Mark Leslie Lefebvre's Blog, page 11

Episode 336 – Coming Out of The Writer Closet with Bradley Charbonneau

Mark interviews Bradley Charbonneau about his new book PROCRASTINATE and his new “Book in a Weekend” program for writers.

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

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In the interview, Mark and Bradley talk about:

Bradley’s love of Europe and his first eye-opening experience at the age of fourteen with the continentHis early experience writing extremely long letters to his parents when, several years later, living in FranceThe importance of the “audience” being yourself when you writeThe fact that on no calendar is there a day called SOMEDAYThe concept of Stubborn VS DeterminedBradley’s first challenge of writing every single day for the month of November in 2012A further challenge of posting a YouTube video every single dayThe idea of “practice is perfect” (as opposed to “practice makes perfect”)The long-time streak of writing every single day for 2808 days in a rowBeing painfully reminded of himself when he hears an author say that they have an idea for a book that they might write “some day”Avoiding regret by taking actionBradley’s admiration for humor and improvThe program to get your “opposite” book written as a critical step to getting to that larger “massive” project that has always been kept at the horizonHow the humor aspect of writing your “opposite” book can help bring out new elements of creativity and how it can be therapeuticBradley’s book PROCRASTINATE, which was his “opposite” book projectThe “book in a weekend” program that Bradley is running to help other writers overcome the things he had to overcome on his own writing journeyThe idea of writing a book every year as a way of creating a “timestamp” of who we are – the same way creating a photo album every year (which his mother used to do) worksThe DIY option as well as the interactive “virtual” real-time and “real-life in person” and the “one-on-one” options Bradley is working onAnd more . . .

After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of adapting “the rules” into something that works in the ways that work for YOU rather than some pre-prescribed notion that doesn’t fit. If you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet, maybe it’s okay to break or shake up a few rules in order to pave your own path to success.

Links of Interest:

Bradley’s WebsiteMark’s Affiliate link to get 25% off BOOK IN A WEEKENDEP 334 – Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse with BrittlestarEP 335 – So You’ve Failed NaNoWriMoBuilding Our Christmas Tree Built Out of BooksDraft2Digital Blog: So You Didn’t Win NaNoWriMoHarley Christensen on Twitter (Harley’s Website)Mark’s YouTube ChannelBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard

Before Bradley Charbonneau wrote his first book, he had written zero books. He spent years dreaming and wishing, chatting and hoping, but not actually writing. Finally, after years of procrastination, he wrote his first book. Since that first breakthrough, he’s written 34 more. QUIZ: how many did Bradley write before his first book?

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

Episode 335 – So You Failed NaNoWriMo

So it’s December 1st, and NaNoWriMo is over. And everywhere around you, fellow author friends are posting on social media that they made it, they did it. They wrote 50,000 words in a single month.

You’re happy for them, of course.

But you didn’t quite make it to that 50,000 word goal yourself.

So what do you do?

Do you hang your head in shame and despair?

I say: NO.

I might be one of those “the page is half full” kind of writers, but if you’re in the same boat as me, as an author who didn’t complete the 30-day 50K word challenge, let me take over the paddle for a while and share a different spin.

Prior to the main content of this solo episode, Mark shares a brief personal update (explaining why there’s another solo episode) and a word from this episode’s sponsor.

There are plenty of books and tips on writing faster, learning more marketing tactics and strategies, trying to maximize your ranking, hitting the top of the charts, judging the algorithms, and hacking different ad platforms. But not enough guides to help you take the pressure off your art and enjoy the creative journey. Return to the love that brought you to writing in the first place.

Check out The Relaxed Author in audio, print, or eBook format.

Links of Interest:

EP 212 – A Conversation with Joanna Penn on Co-Authoring The Relaxed AuthorMark’s YouTube ChannelBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard

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

Episode 334 – Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse with Brittlestar

Mark interviews social media funny man Brittlestar (Stewart Reynolds) about his creative work and his new book Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse: Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes a new patron, and offers a word from this episode’s sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Mark’s movie trivia guides to Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Die Hard.

