Mark Leslie Lefebvre's Blog, page 14

Episode 309 – From Zero to Four Figures with Paul Austin Ardoin

Mark interviews Paul Austin Ardoin about his new book From Zero to Four Figures: Making $1,000 a Month Self-Publishing Fiction.

Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patrons, shares comments from recent episodes and a word from 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.

During their conversation Mark and Paul talk about:

How Paul has wanted to be a novelist since he was six years oldUniversity being all about literary fiction, and never finishing that “great American novel” he kept trying to writeThe way that writing a genre he was passionate about (mystery) was what made the major difference for PaulPaul’s wife giving him a great idea for a main character, a former nurse who becomes a county coronerThe fact that there are distinct seasons in MilwaukeePaul being a pantser, or discovery writerHow literary fiction didn’t gell with Paul’s writing styleWhat is really meant by the “write what you know” advice from writingSome mistakes that can be made related to missing some of the important tropes in one’s writingHow Paul always approaches writing mysteries as a “pantser” or “discovery writer”One of the pitfalls of “pantsing” a mystery novelMaking a lot of mistakes in the past five years, and being sure to include that in his new book for writersThe definite plan that Paul believes that many authors can put into place to get to $1000 a monthHow Paul approached writing this book as something that just didn’t seem to exist for writers, offering them a way they could approach it, including an important mindset shiftThe value of series to a reader not having to go through the process of “finding something to read next”The importance of setting a more reachable goal such as $1000 a month rather than the commonly shared much higher revenue goals often pushed on writersReader expectations and why it’s such an important element for writers to pay attention toThe marketing pitfall authors can fall into when they believe their book is unique and “defies” genreSharing the many mistakes Paul has made as an author in this bookThe important question about how readers are going to find your booksPaul’s “Costco” analogy of book marketingFocusing on the entry point novelHow the “freebee seekers” are a part of the businessThe timeline that Paul lays out for this author journeyThinking about your first book as an advertisement rather than as your babyA few of the elements that are a part of this book that are mostly lacking in many of the books out there for writersThe power of being able to make changesAdvice Paul wish he’d had when he was first starting outAnd more . . .

After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about things that came up in the conversation.

Links of Interest:

Paul Austin Ardoin’s WebsiteFrom Zero to Four FiguresEpisode 300 – Celebrating 300 Episodes with Guest ReflectionsEpisode 301 – Procrastinating Partners Collaborating with Liz AndersonEpisode 166 – Wording Around with Kathy MacOther episodes with Kathy MacEpisode 280 – The Jozie PlannerThe 12 Hour Walk (Audio for Patrons) and Blog PostFindaway VoicesBuy 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 Automobiles

Paul Austin Ardoin is the USA TODAY bestselling indie author of The Fenway Stevenson Mysteries and The Woodhead & Becker Mysteries. He holds a B.A. in creative writing from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an M.B.A. in marketing from the University of Phoenix. His book Zero to Four Figures: Making $1,000 a Month Self-Publishing Fiction was published in June 2023.

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 308 – Historical Fiction Inspired by Real People with C. C. Humphreys

Mark interviews, actor and writer C. C. Humphreys about his new novel Some Day I’ll Find You.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from 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.

During the interview Mark and Chris talk about:

Chris’s new epic romance saga novel Some Day I’ll Find You and how it’s partly based on his own parentsHaving to imagine his parents in their early 20s in the precarious situations they found themselves inHow this novel related to Chris’s previous historical novel from the same era, Chasing the WindThe common theme of “characters in peril” in Chris’s novelsThe consistent question of “what would I have done” during this significant era of history as well as in situations taking place around the world even todayHow the spark for a novel always begins with story and charactersThe various ways that Chris conducts research for different historical periods that he writes aboutThe book All the Fine Young Eagles: In the Cockpit with Canada’s Second World War Fighter Pilots by David L Bashow which contained beautiful details about Canadian fighter pilotsThe playlist Chris compiled related to songs that were a part of the research he did into that eraThe book launches Chris will be doing when in Toronto (June 7th at Noonan’s Pub) and Perth (June 9th at 7 PM at The Book Nook), then at Book Warehouse (Vancouver) on the 14th, as well as the free stage show in TorontoTips Chris would provide for authors who are preparing to do a reading of their workHow Chris enjoys doing launches at pubs and the live reading Chris did from the 5th oldest pub in England in the summer of 2022A potential additional novel idea set in this same universe that Chris has been noodling overChris’s fascination with the ambiguity of warAdvice that Chris would offer to beginning writersAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on those historic moments when people had to take a stand, as well as the idea of hosting a book-related event at a pub or other typically non-bookish locale.

