built on the Playaway devices, which introduced disruption and innovation to the industry The manner by which a talk by Steve Jobs is something Mitch and his co-founders derived inspiration from when building the first Playaway devices How, after selling more than 6 Million Playaway devices, the simple yet effective innovation remains a growth business The balance that Findaway plays in serving the needs of content producers (publishers and authors), curators of audio (retailers and libraries) and consumers/readers The origin of the name "Findaway Voices" and how it relates to the voice and the freedom that it gives back to independent authors Mark then speaks with Will Dages about One of his favourite elements of working at Findaway Voices and Findaway (the amazing people) The Nebula Awards and Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America conference Will recently returned from where he shared information about the "pay for circulation" library purchasing model that raised a number of eyebrows Mark chats with Wes from the audio quality team at Findaway Voices about: One of the most common issue that he regularly has to deal with, related to specification issues The education and resources that Wes regularly shares with audio producers and authors in his daily work The importance of fixing things at the source (ie, when the audio is being recorded) Mark then speaks with Eric from the Business Development team at Findaway Voices about: The role that Eric plays in helping the Voices publishing arm in the creation of audiobooks through partnerships The importance of strategic partnerships for the creation of high quality audiobook solutions A side-conversation carry-over from lunch about Marvel superheroes and how this connects Venom with Captain America After the interviews, Mark reflects on the day spent at Findaway, how Findaway Voices was a remarkable turning point for indie authors and the things he learned from looking at his Findaway Voices sales reports, and a few new strategies he intends on implementing based on this experience.   Links of Interest Findaway Findaway Voices Global Audiobook Opportunities for Authors (Episode 5) - Interview with Kelly Lytle from Findaway Voices Mark's Amazon Author Page Mark's Kobo Page Bumps in the Night Nocturnal Screams (Short story collection series) Night Cries Ode to Classics Dark Shadows Literary Haunts Unexpected Strangers Z is for Zombie Something Wicked     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 021 - Real World Connections In A Digital World with J Thorn and Zach Bohannon Making Real World Connections in A Digital World with J. Thorn & Zach Bohannon Fri, 18 May 2018 02:26:14 +0000 This episode features an interview with J Thorn and Zach Bohannon. They talk not only about the collaboration that the two of them do, but also a few of their more adventurous collaborations with other authors including the original train journey with Joanna Penn and Lindsay Buroker and how that unique writing experience evolved into an ongoing AUTHORS ON A TRAIN voyage from Chicago to New Orleans as well as an awesome 50th Anniversary of George A Romero's classic film NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD and how that relates to J and Zach's NIGHT OF THE WRITING DEAD event.

    Mark provides a personal update on the video views for his #FreeFridayFrights experiment and then shares the evil reaction he had to creating two "silly" versions of the Laurel VS Yanny audio debate. (He created a RickRoll version, reminding writers to get back to writing, as well as a JumpScare one, because, well, he thought it was funny).

    He notes that the short and silly videos are trending much higher than the more serious reading ones he has done.

    The Terrible Tongue Twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices, was provided by Laura and Daniel Martone, who will be featured guests in a forthcoming podcast. They asked for another Monty Python inspired accent to read it in, and the Australian accent from the troop's Bruce Sketch came up.

    After a terrible attempt at singing the Bruce's Philosopher's Song, Mark twists his tongue and likely offends multiple groups of people, from Python fans, to Australians, to beer drinkers and philosophers.

    Mark thanks the users who have sent feedback and comments as well as the listeners who have become Patreon supporters of the podcast.

    In the interview, Mark, J and Zach talk about:

    • How Zach and J started collaborating when Zach first became a fan of and then reached out to J
    • The system for how their writing collaborations work and the way they leverage their unique strengths
    • What StoryGrid is and how it shouldn't frighten the math averse
    • The five basic components to story structure
    • J and Zach's The Career Author Podcast, why they collaborated on it and how the process of putting the show together works
    • The analytics of story that they two of them share on what makes a scene work and what makes a story work
    • The original of the AUTHORS ON A TRAIN retreat with the original train trip from Chicago to New Orleans, and how it evolved into something that a slightly larger group of authors can get involved with
    • Details about the forthcoming NIGHT OF THE WRITING DEAD that they are planning for later this year
    • The difficult to measure yet critical value of in person connections

    After the conversation, Mark shares his own experience having just written a zombie story set at the Monroeville Mall in Pittsburgh (where the Romero film was shot and where NIGHT OF THE WRITING DEAD event will be taking place).

    He then reflects on something important that J and Zach speak about. Even though it was the revolution of digital publishing that has allowed authors to make a full time living off of their writing, a unique time in the history of writing, there's still something critical and important about real-world direct connections.

     

    Links of Interest

     

    Zach Bohannon writes horror, fantasy, and post-apocalyptic science fiction. He is the author of the bestselling post-apocalyptic horror series, Empty Bodies.

    J. Thorn is a Top 100 Most Popular Author in Horror, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure and Fantasy (Amazon Author Rank). He has published over one million words and has sold more than 170,000 books worldwide.

    ]]>     This episode features an interview with J Thorn and Zach Bohannon. They talk not only about the collaboration that the two of them do, but also a few of their more adventurous collaborations with other authors including the original train journey with Joanna Penn and Lindsay Buroker and how that unique writing experience evolved into an ongoing AUTHORS ON A TRAIN voyage from Chicago to New Orleans as well as an awesome 50th Anniversary of George A Romero's classic film NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD and how that relates to J and Zach's NIGHT OF THE WRITING DEAD event.

    Mark provides a personal update on the video views for his #FreeFridayFrights experiment and then shares the evil reaction he had to creating two "silly" versions of the Laurel VS Yanny audio debate. (He created a RickRoll version, reminding writers to get back to writing, as well as a JumpScare one, because, well, he thought it was funny).

    He notes that the short and silly videos are trending much higher than the more serious reading ones he has done.

    The Terrible Tongue Twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices, was provided by Laura and Daniel Martone, who will be featured guests in a forthcoming podcast. They asked for another Monty Python inspired accent to read it in, and the Australian accent from the troop's Bruce Sketch came up.

    After a terrible attempt at singing the Bruce's Philosopher's Song, Mark twists his tongue and likely offends multiple groups of people, from Python fans, to Australians, to beer drinkers and philosophers.

    Mark thanks the users who have sent feedback and comments as well as the listeners who have become Patreon supporters of the podcast.

    In the interview, Mark, J and Zach talk about:

    • How Zach and J started collaborating when Zach first became a fan of and then reached out to J
    • The system for how their writing collaborations work and the way they leverage their unique strengths
    • What StoryGrid is and how it shouldn't frighten the math averse
    • The five basic components to story structure
    • J and Zach's The Career Author Podcast, why they collaborated on it and how the process of putting the show together works
    • The analytics of story that they two of them share on what makes a scene work and what makes a story work
    • The original of the AUTHORS ON A TRAIN retreat with the original train trip from Chicago to New Orleans, and how it evolved into something that a slightly larger group of authors can get involved with
    • Details about the forthcoming NIGHT OF THE WRITING DEAD that they are planning for later this year
    • The difficult to measure yet critical value of in person connections

    After the conversation, Mark shares his own experience having just written a zombie story set at the Monroeville Mall in Pittsburgh (where the Romero film was shot and where NIGHT OF THE WRITING DEAD event will be taking place).

    He then reflects on something important that J and Zach speak about. Even though it was the revolution of digital publishing that has allowed authors to make a full time living off of their writing, a unique time in the history of writing, there's still something critical and important about real-world direct connections.

    Links of Interest

    Zach Bohannon writes horror, fantasy, and post-apocalyptic science fiction. He is the author of the bestselling post-apocalyptic horror series, Empty Bodies.

    J. Thorn is a Top 100 Most Popular Author in Horror, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure and Fantasy (Amazon Author Rank). He has published over one million words and has sold more than 170,000 books worldwide.

    ]]>     48:27 false 1 21 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This episode features an interview with J Thorn and Zach Bohannon. They talk not only about the collaboration that the two of them do, but also a few of their more adventurous collaborations with other authors including the original train journey with Joanna Penn and Lindsay Buroker and how that unique writing experience evolved into an ongoing AUTHORS ON A TRAIN voyage from Chicago to New Orleans as well as an awesome 50th Anniversary of George A Romero's classic film NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD and how that relates to J and Zach's NIGHT OF THE WRITING DEAD event. Mark provides a personal update on the video views for his #FreeFridayFrights experiment and then shares the evil reaction he had to creating two "silly" versions of the Laurel VS Yanny audio debate. (He created a RickRoll version, reminding writers to get back to writing, as well as a JumpScare one, because, well, he thought it was funny). He notes that the short and silly videos are trending much higher than the more serious reading ones he has done. The Terrible Tongue Twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices, was provided by Laura and Daniel Martone, who will be featured guests in a forthcoming podcast. They asked for another Monty Python inspired accent to read it in, and the Australian accent from the troop's Bruce Sketch came up. After a terrible attempt at singing the Bruce's Philosopher's Song, Mark twists his tongue and likely offends multiple groups of people, from Python fans, to Australians, to beer drinkers and philosophers. Mark thanks the users who have sent feedback and comments as well as the listeners who have become Patreon supporters of the podcast. In the interview, Mark, J and Zach talk about: How Zach and J started collaborating when Zach first became a fan of and then reached out to J The system for how their writing collaborations work and the way they leverage their unique strengths What StoryGrid is and how it shouldn't frighten the math averse The five basic components to story structure J and Zach's The Career Author Podcast, why they collaborated on it and how the process of putting the show together works The analytics of story that they two of them share on what makes a scene work and what makes a story work The original of the AUTHORS ON A TRAIN retreat with the original train trip from Chicago to New Orleans, and how it evolved into something that a slightly larger group of authors can get involved with Details about the forthcoming NIGHT OF THE WRITING DEAD that they are planning for later this year The difficult to measure yet critical value of in person connections After the conversation, Mark shares his own experience having just written a zombie story set at the Monroeville Mall in Pittsburgh (where the Romero film was shot and where NIGHT OF THE WRITING DEAD event will be taking place). He then reflects on something important that J and Zach speak about. Even though it was the revolution of digital publishing that has allowed authors to make a full time living off of their writing, a unique time in the history of writing, there's still something critical and important about real-world direct connections.   Links of Interest All About the Fictional Worlds of J Thorn & Zach Bohannon: www.moltenuniverse.com J Thorn's Website J Thorn's Amazon Author Page Zach Bohannon's Website Zach Bohannon's Amazon Author Page The Career Author Podcast Authors on a Train Night of the Writing Dead The Sell More Books Show Summit Findaway Voices Patreon Page for Stark Reflections Mark's Z is for Zombie digital collection of short stories Marks Books at Dundurn The Rush themed 2113 Anthology edited by Kevin J. Anderson   Zach Bohannon writes horror, fantasy, and post-apocalyptic science fiction. He is the author of the bestselling post-apocalyptic horror series, Empty Bodies. J. Thorn is a Top 100 Most Popular Author in Horror, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure and Fantasy (Amazon Author Rank). He has published over one million words and has sold more than 170,000 books worldwide.Mark Leslie LefebvreThis episode features an interview with J Thorn and Zach Bohannon. They talk not only about the collaboration that the two of them do, but also a few of their more adventurous collaborations with other authors including the original train journey with Joanna Penn and Lindsay Buroker and how that unique writing experience evolved into an ongoing AUTHORS ON A TRAIN voyage from Chicago to New Orleans as well as an awesome 50th Anniversary of George A Romero's classic film NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD and how that relates to J and Zach's NIGHT OF THE WRITING DEAD event. Mark provides a personal update on the video views for his #FreeFridayFrights experiment and then shares the evil reaction he had to creating two "silly" versions of the Laurel VS Yanny audio debate. (He created a RickRoll version, reminding writers to get back to writing, as well as a JumpScare one, because, well, he thought it was funny). He notes that the short and silly videos are trending much higher than the more serious reading ones he has done. The Terrible Tongue Twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices, was provided by Laura and Daniel Martone, who will be featured guests in a forthcoming podcast. They asked for another Monty Python inspired accent to read it in, and the Australian accent from the troop's Bruce Sketch came up. After a terrible attempt at singing the Bruce's Philosopher's Song, Mark twists his tongue and likely offends multiple groups of people, from Python fans, to Australians, to beer drinkers and philosophers. Mark thanks the users who have sent feedback and comments as well as the listeners who have become Patreon supporters of the podcast. In the interview, Mark, J and Zach talk about: How Zach and J started collaborating when Zach first became a fan of and then reached out to J The system for how their writing collaborations work and the way they leverage their unique strengths What StoryGrid is and how it shouldn't frighten the math averse The five basic components to story structure J and Zach's The Career Author Podcast, why they collaborated on it and how the process of putting the show together works The analytics of story that they two of them share on what makes a scene work and what makes a story work The original of the AUTHORS ON A TRAIN retreat with the original train trip from Chicago to New Orleans, and how it evolved into something that a slightly larger group of authors can get involved with Details about the forthcoming NIGHT OF THE WRITING DEAD that they are planning for later this year The difficult to measure yet critical value of in person connections After the conversation, Mark shares his own experience having just written a zombie story set at the Monroeville Mall in Pittsburgh (where the Romero film was shot and where NIGHT OF THE WRITING DEAD event will be taking place). He then reflects on something important that J and Zach speak about. Even though it was the revolution of digital publishing that has allowed authors to make a full time living off of their writing, a unique time in the history of writing, there's still something critical and important about real-world direct connections.   Links of Interest All About the Fictional Worlds of J Thorn & Zach Bohannon: www.moltenuniverse.com J Thorn's Website J Thorn's Amazon Author Page Zach Bohannon's Website Zach Bohannon's Amazon Author Page The Career Author Podcast Authors on a Train Night of the Writing Dead The Sell More Books Show Summit Findaway Voices Patreon Page for Stark Reflections Mark's Z is for Zombie digital collection of short stories Marks Books at Dundurn The Rush themed 2113 Anthology edited by Kevin J. Anderson   Zach Bohannon writes horror, fantasy, and post-apocalyptic science fiction. He is the author of the bestselling post-apocalyptic horror series, Empty Bodies. J. Thorn is a Top 100 Most Popular Author in Horror, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure and Fantasy (Amazon Author Rank). He has published over one million words and has sold more than 170,000 books worldwide.     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 020 - Lessons Learned on my Writer Journey - Part One Lessons Learned on my Writer Journey - Part One Fri, 11 May 2018 03:06:01 +0000 Episode 20 is a solo episode where, in response to a few listeners who reached out and asked if he'd be willing to share more about his background and experience as an author, he takes the opportunity to reveal his own writer journey and the lessons learned along the way.

    Prior to the lessons, Mark shares a bit of a personal update that includes the following:

    • Work on the forthcoming traditionally published book MACABRE MONTREAL which he is co-authoring with Shayna Krishnasamy
    • Work on the forthcoming anthology he is editing for WMG Publishing called FEEL THE LOVE
    • The new goal of weight-lifting at the gym now that the 21 K half marathon goal was reached (and the interesting way that ties in to LESSON ONE)

    This episodes "Twisting by the Fool" Tongue Twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices came from a listener request.

    Mark does both the requested tongue twister as well as in the voice/accent specified by that same listener.

    He informs listeners that if there is a particular tongue twister they want him to try, or even if there is a silly voice they want to hear it in, to email (mark@markleslie.ca) or ping him on Twitter (@MarkLeslie)

     

    The first lesson Mark shares is in relation to being open to new perceptions, new ways of seeing things and how, sometimes, locking ourselves into a fixed view can potentially lead to us limiting ourselves. He shares his own experience with the gym in this regard as well as a look back on how, just a little over ten years ago, he was biased and prejudiced against self-publishing. He shares what and how his eyes were opened in that regard.

    The second lesson that Mark shares takes him back to his earliest days of discovering the love for storytelling and writing. And that is the magic that happens with the pen kisses the page. Of something being created now and enjoyed later. Writers take that for granted, but it is tinkering with immortality.

    The third lesson has to do with the learning that happens when you are first writing and how, even when creating something that might be considered throw-away early fan-fiction style writing, there's a lesson to be learned. Mark shares what writing a terrible novel at the age of 13 taught him about discipline and sacrifice and so many elements that are important for a novelist to learn.

    ]]>     Episode 20 is a solo episode where, in response to a few listeners who reached out and asked if he'd be willing to share more about his background and experience as an author, he takes the opportunity to reveal his own writer journey and the lessons learned along the way.

    Prior to the lessons, Mark shares a bit of a personal update that includes the following:

    • Work on the forthcoming traditionally published book MACABRE MONTREAL which he is co-authoring with Shayna Krishnasamy
    • Work on the forthcoming anthology he is editing for WMG Publishing called FEEL THE LOVE
    • The new goal of weight-lifting at the gym now that the 21 K half marathon goal was reached (and the interesting way that ties in to LESSON ONE)

    This episodes "Twisting by the Fool" Tongue Twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices came from a listener request.

    Mark does both the requested tongue twister as well as in the voice/accent specified by that same listener.

    He informs listeners that if there is a particular tongue twister they want him to try, or even if there is a silly voice they want to hear it in, to email (mark@markleslie.ca) or ping him on Twitter (@MarkLeslie)

    The first lesson Mark shares is in relation to being open to new perceptions, new ways of seeing things and how, sometimes, locking ourselves into a fixed view can potentially lead to us limiting ourselves. He shares his own experience with the gym in this regard as well as a look back on how, just a little over ten years ago, he was biased and prejudiced against self-publishing. He shares what and how his eyes were opened in that regard.

    The second lesson that Mark shares takes him back to his earliest days of discovering the love for storytelling and writing. And that is the magic that happens with the pen kisses the page. Of something being created now and enjoyed later. Writers take that for granted, but it is tinkering with immortality.

    The third lesson has to do with the learning that happens when you are first writing and how, even when creating something that might be considered throw-away early fan-fiction style writing, there's a lesson to be learned. Mark shares what writing a terrible novel at the age of 13 taught him about discipline and sacrifice and so many elements that are important for a novelist to learn.

    ]]>     41:06 false 1 20 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Episode 20 is a solo episode where, in response to a few listeners who reached out and asked if he'd be willing to share more about his background and experience as an author, he takes the opportunity to reveal his own writer journey and the lessons learned along the way. Prior to the lessons, Mark shares a bit of a personal update that includes the following: Work on the forthcoming traditionally published book MACABRE MONTREAL which he is co-authoring with Shayna Krishnasamy Work on the forthcoming anthology he is editing for WMG Publishing called FEEL THE LOVE The new goal of weight-lifting at the gym now that the 21 K half marathon goal was reached (and the interesting way that ties in to LESSON ONE) This episodes "Twisting by the Fool" Tongue Twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices came from a listener request. Mark does both the requested tongue twister as well as in the voice/accent specified by that same listener. He informs listeners that if there is a particular tongue twister they want him to try, or even if there is a silly voice they want to hear it in, to email (mark@markleslie.ca) or ping him on Twitter (@MarkLeslie)   The first lesson Mark shares is in relation to being open to new perceptions, new ways of seeing things and how, sometimes, locking ourselves into a fixed view can potentially lead to us limiting ourselves. He shares his own experience with the gym in this regard as well as a look back on how, just a little over ten years ago, he was biased and prejudiced against self-publishing. He shares what and how his eyes were opened in that regard. The second lesson that Mark shares takes him back to his earliest days of discovering the love for storytelling and writing. And that is the magic that happens with the pen kisses the page. Of something being created now and enjoyed later. Writers take that for granted, but it is tinkering with immortality. The third lesson has to do with the learning that happens when you are first writing and how, even when creating something that might be considered throw-away early fan-fiction style writing, there's a lesson to be learned. Mark shares what writing a terrible novel at the age of 13 taught him about discipline and sacrifice and so many elements that are important for a novelist to learn.Mark Leslie LefebvreEpisode 20 is a solo episode where, in response to a few listeners who reached out and asked if he'd be willing to share more about his background and experience as an author, he takes the opportunity to reveal his own writer journey and the lessons learned along the way. Prior to the lessons, Mark shares a bit of a personal update that includes the following: Work on the forthcoming traditionally published book MACABRE MONTREAL which he is co-authoring with Shayna Krishnasamy Work on the forthcoming anthology he is editing for WMG Publishing called FEEL THE LOVE The new goal of weight-lifting at the gym now that the 21 K half marathon goal was reached (and the interesting way that ties in to LESSON ONE) This episodes "Twisting by the Fool" Tongue Twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices came from a listener request. Mark does both the requested tongue twister as well as in the voice/accent specified by that same listener. He informs listeners that if there is a particular tongue twister they want him to try, or even if there is a silly voice they want to hear it in, to email (mark@markleslie.ca) or ping him on Twitter (@MarkLeslie)   The first lesson Mark shares is in relation to being open to new perceptions, new ways of seeing things and how, sometimes, locking ourselves into a fixed view can potentially lead to us limiting ourselves. He shares his own experience with the gym in this regard as well as a look back on how, just a little over ten years ago, he was biased and prejudiced against self-publishing. He shares what and how his eyes were opened in that regard. The second lesson that Mark shares takes him back to his earliest days of discovering the love for storytelling and writing. And that is the magic that happens with the pen kisses the page. Of something being created now and enjoyed later. Writers take that for granted, but it is tinkering with immortality. The third lesson has to do with the learning that happens when you are first writing and how, even when creating something that might be considered throw-away early fan-fiction style writing, there's a lesson to be learned. Mark shares what writing a terrible novel at the age of 13 taught him about discipline and sacrifice and so many elements that are important for a novelist to learn.     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 019 - Cashing in on Creativity with Bruce Outridge Cashing in On Creativing with Bruce Outridge Thu, 03 May 2018 20:57:40 +0000 In Episode 19, Mark interviews Bruce Outridge, an artist, speaker, podcaster, television host, columnist, consultant and coach. I'm sure I missed a few things Bruce does there, because the man certainly fits a lot into a day.

    The podcast features a fifteen minute interview with Bruce as well as a couple of short clips from his Cashing in on Creativity podcast which has a format that is as fun and unique as Bruce himself.

    The interview took place at a Hamilton bar called The Ship. So you'll hear the ambient noise of music and chatter in the background.

    The Terrible Tongue Twister is sponsored by Findaway Voices. This one is a longer piece about a "pheasant plucker" not a pleasant fellow . . . 

    In their interview, Bruce and Mark discuss:

    • Bruce's podcast, Cashing in on Creativity and how authors can use it for inspiration and ideas from other creative people and independent artists for their own creative journey
    • The passion that Bruce has for music and why he uses his podcast to feature and spotlight independent musicians
    • Bruce's natural inclination for being open to opportunity and to saying "yes"
    • The belief, Bruce has, that people need an option
    • The importance of looking beyond one's own industry for learning, growth and ideas
    • Bruce's background as a trucker (he has been a driver for more than 25 years), and how that led to writing for the trucking industry, the trucking specific podcast he produces and the speaking he does for that industry
    • The challenge of wearing multiple hats when it comes to branding and how Bruce manages that using blocks of time
    • Bruce's favorite piece of advice that creative people should attend to

    Mark then plays a couple of short clips from two of Bruce's recent podcast episodes that he found inspiring.

    After the interviews and clips, Mark shares a reflection about the networking that led him and Bruce to connecting and talks about that element which Bruce started off the interview discussing (and which is mentioned by Ann Brown in an episode of Bruce's own podcast) - being open to opportunity and authentic connections with others.

    He shares his own example of connecting with fellow author Julie Strauss and the benefits to writing and personal life that came from a few chance encounters that a friendship grew out of.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     In Episode 19, Mark interviews Bruce Outridge, an artist, speaker, podcaster, television host, columnist, consultant and coach. I'm sure I missed a few things Bruce does there, because the man certainly fits a lot into a day.

    The podcast features a fifteen minute interview with Bruce as well as a couple of short clips from his Cashing in on Creativity podcast which has a format that is as fun and unique as Bruce himself.

    The interview took place at a Hamilton bar called The Ship. So you'll hear the ambient noise of music and chatter in the background.

    The Terrible Tongue Twister is sponsored by Findaway Voices. This one is a longer piece about a "pheasant plucker" not a pleasant fellow . . .

    In their interview, Bruce and Mark discuss:

    • Bruce's podcast, Cashing in on Creativity and how authors can use it for inspiration and ideas from other creative people and independent artists for their own creative journey
    • The passion that Bruce has for music and why he uses his podcast to feature and spotlight independent musicians
    • Bruce's natural inclination for being open to opportunity and to saying "yes"
    • The belief, Bruce has, that people need an option
    • The importance of looking beyond one's own industry for learning, growth and ideas
    • Bruce's background as a trucker (he has been a driver for more than 25 years), and how that led to writing for the trucking industry, the trucking specific podcast he produces and the speaking he does for that industry
    • The challenge of wearing multiple hats when it comes to branding and how Bruce manages that using blocks of time
    • Bruce's favorite piece of advice that creative people should attend to

    Mark then plays a couple of short clips from two of Bruce's recent podcast episodes that he found inspiring.

    After the interviews and clips, Mark shares a reflection about the networking that led him and Bruce to connecting and talks about that element which Bruce started off the interview discussing (and which is mentioned by Ann Brown in an episode of Bruce's own podcast) - being open to opportunity and authentic connections with others.

    He shares his own example of connecting with fellow author Julie Strauss and the benefits to writing and personal life that came from a few chance encounters that a friendship grew out of.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     41:35 false 1 19 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In Episode 19, Mark interviews Bruce Outridge, an artist, speaker, podcaster, television host, columnist, consultant and coach. I'm sure I missed a few things Bruce does there, because the man certainly fits a lot into a day. The podcast features a fifteen minute interview with Bruce as well as a couple of short clips from his Cashing in on Creativity podcast which has a format that is as fun and unique as Bruce himself. The interview took place at a Hamilton bar called The Ship. So you'll hear the ambient noise of music and chatter in the background. The Terrible Tongue Twister is sponsored by Findaway Voices. This one is a longer piece about a "pheasant plucker" not a pleasant fellow . . .  In their interview, Bruce and Mark discuss: Bruce's podcast, Cashing in on Creativity and how authors can use it for inspiration and ideas from other creative people and independent artists for their own creative journey The passion that Bruce has for music and why he uses his podcast to feature and spotlight independent musicians Bruce's natural inclination for being open to opportunity and to saying "yes" The belief, Bruce has, that people need an option The importance of looking beyond one's own industry for learning, growth and ideas Bruce's background as a trucker (he has been a driver for more than 25 years), and how that led to writing for the trucking industry, the trucking specific podcast he produces and the speaking he does for that industry The challenge of wearing multiple hats when it comes to branding and how Bruce manages that using blocks of time Bruce's favorite piece of advice that creative people should attend to Mark then plays a couple of short clips from two of Bruce's recent podcast episodes that he found inspiring. After the interviews and clips, Mark shares a reflection about the networking that led him and Bruce to connecting and talks about that element which Bruce started off the interview discussing (and which is mentioned by Ann Brown in an episode of Bruce's own podcast) - being open to opportunity and authentic connections with others. He shares his own example of connecting with fellow author Julie Strauss and the benefits to writing and personal life that came from a few chance encounters that a friendship grew out of. Links of Interest: Bruce's Cashing in On Creativity Podcast Interview with Ann Brown – "Being Happy Being You" Interview with Supastarr – "True Determination" Bruce's website Free Book – How to Start an Artistic Business Bruce's Facebook Page Bruce on Twitter Bruce on Instagram Julie Strauss - Author Julie's Books Julie's Blog - Post on Adult Friendships The Ship (Hamilton Bar where interview with Bruce took place) Findaway VoicesMark Leslie LefebvreIn Episode 19, Mark interviews Bruce Outridge, an artist, speaker, podcaster, television host, columnist, consultant and coach. I'm sure I missed a few things Bruce does there, because the man certainly fits a lot into a day. The podcast features a fifteen minute interview with Bruce as well as a couple of short clips from his Cashing in on Creativity podcast which has a format that is as fun and unique as Bruce himself. The interview took place at a Hamilton bar called The Ship. So you'll hear the ambient noise of music and chatter in the background. The Terrible Tongue Twister is sponsored by Findaway Voices. This one is a longer piece about a "pheasant plucker" not a pleasant fellow . . .  In their interview, Bruce and Mark discuss: Bruce's podcast, Cashing in on Creativity and how authors can use it for inspiration and ideas from other creative people and independent artists for their own creative journey The passion that Bruce has for music and why he uses his podcast to feature and spotlight independent musicians Bruce's natural inclination for being open to opportunity and to saying "yes" The belief, Bruce has, that people need an option The importance of looking beyond one's own industry for learning, growth and ideas Bruce's background as a trucker (he has been a driver for more than 25 years), and how that led to writing for the trucking industry, the trucking specific podcast he produces and the speaking he does for that industry The challenge of wearing multiple hats when it comes to branding and how Bruce manages that using blocks of time Bruce's favorite piece of advice that creative people should attend to Mark then plays a couple of short clips from two of Bruce's recent podcast episodes that he found inspiring. After the interviews and clips, Mark shares a reflection about the networking that led him and Bruce to connecting and talks about that element which Bruce started off the interview discussing (and which is mentioned by Ann Brown in an episode of Bruce's own podcast) - being open to opportunity and authentic connections with others. He shares his own example of connecting with fellow author Julie Strauss and the benefits to writing and personal life that came from a few chance encounters that a friendship grew out of. Links of Interest: Bruce's Cashing in On Creativity Podcast Interview with Ann Brown – "Being Happy Being You" Interview with Supastarr – "True Determination" Bruce's website Free Book – How to Start an Artistic Business Bruce's Facebook Page Bruce on Twitter Bruce on Instagram Julie Strauss - Author Julie's Books Julie's Blog - Post on Adult Friendships The Ship (Hamilton Bar where interview with Bruce took place) Findaway Voices     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 018 - Finding The Right Professional with Ricardo Fayet from Reedsy Finding The Right Professional with Ricardo Fayet from Reedsy Fri, 27 Apr 2018 02:33:41 +0000 In Episode 18, Mark interviews Ricardo Fayet, one of the founders of Reedsy, an online marketplace connecting authors with top editors, designers, ghostwriters and publicists. An avid reader and a person who travels the world to attend industry events and author conferences, Ricardo shares his insights and tips for authors, including a number of free resources that authors should be taking advantage of.

    In the introductory segment, Mark shares an update on the forthcoming half-marathon he has been training for with his partner, Liz, and also shares some information about their next collaborative project, the book Spirits Untapped: Haunted Bars & Breweries.

    In the Terrible Tongue Twister segment, sponsored by Findaway Voices, Mark doesn't trip over his tongue. It's a first in this ongoing series that makes Mark usually look like quite the fool.

    In their interview, Ricardo and Mark discuss:

    • How Ricardo got involved in co-founding Reedsy straight out of business school via discussions with co-founder Emmanuel Nataf about the need for authors to find quality professional services
    • The travel, book shows and author conferences Reedsy travels to and the growth the company has seen both internally and the many freelancers that are on the platform
    • The vetting that is done for the professional services offered and how only 3% of applicants are approved to be listed on the platform
    • How an author would use Reedsy to find, for example, a developmental editor for a particular genre (using Mark working on a non-fiction paranormal book, as an example)
    • The various service providers that you will find listed on Reedsy (including editors, book design, book cover design, illustrators, web designers, ghost writers, publicity and promotions and book marketers)
    • The free online editing tool (Reedsy Book editor) that allows authors to export a perfectly formatted ePub or PDF document for POD printing
    • The more than 35 free online email text-based courses that Reedsy has available. (Which provide a daily 5 minutes per day way for an author to learn something new that they are interested in)
    • How Reedsy makes money, and a comparison to another company that offered services and wasn't transparent about their business model
    • Ricardo's impression of the industry having just returned from London Book Fair
    • The predators whose practices prey on the hopes and dreams of writers and Ricardo's frustration with these companies
    • Trends in the maturing indie publishing community that Ricardo is paying attention to both in English language markets as well as in Europe in German, French and Italian
    • Why authors shouldn't just jump in and hire a marketing expert (one of the most common questions Ricardo receives) and the Book Marketing 101 Free Course on Reedsy that helps authors learn the core basics that can help them before they look at hiring a book marketer

     

    After the interview, Mark shares his thoughts and reflections on the free resources available, specifically calling out some of the free Reedsy resources that Ricardo mentions and how authors might be able to incorporate those types of free learning opportunities into their daily routine.

    He thanks the patrons who are supporting the podcast on Patreon and thanks listeners for offering him their free time in listening to the podcast.