In their conversation, Mark and Stewart talk about:

Where the name “Brittlestar” came fromStewart’s background as a musician and how he incorporates that into the parody music his does as part of his video skitsHow the music he now does for social media posts has broadly opened up the various styles and genres he can play and play withStewart always writing stuff since he was a kidThe way the book came from a series of topics that he wanted to riff on but which might not work as well for a videoBeing a fan of music and television and videos and trying to produce content from the perspective of the audience and of things he would like to seeBeginning to do social media content back in 2013Some of the early viral videos including the “Put Your Finger on the Screen” series and “Summer is Not Over”How Stewart, his wife Shannon, and their two sons were all involved in the creation of their social media content, and how Disney and that social media business came along in the nick of time to save themThe KFC-branded “Explaining Canada Day to Americans” video that rec’d more than 10 million views than that year’s most popular Nike videoThe process of how they create these videos, often based on a concept and a punch-line with a bit of winging itGetting into writing specific scripts for these skits about five years ago, which led into the monologue-style videosWhy their living room is often dubbed the place where ideas go to dieThe “The Morning Show Thing” show that Stewart and Shannon started in 2015 – which is returning again in a slightly differen formatHaving to convince Shannon to come out in front of the cameraStewart’s new book WELCOME TO THE STUPIDPOCALYPSE: Survival Tips for the DumbageddonSome of the differences between writing essays that were 1000 words verses a one and a half minute videoThe irreverence that Stewart was able to inject into the text of the bookBeing contacted by a literary agency that asked if Stewart was interested in writing a bookThe constant mistake humans make in compartmentalizing themselves into boxes such as “left wing” or “right wing” and how we get hung up on those thingsThe foreword (written by Ryan Reynolds), the middleword (written by Mary Trump) and the afterword (written by Colin Mochrie) which was partially inspired by something Eric Idle put on the cover of one of his booksStewart’s thoughts on the digital umbilical chordA strategy for dealing with trolls onlineThe two times in the past ten years of being on social media where responding to negative comments actually worked out okayStewart’s theory that Canadian cuisine is a defianceAdvice that Stewart would offer to other creatives: “Don’t make art for artists.”And more…Full video interview

After the interview Mark reflects on the unique opportunity to chat with someone who has inspired you and Stewart’s advice about not making art for other artists, but rather for the specific consumers of your product.

Links of Interest:

Brittlestar’s WebsiteYouTube TwitterInstagramTikTokWelcome to the StupidpocalypseEP 333 – 10 Things You Likely Didn’t Know About Draft2DigitalMark’s YouTube ChannelBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard

Brittlestar, a.k.a. Stewart Reynolds, is a bespectacled every-dad who has become a popular online media personality over the past decade. Every week, hundreds of thousands of people watch his videos on various social media channels. Some of Brittlestar’s followers include Henry Winkler, Ryan Reynolds, Ken Jeong, Rex Chapman, Yvette Nicole Brown, and many other politicians and journalists. Brittlestar videos have been viewed more than a combined 600 million times, allowing him to gain a global fanbase, attend speaking engagements all over North America, receive an invitation to the White House, and engage in collaborations with celebrities such as Gordon Ramsay, Alan Thicke, and the Property Brothers.

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

Episode 333 – 10 Things You Likely Didn’t Know About Draft2Digital

Mark shares the audio from a presentation he gave in early November 2023 at 20BooksVegas called “10 Things You Likely Didn’t Know About Draft2Digital.”

This episode is sponsored by Mark’s affiliate link to Draft2Digital.

Go to https://draft2digital.com/markleslie to sign up for a free Draft2Digital account.

The visuals and slides for this presentation can be downloaded here.

Links of Interest:

Visuals / Slides for this episode’s presentationMark’s YouTube ChannelBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard

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

Episode 322 – The Art of Noticing with Johnny B. Truant

Mark interviews Johnny B. Truant about his new THE ART OF NOTICING podcast.