Links of Interest:

C.C. Humphrey’s WebsiteSome Day I’ll Find You (Penguin Random House)Noonan’s PubThe Book Nook PerthEpisode 32 – Hubrid Publishing with C.C. HumphreysFindaway VoicesBuy 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 Automobiles

Chris (C.C.) Humphreys – born in Toronto, raised in London – has played Hamlet in Calgary, a gladiator in Tunisia, waltzed in London’s West End, conned the landlord of the Rovers Return in Coronation Street, patrolled the Sun Hill beat in The Bill, commanded a starfleet in Andromeda, voiced Salem the cat in the original Sabrina, and is a dead immortal in Highlander. He is also a playwright, audiobook narrator, creative writing teacher and award-winning author of historical fiction and fantasy. He has written twenty two novels including The French Executioner, The Jack Absolute Trilogy, Vlad-The Last Confession, A Place Called Armageddon, Shakespeare’s Rebel, Chasing the Wind and his recent modern thriller, One London Day. Plague won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel. He has been translated into thirteen languages. His fantasy work includes The Runestone Saga and the recently published high epic series Immortals’ Blood beginning with Smoke in the Glass. His other fantasy series, The Tapestry Trilogy, has just been re-launched beginning with The Hunt of the Unicorn. This Summer sees the publication of his WW2 thriller, Someday I’ll Find You. He lives on Salt Spring Island, BC. Visit him at: https://www.authorchrishumphreys.com/

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 

EP 308 – Historical Fiction Inspired by Real People with C. C. Humphreys

Mark interviews, actor and writer C. C. Humphreys about his new novel Some Day I’ll Find You.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from 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.

During the interview Mark and Chris talk about:

Chris’s new epic romance saga novel Some Day I’ll Find You and how it’s partly based on his own parentsHaving to imagine his parents in their early 20s in the precarious situations they found themselves inHow this novel related to Chris’s previous historical novel from the same era, Chasing the WindThe common theme of “characters in peril” in Chris’s novelsThe consistent question of “what would I have done” during this significant era of history as well as in situations taking place around the world even todayHow the spark for a novel always begins with story and charactersThe various ways that Chris conducts research for different historical periods that he writes aboutThe book All the Fine Young Eagles: In the Cockpit with Canada’s Second World War Fighter Pilots by David L Bashow which contained beautiful details about Canadian fighter pilotsThe playlist Chris compiled related to songs that were a part of the research he did into that eraThe book launches Chris will be doing when in Toronto (June 7th at Noonan’s Pub) and Perth (June 9th at 7 PM at The Book Nook), then at Book Warehouse (Vancouver) on the 14th, as well as the free stage show in TorontoTips Chris would provide for authors who are preparing to do a reading of their workHow Chris enjoys doing launches at pubs and the live reading Chris did from the 5th oldest pub in England in the summer of 2022A potential additional novel idea set in this same universe that Chris has been noodling overChris’s fascination with the ambiguity of warAdvice that Chris would offer to beginning writersAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on those historic moments when people had to take a stand, as well as the idea of hosting a book-related event at a pub or other typically non-bookish locale.

Links of Interest:

C.C. Humphrey’s WebsiteSome Day I’ll Find You (Penguin Random House)Noonan’s PubThe Book Nook PerthEpisode 32 – Hubrid Publishing with C.C. HumphreysFindaway VoicesBuy 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 Automobiles

Chris (C.C.) Humphreys – born in Toronto, raised in London – has played Hamlet in Calgary, a gladiator in Tunisia, waltzed in London’s West End, conned the landlord of the Rovers Return in Coronation Street, patrolled the Sun Hill beat in The Bill, commanded a starfleet in Andromeda, voiced Salem the cat in the original Sabrina, and is a dead immortal in Highlander. He is also a playwright, audiobook narrator, creative writing teacher and award-winning author of historical fiction and fantasy. He has written twenty two novels including The French Executioner, The Jack Absolute Trilogy, Vlad-The Last Confession, A Place Called Armageddon, Shakespeare’s Rebel, Chasing the Wind and his recent modern thriller, One London Day. Plague won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel. He has been translated into thirteen languages. His fantasy work includes The Runestone Saga and the recently published high epic series Immortals’ Blood beginning with Smoke in the Glass. His other fantasy series, The Tapestry Trilogy, has just been re-launched beginning with The Hunt of the Unicorn. This Summer sees the publication of his WW2 thriller, Someday I’ll Find You. He lives on Salt Spring Island, BC. Visit him at: https://www.authorchrishumphreys.com/

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 307 – Autism, ADHD, Neurodiversity, and Divergent Realms with Ridley Odell

Mark interviews Riley Odell, an autistic writer of horror, humor, and bizarro stories. As an autism/neurodiversity advocate, Riley is working on a speculative fiction anthology about neurodiverse characters written by neurodiverse writers called Divergent Realms: Speculative Stories About Neurodiversity.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from 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.