    Use this affiliate link to sign up for a free account at Reedsy and get a $20 credit towards any purchases there.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     In Episode 18, Mark interviews Ricardo Fayet, one of the founders of Reedsy, an online marketplace connecting authors with top editors, designers, ghostwriters and publicists. An avid reader and a person who travels the world to attend industry events and author conferences, Ricardo shares his insights and tips for authors, including a number of free resources that authors should be taking advantage of.

    In the introductory segment, Mark shares an update on the forthcoming half-marathon he has been training for with his partner, Liz, and also shares some information about their next collaborative project, the book Spirits Untapped: Haunted Bars & Breweries.

    In the Terrible Tongue Twister segment, sponsored by Findaway Voices, Mark doesn't trip over his tongue. It's a first in this ongoing series that makes Mark usually look like quite the fool.

    In their interview, Ricardo and Mark discuss:

    • How Ricardo got involved in co-founding Reedsy straight out of business school via discussions with co-founder Emmanuel Nataf about the need for authors to find quality professional services
    • The travel, book shows and author conferences Reedsy travels to and the growth the company has seen both internally and the many freelancers that are on the platform
    • The vetting that is done for the professional services offered and how only 3% of applicants are approved to be listed on the platform
    • How an author would use Reedsy to find, for example, a developmental editor for a particular genre (using Mark working on a non-fiction paranormal book, as an example)
    • The various service providers that you will find listed on Reedsy (including editors, book design, book cover design, illustrators, web designers, ghost writers, publicity and promotions and book marketers)
    • The free online editing tool (Reedsy Book editor) that allows authors to export a perfectly formatted ePub or PDF document for POD printing
    • The more than 35 free online email text-based courses that Reedsy has available. (Which provide a daily 5 minutes per day way for an author to learn something new that they are interested in)
    • How Reedsy makes money, and a comparison to another company that offered services and wasn't transparent about their business model
    • Ricardo's impression of the industry having just returned from London Book Fair
    • The predators whose practices prey on the hopes and dreams of writers and Ricardo's frustration with these companies
    • Trends in the maturing indie publishing community that Ricardo is paying attention to both in English language markets as well as in Europe in German, French and Italian
    • Why authors shouldn't just jump in and hire a marketing expert (one of the most common questions Ricardo receives) and the Book Marketing 101 Free Course on Reedsy that helps authors learn the core basics that can help them before they look at hiring a book marketer

    After the interview, Mark shares his thoughts and reflections on the free resources available, specifically calling out some of the free Reedsy resources that Ricardo mentions and how authors might be able to incorporate those types of free learning opportunities into their daily routine.

    He thanks the patrons who are supporting the podcast on Patreon and thanks listeners for offering him their free time in listening to the podcast.

    Use this affiliate link to sign up for a free account at Reedsy and get a $20 credit towards any purchases there.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     51:36 false 1 18 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In Episode 18, Mark interviews Ricardo Fayet, one of the founders of Reedsy, an online marketplace connecting authors with top editors, designers, ghostwriters and publicists. An avid reader and a person who travels the world to attend industry events and author conferences, Ricardo shares his insights and tips for authors, including a number of free resources that authors should be taking advantage of. In the introductory segment, Mark shares an update on the forthcoming half-marathon he has been training for with his partner, Liz, and also shares some information about their next collaborative project, the book Spirits Untapped: Haunted Bars & Breweries. In the Terrible Tongue Twister segment, sponsored by Findaway Voices, Mark doesn't trip over his tongue. It's a first in this ongoing series that makes Mark usually look like quite the fool. In their interview, Ricardo and Mark discuss: How Ricardo got involved in co-founding Reedsy straight out of business school via discussions with co-founder Emmanuel Nataf about the need for authors to find quality professional services The travel, book shows and author conferences Reedsy travels to and the growth the company has seen both internally and the many freelancers that are on the platform The vetting that is done for the professional services offered and how only 3% of applicants are approved to be listed on the platform How an author would use Reedsy to find, for example, a developmental editor for a particular genre (using Mark working on a non-fiction paranormal book, as an example) The various service providers that you will find listed on Reedsy (including editors, book design, book cover design, illustrators, web designers, ghost writers, publicity and promotions and book marketers) The free online editing tool (Reedsy Book editor) that allows authors to export a perfectly formatted ePub or PDF document for POD printing The more than 35 free online email text-based courses that Reedsy has available. (Which provide a daily 5 minutes per day way for an author to learn something new that they are interested in) How Reedsy makes money, and a comparison to another company that offered services and wasn't transparent about their business model Ricardo's impression of the industry having just returned from London Book Fair The predators whose practices prey on the hopes and dreams of writers and Ricardo's frustration with these companies Trends in the maturing indie publishing community that Ricardo is paying attention to both in English language markets as well as in Europe in German, French and Italian Why authors shouldn't just jump in and hire a marketing expert (one of the most common questions Ricardo receives) and the Book Marketing 101 Free Course on Reedsy that helps authors learn the core basics that can help them before they look at hiring a book marketer   After the interview, Mark shares his thoughts and reflections on the free resources available, specifically calling out some of the free Reedsy resources that Ricardo mentions and how authors might be able to incorporate those types of free learning opportunities into their daily routine. He thanks the patrons who are supporting the podcast on Patreon and thanks listeners for offering him their free time in listening to the podcast. Use this affiliate link to sign up for a free account at Reedsy and get a $20 credit towards any purchases there. Links of Interest: Reedsy Blog Online Editing Tool Free Online Courses Ricardo's Article on 12 Book Marketing Mistakes Authors Make - https://blog.reedsy.com/book-marketing-mistakes/ The Creative Penn Podcast Kindlepreneur website Tomes of Terror: Haunted Bookstores & Libraries Free Friday Frights NINC (Novelist's INC) Conference Haslam's Bookstore Sixty Spooky Seconds about the ghost of Jack KerouacMark Leslie LefebvreIn Episode 18, Mark interviews Ricardo Fayet, one of the founders of Reedsy, an online marketplace connecting authors with top editors, designers, ghostwriters and publicists. An avid reader and a person who travels the world to attend industry events and author conferences, Ricardo shares his insights and tips for authors, including a number of free resources that authors should be taking advantage of. In the introductory segment, Mark shares an update on the forthcoming half-marathon he has been training for with his partner, Liz, and also shares some information about their next collaborative project, the book Spirits Untapped: Haunted Bars & Breweries. In the Terrible Tongue Twister segment, sponsored by Findaway Voices, Mark doesn't trip over his tongue. It's a first in this ongoing series that makes Mark usually look like quite the fool. In their interview, Ricardo and Mark discuss: How Ricardo got involved in co-founding Reedsy straight out of business school via discussions with co-founder Emmanuel Nataf about the need for authors to find quality professional services The travel, book shows and author conferences Reedsy travels to and the growth the company has seen both internally and the many freelancers that are on the platform The vetting that is done for the professional services offered and how only 3% of applicants are approved to be listed on the platform How an author would use Reedsy to find, for example, a developmental editor for a particular genre (using Mark working on a non-fiction paranormal book, as an example) The various service providers that you will find listed on Reedsy (including editors, book design, book cover design, illustrators, web designers, ghost writers, publicity and promotions and book marketers) The free online editing tool (Reedsy Book editor) that allows authors to export a perfectly formatted ePub or PDF document for POD printing The more than 35 free online email text-based courses that Reedsy has available. (Which provide a daily 5 minutes per day way for an author to learn something new that they are interested in) How Reedsy makes money, and a comparison to another company that offered services and wasn't transparent about their business model Ricardo's impression of the industry having just returned from London Book Fair The predators whose practices prey on the hopes and dreams of writers and Ricardo's frustration with these companies Trends in the maturing indie publishing community that Ricardo is paying attention to both in English language markets as well as in Europe in German, French and Italian Why authors shouldn't just jump in and hire a marketing expert (one of the most common questions Ricardo receives) and the Book Marketing 101 Free Course on Reedsy that helps authors learn the core basics that can help them before they look at hiring a book marketer   After the interview, Mark shares his thoughts and reflections on the free resources available, specifically calling out some of the free Reedsy resources that Ricardo mentions and how authors might be able to incorporate those types of free learning opportunities into their daily routine. He thanks the patrons who are supporting the podcast on Patreon and thanks listeners for offering him their free time in listening to the podcast. Use this affiliate link to sign up for a free account at Reedsy and get a $20 credit towards any purchases there. Links of Interest: Reedsy Blog Online Editing Tool Free Online Courses Ricardo's Article on 12 Book Marketing Mistakes Authors Make - https://blog.reedsy.com/book-marketing-mistakes/ The Creative Penn Podcast Kindlepreneur website Tomes of Terror: Haunted Bookstores & Libraries Free Friday Frights NINC (Novelist's INC) Conference Haslam's Bookstore Sixty Spooky Seconds about the ghost of Jack Kerouac     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 017 - Focusing on Your Readers with Steena Holmes Focusing on Your Readers with Steena Holmes Fri, 20 Apr 2018 03:58:06 +0000 In this episode, Mark interviews Steena Holmes.

    Steena Holmes is an Award winning USA Today and Amazon best-selling author from Calgary, Alberta who writes psychological suspense, family drama, women's fiction and sweet romance. She publishes under an Amazon-owned imprint as well as her own self-publishing imprint, is a fan of reading, of chocolate and of traveling. Speaking of traveling, Steena, who is a wife and the mother of three daughters, has created an authentic and dynamic relationship with her readers, who she has been a caring and loving tour guide through as she took them on a unique journey with her on her path through writing.  In our conversation, we talk a lot about the importance of this relationship with her readers and in always putting them first.

    Before the interview, Mark provides a personal update on the following items:

    • His half-marathon training schedule
    • His recent short fiction writing, including a zombie story to appear in Z IS FOR ZOMBIE
    • Some non-fiction writing he has been doing, both short articles as well as the new book he is working on about writing and publishing (which he has written 14,000 words for so far this week)
    • The status of the #FreeFridayFrights project, including some underwhelming responses and views from his recent Friday the 13th Facebook live and YouTube posted videos – but, (AND THIS IS IMPORTANT), why this isn't something to be down about

    Mark then shares this week's Terrible Tongue Twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices.

    This week's twister (especially since you won't be able to understand what the poor boy is trying to say) is:

     

    Three sweet switched Swiss witches

    Watch three washed Swiss witch Swatch watch switches.

    Which sweet switched Swiss witch watches

    Which washed Swish Swatch watch switch?

     

    In their conversation, Mark and Steena talk about:

     

    • Steena's hot new release, The Forgotten Ones, a psychological suspense novel that explores the deep dark secrets that are kept hidden from family
    • The inspiration behind the writing of The Forgotten Ones, which came from a really dark time and place in Steena's life
    • How, despite the darkness of the novel, this was the easiest novel of the more than thirty books that Steena has written
    • Steena's first novel, Finding Emma, which was a runaway bestseller and the differences between that novel and her latest novel
    • The journal that Steena took her readers on as she slowly migrated across genres
    • The promise that a writer makes to readers with every book that they release and the importance of honoring that promise
    • The emphasis Steena placed in focusing on the readers rather than the sales with each book's release
    • One of Steena's pet peeves in a "Don't Do This" bit of advice for authors
    • How an author can create a genuinely authentic relationship with their readers
    • The tremendous response that Steena receives from readers after she shares a personable and relatable post on her blog
    • Ways that an author can be personable and relatable without revealing personal and private details about their life or their families lives
    • How Steena writes different books in different ways and in different locations to help create a distinction between book projects
    • The way Steena plans on dealing with a recently missed deadline
    • The juggling of writing books for a publisher and her self-publishing imprint
    • Attempts to retain the creative writing into different parts of the day
    • How in the first six months of publishing, Steena made a mere $100; but, in the first month of Finding Emma's release, she sold 10,000 copies
    • How the readers of Finding Emma kept wanting more and more of the characters and their stories and the various ways Steena fulfilled their needs (without realizing that many of those things were things that a writer supposedly "couldn't do")
    • The lesson Steena learned when someone called her out on rushing a book to press by saying "You're better than this, and your readers deserve better than this."
    • Steena's "Branding with Intent" series of emails for writers

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects about Steena's talk about being personable and someone that readers could relate to. He also reflects on authenticity.

     

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     In this episode, Mark interviews Steena Holmes.

    Steena Holmes is an Award winning USA Today and Amazon best-selling author from Calgary, Alberta who writes psychological suspense, family drama, women's fiction and sweet romance. She publishes under an Amazon-owned imprint as well as her own self-publishing imprint, is a fan of reading, of chocolate and of traveling. Speaking of traveling, Steena, who is a wife and the mother of three daughters, has created an authentic and dynamic relationship with her readers, who she has been a caring and loving tour guide through as she took them on a unique journey with her on her path through writing. In our conversation, we talk a lot about the importance of this relationship with her readers and in always putting them first.

    Before the interview, Mark provides a personal update on the following items:

    • His half-marathon training schedule
    • His recent short fiction writing, including a zombie story to appear in Z IS FOR ZOMBIE
    • Some non-fiction writing he has been doing, both short articles as well as the new book he is working on about writing and publishing (which he has written 14,000 words for so far this week)
    • The status of the #FreeFridayFrights project, including some underwhelming responses and views from his recent Friday the 13th Facebook live and YouTube posted videos – but, (AND THIS IS IMPORTANT), why this isn't something to be down about

    Mark then shares this week's Terrible Tongue Twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices.

    This week's twister (especially since you won't be able to understand what the poor boy is trying to say) is:

    Three sweet switched Swiss witches

    Watch three washed Swiss witch Swatch watch switches.

    Which sweet switched Swiss witch watches

    Which washed Swish Swatch watch switch?

    In their conversation, Mark and Steena talk about:

    • Steena's hot new release, The Forgotten Ones, a psychological suspense novel that explores the deep dark secrets that are kept hidden from family
    • The inspiration behind the writing of The Forgotten Ones, which came from a really dark time and place in Steena's life
    • How, despite the darkness of the novel, this was the easiest novel of the more than thirty books that Steena has written
    • Steena's first novel, Finding Emma, which was a runaway bestseller and the differences between that novel and her latest novel
    • The journal that Steena took her readers on as she slowly migrated across genres
    • The promise that a writer makes to readers with every book that they release and the importance of honoring that promise
    • The emphasis Steena placed in focusing on the readers rather than the sales with each book's release
    • One of Steena's pet peeves in a "Don't Do This" bit of advice for authors
    • How an author can create a genuinely authentic relationship with their readers
    • The tremendous response that Steena receives from readers after she shares a personable and relatable post on her blog
    • Ways that an author can be personable and relatable without revealing personal and private details about their life or their families lives
    • How Steena writes different books in different ways and in different locations to help create a distinction between book projects
    • The way Steena plans on dealing with a recently missed deadline
    • The juggling of writing books for a publisher and her self-publishing imprint
    • Attempts to retain the creative writing into different parts of the day
    • How in the first six months of publishing, Steena made a mere $100; but, in the first month of Finding Emma's release, she sold 10,000 copies
    • How the readers of Finding Emma kept wanting more and more of the characters and their stories and the various ways Steena fulfilled their needs (without realizing that many of those things were things that a writer supposedly "couldn't do")
    • The lesson Steena learned when someone called her out on rushing a book to press by saying "You're better than this, and your readers deserve better than this."
    • Steena's "Branding with Intent" series of emails for writers

    After the interview, Mark reflects about Steena's talk about being personable and someone that readers could relate to. He also reflects on authenticity.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     01:03:36 false 1 17 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In this episode, Mark interviews Steena Holmes. Steena Holmes is an Award winning USA Today and Amazon best-selling author from Calgary, Alberta who writes psychological suspense, family drama, women's fiction and sweet romance. She publishes under an Amazon-owned imprint as well as her own self-publishing imprint, is a fan of reading, of chocolate and of traveling. Speaking of traveling, Steena, who is a wife and the mother of three daughters, has created an authentic and dynamic relationship with her readers, who she has been a caring and loving tour guide through as she took them on a unique journey with her on her path through writing.  In our conversation, we talk a lot about the importance of this relationship with her readers and in always putting them first. Before the interview, Mark provides a personal update on the following items: His half-marathon training schedule His recent short fiction writing, including a zombie story to appear in Z IS FOR ZOMBIE Some non-fiction writing he has been doing, both short articles as well as the new book he is working on about writing and publishing (which he has written 14,000 words for so far this week) The status of the #FreeFridayFrights project, including some underwhelming responses and views from his recent Friday the 13th Facebook live and YouTube posted videos – but, (AND THIS IS IMPORTANT), why this isn't something to be down about Mark then shares this week's Terrible Tongue Twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices. This week's twister (especially since you won't be able to understand what the poor boy is trying to say) is:   Three sweet switched Swiss witches Watch three washed Swiss witch Swatch watch switches. Which sweet switched Swiss witch watches Which washed Swish Swatch watch switch?   In their conversation, Mark and Steena talk about:   Steena's hot new release, The Forgotten Ones, a psychological suspense novel that explores the deep dark secrets that are kept hidden from family The inspiration behind the writing of The Forgotten Ones, which came from a really dark time and place in Steena's life How, despite the darkness of the novel, this was the easiest novel of the more than thirty books that Steena has written Steena's first novel, Finding Emma, which was a runaway bestseller and the differences between that novel and her latest novel The journal that Steena took her readers on as she slowly migrated across genres The promise that a writer makes to readers with every book that they release and the importance of honoring that promise The emphasis Steena placed in focusing on the readers rather than the sales with each book's release One of Steena's pet peeves in a "Don't Do This" bit of advice for authors How an author can create a genuinely authentic relationship with their readers The tremendous response that Steena receives from readers after she shares a personable and relatable post on her blog Ways that an author can be personable and relatable without revealing personal and private details about their life or their families lives How Steena writes different books in different ways and in different locations to help create a distinction between book projects The way Steena plans on dealing with a recently missed deadline The juggling of writing books for a publisher and her self-publishing imprint Attempts to retain the creative writing into different parts of the day How in the first six months of publishing, Steena made a mere $100; but, in the first month of Finding Emma's release, she sold 10,000 copies How the readers of Finding Emma kept wanting more and more of the characters and their stories and the various ways Steena fulfilled their needs (without realizing that many of those things were things that a writer supposedly "couldn't do") The lesson Steena learned when someone called her out on rushing a book to press by saying "You're better than this, and your readers deserve better than this." Steena's "Branding with Intent" series of emails for writers   After the interview, Mark reflects about Steena's talk about being personable and someone that readers could relate to. He also reflects on authenticity.   Links of Interest: Steena's website Findaway VoicesMark Leslie LefebvreIn this episode, Mark interviews Steena Holmes. Steena Holmes is an Award winning USA Today and Amazon best-selling author from Calgary, Alberta who writes psychological suspense, family drama, women's fiction and sweet romance. She publishes under an Amazon-owned imprint as well as her own self-publishing imprint, is a fan of reading, of chocolate and of traveling. Speaking of traveling, Steena, who is a wife and the mother of three daughters, has created an authentic and dynamic relationship with her readers, who she has been a caring and loving tour guide through as she took them on a unique journey with her on her path through writing.  In our conversation, we talk a lot about the importance of this relationship with her readers and in always putting them first. Before the interview, Mark provides a personal update on the following items: His half-marathon training schedule His recent short fiction writing, including a zombie story to appear in Z IS FOR ZOMBIE Some non-fiction writing he has been doing, both short articles as well as the new book he is working on about writing and publishing (which he has written 14,000 words for so far this week) The status of the #FreeFridayFrights project, including some underwhelming responses and views from his recent Friday the 13th Facebook live and YouTube posted videos – but, (AND THIS IS IMPORTANT), why this isn't something to be down about Mark then shares this week's Terrible Tongue Twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices. This week's twister (especially since you won't be able to understand what the poor boy is trying to say) is:   Three sweet switched Swiss witches Watch three washed Swiss witch Swatch watch switches. Which sweet switched Swiss witch watches Which washed Swish Swatch watch switch?   In their conversation, Mark and Steena talk about:   Steena's hot new release, The Forgotten Ones, a psychological suspense novel that explores the deep dark secrets that are kept hidden from family The inspiration behind the writing of The Forgotten Ones, which came from a really dark time and place in Steena's life How, despite the darkness of the novel, this was the easiest novel of the more than thirty books that Steena has written Steena's first novel, Finding Emma, which was a runaway bestseller and the differences between that novel and her latest novel The journal that Steena took her readers on as she slowly migrated across genres The promise that a writer makes to readers with every book that they release and the importance of honoring that promise The emphasis Steena placed in focusing on the readers rather than the sales with each book's release One of Steena's pet peeves in a "Don't Do This" bit of advice for authors How an author can create a genuinely authentic relationship with their readers The tremendous response that Steena receives from readers after she shares a personable and relatable post on her blog Ways that an author can be personable and relatable without revealing personal and private details about their life or their families lives How Steena writes different books in different ways and in different locations to help create a distinction between book projects The way Steena plans on dealing with a recently missed deadline The juggling of writing books for a publisher and her self-publishing imprint Attempts to retain the creative writing into different parts of the day How in the first six months of publishing, Steena made a mere $100; but, in the first month of Finding Emma's release, she sold 10,000 copies How the readers of Finding Emma kept wanting more and more of the characters and their stories and the various ways Steena fulfilled their needs (without realizing that many of those things were things that a writer supposedly "couldn't do") The lesson Steena learned when someone called her out on rushing a book to press by saying "You're better than this, and your readers deserve better than this." Steena's "Branding with Intent" series of emails for writers   After the interview, Mark reflects about Steena's talk about being personable and someone that readers could relate to. He also reflects on authenticity.   Links of Interest: Steena's website Findaway Voices     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 016 - Crowd Funding and Audience Engagement with Natasha Bajema Crowd-Funding and Audience Engagement with Natasha Bajema Fri, 13 Apr 2018 02:43:16 +0000 Stark Reflections Episode 16 – Crowd-Funding and Audience Engagement with Natasha Bajema

    Mark interviews Natasha Bajema, a fiction author who lives in Washington, D.C. and has been an expert on national security issues for over 18 years, specializing in weapons of mass destruction (WMD), nuclear proliferation, terrorism and emerging technologies.

    In the introduction, Mark performs a Terrible Tongue Twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices and also goes off on a rant about how much time and energy authors waste worrying about Amazon's latest "scandal."

    In the interview, Mark and Natasha discuss:

    • Natasha's background working for the United States Department of Defence in National Security for 18 years, specializing in Weapons of Mass Destruction and how recent research into emerging technologies has inspired some of the concepts in her new trilogy
    • The original nuclear conspiracy trilogy she had originally been working on before she followed a whim to pursue the ideas behind the novel Bionic Bug
    • The challenge that a new writer faces when attempting to build up their audience and how Natasha faced that fear of "publishing to crickets" by engaging in crowd funding
    • Nanowrimo and the roll it has played in her life as a writer
    • The conversation Natasha had with Mark at the Smarter Artist Summit in Austin in the spring of 2017, and how that chat played a role in the turning point she was stuck at
    • The Kickstarter Project that Natasha launched and her reasoning behind it
    • The decision behind various rewards offered, including the "uber" limited edition idea Natasha was inspired about from listening to Joanna Penn's The Creative Penn podcast
    • Where in her life as a full-time employee she finds/makes the time to write (which works out to about 10 hours per week)
    • The book launch party at Wicked Bloom (an actual setting from a scene early in BIONIC BUG) taking place on April 18th and how she is dealing with that as an introvert
    • Why Natasha is publishing the book, as part of a soft launch strategy, only on Kobo and the five-star reviews the book has already received there
    • Why Natasha is going to wait much longer before releasing the books on Amazon
    • The difficulty putting aside a huge passion project Natasha had been investing in (at least emotionally) since 2010 in order to pursue the BIONIC BUG trilogy
    • The importance of patience and discipline in Natasha's long-term strategy as an author, and the family traits that she believes she inherited
    • Natasha's passion with the intersection of what is technologically possible and what society will accept and adopt (such as wondering whether or not Americans will ever accept a technology like self-driving cars)
    • The love Natasha has for the works of Michael Crichton and similar styled techno-thrillers that rely on speculation about near real-time science and technology
    • Natasha's new podcast where she will be talking about emerging technologies similar to the things that she likes to write about and then include an excerpt from her novel as well as insights into the inspiration behind the writing of that chapter

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of the investment that Natasha made into every single decision as she gathered information for her publishing journey and the choices she made related to not looking for short-term gain, but, instead, with a focus on the long-term strategy. He reflects on how this speaks directly to advice he admires from an author friend, James A. Owen, and shares a short audio clip from James' Drawing Out The Dragons book that further illustrates this point.

    Mark speculates that Natasha's diligence and patience are going to lead to a greater long term success as an author and applauds her for taking this important and difficult long-term view.

     

     

    Links of Interest:

    Natasha's website

    Natasha's WICKED BLOOM Podcast

    James A Owen's website

    James A Owen's Drawing Out the Dragons

    Findaway Voices

    ]]>     Stark Reflections Episode 16 – Crowd-Funding and Audience Engagement with Natasha Bajema

    Mark interviews Natasha Bajema, a fiction author who lives in Washington, D.C. and has been an expert on national security issues for over 18 years, specializing in weapons of mass destruction (WMD), nuclear proliferation, terrorism and emerging technologies.

    In the introduction, Mark performs a Terrible Tongue Twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices and also goes off on a rant about how much time and energy authors waste worrying about Amazon's latest "scandal."

    In the interview, Mark and Natasha discuss:

    • Natasha's background working for the United States Department of Defence in National Security for 18 years, specializing in Weapons of Mass Destruction and how recent research into emerging technologies has inspired some of the concepts in her new trilogy
    • The original nuclear conspiracy trilogy she had originally been working on before she followed a whim to pursue the ideas behind the novel Bionic Bug
    • The challenge that a new writer faces when attempting to build up their audience and how Natasha faced that fear of "publishing to crickets" by engaging in crowd funding
    • Nanowrimo and the roll it has played in her life as a writer
    • The conversation Natasha had with Mark at the Smarter Artist Summit in Austin in the spring of 2017, and how that chat played a role in the turning point she was stuck at
    • The Kickstarter Project that Natasha launched and her reasoning behind it
    • The decision behind various rewards offered, including the "uber" limited edition idea Natasha was inspired about from listening to Joanna Penn's The Creative Penn podcast
    • Where in her life as a full-time employee she finds/makes the time to write (which works out to about 10 hours per week)
    • The book launch party at Wicked Bloom (an actual setting from a scene early in BIONIC BUG) taking place on April 18th and how she is dealing with that as an introvert
    • Why Natasha is publishing the book, as part of a soft launch strategy, only on Kobo and the five-star reviews the book has already received there
    • Why Natasha is going to wait much longer before releasing the books on Amazon
    • The difficulty putting aside a huge passion project Natasha had been investing in (at least emotionally) since 2010 in order to pursue the BIONIC BUG trilogy
    • The importance of patience and discipline in Natasha's long-term strategy as an author, and the family traits that she believes she inherited
    • Natasha's passion with the intersection of what is technologically possible and what society will accept and adopt (such as wondering whether or not Americans will ever accept a technology like self-driving cars)
    • The love Natasha has for the works of Michael Crichton and similar styled techno-thrillers that rely on speculation about near real-time science and technology
    • Natasha's new podcast where she will be talking about emerging technologies similar to the things that she likes to write about and then include an excerpt from her novel as well as insights into the inspiration behind the writing of that chapter

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of the investment that Natasha made into every single decision as she gathered information for her publishing journey and the choices she made related to not looking for short-term gain, but, instead, with a focus on the long-term strategy. He reflects on how this speaks directly to advice he admires from an author friend, James A. Owen, and shares a short audio clip from James' Drawing Out The Dragons book that further illustrates this point.

    Mark speculates that Natasha's diligence and patience are going to lead to a greater long term success as an author and applauds her for taking this important and difficult long-term view.

    Links of Interest:

    Natasha's website

    Natasha's WICKED BLOOM Podcast

    James A Owen's website

    James A Owen's Drawing Out the Dragons

    Findaway Voices

    ]]>     49:57 false 1 16 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Stark Reflections Episode 16 – Crowd-Funding and Audience Engagement with Natasha Bajema Mark interviews Natasha Bajema, a fiction author who lives in Washington, D.C. and has been an expert on national security issues for over 18 years, specializing in weapons of mass destruction (WMD), nuclear proliferation, terrorism and emerging technologies. In the introduction, Mark performs a Terrible Tongue Twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices and also goes off on a rant about how much time and energy authors waste worrying about Amazon's latest "scandal." In the interview, Mark and Natasha discuss: Natasha's background working for the United States Department of Defence in National Security for 18 years, specializing in Weapons of Mass Destruction and how recent research into emerging technologies has inspired some of the concepts in her new trilogy The original nuclear conspiracy trilogy she had originally been working on before she followed a whim to pursue the ideas behind the novel Bionic Bug The challenge that a new writer faces when attempting to build up their audience and how Natasha faced that fear of "publishing to crickets" by engaging in crowd funding Nanowrimo and the roll it has played in her life as a writer The conversation Natasha had with Mark at the Smarter Artist Summit in Austin in the spring of 2017, and how that chat played a role in the turning point she was stuck at The Kickstarter Project that Natasha launched and her reasoning behind it The decision behind various rewards offered, including the "uber" limited edition idea Natasha was inspired about from listening to Joanna Penn's The Creative Penn podcast Where in her life as a full-time employee she finds/makes the time to write (which works out to about 10 hours per week) The book launch party at Wicked Bloom (an actual setting from a scene early in BIONIC BUG) taking place on April 18th and how she is dealing with that as an introvert Why Natasha is publishing the book, as part of a soft launch strategy, only on Kobo and the five-star reviews the book has already received there Why Natasha is going to wait much longer before releasing the books on Amazon The difficulty putting aside a huge passion project Natasha had been investing in (at least emotionally) since 2010 in order to pursue the BIONIC BUG trilogy The importance of patience and discipline in Natasha's long-term strategy as an author, and the family traits that she believes she inherited Natasha's passion with the intersection of what is technologically possible and what society will accept and adopt (such as wondering whether or not Americans will ever accept a technology like self-driving cars) The love Natasha has for the works of Michael Crichton and similar styled techno-thrillers that rely on speculation about near real-time science and technology Natasha's new podcast where she will be talking about emerging technologies similar to the things that she likes to write about and then include an excerpt from her novel as well as insights into the inspiration behind the writing of that chapter After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of the investment that Natasha made into every single decision as she gathered information for her publishing journey and the choices she made related to not looking for short-term gain, but, instead, with a focus on the long-term strategy. He reflects on how this speaks directly to advice he admires from an author friend, James A. Owen, and shares a short audio clip from James' Drawing Out The Dragons book that further illustrates this point. Mark speculates that Natasha's diligence and patience are going to lead to a greater long term success as an author and applauds her for taking this important and difficult long-term view.     Links of Interest: Natasha's website Natasha's WICKED BLOOM Podcast James A Owen's website James A Owen's Drawing Out the Dragons Findaway VoicesMark Leslie LefebvreStark Reflections Episode 16 – Crowd-Funding and Audience Engagement with Natasha Bajema Mark interviews Natasha Bajema, a fiction author who lives in Washington, D.C. and has been an expert on national security issues for over 18 years, specializing in weapons of mass destruction (WMD), nuclear proliferation, terrorism and emerging technologies. In the introduction, Mark performs a Terrible Tongue Twister, sponsored by Findaway Voices and also goes off on a rant about how much time and energy authors waste worrying about Amazon's latest "scandal." In the interview, Mark and Natasha discuss: Natasha's background working for the United States Department of Defence in National Security for 18 years, specializing in Weapons of Mass Destruction and how recent research into emerging technologies has inspired some of the concepts in her new trilogy The original nuclear conspiracy trilogy she had originally been working on before she followed a whim to pursue the ideas behind the novel Bionic Bug The challenge that a new writer faces when attempting to build up their audience and how Natasha faced that fear of "publishing to crickets" by engaging in crowd funding Nanowrimo and the roll it has played in her life as a writer The conversation Natasha had with Mark at the Smarter Artist Summit in Austin in the spring of 2017, and how that chat played a role in the turning point she was stuck at The Kickstarter Project that Natasha launched and her reasoning behind it The decision behind various rewards offered, including the "uber" limited edition idea Natasha was inspired about from listening to Joanna Penn's The Creative Penn podcast Where in her life as a full-time employee she finds/makes the time to write (which works out to about 10 hours per week) The book launch party at Wicked Bloom (an actual setting from a scene early in BIONIC BUG) taking place on April 18th and how she is dealing with that as an introvert Why Natasha is publishing the book, as part of a soft launch strategy, only on Kobo and the five-star reviews the book has already received there Why Natasha is going to wait much longer before releasing the books on Amazon The difficulty putting aside a huge passion project Natasha had been investing in (at least emotionally) since 2010 in order to pursue the BIONIC BUG trilogy The importance of patience and discipline in Natasha's long-term strategy as an author, and the family traits that she believes she inherited Natasha's passion with the intersection of what is technologically possible and what society will accept and adopt (such as wondering whether or not Americans will ever accept a technology like self-driving cars) The love Natasha has for the works of Michael Crichton and similar styled techno-thrillers that rely on speculation about near real-time science and technology Natasha's new podcast where she will be talking about emerging technologies similar to the things that she likes to write about and then include an excerpt from her novel as well as insights into the inspiration behind the writing of that chapter After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of the investment that Natasha made into every single decision as she gathered information for her publishing journey and the choices she made related to not looking for short-term gain, but, instead, with a focus on the long-term strategy. He reflects on how this speaks directly to advice he admires from an author friend, James A. Owen, and shares a short audio clip from James' Drawing Out The Dragons book that further illustrates this point. Mark speculates that Natasha's diligence and patience are going to lead to a greater long term success as an author and applauds her for taking this important and difficult long-term view.     Links of Interest: Natasha's website Natasha's WICKED BLOOM Podcast James A Owen's website James A Owen's Drawing Out the Dragons Findaway Voices     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 015 - The Process of a Writer's Life with Kevin Tumlinson The Process of a Writer's Life with Kevin Tumlinson Thu, 05 Apr 2018 19:03:23 +0000 The smooth and sexy-toned Kevin Tumlinson is an award-winning and bestselling thriller author, with books available in hundreds of countries worldwide. With a long-standing career in film, television, radio, and podcasting, Kevin is a seasoned world traveler, and has produced documentary programming and films ranging from historic aviation to military history. His debut novel, a thriller, and the first in his Dan Kotler Archeological Thriller series was a 2016 Shelf Notable Indie award winner.