Prior to the main content, Mark leverages his digital AI voice from Eleven Labs to offer a brief introduction as well as a word about this episode’s sponsor, the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

Links of Interest:

Johnny B. Truant’s WebsiteJohnny B. Truant SubstackEP 302 – Fat Vampires, Storytelling, and Empathy with Johnny B. TruantEP 300 – Celebrating 300 Episodes with Guest ReflectionsMark’s YouTube ChannelBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard

Johnny B. Truant is a bestselling full-time author with over a hundred books to his name. His best-known book is probably Fat Vampire, which was adapted by the SyFy Network as Reginald the Vampire. Some of his other big hits are Pretty Killer, The Beam, Pattern Black, Gore Point, Dead City, Invasion, and Unicorn Western.

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

Episode 331 – Self Publishing Made Simple with April M. Cox

Mark interviews author, coach & CEO/Founder of Little Labradoodle Publishing April Cox.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal updates and a word about this episode’s sponsor, the Authorpreneur Summit 2023.

Transform your passion to profit! Unveil the business behind the book and elevate your business acumen with 35+ industry-leading authorpreneurs at the Authorpreneur Summit.

During their interview Mark and April talk about:

April’s background as a former IT consulting geekLeaving that corporate world to assist authors with their publishing goals and helping to make their dreams come trueHow her desire to write a story for her grandkids led to an entirely new and dynamic role and purposeRecognizing how she could make a huge difference being there to help authors who would normally be easy targets for so many of the predatory outfits looking to take advantage of themThe origin of Little Labradoodle Publishing which was more of a legacy projectHow the consultant, programmer, and project manager in April were applied to help authors with navigating the complex world of publishing books for younger readersWhy April puts so much free content on sites like her YouTube channelApril’s 12-week course that takes authors through the process of getting a book ready for publishingThe importance of having a network of trusted professionals to work withWanting to create a summit that focused more on the business side of publishing, which became the Authorpreneur SummitSome of the amazing interviews that have been lined up for this summit which takes place for free Dec 4 through Dec 8, 2023The bonuses April will be releasing for those who sign up for the summit earlyAdvice April would offer to authors who are receiving numerous rejection letters from traditional publishingAnd more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the value when an author combines their passion with filling in a hole within a particular market.

Links of Interest:

April’s Self Publishing Made Simple WebsiteApril’s YouTube ChannelMark’s Affiliate Link to the Authorpreneur Summit 2023Mark’s YouTube ChannelBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard

April Cox is an Author, Coach & CEO/Founder of Little Labradoodle Publishing. She has successfully guided over 1,500 authors from manuscript to a high-quality, self-published book through her 90-day signature program, Self-Publishing Made Simple.

April is a passionate teacher and speaker on publishing topics and has personally launched over 400 books.

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

Episode 330 – Book Indexing Made Simple with Stephen Ullstrom

Mark interviews writer and indexer Stephen Ullstrom about book indexing and his recent release BOOK INDEXING: A Step-by-Step Guide.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update about a skeleton and license plate theft, as well as word about this episode’s sponsor, the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

In their conversation, Mark and Stephen talk about:

Stephen’s long-time interest in writingHow his role working at UBC Press when he was attending university was his first exposure to indexingUsing freelancing doing indexing to help support his writing, but how that freelancing kind of took over much of his careerStill being interested in fiction, but how writing a book about indexing was a good full book-length project to completeStephen’s book: BOOK INDEXING: A Step-by-Step GuideHis goal to make indexing simple and practical and more entry-levelWhy authors should care about indexingHow indexing can become somewhat of a marketing toolThe way an index can bring more value to a bookThe pros and cons of a keyword search (as opposed to an index, where the human filtering on what’s relevant is being done for you)How an index can be much more granular than even a layered/multi-leveled table of contentsThe way an index works within an eBookWhat an embedded index isCases where a fiction author might want to use indexingConsiderations on whether or not it’s best to do your own index or to hire that work out to a professional indexerThe average length of time it would take Stephen to index a 200 page book (about 20 hours)The typical price range an author can expect to pay for having a book indexed (For example a trade book that’s about 200 pages could cost about $800 to $900 CAD – about $4.00 CAD per page. A scholary book is usually about $6.00 to $6.50 to $7.00 CAD per page)The steps to go through when creating an indexStephen’s use of the indexing software called CindexRemembering that, ultimately, your index is for the READERHow to hire Stephen if you’re interested in leveraging his indexing services\A common misperception authors often have about indexingAnd more