During their conversation, Mark and Riley talk about:

How Riley first started off writing by creating silly comic strips back in the third grade, moving to prose fiction by the time he was about twelve years old, and has pretty much been writing ever sinceYears of working on various unfinished projects, but having found a groove just a few years agoThe ways in which his wife has helped Riley with his writingRiley’s two short story collections (Vile Visions and Odd Ordeals) and his novella entitled My Weird Nightmare BabyHow landing on the title Vile Visions felt perfectBeing drawing to writing speculative fiction because Riley has long been a reader of those genresInspiration from the world for writing horror and the types of horror that appear in Vile VisionsHow comedy and horror work on two different sides of the same coinThe anthology Riley is reading for and publishing, Divergent Realms, and how it was inspiredWhy a call for neuro-divergent writers only is importantThe honor system for submissions that include a cover letter explaining how neurodiversion applies to themThe types of stories Riley is hoping to receive for the anthologyThe submission window (June 1, 2023 until the last day of August 2023), the story length requested (2000 to 5000 words)Where, online more can be found out about this anthology (horrortree.com) and the email to send submissions to (divergentrealmsanthology@gmail.com) and what payment will be offered for submissionsRiley’s connection to the Odell Brewery in Fort Collins, CO (which Mark nerds out on)How Riley will be doing a bit of work with Melissa Dalton-Martinez of The Book BreakThe expected timeline for the release of the anthology, which is spring 2024How writing with Autism and ADHD is never made easier, but can sometimes be made easier, including strategies like taking a lot of basic writing advice with a grain of saltHow forcing yourself to write when you’re not ready to write can create a negative association with writing which makes things worseAdvice Riley would offer to other writersAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on Riley taking a solid DIY ethic to fix a hole in the publishing world, as well as the importance of adapting advice into something that works best for YOU in your particular situation.

Links of Interest:

Riley Odell’s WebsiteRiley Odell’s Facebook PageFindaway VoicesBuy 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 Automobiles

RIley Odell is an autistic writer of horror, humor, bizarro and stories about autism. He is the author of the books Vile Visions, Odd Ordeals and My Weird Nightmare Baby. As an autism/neurodiversity advocate, Riley is working on a speculative fiction anthology about neurodiverse characters written by neurodiverse writers called Divergent Realms: Speculative Stories About Neurodiversity.

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 

EP 307 – Autism, ADHD, Neurodiversity, and Divergent Realms with Ridley Odell

Mark interviews Riley Odell, an autistic writer of horror, humor, and bizarro stories. As an autism/neurodiversity advocate, Riley is working on a speculative fiction anthology about neurodiverse characters written by neurodiverse writers called Divergent Realms: Speculative Stories About Neurodiversity.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word from 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.

During their conversation, Mark and Riley talk about:

How Riley first started off writing by creating silly comic strips back in the third grade, moving to prose fiction by the time he was about twelve years old, and has pretty much been writing ever sinceYears of working on various unfinished projects, but having found a groove just a few years agoThe ways in which his wife has helped Riley with his writingRiley’s two short story collections (Vile Visions and Odd Ordeals) and his novella entitled My Weird Nightmare BabyHow landing on the title Vile Visions felt perfectBeing drawing to writing speculative fiction because Riley has long been a reader of those genresInspiration from the world for writing horror and the types of horror that appear in Vile VisionsHow comedy and horror work on two different sides of the same coinThe anthology Riley is reading for and publishing, Divergent Realms, and how it was inspiredWhy a call for neuro-divergent writers only is importantThe honor system for submissions that include a cover letter explaining how neurodiversion applies to themThe types of stories Riley is hoping to receive for the anthologyThe submission window (June 1, 2023 until the last day of August 2023), the story length requested (2000 to 5000 words)Where, online more can be found out about this anthology (horrortree.com) and the email to send submissions to (divergentrealmsanthology@gmail.com) and what payment will be offered for submissionsRiley’s connection to the Odell Brewery in Fort Collins, CO (which Mark nerds out on)How Riley will be doing a bit of work with Melissa Dalton-Martinez of The Book BreakThe expected timeline for the release of the anthology, which is spring 2024How writing with Autism and ADHD is never made easier, but can sometimes be made easier, including strategies like taking a lot of basic writing advice with a grain of saltHow forcing yourself to write when you’re not ready to write can create a negative association with writing which makes things worseAdvice Riley would offer to other writersAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on Riley taking a solid DIY ethic to fix a hole in the publishing world, as well as the importance of adapting advice into something that works best for YOU in your particular situation.