    Kevin's love for history, archeology, and science has been a tremendous resource for his writing.  With thrillers, science fiction and genre-crossing books, including the non-fiction books the 30 Day Author and Writing a Better Book Description, Kevin has more than 30 novels, novellas and stories under his belt.

    Kevin is also the Director of Marketing for Draft2Digital, one of the most beloved and author-centric distribution platforms for independent authors.

    He lives in Texas, but works in random coffee shops, cafés, and hotel lobbies around the world.

    In the pre-interview introduction to this episode, Mark shares a few updates that include:

    • How T S Paul (from Episode 13) ended up doing on Kobo in March as well as his continued growth (well ahead of the normal slow curve for sales growth on Kobo)
    • His training (or lack thereof) for the end of April Waterloo half-marathon
    • His rediscovery of the love of writing short fiction (and the #FreeFridayFrights he launches this week)
    • A thank you to the latest Patreon supporters of the podcast
    • This week's Terrible Tongue Twister, AKA "Twisting by the Fool" – this time done in the voice of the guard from the French castle, as played by John Cleese, in Monty Python and the Holy Grail

    In their chat, Mark and Kevin talk about:

    • The fact that Kevin was always a writer and how Kevin wrote his very first "book" when he was five years old
    • The early dictation that Kevin did with a cassette tape recorder when he was a child (dictating his own versions of the Encyclopedia Brown mysteries)
    • His introduction to reporting and journalism in high school and his first professional earnings as a writer ($10 per column)
    • The "nice advance" with a "terrible contract" that Kevin signed early in his writing career and then made the tough decision to leave, and pay back that advance
    • The Vimeo and YouTube web series Kevin and a few friends had planned, and how that story turned into a novel
    • Kevin's move from writing science fiction and into thrillers and how that led to his best-selling and award-winning novel
    • Kevin's goal to get 12 books in total written in the Dan Kotler series by the end of 2018
    • The pattern of alternating between writing novels and short stories that Kevin is considering
    • The basic minimum daily word count goal that Kevin sets for himself. (It is currently 2500 words)
    • How, regardless of what's on his plate or calendar, that the writing for Kevin comes first. (As in, the very first thing that he does in the morning)
    • Stephen King's quote about Art or Writing being a support system for life (and not the other way around)
    • The genesis and desire behind Kevin's creation of the Wordslinger Podcast
    • How inspiration for writing and creativity can come from any source, or virtually any conversation, not just from authors and writers
    • A bit of a background on Draft2Digital and Kevin's role as Director of Marketing at this author-centric company
    • How the "caring about the author" was something that always stood out the most when Kevin was initially looking at Draft2Digital as an author himself
    • How working at Draft2Digital has opened a lot of additional doors for Kevin
    • The automated in-matter and the amazing Book2Read offering that Draft2Digital provides to authors, book bloggers or anybody who wants to create a universal book link that connects to everywhere the ebook is sold online (including the ability to add affiliate codes for Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords, etc into those links)
    • The newly launched Author Pages that Draft2Digital has recently released, which connects back to the Books2Read content

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects on something that Kevin mentioned, which was PLAN vs PROCESS, and the importance of having a flexible process. Mark spends some time thinking about how focusing on the process rather than the initially failed plan has benefited him in multiple ways in his personal life as well as his recent attempt to evolve into a full-time writer.

    Mark spoke openly about the process of transitioning in more personal detail on Episode 77 of the Inner Dominatrix Podcast, with host Dana Pharant back in December of 2017 (while he was in the midst of the latest transition in his life)

    Mark also shares that he was recently a guest on Patricia McLinn's new AUTHORS LOVE READERS podcast, where he and Pat had a fun time talking about the story behind the story of writing, where inspiration is found and other reader-centric questions about the writing life.

     

    Links of Interest

    ]]>     The smooth and sexy-toned Kevin Tumlinson is an award-winning and bestselling thriller author, with books available in hundreds of countries worldwide. With a long-standing career in film, television, radio, and podcasting, Kevin is a seasoned world traveler, and has produced documentary programming and films ranging from historic aviation to military history. His debut novel, a thriller, and the first in his Dan Kotler Archeological Thriller series was a 2016 Shelf Notable Indie award winner.

    Kevin's love for history, archeology, and science has been a tremendous resource for his writing. With thrillers, science fiction and genre-crossing books, including the non-fiction books the 30 Day Author and Writing a Better Book Description, Kevin has more than 30 novels, novellas and stories under his belt.

    Kevin is also the Director of Marketing for Draft2Digital, one of the most beloved and author-centric distribution platforms for independent authors.

    He lives in Texas, but works in random coffee shops, cafés, and hotel lobbies around the world.

    In the pre-interview introduction to this episode, Mark shares a few updates that include:

    • How T S Paul (from Episode 13) ended up doing on Kobo in March as well as his continued growth (well ahead of the normal slow curve for sales growth on Kobo)
    • His training (or lack thereof) for the end of April Waterloo half-marathon
    • His rediscovery of the love of writing short fiction (and the #FreeFridayFrights he launches this week)
    • A thank you to the latest Patreon supporters of the podcast
    • This week's Terrible Tongue Twister, AKA "Twisting by the Fool" – this time done in the voice of the guard from the French castle, as played by John Cleese, in Monty Python and the Holy Grail

    In their chat, Mark and Kevin talk about:

    • The fact that Kevin was always a writer and how Kevin wrote his very first "book" when he was five years old
    • The early dictation that Kevin did with a cassette tape recorder when he was a child (dictating his own versions of the Encyclopedia Brown mysteries)
    • His introduction to reporting and journalism in high school and his first professional earnings as a writer ($10 per column)
    • The "nice advance" with a "terrible contract" that Kevin signed early in his writing career and then made the tough decision to leave, and pay back that advance
    • The Vimeo and YouTube web series Kevin and a few friends had planned, and how that story turned into a novel
    • Kevin's move from writing science fiction and into thrillers and how that led to his best-selling and award-winning novel
    • Kevin's goal to get 12 books in total written in the Dan Kotler series by the end of 2018
    • The pattern of alternating between writing novels and short stories that Kevin is considering
    • The basic minimum daily word count goal that Kevin sets for himself. (It is currently 2500 words)
    • How, regardless of what's on his plate or calendar, that the writing for Kevin comes first. (As in, the very first thing that he does in the morning)
    • Stephen King's quote about Art or Writing being a support system for life (and not the other way around)
    • The genesis and desire behind Kevin's creation of the Wordslinger Podcast
    • How inspiration for writing and creativity can come from any source, or virtually any conversation, not just from authors and writers
    • A bit of a background on Draft2Digital and Kevin's role as Director of Marketing at this author-centric company
    • How the "caring about the author" was something that always stood out the most when Kevin was initially looking at Draft2Digital as an author himself
    • How working at Draft2Digital has opened a lot of additional doors for Kevin
    • The automated in-matter and the amazing Book2Read offering that Draft2Digital provides to authors, book bloggers or anybody who wants to create a universal book link that connects to everywhere the ebook is sold online (including the ability to add affiliate codes for Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords, etc into those links)
    • The newly launched Author Pages that Draft2Digital has recently released, which connects back to the Books2Read content

    After the interview, Mark reflects on something that Kevin mentioned, which was PLAN vs PROCESS, and the importance of having a flexible process. Mark spends some time thinking about how focusing on the process rather than the initially failed plan has benefited him in multiple ways in his personal life as well as his recent attempt to evolve into a full-time writer.

    Mark spoke openly about the process of transitioning in more personal detail on Episode 77 of the Inner Dominatrix Podcast, with host Dana Pharant back in December of 2017 (while he was in the midst of the latest transition in his life)

    Mark also shares that he was recently a guest on Patricia McLinn's new AUTHORS LOVE READERS podcast, where he and Pat had a fun time talking about the story behind the story of writing, where inspiration is found and other reader-centric questions about the writing life.

    Links of Interest

    ]]>     55:03 false 1 15 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)The smooth and sexy-toned Kevin Tumlinson is an award-winning and bestselling thriller author, with books available in hundreds of countries worldwide. With a long-standing career in film, television, radio, and podcasting, Kevin is a seasoned world traveler, and has produced documentary programming and films ranging from historic aviation to military history. His debut novel, a thriller, and the first in his Dan Kotler Archeological Thriller series was a 2016 Shelf Notable Indie award winner. Kevin's love for history, archeology, and science has been a tremendous resource for his writing.  With thrillers, science fiction and genre-crossing books, including the non-fiction books the 30 Day Author and Writing a Better Book Description, Kevin has more than 30 novels, novellas and stories under his belt. Kevin is also the Director of Marketing for Draft2Digital, one of the most beloved and author-centric distribution platforms for independent authors. He lives in Texas, but works in random coffee shops, cafés, and hotel lobbies around the world. In the pre-interview introduction to this episode, Mark shares a few updates that include: How T S Paul (from Episode 13) ended up doing on Kobo in March as well as his continued growth (well ahead of the normal slow curve for sales growth on Kobo) His training (or lack thereof) for the end of April Waterloo half-marathon His rediscovery of the love of writing short fiction (and the #FreeFridayFrights he launches this week) A thank you to the latest Patreon supporters of the podcast This week's Terrible Tongue Twister, AKA "Twisting by the Fool" – this time done in the voice of the guard from the French castle, as played by John Cleese, in Monty Python and the Holy Grail In their chat, Mark and Kevin talk about: The fact that Kevin was always a writer and how Kevin wrote his very first "book" when he was five years old The early dictation that Kevin did with a cassette tape recorder when he was a child (dictating his own versions of the Encyclopedia Brown mysteries) His introduction to reporting and journalism in high school and his first professional earnings as a writer ($10 per column) The "nice advance" with a "terrible contract" that Kevin signed early in his writing career and then made the tough decision to leave, and pay back that advance The Vimeo and YouTube web series Kevin and a few friends had planned, and how that story turned into a novel Kevin's move from writing science fiction and into thrillers and how that led to his best-selling and award-winning novel Kevin's goal to get 12 books in total written in the Dan Kotler series by the end of 2018 The pattern of alternating between writing novels and short stories that Kevin is considering The basic minimum daily word count goal that Kevin sets for himself. (It is currently 2500 words) How, regardless of what's on his plate or calendar, that the writing for Kevin comes first. (As in, the very first thing that he does in the morning) Stephen King's quote about Art or Writing being a support system for life (and not the other way around) The genesis and desire behind Kevin's creation of the Wordslinger Podcast How inspiration for writing and creativity can come from any source, or virtually any conversation, not just from authors and writers A bit of a background on Draft2Digital and Kevin's role as Director of Marketing at this author-centric company How the "caring about the author" was something that always stood out the most when Kevin was initially looking at Draft2Digital as an author himself How working at Draft2Digital has opened a lot of additional doors for Kevin The automated in-matter and the amazing Book2Read offering that Draft2Digital provides to authors, book bloggers or anybody who wants to create a universal book link that connects to everywhere the ebook is sold online (including the ability to add affiliate codes for Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords, etc into those links) The newly launched Author Pages that Draft2Digital has recently released, which connects back to the Books2Read content   After the interview, Mark reflects on something that Kevin mentioned, which was PLAN vs PROCESS, and the importance of having a flexible process. Mark spends some time thinking about how focusing on the process rather than the initially failed plan has benefited him in multiple ways in his personal life as well as his recent attempt to evolve into a full-time writer. Mark spoke openly about the process of transitioning in more personal detail on Episode 77 of the Inner Dominatrix Podcast, with host Dana Pharant back in December of 2017 (while he was in the midst of the latest transition in his life) Mark also shares that he was recently a guest on Patricia McLinn's new AUTHORS LOVE READERS podcast, where he and Pat had a fun time talking about the story behind the story of writing, where inspiration is found and other reader-centric questions about the writing life.   Links of Interest Kevin Tumlinson's website Wordslinger Podcast Draft2Digital.com D2D Blog Sample Author Pages from D2D Mark Leslie Kevin Tumlinson Authors Love Reader Podcast: Finding Inspiration in Everything We Experience, with Mark Leslie Inner Dominatrix Podcast: Mark Leslie: Transition Time Can be Fun Findaway Voices Stark Reflections Patreon Page Free Friday FrightsMark Leslie LefebvreThe smooth and sexy-toned Kevin Tumlinson is an award-winning and bestselling thriller author, with books available in hundreds of countries worldwide. With a long-standing career in film, television, radio, and podcasting, Kevin is a seasoned world traveler, and has produced documentary programming and films ranging from historic aviation to military history. His debut novel, a thriller, and the first in his Dan Kotler Archeological Thriller series was a 2016 Shelf Notable Indie award winner. Kevin's love for history, archeology, and science has been a tremendous resource for his writing.  With thrillers, science fiction and genre-crossing books, including the non-fiction books the 30 Day Author and Writing a Better Book Description, Kevin has more than 30 novels, novellas and stories under his belt. Kevin is also the Director of Marketing for Draft2Digital, one of the most beloved and author-centric distribution platforms for independent authors. He lives in Texas, but works in random coffee shops, cafés, and hotel lobbies around the world. In the pre-interview introduction to this episode, Mark shares a few updates that include: How T S Paul (from Episode 13) ended up doing on Kobo in March as well as his continued growth (well ahead of the normal slow curve for sales growth on Kobo) His training (or lack thereof) for the end of April Waterloo half-marathon His rediscovery of the love of writing short fiction (and the #FreeFridayFrights he launches this week) A thank you to the latest Patreon supporters of the podcast This week's Terrible Tongue Twister, AKA "Twisting by the Fool" – this time done in the voice of the guard from the French castle, as played by John Cleese, in Monty Python and the Holy Grail In their chat, Mark and Kevin talk about: The fact that Kevin was always a writer and how Kevin wrote his very first "book" when he was five years old The early dictation that Kevin did with a cassette tape recorder when he was a child (dictating his own versions of the Encyclopedia Brown mysteries) His introduction to reporting and journalism in high school and his first professional earnings as a writer ($10 per column) The "nice advance" with a "terrible contract" that Kevin signed early in his writing career and then made the tough decision to leave, and pay back that advance The Vimeo and YouTube web series Kevin and a few friends had planned, and how that story turned into a novel Kevin's move from writing science fiction and into thrillers and how that led to his best-selling and award-winning novel Kevin's goal to get 12 books in total written in the Dan Kotler series by the end of 2018 The pattern of alternating between writing novels and short stories that Kevin is considering The basic minimum daily word count goal that Kevin sets for himself. (It is currently 2500 words) How, regardless of what's on his plate or calendar, that the writing for Kevin comes first. (As in, the very first thing that he does in the morning) Stephen King's quote about Art or Writing being a support system for life (and not the other way around) The genesis and desire behind Kevin's creation of the Wordslinger Podcast How inspiration for writing and creativity can come from any source, or virtually any conversation, not just from authors and writers A bit of a background on Draft2Digital and Kevin's role as Director of Marketing at this author-centric company How the "caring about the author" was something that always stood out the most when Kevin was initially looking at Draft2Digital as an author himself How working at Draft2Digital has opened a lot of additional doors for Kevin The automated in-matter and the amazing Book2Read offering that Draft2Digital provides to authors, book bloggers or anybody who wants to create a universal book link that connects to everywhere the ebook is sold online (including the ability to add affiliate codes for Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords, etc into those links) The newly launched Author Pages that Draft2Digital has recently released, which connects back to the Books2Read content   After the interview, Mark reflects on something that Kevin mentioned, which was PLAN vs PROCESS, and the importance of having a flexible process. Mark spends some time thinking about how focusing on the process rather than the initially failed plan has benefited him in multiple ways in his personal life as well as his recent attempt to evolve into a full-time writer. Mark spoke openly about the process of transitioning in more personal detail on Episode 77 of the Inner Dominatrix Podcast, with host Dana Pharant back in December of 2017 (while he was in the midst of the latest transition in his life) Mark also shares that he was recently a guest on Patricia McLinn's new AUTHORS LOVE READERS podcast, where he and Pat had a fun time talking about the story behind the story of writing, where inspiration is found and other reader-centric questions about the writing life.   Links of Interest Kevin Tumlinson's website Wordslinger Podcast Draft2Digital.com D2D Blog Sample Author Pages from D2D Mark Leslie Kevin Tumlinson Authors Love Reader Podcast: Finding Inspiration in Everything We Experience, with Mark Leslie Inner Dominatrix Podcast: Mark Leslie: Transition Time Can be Fun Findaway Voices Stark Reflections Patreon Page Free Friday Frights     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 014 - 5 Ways To Use Free To Build Your Author Platform 5 Ways To Use Free To Build Your Author Platform Thu, 29 Mar 2018 03:28:24 +0000 This episode is a solo one where Mark shares the 5 Ways mentioned in the title, and then goes on to reflect how the chat with T S Paul in the previous episode, combined with the concept of FREE helped inspire a new project that he is launching in April.

    The Terrible Tongue Twister in this episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Click here to learn more about Findaway Voices. The tongue twister this week is introduced by a terrible spoof that Mark does of the Dire Straits song "Twisted by the Pool" modified to "Twisting by the Fool."

     

    FIVE WAYS TO USE FREE TO BUILD YOUR AUTHOR PLATFORM

    1) To Get People Hooked on a Series

    Mark quotes from studies done at Kobo on how the first book in a series set to free can result in new readers and boosted sales for an author.

    2) To Get People to Sign up to Your Author Newsletter

    Authors such as Mark Dawson and Nick Stephenson have not only perfected this craft, but they have also shared great free information on how to do this and also offer courses that include in-depth training.

    3) To Get Readers / Reviews

    Free giveaways are something used in order to get reviews of a person's book. There's a great article at Written Word Media on how to get book reviews on Amazon

    4) To Get Feedback / Engage with Readers

    Sometimes selling isn't the main goal. Sometimes a writer is looking to get feedback or merely have someone read their work. Platforms like Blogger or Wordpress, where authors can post their work and let people read it for free fit here. Also, places like Wattpad Mark share his own experience of using Wattpad to share the first draft of a novel, and how that led to a very positive experience.

    5) Limited Time offers of FREE to drive returning traffic

    Mark talks about how author Kristine Kathryn Rusch offers a weekly Free Fiction Mondays, as well as an interesting story of how she, unknowingly, made life easier for a reader fan. He talks about M L Buchman and his monthly free "Ides of Matt" offering. And then he mentions how T S Paul (from Episode 13) uses a 24 hour monthly free short story offering.

     

    Mark then shares how the concept of free, inspired by the three authors mentioned immediately above, combined with the element of making something a habit with regularly returning visitors and some of his own previous experiments and successes, led to the creation of new project he is launching in April.

     

    Mark shares how his involvement in a weekly blogging meme called Half-Nekkid Thursdays led to the creation of an HNT Darth Tater SPUD WARS storyline that he rolled out over a few months and which drew a strong following and actively engaged audience.

    He then shares how he adapted two short stories into a story that was rolled out in real time over 9 months via a blog from the main character's point of view. That also attracted readers from around the world as well as highly engaged reader interaction. Entitled, I, DEATH, the blog was then re-adapted into a novel that was published in 2014.

     

    That all led to Mark's desire to want to do something like that again, and shares how he had been listening to Mark Dawson's Self-Publishing Formula Podcast where James interviewed Cecelia Mecca about engaging with your readers using Facebook Live.

    This is something Mark had been playing with for the past year or so and enjoyed the process as well as the engagement and feedback from it.

    So he adapted the three elements, all related to previous success:


    1) Offering reading for free
    2) Engaging with readers
    3) Facebook Live videos

    Into FREE FRIDAY FRIGHTS #freefridayfrights which he'll be starting next Friday - Friday April 6, 2018 and rolling out weekly via www.markleslie.ca/freefridayfrights a free piece of writing (alternating between fiction and non-fiction) that will be available for 24 hours. But also, on that Friday, since different readers consume differently, he'll do a Facebook Live video of either a reading of the fiction then talking about it and answering questions, OR talking about the non-fiction article answering questions.

     

    Mark thanks listeners and reminds them of three ways to support the show:

    1) Via Patreon (with bonus content available)

    2) By Leaving a review of the show on the podcatcher of your choice

    3) By sharing the podcast with a friend who would benefit from it

     

     



    ]]>     This episode is a solo one where Mark shares the 5 Ways mentioned in the title, and then goes on to reflect how the chat with T S Paul in the previous episode, combined with the concept of FREE helped inspire a new project that he is launching in April.

    The Terrible Tongue Twister in this episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Click here to learn more about Findaway Voices. The tongue twister this week is introduced by a terrible spoof that Mark does of the Dire Straits song "Twisted by the Pool" modified to "Twisting by the Fool."

    FIVE WAYS TO USE FREE TO BUILD YOUR AUTHOR PLATFORM

    1) To Get People Hooked on a Series

    Mark quotes from studies done at Kobo on how the first book in a series set to free can result in new readers and boosted sales for an author.

    2) To Get People to Sign up to Your Author Newsletter

    Authors such as Mark Dawson and Nick Stephenson have not only perfected this craft, but they have also shared great free information on how to do this and also offer courses that include in-depth training.

    3) To Get Readers / Reviews

    Free giveaways are something used in order to get reviews of a person's book. There's a great article at Written Word Media on how to get book reviews on Amazon

    4) To Get Feedback / Engage with Readers

    Sometimes selling isn't the main goal. Sometimes a writer is looking to get feedback or merely have someone read their work. Platforms like Blogger or Wordpress, where authors can post their work and let people read it for free fit here. Also, places like Wattpad Mark share his own experience of using Wattpad to share the first draft of a novel, and how that led to a very positive experience.

    5) Limited Time offers of FREE to drive returning traffic

    Mark talks about how author Kristine Kathryn Rusch offers a weekly Free Fiction Mondays, as well as an interesting story of how she, unknowingly, made life easier for a reader fan. He talks about M L Buchman and his monthly free "Ides of Matt" offering. And then he mentions how T S Paul (from Episode 13) uses a 24 hour monthly free short story offering.

    Mark then shares how the concept of free, inspired by the three authors mentioned immediately above, combined with the element of making something a habit with regularly returning visitors and some of his own previous experiments and successes, led to the creation of new project he is launching in April.

    Mark shares how his involvement in a weekly blogging meme called Half-Nekkid Thursdays led to the creation of an HNT Darth Tater SPUD WARS storyline that he rolled out over a few months and which drew a strong following and actively engaged audience.

    He then shares how he adapted two short stories into a story that was rolled out in real time over 9 months via a blog from the main character's point of view. That also attracted readers from around the world as well as highly engaged reader interaction. Entitled, I, DEATH, the blog was then re-adapted into a novel that was published in 2014.

    That all led to Mark's desire to want to do something like that again, and shares how he had been listening to Mark Dawson's Self-Publishing Formula Podcast where James interviewed Cecelia Mecca about engaging with your readers using Facebook Live.

    This is something Mark had been playing with for the past year or so and enjoyed the process as well as the engagement and feedback from it.

    So he adapted the three elements, all related to previous success:

    1) Offering reading for free 2) Engaging with readers 3) Facebook Live videos

    Into FREE FRIDAY FRIGHTS #freefridayfrights which he'll be starting next Friday - Friday April 6, 2018 and rolling out weekly via www.markleslie.ca/freefridayfrights a free piece of writing (alternating between fiction and non-fiction) that will be available for 24 hours. But also, on that Friday, since different readers consume differently, he'll do a Facebook Live video of either a reading of the fiction then talking about it and answering questions, OR talking about the non-fiction article answering questions.

    Mark thanks listeners and reminds them of three ways to support the show:

    1) Via Patreon (with bonus content available)

    2) By Leaving a review of the show on the podcatcher of your choice

    3) By sharing the podcast with a friend who would benefit from it

    ]]>     31:55 false 1 14 bonus mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)This episode is a solo one where Mark shares the 5 Ways mentioned in the title, and then goes on to reflect how the chat with T S Paul in the previous episode, combined with the concept of FREE helped inspire a new project that he is launching in April. The Terrible Tongue Twister in this episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Click here to learn more about Findaway Voices. The tongue twister this week is introduced by a terrible spoof that Mark does of the Dire Straits song "Twisted by the Pool" modified to "Twisting by the Fool."   FIVE WAYS TO USE FREE TO BUILD YOUR AUTHOR PLATFORM 1) To Get People Hooked on a Series Mark quotes from studies done at Kobo on how the first book in a series set to free can result in new readers and boosted sales for an author. 2) To Get People to Sign up to Your Author Newsletter Authors such as Mark Dawson and Nick Stephenson have not only perfected this craft, but they have also shared great free information on how to do this and also offer courses that include in-depth training. 3) To Get Readers / Reviews Free giveaways are something used in order to get reviews of a person's book. There's a great article at Written Word Media on how to get book reviews on Amazon 4) To Get Feedback / Engage with Readers Sometimes selling isn't the main goal. Sometimes a writer is looking to get feedback or merely have someone read their work. Platforms like Blogger or Wordpress, where authors can post their work and let people read it for free fit here. Also, places like Wattpad Mark share his own experience of using Wattpad to share the first draft of a novel, and how that led to a very positive experience. 5) Limited Time offers of FREE to drive returning traffic Mark talks about how author Kristine Kathryn Rusch offers a weekly Free Fiction Mondays, as well as an interesting story of how she, unknowingly, made life easier for a reader fan. He talks about M L Buchman and his monthly free "Ides of Matt" offering. And then he mentions how T S Paul (from Episode 13) uses a 24 hour monthly free short story offering.   Mark then shares how the concept of free, inspired by the three authors mentioned immediately above, combined with the element of making something a habit with regularly returning visitors and some of his own previous experiments and successes, led to the creation of new project he is launching in April.   Mark shares how his involvement in a weekly blogging meme called Half-Nekkid Thursdays led to the creation of an HNT Darth Tater SPUD WARS storyline that he rolled out over a few months and which drew a strong following and actively engaged audience. He then shares how he adapted two short stories into a story that was rolled out in real time over 9 months via a blog from the main character's point of view. That also attracted readers from around the world as well as highly engaged reader interaction. Entitled, I, DEATH, the blog was then re-adapted into a novel that was published in 2014.   That all led to Mark's desire to want to do something like that again, and shares how he had been listening to Mark Dawson's Self-Publishing Formula Podcast where James interviewed Cecelia Mecca about engaging with your readers using Facebook Live. This is something Mark had been playing with for the past year or so and enjoyed the process as well as the engagement and feedback from it. So he adapted the three elements, all related to previous success: 1) Offering reading for free 2) Engaging with readers 3) Facebook Live videos Into FREE FRIDAY FRIGHTS #freefridayfrights which he'll be starting next Friday - Friday April 6, 2018 and rolling out weekly via www.markleslie.ca/freefridayfrights a free piece of writing (alternating between fiction and non-fiction) that will be available for 24 hours. But also, on that Friday, since different readers consume differently, he'll do a Facebook Live video of either a reading of the fiction then talking about it and answering questions, OR talking about the non-fiction article answering questions.   Mark thanks listeners and reminds them of three ways to support the show: 1) Via Patreon (with bonus content available) 2) By Leaving a review of the show on the podcatcher of your choice 3) By sharing the podcast with a friend who would benefit from it    Mark Leslie LefebvreThis episode is a solo one where Mark shares the 5 Ways mentioned in the title, and then goes on to reflect how the chat with T S Paul in the previous episode, combined with the concept of FREE helped inspire a new project that he is launching in April. The Terrible Tongue Twister in this episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Click here to learn more about Findaway Voices. The tongue twister this week is introduced by a terrible spoof that Mark does of the Dire Straits song "Twisted by the Pool" modified to "Twisting by the Fool."   FIVE WAYS TO USE FREE TO BUILD YOUR AUTHOR PLATFORM 1) To Get People Hooked on a Series Mark quotes from studies done at Kobo on how the first book in a series set to free can result in new readers and boosted sales for an author. 2) To Get People to Sign up to Your Author Newsletter Authors such as Mark Dawson and Nick Stephenson have not only perfected this craft, but they have also shared great free information on how to do this and also offer courses that include in-depth training. 3) To Get Readers / Reviews Free giveaways are something used in order to get reviews of a person's book. There's a great article at Written Word Media on how to get book reviews on Amazon 4) To Get Feedback / Engage with Readers Sometimes selling isn't the main goal. Sometimes a writer is looking to get feedback or merely have someone read their work. Platforms like Blogger or Wordpress, where authors can post their work and let people read it for free fit here. Also, places like Wattpad Mark share his own experience of using Wattpad to share the first draft of a novel, and how that led to a very positive experience. 5) Limited Time offers of FREE to drive returning traffic Mark talks about how author Kristine Kathryn Rusch offers a weekly Free Fiction Mondays, as well as an interesting story of how she, unknowingly, made life easier for a reader fan. He talks about M L Buchman and his monthly free "Ides of Matt" offering. And then he mentions how T S Paul (from Episode 13) uses a 24 hour monthly free short story offering.   Mark then shares how the concept of free, inspired by the three authors mentioned immediately above, combined with the element of making something a habit with regularly returning visitors and some of his own previous experiments and successes, led to the creation of new project he is launching in April.   Mark shares how his involvement in a weekly blogging meme called Half-Nekkid Thursdays led to the creation of an HNT Darth Tater SPUD WARS storyline that he rolled out over a few months and which drew a strong following and actively engaged audience. He then shares how he adapted two short stories into a story that was rolled out in real time over 9 months via a blog from the main character's point of view. That also attracted readers from around the world as well as highly engaged reader interaction. Entitled, I, DEATH, the blog was then re-adapted into a novel that was published in 2014.   That all led to Mark's desire to want to do something like that again, and shares how he had been listening to Mark Dawson's Self-Publishing Formula Podcast where James interviewed Cecelia Mecca about engaging with your readers using Facebook Live. This is something Mark had been playing with for the past year or so and enjoyed the process as well as the engagement and feedback from it. So he adapted the three elements, all related to previous success: 1) Offering reading for free 2) Engaging with readers 3) Facebook Live videos Into FREE FRIDAY FRIGHTS #freefridayfrights which he'll be starting next Friday - Friday April 6, 2018 and rolling out weekly via www.markleslie.ca/freefridayfrights a free piece of writing (alternating between fiction and non-fiction) that will be available for 24 hours. But also, on that Friday, since different readers consume differently, he'll do a Facebook Live video of either a reading of the fiction then talking about it and answering questions, OR talking about the non-fiction article answering questions.   Mark thanks listeners and reminds them of three ways to support the show: 1) Via Patreon (with bonus content available) 2) By Leaving a review of the show on the podcatcher of your choice 3) By sharing the podcast with a friend who would benefit from it         Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 013 - Going Your Own Way with T S Paul Going Your Own Way with Author T S Paul Fri, 23 Mar 2018 04:19:35 +0000 In lucky episode 13, Mark interviews author T S Paul about not listening to people who told him he was "crazy" with the ideas he had for his writing plan. T S Paul (AKA, Scott) writes Science Fiction, Space Opera, Military, Cookbooks, and Paranormal Fiction. His books used to be exclusively available thru Amazon Kindle and Kindle Unlimited, but towards the tail end of 2017 he started to publish a number of his books wide to Kobo, iBooks, Nook and Google Play.