After the interview, Mark reflects on the value of indexing as it pertains to some of his non-fiction and even fiction titles.

Links of Interest:

Stephen Ullstrom’s WebsiteMark’s YouTube ChannelBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard

Stephen Ullstrom is an award-winning professional indexer. He believes that the world is a better place with well-written indexes, and is passionate about helping authors, publishers, and the index-curious understand how indexing works.

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

Episode 329 – Laws of Tenacity with Eriq La Salle

Mark interviews actor/director/producer/writer Eriq La Salle about his latest novel LAWS OF ANNIHILATION and his life-long passion for storytelling.

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

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

Video of the interview portion of this episode

In their conversation, Mark and Eriq talk about:

How Eriq had always wanted to be a writerJoining the high school drama club in junior high with the idea that they’d be able to put on the plays that he would writeBeing told by the drama teacher that he had to audition, and how that started the “acting bug” that took him through a multi-decade career acting, directing, and producingThe way the author desire resurfaced about a dozen years agoThe prequel story to The Martyr Maker series (which appears in the end of LAWS OF DEPRAVITY) and why Eriq wrote itThe concept behind The Martyr Maker franchiseLoving movies and television and being inspired by the storytelling conventions thereThe way each of the three main characters leads a little bit more in the first three books in the seriesEriq’s work as Executive Producer for several years on Chicago PDDirecting and Executive Producing Dick Wolf’s first show launched into streaming on Amazon PrimeA minor character in the series (known as “The African”) who was fashioned after the Luca Brasi character in The Godfather and who will return in a later book in the seriesHow it took 10 years to find a publisher, and Eriq’s DIY experience self-publishingThe importance of understanding and participating in the grass-roots style marketing as an authorHaving to do a lot of marketing work even when you’re with a larger publisherThe way that the status of “celebrity” can sometimes work against youEriq’s respect for each medium and how to re-think, and re-learn in his unique roles within themThe importance of humbling yourselfHow the marketing person that Eriq had hired and worked with eventually became his agentFeeling that he is a better writer of fiction novels than of screenplays, despite his years of experience as an actor, director, and producerThe intention cinematic writing that Eriq did when crafting The Martyr Maker seriesEnjoying collecting “useless trivia” and how that can aid in the research aspect of writing a novelGiving credit to the technical advisors Eriq has worked with on shows like ER and Chicago PDThe various first readers that Eriq works withBeing an old fashioned paper book readerEriq’s great respect for librariansThe delightful feeling of seeing your book in various bookstores of all sizes, including indie bookstores, big box stores, and airport bookstoresDoing several events in New York for the week the book is launching, including a special “On the Couch with Eriq La Salle”The importance of listening to the messagingThe understanding that “we are blue collar artists”Advice Eriq would offer to writers who are working at it and haven’t yet found their successAnd more . . .

After the interview, Mark reflects on a few of the things Eriq talked about, as well as a subtle, but important way Eriq spoke about the “team” he works with as an author.