Links of Interest:

Riley Odell’s WebsiteRiley Odell’s Facebook PageFindaway VoicesBuy 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 Automobiles

RIley Odell is an autistic writer of horror, humor, bizarro and stories about autism. He is the author of the books Vile Visions, Odd Ordeals and My Weird Nightmare Baby. As an autism/neurodiversity advocate, Riley is working on a speculative fiction anthology about neurodiverse characters written by neurodiverse writers called Divergent Realms: Speculative Stories About Neurodiversity.

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 306 – Finding Markets for Short Fiction with Angelique Fawns

Mark interviews Angelique Fawns about her writing as well as the intel she provides on short fiction markets for other writers.

Prior to the interview, Mark 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.

During their discussion, Mark and Angelique talk about:

Angelique’s background in freelance writing, journalism and her 25 years working in corporate televisionWhat Global TV is, for the benefit of non-CanadiansHer preference for not having to be constrained by the truth, which led to her passion for fiction over non-fiction/journalismSome of the logistics of doing promotional short videos for Global TVThe silver lining of shattering her ankle and how it led to finally sitting down and writing fictionEntering the fiction world in 2018 and not being able to find markets for selling short fictionWriting in active present tense because of her background in broadcastThe work Angelique does finding and sharing information about markets for short fiction for other writersThe Guide of All Guides market listing that Angelique has published based on the research she has done“Re-printing” her short fiction via her “Read me a Nightmare” podcastHow working with an editor (Scott from DreamForge) helped Angelique revise a good story into a great storyBalancing working a full time job, managing a farm, and having an active family life along with writingNot buying the idea that there’s no money in short fictionThe fickleness of luck in a writer’s life and how the harder you work and the more lightning rods you plant, the more likely the right luck will happenThe consistent message of “I think I’m successful because I didn’t give up” from many of the world’s most known and successful writersHow what looks like success often doesn’t show the numerous rejections and failures behind the scenesWhat Angelqique would advise to writers who are frightened of rejectionA true and very cautionary tale about a writer who had impressed a series of editors and quit just when he was at the verge of that “breakthrough” submissionAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things Angelique spoke about, as well as the way she has adapted her “day job” skills into her writing.

Links of Interest:

Angelique Fawns WebsiteRead Me a Nightmare PodcastEP 33 – Browsers & Interview with Mark LeslieFindaway VoicesBuy 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 Automobiles

Angelique Fawns is a journalist and speculative fiction writer. She began her career writing articles about naked cave dwellers in Tenerife, Canary Islands, and hosting a radio show in Mooloolaba, Australia. Now she works full-time making television commercials for Global TV in Toronto. She writes fiction for fun and uses her journalism skills to promote editors, publishers and authors. She has her own podcast, Read Me A NIghtmare where she features short, dark stories and interviews creators in the industry. She lives on a farm north of the city with her husband, daughter, horses, cows, far too many cats, and a Potcake rescue dog. Her very first sale was to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. You can find her work in DreamForge, Allegory, The School Magazine, and two Third Flatiron anthologies. “The Last of the Gen Xers” is a 2022 Tangent Online Recommended Read. Her writing groups include the Wulf Pack and The Dreamcasters.

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 

EP 306 – Finding Markets for Short Fiction with Angelique Fawns

Mark interviews Angelique Fawns about her writing as well as the intel she provides on short fiction markets for other writers.

Prior to the interview, Mark 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.