    This episode's Tongue Twister is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark attempts to do the tongue twisted in the voice of Brian's Mum from the Monty Python movie, LIFE OF BRIAN. The tongue twister source is from a 2013 MIT research document (USA Today Article: World's Toughest Tongue Twister - no kidding)

    In the interview, Mark and Scott discuss:

    • The fact that TS Paul is not a pseudonym. It's his real name. The S is for Scott and the T stands for an undisclosed name. (Despite the fact that Mark tries to trick him into saying it)
    • The fact that Scott doesn't have an author newsletter, nor has he worried about starting to build one, or a domain name for that matter. The majority of his relationship with his fans happen via his blogspot blog (tspaul.blogspot.com) and his Facebook Author page
    • The fact that he has only been writing since February of 2016 and using the blog and Facebook page since then. (3500+ followers on Facebook – 300 to 600 hits a day on the blog)
    • The "Wilson Wednesday" free short story that Scott released on his blog every week. (with 45 short stories posted there in 2016)
    • The fact that he bundled the stories into single volume story collections [EDITORIAL NOTE: Scott uses the term "anthology" but I have always subscribed to the idea that an anthology is a curated collection of stories from multiple authors, so I'm inserting the term "collection" in place of "anthology"] – into two different ebook volumes for that time period
    • The Jack Dalton Monster Hunter series he started in Feb of 2018 and the release methodology he uses:
      • Each new book's release (about 10,000 words) is on the first of the month
      • On the third Wed of that month, readers can read the entire book content on his blog for free (for a 24 hour period)
      • The fact there is also a buy button on that post for those who'd rather just read the ePub or mobi version on the retailer of their choice. And the fact that there's a pre-order button for the next month's release in the series
    • How Scott has heard the words "you're out of your mind" many times before
    • The $1.99 price point he has used (which, historically, was considered a really poor price, possibly the WORST price for an eBook) – but it's important to remember that those studies were related to full sized books (ie, 40,000 to 150,000 words) rather than shorter works (most of Scott's ebooks are in the 10,000 word range)
      • Sales for Book One (from Feb 2018) – of more than 1500 units
      • Sales for Book Two (so far – mid March) are in the realm of a little over 500 copies
    • Scott's background as a bookseller who previously worked at Waldenbooks
    • How Scott managed to use targeted ads to build up his Facebook followers, which started off with boosting a post on his author page of a picture of his cat, Merlin (and targeting science fiction readers who loved cats)
    • Scott's theory about Facebook ads, which doesn't include a direct ROI, but to keep the ads in front of people's faces (using the old 7 touches/7 views methodology of marketing)
    • How Scott built a sales base for himself in the Netherlands on Kindle, building that market from 2 EUR a month to 50 EUR a month
    • The reason why this new series Scott is publishing was published wide to all eBook retailers (Kindle, Kobo, iBooks, Nook and Google, etc) rather than exclusive to Amazon using the KDP Select exclusivity option, which is how he started publishing
    • The reality that Scott is a six-figure author (in 2016 he earned $100,000 and in 2017 he earned a lot more than that), and so losing a couple of thousand dollars from not getting Kindle Unlimited reads wasn't a big deal to him
    • Some of the real stats of Scott's sales which include the Athena Lee series earning about $2500 to $3000 per month on Kindle (18 titles)
    • How, when he launched wide, he earned about $200 on Kobo in January 2018, but that, by Feb, he had earned $1000 and for March at the point of the interview (the 20th), he had earned $700 on Kobo
    • Scott's cover designer, Heather Hamilton-Senter (http://www.bookcoverartistry.com/) and the fact that he has ordered 18 new covers for his new series
    • How Scott went from being on partial disability, finding it difficult to find a job and being a whale reader and then moving on to becoming a writer based on a kick-in-the-pants he received from Michael Anderle (of 20Booksto50K fame)
    • How the 1970s movie Smokey and the Bandit was part of the inspiration for Scott's latest marketing/publicity experiment: A van with a wrap that features artwork from his book covers
    • The fact that Scott is a "modified pantser" and that his pre-ordered book covers and titles are the high level "outline" that he uses to write his stories

     

    After the interview, Mark talks about how this conversation with Scott and a recent listen of a speech by Arnold Schwarzenegger came together to inspire him.

    He also introduces his new Patreon page for those interested in contributing monetary support to this podcast.

     

    Links of Interest:

     

    ]]>     In lucky episode 13, Mark interviews author T S Paul about not listening to people who told him he was "crazy" with the ideas he had for his writing plan. T S Paul (AKA, Scott) writes Science Fiction, Space Opera, Military, Cookbooks, and Paranormal Fiction. His books used to be exclusively available thru Amazon Kindle and Kindle Unlimited, but towards the tail end of 2017 he started to publish a number of his books wide to Kobo, iBooks, Nook and Google Play.

    This episode's Tongue Twister is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark attempts to do the tongue twisted in the voice of Brian's Mum from the Monty Python movie, LIFE OF BRIAN. The tongue twister source is from a 2013 MIT research document (USA Today Article: World's Toughest Tongue Twister - no kidding)

    In the interview, Mark and Scott discuss:

    • The fact that TS Paul is not a pseudonym. It's his real name. The S is for Scott and the T stands for an undisclosed name. (Despite the fact that Mark tries to trick him into saying it)
    • The fact that Scott doesn't have an author newsletter, nor has he worried about starting to build one, or a domain name for that matter. The majority of his relationship with his fans happen via his blogspot blog (tspaul.blogspot.com) and his Facebook Author page
    • The fact that he has only been writing since February of 2016 and using the blog and Facebook page since then. (3500+ followers on Facebook – 300 to 600 hits a day on the blog)
    • The "Wilson Wednesday" free short story that Scott released on his blog every week. (with 45 short stories posted there in 2016)
    • The fact that he bundled the stories into single volume story collections [EDITORIAL NOTE: Scott uses the term "anthology" but I have always subscribed to the idea that an anthology is a curated collection of stories from multiple authors, so I'm inserting the term "collection" in place of "anthology"] – into two different ebook volumes for that time period
    • The Jack Dalton Monster Hunter series he started in Feb of 2018 and the release methodology he uses:
      • Each new book's release (about 10,000 words) is on the first of the month
      • On the third Wed of that month, readers can read the entire book content on his blog for free (for a 24 hour period)
      • The fact there is also a buy button on that post for those who'd rather just read the ePub or mobi version on the retailer of their choice. And the fact that there's a pre-order button for the next month's release in the series
    • How Scott has heard the words "you're out of your mind" many times before
    • The $1.99 price point he has used (which, historically, was considered a really poor price, possibly the WORST price for an eBook) – but it's important to remember that those studies were related to full sized books (ie, 40,000 to 150,000 words) rather than shorter works (most of Scott's ebooks are in the 10,000 word range)
      • Sales for Book One (from Feb 2018) – of more than 1500 units
      • Sales for Book Two (so far – mid March) are in the realm of a little over 500 copies
    • Scott's background as a bookseller who previously worked at Waldenbooks
    • How Scott managed to use targeted ads to build up his Facebook followers, which started off with boosting a post on his author page of a picture of his cat, Merlin (and targeting science fiction readers who loved cats)
    • Scott's theory about Facebook ads, which doesn't include a direct ROI, but to keep the ads in front of people's faces (using the old 7 touches/7 views methodology of marketing)
    • How Scott built a sales base for himself in the Netherlands on Kindle, building that market from 2 EUR a month to 50 EUR a month
    • The reason why this new series Scott is publishing was published wide to all eBook retailers (Kindle, Kobo, iBooks, Nook and Google, etc) rather than exclusive to Amazon using the KDP Select exclusivity option, which is how he started publishing
    • The reality that Scott is a six-figure author (in 2016 he earned $100,000 and in 2017 he earned a lot more than that), and so losing a couple of thousand dollars from not getting Kindle Unlimited reads wasn't a big deal to him
    • Some of the real stats of Scott's sales which include the Athena Lee series earning about $2500 to $3000 per month on Kindle (18 titles)
    • How, when he launched wide, he earned about $200 on Kobo in January 2018, but that, by Feb, he had earned $1000 and for March at the point of the interview (the 20th), he had earned $700 on Kobo
    • Scott's cover designer, Heather Hamilton-Senter (http://www.bookcoverartistry.com/) and the fact that he has ordered 18 new covers for his new series
    • How Scott went from being on partial disability, finding it difficult to find a job and being a whale reader and then moving on to becoming a writer based on a kick-in-the-pants he received from Michael Anderle (of 20Booksto50K fame)
    • How the 1970s movie Smokey and the Bandit was part of the inspiration for Scott's latest marketing/publicity experiment: A van with a wrap that features artwork from his book covers
    • The fact that Scott is a "modified pantser" and that his pre-ordered book covers and titles are the high level "outline" that he uses to write his stories

    After the interview, Mark talks about how this conversation with Scott and a recent listen of a speech by Arnold Schwarzenegger came together to inspire him.

    He also introduces his new Patreon page for those interested in contributing monetary support to this podcast.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     56:35 false 1 13 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In lucky episode 13, Mark interviews author T S Paul about not listening to people who told him he was "crazy" with the ideas he had for his writing plan. T S Paul (AKA, Scott) writes Science Fiction, Space Opera, Military, Cookbooks, and Paranormal Fiction. His books used to be exclusively available thru Amazon Kindle and Kindle Unlimited, but towards the tail end of 2017 he started to publish a number of his books wide to Kobo, iBooks, Nook and Google Play. This episode's Tongue Twister is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark attempts to do the tongue twisted in the voice of Brian's Mum from the Monty Python movie, LIFE OF BRIAN. The tongue twister source is from a 2013 MIT research document (USA Today Article: World's Toughest Tongue Twister - no kidding) In the interview, Mark and Scott discuss: The fact that TS Paul is not a pseudonym. It's his real name. The S is for Scott and the T stands for an undisclosed name. (Despite the fact that Mark tries to trick him into saying it) The fact that Scott doesn't have an author newsletter, nor has he worried about starting to build one, or a domain name for that matter. The majority of his relationship with his fans happen via his blogspot blog (tspaul.blogspot.com) and his Facebook Author page The fact that he has only been writing since February of 2016 and using the blog and Facebook page since then. (3500+ followers on Facebook – 300 to 600 hits a day on the blog) The "Wilson Wednesday" free short story that Scott released on his blog every week. (with 45 short stories posted there in 2016) The fact that he bundled the stories into single volume story collections [EDITORIAL NOTE: Scott uses the term "anthology" but I have always subscribed to the idea that an anthology is a curated collection of stories from multiple authors, so I'm inserting the term "collection" in place of "anthology"] – into two different ebook volumes for that time period The Jack Dalton Monster Hunter series he started in Feb of 2018 and the release methodology he uses: Each new book's release (about 10,000 words) is on the first of the month On the third Wed of that month, readers can read the entire book content on his blog for free (for a 24 hour period) The fact there is also a buy button on that post for those who'd rather just read the ePub or mobi version on the retailer of their choice. And the fact that there's a pre-order button for the next month's release in the series How Scott has heard the words "you're out of your mind" many times before The $1.99 price point he has used (which, historically, was considered a really poor price, possibly the WORST price for an eBook) – but it's important to remember that those studies were related to full sized books (ie, 40,000 to 150,000 words) rather than shorter works (most of Scott's ebooks are in the 10,000 word range) Sales for Book One (from Feb 2018) – of more than 1500 units Sales for Book Two (so far – mid March) are in the realm of a little over 500 copies Scott's background as a bookseller who previously worked at Waldenbooks How Scott managed to use targeted ads to build up his Facebook followers, which started off with boosting a post on his author page of a picture of his cat, Merlin (and targeting science fiction readers who loved cats) Scott's theory about Facebook ads, which doesn't include a direct ROI, but to keep the ads in front of people's faces (using the old 7 touches/7 views methodology of marketing) How Scott built a sales base for himself in the Netherlands on Kindle, building that market from 2 EUR a month to 50 EUR a month The reason why this new series Scott is publishing was published wide to all eBook retailers (Kindle, Kobo, iBooks, Nook and Google, etc) rather than exclusive to Amazon using the KDP Select exclusivity option, which is how he started publishing The reality that Scott is a six-figure author (in 2016 he earned $100,000 and in 2017 he earned a lot more than that), and so losing a couple of thousand dollars from not getting Kindle Unlimited reads wasn't a big deal to him Some of the real stats of Scott's sales which include the Athena Lee series earning about $2500 to $3000 per month on Kindle (18 titles) How, when he launched wide, he earned about $200 on Kobo in January 2018, but that, by Feb, he had earned $1000 and for March at the point of the interview (the 20th), he had earned $700 on Kobo Scott's cover designer, Heather Hamilton-Senter (http://www.bookcoverartistry.com/) and the fact that he has ordered 18 new covers for his new series How Scott went from being on partial disability, finding it difficult to find a job and being a whale reader and then moving on to becoming a writer based on a kick-in-the-pants he received from Michael Anderle (of 20Booksto50K fame) How the 1970s movie Smokey and the Bandit was part of the inspiration for Scott's latest marketing/publicity experiment: A van with a wrap that features artwork from his book covers The fact that Scott is a "modified pantser" and that his pre-ordered book covers and titles are the high level "outline" that he uses to write his stories   After the interview, Mark talks about how this conversation with Scott and a recent listen of a speech by Arnold Schwarzenegger came together to inspire him. He also introduces his new Patreon page for those interested in contributing monetary support to this podcast.   Links of Interest: T S Paul's Blog T S Paul's Facebook Page T S Paul Instagram T S Paul's Fergus The Unicorn's Facebook Page T S Paul's Fergus The Unicorn on Twitter Findaway Voices Arnold Schwarzenegger 6 Rules of Success (Abbreviated) Arnold Schwarzenegger 6 Rules of Success (Full Speech)  Mark Leslie LefebvreIn lucky episode 13, Mark interviews author T S Paul about not listening to people who told him he was "crazy" with the ideas he had for his writing plan. T S Paul (AKA, Scott) writes Science Fiction, Space Opera, Military, Cookbooks, and Paranormal Fiction. His books used to be exclusively available thru Amazon Kindle and Kindle Unlimited, but towards the tail end of 2017 he started to publish a number of his books wide to Kobo, iBooks, Nook and Google Play. This episode's Tongue Twister is sponsored by Findaway Voices. Mark attempts to do the tongue twisted in the voice of Brian's Mum from the Monty Python movie, LIFE OF BRIAN. The tongue twister source is from a 2013 MIT research document (USA Today Article: World's Toughest Tongue Twister - no kidding) In the interview, Mark and Scott discuss: The fact that TS Paul is not a pseudonym. It's his real name. The S is for Scott and the T stands for an undisclosed name. (Despite the fact that Mark tries to trick him into saying it) The fact that Scott doesn't have an author newsletter, nor has he worried about starting to build one, or a domain name for that matter. The majority of his relationship with his fans happen via his blogspot blog (tspaul.blogspot.com) and his Facebook Author page The fact that he has only been writing since February of 2016 and using the blog and Facebook page since then. (3500+ followers on Facebook – 300 to 600 hits a day on the blog) The "Wilson Wednesday" free short story that Scott released on his blog every week. (with 45 short stories posted there in 2016) The fact that he bundled the stories into single volume story collections [EDITORIAL NOTE: Scott uses the term "anthology" but I have always subscribed to the idea that an anthology is a curated collection of stories from multiple authors, so I'm inserting the term "collection" in place of "anthology"] – into two different ebook volumes for that time period The Jack Dalton Monster Hunter series he started in Feb of 2018 and the release methodology he uses: Each new book's release (about 10,000 words) is on the first of the month On the third Wed of that month, readers can read the entire book content on his blog for free (for a 24 hour period) The fact there is also a buy button on that post for those who'd rather just read the ePub or mobi version on the retailer of their choice. And the fact that there's a pre-order button for the next month's release in the series How Scott has heard the words "you're out of your mind" many times before The $1.99 price point he has used (which, historically, was considered a really poor price, possibly the WORST price for an eBook) – but it's important to remember that those studies were related to full sized books (ie, 40,000 to 150,000 words) rather than shorter works (most of Scott's ebooks are in the 10,000 word range) Sales for Book One (from Feb 2018) – of more than 1500 units Sales for Book Two (so far – mid March) are in the realm of a little over 500 copies Scott's background as a bookseller who previously worked at Waldenbooks How Scott managed to use targeted ads to build up his Facebook followers, which started off with boosting a post on his author page of a picture of his cat, Merlin (and targeting science fiction readers who loved cats) Scott's theory about Facebook ads, which doesn't include a direct ROI, but to keep the ads in front of people's faces (using the old 7 touches/7 views methodology of marketing) How Scott built a sales base for himself in the Netherlands on Kindle, building that market from 2 EUR a month to 50 EUR a month The reason why this new series Scott is publishing was published wide to all eBook retailers (Kindle, Kobo, iBooks, Nook and Google, etc) rather than exclusive to Amazon using the KDP Select exclusivity option, which is how he started publishing The reality that Scott is a six-figure author (in 2016 he earned $100,000 and in 2017 he earned a lot more than that), and so losing a couple of thousand dollars from not getting Kindle Unlimited reads wasn't a big deal to him Some of the real stats of Scott's sales which include the Athena Lee series earning about $2500 to $3000 per month on Kindle (18 titles) How, when he launched wide, he earned about $200 on Kobo in January 2018, but that, by Feb, he had earned $1000 and for March at the point of the interview (the 20th), he had earned $700 on Kobo Scott's cover designer, Heather Hamilton-Senter (http://www.bookcoverartistry.com/) and the fact that he has ordered 18 new covers for his new series How Scott went from being on partial disability, finding it difficult to find a job and being a whale reader and then moving on to becoming a writer based on a kick-in-the-pants he received from Michael Anderle (of 20Booksto50K fame) How the 1970s movie Smokey and the Bandit was part of the inspiration for Scott's latest marketing/publicity experiment: A van with a wrap that features artwork from his book covers The fact that Scott is a "modified pantser" and that his pre-ordered book covers and titles are the high level "outline" that he uses to write his stories   After the interview, Mark talks about how this conversation with Scott and a recent listen of a speech by Arnold Schwarzenegger came together to inspire him. He also introduces his new Patreon page for those interested in contributing monetary support to this podcast.   Links of Interest: T S Paul's Blog T S Paul's Facebook Page T S Paul Instagram T S Paul's Fergus The Unicorn's Facebook Page T S Paul's Fergus The Unicorn on Twitter Findaway Voices Arnold Schwarzenegger 6 Rules of Success (Abbreviated) Arnold Schwarzenegger 6 Rules of Success (Full Speech)       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 012 - Six Rules of Success with Arnold Schwarzenegger Six Rules of Success with Arnold Schwarzenegger Fri, 23 Mar 2018 03:59:57 +0000 Let me be perfectly frank here. I screwed up and mis-counted episodes. So I produced the "next" episode as Episode 13, completely skipping episode 12 (the way some buildings skip the 13th floor)

    So I'm owning up to my goof, and inserting this quick episode which is a clip from an inspirational speech that Arnold Schwarzenegger gave to a group of graduating students about his 6 Rules for Success. It's a speech that I refer to in Episode 13, so it is pertinent, and is something writers will find value in.

     

    ]]>     Let me be perfectly frank here. I screwed up and mis-counted episodes. So I produced the "next" episode as Episode 13, completely skipping episode 12 (the way some buildings skip the 13th floor)

    So I'm owning up to my goof, and inserting this quick episode which is a clip from an inspirational speech that Arnold Schwarzenegger gave to a group of graduating students about his 6 Rules for Success. It's a speech that I refer to in Episode 13, so it is pertinent, and is something writers will find value in.

    ]]>     09:31 false 1 12 bonus mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Let me be perfectly frank here. I screwed up and mis-counted episodes. So I produced the "next" episode as Episode 13, completely skipping episode 12 (the way some buildings skip the 13th floor) So I'm owning up to my goof, and inserting this quick episode which is a clip from an inspirational speech that Arnold Schwarzenegger gave to a group of graduating students about his 6 Rules for Success. It's a speech that I refer to in Episode 13, so it is pertinent, and is something writers will find value in.  Mark Leslie LefebvreLet me be perfectly frank here. I screwed up and mis-counted episodes. So I produced the "next" episode as Episode 13, completely skipping episode 12 (the way some buildings skip the 13th floor) So I'm owning up to my goof, and inserting this quick episode which is a clip from an inspirational speech that Arnold Schwarzenegger gave to a group of graduating students about his 6 Rules for Success. It's a speech that I refer to in Episode 13, so it is pertinent, and is something writers will find value in.       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 011 - The Power of Free with Musician and Composer Kevin MacLeod The Power of Free with Musican and Composer Kevin MacLeod Fri, 16 Mar 2018 01:02:16 +0000 In Episode 11, Mark interviews Kevin MacLeod, the writer, composer and producer for the music used in this podcast.

    Kevin MacLeod is an American composer and musician who is perhaps best known for his distribution of royalty-free library music through his website, Incompetech.com.

    He has made over 2,000 self-composed pieces of music available for download under a Creative Commons 3.0 license which basically allows anyone to use his music for free as long as he receives attribution.

    This open spirit has led to his music being used in millions of YouTube videos and thousands of films. As of July 2016, MacLeod had over 2,300 composer credits listed on the Internet Movie Database and his music has been used in Martin Scorsese's 2011 film Hugo, several commercial video games, and videos by online content creators such as CollegeHumor and Good Mythical Morning.

    The Terrible Tongue Twister on this podcast (which Mark stumbles over) is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can find out more about Findaway Voices on www.starkreflections.ca/findaway

    In their discussion, Mark and Kevin talk about:

    • Kevin's history as a musician and the origin of the launch of the incompetech website
    • The debate between openly giving away one's work for free VS the "exposure doesn't pay my bills" concept
    • Kevin's philosophy on exposure that includes the following concept: "100% of the people who have never heard you, don't like you."
    • The importance of a service like Patreon that can help people support artists who are freely making their work available
    • The tens of thousands of videos and games out there where Kevin's music is used and how that can lead to sales or custom work
    • Kevin's thoughts on when he misses the target of his intended audience with a particular piece he composes
    • The core basics of the equipment needed as a musician in the digital realm
    • The types of conferences that Kevin gets the most value in attending
    • The conflict Kevin faces, as an introvert at conferences who loves hanging out with people while, at the same time, finds it an overwhelming experience that requires multiple "solo" breaks during the day
    • How his daily work process and work schedule continues to change over time and basic on the projects on his plate
    • One of the ways inspiration strikes, which is not in experiencing something brilliant, but instead, experiencing something terrible and imagining a composition that he feels might have worked better in that instance
    • How, when your job is to create media, every single activity can be a tax deduction
    • Kevin's belief that everyone has the same job: to make life easier for other people
    • How connecting with other musicians and composers is an important aspect of Kevin's world
    • Measuring a Starfleet captain based on the number of times his Enterprise has blown up
    • Kevin's words of advice for those interested in pursuing a creative passion (whether it be composing music or another creative pursuit)

    After the interview, Mark takes about two specific elements from the interview that he wants to reflect on.

    The first is Kevin's advice for creators, that is similar to advice we heard in Episode 10 from Jean Leggett of One More Story Games. And it's the importance of starting small, of actually working at your craft, at practicing, at getting better, at just DOING IT. Interesting that Kevin's take as a musician is similar to Jean's in terms of story.

    The second thing is a much bigger topic - and it's how free CAN work quite effectively in the rights ways at allow greater discoverability of an author's work which can lead to sales, to income, to opportunity that might not have previously existed.

    Mark then shares a clip from his 2009 to 2011 short fiction podcast PRELUDE TO A SCREAM, with a piece of music from Kevin called "Noir Mild Tension"

    Links of Interest:

     

    ]]>     In Episode 11, Mark interviews Kevin MacLeod, the writer, composer and producer for the music used in this podcast.

    Kevin MacLeod is an American composer and musician who is perhaps best known for his distribution of royalty-free library music through his website, Incompetech.com.

    He has made over 2,000 self-composed pieces of music available for download under a Creative Commons 3.0 license which basically allows anyone to use his music for free as long as he receives attribution.

    This open spirit has led to his music being used in millions of YouTube videos and thousands of films. As of July 2016, MacLeod had over 2,300 composer credits listed on the Internet Movie Database and his music has been used in Martin Scorsese's 2011 film Hugo, several commercial video games, and videos by online content creators such as CollegeHumor and Good Mythical Morning.

    The Terrible Tongue Twister on this podcast (which Mark stumbles over) is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can find out more about Findaway Voices on www.starkreflections.ca/findaway

    In their discussion, Mark and Kevin talk about:

    • Kevin's history as a musician and the origin of the launch of the incompetech website
    • The debate between openly giving away one's work for free VS the "exposure doesn't pay my bills" concept
    • Kevin's philosophy on exposure that includes the following concept: "100% of the people who have never heard you, don't like you."
    • The importance of a service like Patreon that can help people support artists who are freely making their work available
    • The tens of thousands of videos and games out there where Kevin's music is used and how that can lead to sales or custom work
    • Kevin's thoughts on when he misses the target of his intended audience with a particular piece he composes
    • The core basics of the equipment needed as a musician in the digital realm
    • The types of conferences that Kevin gets the most value in attending
    • The conflict Kevin faces, as an introvert at conferences who loves hanging out with people while, at the same time, finds it an overwhelming experience that requires multiple "solo" breaks during the day
    • How his daily work process and work schedule continues to change over time and basic on the projects on his plate
    • One of the ways inspiration strikes, which is not in experiencing something brilliant, but instead, experiencing something terrible and imagining a composition that he feels might have worked better in that instance
    • How, when your job is to create media, every single activity can be a tax deduction
    • Kevin's belief that everyone has the same job: to make life easier for other people
    • How connecting with other musicians and composers is an important aspect of Kevin's world
    • Measuring a Starfleet captain based on the number of times his Enterprise has blown up
    • Kevin's words of advice for those interested in pursuing a creative passion (whether it be composing music or another creative pursuit)

    After the interview, Mark takes about two specific elements from the interview that he wants to reflect on.

    The first is Kevin's advice for creators, that is similar to advice we heard in Episode 10 from Jean Leggett of One More Story Games. And it's the importance of starting small, of actually working at your craft, at practicing, at getting better, at just DOING IT. Interesting that Kevin's take as a musician is similar to Jean's in terms of story.

    The second thing is a much bigger topic - and it's how free CAN work quite effectively in the rights ways at allow greater discoverability of an author's work which can lead to sales, to income, to opportunity that might not have previously existed.

    Mark then shares a clip from his 2009 to 2011 short fiction podcast PRELUDE TO A SCREAM, with a piece of music from Kevin called "Noir Mild Tension"

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     35:02 false 1 11 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In Episode 11, Mark interviews Kevin MacLeod, the writer, composer and producer for the music used in this podcast. Kevin MacLeod is an American composer and musician who is perhaps best known for his distribution of royalty-free library music through his website, Incompetech.com. He has made over 2,000 self-composed pieces of music available for download under a Creative Commons 3.0 license which basically allows anyone to use his music for free as long as he receives attribution. This open spirit has led to his music being used in millions of YouTube videos and thousands of films. As of July 2016, MacLeod had over 2,300 composer credits listed on the Internet Movie Database and his music has been used in Martin Scorsese's 2011 film Hugo, several commercial video games, and videos by online content creators such as CollegeHumor and Good Mythical Morning. The Terrible Tongue Twister on this podcast (which Mark stumbles over) is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can find out more about Findaway Voices on www.starkreflections.ca/findaway In their discussion, Mark and Kevin talk about: Kevin's history as a musician and the origin of the launch of the incompetech website The debate between openly giving away one's work for free VS the "exposure doesn't pay my bills" concept Kevin's philosophy on exposure that includes the following concept: "100% of the people who have never heard you, don't like you." The importance of a service like Patreon that can help people support artists who are freely making their work available The tens of thousands of videos and games out there where Kevin's music is used and how that can lead to sales or custom work Kevin's thoughts on when he misses the target of his intended audience with a particular piece he composes The core basics of the equipment needed as a musician in the digital realm The types of conferences that Kevin gets the most value in attending The conflict Kevin faces, as an introvert at conferences who loves hanging out with people while, at the same time, finds it an overwhelming experience that requires multiple "solo" breaks during the day How his daily work process and work schedule continues to change over time and basic on the projects on his plate One of the ways inspiration strikes, which is not in experiencing something brilliant, but instead, experiencing something terrible and imagining a composition that he feels might have worked better in that instance How, when your job is to create media, every single activity can be a tax deduction Kevin's belief that everyone has the same job: to make life easier for other people How connecting with other musicians and composers is an important aspect of Kevin's world Measuring a Starfleet captain based on the number of times his Enterprise has blown up Kevin's words of advice for those interested in pursuing a creative passion (whether it be composing music or another creative pursuit) After the interview, Mark takes about two specific elements from the interview that he wants to reflect on. The first is Kevin's advice for creators, that is similar to advice we heard in Episode 10 from Jean Leggett of One More Story Games. And it's the importance of starting small, of actually working at your craft, at practicing, at getting better, at just DOING IT. Interesting that Kevin's take as a musician is similar to Jean's in terms of story. The second thing is a much bigger topic - and it's how free CAN work quite effectively in the rights ways at allow greater discoverability of an author's work which can lead to sales, to income, to opportunity that might not have previously existed. Mark then shares a clip from his 2009 to 2011 short fiction podcast PRELUDE TO A SCREAM, with a piece of music from Kevin called "Noir Mild Tension" Links of Interest: Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech.com website Mark's Prelude to a Scream Podcast Findaway Voices Tongue Twister Source  Mark Leslie LefebvreIn Episode 11, Mark interviews Kevin MacLeod, the writer, composer and producer for the music used in this podcast. Kevin MacLeod is an American composer and musician who is perhaps best known for his distribution of royalty-free library music through his website, Incompetech.com. He has made over 2,000 self-composed pieces of music available for download under a Creative Commons 3.0 license which basically allows anyone to use his music for free as long as he receives attribution. This open spirit has led to his music being used in millions of YouTube videos and thousands of films. As of July 2016, MacLeod had over 2,300 composer credits listed on the Internet Movie Database and his music has been used in Martin Scorsese's 2011 film Hugo, several commercial video games, and videos by online content creators such as CollegeHumor and Good Mythical Morning. The Terrible Tongue Twister on this podcast (which Mark stumbles over) is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can find out more about Findaway Voices on www.starkreflections.ca/findaway In their discussion, Mark and Kevin talk about: Kevin's history as a musician and the origin of the launch of the incompetech website The debate between openly giving away one's work for free VS the "exposure doesn't pay my bills" concept Kevin's philosophy on exposure that includes the following concept: "100% of the people who have never heard you, don't like you." The importance of a service like Patreon that can help people support artists who are freely making their work available The tens of thousands of videos and games out there where Kevin's music is used and how that can lead to sales or custom work Kevin's thoughts on when he misses the target of his intended audience with a particular piece he composes The core basics of the equipment needed as a musician in the digital realm The types of conferences that Kevin gets the most value in attending The conflict Kevin faces, as an introvert at conferences who loves hanging out with people while, at the same time, finds it an overwhelming experience that requires multiple "solo" breaks during the day How his daily work process and work schedule continues to change over time and basic on the projects on his plate One of the ways inspiration strikes, which is not in experiencing something brilliant, but instead, experiencing something terrible and imagining a composition that he feels might have worked better in that instance How, when your job is to create media, every single activity can be a tax deduction Kevin's belief that everyone has the same job: to make life easier for other people How connecting with other musicians and composers is an important aspect of Kevin's world Measuring a Starfleet captain based on the number of times his Enterprise has blown up Kevin's words of advice for those interested in pursuing a creative passion (whether it be composing music or another creative pursuit) After the interview, Mark takes about two specific elements from the interview that he wants to reflect on. The first is Kevin's advice for creators, that is similar to advice we heard in Episode 10 from Jean Leggett of One More Story Games. And it's the importance of starting small, of actually working at your craft, at practicing, at getting better, at just DOING IT. Interesting that Kevin's take as a musician is similar to Jean's in terms of story. The second thing is a much bigger topic - and it's how free CAN work quite effectively in the rights ways at allow greater discoverability of an author's work which can lead to sales, to income, to opportunity that might not have previously existed. Mark then shares a clip from his 2009 to 2011 short fiction podcast PRELUDE TO A SCREAM, with a piece of music from Kevin called "Noir Mild Tension" Links of Interest: Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech.com website Mark's Prelude to a Scream Podcast Findaway Voices Tongue Twister Source       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 010 - Jean Legget of One More Story Games Saying YES to Imagination with Jean Leggett of One More Story Games Thu, 08 Mar 2018 19:55:32 +0000 Episode 10 features a great interview with Jean Leggett, CEO and co-founder of One More Story Games. After her husband Blair's near-death experience in 2012, the two embarked on a journey back to his childhood hometown to each pursue their life's passion which includes the company One More Story Games and their software, StoryStylus, which simplifies video game creation for storytellers to create, publish and share story-based games. 

