Mark Stay's Blog, page 16

Are You a Writer Looking for Advice? Join me in the Green Room…

Are you a writer looking for help and advice? Come and join me in the Green Room.

Here’s a clip from the first episode of the Creative Differences podcast where I explain what the Green Room is and how you can get involved…

Twice a month, I’ll be running a 30-minute live session on Zoom where you can ask me questions about the craft of writing, your WIP, or the business of publishing. The sessions will be fun and informal and chatty. You can send me questions in advance. They’ll be recorded live and saved on Kofi for exclusive access to Green Room supporters.

I’m running this via Kofi, where you can join by clicking on the Green Room membership tier for £20 a month…

GO TO THE GREEN ROOM NOW

There’s no long term commitment. With Kofi, you can support for just a month, or for as long as you like. Pop in, pop out: whatever works for you. My goal is to be able to give supporters advice that will make a real difference to their writing and career, because the way I see it: having worked in this industry as a salesperson, bookseller and author for over 30 years, I’ve made every mistake, so you don’t have to.

Episode 1 with SC GOWLAND

Welcome to the first episode of Creative Differences with my special guest SC Gowland. We discuss curating the short story anthology The Law of …

Episode 1 with SC GOWLAND

I’m down the Red Rabbit Hole!

I was delighted to be kidnapped and dragged down into the Red Rabbit Hole by Lisa & Nicky for their splendid podcast. We talk about terrifying scarecrows, getting bellringing right in fiction, and my high fibre diet (that’s more interesting than I make it sound… probably). And I believe there’s a second instalment coming next week! But have a listen to part one by clicking on the image below…

Announcing Mark Stay’s Creative Differences…

Here’s something new…

Hello, folks. I’ve loved speaking to authors in the run-up to publication of The End of Dragons this summer, so I figured why not keep it going? 

I’m going to be launching MARK STAY’S CREATIVE DIFFERENCES a monthly livestream where I talk to writer friends about those little things that make a big difference to their craft and careers in the hope that we can give readers some insight to the creative process, and writers and creative folk practical advice that they can actually use!

For the premiere episode, join me and my first special guest, author SC Gowland on Thursday 29th August 8pm BST live on Youtube (and Facebook, if it works) talking about the Law of Consequences anthology, on which he was a curator (and there’s a story by me): so we’ll cover fantasy fiction, short stories, self-publishing a book with 20 (count ‘em!) authors and, like I said, all sorts of useful, practical advice for creative folk, and readers who just want a peek behind the curtain to see how the sausage is made… (hold book up) Though that’s clearly a book and not a sausage. You get the idea…

Also, if you join us live you can ask questions and get in on the conversation.

Oh, and also, also… at the end of the episode, I’ll be revealing another exciting new thing which, if you’re a writer, I think you’ll be interested in…

For the latest updates on when and where all these monthly episodes go live, just come back to wherever you saw this. Until then, happy reading and writing and I hope to see you on Thursday 29th August, 8pm for the launch episode of Mark Stay’s Creative Differences!

Now I really fancy some sausages…

To join us on Thursday 29th August, click on the link below…

Happy Book Lovers’ Day

Happy Book Lovers’ Day! When did you last give a book some love? #rebootreading #happybookloversday #bookloversday

Audible UK/Eire £2.99 Sale

Do pumpkins have ears?? That was the question that troubled me as I put together this image for social media… Oh, and Audible UK are having a FIRST TWO BOOKS IN A SERIES SALE, so you can get The Crow Folk and Babes in the Wood (narrated by the magical Candida Gubbins) for just £2.99 each from now till 11th August! A flippin’ bargain! Grab a copy now or tell your friends if you’ve already got them! … and ask them: Does anyone actually carve ears for pumpkins…?

Talking Charlie’s Angels on the Authorized Podcast

In my tenth (count ’em!) appearance on the splendid Authorized Podcast, we discuss the novelisation of McG’s first Charlie’s Angels movie by Elizabeth Lenhard. This was a movie chosen by a randomiser, and it wasn’t a film I was familiar with, but it’s lost of fun and the book is frothy and fun read.

This was recorded on the evening that England lost the Euros (you can hear the strain in my voice) and we also get into McG’s leering gaze, the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, and why the A-Team movie had its premise all wrong, and much more! Oh, and I get to choose my next novelisation and it’s a classic!

The podcast is available on all the usual pod catchers, and you can listen on Spotify here…

Half Price Sale at the Woodville Bookshop

There’s a half price summer reading sale over at the Woodville Bookshop. Must end Sunday 4th August…

The odds are that you already own one or more of these splendid books, but think of those poor, huddled masses who have not experienced the adventures of Faye Bright, Mrs Teach and Charlotte. What better time to introduce a friend to them? Or perhaps start your Christmas shopping now? Or simply grab a copy to read by the pool this summer? Or just fill that gap in your collection?

CLICK HERE FOR THE HALF PRICE 4-PAPERBACK BUNDLEHALF PRICE CROW FOLKHALF PRICE BABES IN THE WOODHALF PRICE GHOST OF IVY BARN HALF PRICE HOLLY KING

Here are the terms and conditions: offer applies to Witches of Woodville paperbacks while stocks last until Sunday 4th August, 2024. Offer price does not include postage and packing.

How to Sell Books with JM Carr

I had a great time chatting with JM Carr on this evening’s livestream. We discussed her brilliant Wonder Girls trilogy, crowdfunding, selling at fairs and markets and much more (see below for links of some of the things we mentioned).

I also have updates on The End of Dragons, a publication date for The Corn Bride, news about an exciting new anthology The Law of Consequences, and I’m pondering on the future of these livestreams…

Watch the playback here…LINKS

You can find out more about Jan’s books by clicking on the image below…

You can read Jan’s excellent blog on selling books by clicking on the button below…

Jan’s blog on selling books

Jan receives a delivery of books…

THE LAW OF CONSEQUENCES ANTHOLOGY…

I have a story in this that ties in to The End of Dragons and I think you’ll like it as well as the incredible stories by amazing authors!

GET YOUR COPY HERE Grab a copy of The Law of Consequences here. MAIDSTONE STEAMPUNK DAY

It’s free, but you can register on Facebook to discover more here.

REGISTER ON FB FOR MAIDSTONE STEAMPUNK DAY OTHER LINKS

We also discussed…

https://reedsy.com

https://www.scbwi.org

MAIDSTONE MUSEUM STEAMPUNK FESTIVAL

Saturday 27 July, 10am-3pmFREE ENTRY!MAIDSTONE MUSEUMS

St Faith’s Street, ME14 1LH Maidstone, United Kingdom

I’ll be there selling and signing books. There will also be Tea Duelling, Familiar Flinging, a Bring n Buy stall, a Fashion parade, and much more! 
The museum is Free entry but do welcome donations which can be made at various points around the building. You can also register at the event’s Facebook page here.