During their discussion, Mark and Angelique talk about:

Angelique’s background in freelance writing, journalism and her 25 years working in corporate televisionWhat Global TV is, for the benefit of non-CanadiansHer preference for not having to be constrained by the truth, which led to her passion for fiction over non-fiction/journalismSome of the logistics of doing promotional short videos for Global TVThe silver lining of shattering her ankle and how it led to finally sitting down and writing fictionEntering the fiction world in 2018 and not being able to find markets for selling short fictionWriting in active present tense because of her background in broadcastThe work Angelique does finding and sharing information about markets for short fiction for other writersThe Guide of All Guides market listing that Angelique has published based on the research she has done“Re-printing” her short fiction via her “Read me a Nightmare” podcastHow working with an editor (Scott from DreamForge) helped Angelique revise a good story into a great storyBalancing working a full time job, managing a farm, and having an active family life along with writingNot buying the idea that there’s no money in short fictionThe fickleness of luck in a writer’s life and how the harder you work and the more lightning rods you plant, the more likely the right luck will happenThe consistent message of “I think I’m successful because I didn’t give up” from many of the world’s most known and successful writersHow what looks like success often doesn’t show the numerous rejections and failures behind the scenesWhat Angelqique would advise to writers who are frightened of rejectionA true and very cautionary tale about a writer who had impressed a series of editors and quit just when he was at the verge of that “breakthrough” submissionAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things Angelique spoke about, as well as the way she has adapted her “day job” skills into her writing.

Links of Interest:

Angelique Fawns WebsiteRead Me a Nightmare PodcastEP 33 – Browsers & Interview with Mark LeslieFindaway VoicesBuy 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 Automobiles

Angelique Fawns is a journalist and speculative fiction writer. She began her career writing articles about naked cave dwellers in Tenerife, Canary Islands, and hosting a radio show in Mooloolaba, Australia. Now she works full-time making television commercials for Global TV in Toronto. She writes fiction for fun and uses her journalism skills to promote editors, publishers and authors. She has her own podcast, Read Me A NIghtmare where she features short, dark stories and interviews creators in the industry. She lives on a farm north of the city with her husband, daughter, horses, cows, far too many cats, and a Potcake rescue dog. Her very first sale was to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. You can find her work in DreamForge, Allegory, The School Magazine, and two Third Flatiron anthologies. “The Last of the Gen Xers” is a 2022 Tangent Online Recommended Read. Her writing groups include the Wulf Pack and The Dreamcasters.

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 305 – Rising Action Publishing with Alexandria Brown

Mark interviews Alexandria Brown from Rising Action Publishing about her role in acquisitions and works with sub-agents on subsidiary rights.

Prior to the interview, Mark 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.

During their discussion, Mark and Alex talk about:

Alexandria starting off doing lifestyle and other non-fiction publications such as Thought Catalog from New YorkHer first two books that focus on dating and romance, and mental health and traveling the worldGetting her PhD at the University of GloucestershireThe focus on how to write trauma in fiction in Alex’s PhD (How cross-cultural characters and trauma can impact fiction and bind people together)How Alex got involved in starting up Rising Action Publishing with a co-owner she met in Humber CollegeThe tremendous value, uniqueness, and diversity that independent publishers can bring to the market that traditional publishes often aren’t able toTheir partnership with Black Bird Books from South AfricaWhy it’s really important for independent publishers to be part of a supportive and collaborative communityHow Alex and Tina did a lot of freelance editing in order to generate enough capital to get their publishing business startedLeveraging subsidiary rights for things like audio rights to help bring in money for publishing expensesHow the publishing partnership between Alex and Tina is very much like a marriageThe types of fiction and non-fiction that Rising Action Publishing is looking to acquireThe difference between domestic suspense and thrillersThe wonderful challenge and problem of getting so many great submissions as a publisherSome of the errors that some writers have made when making submissionsA few of the books that Rising Action will be releasingAdvice that Alexandria would offer to writers near the beginning of their journeyAnd more…

After the interview, Mark reflects on a few of the things that Alexandria talked about and goes into detail explaining how the big traditional publishers of today have a lot more in common with indie authors than at first meets the eye.

Links of Interest:

Rising Action PublishingSubmissionsFindaway VoicesBuy 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 Automobiles

Alex Brown has over ten years of experience in marketing and creative writing. Alex has a Bachelor’s in Communications with a major in Public Relations, a Master of Fine Arts – Creative Writing from the University of Gloucestershire, and is a Creative Writing Ph.D. Candidate currently at the University of Gloucestershire. She has two traditionally published nonfiction books. She’s a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Alex’s primary role is acquisitions and marketing as well as working with sub-agents on subsidiary rights.

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 304 – Narrative Transportation with Denise Baden

Mark interviews Denise Baden, Professor of Sustainable Practice at the University of Southampton, UK, about her eco-themed writing, and the Green Writing Project which she initially set up in 2018.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes 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.