    In their discussion, Mark and Jean discuss:

    • The origin of the company One More Story Games that involves the creation of interactive narrative story games
    • How StoryStylus is the underlying engine of One More Story Games that allows authors the ability to create a narrative-based game without needing to have technical know-how
    • The 10 minute game that an 11 year old girl created using this software which is called "Attack of the Killer Zombie Cats"
    • The game adaptation of the Charlaine Harris novel Shakespeare's Landlord featuring Lily Bard (part of a five-book series by the author)
    • Julia Gibson, the voice actor for Lily Baird in the game
    • The "smart games for smart women" and "games for word nerds" branding that One More Story Games employ, which breaks the mold for stereotypical violence of many video games
    • How story is the central driving mission of this company
    • Where authors who are interested in using this tool can start
    • The "how to" YouTube videos authors can use to get started using StoryStylus
    • Jean's recent TEDx Talk: "What 10 year olds taught us about our gaming tech startup"
    • The experience of being hired by Microsoft to teach a group of 7 to 12 year old girls and how they each gravitated to areas that best suited their personalities and talents
    • How important music is towards adding an atmospheric ambiance in a game
    • What is possible when you say YES to imagination and you don't shut people down
    • The award-winning game Danielle's Inferno created by Olivia Rivard and inspired by her story of the same name (Tied for Toronto Game Devs 2017 #1 PC Game of the Year)

     

    After the interview, Mark talks about the inspiration he derives from a company like One More Story Games and how a great tool like StoryStylus offers new hope and opportunities for writers. He then compares the training he has been doing for a half-marathon with the writer journey and goals he has been working on and addresses ideas on how he is planning on getting both the training and the writing back on track.

    Links of Interest:

     

    ]]>     Episode 10 features a great interview with Jean Leggett, CEO and co-founder of One More Story Games. After her husband Blair's near-death experience in 2012, the two embarked on a journey back to his childhood hometown to each pursue their life's passion which includes the company One More Story Games and their software, StoryStylus, which simplifies video game creation for storytellers to create, publish and share story-based games.

    In their discussion, Mark and Jean discuss:

    • The origin of the company One More Story Games that involves the creation of interactive narrative story games
    • How StoryStylus is the underlying engine of One More Story Games that allows authors the ability to create a narrative-based game without needing to have technical know-how
    • The 10 minute game that an 11 year old girl created using this software which is called "Attack of the Killer Zombie Cats"
    • The game adaptation of the Charlaine Harris novel Shakespeare's Landlord featuring Lily Bard (part of a five-book series by the author)
    • Julia Gibson, the voice actor for Lily Baird in the game
    • The "smart games for smart women" and "games for word nerds" branding that One More Story Games employ, which breaks the mold for stereotypical violence of many video games
    • How story is the central driving mission of this company
    • Where authors who are interested in using this tool can start
    • The "how to" YouTube videos authors can use to get started using StoryStylus
    • Jean's recent TEDx Talk: "What 10 year olds taught us about our gaming tech startup"
    • The experience of being hired by Microsoft to teach a group of 7 to 12 year old girls and how they each gravitated to areas that best suited their personalities and talents
    • How important music is towards adding an atmospheric ambiance in a game
    • What is possible when you say YES to imagination and you don't shut people down
    • The award-winning game Danielle's Inferno created by Olivia Rivard and inspired by her story of the same name (Tied for Toronto Game Devs 2017 #1 PC Game of the Year)

    After the interview, Mark talks about the inspiration he derives from a company like One More Story Games and how a great tool like StoryStylus offers new hope and opportunities for writers. He then compares the training he has been doing for a half-marathon with the writer journey and goals he has been working on and addresses ideas on how he is planning on getting both the training and the writing back on track.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     30:01 false 1 10 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Episode 10 features a great interview with Jean Leggett, CEO and co-founder of One More Story Games. After her husband Blair's near-death experience in 2012, the two embarked on a journey back to his childhood hometown to each pursue their life's passion which includes the company One More Story Games and their software, StoryStylus, which simplifies video game creation for storytellers to create, publish and share story-based games.  In their discussion, Mark and Jean discuss: The origin of the company One More Story Games that involves the creation of interactive narrative story games How StoryStylus is the underlying engine of One More Story Games that allows authors the ability to create a narrative-based game without needing to have technical know-how The 10 minute game that an 11 year old girl created using this software which is called "Attack of the Killer Zombie Cats" The game adaptation of the Charlaine Harris novel Shakespeare's Landlord featuring Lily Bard (part of a five-book series by the author) Julia Gibson, the voice actor for Lily Baird in the game The "smart games for smart women" and "games for word nerds" branding that One More Story Games employ, which breaks the mold for stereotypical violence of many video games How story is the central driving mission of this company Where authors who are interested in using this tool can start The "how to" YouTube videos authors can use to get started using StoryStylus Jean's recent TEDx Talk: "What 10 year olds taught us about our gaming tech startup" The experience of being hired by Microsoft to teach a group of 7 to 12 year old girls and how they each gravitated to areas that best suited their personalities and talents How important music is towards adding an atmospheric ambiance in a game What is possible when you say YES to imagination and you don't shut people down The award-winning game Danielle's Inferno created by Olivia Rivard and inspired by her story of the same name (Tied for Toronto Game Devs 2017 #1 PC Game of the Year)   After the interview, Mark talks about the inspiration he derives from a company like One More Story Games and how a great tool like StoryStylus offers new hope and opportunities for writers. He then compares the training he has been doing for a half-marathon with the writer journey and goals he has been working on and addresses ideas on how he is planning on getting both the training and the writing back on track. Links of Interest: One More Story Games StoryStylus Jean Leggett's Website Jean's Fireside Chat with Charlaine Harris Charlaine Harris's Website Spirits Untapped  Mark Leslie LefebvreEpisode 10 features a great interview with Jean Leggett, CEO and co-founder of One More Story Games. After her husband Blair's near-death experience in 2012, the two embarked on a journey back to his childhood hometown to each pursue their life's passion which includes the company One More Story Games and their software, StoryStylus, which simplifies video game creation for storytellers to create, publish and share story-based games.  In their discussion, Mark and Jean discuss: The origin of the company One More Story Games that involves the creation of interactive narrative story games How StoryStylus is the underlying engine of One More Story Games that allows authors the ability to create a narrative-based game without needing to have technical know-how The 10 minute game that an 11 year old girl created using this software which is called "Attack of the Killer Zombie Cats" The game adaptation of the Charlaine Harris novel Shakespeare's Landlord featuring Lily Bard (part of a five-book series by the author) Julia Gibson, the voice actor for Lily Baird in the game The "smart games for smart women" and "games for word nerds" branding that One More Story Games employ, which breaks the mold for stereotypical violence of many video games How story is the central driving mission of this company Where authors who are interested in using this tool can start The "how to" YouTube videos authors can use to get started using StoryStylus Jean's recent TEDx Talk: "What 10 year olds taught us about our gaming tech startup" The experience of being hired by Microsoft to teach a group of 7 to 12 year old girls and how they each gravitated to areas that best suited their personalities and talents How important music is towards adding an atmospheric ambiance in a game What is possible when you say YES to imagination and you don't shut people down The award-winning game Danielle's Inferno created by Olivia Rivard and inspired by her story of the same name (Tied for Toronto Game Devs 2017 #1 PC Game of the Year)   After the interview, Mark talks about the inspiration he derives from a company like One More Story Games and how a great tool like StoryStylus offers new hope and opportunities for writers. He then compares the training he has been doing for a half-marathon with the writer journey and goals he has been working on and addresses ideas on how he is planning on getting both the training and the writing back on track. Links of Interest: One More Story Games StoryStylus Jean Leggett's Website Jean's Fireside Chat with Charlaine Harris Charlaine Harris's Website Spirits Untapped       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 009 - Collaborative Publishing with Chuck Heintzelman from BundleRabbit Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 009 - Collaborative Publishing with Chuck Heintzelman from BundleRabbit Thu, 01 Mar 2018 18:15:38 +0000 Featuring an interview with Chuck Heintzelman of BundleRabbit.com.

    Chuck lives in Spokane, WA with his beautiful wife and three children. Each day he juggles his passion for writing with his family, a full-time job as a computer programmer, and the inevitable curve ball life seems to throw.

    In the introduction to the show, Mark talks about being on the Oregon Coast at the Fiction River writer workshops which leads into this week's post-interview "reflection" about rejection for writers. He also talks a little about the success he has had with Findaway Voices (the episode's sponsor) for short audio books and how he measures success.

    In their conversation, Mark and Chuck talk about:

     

    • The origin and inspiration for Bundlerabbit, a service inspired by Storybundle and Humble Bundle, that allow authors to combine their ebooks into bundles
    • Chuck's "What if?" related to that which began with: "Wouldn't it be great if there was a more DIY option for authors and publishers?"
    • The basic concept which is a single website you can go to where you can upload content, curate bundles and communicate about bundle collaborations with other authors
    • How Bundlerabbit solves two major issues:
      • The ability for readers to get the bundled material from a retailer they already buy from (rather than having to side-load the content to their Kindle, Kobo, etc)
      • Revenue splitting and other accounting issues that authors might run into when trying to manage a multi-author collaboration
    • How Joanna Penn and her desire to see a "collaboration engine" helped inspire Chuck to add a feature called "collaborative publishing" which includes:
      • The ability for a curator/editor/publishing project manager to set unique author split percentages for a project and use this tool to publish on behalf of the publisher and take care of the monthly revenue split
      • Using this tool for management of co-authoring a single title (rather than bundling multiple works together)
    • The percentage that Bundlerabbit keeps (ie, the business model and how Bundlerabbit can afford to operate)
    • Some of the forthcoming features that Bundlerabbit will be releasing that are related to the ability for authors and publishers to better communicate with one another and share information, marketing assets, etc.
    • The potential for using Bundlerabbit for author/translator collaborations (and how that might compare to an existing platform like Babelcube)
    • The original OOPS name for Bundlerabbit: Bundles Express Dot Com and the amusing "Bundle Sex Press" term that Chuck didn't originally see.

     

    After the interview, Mark talks about the FICTION RIVER anthology workshops and how it works. He takes an in depth look at rejection, and the importance of a writer to understand what rejection most likely means and how that lies directly to an ideal reader or ideal editor

     

    Links of Interest

     

    ---------
    This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices. Findaway Voices provides all the tools that an independent author or small publisher needs in order to get into the digital audiobook market.

    Check them out at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway.

    ---------

     

    ]]>     Featuring an interview with Chuck Heintzelman of BundleRabbit.com.

    Chuck lives in Spokane, WA with his beautiful wife and three children. Each day he juggles his passion for writing with his family, a full-time job as a computer programmer, and the inevitable curve ball life seems to throw.

    In the introduction to the show, Mark talks about being on the Oregon Coast at the Fiction River writer workshops which leads into this week's post-interview "reflection" about rejection for writers. He also talks a little about the success he has had with Findaway Voices (the episode's sponsor) for short audio books and how he measures success.

    In their conversation, Mark and Chuck talk about:

    • The origin and inspiration for Bundlerabbit, a service inspired by Storybundle and Humble Bundle, that allow authors to combine their ebooks into bundles
    • Chuck's "What if?" related to that which began with: "Wouldn't it be great if there was a more DIY option for authors and publishers?"
    • The basic concept which is a single website you can go to where you can upload content, curate bundles and communicate about bundle collaborations with other authors
    • How Bundlerabbit solves two major issues:
      • The ability for readers to get the bundled material from a retailer they already buy from (rather than having to side-load the content to their Kindle, Kobo, etc)
      • Revenue splitting and other accounting issues that authors might run into when trying to manage a multi-author collaboration
    • How Joanna Penn and her desire to see a "collaboration engine" helped inspire Chuck to add a feature called "collaborative publishing" which includes:
      • The ability for a curator/editor/publishing project manager to set unique author split percentages for a project and use this tool to publish on behalf of the publisher and take care of the monthly revenue split
      • Using this tool for management of co-authoring a single title (rather than bundling multiple works together)
    • The percentage that Bundlerabbit keeps (ie, the business model and how Bundlerabbit can afford to operate)
    • Some of the forthcoming features that Bundlerabbit will be releasing that are related to the ability for authors and publishers to better communicate with one another and share information, marketing assets, etc.
    • The potential for using Bundlerabbit for author/translator collaborations (and how that might compare to an existing platform like Babelcube)
    • The original OOPS name for Bundlerabbit: Bundles Express Dot Com and the amusing "Bundle Sex Press" term that Chuck didn't originally see.

    After the interview, Mark talks about the FICTION RIVER anthology workshops and how it works. He takes an in depth look at rejection, and the importance of a writer to understand what rejection most likely means and how that lies directly to an ideal reader or ideal editor

    Links of Interest

    --------- This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices. Findaway Voices provides all the tools that an independent author or small publisher needs in order to get into the digital audiobook market.

    Check them out at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway.

    ---------

    ]]>     34:38 false 1 9 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Featuring an interview with Chuck Heintzelman of BundleRabbit.com. Chuck lives in Spokane, WA with his beautiful wife and three children. Each day he juggles his passion for writing with his family, a full-time job as a computer programmer, and the inevitable curve ball life seems to throw. In the introduction to the show, Mark talks about being on the Oregon Coast at the Fiction River writer workshops which leads into this week's post-interview "reflection" about rejection for writers. He also talks a little about the success he has had with Findaway Voices (the episode's sponsor) for short audio books and how he measures success. In their conversation, Mark and Chuck talk about:   The origin and inspiration for Bundlerabbit, a service inspired by Storybundle and Humble Bundle, that allow authors to combine their ebooks into bundles Chuck's "What if?" related to that which began with: "Wouldn't it be great if there was a more DIY option for authors and publishers?" The basic concept which is a single website you can go to where you can upload content, curate bundles and communicate about bundle collaborations with other authors How Bundlerabbit solves two major issues: The ability for readers to get the bundled material from a retailer they already buy from (rather than having to side-load the content to their Kindle, Kobo, etc) Revenue splitting and other accounting issues that authors might run into when trying to manage a multi-author collaboration How Joanna Penn and her desire to see a "collaboration engine" helped inspire Chuck to add a feature called "collaborative publishing" which includes: The ability for a curator/editor/publishing project manager to set unique author split percentages for a project and use this tool to publish on behalf of the publisher and take care of the monthly revenue split Using this tool for management of co-authoring a single title (rather than bundling multiple works together) The percentage that Bundlerabbit keeps (ie, the business model and how Bundlerabbit can afford to operate) Some of the forthcoming features that Bundlerabbit will be releasing that are related to the ability for authors and publishers to better communicate with one another and share information, marketing assets, etc. The potential for using Bundlerabbit for author/translator collaborations (and how that might compare to an existing platform like Babelcube) The original OOPS name for Bundlerabbit: Bundles Express Dot Com and the amusing "Bundle Sex Press" term that Chuck didn't originally see.   After the interview, Mark talks about the FICTION RIVER anthology workshops and how it works. He takes an in depth look at rejection, and the importance of a writer to understand what rejection most likely means and how that lies directly to an ideal reader or ideal editor   Links of Interest Bundlerabbit for authors Chuck's Website - http://chuckheintzelman.com/ Story Chuck dot com Story Tools Kydala Publishing (Chuck's Publishing Imprint) Chuck's Author Page on Amazon WMG Publishing Workshops Fiction River Editors Choice Feel the Fear   --------- This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices. Findaway Voices provides all the tools that an independent author or small publisher needs in order to get into the digital audiobook market. Check them out at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway. ---------  Mark Leslie LefebvreFeaturing an interview with Chuck Heintzelman of BundleRabbit.com. Chuck lives in Spokane, WA with his beautiful wife and three children. Each day he juggles his passion for writing with his family, a full-time job as a computer programmer, and the inevitable curve ball life seems to throw. In the introduction to the show, Mark talks about being on the Oregon Coast at the Fiction River writer workshops which leads into this week's post-interview "reflection" about rejection for writers. He also talks a little about the success he has had with Findaway Voices (the episode's sponsor) for short audio books and how he measures success. In their conversation, Mark and Chuck talk about:   The origin and inspiration for Bundlerabbit, a service inspired by Storybundle and Humble Bundle, that allow authors to combine their ebooks into bundles Chuck's "What if?" related to that which began with: "Wouldn't it be great if there was a more DIY option for authors and publishers?" The basic concept which is a single website you can go to where you can upload content, curate bundles and communicate about bundle collaborations with other authors How Bundlerabbit solves two major issues: The ability for readers to get the bundled material from a retailer they already buy from (rather than having to side-load the content to their Kindle, Kobo, etc) Revenue splitting and other accounting issues that authors might run into when trying to manage a multi-author collaboration How Joanna Penn and her desire to see a "collaboration engine" helped inspire Chuck to add a feature called "collaborative publishing" which includes: The ability for a curator/editor/publishing project manager to set unique author split percentages for a project and use this tool to publish on behalf of the publisher and take care of the monthly revenue split Using this tool for management of co-authoring a single title (rather than bundling multiple works together) The percentage that Bundlerabbit keeps (ie, the business model and how Bundlerabbit can afford to operate) Some of the forthcoming features that Bundlerabbit will be releasing that are related to the ability for authors and publishers to better communicate with one another and share information, marketing assets, etc. The potential for using Bundlerabbit for author/translator collaborations (and how that might compare to an existing platform like Babelcube) The original OOPS name for Bundlerabbit: Bundles Express Dot Com and the amusing "Bundle Sex Press" term that Chuck didn't originally see.   After the interview, Mark talks about the FICTION RIVER anthology workshops and how it works. He takes an in depth look at rejection, and the importance of a writer to understand what rejection most likely means and how that lies directly to an ideal reader or ideal editor   Links of Interest Bundlerabbit for authors Chuck's Website - http://chuckheintzelman.com/ Story Chuck dot com Story Tools Kydala Publishing (Chuck's Publishing Imprint) Chuck's Author Page on Amazon WMG Publishing Workshops Fiction River Editors Choice Feel the Fear   --------- This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices. Findaway Voices provides all the tools that an independent author or small publisher needs in order to get into the digital audiobook market. Check them out at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway. ---------       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 008 - Author Promotions with Ricci Wolman from Written Word Media Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 008 - Author Promotions with Ricci Wolman from Written Word Media Thu, 22 Feb 2018 23:21:46 +0000 Featuring an interview with Ricci Wolman, founder and CEO of Written Word Media about the challenge that authors face with the most common questions they often have when first starting out; questions that include the following:

    • How do I get the right people to discover my new book?
    • Where can I find people to review my book on Kindle and the other retail websites?
    • Is there a way for me to increase my visibility and my sales on multiple retail platforms?

    ---------
    This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices. Findaway Voices provides all the tools that an independent author or small publisher needs in order to get into the digital audiobook market.

    Check them out at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway.

    ---------

     

    In the interview, Mark and Ricci talk about:

    • How Written Word Media was born out of Ricci's background as a consultant and her desire to help her mother sell a book that she had published
    • The way that Freebooksy was slowly built, using a small curated list of recommended free books (as a platform where Ricci could occasionally slip her book into the mix and help boost sales)
    • The ongoing experimentation and playing that Ricci performed on the Freebooksy brand that helped it to continue to grow into a site where authors asked if they could pay to have their works featured there
    • What each of the current service brands within Written Word Media are used for:
      • Freebooksy – to feature/promote free books
      • Bargainbooksy – featuring discounted books under $5 USD (But books $2.99 and below perform best)
      • Red Feather Romance – both free and discounted/bargain books in the steamy contemporary romance category
      • New in Books – a general promotional tool for newer release exposure rather than for discounted/bargain priced titles. (More of a FULL SERVICE promotion for authors)
    • The importance of reviews to helping to sell a title and the importance of having some reviews on your retail listing for a book
    • The advent of digital audiobooks and the current work that is happening to test out a "new in audiobook" style of notification
    • How Written Word Media adds between 20,000 to 30,000 new readers to their reader pool every month (meaning writers who come back two or three months later to do an additional promotion ends up going to a larger batch of new readers)
    • The over 12 million promotional emails that Written Word Media sent out in the month of December 2017
    • The critically important value of "HELP THE AUTHOR" that is at the core of Written Word Media
    • Some of the book industry trends from the past year that Ricci is most interested in
    • A bit about the husband/wife team aspect of managing the business as a couple
    • How savvy authors understand that a marketing expense is made up of both dollars spent as well as time spent; and that a lot of things that look to be free might end up costing more in terms of time than originally expected
      • Authors should ask these questions every time they go to take marketing action:
        • What is this costing me in dollars?
        • What is this costing me in time?
        • What results do I think I'm going to get? (And how confident am I in those results?)

     

    After the interview, Mark shares details from his own recent experience with booking a Freebooksy promotion for a horror title and outlines the cost and the return on his investment for the promotion.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     Featuring an interview with Ricci Wolman, founder and CEO of Written Word Media about the challenge that authors face with the most common questions they often have when first starting out; questions that include the following:

    • How do I get the right people to discover my new book?
    • Where can I find people to review my book on Kindle and the other retail websites?
    • Is there a way for me to increase my visibility and my sales on multiple retail platforms?

    --------- This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices. Findaway Voices provides all the tools that an independent author or small publisher needs in order to get into the digital audiobook market.

    Check them out at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway.

    ---------

    In the interview, Mark and Ricci talk about:

    • How Written Word Media was born out of Ricci's background as a consultant and her desire to help her mother sell a book that she had published
    • The way that Freebooksy was slowly built, using a small curated list of recommended free books (as a platform where Ricci could occasionally slip her book into the mix and help boost sales)
    • The ongoing experimentation and playing that Ricci performed on the Freebooksy brand that helped it to continue to grow into a site where authors asked if they could pay to have their works featured there
    • What each of the current service brands within Written Word Media are used for:
      • Freebooksy – to feature/promote free books
      • Bargainbooksy – featuring discounted books under $5 USD (But books $2.99 and below perform best)
      • Red Feather Romance – both free and discounted/bargain books in the steamy contemporary romance category
      • New in Books – a general promotional tool for newer release exposure rather than for discounted/bargain priced titles. (More of a FULL SERVICE promotion for authors)
    • The importance of reviews to helping to sell a title and the importance of having some reviews on your retail listing for a book
    • The advent of digital audiobooks and the current work that is happening to test out a "new in audiobook" style of notification
    • How Written Word Media adds between 20,000 to 30,000 new readers to their reader pool every month (meaning writers who come back two or three months later to do an additional promotion ends up going to a larger batch of new readers)
    • The over 12 million promotional emails that Written Word Media sent out in the month of December 2017
    • The critically important value of "HELP THE AUTHOR" that is at the core of Written Word Media
    • Some of the book industry trends from the past year that Ricci is most interested in
    • A bit about the husband/wife team aspect of managing the business as a couple
    • How savvy authors understand that a marketing expense is made up of both dollars spent as well as time spent; and that a lot of things that look to be free might end up costing more in terms of time than originally expected
      • Authors should ask these questions every time they go to take marketing action:
        • What is this costing me in dollars?
        • What is this costing me in time?
        • What results do I think I'm going to get? (And how confident am I in those results?)

    After the interview, Mark shares details from his own recent experience with booking a Freebooksy promotion for a horror title and outlines the cost and the return on his investment for the promotion.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     43:05 false 1 8 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Featuring an interview with Ricci Wolman, founder and CEO of Written Word Media about the challenge that authors face with the most common questions they often have when first starting out; questions that include the following: How do I get the right people to discover my new book? Where can I find people to review my book on Kindle and the other retail websites? Is there a way for me to increase my visibility and my sales on multiple retail platforms? --------- This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices. Findaway Voices provides all the tools that an independent author or small publisher needs in order to get into the digital audiobook market. Check them out at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway. ---------   In the interview, Mark and Ricci talk about: How Written Word Media was born out of Ricci's background as a consultant and her desire to help her mother sell a book that she had published The way that Freebooksy was slowly built, using a small curated list of recommended free books (as a platform where Ricci could occasionally slip her book into the mix and help boost sales) The ongoing experimentation and playing that Ricci performed on the Freebooksy brand that helped it to continue to grow into a site where authors asked if they could pay to have their works featured there What each of the current service brands within Written Word Media are used for: Freebooksy – to feature/promote free books Bargainbooksy – featuring discounted books under $5 USD (But books $2.99 and below perform best) Red Feather Romance – both free and discounted/bargain books in the steamy contemporary romance category New in Books – a general promotional tool for newer release exposure rather than for discounted/bargain priced titles. (More of a FULL SERVICE promotion for authors) The importance of reviews to helping to sell a title and the importance of having some reviews on your retail listing for a book The advent of digital audiobooks and the current work that is happening to test out a "new in audiobook" style of notification How Written Word Media adds between 20,000 to 30,000 new readers to their reader pool every month (meaning writers who come back two or three months later to do an additional promotion ends up going to a larger batch of new readers) The over 12 million promotional emails that Written Word Media sent out in the month of December 2017 The critically important value of "HELP THE AUTHOR" that is at the core of Written Word Media Some of the book industry trends from the past year that Ricci is most interested in A bit about the husband/wife team aspect of managing the business as a couple How savvy authors understand that a marketing expense is made up of both dollars spent as well as time spent; and that a lot of things that look to be free might end up costing more in terms of time than originally expected Authors should ask these questions every time they go to take marketing action: What is this costing me in dollars? What is this costing me in time? What results do I think I'm going to get? (And how confident am I in those results?)   After the interview, Mark shares details from his own recent experience with booking a Freebooksy promotion for a horror title and outlines the cost and the return on his investment for the promotion. Links of Interest: Written Word Media Main Site Freebooksy Bargainbooksy Red Feather Romance New in Books Written Word Media Facebook Page Written Word Media on Twitter Contact Page for Written Word Media (you WILL hear back from a real/live person) Findaway VoicesMark Leslie LefebvreFeaturing an interview with Ricci Wolman, founder and CEO of Written Word Media about the challenge that authors face with the most common questions they often have when first starting out; questions that include the following: How do I get the right people to discover my new book? Where can I find people to review my book on Kindle and the other retail websites? Is there a way for me to increase my visibility and my sales on multiple retail platforms? --------- This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices. Findaway Voices provides all the tools that an independent author or small publisher needs in order to get into the digital audiobook market. Check them out at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway. ---------   In the interview, Mark and Ricci talk about: How Written Word Media was born out of Ricci's background as a consultant and her desire to help her mother sell a book that she had published The way that Freebooksy was slowly built, using a small curated list of recommended free books (as a platform where Ricci could occasionally slip her book into the mix and help boost sales) The ongoing experimentation and playing that Ricci performed on the Freebooksy brand that helped it to continue to grow into a site where authors asked if they could pay to have their works featured there What each of the current service brands within Written Word Media are used for: Freebooksy – to feature/promote free books Bargainbooksy – featuring discounted books under $5 USD (But books $2.99 and below perform best) Red Feather Romance – both free and discounted/bargain books in the steamy contemporary romance category New in Books – a general promotional tool for newer release exposure rather than for discounted/bargain priced titles. (More of a FULL SERVICE promotion for authors) The importance of reviews to helping to sell a title and the importance of having some reviews on your retail listing for a book The advent of digital audiobooks and the current work that is happening to test out a "new in audiobook" style of notification How Written Word Media adds between 20,000 to 30,000 new readers to their reader pool every month (meaning writers who come back two or three months later to do an additional promotion ends up going to a larger batch of new readers) The over 12 million promotional emails that Written Word Media sent out in the month of December 2017 The critically important value of "HELP THE AUTHOR" that is at the core of Written Word Media Some of the book industry trends from the past year that Ricci is most interested in A bit about the husband/wife team aspect of managing the business as a couple How savvy authors understand that a marketing expense is made up of both dollars spent as well as time spent; and that a lot of things that look to be free might end up costing more in terms of time than originally expected Authors should ask these questions every time they go to take marketing action: What is this costing me in dollars? What is this costing me in time? What results do I think I'm going to get? (And how confident am I in those results?)   After the interview, Mark shares details from his own recent experience with booking a Freebooksy promotion for a horror title and outlines the cost and the return on his investment for the promotion. Links of Interest: Written Word Media Main Site Freebooksy Bargainbooksy Red Feather Romance New in Books Written Word Media Facebook Page Written Word Media on Twitter Contact Page for Written Word Media (you WILL hear back from a real/live person) Findaway Voices     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 007 - Picturing Creative Balance with Scott King Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 007 - Picturing Creative Balance with Scott King Fri, 16 Feb 2018 03:27:49 +0000 In the introduction Mark talks about the newly announced Book2Pod service announced by Jim Kukral on the Sell More Books Show podcast and shares two of the voices available (Nigel and Jessica) to talk about one of the things he likes best about it (freeing authors to be able to work on their next book).

    Authors interested in testing the service out can do so at https://www.book2pod.com/testdrive/

    The main content of the podcast is an interview with Scott King, writer, photographer, podcaster, overall creator.

    Scott has worked as a college professor teaching photography, digital arts, and writing related classes. He now works full time as a game photographer and author. As a board game photographer, he shoots games for websites, online stores, and for other marketing needs.

    Scott has also served as a reporter for the school newspaper and although another student was assigned the article about the movie King was determined to write it, demonstrating his willingness to break down barriers (like the ones in traditional publishing), he snuck into a press conference where Gary Marshall was meeting with local media. The next day Scott was hired and he's been working in the entrainment industry ever since, and continuing to work relentlessly at producing the many novels and non-fiction writing projects that he continues to create.

    ---------
    This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices. Findaway Voices provides all the tools that an independent author or small publisher needs in order to get into the digital audiobook market.

    Check them out at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway.

    ---------

    In the interview Mark and Scott discuss:

    • How Scott balances the various creative endeavours that he engages in which include photography, various genres of adult fiction, YA fiction and non-fiction, a board-gaming calendar, among other pursuits
    • Scott's school of thought of putting the story and the art first and not worrying about writing to market
    • The board game photography that Scott does and how he leverages that for a unique board-game calendar project, producing a single mass-produced base version, and then, based on Kickstarter support levels, unique custom calendars where backers can choose their own unique 12 images from the hundreds available
    • The joy of being a board game photographer and how, unlike a reviewer, where there will be criticism involved, Scott gets to celebrate new games by showing them off in interesting ways via the images he creates
    • Elements from the photography world that have helped inform Scott's writing, including such concepts as contrast (ie, the dark areas making the lighter areas look brighter)
    • The "problem with humans" in a photographer's life and how you really need to get a "performance" out of them for a good captured moment
    • The way that Scott structures his work day for writing, marketing, publishing and photography
    • Scott's favourite coffee shop when he lived in Houston, and how he went to try out the vibe of the neighborhood coffee shops in various towns just outside Pittsburgh to help determine where he and his wife would be moving to
    • Scott's favorite style of coffee (because coffee is a huge part of his writing life)
    • The origin behind Scott's Lovecraft-themed "Chooseable Adventure" young adult novel The Eye of Hastur
    • How the book has been enjoyed by kids (particularly young boys) who don't like to read
    • The learnings of using Kickstarter that Scott has reaped via the various projects he has run over the years
    • An interesting new board game that Scott is looking forward to playing where the playing experience changes each time the game is played
    • The steel mill industry crash and how that has affected the landscape and towns near Pittsburgh as well as the phenomenon of the "missing generation"
    • The legacy of the Primanti Brothers Pittsburgh area sandwich/burger shop and the local fascination with French Fries on almost everything
    • Scott's podcast, The Creators Cast and the reason why he started it
    • How Scott's non-fiction projects were derived from his passion for teaching and how that helps him also continue to grow as a creator
    • The multiple hats that a writer has to wear including the craft of writing, the business of writing, marketing, and how to balance all of those things

     

    After the interview, Mark reflects back on something Scott mentioned related to balancing one's spending with income and then considering that a book that was published might not earn back its investment immediate, but it keeps on earning money over time.

    Mark takes a look at the finances involved in publishing a book using a range of realistic prices and the looks at how many units are needed to sell at various price points in order to earn that investment back.

     

    Links of Interest:

    Scott King's Website

    Scott King's Podcast: The Creator's Cast

    Scott King's Books

    ]]>     In the introduction Mark talks about the newly announced Book2Pod service announced by Jim Kukral on the Sell More Books Show podcast and shares two of the voices available (Nigel and Jessica) to talk about one of the things he likes best about it (freeing authors to be able to work on their next book).