Links of Interest:

Eriq La Salle’s WebsiteEriq on InstagramEriq on FacebookEriq on TwitterEriq on TikTokEriq La Salle’s BooksSourcebooksVideo of The Interview with Eriq (YouTube)EP 328 – Reflecting on a New Season with Terry FallisEP 327 – Writing the Shadow with Joanna PennEP 326 – Rebranding and Relaunching with E.L. WilliamsPort Dover: Friday the 13thBest Book Ever PodcastEP 154 – Mark Leslie Lefebvre on “The Best Laid Plans” by Terry FallisEP 155 – Canada-Palooza with Mark Leslie LefebvreBest Book Ever PodMark’s YouTube ChannelBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard

Actor/director/producer Eriq La Salle is best known to worldwide television audiences for his award-winning portrayal of the commanding Dr. Peter Benton on the critically acclaimed and history-making medical drama ER. Educated at Juilliard and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, his credits range from Broadway to film roles opposite Eddie Murphy in Coming to America and Robin Williams in One Hour Photo and Hugh Jackman in Logan. La Salle has maintained a prolific acting career while at the same time working steadily as a director, taking the helm for HBO, Showtime, NBC, Fox and CBS. He remains a valued member of the Dick Wolf Entertainment camp after 4 years as Executive Producer and director on Chicago PD in addition to directing episodes of Law & Order, and Law and Order Organized Crime.

As a writer, La Salle is the author of several critically acclaimed thrillers published in 2022 and 2023-Laws of Depravity, Laws of Wrath, and Laws of Annihilation. He has also written an episode of The Twilight Zone which made WGA’s list of 101 Best Written TV Series. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

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

Episode 328 – Reflecting on A New Season with Terry Fallis

Mark interviews Terry Fallis about his latest novel, A New Season.

A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis is the author of nine novels, all of them national bestsellers—including six #1 bestsellers—and all published by McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes new Patron Nikki Guerlain, and a word about this episode’s sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Terry talk about:

Terry’s latest novel, A NEW SEASON, and the unique approach he took to his latest bookRetiring from his day job as a communications/public affairs consultant in March 2022Having wanted to write full time since the release of his first novel fifteen years earlierThe precarious reality of the earnings an author is most likely to make, even if they are a successful author who regularly hits the bestseller lists in CanadaHow the novel was derived from fears (something Terry was inspired by John Irving to consider), and from events that unfolded during the pandemic, and the way Terry had to evolve his writing from the usual “bend” of humor he employed in his previous booksCasting off the shackles/tyranny of humorSome of the “trademark” self-deprecating humor of Terry’s narrators (Jack McMaster in this one, Daniel Addison in his first couple of novels)Not being able to believe that he’s currently 63 and the experience of writing a narrator (Jack) who is closer to Terry’s own ageTerry’s experiences playing ball hockey every week and how ball hockey can be a bit of a time machineWriting the scenes from trying to speech French when in Paris from personal experienceTerry’s friendship with Jim Cuddy (of Blue Rodeo fame) via his weekly ball-hockey and how the musician allowed Terry to write him into his novelThe examination of make friendship which is an important aspect of this novelTerry’s history of being a “closeted” singer-songwriter, which he’s been doing since he was seventeen years oldThe song “More Than The Game” which Terry wrote about the comradery of his ball hockey leagueLaying a few of Terry’s songs into the audiobook produced by Penguin Random HouseThe 42-year-old love song that Terry wrote for his University girlfriend (who he has been married to for 36 wonderful years)The long-time romantic tradition of Terry singing the love song to his wife on Christmas EveTerry’s personal connection to Paris and how it, like ball hockey, is a kind of time machineWriting a scene of the novel at the seat of Hemingway’s favorite table at a Paris cafeHailing from the “why use 6 words when 12 will do” school of writingThe saga of Constance Stanley’s diaries becoming the final piece that Terry needed to complete the storyHow the title A NEW SEASON refers to so many different elements from the novelThe next book that Terry has already started to work on, which has even more intrigue and suspense than two of his previous novelsAdvice Terry would have for writers who have long wanted to do it, but haven’t yet taken that stepAnd more…

After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of writing books from passion and intense interest. He then shares the name of the Patron winner of Joanna Penn’s Writing the Shadow.