During their conversation, Mark and Denise talk about:

Denise’s varied background in a number of different areas, including being a sales rep for cookbooksHow a work of fiction (the satirical thriller STARK by Ben Elton) was what inspired Denise to become a “Greeny”Teaching in the area of sustainability and how Denise’s nature is not necessarily suited to academiaHow “narrative transporation” allows a reader, when immersed in a story to take on the thoughts and feelings of a characterThe way that talking about catasotrophy and spreading fear doesn’t necessarily inspire people into positive behaviorsStudies of how people react to negative/distopian fiction pieces as opposed to ones that focus on positive action or behaviorDenise’s worry about eco-anxietyThe books that Denise has written that include elements of climate solutionsHow almost 90% of readers adopted at least one of the solutions that were presented through character behavior in the storiesThe Green Stories Project that Denise first set up in 2018 and the various prizes associated with the free contestBeing approached by Herculean Climate Solutions to produce an anthology collaboratively (No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet)Natural Burial, why it’s important and a bit about how it worksLooking at existing properties, such as comparing James Bond to Jack Reacher, and the way the two characters behave in significantly different ways in relation to sustainability and high or low carbon behaviorHow it’s not policy or government mandates that will get us out of this ecological mess, but that it’s the culture and behavior of the average person that willAnd more…

After the interview, Mark reflects on the power of fiction to change the world, and shares a personal story of how reading two different novels dramatically changed and impacted his own life.

Links of Interest:

Denise Baden’s WebsiteThe Green Stories ProjectHerculean Climate SolutionsSnap! The Power (Original Video)Findaway VoicesBuy 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 Automobiles

Denise Baden is a Professor of Sustainable Practice at the University of Southampton, UK. She has published widely in the academic realm and also in fiction. Her eco-themed rom-com ‘Habitat Man’ was published in 2021, followed by ‘the Assassin’ and ‘No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet’ in 2022. Her most recent research explores the use of storytelling to promote green behaviours, looking at how readers respond to eco-themed stories. In 2018, Denise set up the Green Stories Writing project that challenges writers to embed green solutions in their stories via a series of free writing competitions. These are open to all, and 17 competitions have been run so far, which have resulted in several publications. Denise is listed on the Forbes list of Climate Leaders Changing the Film and TV industry and speaks regularly on how to write for a cause.

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 303 – Writing as a Second Career with Lisa M. Lilly

Mark interviews Lisa M. Lilly, writer, attorney, and podcaster about story structure and the idea that writers don’t need to make full time writing a priority or goal.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a thank you to those who support this podcast at patreon.com/starkreflections

During their conversation, Mark and Lisa talk about:

The mysteries and supernatural thrillers that Lisa writes, the non-fiction books for authors, and the podcast that she hostsHow Lisa continues to practice Law, but is no longer doing it full timeWriting not having to be a full-time thing, and Lisa’s latest book “Fiction Writing as Your Second Career”The kind of Law that Lisa practicesThe “floating around” that Lisa did when she had too much free time when completely away from the responsibilities of the “day job”Lisa’s “Awakening” series which is described as a cross between Rosemary’s Baby and The Davinci CodeHow sometimes a small plot or story idea might be inspired by a real-life case Lisa has worked on or heard aboutLisa’s book “Super Simple Story Structure” and how it related to her passion and knowledge of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and that led to the basis for her podcastThings Lisa learned about doing the podcast weekly the first year, then every second week during the second yearThe decision of whether to quit doing a thing or to try doing it a different wayConsidering your writing as a 2nd career rather than as a “hobby”The powerful impact of allowing yourself to “daydream”Advice that Lisa would offer to authors who is balancing their full time work, a busy personal life and their writingIf you can’t set a habit by day or time, then add some other sort of habit to help trigger your brain that it’s “time to write”What’s next for LisaAnd more…

After the interview, Mark reflects on the important perspective that not all writers need to aspire to writing full time, as well as the passion behind creative projects (which seems to be a recent common theme in his world).

Links of Interest:

Lisa M. Lilly’s WebsiteBuffy and the Art of Story PodcastWriting as a Second Career (Website)Book: Fiction Writing as a Second CareerBook: Super Simple Story StructureBook: Buffy and the Art of Story (Season One)Findaway VoicesBuy 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 Automobiles

An author, attorney, and podcaster, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the Q.C. Davis mysteries and the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series. Writing as L. M. Lilly, her books on writing include The One-Year Novelist: A Week-By-Week Guide To Writing Your Novel In One Year, Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide To Plotting & Writing Your Novel; and Fiction Writing As Your Second Career. She also hosts the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story.

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