    Authors interested in testing the service out can do so at https://www.book2pod.com/testdrive/

    The main content of the podcast is an interview with Scott King, writer, photographer, podcaster, overall creator.

    Scott has worked as a college professor teaching photography, digital arts, and writing related classes. He now works full time as a game photographer and author. As a board game photographer, he shoots games for websites, online stores, and for other marketing needs.

    Scott has also served as a reporter for the school newspaper and although another student was assigned the article about the movie King was determined to write it, demonstrating his willingness to break down barriers (like the ones in traditional publishing), he snuck into a press conference where Gary Marshall was meeting with local media. The next day Scott was hired and he's been working in the entrainment industry ever since, and continuing to work relentlessly at producing the many novels and non-fiction writing projects that he continues to create.

    --------- This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices. Findaway Voices provides all the tools that an independent author or small publisher needs in order to get into the digital audiobook market.

    Check them out at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway.

    ---------

    In the interview Mark and Scott discuss:

    • How Scott balances the various creative endeavours that he engages in which include photography, various genres of adult fiction, YA fiction and non-fiction, a board-gaming calendar, among other pursuits
    • Scott's school of thought of putting the story and the art first and not worrying about writing to market
    • The board game photography that Scott does and how he leverages that for a unique board-game calendar project, producing a single mass-produced base version, and then, based on Kickstarter support levels, unique custom calendars where backers can choose their own unique 12 images from the hundreds available
    • The joy of being a board game photographer and how, unlike a reviewer, where there will be criticism involved, Scott gets to celebrate new games by showing them off in interesting ways via the images he creates
    • Elements from the photography world that have helped inform Scott's writing, including such concepts as contrast (ie, the dark areas making the lighter areas look brighter)
    • The "problem with humans" in a photographer's life and how you really need to get a "performance" out of them for a good captured moment
    • The way that Scott structures his work day for writing, marketing, publishing and photography
    • Scott's favourite coffee shop when he lived in Houston, and how he went to try out the vibe of the neighborhood coffee shops in various towns just outside Pittsburgh to help determine where he and his wife would be moving to
    • Scott's favorite style of coffee (because coffee is a huge part of his writing life)
    • The origin behind Scott's Lovecraft-themed "Chooseable Adventure" young adult novel The Eye of Hastur
    • How the book has been enjoyed by kids (particularly young boys) who don't like to read
    • The learnings of using Kickstarter that Scott has reaped via the various projects he has run over the years
    • An interesting new board game that Scott is looking forward to playing where the playing experience changes each time the game is played
    • The steel mill industry crash and how that has affected the landscape and towns near Pittsburgh as well as the phenomenon of the "missing generation"
    • The legacy of the Primanti Brothers Pittsburgh area sandwich/burger shop and the local fascination with French Fries on almost everything
    • Scott's podcast, The Creators Cast and the reason why he started it
    • How Scott's non-fiction projects were derived from his passion for teaching and how that helps him also continue to grow as a creator
    • The multiple hats that a writer has to wear including the craft of writing, the business of writing, marketing, and how to balance all of those things

    After the interview, Mark reflects back on something Scott mentioned related to balancing one's spending with income and then considering that a book that was published might not earn back its investment immediate, but it keeps on earning money over time.

    Mark takes a look at the finances involved in publishing a book using a range of realistic prices and the looks at how many units are needed to sell at various price points in order to earn that investment back.

    Links of Interest:

    Scott King's Website

    Scott King's Podcast: The Creator's Cast

    Scott King's Books

    ]]>     38:10 false 1 7 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In the introduction Mark talks about the newly announced Book2Pod service announced by Jim Kukral on the Sell More Books Show podcast and shares two of the voices available (Nigel and Jessica) to talk about one of the things he likes best about it (freeing authors to be able to work on their next book). Authors interested in testing the service out can do so at https://www.book2pod.com/testdrive/ The main content of the podcast is an interview with Scott King, writer, photographer, podcaster, overall creator. Scott has worked as a college professor teaching photography, digital arts, and writing related classes. He now works full time as a game photographer and author. As a board game photographer, he shoots games for websites, online stores, and for other marketing needs. Scott has also served as a reporter for the school newspaper and although another student was assigned the article about the movie King was determined to write it, demonstrating his willingness to break down barriers (like the ones in traditional publishing), he snuck into a press conference where Gary Marshall was meeting with local media. The next day Scott was hired and he's been working in the entrainment industry ever since, and continuing to work relentlessly at producing the many novels and non-fiction writing projects that he continues to create. --------- This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices. Findaway Voices provides all the tools that an independent author or small publisher needs in order to get into the digital audiobook market. Check them out at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway. --------- In the interview Mark and Scott discuss: How Scott balances the various creative endeavours that he engages in which include photography, various genres of adult fiction, YA fiction and non-fiction, a board-gaming calendar, among other pursuits Scott's school of thought of putting the story and the art first and not worrying about writing to market The board game photography that Scott does and how he leverages that for a unique board-game calendar project, producing a single mass-produced base version, and then, based on Kickstarter support levels, unique custom calendars where backers can choose their own unique 12 images from the hundreds available The joy of being a board game photographer and how, unlike a reviewer, where there will be criticism involved, Scott gets to celebrate new games by showing them off in interesting ways via the images he creates Elements from the photography world that have helped inform Scott's writing, including such concepts as contrast (ie, the dark areas making the lighter areas look brighter) The "problem with humans" in a photographer's life and how you really need to get a "performance" out of them for a good captured moment The way that Scott structures his work day for writing, marketing, publishing and photography Scott's favourite coffee shop when he lived in Houston, and how he went to try out the vibe of the neighborhood coffee shops in various towns just outside Pittsburgh to help determine where he and his wife would be moving to Scott's favorite style of coffee (because coffee is a huge part of his writing life) The origin behind Scott's Lovecraft-themed "Chooseable Adventure" young adult novel The Eye of Hastur How the book has been enjoyed by kids (particularly young boys) who don't like to read The learnings of using Kickstarter that Scott has reaped via the various projects he has run over the years An interesting new board game that Scott is looking forward to playing where the playing experience changes each time the game is played The steel mill industry crash and how that has affected the landscape and towns near Pittsburgh as well as the phenomenon of the "missing generation" The legacy of the Primanti Brothers Pittsburgh area sandwich/burger shop and the local fascination with French Fries on almost everything Scott's podcast, The Creators Cast and the reason why he started it How Scott's non-fiction projects were derived from his passion for teaching and how that helps him also continue to grow as a creator The multiple hats that a writer has to wear including the craft of writing, the business of writing, marketing, and how to balance all of those things   After the interview, Mark reflects back on something Scott mentioned related to balancing one's spending with income and then considering that a book that was published might not earn back its investment immediate, but it keeps on earning money over time. Mark takes a look at the finances involved in publishing a book using a range of realistic prices and the looks at how many units are needed to sell at various price points in order to earn that investment back.   Links of Interest: Scott King's Website Scott King's Podcast: The Creator's Cast Scott King's BooksMark Leslie LefebvreIn the introduction Mark talks about the newly announced Book2Pod service announced by Jim Kukral on the Sell More Books Show podcast and shares two of the voices available (Nigel and Jessica) to talk about one of the things he likes best about it (freeing authors to be able to work on their next book). Authors interested in testing the service out can do so at https://www.book2pod.com/testdrive/ The main content of the podcast is an interview with Scott King, writer, photographer, podcaster, overall creator. Scott has worked as a college professor teaching photography, digital arts, and writing related classes. He now works full time as a game photographer and author. As a board game photographer, he shoots games for websites, online stores, and for other marketing needs. Scott has also served as a reporter for the school newspaper and although another student was assigned the article about the movie King was determined to write it, demonstrating his willingness to break down barriers (like the ones in traditional publishing), he snuck into a press conference where Gary Marshall was meeting with local media. The next day Scott was hired and he's been working in the entrainment industry ever since, and continuing to work relentlessly at producing the many novels and non-fiction writing projects that he continues to create. --------- This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices. Findaway Voices provides all the tools that an independent author or small publisher needs in order to get into the digital audiobook market. Check them out at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway. --------- In the interview Mark and Scott discuss: How Scott balances the various creative endeavours that he engages in which include photography, various genres of adult fiction, YA fiction and non-fiction, a board-gaming calendar, among other pursuits Scott's school of thought of putting the story and the art first and not worrying about writing to market The board game photography that Scott does and how he leverages that for a unique board-game calendar project, producing a single mass-produced base version, and then, based on Kickstarter support levels, unique custom calendars where backers can choose their own unique 12 images from the hundreds available The joy of being a board game photographer and how, unlike a reviewer, where there will be criticism involved, Scott gets to celebrate new games by showing them off in interesting ways via the images he creates Elements from the photography world that have helped inform Scott's writing, including such concepts as contrast (ie, the dark areas making the lighter areas look brighter) The "problem with humans" in a photographer's life and how you really need to get a "performance" out of them for a good captured moment The way that Scott structures his work day for writing, marketing, publishing and photography Scott's favourite coffee shop when he lived in Houston, and how he went to try out the vibe of the neighborhood coffee shops in various towns just outside Pittsburgh to help determine where he and his wife would be moving to Scott's favorite style of coffee (because coffee is a huge part of his writing life) The origin behind Scott's Lovecraft-themed "Chooseable Adventure" young adult novel The Eye of Hastur How the book has been enjoyed by kids (particularly young boys) who don't like to read The learnings of using Kickstarter that Scott has reaped via the various projects he has run over the years An interesting new board game that Scott is looking forward to playing where the playing experience changes each time the game is played The steel mill industry crash and how that has affected the landscape and towns near Pittsburgh as well as the phenomenon of the "missing generation" The legacy of the Primanti Brothers Pittsburgh area sandwich/burger shop and the local fascination with French Fries on almost everything Scott's podcast, The Creators Cast and the reason why he started it How Scott's non-fiction projects were derived from his passion for teaching and how that helps him also continue to grow as a creator The multiple hats that a writer has to wear including the craft of writing, the business of writing, marketing, and how to balance all of those things   After the interview, Mark reflects back on something Scott mentioned related to balancing one's spending with income and then considering that a book that was published might not earn back its investment immediate, but it keeps on earning money over time. Mark takes a look at the finances involved in publishing a book using a range of realistic prices and the looks at how many units are needed to sell at various price points in order to earn that investment back.   Links of Interest: Scott King's Website Scott King's Podcast: The Creator's Cast Scott King's Books     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 006 - What's Wrong With Indie Publishing? Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 006 - What's Wrong With Indie Publishing? Fri, 09 Feb 2018 12:02:12 +0000 Today's episode is a little bit different. It's a solo one, rather than an interview. But this week I wanted to do a solid reflection, or perhaps even a rant, on something I've been thinking about a lot, especially in the last few weeks.

    This episode is entitled "What's Wrong With Indie Publishing" or rather, "3 Things I Worry About And That I Think Could Improve Indie Publishing"

    I went with the first title because it's a bit shorter and has a more active tense to it.

    ---------
    This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices. Findaway Voices provides all the tools that an independent author or small publisher needs in order to get into the digital audiobook market.

    Check them out at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway.

    ---------

    The title of this episode is WHAT'S WRONG WITH INDIE PUBLISHING. But the purpose isn't to slam, it's to support and help self-publishing, indie publishing and all the amazing opportunities that come out of the evolution of publishing in all its aspects.

    I love self-publishing, and actually started in this space back in 2004 with a POD collection of short stories called ONE HAND SCREAMING. That experience opened up my eyes to the possibilities that occurred when you didn't have to wait for the gatekeepers of traditional publishing.

    ISSUE ONE: POWER Versus RESPONSIBILITY.

    Digital publishing has removed the gatekeepers of traditional publishing. You don't need approval from someone sitting behind a mahogany desk in New York to say you are good enough to be published. You can create a free account at Amazon, at Kobo, at Apple, at Nook, or at Smashwords or Draft2Digital or one of a dozen other great aggregators who'll distribute your book, and you'll have your ebook live in anywhere between 3 to 48 hours.

    But, to paraphrase a quote from Jeff Goldblum's character in the original Jurasic Park move, "You were so busy wondering if you could that you didn't stop to think if you should."

    We have given writers the ability to push the buttons, to publish direct; this amazing power. But we haven't given them all the support, all the information, all the elements to help them make intelligent and informed decisions.

    The only players that seem to invest heavily in attracting newbees are the sharks, the predators, the "Author Solutions" style companies out there whose business model isn't to make money selling books, it's making money off of the hopes and dreams of authors; by selling them snake oil, selling them un-necessary marketing packages, etc.

    That's why conferences that fous on helping provide writers with a well balanced perspective of traditional publishing and digital publishing, including self and indie publishing are a gold mine.

    But you don't need to attend an expensive conference. There is so much information available for free. Is it possible that so much of the amazing free information is being ignored the same way that people tend to put little stock in something that they have acquired without a cost?

    If you paid, even a little, for that advice, would it be worth more to you? Would you weigh it more carefully? Consider this: the time you spend reading and listening to free information DOES cost you. It costs you time; an investment of your time that you could have spent writing. Remember that cost, consider that cost, and carefully consider all the free advice and information that can help you wield that power with great responsibility.

    ISSUE TWO: THE "MAINSTREAM" OF INDIE PUBLISHING

    Have you ever watched a group of 5-year-olds play soccer?

    They're all just chasing after the ball. The ball goes left, the entire mob follows it left. The ball goes up-field, the entire mob scrambles to chase it.

    One person takes the ball and is making their way down the field and the entire rest of the field of players chase madly after them, a chaotic scrambling. Nobody is playing their own position, nobody is leveraging their own skills and spots and overall strategies. They're just madly bouncing around the field mindlessly chasing the ball.

    But here's the reality. There isn't a single ball. Yes, you can and should learn from others, you should pay attention to the great experiments that others are doing, but you need to know where your own ball is going, where it's going to be, and you need to work towards that.

    Brandon Sanderson gives a talk where he shares a joke about the publishing industry. He says that the minute a new author finds a way to break a hole in the gate that prevents new successful authors from "arriving" the industry madly scrambles to go patch that hole so that nobody else can get in that way.

    It's cute and funny, but it's sort of true. And it's true in the indie author community. There's no point looking for the holes that other people made and slipped through. Those holes might be closed, either by the saturation of everyone else trying to squeeze through those holes, or those holes just naturally close up due to changes in to atmosphere.

    You need to focus on your own unique path, find your own unique niche, your own unique holes; keep poking, keep working, focus on your strengths, focus on your long term goals - you'd be surprised how much luck happens to those who work tirelessly in pursuit of their own unique path and vision.

    ISSUE 3: EXCLUSIVITY

    So much of what is possible in self-publishing today is possibly because of the launch of the Kindle and specifically the amazing free tools that Amazon created in Kindle Direct Publishing.

    It's ironic, then that Amazon is the company that continually forces authors into one of the largest ongoing debates in the indie author community - known as "GOING WIDE OR BEING EXCLUSIVE."

    In some spaces, the divisiveness between GOING WIDE and BEING EXCLUSIVE can get as passionate and as vicious as the Left Wing and Right Wing Division that the United States has been living in the shadow of for the past couple of years.

    I know there are plenty of authors who are making a killing publishing direct to Amazon and being exclusive to Amazon using the SELECT option within KDP. And I'm glad that those authors are making great money, many of them are bringing in 5 figure incomes every single month, are easily hitting 6 and 7 figure incomes every year.

    But I would argue that if you are exclusive to a single giant corporate retailer, you can't in all honesty, call yourself an indie author. You're not an independent author. You're a corporate author. You are reliant on a single powerhouse retailer for all of your income.

    I'm not going to go about fear mongering and speculate on what might happen if Amazon disappears or they without warning, change the rules.

    I'm happy for those who are making a real living off of writing due to being exclusive to Amazon. If you are reaching your personal goals for writing; if you're making an awesome income being exclusive to Amazon; that's great. I hold nothing against you - other than your use of the term "indie" or "independent" author. I would argue that you can't truly call yourself that. Perhaps there should be a term for it.

    If not "Corporate author" or "Author whose income is 100% dependent on a single company and whatever whims it chooses" then perhaps just be honest and call yourself an "Amazon author."

    I say it jokingly, but part of me is serious, part of me just wonders.

    And I don't really have a solution to this, because I truly believe that every single author has to make decisions and follow paths that are right for them. Let's just not use an incorrect term to describe or define ourselves, shall we?

    Links of Interest:

    Findaway Voices (Sponsor)

    Superstars Writing Seminars

    ------

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Today's episode is a little bit different. It's a solo one, rather than an interview. But this week I wanted to do a solid reflection, or perhaps even a rant, on something I've been thinking about a lot, especially in the last few weeks.

    This episode is entitled "What's Wrong With Indie Publishing" or rather, "3 Things I Worry About And That I Think Could Improve Indie Publishing"

    I went with the first title because it's a bit shorter and has a more active tense to it.

    --------- This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices. Findaway Voices provides all the tools that an independent author or small publisher needs in order to get into the digital audiobook market.

    Check them out at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway.

    ---------

    The title of this episode is WHAT'S WRONG WITH INDIE PUBLISHING. But the purpose isn't to slam, it's to support and help self-publishing, indie publishing and all the amazing opportunities that come out of the evolution of publishing in all its aspects.

    I love self-publishing, and actually started in this space back in 2004 with a POD collection of short stories called ONE HAND SCREAMING. That experience opened up my eyes to the possibilities that occurred when you didn't have to wait for the gatekeepers of traditional publishing.

    ISSUE ONE: POWER Versus RESPONSIBILITY.

    Digital publishing has removed the gatekeepers of traditional publishing. You don't need approval from someone sitting behind a mahogany desk in New York to say you are good enough to be published. You can create a free account at Amazon, at Kobo, at Apple, at Nook, or at Smashwords or Draft2Digital or one of a dozen other great aggregators who'll distribute your book, and you'll have your ebook live in anywhere between 3 to 48 hours.

    But, to paraphrase a quote from Jeff Goldblum's character in the original Jurasic Park move, "You were so busy wondering if you could that you didn't stop to think if you should."

    We have given writers the ability to push the buttons, to publish direct; this amazing power. But we haven't given them all the support, all the information, all the elements to help them make intelligent and informed decisions.

    The only players that seem to invest heavily in attracting newbees are the sharks, the predators, the "Author Solutions" style companies out there whose business model isn't to make money selling books, it's making money off of the hopes and dreams of authors; by selling them snake oil, selling them un-necessary marketing packages, etc.

    That's why conferences that fous on helping provide writers with a well balanced perspective of traditional publishing and digital publishing, including self and indie publishing are a gold mine.

    But you don't need to attend an expensive conference. There is so much information available for free. Is it possible that so much of the amazing free information is being ignored the same way that people tend to put little stock in something that they have acquired without a cost?

    If you paid, even a little, for that advice, would it be worth more to you? Would you weigh it more carefully? Consider this: the time you spend reading and listening to free information DOES cost you. It costs you time; an investment of your time that you could have spent writing. Remember that cost, consider that cost, and carefully consider all the free advice and information that can help you wield that power with great responsibility.

    ISSUE TWO: THE "MAINSTREAM" OF INDIE PUBLISHING

    Have you ever watched a group of 5-year-olds play soccer?

    They're all just chasing after the ball. The ball goes left, the entire mob follows it left. The ball goes up-field, the entire mob scrambles to chase it.

    One person takes the ball and is making their way down the field and the entire rest of the field of players chase madly after them, a chaotic scrambling. Nobody is playing their own position, nobody is leveraging their own skills and spots and overall strategies. They're just madly bouncing around the field mindlessly chasing the ball.

    But here's the reality. There isn't a single ball. Yes, you can and should learn from others, you should pay attention to the great experiments that others are doing, but you need to know where your own ball is going, where it's going to be, and you need to work towards that.

    Brandon Sanderson gives a talk where he shares a joke about the publishing industry. He says that the minute a new author finds a way to break a hole in the gate that prevents new successful authors from "arriving" the industry madly scrambles to go patch that hole so that nobody else can get in that way.

    It's cute and funny, but it's sort of true. And it's true in the indie author community. There's no point looking for the holes that other people made and slipped through. Those holes might be closed, either by the saturation of everyone else trying to squeeze through those holes, or those holes just naturally close up due to changes in to atmosphere.

    You need to focus on your own unique path, find your own unique niche, your own unique holes; keep poking, keep working, focus on your strengths, focus on your long term goals - you'd be surprised how much luck happens to those who work tirelessly in pursuit of their own unique path and vision.

    ISSUE 3: EXCLUSIVITY

    So much of what is possible in self-publishing today is possibly because of the launch of the Kindle and specifically the amazing free tools that Amazon created in Kindle Direct Publishing.

    It's ironic, then that Amazon is the company that continually forces authors into one of the largest ongoing debates in the indie author community - known as "GOING WIDE OR BEING EXCLUSIVE."

    In some spaces, the divisiveness between GOING WIDE and BEING EXCLUSIVE can get as passionate and as vicious as the Left Wing and Right Wing Division that the United States has been living in the shadow of for the past couple of years.

    I know there are plenty of authors who are making a killing publishing direct to Amazon and being exclusive to Amazon using the SELECT option within KDP. And I'm glad that those authors are making great money, many of them are bringing in 5 figure incomes every single month, are easily hitting 6 and 7 figure incomes every year.

    But I would argue that if you are exclusive to a single giant corporate retailer, you can't in all honesty, call yourself an indie author. You're not an independent author. You're a corporate author. You are reliant on a single powerhouse retailer for all of your income.

    I'm not going to go about fear mongering and speculate on what might happen if Amazon disappears or they without warning, change the rules.

    I'm happy for those who are making a real living off of writing due to being exclusive to Amazon. If you are reaching your personal goals for writing; if you're making an awesome income being exclusive to Amazon; that's great. I hold nothing against you - other than your use of the term "indie" or "independent" author. I would argue that you can't truly call yourself that. Perhaps there should be a term for it.

    If not "Corporate author" or "Author whose income is 100% dependent on a single company and whatever whims it chooses" then perhaps just be honest and call yourself an "Amazon author."

    I say it jokingly, but part of me is serious, part of me just wonders.

    And I don't really have a solution to this, because I truly believe that every single author has to make decisions and follow paths that are right for them. Let's just not use an incorrect term to describe or define ourselves, shall we?

    Links of Interest:

    Findaway Voices (Sponsor)

    Superstars Writing Seminars

    ------

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     25:43 false 1 6 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Today's episode is a little bit different. It's a solo one, rather than an interview. But this week I wanted to do a solid reflection, or perhaps even a rant, on something I've been thinking about a lot, especially in the last few weeks. This episode is entitled "What's Wrong With Indie Publishing" or rather, "3 Things I Worry About And That I Think Could Improve Indie Publishing" I went with the first title because it's a bit shorter and has a more active tense to it. --------- This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices. Findaway Voices provides all the tools that an independent author or small publisher needs in order to get into the digital audiobook market. Check them out at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway. --------- The title of this episode is WHAT'S WRONG WITH INDIE PUBLISHING. But the purpose isn't to slam, it's to support and help self-publishing, indie publishing and all the amazing opportunities that come out of the evolution of publishing in all its aspects. I love self-publishing, and actually started in this space back in 2004 with a POD collection of short stories called ONE HAND SCREAMING. That experience opened up my eyes to the possibilities that occurred when you didn't have to wait for the gatekeepers of traditional publishing. ISSUE ONE: POWER Versus RESPONSIBILITY. Digital publishing has removed the gatekeepers of traditional publishing. You don't need approval from someone sitting behind a mahogany desk in New York to say you are good enough to be published. You can create a free account at Amazon, at Kobo, at Apple, at Nook, or at Smashwords or Draft2Digital or one of a dozen other great aggregators who'll distribute your book, and you'll have your ebook live in anywhere between 3 to 48 hours. But, to paraphrase a quote from Jeff Goldblum's character in the original Jurasic Park move, "You were so busy wondering if you could that you didn't stop to think if you should." We have given writers the ability to push the buttons, to publish direct; this amazing power. But we haven't given them all the support, all the information, all the elements to help them make intelligent and informed decisions. The only players that seem to invest heavily in attracting newbees are the sharks, the predators, the "Author Solutions" style companies out there whose business model isn't to make money selling books, it's making money off of the hopes and dreams of authors; by selling them snake oil, selling them un-necessary marketing packages, etc. That's why conferences that fous on helping provide writers with a well balanced perspective of traditional publishing and digital publishing, including self and indie publishing are a gold mine. But you don't need to attend an expensive conference. There is so much information available for free. Is it possible that so much of the amazing free information is being ignored the same way that people tend to put little stock in something that they have acquired without a cost? If you paid, even a little, for that advice, would it be worth more to you? Would you weigh it more carefully? Consider this: the time you spend reading and listening to free information DOES cost you. It costs you time; an investment of your time that you could have spent writing. Remember that cost, consider that cost, and carefully consider all the free advice and information that can help you wield that power with great responsibility. ISSUE TWO: THE "MAINSTREAM" OF INDIE PUBLISHING Have you ever watched a group of 5-year-olds play soccer? They're all just chasing after the ball. The ball goes left, the entire mob follows it left. The ball goes up-field, the entire mob scrambles to chase it. One person takes the ball and is making their way down the field and the entire rest of the field of players chase madly after them, a chaotic scrambling. Nobody is playing their own position, nobody is leveraging their own skills and spots and overall strategies. They're just madly bouncing around the field mindlessly chasing the ball. But here's the reality. There isn't a single ball. Yes, you can and should learn from others, you should pay attention to the great experiments that others are doing, but you need to know where your own ball is going, where it's going to be, and you need to work towards that. Brandon Sanderson gives a talk where he shares a joke about the publishing industry. He says that the minute a new author finds a way to break a hole in the gate that prevents new successful authors from "arriving" the industry madly scrambles to go patch that hole so that nobody else can get in that way. It's cute and funny, but it's sort of true. And it's true in the indie author community. There's no point looking for the holes that other people made and slipped through. Those holes might be closed, either by the saturation of everyone else trying to squeeze through those holes, or those holes just naturally close up due to changes in to atmosphere. You need to focus on your own unique path, find your own unique niche, your own unique holes; keep poking, keep working, focus on your strengths, focus on your long term goals - you'd be surprised how much luck happens to those who work tirelessly in pursuit of their own unique path and vision. ISSUE 3: EXCLUSIVITY So much of what is possible in self-publishing today is possibly because of the launch of the Kindle and specifically the amazing free tools that Amazon created in Kindle Direct Publishing. It's ironic, then that Amazon is the company that continually forces authors into one of the largest ongoing debates in the indie author community - known as "GOING WIDE OR BEING EXCLUSIVE." In some spaces, the divisiveness between GOING WIDE and BEING EXCLUSIVE can get as passionate and as vicious as the Left Wing and Right Wing Division that the United States has been living in the shadow of for the past couple of years. I know there are plenty of authors who are making a killing publishing direct to Amazon and being exclusive to Amazon using the SELECT option within KDP. And I'm glad that those authors are making great money, many of them are bringing in 5 figure incomes every single month, are easily hitting 6 and 7 figure incomes every year. But I would argue that if you are exclusive to a single giant corporate retailer, you can't in all honesty, call yourself an indie author. You're not an independent author. You're a corporate author. You are reliant on a single powerhouse retailer for all of your income. I'm not going to go about fear mongering and speculate on what might happen if Amazon disappears or they without warning, change the rules. I'm happy for those who are making a real living off of writing due to being exclusive to Amazon. If you are reaching your personal goals for writing; if you're making an awesome income being exclusive to Amazon; that's great. I hold nothing against you - other than your use of the term "indie" or "independent" author. I would argue that you can't truly call yourself that. Perhaps there should be a term for it. If not "Corporate author" or "Author whose income is 100% dependent on a single company and whatever whims it chooses" then perhaps just be honest and call yourself an "Amazon author." I say it jokingly, but part of me is serious, part of me just wonders. And I don't really have a solution to this, because I truly believe that every single author has to make decisions and follow paths that are right for them. Let's just not use an incorrect term to describe or define ourselves, shall we? Links of Interest: Findaway Voices (Sponsor) Superstars Writing Seminars ------ The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark Leslie LefebvreToday's episode is a little bit different. It's a solo one, rather than an interview. But this week I wanted to do a solid reflection, or perhaps even a rant, on something I've been thinking about a lot, especially in the last few weeks. This episode is entitled "What's Wrong With Indie Publishing" or rather, "3 Things I Worry About And That I Think Could Improve Indie Publishing" I went with the first title because it's a bit shorter and has a more active tense to it. --------- This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices. Findaway Voices provides all the tools that an independent author or small publisher needs in order to get into the digital audiobook market. Check them out at www.starkreflections.ca/findaway. --------- The title of this episode is WHAT'S WRONG WITH INDIE PUBLISHING. But the purpose isn't to slam, it's to support and help self-publishing, indie publishing and all the amazing opportunities that come out of the evolution of publishing in all its aspects. I love self-publishing, and actually started in this space back in 2004 with a POD collection of short stories called ONE HAND SCREAMING. That experience opened up my eyes to the possibilities that occurred when you didn't have to wait for the gatekeepers of traditional publishing. ISSUE ONE: POWER Versus RESPONSIBILITY. Digital publishing has removed the gatekeepers of traditional publishing. You don't need approval from someone sitting behind a mahogany desk in New York to say you are good enough to be published. You can create a free account at Amazon, at Kobo, at Apple, at Nook, or at Smashwords or Draft2Digital or one of a dozen other great aggregators who'll distribute your book, and you'll have your ebook live in anywhere between 3 to 48 hours. But, to paraphrase a quote from Jeff Goldblum's character in the original Jurasic Park move, "You were so busy wondering if you could that you didn't stop to think if you should." We have given writers the ability to push the buttons, to publish direct; this amazing power. But we haven't given them all the support, all the information, all the elements to help them make intelligent and informed decisions. The only players that seem to invest heavily in attracting newbees are the sharks, the predators, the "Author Solutions" style companies out there whose business model isn't to make money selling books, it's making money off of the hopes and dreams of authors; by selling them snake oil, selling them un-necessary marketing packages, etc. That's why conferences that fous on helping provide writers with a well balanced perspective of traditional publishing and digital publishing, including self and indie publishing are a gold mine. But you don't need to attend an expensive conference. There is so much information available for free. Is it possible that so much of the amazing free information is being ignored the same way that people tend to put little stock in something that they have acquired without a cost? If you paid, even a little, for that advice, would it be worth more to you? Would you weigh it more carefully? Consider this: the time you spend reading and listening to free information DOES cost you. It costs you time; an investment of your time that you could have spent writing. Remember that cost, consider that cost, and carefully consider all the free advice and information that can help you wield that power with great responsibility. ISSUE TWO: THE "MAINSTREAM" OF INDIE PUBLISHING Have you ever watched a group of 5-year-olds play soccer? They're all just chasing after the ball. The ball goes left, the entire mob follows it left. The ball goes up-field, the entire mob scrambles to chase it. One person takes the ball and is making their way down the field and the entire rest of the field of players chase madly after them, a chaotic scrambling. Nobody is playing their own position, nobody is leveraging their own skills and spots and overall strategies. They're just madly bouncing around the field mindlessly chasing the ball. But here's the reality. There isn't a single ball. Yes, you can and should learn from others, you should pay attention to the great experiments that others are doing, but you need to know where your own ball is going, where it's going to be, and you need to work towards that. Brandon Sanderson gives a talk where he shares a joke about the publishing industry. He says that the minute a new author finds a way to break a hole in the gate that prevents new successful authors from "arriving" the industry madly scrambles to go patch that hole so that nobody else can get in that way. It's cute and funny, but it's sort of true. And it's true in the indie author community. There's no point looking for the holes that other people made and slipped through. Those holes might be closed, either by the saturation of everyone else trying to squeeze through those holes, or those holes just naturally close up due to changes in to atmosphere. You need to focus on your own unique path, find your own unique niche, your own unique holes; keep poking, keep working, focus on your strengths, focus on your long term goals - you'd be surprised how much luck happens to those who work tirelessly in pursuit of their own unique path and vision. ISSUE 3: EXCLUSIVITY So much of what is possible in self-publishing today is possibly because of the launch of the Kindle and specifically the amazing free tools that Amazon created in Kindle Direct Publishing. It's ironic, then that Amazon is the company that continually forces authors into one of the largest ongoing debates in the indie author community - known as "GOING WIDE OR BEING EXCLUSIVE." In some spaces, the divisiveness between GOING WIDE and BEING EXCLUSIVE can get as passionate and as vicious as the Left Wing and Right Wing Division that the United States has been living in the shadow of for the past couple of years. I know there are plenty of authors who are making a killing publishing direct to Amazon and being exclusive to Amazon using the SELECT option within KDP. And I'm glad that those authors are making great money, many of them are bringing in 5 figure incomes every single month, are easily hitting 6 and 7 figure incomes every year. But I would argue that if you are exclusive to a single giant corporate retailer, you can't in all honesty, call yourself an indie author. You're not an independent author. You're a corporate author. You are reliant on a single powerhouse retailer for all of your income. I'm not going to go about fear mongering and speculate on what might happen if Amazon disappears or they without warning, change the rules. I'm happy for those who are making a real living off of writing due to being exclusive to Amazon. If you are reaching your personal goals for writing; if you're making an awesome income being exclusive to Amazon; that's great. I hold nothing against you - other than your use of the term "indie" or "independent" author. I would argue that you can't truly call yourself that. Perhaps there should be a term for it. If not "Corporate author" or "Author whose income is 100% dependent on a single company and whatever whims it chooses" then perhaps just be honest and call yourself an "Amazon author." I say it jokingly, but part of me is serious, part of me just wonders. And I don't really have a solution to this, because I truly believe that every single author has to make decisions and follow paths that are right for them. Let's just not use an incorrect term to describe or define ourselves, shall we? Links of Interest: Findaway Voices (Sponsor) Superstars Writing Seminars ------ The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 005 - Global Audiobook Opportunities for Authors with Kelly Lytle from Findaway Voices Global Audiobook Opportunities for Authors with Kelly Lytle from Findaway Voices Thu, 01 Feb 2018 18:44:29 +0000 In the introduction, Mark talks a little about being in Colorado attending Superstars Writing Seminars in Colorado Springs, CO and the importance of understanding the business of writing and publishing. He shares that he will be doing Facebook Live videos of his experience at Superstars on his Stark Publishing Facebook page.