Links of Interest:

Terry’s WebsiteTerry’s SubstackA New Season (PRH Canada)Terry’s previous guest appearances on this podcast:EP 029 – Terry Fallis on Writing with Authenthicity, Humor, and PassionMentions of Terry on previous episodes:EP 189 – From Stage to Page and Back to Stage with Rod CarleyEP 050 – 5 Things Learned in 50 EpisodesEP 020 – Lessons Learned on My Writer JourneyEP 146 – Finding Yourself in Our Song with Meaghan SmithEP 327 – Writing the Shadow with Joanna PennEP 326 – Rebranding and Relaunching with E.L. WilliamsEP 325 – Reflecting Back: 3 Things That Are Wrong With Indie PublishingMark’s YouTube ChannelBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard

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

Episode 327 – Writing the Shadow with Joanna Penn

Mark interviews Joanna Penn about her new book Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness into Words, then associated Kickstarter she launched for it, plans she has to window its release, and much more.

Prior to the main content, Mark thanks Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast.

In their conversation, Mark and Joanna talk about:

How it has been a while since Joanna has been on Mark’s podcast (she was in episode 212)The number of years Joanna has been podcasting under The Creative Penn brand (March 2009)How sometimes there’s a book that you really want to write that you’re not ready to write yetThe way we can often push the “shadows” down and repress themThe importance of writing the things that fascinate youWhat happens when you push a balloon down underwater and try to hold it therePlato’s Chariot and the White and Dark horses and getting them to run together in harmonyThe value of addressing what we’re repressing and bringing it into the light particularly in your writingHow critical it is for successful fiction to have conflict, which is often derived from the shadowThe common themes in Joanna’s writing about helping or saving the family or saving the worldThe only way we’re going to be able to stand out as human in a crowded market, and, in particular, a market with emerging AI-generated contentHow Writing the Shadow and Pilgrimage are “mid-life” books for Joanna as she is addressing that part of her existence and Mememto Mori in those memoir-style booksExploring how you’re being held back by some of those things that you’ve allowed to be repressedThe shadows in both self-publishing and traditional publishingHow you don’t need to be afraid to look into the shadow and perhaps find the gold in that shadowThe Kickstarter that Joanna has launched for Writing the ShadowThe way authors have long focused on the retail websites for sales but how that has slowly shifted into a new phase of direct selling and windowing strategiesJoanna’s launch strategy for Writing the Shadow which starts with Kickstarter, migrates to direct selling on her personal websites, and then moves into broader retail and library distributionThe value of standing out as an author, particularly todayHow Writing the Shadow is an optimistic book despite the topic and themes explored in itBuilding a new author ecosystem and training existing and new readers to engage in that realmThe importance of remembering how the business model will keep changing but what doesn’t change is writing the books of your heart and the books that will help you and othersGifts of the shadow, finding the gold, and the idea of “after the curse comes the gift”The spiral bound workbookHow thecreativepenn.com/shadowbook will redirect either to the Kickstarter or wherever the books are available in the futureThe horror themed storybundle that Mark and Joanna are both inAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things from the conversation, announces a bonus for his patrons related to a reward from Joanna’s Kickstarter, and invites listeners to share their own reflections on this topic.

Video of the interview.

Links of Interest:

Joanna Penn’s Main Website: The Creative PennWriting the ShadowHalloween/Horror Storybundle (Ends after Oct 31, 2023)Joanna’s Previous guest appearances on this podcast:EP 002 – Living the Healthy Writer’s Life with Joanna PennEP 148 – AI Voice Double Conversation with Joanna PennEP 212 – A Conversation with Joanna Penn about Co-authoring The Relaxed AuthorSELECTED OTHER MENTIONS / AppearancesEP 164 – Reflections on Other Podcasts: The Creative Penn Podcast Episode 517EP 300 – Celebrating 300 Episodes with Guest ReflectionsMark’s YouTube ChannelEP 324 – The Asset of Attention with Joe SolariEP 325 – Reflecting Back: Three Things That Are Wrong With Indie PublishingBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard

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