    This episode features an interview with Kelly Lytle from Findaway Voices. In their conversation, Mark and Kelly talk about:

    • How Findaway Voices is a single service built to help independent authors and small publishers create and distribute their audiobooks, and that they are a fully non-exclusive platform to the largest network of audio sellers in the world (retailer, library and K through 12 markets)
    • The pay per use model that Bibliotheca (3M) has. Meaning the library doesn't need to pre-purchase the audiobook in advance. It is listed (like on any major retailer), and the purchase doesn't happen until the library patron checks out that title
    • The background to Findaway Voices as part of the larger Findaway family.
      • Their "flagship" product, for example, was the Playaway Device, a single title pre-loaded audiobook player that is about the size of a deck of cards, with built in play and pause buttons. These devices have been hugely popular with the library market (as an easy to merchandise and easy to use for patrons who weren't savvy about digital check-outs or even using CD audiobooks) and the military
      • Pre-loaded tablets called "LaunchPad" that are also in the library markets
      • The platform called Audio Engine. The world's largest business-to-business audiobook service
    • Kelly's own background as a passionate reader with a thirst for storytelling. Even though he worked on Wall Street and in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns, his compass kept pointing back to that original passion and joining Findaway a little more than four years ago
    • To Dad, From Kelly, the memoir Kelly wrote about his relationship to his late father who passed away in 2010.
    • Kelly's experience going to TuneIn's studio in Santa Monica, California to record the audiobook himself
    • How Findaway works with authors and as well as the sign-up and vetting process they use for narrators.
    • Mark's very positive experience getting his short story collection Active Reader produced by Findaway Voices and how pleased he was with Eric Moore's recording. Which leads to the question of how a writer might be able to request to work with the same narrator again for a future project, or a narrator that they have already chosen (even if that narrator isn't already part of the Findaway Voices talent pool community)
    • How to use Findaway Voices to upload an audiobook that you already have produced in order to leverage their distribution channels
    • The price control that the author/publisher has on their audiobook (which is a critical differentiation of the way that Amazon's ACX sets the price and doesn't allow that control to the copyright owner)
    • The urgent quest for Audiobook promotion platforms to provide a "BookBub" or "Bargainbooksy" style service, and the existing awesome audio review sites, such as BookRiot or AudioFile
    • How they are seeing authors make hundreds of dollars through the aforementioned library "pay per use" model, which is a huge opportunity, as well as through sites most authors might not be paying much attention to, including Playster.
    • A recommendation for authors to also make sure that the narrator, and not just the author gets the free Audible download codes to help promote the book.
    • The partnership that Findaway Voices has with Draft2Digital.com that allows an author to easily port their ebook's metadata over to set up an audiobook at Findaway. Also, Kelly's respect for the "author-first" approach to authors that Draft2Digital employs in everything they do
    • The notion of format-agnostic consumption of stories and the growth this means for authors

     

    After the interview, Mark talks about the importance of publishing wide and shares his own experience with earning revenue from Findaway Voices via sales channels that weren't even on his radar. His belief was that he would make most of his money from the audiobook sales via Audible, the Amazon-owned largest retail site for audiobooks, but the reality was, the majority of his earnings came from several other sales channels. He talks about the recent progress from Apple, Google and Kobo in the past week as an example of "you never know, so it's best to be available everywhere."

    He then shares a second reflection on how the investment related to the creation of an audiobook file is an important reminder to authors of focusing on the long-term, on looking at the various investments they make, not just in money, but in time, and in education.

     

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     In the introduction, Mark talks a little about being in Colorado attending Superstars Writing Seminars in Colorado Springs, CO and the importance of understanding the business of writing and publishing. He shares that he will be doing Facebook Live videos of his experience at Superstars on his Stark Publishing Facebook page.

    This episode features an interview with Kelly Lytle from Findaway Voices. In their conversation, Mark and Kelly talk about:

    • How Findaway Voices is a single service built to help independent authors and small publishers create and distribute their audiobooks, and that they are a fully non-exclusive platform to the largest network of audio sellers in the world (retailer, library and K through 12 markets)
    • The pay per use model that Bibliotheca (3M) has. Meaning the library doesn't need to pre-purchase the audiobook in advance. It is listed (like on any major retailer), and the purchase doesn't happen until the library patron checks out that title
    • The background to Findaway Voices as part of the larger Findaway family.
      • Their "flagship" product, for example, was the Playaway Device, a single title pre-loaded audiobook player that is about the size of a deck of cards, with built in play and pause buttons. These devices have been hugely popular with the library market (as an easy to merchandise and easy to use for patrons who weren't savvy about digital check-outs or even using CD audiobooks) and the military
      • Pre-loaded tablets called "LaunchPad" that are also in the library markets
      • The platform called Audio Engine. The world's largest business-to-business audiobook service
    • Kelly's own background as a passionate reader with a thirst for storytelling. Even though he worked on Wall Street and in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns, his compass kept pointing back to that original passion and joining Findaway a little more than four years ago
    • To Dad, From Kelly, the memoir Kelly wrote about his relationship to his late father who passed away in 2010.
    • Kelly's experience going to TuneIn's studio in Santa Monica, California to record the audiobook himself
    • How Findaway works with authors and as well as the sign-up and vetting process they use for narrators.
    • Mark's very positive experience getting his short story collection Active Reader produced by Findaway Voices and how pleased he was with Eric Moore's recording. Which leads to the question of how a writer might be able to request to work with the same narrator again for a future project, or a narrator that they have already chosen (even if that narrator isn't already part of the Findaway Voices talent pool community)
    • How to use Findaway Voices to upload an audiobook that you already have produced in order to leverage their distribution channels
    • The price control that the author/publisher has on their audiobook (which is a critical differentiation of the way that Amazon's ACX sets the price and doesn't allow that control to the copyright owner)
    • The urgent quest for Audiobook promotion platforms to provide a "BookBub" or "Bargainbooksy" style service, and the existing awesome audio review sites, such as BookRiot or AudioFile
    • How they are seeing authors make hundreds of dollars through the aforementioned library "pay per use" model, which is a huge opportunity, as well as through sites most authors might not be paying much attention to, including Playster.
    • A recommendation for authors to also make sure that the narrator, and not just the author gets the free Audible download codes to help promote the book.
    • The partnership that Findaway Voices has with Draft2Digital.com that allows an author to easily port their ebook's metadata over to set up an audiobook at Findaway. Also, Kelly's respect for the "author-first" approach to authors that Draft2Digital employs in everything they do
    • The notion of format-agnostic consumption of stories and the growth this means for authors

    After the interview, Mark talks about the importance of publishing wide and shares his own experience with earning revenue from Findaway Voices via sales channels that weren't even on his radar. His belief was that he would make most of his money from the audiobook sales via Audible, the Amazon-owned largest retail site for audiobooks, but the reality was, the majority of his earnings came from several other sales channels. He talks about the recent progress from Apple, Google and Kobo in the past week as an example of "you never know, so it's best to be available everywhere."

    He then shares a second reflection on how the investment related to the creation of an audiobook file is an important reminder to authors of focusing on the long-term, on looking at the various investments they make, not just in money, but in time, and in education.

    Links of Interest:

    ]]>     39:54 false 1 5 full mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)In the introduction, Mark talks a little about being in Colorado attending Superstars Writing Seminars in Colorado Springs, CO and the importance of understanding the business of writing and publishing. He shares that he will be doing Facebook Live videos of his experience at Superstars on his Stark Publishing Facebook page. This episode features an interview with Kelly Lytle from Findaway Voices. In their conversation, Mark and Kelly talk about: How Findaway Voices is a single service built to help independent authors and small publishers create and distribute their audiobooks, and that they are a fully non-exclusive platform to the largest network of audio sellers in the world (retailer, library and K through 12 markets) The pay per use model that Bibliotheca (3M) has. Meaning the library doesn't need to pre-purchase the audiobook in advance. It is listed (like on any major retailer), and the purchase doesn't happen until the library patron checks out that title The background to Findaway Voices as part of the larger Findaway family. Their "flagship" product, for example, was the Playaway Device, a single title pre-loaded audiobook player that is about the size of a deck of cards, with built in play and pause buttons. These devices have been hugely popular with the library market (as an easy to merchandise and easy to use for patrons who weren't savvy about digital check-outs or even using CD audiobooks) and the military Pre-loaded tablets called "LaunchPad" that are also in the library markets The platform called Audio Engine. The world's largest business-to-business audiobook service Kelly's own background as a passionate reader with a thirst for storytelling. Even though he worked on Wall Street and in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns, his compass kept pointing back to that original passion and joining Findaway a little more than four years ago To Dad, From Kelly, the memoir Kelly wrote about his relationship to his late father who passed away in 2010. Kelly's experience going to TuneIn's studio in Santa Monica, California to record the audiobook himself How Findaway works with authors and as well as the sign-up and vetting process they use for narrators. Mark's very positive experience getting his short story collection Active Reader produced by Findaway Voices and how pleased he was with Eric Moore's recording. Which leads to the question of how a writer might be able to request to work with the same narrator again for a future project, or a narrator that they have already chosen (even if that narrator isn't already part of the Findaway Voices talent pool community) How to use Findaway Voices to upload an audiobook that you already have produced in order to leverage their distribution channels The price control that the author/publisher has on their audiobook (which is a critical differentiation of the way that Amazon's ACX sets the price and doesn't allow that control to the copyright owner) The urgent quest for Audiobook promotion platforms to provide a "BookBub" or "Bargainbooksy" style service, and the existing awesome audio review sites, such as BookRiot or AudioFile How they are seeing authors make hundreds of dollars through the aforementioned library "pay per use" model, which is a huge opportunity, as well as through sites most authors might not be paying much attention to, including Playster. A recommendation for authors to also make sure that the narrator, and not just the author gets the free Audible download codes to help promote the book. The partnership that Findaway Voices has with Draft2Digital.com that allows an author to easily port their ebook's metadata over to set up an audiobook at Findaway. Also, Kelly's respect for the "author-first" approach to authors that Draft2Digital employs in everything they do The notion of format-agnostic consumption of stories and the growth this means for authors   After the interview, Mark talks about the importance of publishing wide and shares his own experience with earning revenue from Findaway Voices via sales channels that weren't even on his radar. His belief was that he would make most of his money from the audiobook sales via Audible, the Amazon-owned largest retail site for audiobooks, but the reality was, the majority of his earnings came from several other sales channels. He talks about the recent progress from Apple, Google and Kobo in the past week as an example of "you never know, so it's best to be available everywhere." He then shares a second reflection on how the investment related to the creation of an audiobook file is an important reminder to authors of focusing on the long-term, on looking at the various investments they make, not just in money, but in time, and in education.   Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Website Findaway Voices on Twitter Kelly's book: To Dad, From Kelly Mark's Findaway produced books: Active Reader: And Other Cautionary Tales from the Book World Collateral Damage: A Sin-Eater Midadventure Superstars Writing SeminarsMark Leslie LefebvreIn the introduction, Mark talks a little about being in Colorado attending Superstars Writing Seminars in Colorado Springs, CO and the importance of understanding the business of writing and publishing. He shares that he will be doing Facebook Live videos of his experience at Superstars on his Stark Publishing Facebook page. This episode features an interview with Kelly Lytle from Findaway Voices. In their conversation, Mark and Kelly talk about: How Findaway Voices is a single service built to help independent authors and small publishers create and distribute their audiobooks, and that they are a fully non-exclusive platform to the largest network of audio sellers in the world (retailer, library and K through 12 markets) The pay per use model that Bibliotheca (3M) has. Meaning the library doesn't need to pre-purchase the audiobook in advance. It is listed (like on any major retailer), and the purchase doesn't happen until the library patron checks out that title The background to Findaway Voices as part of the larger Findaway family. Their "flagship" product, for example, was the Playaway Device, a single title pre-loaded audiobook player that is about the size of a deck of cards, with built in play and pause buttons. These devices have been hugely popular with the library market (as an easy to merchandise and easy to use for patrons who weren't savvy about digital check-outs or even using CD audiobooks) and the military Pre-loaded tablets called "LaunchPad" that are also in the library markets The platform called Audio Engine. The world's largest business-to-business audiobook service Kelly's own background as a passionate reader with a thirst for storytelling. Even though he worked on Wall Street and in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns, his compass kept pointing back to that original passion and joining Findaway a little more than four years ago To Dad, From Kelly, the memoir Kelly wrote about his relationship to his late father who passed away in 2010. Kelly's experience going to TuneIn's studio in Santa Monica, California to record the audiobook himself How Findaway works with authors and as well as the sign-up and vetting process they use for narrators. Mark's very positive experience getting his short story collection Active Reader produced by Findaway Voices and how pleased he was with Eric Moore's recording. Which leads to the question of how a writer might be able to request to work with the same narrator again for a future project, or a narrator that they have already chosen (even if that narrator isn't already part of the Findaway Voices talent pool community) How to use Findaway Voices to upload an audiobook that you already have produced in order to leverage their distribution channels The price control that the author/publisher has on their audiobook (which is a critical differentiation of the way that Amazon's ACX sets the price and doesn't allow that control to the copyright owner) The urgent quest for Audiobook promotion platforms to provide a "BookBub" or "Bargainbooksy" style service, and the existing awesome audio review sites, such as BookRiot or AudioFile How they are seeing authors make hundreds of dollars through the aforementioned library "pay per use" model, which is a huge opportunity, as well as through sites most authors might not be paying much attention to, including Playster. A recommendation for authors to also make sure that the narrator, and not just the author gets the free Audible download codes to help promote the book. The partnership that Findaway Voices has with Draft2Digital.com that allows an author to easily port their ebook's metadata over to set up an audiobook at Findaway. Also, Kelly's respect for the "author-first" approach to authors that Draft2Digital employs in everything they do The notion of format-agnostic consumption of stories and the growth this means for authors   After the interview, Mark talks about the importance of publishing wide and shares his own experience with earning revenue from Findaway Voices via sales channels that weren't even on his radar. His belief was that he would make most of his money from the audiobook sales via Audible, the Amazon-owned largest retail site for audiobooks, but the reality was, the majority of his earnings came from several other sales channels. He talks about the recent progress from Apple, Google and Kobo in the past week as an example of "you never know, so it's best to be available everywhere." He then shares a second reflection on how the investment related to the creation of an audiobook file is an important reminder to authors of focusing on the long-term, on looking at the various investments they make, not just in money, but in time, and in education.   Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Website Findaway Voices on Twitter Kelly's book: To Dad, From Kelly Mark's Findaway produced books: Active Reader: And Other Cautionary Tales from the Book World Collateral Damage: A Sin-Eater Midadventure Superstars Writing Seminars     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 004 - Optimizing Your Author Brand with Robert J. Sawyer Optimizing Your Author Brand with Robert J. Sawyer Fri, 26 Jan 2018 01:20:16 +0000 Mark chats with Canadian Science Fiction writer Robert J. Sawyer. Sawyer is one of only eight writers in history — and the only Canadian — to win all three of the world's top Science Fiction awards for best novel of the year: the Hugo, the Nebula, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award (the full list of such winners: Paolo Bacigalupi, David Brin, Arthur C. Clarke, Joe Haldeman, Frederik Pohl, Kim Stanley Robinson, Robert J. Sawyer, and Connie Willis).

    robsawyer

    In their conversation, Mark and Rob talk about:

    • The fact that Rob was the very first science fiction writer in the world to have a website (sfwriter.com) which has grown to over 1 million words of text and more than 800 documents since it launched in 1995, including documents about the craft and business of writing and publishing
    • The text-heavy nature of Rob's website and how he still manually codes his website in HTML
    • The SEO involved in the creation of the SFWriter website using the three main key words: "science fiction writer" and how that has led to Rob being on the first page of search results for those in the media looking to talk to a sci-fi writer for various commentary on events (example, anniversary of the moon landing, cloning, the death of a famous science fiction writer, etc)
    • How optimizing his brand and SEO has led to just under 1000 radio and television interviews
    • The way that Rob's novels are typically grounded in real-life scientific research, such as his latest novel, Quantum Night, which is about psychopathy and what might happen if a psychopathy were to get into the office of the President of the United States
    • The way Rob was able to pivot in the marketing of the book after Donald J. Trump became the US President
    • The brilliantly supportive way that Rob's US audiobook publisher (Audible) worked quickly to resolve the issue of a few funny incorrect pronunciations that a US narrator made with a couple of "Canadian" words
    • Advice for authors regarding dividing up your IP by format as well as by territory and how the aggregate of the sale of rights of each unique division adds up to far more than a single "world rights" offer would typically be
    • How Rob used KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) and KWL (Kobo Writing Life) and other direct to retailer and distribution platforms to publish to iBooks, Nook and other markets using the rights that he did not sell to a publisher (ie, direct selling an "international edition" of a book like QUANTUM NIGHT where publishers only purchased Canadian and US rights)
    • How each new format that emerges for a book enlarges the audience, rather than cannibalizes upon the previous format editions
    • The ABC Television program (FlashForward) which was based on Rob's 1999 novel of the same name and details about his involvement with that experience
    • The approved changes in the television adaptation (which includes changing the "flash forward" from 21 years to 6 months) that helped to make the story more palatable for a US network television audience yet retained the important theme of "fate VS freewill"
    • How a scene in that novel, published in 1999 had a scene which predicted the existence of the Espresso Book Machine, which can print and bind a paperback in about 15 minutes right inside a bookstore
    • The changes within publishing since Rob's first novel was published in 1990
    • The different royalties received on the self-published version (70%) VS the traditionally published version (17.5%) of Rob's novel Quantum Night and a reflection on the time most likely spent by the author and by the publisher on a single book (typically a 12:1 ratio) and how that changes the perspective of the 3:1 split in the publisher's favor
    • A teaser for Rob's next novel about the Manhattan Project, which will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2020 and how that ties in to Rob's marketing plans for the book and himself
    • The figure Rob has in mind for selling the Canadian, American and British rights to a publisher and, if his agent isn't able to secure those numbers, his plans to release it independently
    • The odds that a book will never be made into a movie, including stats on how only 3 out of the 53 novels that have so far won the Nebula Award (often seen as the "best science-fiction novel" of the year) have been made into movies (They were: Dune, Ender's Game and Flowers for Algernon)
    • The approximate 16 years that Rob's Nebula Award winning novel The Terminal Experiment has been optioned for film rights (but with no film ever having been made so far)

    After the interview, Mark reflects upon two elements from the conversation. First he looks at the manner by which Rob has acted as a linchpin within the writing and publishing community, mentoring other writers, assisting beginners and always looking to connect people together. Then he explores the way that, when Rob is talking about one of his novels, he focuses on the high level concept that makes people think or makes people want to engage, rather than a "blow by blow" of the plot details. He encourages writers to look for a similar thing in their own work.

    This podcast was sponsored by Findaway Voices – a company that gives authors and publishers everything they need to create professionally-narrated audiobooks and reach listeners in more than 170 countries through the world's largest audiobook distribution network

    Links of Interest:

     

    robRobert J. Sawyer — called "the dean of Canadian science fiction" by The Ottawa Citizen and "just about the best science-fiction writer out there these days" by The Denver Rocky Mountain News — is one of only eight writers in history (and the only Canadian) to win all three of the science-fiction field's top honors for best novel of the year. Rob — who holds honorary doctorates from the University of Winnipeg and Laurentian University — has taught writing at the University of Toronto, Ryerson University, Humber College, and The Banff Centre.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     Mark chats with Canadian Science Fiction writer Robert J. Sawyer. Sawyer is one of only eight writers in history — and the only Canadian — to win all three of the world's top Science Fiction awards for best novel of the year: the Hugo, the Nebula, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award (the full list of such winners: Paolo Bacigalupi, David Brin, Arthur C. Clarke, Joe Haldeman, Frederik Pohl, Kim Stanley Robinson, Robert J. Sawyer, and Connie Willis).

    In their conversation, Mark and Rob talk about:

    • The fact that Rob was the very first science fiction writer in the world to have a website (sfwriter.com) which has grown to over 1 million words of text and more than 800 documents since it launched in 1995, including documents about the craft and business of writing and publishing
    • The text-heavy nature of Rob's website and how he still manually codes his website in HTML
    • The SEO involved in the creation of the SFWriter website using the three main key words: "science fiction writer" and how that has led to Rob being on the first page of search results for those in the media looking to talk to a sci-fi writer for various commentary on events (example, anniversary of the moon landing, cloning, the death of a famous science fiction writer, etc)
    • How optimizing his brand and SEO has led to just under 1000 radio and television interviews
    • The way that Rob's novels are typically grounded in real-life scientific research, such as his latest novel, Quantum Night, which is about psychopathy and what might happen if a psychopathy were to get into the office of the President of the United States
    • The way Rob was able to pivot in the marketing of the book after Donald J. Trump became the US President
    • The brilliantly supportive way that Rob's US audiobook publisher (Audible) worked quickly to resolve the issue of a few funny incorrect pronunciations that a US narrator made with a couple of "Canadian" words
    • Advice for authors regarding dividing up your IP by format as well as by territory and how the aggregate of the sale of rights of each unique division adds up to far more than a single "world rights" offer would typically be
    • How Rob used KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) and KWL (Kobo Writing Life) and other direct to retailer and distribution platforms to publish to iBooks, Nook and other markets using the rights that he did not sell to a publisher (ie, direct selling an "international edition" of a book like QUANTUM NIGHT where publishers only purchased Canadian and US rights)
    • How each new format that emerges for a book enlarges the audience, rather than cannibalizes upon the previous format editions
    • The ABC Television program (FlashForward) which was based on Rob's 1999 novel of the same name and details about his involvement with that experience
    • The approved changes in the television adaptation (which includes changing the "flash forward" from 21 years to 6 months) that helped to make the story more palatable for a US network television audience yet retained the important theme of "fate VS freewill"
    • How a scene in that novel, published in 1999 had a scene which predicted the existence of the Espresso Book Machine, which can print and bind a paperback in about 15 minutes right inside a bookstore
    • The changes within publishing since Rob's first novel was published in 1990
    • The different royalties received on the self-published version (70%) VS the traditionally published version (17.5%) of Rob's novel Quantum Night and a reflection on the time most likely spent by the author and by the publisher on a single book (typically a 12:1 ratio) and how that changes the perspective of the 3:1 split in the publisher's favor
    • A teaser for Rob's next novel about the Manhattan Project, which will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2020 and how that ties in to Rob's marketing plans for the book and himself
    • The figure Rob has in mind for selling the Canadian, American and British rights to a publisher and, if his agent isn't able to secure those numbers, his plans to release it independently
    • The odds that a book will never be made into a movie, including stats on how only 3 out of the 53 novels that have so far won the Nebula Award (often seen as the "best science-fiction novel" of the year) have been made into movies (They were: Dune, Ender's Game and Flowers for Algernon)
    • The approximate 16 years that Rob's Nebula Award winning novel The Terminal Experiment has been optioned for film rights (but with no film ever having been made so far)

    After the interview, Mark reflects upon two elements from the conversation. First he looks at the manner by which Rob has acted as a linchpin within the writing and publishing community, mentoring other writers, assisting beginners and always looking to connect people together. Then he explores the way that, when Rob is talking about one of his novels, he focuses on the high level concept that makes people think or makes people want to engage, rather than a "blow by blow" of the plot details. He encourages writers to look for a similar thing in their own work.

    This podcast was sponsored by Findaway Voices – a company that gives authors and publishers everything they need to create professionally-narrated audiobooks and reach listeners in more than 170 countries through the world's largest audiobook distribution network Links of Interest:

    Robert J. Sawyer — called "the dean of Canadian science fiction" by The Ottawa Citizen and "just about the best science-fiction writer out there these days" by The Denver Rocky Mountain News — is one of only eight writers in history (and the only Canadian) to win all three of the science-fiction field's top honors for best novel of the year. Rob — who holds honorary doctorates from the University of Winnipeg and Laurentian University — has taught writing at the University of Toronto, Ryerson University, Humber College, and The Banff Centre.

    The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    ]]>     52:14 false 1 4 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark chats with Canadian Science Fiction writer Robert J. Sawyer. Sawyer is one of only eight writers in history — and the only Canadian — to win all three of the world's top Science Fiction awards for best novel of the year: the Hugo, the Nebula, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award (the full list of such winners: Paolo Bacigalupi, David Brin, Arthur C. Clarke, Joe Haldeman, Frederik Pohl, Kim Stanley Robinson, Robert J. Sawyer, and Connie Willis). In their conversation, Mark and Rob talk about: The fact that Rob was the very first science fiction writer in the world to have a website (sfwriter.com) which has grown to over 1 million words of text and more than 800 documents since it launched in 1995, including documents about the craft and business of writing and publishing The text-heavy nature of Rob's website and how he still manually codes his website in HTML The SEO involved in the creation of the SFWriter website using the three main key words: "science fiction writer" and how that has led to Rob being on the first page of search results for those in the media looking to talk to a sci-fi writer for various commentary on events (example, anniversary of the moon landing, cloning, the death of a famous science fiction writer, etc) How optimizing his brand and SEO has led to just under 1000 radio and television interviews The way that Rob's novels are typically grounded in real-life scientific research, such as his latest novel, Quantum Night, which is about psychopathy and what might happen if a psychopathy were to get into the office of the President of the United States The way Rob was able to pivot in the marketing of the book after Donald J. Trump became the US President The brilliantly supportive way that Rob's US audiobook publisher (Audible) worked quickly to resolve the issue of a few funny incorrect pronunciations that a US narrator made with a couple of "Canadian" words Advice for authors regarding dividing up your IP by format as well as by territory and how the aggregate of the sale of rights of each unique division adds up to far more than a single "world rights" offer would typically be How Rob used KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) and KWL (Kobo Writing Life) and other direct to retailer and distribution platforms to publish to iBooks, Nook and other markets using the rights that he did not sell to a publisher (ie, direct selling an "international edition" of a book like QUANTUM NIGHT where publishers only purchased Canadian and US rights) How each new format that emerges for a book enlarges the audience, rather than cannibalizes upon the previous format editions The ABC Television program (FlashForward) which was based on Rob's 1999 novel of the same name and details about his involvement with that experience The approved changes in the television adaptation (which includes changing the "flash forward" from 21 years to 6 months) that helped to make the story more palatable for a US network television audience yet retained the important theme of "fate VS freewill" How a scene in that novel, published in 1999 had a scene which predicted the existence of the Espresso Book Machine, which can print and bind a paperback in about 15 minutes right inside a bookstore The changes within publishing since Rob's first novel was published in 1990 The different royalties received on the self-published version (70%) VS the traditionally published version (17.5%) of Rob's novel Quantum Night and a reflection on the time most likely spent by the author and by the publisher on a single book (typically a 12:1 ratio) and how that changes the perspective of the 3:1 split in the publisher's favor A teaser for Rob's next novel about the Manhattan Project, which will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2020 and how that ties in to Rob's marketing plans for the book and himself The figure Rob has in mind for selling the Canadian, American and British rights to a publisher and, if his agent isn't able to secure those numbers, his plans to release it independently The odds that a book will never be made into a movie, including stats on how only 3 out of the 53 novels that have so far won the Nebula Award (often seen as the "best science-fiction novel" of the year) have been made into movies (They were: Dune, Ender's Game and Flowers for Algernon) The approximate 16 years that Rob's Nebula Award winning novel The Terminal Experiment has been optioned for film rights (but with no film ever having been made so far) After the interview, Mark reflects upon two elements from the conversation. First he looks at the manner by which Rob has acted as a linchpin within the writing and publishing community, mentoring other writers, assisting beginners and always looking to connect people together. Then he explores the way that, when Rob is talking about one of his novels, he focuses on the high level concept that makes people think or makes people want to engage, rather than a "blow by blow" of the plot details. He encourages writers to look for a similar thing in their own work. This podcast was sponsored by Findaway Voices – a company that gives authors and publishers everything they need to create professionally-narrated audiobooks and reach listeners in more than 170 countries through the world's largest audiobook distribution network Links of Interest: Robert J. Sawyer's Website Rob on Twitter Rob's Facebook Author Page The "How to Write" section of Rob's website Misc links to media Coverage of Rob Video of Rob's launch of WATCH at McMaster University   Robert J. Sawyer — called "the dean of Canadian science fiction" by The Ottawa Citizen and "just about the best science-fiction writer out there these days" by The Denver Rocky Mountain News — is one of only eight writers in history (and the only Canadian) to win all three of the science-fiction field's top honors for best novel of the year. Rob — who holds honorary doctorates from the University of Winnipeg and Laurentian University — has taught writing at the University of Toronto, Ryerson University, Humber College, and The Banff Centre. The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0Mark chats with Canadian Science Fiction writer Robert J. Sawyer. Sawyer is one of only eight writers in history — and the only Canadian — to win all three of the world's top Science Fiction awards for best novel of the year: the Hugo, the Nebula, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award (the full list of such winners: Paolo Bacigalupi, David Brin, Arthur C. Clarke, Joe Haldeman, Frederik Pohl, Kim Stanley Robinson, Robert J. Sawyer, and Connie Willis). In their conversation, Mark and Rob talk about: The fact that Rob was the very first science fiction writer in the world to have a website (sfwriter.com) which has grown to over 1 million words of text and more than 800 documents since it launched in 1995, including documents about the craft and business of writing and publishing The text-heavy nature of Rob's website and how he still manually codes his website in HTML The SEO involved in the creation of the SFWriter website using the three main key words: "science fiction writer" and how that has led to Rob being on the first page of search results for those in the media looking to talk to a sci-fi writer for various commentary on events (example, anniversary of the moon landing, cloning, the death of a famous science fiction writer, etc) How optimizing his brand and SEO has led to just under 1000 radio and television interviews The way that Rob's novels are typically grounded in real-life scientific research, such as his latest novel, Quantum Night, which is about psychopathy and what might happen if a psychopathy were to get into the office of the President of the United States The way Rob was able to pivot in the marketing of the book after Donald J. Trump became the US President The brilliantly supportive way that Rob's US audiobook publisher (Audible) worked quickly to resolve the issue of a few funny incorrect pronunciations that a US narrator made with a couple of "Canadian" words Advice for authors regarding dividing up your IP by format as well as by territory and how the aggregate of the sale of rights of each unique division adds up to far more than a single "world rights" offer would typically be How Rob used KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) and KWL (Kobo Writing Life) and other direct to retailer and distribution platforms to publish to iBooks, Nook and other markets using the rights that he did not sell to a publisher (ie, direct selling an "international edition" of a book like QUANTUM NIGHT where publishers only purchased Canadian and US rights) How each new format that emerges for a book enlarges the audience, rather than cannibalizes upon the previous format editions The ABC Television program (FlashForward) which was based on Rob's 1999 novel of the same name and details about his involvement with that experience The approved changes in the television adaptation (which includes changing the "flash forward" from 21 years to 6 months) that helped to make the story more palatable for a US network television audience yet retained the important theme of "fate VS freewill" How a scene in that novel, published in 1999 had a scene which predicted the existence of the Espresso Book Machine, which can print and bind a paperback in about 15 minutes right inside a bookstore The changes within publishing since Rob's first novel was published in 1990 The different royalties received on the self-published version (70%) VS the traditionally published version (17.5%) of Rob's novel Quantum Night and a reflection on the time most likely spent by the author and by the publisher on a single book (typically a 12:1 ratio) and how that changes the perspective of the 3:1 split in the publisher's favor A teaser for Rob's next novel about the Manhattan Project, which will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2020 and how that ties in to Rob's marketing plans for the book and himself The figure Rob has in mind for selling the Canadian, American and British rights to a publisher and, if his agent isn't able to secure those numbers, his plans to release it independently The odds that a book will never be made into a movie, including stats on how only 3 out of the 53 novels that have so far won the Nebula Award (often seen as the "best science-fiction novel" of the year) have been made into movies (They were: Dune, Ender's Game and Flowers for Algernon) The approximate 16 years that Rob's Nebula Award winning novel The Terminal Experiment has been optioned for film rights (but with no film ever having been made so far) After the interview, Mark reflects upon two elements from the conversation. First he looks at the manner by which Rob has acted as a linchpin within the writing and publishing community, mentoring other writers, assisting beginners and always looking to connect people together. Then he explores the way that, when Rob is talking about one of his novels, he focuses on the high level concept that makes people think or makes people want to engage, rather than a "blow by blow" of the plot details. He encourages writers to look for a similar thing in their own work. This podcast was sponsored by Findaway Voices – a company that gives authors and publishers everything they need to create professionally-narrated audiobooks and reach listeners in more than 170 countries through the world's largest audiobook distribution network Links of Interest: Robert J. Sawyer's Website Rob on Twitter Rob's Facebook Author Page The "How to Write" section of Rob's website Misc links to media Coverage of Rob Video of Rob's launch of WATCH at McMaster University   Robert J. Sawyer — called "the dean of Canadian science fiction" by The Ottawa Citizen and "just about the best science-fiction writer out there these days" by The Denver Rocky Mountain News — is one of only eight writers in history (and the only Canadian) to win all three of the science-fiction field's top honors for best novel of the year. Rob — who holds honorary doctorates from the University of Winnipeg and Laurentian University — has taught writing at the University of Toronto, Ryerson University, Humber College, and The Banff Centre. The music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 003 - Reading Data with Sinead McElhinney from Kobo Reading Data with Sinead McElhinney from Kobo Fri, 19 Jan 2018 02:17:05 +0000 Mark interviews Sinead McElhinney, PR Coordinator on the Communications team from Rakuten Kobo in Toronto, Ontario about some interesting reading data that Kobo released near the end of 2017. They discuss the analysis of reading data, understanding core eBook readers better, as well as some of Sinead's favorite things about her role in the book industry.

    Mark & Sinead at RT Booklovers in Atlanta

    During the chat, they discuss:

    • Where she started and how she got her start at Kobo
    • Her role in marketing and the on-brand customer/reader experience
    • The double-edged sword of social media
    • The difference between using social media for personal use and for a corporation that needs to keep its target demographics in mind
    • Details about the top "actually read" books from the previous year and the data dissection performed on this reading data
    • Just because something is a bestseller doesn't mean that it is a book that has been read through to completion. IE, looking at books that were actually finished can be meaningful data
    • The binge-reading that Sinead does the same way some others might engage in binge-watching a show via Netflix
    • Some common themes in the most popularly read books
    • The dynamic engagement with both writers and readers that Sinead participated in when visiting the Romantic Time (RT) Booklovers conference in Atlanta in May 2017
    • The diversity within the many different types of romance readers that Sinead discovered at RT Booklovers
    • The launch of audiobooks at Kobo in late summer of 2017 and some of the things they learned about the types of books people prefer reading in eBook format versus listening to
    • The integration of OverDrive library borrowing in the Kobo Aura ONE

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the evolution of storytelling and how, in oral storytelling, the creator could receive immediate and instant audience feedback that might help them to adjust their story's tone, pacing and other elements on the fly. He touches upon how story, as a written medium in print format, completely divorces that connection when the act of reading becomes a solitary pursuit, but that digital reading brings back an intriguing degree of those elements that writers and publishers could likely benefit if analyzed effectively.

    He shares his own experience telling ghost stories to live audiences and how, as a storyteller, he can easily adapt the tales based on audience reaction. He discusses the interesting metrics that a platform such as Wattpad.com offers to writers about the demographics of their readers and other reading stats. He also talks about the "real time" blog story I, DEATH that his novel was based upon allowed him the luxury of adapting the story as it was being rolled out based on reader reaction. And, finally, he suggests that platforms like Kindle and Kobo wield a fascinating opportunity related to the type of in depth reading data that Sinead was talking about that can significantly benefit writers and publishers.

     

    Links of Interest:

    Kobo PR - http://news.kobo.com/

    Mark and Sinead on the KWL Podcast at RT (Romantic Times) – Episode 84

    "How to be alone, but not lonely" - An article Sinead wrote about unplugging for a weekend in a style that Henry David Thoreau would certainly appreciate.

    Related Articles on Reading Data From EBooks:

     

    Sinead McElhinney is the Public Relations Specialist at Rakuten Kobo Inc in Toronto, Ontario, where, among other things, she manages Kobo's PR agencies in Canada, the United States, the UK, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Australia. She believes in uniting professionalism and personality and is committed to the notion that the right story has the ability to spark meaningful change.

     

    This podcast was sponsored by Findaway Voices – a company that gives authors and publishers everything they need to create professionally-narrated audiobooks and reach listeners in more than 170 countries through the world's largest audiobook distribution network

     

    ]]>     Mark interviews Sinead McElhinney, PR Coordinator on the Communications team from Rakuten Kobo in Toronto, Ontario about some interesting reading data that Kobo released near the end of 2017. They discuss the analysis of reading data, understanding core eBook readers better, as well as some of Sinead's favorite things about her role in the book industry.

    During the chat, they discuss:

    • Where she started and how she got her start at Kobo
    • Her role in marketing and the on-brand customer/reader experience
    • The double-edged sword of social media
    • The difference between using social media for personal use and for a corporation that needs to keep its target demographics in mind
    • Details about the top "actually read" books from the previous year and the data dissection performed on this reading data
    • Just because something is a bestseller doesn't mean that it is a book that has been read through to completion. IE, looking at books that were actually finished can be meaningful data
    • The binge-reading that Sinead does the same way some others might engage in binge-watching a show via Netflix
    • Some common themes in the most popularly read books
    • The dynamic engagement with both writers and readers that Sinead participated in when visiting the Romantic Time (RT) Booklovers conference in Atlanta in May 2017
    • The diversity within the many different types of romance readers that Sinead discovered at RT Booklovers
    • The launch of audiobooks at Kobo in late summer of 2017 and some of the things they learned about the types of books people prefer reading in eBook format versus listening to
    • The integration of OverDrive library borrowing in the Kobo Aura ONE

    After the interview, Mark reflects on the evolution of storytelling and how, in oral storytelling, the creator could receive immediate and instant audience feedback that might help them to adjust their story's tone, pacing and other elements on the fly. He touches upon how story, as a written medium in print format, completely divorces that connection when the act of reading becomes a solitary pursuit, but that digital reading brings back an intriguing degree of those elements that writers and publishers could likely benefit if analyzed effectively.

    He shares his own experience telling ghost stories to live audiences and how, as a storyteller, he can easily adapt the tales based on audience reaction. He discusses the interesting metrics that a platform such as Wattpad.com offers to writers about the demographics of their readers and other reading stats. He also talks about the "real time" blog story I, DEATH that his novel was based upon allowed him the luxury of adapting the story as it was being rolled out based on reader reaction. And, finally, he suggests that platforms like Kindle and Kobo wield a fascinating opportunity related to the type of in depth reading data that Sinead was talking about that can significantly benefit writers and publishers.

    Links of Interest:

    Kobo PR - http://news.kobo.com/

    Mark and Sinead on the KWL Podcast at RT (Romantic Times) – Episode 84

    "How to be alone, but not lonely" - An article Sinead wrote about unplugging for a weekend in a style that Henry David Thoreau would certainly appreciate.

    Related Articles on Reading Data From EBooks:

    Sinead McElhinney is the Public Relations Specialist at Rakuten Kobo Inc in Toronto, Ontario, where, among other things, she manages Kobo's PR agencies in Canada, the United States, the UK, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Australia. She believes in uniting professionalism and personality and is committed to the notion that the right story has the ability to spark meaningful change.

    This podcast was sponsored by Findaway Voices – a company that gives authors and publishers everything they need to create professionally-narrated audiobooks and reach listeners in more than 170 countries through the world's largest audiobook distribution network

    ]]>     30:14 false 1 3 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Sinead McElhinney, PR Coordinator on the Communications team from Rakuten Kobo in Toronto, Ontario about some interesting reading data that Kobo released near the end of 2017. They discuss the analysis of reading data, understanding core eBook readers better, as well as some of Sinead's favorite things about her role in the book industry. During the chat, they discuss: Where she started and how she got her start at Kobo Her role in marketing and the on-brand customer/reader experience The double-edged sword of social media The difference between using social media for personal use and for a corporation that needs to keep its target demographics in mind Details about the top "actually read" books from the previous year and the data dissection performed on this reading data Just because something is a bestseller doesn't mean that it is a book that has been read through to completion. IE, looking at books that were actually finished can be meaningful data The binge-reading that Sinead does the same way some others might engage in binge-watching a show via Netflix Some common themes in the most popularly read books The dynamic engagement with both writers and readers that Sinead participated in when visiting the Romantic Time (RT) Booklovers conference in Atlanta in May 2017 The diversity within the many different types of romance readers that Sinead discovered at RT Booklovers The launch of audiobooks at Kobo in late summer of 2017 and some of the things they learned about the types of books people prefer reading in eBook format versus listening to The integration of OverDrive library borrowing in the Kobo Aura ONE After the interview, Mark reflects on the evolution of storytelling and how, in oral storytelling, the creator could receive immediate and instant audience feedback that might help them to adjust their story's tone, pacing and other elements on the fly. He touches upon how story, as a written medium in print format, completely divorces that connection when the act of reading becomes a solitary pursuit, but that digital reading brings back an intriguing degree of those elements that writers and publishers could likely benefit if analyzed effectively. He shares his own experience telling ghost stories to live audiences and how, as a storyteller, he can easily adapt the tales based on audience reaction. He discusses the interesting metrics that a platform such as Wattpad.com offers to writers about the demographics of their readers and other reading stats. He also talks about the "real time" blog story I, DEATH that his novel was based upon allowed him the luxury of adapting the story as it was being rolled out based on reader reaction. And, finally, he suggests that platforms like Kindle and Kobo wield a fascinating opportunity related to the type of in depth reading data that Sinead was talking about that can significantly benefit writers and publishers.   Links of Interest: Kobo PR - http://news.kobo.com/ Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Mark and Sinead on the KWL Podcast at RT (Romantic Times) – Episode 84 "How to be alone, but not lonely" - An article Sinead wrote about unplugging for a weekend in a style that Henry David Thoreau would certainly appreciate. Related Articles on Reading Data From EBooks: What Canadians Read in 2017 (Most Read and Longest Reading Session Titles) Behind the Digital Screens: Reading habits of the industry's most valuable customers Kobo Writing Life Titles Top Best-Selling and Best-Read lists  The Guardian: Ebooks can tell which novels you didn't finish   Sinead McElhinney is the Public Relations Specialist at Rakuten Kobo Inc in Toronto, Ontario, where, among other things, she manages Kobo's PR agencies in Canada, the United States, the UK, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Australia. She believes in uniting professionalism and personality and is committed to the notion that the right story has the ability to spark meaningful change.   This podcast was sponsored by Findaway Voices – a company that gives authors and publishers everything they need to create professionally-narrated audiobooks and reach listeners in more than 170 countries through the world's largest audiobook distribution network  Mark interviews Sinead McElhinney, PR Coordinator on the Communications team from Rakuten Kobo in Toronto, Ontario about some interesting reading data that Kobo released near the end of 2017. They discuss the analysis of reading data, understanding core eBook readers better, as well as some of Sinead's favorite things about her role in the book industry. During the chat, they discuss: Where she started and how she got her start at Kobo Her role in marketing and the on-brand customer/reader experience The double-edged sword of social media The difference between using social media for personal use and for a corporation that needs to keep its target demographics in mind Details about the top "actually read" books from the previous year and the data dissection performed on this reading data Just because something is a bestseller doesn't mean that it is a book that has been read through to completion. IE, looking at books that were actually finished can be meaningful data The binge-reading that Sinead does the same way some others might engage in binge-watching a show via Netflix Some common themes in the most popularly read books The dynamic engagement with both writers and readers that Sinead participated in when visiting the Romantic Time (RT) Booklovers conference in Atlanta in May 2017 The diversity within the many different types of romance readers that Sinead discovered at RT Booklovers The launch of audiobooks at Kobo in late summer of 2017 and some of the things they learned about the types of books people prefer reading in eBook format versus listening to The integration of OverDrive library borrowing in the Kobo Aura ONE After the interview, Mark reflects on the evolution of storytelling and how, in oral storytelling, the creator could receive immediate and instant audience feedback that might help them to adjust their story's tone, pacing and other elements on the fly. He touches upon how story, as a written medium in print format, completely divorces that connection when the act of reading becomes a solitary pursuit, but that digital reading brings back an intriguing degree of those elements that writers and publishers could likely benefit if analyzed effectively. He shares his own experience telling ghost stories to live audiences and how, as a storyteller, he can easily adapt the tales based on audience reaction. He discusses the interesting metrics that a platform such as Wattpad.com offers to writers about the demographics of their readers and other reading stats. He also talks about the "real time" blog story I, DEATH that his novel was based upon allowed him the luxury of adapting the story as it was being rolled out based on reader reaction. And, finally, he suggests that platforms like Kindle and Kobo wield a fascinating opportunity related to the type of in depth reading data that Sinead was talking about that can significantly benefit writers and publishers.   Links of Interest: Kobo PR - http://news.kobo.com/ Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Mark and Sinead on the KWL Podcast at RT (Romantic Times) – Episode 84 "How to be alone, but not lonely" - An article Sinead wrote about unplugging for a weekend in a style that Henry David Thoreau would certainly appreciate. Related Articles on Reading Data From EBooks: What Canadians Read in 2017 (Most Read and Longest Reading Session Titles) Behind the Digital Screens: Reading habits of the industry's most valuable customers Kobo Writing Life Titles Top Best-Selling and Best-Read lists  The Guardian: Ebooks can tell which novels you didn't finish   Sinead McElhinney is the Public Relations Specialist at Rakuten Kobo Inc in Toronto, Ontario, where, among other things, she manages Kobo's PR agencies in Canada, the United States, the UK, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Australia. She believes in uniting professionalism and personality and is committed to the notion that the right story has the ability to spark meaningful change.   This podcast was sponsored by Findaway Voices – a company that gives authors and publishers everything they need to create professionally-narrated audiobooks and reach listeners in more than 170 countries through the world's largest audiobook distribution network       Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 002 - Living the Healthy Writer's Life with Joanna Penn Living the Healthy Writer's Life with Joanna Penn Fri, 12 Jan 2018 02:59:22 +0000 Mark interviews Joanna Penn of www.thecreativepenn.com about her latest book The Healthy Writer: Reduce Your Pain, Improve Your Health, And Build A Writing Career For The Long Term (co-authored with Dr. Euan Lawson) and they also have a discussion about trends in publishing and speculation about the opportunities that might be coming for writers.

    The Healthy Writer

    In his introduction to the episode, Mark announces that Findaway Voices is now an official sponsor. He shares his own experience with using Findaway Voices to create audiobooks and also his plans for some forthcoming projects.

    In Mark's interview with Joanna, they talk about:

    • The new book Joanna has co-written with Dr. Euan Lawson (The Healthy Writer) as a book she has written because it was something she needed to learn
    • The "letter to sugar" that Joanna shares in the new book and how it was affecting both her physical and mental health
    • How the decision to co-author this title came about (measuring the value that each brings to the project) and how Joanna and Euan worked on it together
    • How Joanna balances her three different personas (JF Penn, dark fantasy/thriller author; Joanna Penn, the optimistic writing and publishing personality, and Penny Appleton, the co-authored books she is writing with her mother)
    • The critical importance of scheduling one's time into blocks of activities, including "time off" from particular types of activities
    • The role that personal connections can play in terms of building and sustaining a sense of community for a writer
    • How Joanna incorporates business related travel and decisions on which events to agree to speak at for helping with research for her fiction projects
    • The state of "burn-out" Joanna had reached almost two years ago and what inspired her to double-down on her own podcast instead of letting it go
    • A strategy for how writers and entrepreneurs can approach out-sourcing some of the work they need to do for their own goals and objectives
    • What has changed in the writing and publishing industry since Joanna started as a blogger and a podcaster almost ten years ago
    • The thing that surprised Joanna the most about what happened in publishing in the past year
    • The challenges that come with being an early adopter in the digital publishing space
    • The potential forthcoming shifts that are likely to be coming within the book industry within the next few years and what it means to authors
    • The story structure, drama, character development and masterfully storytelling from particular movies and television program like The Crown, which are also areas of opportunity for writers
    • What the advent of self-driving cars might mean for content creation and distribution

    In his post interview wrap-up, Mark shares a short section from The Healthy Writer that has resonated with him, discusses the importance of optimism in a writer's life, and then shares his own plans to train for a half-marathon later this year and how that ties back to an inspirational talk that Joanna gave in a backlist episode from her own The Creative Penn Podcast about a 100 Kilometer ultra marathon that she completed and what that taught her about her own writing.

    Findaway Voices logo

    This podcast was sponsored by Findaway Voices – a company that gives authors and publishers everything they need to create professionally-narrated audiobooks and reach listeners in more than 170 countries through the world's largest audiobook distribution network

    Euan Lawson & Joanna Penn

    Links of interest:

    ]]>     Mark interviews Joanna Penn of www.thecreativepenn.com about her latest book The Healthy Writer: Reduce Your Pain, Improve Your Health, And Build A Writing Career For The Long Term (co-authored with Dr. Euan Lawson) and they also have a discussion about trends in publishing and speculation about the opportunities that might be coming for writers.

    In his introduction to the episode, Mark announces that Findaway Voices is now an official sponsor. He shares his own experience with using Findaway Voices to create audiobooks and also his plans for some forthcoming projects.

    In Mark's interview with Joanna, they talk about:

    • The new book Joanna has co-written with Dr. Euan Lawson (The Healthy Writer) as a book she has written because it was something she needed to learn
    • The "letter to sugar" that Joanna shares in the new book and how it was affecting both her physical and mental health
    • How the decision to co-author this title came about (measuring the value that each brings to the project) and how Joanna and Euan worked on it together
    • How Joanna balances her three different personas (JF Penn, dark fantasy/thriller author; Joanna Penn, the optimistic writing and publishing personality, and Penny Appleton, the co-authored books she is writing with her mother)
    • The critical importance of scheduling one's time into blocks of activities, including "time off" from particular types of activities
    • The role that personal connections can play in terms of building and sustaining a sense of community for a writer
    • How Joanna incorporates business related travel and decisions on which events to agree to speak at for helping with research for her fiction projects
    • The state of "burn-out" Joanna had reached almost two years ago and what inspired her to double-down on her own podcast instead of letting it go
    • A strategy for how writers and entrepreneurs can approach out-sourcing some of the work they need to do for their own goals and objectives
    • What has changed in the writing and publishing industry since Joanna started as a blogger and a podcaster almost ten years ago
    • The thing that surprised Joanna the most about what happened in publishing in the past year
    • The challenges that come with being an early adopter in the digital publishing space
    • The potential forthcoming shifts that are likely to be coming within the book industry within the next few years and what it means to authors
    • The story structure, drama, character development and masterfully storytelling from particular movies and television program like The Crown, which are also areas of opportunity for writers
    • What the advent of self-driving cars might mean for content creation and distribution

    In his post interview wrap-up, Mark shares a short section from The Healthy Writer that has resonated with him, discusses the importance of optimism in a writer's life, and then shares his own plans to train for a half-marathon later this year and how that ties back to an inspirational talk that Joanna gave in a backlist episode from her own The Creative Penn Podcast about a 100 Kilometer ultra marathon that she completed and what that taught her about her own writing.

    This podcast was sponsored by Findaway Voices – a company that gives authors and publishers everything they need to create professionally-narrated audiobooks and reach listeners in more than 170 countries through the world's largest audiobook distribution network

    Links of interest:

    ]]>     46:26 false 1 2 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Mark interviews Joanna Penn of www.thecreativepenn.com about her latest book The Healthy Writer: Reduce Your Pain, Improve Your Health, And Build A Writing Career For The Long Term (co-authored with Dr. Euan Lawson) and they also have a discussion about trends in publishing and speculation about the opportunities that might be coming for writers. In his introduction to the episode, Mark announces that Findaway Voices is now an official sponsor. He shares his own experience with using Findaway Voices to create audiobooks and also his plans for some forthcoming projects. In Mark's interview with Joanna, they talk about: The new book Joanna has co-written with Dr. Euan Lawson (The Healthy Writer) as a book she has written because it was something she needed to learn The "letter to sugar" that Joanna shares in the new book and how it was affecting both her physical and mental health How the decision to co-author this title came about (measuring the value that each brings to the project) and how Joanna and Euan worked on it together How Joanna balances her three different personas (JF Penn, dark fantasy/thriller author; Joanna Penn, the optimistic writing and publishing personality, and Penny Appleton, the co-authored books she is writing with her mother) The critical importance of scheduling one's time into blocks of activities, including "time off" from particular types of activities The role that personal connections can play in terms of building and sustaining a sense of community for a writer How Joanna incorporates business related travel and decisions on which events to agree to speak at for helping with research for her fiction projects The state of "burn-out" Joanna had reached almost two years ago and what inspired her to double-down on her own podcast instead of letting it go A strategy for how writers and entrepreneurs can approach out-sourcing some of the work they need to do for their own goals and objectives What has changed in the writing and publishing industry since Joanna started as a blogger and a podcaster almost ten years ago The thing that surprised Joanna the most about what happened in publishing in the past year The challenges that come with being an early adopter in the digital publishing space The potential forthcoming shifts that are likely to be coming within the book industry within the next few years and what it means to authors The story structure, drama, character development and masterfully storytelling from particular movies and television program like The Crown, which are also areas of opportunity for writers What the advent of self-driving cars might mean for content creation and distribution In his post interview wrap-up, Mark shares a short section from The Healthy Writer that has resonated with him, discusses the importance of optimism in a writer's life, and then shares his own plans to train for a half-marathon later this year and how that ties back to an inspirational talk that Joanna gave in a backlist episode from her own The Creative Penn Podcast about a 100 Kilometer ultra marathon that she completed and what that taught her about her own writing. This podcast was sponsored by Findaway Voices – a company that gives authors and publishers everything they need to create professionally-narrated audiobooks and reach listeners in more than 170 countries through the world's largest audiobook distribution network Links of interest: The Creative Penn (Joanna Penn's website) Joanna Penn on Twitter Euan Lawson (Doctor and writer) Euan Lawson on Twitter The Healthy Writer Joanna's 9 Lessons Learned about Writing (from the KWL Blog – Episode 74) Findaway VoicesMark interviews Joanna Penn of www.thecreativepenn.com about her latest book The Healthy Writer: Reduce Your Pain, Improve Your Health, And Build A Writing Career For The Long Term (co-authored with Dr. Euan Lawson) and they also have a discussion about trends in publishing and speculation about the opportunities that might be coming for writers. In his introduction to the episode, Mark announces that Findaway Voices is now an official sponsor. He shares his own experience with using Findaway Voices to create audiobooks and also his plans for some forthcoming projects. In Mark's interview with Joanna, they talk about: The new book Joanna has co-written with Dr. Euan Lawson (The Healthy Writer) as a book she has written because it was something she needed to learn The "letter to sugar" that Joanna shares in the new book and how it was affecting both her physical and mental health How the decision to co-author this title came about (measuring the value that each brings to the project) and how Joanna and Euan worked on it together How Joanna balances her three different personas (JF Penn, dark fantasy/thriller author; Joanna Penn, the optimistic writing and publishing personality, and Penny Appleton, the co-authored books she is writing with her mother) The critical importance of scheduling one's time into blocks of activities, including "time off" from particular types of activities The role that personal connections can play in terms of building and sustaining a sense of community for a writer How Joanna incorporates business related travel and decisions on which events to agree to speak at for helping with research for her fiction projects The state of "burn-out" Joanna had reached almost two years ago and what inspired her to double-down on her own podcast instead of letting it go A strategy for how writers and entrepreneurs can approach out-sourcing some of the work they need to do for their own goals and objectives What has changed in the writing and publishing industry since Joanna started as a blogger and a podcaster almost ten years ago The thing that surprised Joanna the most about what happened in publishing in the past year The challenges that come with being an early adopter in the digital publishing space The potential forthcoming shifts that are likely to be coming within the book industry within the next few years and what it means to authors The story structure, drama, character development and masterfully storytelling from particular movies and television program like The Crown, which are also areas of opportunity for writers What the advent of self-driving cars might mean for content creation and distribution In his post interview wrap-up, Mark shares a short section from The Healthy Writer that has resonated with him, discusses the importance of optimism in a writer's life, and then shares his own plans to train for a half-marathon later this year and how that ties back to an inspirational talk that Joanna gave in a backlist episode from her own The Creative Penn Podcast about a 100 Kilometer ultra marathon that she completed and what that taught her about her own writing. This podcast was sponsored by Findaway Voices – a company that gives authors and publishers everything they need to create professionally-narrated audiobooks and reach listeners in more than 170 countries through the world's largest audiobook distribution network Links of interest: The Creative Penn (Joanna Penn's website) Joanna Penn on Twitter Euan Lawson (Doctor and writer) Euan Lawson on Twitter The Healthy Writer Joanna's 9 Lessons Learned about Writing (from the KWL Blog – Episode 74) Findaway Voices     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 001 - New Year, New Reflections New Year, New Reflections Fri, 05 Jan 2018 18:51:46 +0000 The start of a new year is always a time for reflection. It's often a look back at the previous year and the goals accomplished during that period. And it usually also involves setting some goals or targets for the year ahead.

    In this episode, Mark Leslie Lefebvre shares three of the goals that he set for 2017 which he didn't complete. He walks through each of them and demonstrates not only where he missed the goal as well as how he could choose to beat himself up over not achieving his goals, or instead look at what he did manage to accomplish and how that has moved him forward.

    He also shares the meager earnings associated with a couple of these goals and explains why he feels it is important to share that information.

    When discussing audiobooks for indie authors, Mark reveals an unexpected source for his recent audiobook income, reminding authors of the importance of publishing widely to as broad a retail base as possible.

    He also looks at the trend of collaboration in publishing, calls out a few specific elements he has been interested in following (Authors on a Train - and BundleRabbit), and his vision for the continued future of collaboration through digital publishing.

    Links of Interest

    The Writing Show - Getting Published with Mark Leslie

    Public Lending Rights Program (Canada)

    Authors on a Train - J. Thorn & Zach Bohannon

    Bundlerabbit.com

    Mark Leslie's Author Website

    ]]>     The start of a new year is always a time for reflection. It's often a look back at the previous year and the goals accomplished during that period. And it usually also involves setting some goals or targets for the year ahead.

    In this episode, Mark Leslie Lefebvre shares three of the goals that he set for 2017 which he didn't complete. He walks through each of them and demonstrates not only where he missed the goal as well as how he could choose to beat himself up over not achieving his goals, or instead look at what he did manage to accomplish and how that has moved him forward.

    He also shares the meager earnings associated with a couple of these goals and explains why he feels it is important to share that information.

    When discussing audiobooks for indie authors, Mark reveals an unexpected source for his recent audiobook income, reminding authors of the importance of publishing widely to as broad a retail base as possible.

    He also looks at the trend of collaboration in publishing, calls out a few specific elements he has been interested in following (Authors on a Train - and BundleRabbit), and his vision for the continued future of collaboration through digital publishing.

    Links of Interest

    The Writing Show - Getting Published with Mark Leslie

    Public Lending Rights Program (Canada)

    Authors on a Train - J. Thorn & Zach Bohannon

    Bundlerabbit.com

    Mark Leslie's Author Website

    ]]>     30:00 false 1 1 full Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)The start of a new year is always a time for reflection. It's often a look back at the previous year and the goals accomplished during that period. And it usually also involves setting some goals or targets for the year ahead. In this episode, Mark Leslie Lefebvre shares three of the goals that he set for 2017 which he didn't complete. He walks through each of them and demonstrates not only where he missed the goal as well as how he could choose to beat himself up over not achieving his goals, or instead look at what he did manage to accomplish and how that has moved him forward. He also shares the meager earnings associated with a couple of these goals and explains why he feels it is important to share that information. When discussing audiobooks for indie authors, Mark reveals an unexpected source for his recent audiobook income, reminding authors of the importance of publishing widely to as broad a retail base as possible. He also looks at the trend of collaboration in publishing, calls out a few specific elements he has been interested in following (Authors on a Train - and BundleRabbit), and his vision for the continued future of collaboration through digital publishing. Links of Interest The Writing Show - Getting Published with Mark Leslie Public Lending Rights Program (Canada) Authors on a Train - J. Thorn & Zach Bohannon Bundlerabbit.com Mark Leslie's Author WebsiteThe start of a new year is always a time for reflection. It's often a look back at the previous year and the goals accomplished during that period. And it usually also involves setting some goals or targets for the year ahead. In this episode, Mark Leslie Lefebvre shares three of the goals that he set for 2017 which he didn't complete. He walks through each of them and demonstrates not only where he missed the goal as well as how he could choose to beat himself up over not achieving his goals, or instead look at what he did manage to accomplish and how that has moved him forward. He also shares the meager earnings associated with a couple of these goals and explains why he feels it is important to share that information. When discussing audiobooks for indie authors, Mark reveals an unexpected source for his recent audiobook income, reminding authors of the importance of publishing widely to as broad a retail base as possible. He also looks at the trend of collaboration in publishing, calls out a few specific elements he has been interested in following (Authors on a Train - and BundleRabbit), and his vision for the continued future of collaboration through digital publishing. Links of Interest The Writing Show - Getting Published with Mark Leslie Public Lending Rights Program (Canada) Authors on a Train - J. Thorn & Zach Bohannon Bundlerabbit.com Mark Leslie's Author Website     Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing EP 000 Trailer Tue, 05 Dec 2017 16:38:28 +0000 Access to publishing has never been easier; and it's an amazing time to be a writer. But it may also be harder and more confusing than it ever has been.

    You currently have more choices, more options than ever in the history of publishing. What paths are right for you and for your goals?

    Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing is a weekly podcast starting in January 2018.

    Drawing upon more than a quarter century of experience as a bookseller, a writer, an editor and a respected and trusted book industry representative, I'm going to speak with folks from both the traditional publishing and indie-publishing communities, and share my own personal experiences and reflections on what I'm continuing to learn as a writer and industry consultant.

    I hope you'll consider me as an informative and inspirational companion on your writing journey.

    ]]>     Access to publishing has never been easier; and it's an amazing time to be a writer. But it may also be harder and more confusing than it ever has been.

    You currently have more choices, more options than ever in the history of publishing. What paths are right for you and for your goals?

    Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing is a weekly podcast starting in January 2018.

    Drawing upon more than a quarter century of experience as a bookseller, a writer, an editor and a respected and trusted book industry representative, I'm going to speak with folks from both the traditional publishing and indie-publishing communities, and share my own personal experiences and reflections on what I'm continuing to learn as a writer and industry consultant.

    I hope you'll consider me as an informative and inspirational companion on your writing journey.

    ]]>     01:26 false 1 trailer Mark Leslie Lefebvre mark@markleslie.ca (Mark Leslie Lefebvre)Access to publishing has never been easier; and it's an amazing time to be a writer. But it may also be harder and more confusing than it ever has been. You currently have more choices, more options than ever in the history of publishing. What paths are right for you and for your goals? Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing is a weekly podcast starting in January 2018. Drawing upon more than a quarter century of experience as a bookseller, a writer, an editor and a respected and trusted book industry representative, I'm going to speak with folks from both the traditional publishing and indie-publishing communities, and share my own personal experiences and reflections on what I'm continuing to learn as a writer and industry consultant. I hope you'll consider me as an informative and inspirational companion on your writing journey.Access to publishing has never been easier; and it's an amazing time to be a writer. But it may also be harder and more confusing than it ever has been. You currently have more choices, more options than ever in the history of publishing. What paths are right for you and for your goals? Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing is a weekly podcast starting in January 2018. Drawing upon more than a quarter century of experience as a bookseller, a writer, an editor and a respected and trusted book industry representative, I'm going to speak with folks from both the traditional publishing and indie-publishing communities, and share my own personal experiences and reflections on what I'm continuing to learn as a writer and industry consultant. I hope you'll consider me as an informative and inspirational companion on your writing journey.